The Prisoner of Stone
by Floyd Looney
It had been a long journey for Brother
Aron from the monastery to his new assignment far to the north in a
region dominated by mountains. Indeed the nearest village would be
more than a days walk from what he had been told.
The bumpy ride in the back of the
farmers cart came to an abrupt halt. “The Keep is up that way, a
fair ways,” The farmer said, pointing toward a small peak in the
distance. “The road doesn't go there, I'm afraid.”
Brother Aron climbed from the wagon and
stretched. “You have been more than generous, friend. I thank you
kindly,” he said, giving a bow to the man who had let him ride for
quite a ways.
The farmer nodded and then shook a
stick at the oxen pulling the cart. “Get a moving, you ugly beast.”
Aron smiled for a brief moment before
turning toward the wooded incline. The grayish peak in the distance
rose up and dominated the wood that surrounded it. The image of the
swaying trees bowing and giving homage to the rocky peak crossed his
mind. He pushed it away and cursed the devil for the thought.
Brother Aron adjusted his pack and
began walking, hoping he would arrive before nightfall. Just before
nightfall he found a gray-stone tower, barely big enough for a
hermit. It backed against the ugly rocky peak, where Aron was sure a
cave entrance must be.
“I am Brother Aron, I have been sent
by the Monsignor!” He cried out, hopeful that the caretaker of this
place would hear and come. He repeated this again a few minutes later
and soon after the large wooden doors were disbarred and then opened.
A gray-haired man with a bushy beard
wearing a simple brown robe greeted him. “The Monsignor has sent
you, you say? Monsignor Allan,
how is he these days?”
Brother
Aron frowned. “Monsignor Allan passed away eleven winters ago, I am
sorry to report. I have been sent by Monsignor Bruno. He has read
some of your reports, I gathered he was concerned. Still, he did not
tell me anything.”
The
man grinned. “You do not understand what this hermitage is for,
then, Brother Aron?”
Brother
Aron shook his head, “I admit to knowing nothing at all. I had
never even known this place existed before I was sent.”
The
man nodded and waved his hand. “You will be wanting to come inside,
it's getting dark. I have warm stew if you are hungry.”
Once
inside the old man barred the door with quite a large piece of
lumber. Inside it was dark, only a candle here and there allowed
Brother Aron to follow the old man to the study. A fire in the
fireplace, a stew-pot next to it, the walls were unadorned but there
were shelves with books and on the table with scraps of parchment was
a large heavy crucifix.
“Please,
sit down,” The old man said, “I assume you know my name?”
“I was not told.”
The man chuckled and began scraping
stew into a dish, which he delivered to the table in front of Brother
Aron with a wooden spoon. After this he sat on a stool on the other
side. “My name in Benjamin, Brother Benjamin. I have been here on
duty for some thirty-seven winters now.”
Aron dropped the spoon and gaped. Then
good manners returned. “I apologize for my reaction, I am simply
finding it hard to fathom.”
“No apologies needed.” The man
said, seeming to find it amusing. “Indeed, I'd be disappointed if
you hadn't reacted. I will ask you this; what do you suppose the
purpose of this place and my purpose in being here is?”
Brother
Aron was confused. “Aren't you a hermit? To spend your life in
prayer and praise of God and keep apart from the low pursuits of
men?”
The
old man shook his head. “No. I do a fair bit of praying, no doubt.
It comes with the job, which I can show you better than to explain
with words.”
He
walked to the door and grabbed a torch which he lit in the fireplace.
“Follow me, you shall not be disappointed.”
Aron
was not surprised to be led into a cave that wound down and down
underneath the ugly peak, along the way more torches were lit.
“If
you are not a hermit, then why live like one?” Aron asked as they
walked. Finally the descent was over and they stood in a wider space.
Benjamin walked around the room and lit torches on four sides.
“I
am a jailer.” Benjamin said with some amusement, watching for a
reaction. Aron was thoroughly confused by this point. Benjamin
glanced at the center of the chamber where a large square stone
plinth-like object sat.
“What
is that?” Aron asked, walking toward it to get a better look. There
were engravings all around it, most were Biblical references and
verses.
