The views expressed here are my own and I state them as such. Perhaps some will agree with me, for a certainty others will not. I invite comment and discussion regardless of your viewpoint. I do not see myself as a self-appointed guardian of truth who stands ready with pen in hand, so to speak, to dispel the ignorance and stupidity that abounds in the world (or on this board). I am well aware of mine own ignorance and shortcomings albeit difficult as they are to acknowledge. I call no one ignorant or stupid, I leave that evaluation to others.
Words are wonderful things, are they not? Words can be soothing or exciting, calm or tempestuous, beautiful or ugly, the list is virtually endless as to what words can evoke. Words can be misunderstood. That is an ever present danger that must be taken into consideration when we use them. The primary reason for this is that words can and do have many meanings and shades of meanings and then there is the ever present possibility of sarcasm which can further complicate matters. A very accomplished writer once said that the English language should be used as building blocks and not for interior decorating. I have to agree. The simpler the language and the composition, the easier it is to understand and the less likely it is to be misunderstood. That is not to say that all communications should be limited to monosyllabic expressions because variety is, indeed, the spice of life. What I mean by this is that by keeping things basic we can better communicate more accurately what we intend.
The converse of that statement is the subject of this thread. Ideas, concepts, thoughts, etc. can be obscured by complicated communications techniques. Diplomatic language (which is not really a language at all) is an example of this distortion and reassigning of meanings to words. Two diplomats can converse in this pseudo-language and understand each other precisely whereas an observer will be lost in the differences between the everyday usage of the words used and what those words mean to the diplomats. An example: "Your Excellency, I have been authorized to inform you that my country deeply regrets your decision to continue your military presence in the area. We strongly suggest you reconsider." That might appear to be an innocuous statement of disappointment and a harmless suggestion . It is not. It is a veiled threat. Did the diplomat actually threaten 'His Excellency'?
Which side of the argument would you take on this? At face value of the statement, the answer is no, he did not. As to the actual intent of the statement, yes, he most certainly did. Which is correct? There was, indeed, a threat made. Whether or not you recognize it or want to acknowledge it, a threat was made which was understood precisely by 'His Excellency.' HOWEVER, should an accusation ever be leveled against 'that country' of threatening punitive action against the other, it could and would be denied and the exact statement would be reproduced as 'evidence'. It would be argued that he merely expressed regret over the decision and only suggested that an alternate position be taken on the matter.
Debaters love this sort of stuff. It's an endless supply of fuel for meaningless rhetoric and circular reasoning. It affords debaters who, without actually wanting to establish anything concrete, a medium for endless nit picking and trivial details that in the end do nothing but obfuscate the real issue. The 'language' is specifically designed for that very purpose. It's like a fiddle, if you're good at it, you can play just about any tune you want on it. Understanding this one can well agree with Paul when he wrote about one : "...being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words." Debates about 'words' is what a lot of this comes down to. Not concepts or ideas but semantics.
Another tool of debaters is to change your question just ever so slightly and give it another slant and then present their argument or rebuttal on that now biased line of thought. Of course the more they go on, the more divergent the line of reasoning becomes until, in the end, if you are not careful you will forget what it was that you thought were discussing in the first place. Big difference between discussing and debating. Discussion implies a two way communication wherein all parties are earnestly seeking to investigate the issue. Debating is merely the arguing of one's position, it's totally one way. In a debate, everything you say becomes a target for the debater to attack. (You know just like your leading questions to the householder at the door. You don't REALLY want to know what she thinks about the world situation, you came here this morning to TELL her what it is and you are looking for something she will say for you to 'home in' on.)
The WTS has such a language. Common, everyday terminology is used in a manner not consistent with the usage of the general populace. When a statement is issued in that 'language', those conversant with the 'language' know exactly what is being said BUT to the outsider reading that same statement, the meaning is something quite different. An example of this is our usage of the term: 'the truth'. It is not a reference to what is factual but rather it's a term we apply to our religion and consequently an implication (if not an outright assertion) that everything else is not. Look at the term again. 'The' truth, not, 'a' truth. The word 'the' in this case is no mere article of speech, it's a term of exclusivity. When the general populace uses the term "Christian" it generally refers to one who professes and practices the teachings of Christ. When JW's use that term in a contemporary setting they mean JW's exclusively. This is especially so when the phrase "true Christian(s)" or "true Christianity" is used. Maybe you have your own personal favorites?
