The Return of "Thus Spoke the Platypus" Part X

News of how Utnapishtim had received Bera, Priest of the City, and Birsha, Priest of the Forest, spread far and wide and came to the ears of Bela, Priest of the Plains, as he was directing the mowers, and builders, and all the people of the Plain. When Bela heard how Utnapishtim had rejected Bera and Birsha, his wrath was beyond measure, for he said in his heart "will not the fool challenge me too, and take away all that I have worked for, and all that my fathers' fathers have worked for?" So too he girded up his loins and went up to the crossroads. Thirty-nine days he traveled, and on the fortieth he came to Utnapishtim.

When Bela came to the crossroads he heard Utnapishtim addressing the people thus:

"What shall I say to you, oh men of reed houses?"

And the people responded to Utnapishtim: "We do not live in houses of reed but in houses of stone! They are strong and tall, as our forefathers built them!"

But Utnapishtim replied: "Would that you did live in reed houses then, so that you could hear the wind! For once Utnapishtim lived in a reed house and there he heard the voice of Wisdom blowing on the wind and warning him of the Flood. Now Utnapishtim is the wind, and he seeks for the house of reeds where he may blow, but you build your houses out of stone and keep him out! The wind is cold, the wind is unpleasant, but through the wind dose Wisdom speak!"

The words of Utnapishtim confused the people, but they would not leave him so long as each day he spoke some new thing.

All this did Bela, Priest of the Plain, observe, and when he could stand the words of Utnapishtim no longer, he cried out: "Utnapishtim, my foe, my adversary, deceiver of men! What nonsense is this that you teach the people? They will forget their fields, and there will be no more grain, they will forget their building and there will be no more houses. Surely, Utnapishtim is liar and a hater of men!"

The people heard Bela's voice, and they stood back from him in great confusion; a part on his right, and a part on his left.

Utnapishtim bore these harsh words from Bela, Priest of the Plain, and he smiled as he heard them, but when Bela had finished he spoke: "Has Bela come too? Thirty-nine days you have walked, and forty you have travailed to insult me, but you have never walked so far to insult Wisdom! Who is Utnapishtim, and who is his father, and what is his clan that you hate him with such an abiding hatred?"

And Bela answered Utnapishtim: "Utnapishtim is a liar, and his father a deceiver, and his clan's name is the pit. He, I insult, for what is this wisdom he claims to speak for more than a fable? I and my fathers have taught the people how to mow, I and my fathers have taught them how to build. What does Utnapishtim teach them? Birsha knows his place, and Bera serves the builders and mowers of the city, but Utnapishtim draws the people out while their fields go untended and their houses unbuilt."

At these words, Untapishtim laughed: "What a long time Utnapishtim must have kept these people standing here if their grain goes unharvested and their homes become ruins! Does any man need to go to his work? Let him go! But what is this talk of "I and my fathers?" If Bela knew his fathers' teaching better, he would know that they themselves said "we were taught by Wisdom."

When Utnapishtim had said this, Bela came up and struck him on the mouth and spit on him. Then he called out, "friends, do not be troubled any longer, for have I not defeated this man who was troubling you? I could have argued all day, but his bible-babble is nothing, and it would waste our time. Come back to your fields and to your houses, and I will show you new marvels to make them better than they were before!"

Then a great part of the people arose and followed Bela, Priest of the Plain, but a part still remained with Utnapishtim.