A Traveller's Tale

A TRAVELER’S TALE
The traveler looked to his guide-book. It read “Freuy City- a place little known about, as the residents’ hostility had driven away all the explorers”. “This place is the nearest city to where I am at present, might as well visit this place”, the traveler thought to himself. The city was heavily fortified with two sentries at the gate. The traveler approached them and asked “Please, I wish to stay at this city”. “No sir that is not possible”, the guard replied sternly. Undeterred the traveler continued “The duration of my stay is only three days and I wish to see your city”. The sentry looked to his fellow guard and replied with a strange look in his eyes “Yes sir, this is possible, enjoy your stay. Surprised, the traveler entered to be greeted by a crowd of people all with joy on their faces. “Come this way to my house”, so saying an elder of the city drew him away from the multitude. The traveler was welcomed into the elder’s home by his wife and daughter. The traveler’s room had to the west a view of a colossal mountain bathed by the golden rays of the setting sun.

The next day, the traveler was woken up by a voice “Nika, why don’t you show our visitor the city museum “. “Yeah, mom” replied the elder’s daughter. Nika and the traveler arrived at the museum. The first section dealt with the history of the city. Nika started speaking, clearly this was a topic she knew a lot about “Initially, our people wandered the plains in search of a place of comfort. Every city they went to, the inhabitants were heartless, and offered them no rest. The land they trod on was unfavorable, so they couldn’t settle anywhere. Finally they came here- the earth was green, the waters blue, it was the most beautiful place that they had seen”.

On his final day, the traveler was greeted by the elder who said “Today, there is a wedding in the city, please attend”. Nika and the traveler set out for the wedding. “Aren’t you a bit young to be traveling alone?” she asked. “Why, what do you suppose is right for me at this age of mine?” he questioned. “Oh, I don’t know. The only thing I want to be is this city’s tour-guide” she replied. “They look very happy-the groom and the bride” he spoke. “Yes they do, but this isn’t the right month for marriage here you know” in a quiet voice she replied, “but they really wanted to get married”.


As the time drew near for the traveler to leave, he packed his bags and got to the gates. The entire city was gathered there. Sounds of good-byes filled the air. The elder asked his daughter “Nika, why don’t you travel with him and see the world”. She didn’t reply, but bade farewell to the traveler. The sentry had to shout so that the traveler could hear him over all the mayhem “You should travel east to the next town, but sleep on the other side of the mountains tonight to avoid any landslides”. As the sentry was saying this the elder handed the traveler a letter.

That night, the traveler asleep at the site where the sentry had suggested was awoken by a loud explosion and tremors which shook the earth. He ran until the city came into view. He stood frozen in horror. The mountain to the west had erupted and its lava was covering the city. As he watched, his hand felt the letter given by the elder. It read “Dear traveler, before you had arrived, our scientists found out that the mountain to the west was to erupt in three days time. Till then we had turned away every wanderer due to our anger at all those who had refused us shelter, but we are not the unjust people the world thinks us to be; only our hearts were hardened by all the wrong done to us. We needed to show our way of life and ourselves to someone and that is when you came along -O traveler, thank you for that. You might not understand why we didn’t leave in spite of danger, but this land was kind to us when no one else was, it saved us while we were dying, this land is all we have”. At the bottom he recognized Nika’s scribble “Thank you for your time and thought O traveler, Carry our memory with you… always”. He turned to look at the place where the city had stood, tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.

Think for a change

Einstein once said “The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who stand by and do nothing.” … Probably was speaking out of angst… wonder what suffering he had witnessed in his life…. but also sounded a lot like he was speaking about my class… when did these people stop thinking for themselves……. when did people lose all logic and reasoning…… when did people get this dumb….. are my expectations too high when I ask for people to think for a change….. are they always gonna do as they are told….. Wake up people…. use those brains of yours….. think for yourselves…. But maybe I am asking too much…. those who want a better future, in them change is inherent… but the incorrigible, the willfully ignorant, those who thrive in waste…. they will never change…. I took an oath once…. to protect the innocent, to help those who needed it, to uphold the downtrodden…. but there is none to protect in thsis class, I wish there was, but there aren't any … all are guilty…