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Frenchy
JoinedPosts by Frenchy
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-WORDS-
by Frenchy inthe views expressed here are my own and i state them as such.
perhaps some will agree with me, for a certainty others will not.
i invite comment and discussion regardless of your viewpoint.
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Frenchy
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If You See Me Cry
by Frenchy inif you see me cry .
if you see me cry, just walk away, .
leave me be and don't ask me why.
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Frenchy
Thank you very much for your kind comments, waiting. I will have to try that 'fuzzy' approach sometime. Sounds very interesting. I find that sometimes (quite frequently, actually) that I will be dreaming and I am aware that it's a dream and I have some limited control of what is happening. Is this what you are referring to?
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The "routine", The failure
by Pathofthorns inis it possible to do all that is required as a witness?
if one were to put down on paper all that is required to carry out, both with secular work and a good spiritual routine, is it even possible to do all that one is "supposed" to do?.
a basic routine includes:.
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Frenchy
Money is necessary. I dont' think any of us would argue with that. I can sympathize with them on that particular problem. It's difficult (putting it mildly here) to operate a business with assets in the billions and not be involved with money. However, God is directing them, is he not? Doesn't he give them divine direction on financial matters that are vital to maintaining THE organization (HIS organization) responsible for carrying out his will on earth? We are told that He's giving directions on just about everything else, from explaining His authored statements in the Bible on the use of blood (now God is qualifying his once 'simple and direct' statement and breaking down blood into fractions and primary components) to what sexual practices can and cannot be practiced by married couples to birth control as in the article in the WT about vasectomies. Why not on Finances? He was telling them years ago that they should not use aluminum pots although he doesn't seem to mind it today with the exception of a few C.O.'s which make it know in their letter to the P.O. that they do not eat anything cooked in an aluminum pot. (I guess they don't eat in restaurants). He told them years ago that vaccinations were poison to the body (wait, I believe He changed his mind on that too) He triedto tell them about what would happent to the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah but somehow the signals got a bit confused but I hear that the matter has finally be resolved and the message has now been decoded. He also gave them divine direction on organ transplants but somehow that message got confused and it was corrected a little later on. Why not help them out with financial direction? After all didn't He provide divine 'light' on the meaning of the 'sheep and the goats'? No, wait, that was another communications glitch. Scratch that. But He did reveal to them the sacred secret of that mysterious year, 1914. He did give them privileged (no one else knows about it!) information about all those that witnessed that providential cataclysm being around when Armageddon (so close at hand now!) comes. Hey, it wasn't His fault no one up there had a dictionary to look up the word 'generation'! So I say again, why not some divine direction on the finances?
So, you see, there is nothing to worry about barring any glitches in the communications line. I'm sure they have a dictionary by now. -
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Frenchy
Xandit: I have not impugned anymotives to you whatsoever. That you consider my suggestion about asking you C.O. gratuitous suggest to me that perhaps you are a little too much on the defensive here. It was a forthright and merited suggestion. The C.O. represents the Society.
You asked a question which might be construed as somewhat less than sincere in light of your parenthetical expression concernin the carrying of cards but I let that slip by.
You asked for a direct quotation from the Watchtower and I gave you exactly that. What was your response?I would say that it has to be weighed in the light of Friends quotes and comments.
Now that you have the direct quote you asked for, you are now trying to qualify it. So it really does not matter whatis presented or shown to you whatsoever. Even clear, direct statements now have to be looked at "in the light of Friend's quotes and comments." I don't respond to any of Friend's posts. I have made that clear to him on this forum. To me, Friend is not an authority on anything nor does what he say carry any weight whatsoever so please don't use him when replying to me. It would be the equivalent of quoting Jimmy Swaggart to the Pope as an authority.
From what I gather from your post here you find nothing wrong with dichotomies. As a matter of fact, you make an argument for it by association consistency with small minds. The society tries very hard to maintain cosistency, they do it at the expense of the truth sometimes. I guess you are characterizing them here. Are you saying here that contradictions are okay? That it's okay to have two opposing views simultaneously just because you publish volumes of literature?
As to your statement:I suppose it's possible to sein almost any kind of a statement out of the vast body of written material that the Organization has produced but I'd have to say on balance that absolute statements about only Witnesses surviving Armageddon are rare.
