TFBT: The Turning Point

You are skillful at wheeling your horses round the post...                                                                   Iliad 23: 309

Just prior to the chariot race at the funeral games honoring Patroclus, Nestor gave his son Antilochos some advice on how to win the race.  It is widely-held that the advice didn’t have much to do with winning a horse race.  I hope to demonstrate that here.

Homer, with the omniscience available to him through the Muses states that Antiochos’ “father came up to him to give him good advice of which, however, he stood in but little need.” (Il 23:304-306)   His father than says, “Zeus and Poseidon have loved you well, and have made you an excellent charioteer. I need not therefore say much by way of instruction. You are skillful at wheeling your horses round the post,”[Il 23: 306-310] So, clearly Antilochos doesn’t need any advice on chariot racing and yet here it comes for those with eyes to see and ear to hear.

His father offers him “a certain sign which cannot escape your notice.” The sign ends up being; “a stump of a dead tree-oak” or maybe a pine, or an old grave or “a turning-post in days gone by” but in this particular case it is; the mark round which the chariots will turn before returning to the beach.  It appears that there are several different signs where this advice will be useful.

Nestor then goes on to give his son, who is universally acknowledged as skillful at wheeling his horses round the post, advice on how to round the post.  Mostly stuff about not getting the left wheel too close to the post and specifically; “..urge on your right-hand horse with voice and lash, and give him a loose rein, but let the left-hand horse keep so close...”

Then the five chariots are off across the plain.  Several things occur and then “ they were doing the last part of the course on their way back towards the sea that their pace was strained to the utmost”  with no mention about how skillful Antiochus turned the post.  If his father’s advice was really about turning the post, there is not mention that Antilochos benefitted by it or how he used it.  

The strategy that we hear Antilochos use is to squeeze out Menelaus at a point in the course where water had worn the track away, “The son of Atreus was afraid and shouted out, “Antilokhos, you are driving recklessly; rein in your horses; the road is too narrow here, it will be wider soon, and you can pass me then; if you foul my chariot you may bring both of us to a mischief.” But Antilokhos plied his whip lustily” Antiochus giving his horses rein passed Agamemnon on the outside (right side) of the track, forcing Menelaus on the left to rein his horses in. 

At the finish line Achilles presents the prizes, not fairly, but justly, recognizing those who should have done better.  Anticholos objected “Achilles,” said he, “I shall take it much amiss if you do this thing; you would rob me of my prize.“  Such hot-headedness, such unreigned passion is something  that Achilles can relate to and he gives Antilochos the promised prize.   At which point Menelaus, brother to Agamemnon the leader of the army objects that Antilochos robbed him of his just prize. Antiochus reigns in his temper “And Antilokhos answered, “Forgive me; I am much younger, King Menelaos, than you are…”; mentions Menelaus’ higher status, that he is the better man, bemoans the folly of youth, their hasty tempers and poor judgement.  He begs the older man to make allowance for his youth.  Then turns over the prize; a mare.

“O Menelaos, was your heart made glad within you.”

Menealus praises the young mans behavior in the past, allows that this was a one time thing and warns him agains similar behavior in the future; “I therefore yield to your entreaty and will give up the mare to you.”

 Looks like Nestor’s advice was beneficial after all, it helped Antilochos know how to recognize the “turning point” in the race, when to give rein to his horses and passions and when to reign them both in. 

TFBT: All Because of Just One Girl, Just One.

More random notes from my reading for "The Ancient Greek Hero"

Iliad 9:637 “all because of just one girl,  just one.” Namely, Briseis, the cause of Achilles’ Wrath and the source of the Iliad’s power, just one girl, just one.  

