The Return of "Thus Spoke the Platypus" Part XI

Thus did Bera, Priest of the City, and Birsha, Priest of the Forest, and Bela, Priest of the Plain, all fail to move Utnapishtim from his place at the crossroads, but each led away a part of the people with them until only a few remained to hear the words of Utnapishtim. Then word came to Og, King of Bashan, that Utnapishtim had come down and taken his stand at the crossroads. So he gathered to himself a new army, horsemen, and footmen, and chariots, and took the road that led from the sea. So Og, King of Bashan, and his army, his horsemen, and his footmen, and his chariots, went up to Utnapishtim. Thirty-nine days they traveled, and on the fortieth they came to the crossroads.

Now Utnapishtim saw the clouds of dust, and perceived that Og was coming up from the sea. Then the people that remained to hear the words of Utnapishtim were filled with great dread, and they all fled so that Utnapishtim was left alone. So Og, King of Bashan, came to Utnapishtim.

And Og boasted before Utnapishtim saying: "Now surely Utnapishtim is as a dog by the side of the road, now surely Utnapishtim is as a dead dog, for none of his followers will stand before this my army."

When he had heard the boast of Og, King of Bashan,Utnapishtim frowned and said: "Have I not laid low an army with the Unnim, the World-Destroying Power, have not I laid low seven armies with the Annim, the Soul-Destroying Power? How is it, then, that Og, King of Bashan, can say to me 'surely Utnapishtim is a dog by the side of the road, surely Utnapishtim is as a dead dog?'"

When Og heard this, he laughed out loud and said: "Utnapishtim will not use the Unnim again, Utnapishtim will throw the Annim into the sea, for never again will he send so many men down to the pit apart from wisdom. So now I will cut off the head of Utnapishtim and feed his body to my dogs, and his wisdom will be no more."

Utnapishtim heard the words of Og and the heart within him was sore tried, for he knew that Og spoke true. Then Utnapishtim girded up his loins and turned and ran before the face of the armies of Og, King of Bashan, his horsemen, and his footmen, and his chariots, and he took the road that led to the waste. Forty days and forty nights he ran before the chariot of Og.