"almost any kind of statement"? I see that your tactics are almost identical to Friend's. By such a statement you set yourself up to disclaim anything that is not condusive to your argument. Now, "anything" that is presented that does not agree with your assessment of things is merely something seined "out of the vast body of material.."
I am also amused at this statement of yours as well:absolute statements about only Witnesses surviving Armageddon are rare.
Does that mean then that because they are 'rare' we are to pretend that they don't exist? "Abtain from blood" is a rare statement in the Greek Scriptures. Is it ignored? Nope. Does the Society feel that just 'seining' this out of the 'vast body of material' is insufficient to make it a doctrine? Is it discounted just because it's 'rare'? How about the phrase "faithful and discreet slave"? Another 'rare' jewel 'seined' out of the 'vast body of material' that appears thousands of times in what has become the Society's 'vast body of material'.
You asked for a direct statement and I produced it. Now you disclaim it. I don't see the point in discussing this with you inasmuch as you will not accept what is presented.
I'm going to start a thread on this subject and show how the most commonly used phrases that are used to show (the public) that we are not prejudiced in this matter are really nothing more that cleverly contrived double talk. Feel free to make your comments. As I have stated earlier, I do not repsond to Friend's posts and I continue not to do so.Edited by - Frenchy on 11 June 2000 12:19:23
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Prophetic errors and other ???
by Seven indoes anyone know of other sites where one can ask questions about the society's prophetic errors and other doctrinal objections?
i have so many questions and don't wish to be troubled with triggered responses and other aggrevations.. thanks in advance,.
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Frenchy
You know you can ask -ANYTHING!-...
I went to the H20 board and asked around for some links. Here are a few more, courtesy of some of the posters there.
[url]intrex.net/tallyman/the_list.html [/url]
[url]cyberpass.net/~h2o/wwwboard/messages/200791.html [/url]
[url]JWTruth.com[/url]
[url]stormloader.com/shaun/[/url]
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Prophetic errors and other ???
by Seven indoes anyone know of other sites where one can ask questions about the society's prophetic errors and other doctrinal objections?
i have so many questions and don't wish to be troubled with triggered responses and other aggrevations.. thanks in advance,.
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Frenchy
I'll make Andyman's address a link here.
[URL]www.stormloader.com/shaun/[/URL]
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13
Enter The Traveler
by Frenchy inah, gather 'round, ye olde companions, gather 'round the dying light and while we imbibe the last of this good ale and say a fond farewell to this day the french knight will tell you a tale that was told to him whilst he was in a far away land.
i remember not the teller of the tale other than he was one who seemed convinced of the account, perhaps one who witnessed the strange events i am about to recount to you.
here is the tale, judge for yourself.. in the third year of the reign of good king beltheheezar it came to pass that spring at long last sprang upon the countryside and the long, bitter winter which would not be soon forgotten was now a thing of the past.
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Frenchy
(cont'd)
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The traveler took his seat again. He stared into her eyes and despite himself was enchanted by her eagerness and childlike curiosity. He told her of strange and exotic places, of villages hidden far up in the mountains, of towns set in deep and fertile valleys, of great civilizations that existed on the seashores, of tall ships and intrepid men who sailed them to lands of unimaginable distance. He told her of people who were seven feet tall and black as coal as well as people who never got any bigger than a ten year old, also black as pitch, wild savage people who ate one another. He recounted to her tales of his traveling with caravans that crossed the great desert, as dangerous and eternal as any ocean. He told her of great rivers, of mountains that belched fire and smoke, of places where the ground trembled as if a hundred thousand horses were stampeding, of animals larger than a house and birds that spoke like a human. Her eyes stayed wide and she would gasp from time to time at the wonders being described to her for the traveler was a master story teller.
"I wonder how much of this is true and how much is a fabrication of your mind." She said when he was done.
"It is all true, your highness. I swear to it all just as I swear to never tell you an untruth. By the same token you must swear to me the same."
"I swear it." She said. "I will never lie to you and I shall always take you at your word. No man has ever spoken to me this way."
"Now you must tell me what it is that you were doing in the old abandoned gardens."
"It was a foolish adventure. I had heard of them, that they were haunted by evil spirits and I craved excitement. I slipped out and went to see for myself."