“At
first we thought it might be something like the sarcophagus of the
ancient Egyptians.” Brother Benjamin told him, he waved the torch
over it. “But no human engraved those words and symbols.”
They
were masterfully done by skilled workers no doubt. “Of course they
were human?”
Old
Benjamin laughed again. He walked to one of the corners and handed an
iron chisel to Brother Aron as well as a heavy mallet. “It is
impervious to tools. Give it a try.”
Brother
Aron wondered if the old man was senile. Of course it was not
impervious. He lifted the mallet while holding the chisel on the top
corner of the stone structure, where chipping it should be the
easiest, he'd at least leave a mark.
Bang!
It
hadn't even left a scratch. Brother Aron struck the chisel a second
time without leaving a mark. The sarcophagus, though, had lit up
brightly and a sound like a horrible wailing filled the chamber.
Brother Aron dropped the tools and backed away wrapping both arms
around his head.
Then
the light and terrible noise dwindled to a growl and vanished.
Brother
Aron was quite shaken and scared.
“The
prisoner doesn't like it too much.” Brother Benjamin said,
conversationally. “As I said, I am a jailer. Not a monk.”
Brother
Aron grabbed Benjamin's sleeve. “I want to leave this cursed place.
Take me back.”
Benjamin
led him back up the pathway and then back to the study. Neither man
said a word the whole time. Aron sat on the bench and rested his arms
on the table.
“What
was that thing?” Aron asked.
“I'm
afraid nobody really knows. We have theories and ideas, we also have
wild notions. The church is involved because they believe it may be
the tomb of Lucifer,” Benjamin told him, “Otherwise there would
have been no ability to keep all of this a secret.”
Brother
Aron walked to the far wall, finding it completely covered by a
bookshelf containing many scrolls and bound volumes. “After
thirty-seven winters, is this all you know of it?”
Benjamin
rubbed his nose. “Of course not. I know things I would have never
written down, not even in a report to the Monsignor.”
Aron
looked sharply at the old man. “You keep things from your
benefactor?”
Benjamin
frowned. “If I had been given alternatives, I shall not have been
here for thirty-seven winters, I assure you.”
“There
is a monster in the cave,” Aron said, “There must be a way to
slay it.”
Brother
Benjamin smiled and walked to the fireplace, taking a seat on a low
stool there. “We cannot access the sarcophagus. I am afraid that if
we released the beast inside, it would consume us all. It is not
likely Lucifer, a fallen angel surely, but of an intelligence. No, it
is a real monster, as you say, one that must stay where it is.”
“What
if it were to escape?”
“Calamity,
no doubt.” The old man said. “My most sacred duty to the human
species is to never allow the beast its freedom.”
“It
must be slain! It is too dangerous,” Brother Aron argued.
“A
foolish but expected thought.” Benjamin said, “You would have to
free it before you can try and kill it, of which you would likely
fail. That beast has been imprisoned for centuries, possibly
millennium, liberating it, even for the purpose of slaughter would
end the human species as the final act of arrogance and foolishness.”
“How
can a monster survive without feeding?” Aron asked.
“A
question that has been asked many times, for many decades.”
Benjamin answered. “It lives in another realm, unlike this one. It
probably has access to whatever sustenance it requires, but it is not
strong enough to break through.”
“Can
you open it?” Brother Aron asked. “We can take swords and
torches. Beasts are afraid of flame! We could slaughter it
ourselves.”
Benjamin
looked a bit alarmed. “That was not the purpose for which you were
sent, Brother Aron. I beseech you to set aside such dangerous
thoughts.”
“Why
was I sent here? I no longer wish to be here. I will leave at
sun-up!”
Benjamin
chuckled again. “There are things I cannot tell you. Not while you
are so impatient. You must think things through before you ever dare
act. I should ask the Monsignor to send someone less passionate and
imperious.”
Deep
in the night Brother Aron was woken by a bright flash of light and a
growling voice. At first it seemed like a dream. Then Brother
Benjamin opened the door and shined a torch into the bed chamber and
was carrying a sword.
“I
am relieved to find you here, and safe,” The old man said. “I
have to tell you something. One of the reasons I sent a message to
the Monsignor was to request help. I fear that the beast has been
getting stronger for it invades my sleep, it has learned to intrude
on our dreams. It will be able to influence our thoughts.”
