AT THE NETHERLAND’S GATE

   Standing mid-chest in water, one man said to another, “This – notion of a happy life does not consider the afterlife much.”
   The replying taller man was waist deep in the same trench, “Live and learn, die, and forget it all.” He bent forward into the watery gray muck, accepting the bottom vegetation from his unseen foot, threw it onto the bank at his right, and then added, “At least we have water.”
   The shorter one smiled, “Live and learn, in death, we remember it all.” He then did the same as his companion and tossed a clump of mud-laden grass aside.
   From atop the irrigation ditch’s bank came, “You two, move along.”
   Giving the Overseer a sideward glance, the taller of the two in the water smirked, “That is, until we’re all forgotten by the countless generations that fade after us.”
   The second man looked over his shoulder as another team followed close behind. He laughed, “Well, all that matters is this beautiful moment we have together; the rest of our lives are up to the gods!”
   A voice from the pair behind them called out in agreement, “Here, here –the gods have their own interest at stake to be sure.” The four workers laughed even as leaches were tugged off and tossed along with the grassy mud.

   “Antu, remind me after work to take an offering to Mushda.”
   “How long has it been now that your brother has been gone, Sheshki?”
   “Today, three years since he drowned, and still no sign of Merbanda.”
   “Sheshki,” called the same voice from behind them, “I heard yesterday they found Merbanda bedding a woman. Her husband sent him to the Netherworld without ceremony, so remember you’re your brother well for us.”
   “The husband?”
   “He is a temple Ensi, and nephew of the Lord High Priest.”
Sheshki burst out in laughter, “Poetic justice; indeed, no ceremony by the hands of one does rituals all day. Gratitude for the good word!”
   Antu grimaced at the sight of four leaches pulled from off his leg, “We should be collecting these fool things for the physicians. Wonder what the going price is.” They and another handful of muck were tossed aside.
   Sheshki grumbled as well, “Ten leaches for three grains of rice, too many of one and not enough of the other, I say. We should be the healthiest of all men with all of our bloodletting, compared to those ground walkers.” He said in the direction of a messenger running toward the man in charge of the field workers.
   Antu nudged Sheshki, “Such is our lot in life my friend, to serve the greater good, to serve the greater good – in cleaning out the waterways.”
It was then the Overseer yelled out, “Sheshki, Antu, get up here.”
Moments later the men were climbing out of the irrigation ditch and approached the one who called for them, “You’re both to go to Olmur’s temple to see Ensi Thoshmu, and don’t bother to change your clothes.”
   “Yes, sir,” Antu said for the both of them. Then, while heading for Lindol’s main gate asked, “Any idea what this is about?”
   “I wonder more about if today’s pay will be shortened,” answered Sheshki.

   By the hour’s end the two campions had passed Lindol’s Plaza-fountain, heading for the marbled temple beyond it, Olmur’s House of worship. Upon seeing them the Ensi approached saying, “Regrettably Sheshki it is to impart sad news, but one you may be relieved to hear. The man who murdered your brother was himself slain.”
   “Only today was I given this same word from another, who heard yesterday.”
   “Yes, the man died yesterday, forgive my delay in finding you.”
   “Ensi, I am glad to hear the man was slain. If I may ask, by whom and –.”
   “Let me say, only –that you, both are to receive double wages and mourning time from your duties.”
   “Gratitude, Ensi Thoshmu, yet if I may ask, why was I summonsed and honored in this.” Antu asked?
   “Again,” the priest slowly continued, “forgive me for being the bearer of ill news, your son fell ill and was being attended by the physician when--.”
   Antu interrupted, “Was? What happened to my son? Where is he?”
   “The Healer’s ward, near the Great Bridge of Mithar. He and two other boys were playing, and Matu fell into the river below.”

   Without given leave, Antu ran as fast as he could for the Healer’s House. Then, upon rushing in he saw his wife crying at their son’s bedside. The doctor told Antu the details known, but everything was a numb blur of muffled sounds as the father stood like a cold statue beside his weeping wife. Neither one comforted the other’s shock. Three Ensi’s extolled their religious rites and platitudes of dry sorrow.
A priest bellowed, “Thus before the Netherland’s Gate we pray, Oh Alno, Father of All, that this child finds the Third Door’s hope of return and praise to your Name.”
   Antu cut a looked at the Ensi and yelled, “NO! My son, our son, Matu is not dead. Get away from here and stop this noise, all of you get back!”
   “No, Antu,” came his wife’s soft, cracking voice, “he is dead. Our boy is gone.” She began weeping all the more, this time her husband’s embrace joined in with tears of his own.

   From just outside the door’s threshold Sheshki watched the effects of ill news being delivered. He turned aside from the heartbreak and headed back the way he had come. Stopping briefly at a nearby flower cart, and baker’s stand, Sheshki again passed through Lindol’s opened city gates. He headed for a field littered with piles of stones. Passing row after row of such piles he knelt beside one and placed three flat cakes and three single flowers on his brother’s grave. “Mushda, know you are not forgotten.”     Pouring out a bottle of wine, which he also bought from the baker, Sheshki added, “May this aid in quenching your parched thirst. I wish dust was not your only meal.” A twitched smile came and went, “Work is the same, leaches and muck. Your smile and humor are missed every day. My fellows don’t muse at my stollen jokes, they know I miss you as do they.”

   Sheshki jumped to his feet whirling about at the sound of a clanging bell from high on the city’s wall. A glance toward the northern fields of trenched waterways saw drenched men running for their lives back into the city. Likewise, Sheshki fled back through the huge archway as the iron-reinforced doors were being shut. Some men were left outside to defend as best they could with what abandoned farming tools could be mustered. The breeze overhead carried the warning of “GOBLINS!” from the rows of archers gathering atop the fortifications, showering the hideous creatures below with flaming arrows.  The torched figures were all the more outraged as they kept running after and falling upon the few remaining men clamoring to be let in. Their sudden onslaught was ruthless and promised to be just the beginning.

   A man who had passed by Sheshki in seeking shelter had been with the team behind him in the trench earlier that morning. He said, “It looks like others will soon join your brother in the Darklands.”
   “I am pleased you won’t be among them.”
   “As am I!”

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