He could read her expressions and he knew that she was telling the truth. This disturbed him. A castle is not only a haven for the king but it is also a prison for those whom he wants to keep there. No one can leave without permission anymore than one can enter without being allowed, especially the daughter of the king.
"How is it that you were able to leave the castle?" He asked in an offhanded manner.
"I have a friend that helped me go out through a secret passage." And then she quickly added: "But you mustn't tell my father for he would..."
"Enough said." The traveler cut her off. "We will share this secret. Tell me, this friend of yours, is it a woman or a man?
"Why, are you perhaps jealous that I should have a lover?" She smiled coyly.
"Why not? I am a man." He answered.
"It is a woman, I have no lover." She said quickly.
"Then you must do as I ask. Do not allow your friend to lead you anywhere else."
The king did not call him for the next few days and so he spent his time wandering about the grounds. Two weeks passed and the king sent for him. It was Ahad that came for him early that morning and the traveler followed him to the great hall for an audience with his majesty. He had to wait his turn for a small group of what was apparently a committee from a caravan was explaining something to the king and he was not very happy about the news. The traveler focused his attention on their lips to see what they were saying but they were moving about so much that he could not make out anything. They finally concluded their business and were granted leave by the king and then he was brought before the throne.
"I have put into practice the things we talked about, young minstrel, and I am very pleased with the results. The physicians are as yet unable to explain it but the results are indisputable. You have rendered this city a great service, how do you wish to be paid?"
"Your good pleasure is payment enough, sire." The traveler said.
The king rubbed his chin. The young man was following court etiquette in not asking outright for a reward but allowing the king to be generous. He had already pondered and anticipated this but somehow the decision he had made in his chambers did not seem appropriate now. He decided to test the young man.
"Very well, minstrel. I hereby grant you status of court advisor and all the privileges and compensation that go with it."
It was more than he could have hoped for and yet he found no pleasure in it. It would make his job so much easier and yet he found himself saying:
"You are very kind and generous to a poor wanderer but I must impose on your majesty's great compassion and mercy and beg that he grant his servant leave and allow him to continue on his mission."
"You have a mission?
"A personal one, your majesty."
"What is it that you seek?" The old king asked.
"What all men seek... freedom." Replied the young man.
"There are many freedoms, minstrel. There is the freedom from want as well as the freedom from anxiety. Too often they are at opposing ends, dividing the very soul of the man. What sort of freedom do you seek?"
It proved to be quite a question for the young man. The reply had meant to be only a way out of the conversation but now the king was making an issue of it.. He remembered too well the life from which he had come, from poverty and slavery. As if that wasn't bad enough, the famine came and the nobles and men of property began hoarding what little grain there and men began dying like flies. An only child, he watched his mother and father wither to nothing more than skin and bones, giving him what precious, little food there was. They died one cold, rainy night. He covered their emaciated bodies with blankets, said a prayer for their souls, and slipped out into the rainy night. He kept to the shadows for the famine had become so severe that an eight year old boy, though thin and bony, would be very tempting. He made it past the gate and out into the countryside. He found shelter under a rock outcropping, rose with the sun and with the scant energy he had, began the walk that would eventually lead him to the camp of the gypsies that took him in. They fed him but worked him like an animal as they wandered about the countryside. Several weeks, perhaps months, passed and they came to a land very distant from his own, a strange land of rugged mountains and strange beasts. The caravan was met one day by a hooded figure who spoke to the leader of the gypsies. Money changed hands and then he had a new home.
It was with some trepidation and fear that he left the gypsy camp and followed the hooded man into the mountains. They walked for two days, stopping only to eat and to sleep until they arrived at a small settlement where other hooded men walked about and there he spent the next ten years of his life. It was there he was trained and disciplined with such intensity and severity as no soldier has ever seen. It was there that he became a Khali-ti, an assassin. He'd had no choice in the matter, the gypsies had saved his life and then sold him to this order of mercenaries where they, in turn, had provided for him and trained him and now he must perform for the order. He had never questioned the situation...until now.
The king, aware that he had struck a deep chord in the young man, smiled, rose from his great throne and slapped him on the back.
"Do not fret over this as yet, my son. You are young and there is still time."