Iliad 19:67 ” Now, however, let it be, for it is over. If we have been angry, necessity has schooled our anger. I put it from me: I dare not nurse it for ever. “  

They were holding high feast in the house of boisterous Zephyros when Iris came running up to the stone threshold of the house and stood there, but as soon as they set eyes on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him, but Iris would not sit down. “I cannot stay,” she said, (Iliad 23: 200)  In reading this passage for “The Ancient Greek Hero” class was reminded of an observation I read somewhere once, that you can judge your host’s affection by how well you are received by his servants.  Zephryus and his brothers, the eternal servants of the gods, reacted enthusiastically to the arrival of the goddess Iris with no regard as to who had sent her.  Thetis gets a similar greeting from the “servants” in Iliad 24:100 and 18:386  

  “He eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wound it, but all was protected by the goodly armor of which Hector had spoiled Patroklos after he had slain him, save only the throat where the collar-bones divide the neck from the shoulders and this is the quickest place for the life-breath to escape.” (Iliad 22:320-325)  I think Homer elsewhere in the Iliad, this exact same point.  The collar bone is the quickest point on a armored warrior.  The other line, wherever it is suggests using a large rock to do the deed .  Good thing the Inca and Aztecs never knew Homer, or the Spanish mightn’t have done so well in the new world. 

Iliad 22:155-165 where in the time of peace before the coming of the Achaeans the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their clothes. Past these did they flee, the one in front and the other giving chase behind him: good was the man that fled, but better far was he that followed after, and swiftly indeed did they run, for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock’s hide, as it might be for a common foot-race, but they ran for the life of Hector. As horses in a chariot race speed round the turning-posts when they are running for some great prize - a tripod or woman - at the games in honor of some dead hero,

Strabo, Geography 8. 7. 2:"The sea was raised by an earthquake and it submerged Helike [in Akhaia], and also the temple of Poseidon Helikonios (of Helike), whom the Ionians worship even to this day, offering there the Pan-Ionian sacrifices. And, as some suppose, Homer recalls this sacrifice when he says : `but he breathed out his spirit and bellowed, as when a dragged bull bellows round the altar of the Helikonian lord.' 

He fled on in front, but the river with a loud roar came tearing after. As one who would water his garden leads a stream from some fountain over his plants, and all his ground – spade in hand he clears away the dams to free the channels, and the little stones run rolling round and round with the water as it goes merrily down the bank faster than the man can follow- even so did the river keep catching up with radiant Achilles albeit he was a fleet runner, for the gods are stronger than men. Iliad 21:253-264  I read this text and suddenly could see my friend Richard T. in ugly gray rubber boots herding the water from this family’s patch  of corn 

Achilles refers to his psyche as his life. Something to be lost. Which follows Homer’s plot where there is no afterlife to long for.  The playwrights have characters think and feel with their psyches.  Homer’s characters identify with their bodies and the playwright’s with their souls.  

Iliad 21:12-14 As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire – the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they huddle into the water.  Incredible image I can relate to from the fire fighting days of my youth

 

TFBT: Random Notes on Scrolls 11-12 of the Iliad

“Glaukos, why in Lycia do we receive especial honor as regards our place at table? Why are the choicest portions served us and our cups kept brimming, and why do men look up to us as though we were gods? Moreover we hold a large estate by the banks of the river Xanthos, fair with orchard lawns and wheat-growing land; it becomes us, therefore, to take our stand at the head of all the Lycians and bear the brunt of the fight, that one may say to another, Our princes in Lycia eat the fat of the land and drink best of wine, but they are fine men; they fight well and are ever at the front in battle. My good friend, if, when we were once out of this fight, we could escape old age and death thence forward and for ever, I should neither press forward myself  nor bid you do so, but death in ten thousand shapes hangs ever over our heads, and no man can elude him; therefore let us go forward and either win glory for ourselves, or yield it to another.” Glaukos heeded his saying, (Iliad 12:310-328)  This is probably the best description of “noblesse oblige”; the concept that with wealth and power comes obligation; that those of us still standing are obliged to give the fallen a hand up.

“As a lion fastens on the fawns of a hind and crushes them in his great jaws, robbing them of their tender life while he on his way back to his lair – the hind can do nothing for them even though she be close by, for she is in an agony of fear, and flies through the thick forest, sweating, and at her utmost speed before the mighty monster“  Iliad 11:112-119  Sad and moving. 

“It was Antimakhos who had been foremost in preventing Helen’s being restored to fair-haired Menelaos, for he was lavishly bribed by Alexandros.”  Iliad 11:125  “high-spirited Antimakhos, who once at a council of Trojans proposed that Menelaos and godlike Odysseus, who had come to you as envoys, should be killed and not allowed to return” Iliad 11:139-141  I never heard about this guy before!  Does “antimachos” mean unmanly? 

