The Chronicles of Arbythea

Sunday, July 31, 2005

Now commences a tale told by Maldost:

The Harp of Lenon

Chapter 1


Yjinn liked to live amongst the clouds. His house, virtually a library, was on one of the peaks of the Western Mukhs. The Mukh mountains surfaced above the Cloudline at three points. At one point was the lair of Maldost who relished, raved and roamed; then Thom (who was also know as Omnus) the Silent, whose Wise Silence had been heard of, all over Arbythea; and the last point - Yjinn's.

Our story begins not at the peaks of the Western Mukhs but rather, in the plains of the Valley, where a pair of characters sat and discussed the fate of poor old Yjinn. Sir Valkleigh sat at the table of Sleepy Blues with a mug of beer, staring at two tongues coming out of one mouth. The mouth belonged to Sssrth of Jak.



Sir Valkleigh: "Thats really great, Ahem. So what were you saying about your trip to the Moon?"

Sssrth: "Yesss, the Mooon. The Mooon iss like a village."

Sir Valkleigh : "No its not."

Sssrth:"Yes it isss."

His eyes gesture hypnotically.

Sir Valkliegh:"Yes ,yes. It is like a village. I am sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Sssrth: "Yesss,mmmm. Tisss Like a mmmm like mmmm a graveyard but the
corpses are mmmm alive and happy."

Sir Valkleigh: "Ahem,That is kinda odd I must say. Was it depressing?"

Ssrth: "Noooo,Hisss. (His eyes gesture hypnotically) Yesss,it was beautiful."

Sir Valkleigh bobs his head and says "Yes yes...Beautiful it is."

Sssrth: "Those people there. They value the Harp of Lenon very much."

Sir Valkliegh: "Harp of Lenon?!? Yjinn's Harp of Lenon? That dusty old thing...Why do they value it soo much?

Sssrth: "They ssssay it contains Mmmagic. Mmmmagic of the Luna. We cannot avail of it here...Hisssss....but it will come to be on the Moon."

Sir Valkleigh: "Hmmm...Yjinn never told me abt this."

Ssrth: "Thatssss becausssss he knowss NOT. For long that one hasss given me the cursssse. Noo,thisss time I will sssurvive.

Sir Valkleigh: "The curse. You mean the curse of the YB.The One with the raised left eyebrow and the hand on the chin..."

Sssrth: "Yess, Sspeak Not of it.One has survived it and only One. I will go to him next."

Night had fallen on Arbythea. Sssrth stood at the feet of the mountains of the Western Mukh and looked up. He couldnt see his destination because the Lair of Maldost lay above the Cloudline. The massive Mountain sat stubbornly while the clouds flowed around it in the moonlight. For a moment Sssrth thought he was in the sky looking down at the sea flowing around a large Landmass. He fell to his feet and gripped the mud so that he may not fall into the Sky.

Sssrth then smelt Ether around him and heard derisive laughter. He turned around.Maldost towered over him looking down at him.He had a smile on his face and he helped Sssrth pick himself up. Sssrth was happy to see Maldost so he hugged him.Maldost was fond of Sssrth because of all the stories that were resurrected and rejuvenated in the swamps of Jak.

Maldost: "Haha...Don't be frightened of the Mukhs, Sssrth of Jak. Let me help you."

Maldost then clapped his hands and a group of Faschs popped out of Nothingness.They all started cycling on Energy cycles that also popped out of Nothingness. First of all Fasches were a weak ppl both in mind and body.If they had strength in body they would lack in mind and vice versa. Sssrth felt deep revulsion on seeing Maldost treating them as this.

Sssrth: "Mmmm...Son of Sloth....Mmm....Why do you make them work so?"

Maldost: "Haha...Bather of Black Gold...They are giving us the energy to teleport us up there to my lair. Pretty ingenious eh?....(He looks at the Fasches) Come on you scurvy toad boils...Be thou ready to die or cycle faster??"

All the fasches cycled faster. Sssrth shivered as a looming sound grew. BANG. They were above Cloudline.

To be continued...













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