Brother Aron was aghast. “The foul
creature is some kind of demon, certainly. If the scripture on the
sarcophagus was not carved by man, what put the words there?”
Benjamin took one step closer to the
bed, he lit a nearby torch on the wall. “I believe that the
creature was once intelligent. That it was losing its mind and
determined to protect the Earth by imprisoning itself. I believe the
verses on the sarcophagus were put there while the prison was forged.
Call them demons or dragons, both would live in more than one realm,
more than just our physical world.”
“A dragon?
A powerful, mad dragon?”
“Perhaps
the last of its kind.” Benjamin said with a nod. “For thirty
winters I have heard it's roar and growl but I have also heard it
speak, at least telepathically. Possibly analogous to talking in your
sleep. It has not spoken for sixteen winters.”
“There
must be a way to slay it or banish it to the other realm forever.”
Brother Aron said.
“I
have studied this topic for decades, Brother Aron. It is impossible,”
Benjamin said, “But if the beast is growing stronger and more
monstrous, then something must be done. I am at a loss as to how to
handle this.”
Brother
Aron picked up his sword and picked a torch from the wall and left
the bedchamber.
“Where are you going?”
Benjamin asked.
“I
am going to slay the beast!” Aron answered.
“I
beg you to put such deranged thoughts aside. The beast is influencing
your actions.” Benjamin said, following the younger man through the
corridor, “It wants you to let it out, can't you see?”
Brother
Aron ignored the pleadings of the old man all the way down to the
buried chamber. He re-lit the torches on the stone walls and turned
his attention to the sarcophagus. Benjamin stepped between Aron and
the stone prison.
“You
cannot do this.” Benjamin told him.
“You
lied to me,” Aron said, “You said there was no way to free the
creature. I know by your reactions that this is untrue.”
Benjamin
nodded. “It is too dangerous. You must leave the creature where it
is!”
The
stone prison was now flashing different colors.
“I
shall defend the world and slay the demon.” Aron said, holding up
his sword, as if convincing himself.
Benjamin
pulled out his own sword. “I must stop you. I beg of you, do not do
this.”
“I slay this foul demon in the name
of God!” He said before rushing forward. Benjamin backed up nearer
to the prison before their swords clanged. Several times he was able
to block the stroke of the younger mans' sword.
“This is madness! Brother Aron,
control yourself!” Benjamin exhorted, as he began to tire.
Brother Aron stepped back then quickly
yelled and rushed at the older man who was knocked onto the top of
the stone prison. His shoulder gushed blood and his eyes were wide.
“You've doomed us all!” The old man
said.
As Brother Aron watched the blood that
covered the stone block was sucked inside of it. Then Benjamin
screamed and Aron could see his face and skin turn pure white as his own blood was
taken. Aron dropped the sword and backed away as the body of Benjamin
became emaciated and then flattened and then was ingested by the
block completely.
“No.” Aron muttered, his mind now
clearing. “No, no.”
The flashing lights of the stone prison
was now bright red, and a beating sound like a heart was loud enough
to hurt Aron's ears.
“Please, God, no!” He said, his
face covered in tears and snot as he cried, falling to his knees
“What have I done?”
Suddenly
the stone prison shattered, showering the room and Brother Aron with
fragments. Through the dust in the air something large was moving
about. It turned and faced the human, so much smaller than itself.
Its red eyes looked very evil to the terrified human who tried to
crawl away.
“Get
behind me, Satan!” The human cried.
The
beast smiled, showing many needle-sharp teeth. “You have me
confused with someone else, but I am flattered by the compliment.”
Brother
Aron had backed up against the wall of the chamber. “Benjamin said
you had become mad.”
The
beast grinned. “Old Benjamin was fanciful, he enjoyed telling
himself stories about me. He was quite tasty, but I require a bit
more than one thin man before I can continue to exist on this world.”
Brother
Aron felt the beast digging through his mind. It became painful and
he collapsed into curled position holding his head. “Yes, the
villages. I shall grow fat on human meat and learn much from their
minds. If you wish, I will let you live for a time, Brother Aron. You
may call me Master Grotiss.”
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