“ As when some mighty forest is all ablaze – the eddying gusts whirl fire in all directions till the thickets shrivel and are consumed before the blast of the flame” Iliad 11:155  Good writing can take you to that moment;  that place in our past.  When I read the above soonly I was back there.  In my Homer induced vision; it was early summer in the Unita Mountains of Northern Utah, not scorching hot yet.  The eddying breeze moved the low fire across the long grass and fallen slash into the small thicket of winter-killed ponderosa pine thick with long orange needles.  A skid trail would stop the spread of the flames.  I knew from experience that three of us could handle it.  If it jumped the skid trail, the next thicket was older, taller and less likely to catch fire, besides the logging road was just beyond.  Then faded my vision.  All that triggered by a few lines of the first best thing; the Iliad.

TFBT: Robert Graves’ Tanist

 

“another young man, his (the king’s) twin or supposed twin – a convenient ancient Irish term is ‘tanist’ – then became the Queen’s lover, to be duly scarified at mid-winter and as a reward, reincarnated in an oracular serpent”  Robert Graves

Robert Graves wrote amongst many other things the encyclopedic “The Greek Myths”.  This massive and ambitious work catalogued all the conflicting accounts of fabled Ancient Greece and sorted them into very readable chapters named for an epic or mythological character.  After a very enjoyable telling of tales there would be voluminous footnotes interpreting the tales followed by references used.  A premise to his interpretation is that prior to the arrival of the Indo-Europeans to the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea there was a rather universal indigenous society.  Graves envisioned a matriarchal society both matrilineal and matrilocal.

The “king” came to power by wedding a beautiful prince.  Think of all those traveling heroes throughout myth and legend who slay some beast and marry to the local princess.¹  The “king” is always from elsewhere because the local community intends to kill him and fertilize the field with this blood.  Think of Demeter and Iasion wedded in a thrice-plowed  field where soon after he was slain.  This is Frazier’s “sacrificial king”.  This is the founding father in Greek myth that travels to a distant land and marries the eponymous nymph.  In time he will be the beast slain by the newer arriving hero or the beast that slays the newly arrived hero.  This newly arrived hero slain by the beast; the man sacrificed in place of the king, Graves call the Tanist.  Adonis for examples was killed by a boar or Ares disguised as a boar.   The Boar with his crescent-shaped tusks and lunar aspect, this Tanist came to represent came to represent the matriarchal need to overthrow Indo-European dominance, as the darker aspects of Gaia time and time again tried to over throw heavenly Zeus. 

Graves further supposes that sometimes this fight to the death between the sacrificial king and his tanist became a mock-battle, a wrestling match, a chariot race and that in fact it was “the surrogate boy-king, or interrex,” who died, and whose blood was used for the sprinkling ceremony.   Oenomaus (p 31) and Evenus (p246) slew many of the local princess’ suitors in a chariot race.  Hippolytus lost his race with the local king (p356).  Diomedes and Glaucus seemed to have dispensed with the race and just thrown their “tanists” to the horses.

There are a surprising large number of “twins” in Greek mythology.² In Graves theory they twins present the sacred king and his tanist.  To avoid death and conflict one option is reign for alternate years; like Polyneices and Eteocles attempted to do at Thebes.  “The yoking of a lion and a wild boar to the same chariot is the theme of a Theban myth, where the original meaning has been equally obscured.” The Lion after the Sphinx was the emblem of Thebes’ king and boar the emblem of his tanist.  “and the oracle seems to have proposed a peaceful settlement of the traditional rivalry between the sacred king and his tanist. “

And sometimes   the sacred king   reigned, with a tanist; like in the dual kingship of Sparta. (Amphion/Zethus p256, Procles/Eurysthenes p206)  In order to allow the sacred king precedence over his tanist, he was usually described as the son of a god or goddess.  “the tanist was not regarded as immortal, nor granted the same posthumous status as his twin. Theseus must originally have had a twin, since his mother lay with both a god and a mortal on the same night. .. He was  allowed an honorary twin, Peirithous who, being mortal, could not escape from Tartarus.  Patroclus… may have once been… Achilles’s twin” and tanist.