To be addressed such a way by the king was most disturbing to him. This was not his first assignment, many times in his young life he had traveled to far off places, befriended lords, generals, and kings only to perform his deadly art upon them at the first opportunity. His successes had earned him a reputation within the order for never before had one so young become so competent in the deadly arts of the Khali-ti. For the very first time in his life he was feeling something other than the need to accomplish his mission. For the first time in his life he was experiencing feelings. To one trained such as he, false displays of affection were easy to detect and he saw none here. Perhaps it was the kindness shown to him by a grateful father, or perhaps it was just that time had finally healed some of the emotional scars or maybe it was merely the fact that he was grown now and was assuming a different perspective, whatever the case, he felt himself changing and it was frightening.
(to be continued)Edited by - Frenchy on 10 June 2000 15:52:29
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Enter The Traveler
by Frenchy inah, gather 'round, ye olde companions, gather 'round the dying light and while we imbibe the last of this good ale and say a fond farewell to this day the french knight will tell you a tale that was told to him whilst he was in a far away land.
i remember not the teller of the tale other than he was one who seemed convinced of the account, perhaps one who witnessed the strange events i am about to recount to you.
here is the tale, judge for yourself.. in the third year of the reign of good king beltheheezar it came to pass that spring at long last sprang upon the countryside and the long, bitter winter which would not be soon forgotten was now a thing of the past.
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Frenchy
(cont'd)
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"It is the nature of wisdom to disguise itself as foolishness so I would impose on his majesty's mercy and patience on this matter. " --slightly puzzled look on the old man's face...good, very good-- "There seems to be a growing tendency toward maladies of the stomach as your population grows. Many people are ill, vomiting, running fever, disorders of the bowels, some are dying." The king's eyes grew wide.
"I am no sorcerer nor am I a spy, your majesty, for I will tell you how it is that I know this. I have seen the butchers urinate on the streets and then handle the meat that others must eat. I have seen sewer run down the alleyways and young children playing in it and rotting vegetables are attracting flies which bring disease." The traveler stopped and regarded the old man's eyes for the signs.
"What you say..." The king began with a confused look on his face. "Is how things have always been. Do you tell me now that flies bring illness? That is truly difficult to believe."
"I am but a simple observer, a man privileged to have witnessed the wisdom of great men in action. I have seen this before and I have seen it corrected. If my words cause you the slightest offense then I throw myself at your mercy and beg your forgiveness."
The king waved his hand about. "I am a king, not a god, young man. I have asked you and you have told me, what possible offense could there be? I know enough to know that I do not possess all knowledge, no far from it. May I never be too old or too vain to learn. Let us talk of making changes."
"Sire, again I must impose on your generosity and mercy. It has been my experience that the advise of strangers is not always welcomed by the king's advisors."
"You are indeed wise, minstrel. No one will know from whence this information came. I shall call it my own for fear it would put you into danger."
"You are too kind, sire." The traveler said. The old man would be only too glad to take credit for it and that would take the heat off of him.
For the better part of two hours the traveler spoke of sanitation codes, latrines, quarantine, and garbage disposal and covered cesspools. The king listened with the greatest intensity, interrupting now and then for details. The traveler found himself actually going beyond what he had intended for he was sensing in this man a genuine interest and concern that was drawing the information from him. At last the king held up his hand and told the traveler that he could remember no more and that he must digest this information. They rose from the garden and walked about some more, this time no one spoke.
That evening there was a great banquet and the king had the young minstrel perform before his court. The traveler amused the crowd with his bawdy songs and acrobatic antics and stories of far away places. Sometimes the stories were true and sometimes they were fabrications, sometimes they were mere embellishments, whatever he felt would work is what he would do. Toward the end of the evening the songs and stories became more mellow, he was winding the party down so they could go home. He finished off the evening by telling stories of sorcerers and ghosts, a sure crowd pleaser that sent everyone home with something to remember. He found his room and his pallet and this night no one came calling for which he was very grateful.
He spent the next day wandering about the gardens, Ahad informed him that the king would not be seeing him this day and that he was to amuse himself at whatever pleased him. Ahad's tone reminded him that he was still not above suspicion, at least not in that one's eyes. His thoughts turned to the king and despite himself he found himself liking the old man, his humility and candor. The traveler wandered about the castle's grounds, seemingly aimlessly but his eyes were assembling everything. He noted the royal stables as well as the ones kept for the king's personal guards. Next to that, of course, was the blacksmith shop and then the weapons makers, swords, spears, bows and arrows. He noted the location of the arsenal which housed those manufactured instruments of death as well as the smoke house and granaries. It was all very well organized, to the point of the castle and its grounds being able to maintain itself for a few months even if the city should fall. He rounded another corner and almost ran right into her. It was the princess.
