Most beloved friend of mine,
In hope of you are doing well I write to you.
In regard to your concerns in your last letter, I understand such concerns.
I don’t believe I’ll just disappear out of the blue. In the event of not receiving any more letters from me, it is most likely I cannot afford postal monthly fee than I it is I have ceased to exist.
In any case, no human being ceases to exist in the short time just from starvation. Rather, after a not negligible period of starvation, the probability is the liver, the kidneys, the vision, the lungs, the skin, the nerves, the memory or other internal organs become severely damaged, causing complications five, ten or fifteen years ahead from now. Vet’s negligence, or lack of interest in their patient wellness, does not manifest immediately, but a decade or so afterwards. So much easier for them to get away with it.
There’s nothing for me to do, anyway. Why should I dread?
It brings to mind the myth of Remainders from the Old Days. Have you ever heard of it?
Please, allow me to tell you that I remember about the Remainders.
Thousands of years ago, in a region far East, there was this tribe. It was arranged in two classes. The Almighty Firsts and the rest. The Almighty Firsts were acknowledged for their opulence, for the power of their knowing, for their aversion for telling truth, and for their proverbial selfishness. The others were known for the deplorable conditions of life of theirs.
Studying Maths it was punished by Almighty Firsts law. The punishment for imparting Math it was death. Death sentence was executed along a public ceremony called The Bench. It usually took place on one of its altars.
The distinctive attribute of such ceremony it was the sentenced ones were offered a few options for selecting from, for the tribe believed in, and advocated to, reincarnation.
Within the tribe there were a few people who in secret researched and imparted Math to the commons. Their lead he was called Goss, a fine slender gentleman of about forty years old.
When the Almighty Firsts proved Goss had been imparting the forbidden symbols, he was sentenced to The Bench.
One of the Almighty Firsts stood alongside with Goss in front of the crowd.
‘Do you acknowledge to have been imparting Math?‘ ‘I do.‘ ‘Thus, I sentence you to death, to reincarnate as dog. You are granted one question and one statement; would you wish to do so.‘ ‘I do wish to.‘ ‘Speak aloud your mind.‘ ‘How many years of use life remain for me to live?‘ ‘Arranging for your retirement at such a dreadful time? It would be the first time I see such amusing act. I say 25 years, accounting from now. Would that number suit you right?‘
Goss stayed quietly for about five minutes, thoroughly observing at the crowd. Among them, a few people gesticulated cryptic gestures with their hands. Then he said.
‘That’d be fine.‘ ‘And you statement would be…?‘ ‘During such time, I’ll continue along with the deeds of mine.‘ ‘Is this a joke of yours, son?‘ ‘I am not laughing, or am I?‘ ‘Proud and stubborn.’ ‘Guess we all are casualties of those who’d ever educated us and had ever made financial decisions on our behalf.’ ‘Doomed you are.‘ ‘Such I shan’t debunk. Already lost a love and a child to the worst of thy. You’ve just sentenced me to die. What the fog are left in there I could possibly care ’bout?‘ ‘Being such, I sentence you to reincarnate as a remainder.‘
The remainders were called those in the tribe who possessed nothing. About one third of the entire tribe.
Once again, quiet time it gained the crowd, until somebody gestured a hand.
‘Be it so.’
The one Almighty Firsts departed in anger, spitting on the floor, just beside Goss’ feet. A second Almighty Firsts inquired him, quietly. ‘What were all those gestures in the crowd? What the fog were they doing?‘. The first one Almighty Firsts hissed ‘Statistics.’
Three years after the sentence, the first Math school opened its doors to the commons. It was an old, abandoned slaughterhouse which could barely stand on its feet, refurbished for the occasion.
Ten years later, four other schools did alike.
Fifteen years from it, the first prototype of a rudimentary but comfortable, complete and fully functional home for one individual was put to test. It had been designed and built from ground off by the gossians. For the first time, the commons were not ashamed of inviting guests to theirs. They could study, or work, or rejoice in there. They had no disturbing neighbors on the surroundings. All such privileges belonging to just the Almighty Firsts until then.
Twenty years later, two schools of Music and other arts began imparting classes.
By the time Goss died and reincarnated as a remainder, every single member of the tribe was granted and assured their own home, quality foods and goods, enjoyable time and daily deeds.
Of course, this is merely an eastern fictional fairytale of the past. Then there’s Krovach.
Be well my friend. For there where you are, no one ever gives a shinning care for none.
Love,
E.K.
