Netcees - The wise old hermit...

Sweat dripped down the dark scars of his forehead and split into two streams just before the aquiline nose and
fell with the deeply etched lines of his face. He placed the firewood by the hut's entrance and, looking up, laughed
with his heart - a magnificent eagle was rising to a crest under the glistening Sun. Jesus Christ entered his home,
interrupting rivulets of light which flowed through the thatched roof, speaking thus to the wind:
"Behold! The Sun's temperament is mercurial; he is happy now. Happy is the Sun when his light gleams upon the feathers
of this great eagle - it does not know that it flies with waxed wings. Verily, it will one day ascend higher, and know
the Sun's merciless, scorching truth. The Sun itself is unaware of the state which awaits him - yet his power eternally
recurs. Wise would the Sun be to know this truth - that life's abyss is portal to its only joy."
"Oh, great eagle! How I laud your ascending, and in it - your overcoming! Strong you are in your pride; you know
yourself to be King of all birds. So unlike those crows and desert vultures you are! Those who fly lower, and like to
leer lasciviously, waiting to feed on the dead flesh of more noble creatures than they."
"As you climb, o great eagle, your view grows, as does your compassion for all life...including your prey. I would only
advise you against one thing - to leave alone those snakes who hide in burning bushes! Wise and cunning is the snake,
and mischievous too - it is a Dragon baby. Let alone the wisdom of the snake, my eagle...lest you snatch it up in your
beak and become - poisoned too!
With that Jesus left his home and walked through the Autumn foliage. The trees were like old men wearing youthful colors,
and their coolness refreshed him. Before long Jesus came upon a cave tomb blocked by a gigantic rock. His eyes widened
to saucers, and he gave a dark chuckle before speaking:
"I know what you hide in your depths, you mountain cave. There lies inside of you a deadly chimera - I can hear its growl
even in the afterlife. Be gone, you vile beast! Fantasy, illusion and despair...
Your lingering spirit stands as harbinger of these silent sicknesses. Rather would I that your spirit - be banished
into oblivion!"

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