The Children of Zegandaria, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov, Atanas Marinov [first color ebook reader txt] 📗

on the ceremony - a new supreme ruler was ascending. No one had ruled before, holding full power in his hands, except, of course, old Om Gur Nal.

The futuristic atmosphere was unique. The inhabitants of the polis had come out of their homes full of hope - eager to see again the beautiful crimson pink sky above their city and to experience that distant feeling of a coming blue spring.

Erzonian ring towers were built, characterised by an ultra-modern look as the city's metro ran through them. It ran on an anti-gravity plasma cushion and could travel over three thousand kilometers per hour - thus getting from point A to point B took no more than a few seconds.

There were also extensive renovations on the site of the old refinery on Maerx Street. Om Gur Nal had promised huge boons to the naive fools who believed in fictional worlds.

They wanted to believe that this was not the way to the abyss, but the supreme leader knew it was.

He had also provided huge superspeedways across the polis and built impressive ziggurats to which he had assigned religious functions in order to have freedom of religion.

The people did not graze grass and could clearly see what was what. Each period of their lives passed in its turn. Of course the dreaded judgment was knocking at the door and many would feel it.

Om Gur Nal could sense what was happening, but the people had come for the real spectacle - they wanted not bullshit, but a perfect image of a victor and a visionary capable of uniting the whole planet under his rule. That could warm their hearts.

Refinery workers' wages were raised by as much as fifty percent and shifts were made without overtime. Serious measures were also taken against abuses.

The name of the refinery was not changed in memory of the many sacrifices made during the previous war.

The massive kevlarite domes were something that could not fail to catch the eye. The futuristic neon-irradiated chetan towers beckoned workers to climb up and sample the magic of this industrial masterpiece. There were so many smiling people that day at the inauguration[59]. Mothers with children were laughing and wanting to see the supreme leader.

The sun was setting lazily and carried with it both a hot intensity and romance, but also a kind of prediction that this idyll would not last too long.

Om Gur Nal was far-sighted enough to capture the sentiments of the crowd that would elevate him to power and let him do as he pleased. That day would definitely be remembered - for better or worse.

- "Come and hear what His Excellency has to say to us," said one of the women standing nearby. "He speaks so well and his words are so clever. He will be our new hope. And the guarantor of our glorious future!"

The crowd went wild and euphoric - it was strange to see all those hands raised up in the inevitable position to touch the miracle of absolute power. It was like a drug for those who had seen too many summers but felt in their hearts that the end of their lives was near.

- Please let me just see his robe. That crimson color. 'It looks like something like a huge scarlet flower,' uttered a young man, waving his hands furiously in the air, 'Let me just get a little closer to it. What are these freaky security measures. So this is pure madness! It can't be! And we are the inhabitants of this polis! Let's see it! At least for a little while!

The bluish-green lights emitted all around were thrown on the faces of those present, who were muttering words in a trance. It was a real madhouse! A veritable feast of vanity but also of power! The mere mortals were surrounded by a god! A true lord of the universe!

THE LADDER DOWN

 

"The sinner knows pain. The sinner also knows pleasure. And emptiness. Maybe even love - through its thrills."

Prince Pope Jean

 

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR: THE LADDER DOWN

 

After the coronation, the great Om Gur Nal realized his superiority

- No longer could mere mortals even approach him. He was in another dimension - that of the gods. He wanted to achieve something no one else had achieved and go where no one else had gone. And that, as we know only too well, is the road to nowhere.

Everywhere Om Gur Nal turned he saw betrayal and base baseness that disgusted him.

Om Gur Nal ascended the throne as a young boy but soon lost his human form. Of course, this was not immediately apparent to those around him. Om Gur Nal was living his life well. He did not observe any morality. He had the Confederacy of Zegandaria behind him, hiding his misdeeds, he had the people of Equius, who dutilessly made sure his money never ran out, and finally, he had people like Sheim, who provided him with the street. And the friendships with the Archmistress of Synthros and the Duchess of Learnia were just dust in the eyes. Om Gur Nal didn't immediately forget himself - he needed some time - he still wanted to get the situation under control properly. In about three years he forged an empire that was unbreakable. Only Kazuk Mon resisted - that old and sickly lecher, slave to his lust and sweetness. But he was soon removed by the great chief and wise teacher, Om Gur Nal.