In summary Graves presupposes the existence in prehistoric times of a sacred role in society called the Tanist; his man could be the sacrificial king’s heir or victim, best friend or eternal foe and  his Other .  

 ______________________________________________________________

1.      Theseus/Minotaur/Adriane, Jason/Colchian dragon/Medea, Perseus/sea monster/Andromache, Bellephron/Chimera/Philonoe, Orion/wild beasts/Merope, Oedipus/Sphinx/Jocasta references from Robert Graves “The Greek Myths” 1988, Volume 1 unless otherwise stated.

2.      Aeolus/Boeotus p159, Butes/Erechtcheus p168, Calais/Zetes p171, Pelias/Neleus p221, Proteus/Acrisius p237, Eteocles/Polynieces v2 p15, Agenor/Belus p200, Aegyptus/Danaus p200, Autolycus/Philammon p216, Castor/Polydeuces p246, Idas/Lynceus p246, Heracles/Iphicles p250, Amphion/Zethus p256, Agamedes/Trophonius p288.  All references from Robert Graves “The Greek Myths” 1988, Volume 1 unless otherwise stated.

TFBT: Random Notes on "Iliad's Homer" and the First Four Scrolls

“This deep intimacy with the Poet is his revelation to us; before our eyes we must behold his world rise up from the deep- and take on form.” D. J. Snider http://www.jstor.org/stable/25667963 

Iliad 1:525  “See, I incline my head that you believe me. This is the most solemn act that I can give to any god. I never retract my word, or deceive, or fail to do what I say, when I have nodded my head.” As he spoke the son of Kronos bowed his dark brows, and the ambrosial locks swayed…”  Ain’t this a great phrase! 

Iliad 2:674 “Nireus, who was the handsomest man that came up under Ilion of all the Danaans after the perfect son of Peleus”  Nireus, the son of King Charopus and Aglaea, was king of the island Syme  and one of the Achaean leaders in the Trojan War. Nireus was among the suitors of Helen and commanded three ships. In the military conflict with the Mysian king Telephus, which occurred on the way to Troy, Nireus killed Telephus' wife Hiera, Nireus did not excel in physical strength  and was eventually killed by either Eurypylus, son of Telephus, or Aeneas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nireus) 

Iliad 4:285 “No need,” he cried, “to give orders to such leaders of the bronze-armored Argives as you are, for of your own selves you spur your men on to fight with might and main. Would, by father Zeus, Athena, and Apollo that all were so minded as you are,”  How ironic! Praying to Apollo.  Sadder when the Trojan women were taking gifts to the temple of the Ilium hating Athena.

“the broad waters of the river Axios,(Iliad 2:850) the fairest that flow upon the earth.  It appears to drain the major portion of Macedonia.  One critic called “brown-colored”, but most of the current photos of the Axios (Vardar) show a deep meandering river flowing through broad green plains beneath green hills.   

Men call it Batieia (Thorn Hill), but the gods know that it is the tomb [sēma] of lithe dancing Myrrhine. Iliad 2:815  The scholiast and the commentary of Eustatius on the passage tell that this Myrina was an Amazon, the daughter of Teucer and the wife of Dardanus, and that from her the city Myrina in Aeolis was said to have been named.   

4: 255 Agamemnon was glad when he saw him, and spoke to him fairly. “Idomeneus,” said he, “I treat you with greater distinction than I do any others of the Achaeans, whether in war or in other things, or at table. When the princes[260] are mixing my choicest wines in the mixing-bowls, they have each of them a fixed allowance, but your cup is kept always full like my own, that you may drink whenever you are minded.  I never noticed before they were such good pals.  Of course, Agamemnon’s mother Aerope was a cousin to Idomeneus and his buddy Sthenelus.  And the funeral for Aeropes’ father was the reason for Menealus departure to Crete when Prince Paris was visiting, all the rest is history.

 

TFBT: Tears of Blood, Tears of the Deep

“Alas, that it should be the lot of Sarpedon, whom I love so dearly as to perish at the hands of Patroclus.” Iliad 16:430

A bunch of us participate in a free online course from Harvard, thanks to edX;  “The Ancient Greek Hero”  During classroom discussion about the laments of the goddess Thetis for her doomed mortal-son Achilles,  one participant suggested that Zeus’ debate over the death of his mortal son Sarpedon could be a mini-lament.  So, below I attempt to compare Zeus’ laments for Sarpedon to Thetis’ for Achilles.