"My, you do get around." She said.
"Your highness." He acknowledged and bowed low.
"Have you come to rescue me again?"
"I do not perceive that you are in any danger." He said, smiling.
"Are you on some gallant and dashing mission from my father or do you have the time to sit and talk with a foolish and misguided girl?"
"I would be honored," He said. "to sit and talk with so lovely, and I might add brave, lady."
"Brave?" She asked as they sat on one of the stone benches.
"Oh yes, brave indeed. Even I would not travel that part of the city unarmed. It must have been very important to you to enter that garden."
"How very curious that you should use that word. I have been told that young girls of royal decent know nothing of importance, that their life is a carefree lark to be enjoyed before the years bring worry and sorrow. Is that how you perceive it, minstrel? I suppose that I should be grateful that I am not a commoner so that I should have by now been bought by some uncouth and smelly herdsman for a camel and a few goats."
"I perceive the matter to be thus: that all too often and with few exceptions, what is construed as important or relevant is merely that which immediately affects a person, male or female, with little if any regard for the good of others. That, my lady holds true for noble folk as well as smelly herdsmen."
"How profound." She said with an unreadable expression.
"You mock me." The traveler said.
"Not at all. I am moved by your words, I truly am. You are a philosopher, perhaps, as well as a minstrel and a deliverer of beleaguered women? How impressive that one so young be so wise and adept at so many things. Perhaps it is because you are a man and are possessed of a mind instead of a silly girl with only an empty head and a deceitful heart, one who ascribes importance to foolish and vain things, things of no relevance."
"Now I do know for a certainty that your highness is disturbed with me and so rather than risk further offending her, I shall beg to be allowed to take my leave." He said and rose from his seat.
"No!" She cried, rising and taking his hands in hers and holding them to her breast, much to the young man's astonishment and discomfort. "Please, don't go!" She pleaded once more and then realizing that the young man was uncomfortable with her holding his hands so, she promptly released him.
"I meant no harm. It's just that no one will speak to me like...like I'm a person. No one ever asks me what I think of anything, it's as if I am an item of sorts and not a person, a person with feelings, with wants and desires like everyone else." She sat down again, pouting.
"What if I told you that I too felt that way once?"
"But you are a man and people listen to you when you speak, they ask your opinion of things, even if it's only to ask if you think it will rain today. A woman is never asked anything unless it is to bring something to a man." And then as an afterthought, she added: "My father thinks very highly of you."
"I am honored that I have found favor in the king's eyes, for I, too have grown fond of him. But about this matter of women being counted as unimportant, this is not so in all places, why I have been to a land that is ruled by women."
"Now you are making light of me." She said with a smile and downcast eyes.
"Not at all for this is so. I lived in that land for almost a year. It is a land of forests and rivers, of many wild and savage animals and it is ruled by women. The women there keep men much the same way that men are accustomed to keeping concubines and wives here. They make the laws and defend the villages while the men work the fields and tend to the animals. It is a society that works as well as one dominated by men."
"I still do not believe it but it warms my heart that you would tell me this to make me feel better. Tell me about the strange and wondrous places that you have seen." -
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Enter The Traveler
by Frenchy inah, gather 'round, ye olde companions, gather 'round the dying light and while we imbibe the last of this good ale and say a fond farewell to this day the french knight will tell you a tale that was told to him whilst he was in a far away land.
i remember not the teller of the tale other than he was one who seemed convinced of the account, perhaps one who witnessed the strange events i am about to recount to you.
here is the tale, judge for yourself.. in the third year of the reign of good king beltheheezar it came to pass that spring at long last sprang upon the countryside and the long, bitter winter which would not be soon forgotten was now a thing of the past.