Om Gur Nal was a slave to his manhood and was as cunning and sneaky as a fox. He realised that it was not enough to just have it all - he needed some more stable and reliable solder to disguise it for longer.

Possessing women he considered a huge folly to maintain his power - not for anything else, but because the Confederacy itself, had to be kept at bay, or he might cut the branch on which Om Gur Nal sat.

Om Gur Nal was aware that these twenty-five years of complete domination were just going to pass by little by little - quite imperceptibly. He had now been in power for five whole years.

Om Gur Nal's fate after this period was over was unknown, but eyewitnesses swore that their soul ascended to Heaven and lived a life of its own - away from everyone else.

After the coronation, Om Gur Nal relaxed in his empty throne room - his reign was not to be envied. He had knowledge, money and immense power to do whatever he wanted. He had dealt with his adversaries one way or the other. But the invisible enemy was still after him. It is important to say here that he saw power not narrowly, but rather one-sidedly-everything was coming to an end. Every five years the ruler had to go before the people to convince them that he was fit to rule. It was his turn to dive into virtual reality one last time to find it. And to End it once and for all.

The ladder down had many rungs. Some of them were very slippery. Om Gur Nal was already falling down them, but he didn't feel it quite so well yet.

When the thunder of shouting shook some of the slums, Om Gur Nal pretended that he could neither see nor hear. It was so strange he had already lost track of reality. He only wanted to kill - but in his own sick mind.

Somewhere in there, the thread broke and he isolated himself from the outside world - keeping in contact only with the Archmistress and his cousin, because they were the only ones he considered worthy. No one else dared set foot in his palace.

His deep inner conviction was that sinners are happy in their grief.

In time, even the demons did not visit him - they realized that he was not their man at the moment. Instead, they focused their efforts on Kazuk Mon and let him know that a new life awaited him. Real power. Just for him!

Om Gur Nal was left completely alone and even realized the emptiness of his existence - he had illusory power over people who didn't even know him. He was aware of his pain but could do nothing.

Then he felt something strange. The invisible enemy was himself. But how had it all happened?

EMPTINESS

 

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE: EMPTINESS

 

After they left Peos's farm, the stranger headed with the boy to one of the most beautiful areas of Ektu Sor, a small oasis in the region of Learnia. He stopped there somewhere and ordered him a good dinner. The boy had never eaten like this before. But as time passed, he began to look at the stranger with curiosity. Things were falling into place. He remained overjoyed with his progress.

- "I've never seen so much food before!' the boy licked his lips, "I'm always hungry at Daddy's!"

- "Well, it's time you had a snack like never before," nodded the stranger approvingly. "But now you're going to answer a little question for me."

The boy looked at him questioningly.

- "How long have you known about your gift?," the stranger turned to him, completely serious.

- "Well, it's not been long," the boy answered, a little embarrassed. "I've been hiding it from papa, so to speak. I didn't want him to know exactly what was going on."

- "It's interesting that you've spent so much time on this farm," the stranger turned to him in amazement. "A lot of time indeed. And managing to protect yourself from the outside world. This isolated life can drive you mad. But you survived."

- "It wasn't easy," the boy said dejectedly, "but I made enough of an effort in that regard. Om Gur Nal took them a long, long time ago and there's just nothing to be done. We are de facto serfs."

The stranger looked around silently and just coughed in a very meaningful way.

- I know life is like a dumb joke sometimes, but you have to make an effort and move on - it's your destiny, Archibald Peos. I'm not here just like that. I have to guide you for a while, but after that you're just on your own. That is the situation.

The boy was looking at him fixedly.

- I'll just be your guide, too, somewhat. Then our paths part and you have to go in a new and interesting direction. There is the truth. But, all things considered, most on the planet Zegandaria live on average about forty years, so that's hardly going to be a problem for you. You have a