1.     At Iliad 16:430 Zeus looks down on the battle before Troy with pity for his doomed son and speaks the words above.  Thetis has a similar bout of pity of her son at Iliad 18:51 

2.     Zeus says “I am in two minds whether to catch him up out of the fight and set him down safe and sound in the fertile district of Lycia or let him now fall” (16:435)  In comparison at Iliad 9:499-505 Thetis is reported actually discussing with Achilles the two ways his fate could turn.  There is no indication that Thetis will be unable to alter Achilles Fates.  As Laura M Slatkin argues in “The Power of Thetis” ; Thetis seems to occupy a unique position in the hierarchy of the Greek gods.  Colluding and conspiring Olympians can thwart the will of Zeus (Iliad 1:393) but Thetis in turn overthrew their will.  If the will of the collective Olympians is greater than Zeus and Thetis’ greater than theirs it follows that Thetis’ will is great than Zeus.  And note that on both occasions when Thetis wishes to change the course of events there is not physical attack on her person nor harsh words about her, even behind her back. (Iliad 1:393, 496).  Thetis can get her way.  Unlike Sarpedon, Achilles has a choice of destinies.

3.     At 16:440 “O most dread son of Cronus, what are you saying?” questions his sister and wife Hera.   Another classmate references the Muses at Achilles funeral being there “for the record”.  An interesting phrase here, because Hera very much seems to being in the Sarpedon conversation “for the record”; representing the status quo and the Olympic community’s expectations.  In contrast, although no one like Hera or the Erinnyes question Thetis effort to insure her son outlives his destiny; goddesses of significance attend his funeral in a formal capacity; the muses insuring his chosen destiny; unwilting glory and endless fame. (Odyssey 24:57-97) 

4.     At 16:459 “The sire of gods and men assented (to Sarpedon’s death) but he shed a rain of blood up on the earth.”  Zeus assented to Sarpedon’s death; allowed his life to end, something Thetis never did.  Both deities shed tears before their sons’ actual death (Iliad 18:94 and 1:413 respectively). 

5.      Following the above quote about Zeus’ nod;  “nor did Zeus turn his keen eyes away from one moment from the fight but kept looking at it all the time for he was settling how best to slay Patroclus.”  Zeus watches and plots revenge, Thetis does neither. 

6.      At 16:665-684 Zeus gives direction for his son’s funeral with no indication he attended the event.  Whereas, Thetis came forth from the sea with the immortal sea-nymphs; the daughters of Nereus the old man of the sea wailing piteously.  She and her sisters clothed Achilles in ambrosial robes.  For seventeen days and nights Thetis immortal gods and mortal men in lament.  After the cremation upon a pyre Thetis provided “ a two-handled, golden urn,” and gave instructions for the burial of Achilles, Patroclus and Antilochus, in a “great and goodly tomb,” And convinced the gods to provide the gifts for the funeral games.  (Odyssey 24:57-97) 

7.     Per Zeus’ instruction Sleep and Death fly Sarpedon’s body off to Lycia.  In some traditions Thetis snatched Achilles from the pyre and flies him off to the Isle of Leuce.  (Aethiopis) 

So, in summary both god and goddess pity their doomed offspring, consider alternative fates for them, are visited by witnesses to that fate, weep, make funeral arrangements and see that they are snatched away from this world at the end.

 

 

 

M&R: I, Don't Bite

"I’m only going as far as the Verde Valley.” a cheerful voice announces from inside the station wagon his long right arm thrown over the back of the bench seat.

The oafish teenager pulls the passenger side door open and swings his left leg in. As he lowers his large frame onto the bench seat, he glances at the driver and freezes. The larger man behind the wheel, must be 6’7”, muscular rock-hard frame, unsmiling features, dark eyes, and a fair complexion. Not that the kid can tell in the meager he street light somewhat blocked by the neighboring Ponderosa Pine, but his hair is a black as Satan’s heart. What stops the big-handed youth in mid-air is the eyes. Even in the dim light the kid sees his black-colored, soul-less eyes.