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Frenchy
(cont'd)
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When the first light of day began seeping into the world, he whisked her off to her quarters, washed his face and began his morning meditation. He was finished when the knock came, sharp and strong. A young man --perhaps a little younger than himself-- led him down the hall to the bathroom where several young women, standing around a large, gilded, bathtub, waited with towels and perfumed soap and oils. He was undressed and immersed in the hot, scented water while busy and knowing hands washed his body. The bath was intoxicating, the aroma of the spices was a s potent as the strongest ales and he had to resort to his training to keep part of his mind focused on his purpose and mission. He was finally led out of the water and onto a toweled table and there warm oil was poured on his body and again expert hands worked his hard muscles --all of them. He was eventually dressed with a fine, linen garment and led by the same young man to the dining hall where a crowd had already formed.
All eyes were on him as he walked slowly to the table and took the seat furthest from what was without question, the king's seat. He sat in silence while his experienced and well-trained eyes took in everything and everyone while at the same time appearing to be oblivious to his surroundings. He was the first to rise as the king entered and he bowed low until the monarch sat.
"We have a visitor among us." The king said without preamble. "Come, young man, you sit next to me."
Even without his training and his natural abilities at sensing things he could tell that this was not well received by everyone. Jealousy runs high among the king's court as each one vies for his approval and favor. The politics within the high council can be both vicious and deadly at times. It was a dangerous position to be in, especially for a stranger who had no ally and no way of knowing who could be trusted and who could not. He was not totally unfamiliar with the situation, however.
There was the usual table banter, nothing heavy. At last the king rose and left the great hall, leaving the traveler in the company of his court. Small groups began forming --there were at least thirty people-- and distancing themselves as if trying to keep the conversation private while at the same time making no effort to leave the hall entirely. Were they waiting for the king to return? The traveler made no attempt to associate with any particular group, instead he began the Ali-Kah., first the Shi-ke-oontah, not total invisibility but not egregious. He then began surveying the various groups, employing yet another skill of his, the reading of lips. It was the usual discussion of heads of state: the acquisition of another piece of property, the discovery of a new and rare wine brought in by a caravan, the latest exploits of one of their fellow's wife or children. What was conspicuously absent was the discussion of any immediate or impending danger and that was what interested the traveler.
No one approached him and the king did come back later, talked to several individuals and then dismissed the entire group. He led the traveler to yet another part of the castle, a room that opened up into a fabulous courtyard curtained off by twelve foot high stone walls. There was the usual array of fountains of naked maidens and young men splashing about in the water. They walked on in silence. Good manners and etiquette dictated that he not speak unless spoken to by the king. They rounded one more corner and took a seat on a worn, wooden bench facing a trellis of beautiful, red roses.
"You seem as comfortable in the company of kings as you do among the commoners." The king observed.
"One in my profession is accustomed to entertaining nobility while living among their subjects." He replied.
The king nodded. "Traveling as you do and being as astute as you are, surely you have picked up considerable wisdom even for one your age. Tell me something of our city."
The traveler's mind was racing although his features would have never betrayed that. This was a very difficult question to answer, the king evidently wanted some concrete information, something practical and useful but at the same time he would have to be careful not to even hint at a suggestion that his majesty was doing anything wrong. It was also his intentions to give as little as possible lest it interfere with his own purpose here. It was clearly one of those situations where instinct and intuition would have to be given great latitude while discretion and caution held fast the reins.
"This city has become great because of the wisdom of its king." The traveler felt it was always better to begin with an honest compliment about something very obvious. He could see the very faintest of disappointment forming on the monarch's face, the king did not want a back patting session and so he deftly changed directions.
"There are limits, however, to the wisdom to which one man, however great, can attain. There is much wisdom that is scattered about in this world and I have taken note of this wisdom of men far greater than myself." He noted the king's expression changing. There was an eager expectation there behind the official mask that he wore. It was what the traveler was hoping to evoke from his majesty. He would give him some tidbit and that would be it. -
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Frenchy
Have you heard the one about the first time Boudreaux took his family to town? They went to this huge mall and were duly impressed with all the modern advances and technological wizzardry there on display. After a hour or so of rubbernecking Boudreax finds himself holding his son's hand and standing in front of two stainless steel sliding doors with lighted numbers above them.
This old lady pushes past them, presses a button and directly, the doors open after which she promptly steps in. The doors close and Boudreax and his son are left wondering what is happening. A few moments later there is a ring, the doors open again and this time a young, shapely blonde struts out of the elevator. Boudreaux looks down at his son and says: "Hey, boy, go git you momma, quick!"