“Come on in!” the big man encourages the boy with the same cheery voice and roll of his large right hand. The hand retracted a top the bench seat where the rest of the arm lounged. “I, don’t bite.” he assures the 16 year old with an odd emphasis on “I”.

Neither is a deer hunter, so neither recognizes the smell of blood in the station wagon. The youth sits and closes the door. The man’s reassuring smile fades as he shifts into gear and heads south on the still unfinished Interstate-17.

Meanwhile his parents dined at their usual table in their favorite restaurant. His mother taps her blood-red nails on the wine red Irish linen, smiles distractedly at the her family’s joviality and studies the room full of patrons sitting at tables with white table clothes. Her eyes roil heavenwards as she searches her thought. The index finger of her right hand touches her blood red lips a or caresses her chin on occasion as though trying to remember something. The phone rings at the maître de’s station across the busy, crowded restaurant. Maeve concentrates on the conversation. The suave middle aged man staffing the station glance s at her brother in law and immediately crosses the room to their table.

They own an import/export business; nothing odd about calls interrupting diner. Still her left immaculate hand searches out her sister’s ruddier right hand. Her sister Roxanne keeps talking with their waiter

Maeve’s piercing eyes stalk her sister’s husband across the room. He smile when he recognizes the voice on the phone. Few people have that affect on the broad shouldered man. And most of them were at this table. It was one of his daughters. The smile fades, he waves for Maeve’s husband to join him. When her hairy, husband answers the phone, he can’t help himself; he glace at Maeve. Roxanne now watching squeezes Maeve’s hand. Maeve can see him giving orders in his take charge style. He shakes his auburn locks, clearly not accepting something being said. He smile s broadly to produce an encouraging tone in his voice. She can see him give another order, begins to hang up and then waves to his red-headed sister in law to come to the phone. He signals for Maeve to wait with the open palm of his upraised hand and signs that he will go to her with a hooked thumb and pointed index finger. Roxanne gets off the phone quickly due to the growing concern in her sister’s pale features. Her husband asks Maeve to sit as he approaches the booth. Roxanne barely lays the receiver in the c cradle when it rings again. “It’s for you” Roxanne mouths across the quieter room for John. The other patrons overheard "emergency". John takes his wife’s right with his left. Roxanne rushes to her side.

“It’s Benny.” He whispers handing her over to Roxanne’s warm embrace as he returns to the phone

Back in Northern Arizona, the driver like his hitch-hiker scopes out the other under the light that marks the turn off to Mountainaire. He at first thinks the other is a man, but clearly this is a man-sized child, distraught, dressed in threadbare, stained and ill-fitting clothes. His brown hair is cut short. His oafish frame, bull-neck and sad sun-burned facial features betray him as a Mongloid.

“I’m Rugen.” The big man says once he’s shifted into the highest gear and offers his large right hand.

The big child doesn’t know to shake his hand and offers quietly that his name is “Jacob, Jacob Kell”. Then in a louder voice says, “Rugen! That a retarded name.”

Maeve stands rigid and straight backed at their usual table. Roxanne grasps Maeve’s ivory in both of hers and is clearly praying in quiet intense words. The horror of the situation made worse by the unfamiliarity of worry on the woman’s brow. Maeve’s right hand grasps the crucifix at her throat. With shallow slow breathes and an intense stare she gazes into the future. “Say it once more.” She quietly dares her husband.

He touches her elbow before beginning, but her body recoils and anger rises to those black eyes with the faraway look.

“The State Troopers were called to Mountainaire. It’s just south of Flagstaff. They found two families murdered. Witnesses saw Benny leave there with another person. A trooper is headed north to intercept them before they hit Munds Park.

“Rugen” seems to take no offense at the “retarded” comment. “I’m named for Count Rugen in ‘The Princess Bride’, my daddy’s favorite novel. We both have six fingers.”

He shows the child with his palm outward and thick fingers spread. By the dashboard lights the outré hand is visible as is the child’s shiver and the shifting of his weight away from the driver. The motion produces a crinkling noise.

“Sorry” says Jacob in his soft voice. “I sat on some papers.”

He hefts his left cheek and from beneath the faded denim pulls a folder with typed minutes with beautifully handwritten notes and a carbon copy of a business receipt.


“Oh, no problem.” Rugen says as he takes the paper. For a moment it appears he intends to toss them in the back, but he thinks better of it and lays them on the seat between the man and child. “I’m just coming from the church council meeting and picking up - “

“Are you alone?”

The big man’s brow crunches in confusion and his shoulders rise so that he can look around the empty vehicle and say something witty to the kid, but then he smiles believing that Jacob, must have meant, “Are you a bachelor?”

“No. I’m a family man; wife, three kids, another on the way, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews; big extended family. We’ve got a place in Rimrock we go on the weekends. Everyone else is already there. I just - “

“People ever pick on you cause of your name?” Jacob asks loudly.

“Picking up a hitchhiker.” His mother acknowledges. “Sounds like one of our sons. Who was the other person?” Her sister gasps, so blinded by tears that she stumbles when she turns to Maeve. Benny’s father won’t respond. “The killer.” Maeve announces.

“No.” Rugen replies because no one ever did in his entire life. “But it’s actually my middle name. Most people call me Benny.”

Rugen examines the kid more closely. Jacob keeps his gaze at the darkened floor boards or out the window into the dark night and black forest.

“Benny, why do you live in Rimrock and go to church in Flagstaff?” Jacob asked softly.

“Well actually, we live in Flag, and just come to our property in the Verde Valley on the weekends. We were looking around for some forested land as an investment and I suggested the Rimrock area. When I was a kid, I got into a lot of trouble. I remember my daddy and uncle bringing me here that winter for a long camping trip. Everybody adores my daddy. He was the “parent” in our family growing up. You know the one that goes to all your games and gets you out of trouble when it comes. But, he and I never “bonded” until Rimrock. I had a great time with him and Uncle Stan. I didn’t want to get into any more trouble. So, we decided that my mother would have to take over taking care of me. “

“Were your parents divorced?”

“No. My mother has a temper. Once when daddy was gone she spanked one of my older brothers so hard she broke the paddle and in her rage picked up the largest piece and broke that over his behind too. After that daddy was the disciplinarian in our house, until I came along.”

“Did you mother beat you and make you sleep outside like an animal?” Jacob demands angrily

“No.” Rugen chuckles and then winces in memory of her parenting techniques. “Let’s just say my mother and I have a special relationship.”

“You should kill your mom.” Jacob bellows.

As smooth as a puma sneaking up on an unsuspecting white-tailed doe, Rugen’s foot eases from the accelerator. His body neither tenses for a fight nor does his breathe betray his inherited tendency towards rage and violence.

“I’m going to pull over. You should get out.”

“You should keep going to Phoenix.” Jacob shouts.

The station wagon pulls to the shoulder of the lonely two-lane road. No one has passed them all this time and no cars had been coming towards them for quite a while. Not that Jacob can tell, but they’ve dropped over the Mongollon Rim already and the pine stands are spottier as the terrain gives way to Pinyon-Junipers. Rugen faces the serial killer. His eyes are as black as death. If either was looking they would see the flashing lights reflected on the canyon walls of the approaching sheriff’s departments. Jacob is not so slow in the head that he reaches for Rugen, but he does lift his massive right fist.

Another call . Her brother in law Stan takes it. Benny always drives the speed limit. Trooper from Flagstaff would catch up with him at the same time as the trooper headed north. Maeve still standing begins to quiver. John reaches for his wife again. This time Maeve’s shoulders relax and sigh escapes her aching lungs. Roxanne and John both look to her. A smile spreads across her glacial features turning into a sneer. She licks her lips in preparation to speak and brushes back a stray ebony strand of hair.

When she speaks her voice is sugary sweet. “I talked with Rugen this morning. He stayed behind for more than the church council meeting. He had to visit the vet’s office. “ She licked her lips again and lifted her chin. “Jake’s with him.”

At that moment the Mogoloid feels a large black presence behind him. He feels the hot, wet panting breathe on the standing hairs of his sun-burned neck. He is stupefied by the carnivorous stench curling around to his nostrils. Then comes the low guttural growl of the midnight-black beast risen behind him.

“You should get out.”

Jacob Kell complies, runs off into the Arizona desert and dies.