I battled a serpent yesterday.

 

It began with a desire. A small change. Not much.

 

Then again, I knew nothing about the beast.

…

 

Everything began simple enough.  I grabbed what appeared to be a small gardener snake and set to work curving its tail just a bit–as I saw fit–to make it look less like another snake in the pile and more like what I desired this snake to be.  What people told me this snake should be.  They were right. It was simple.

 

As I worked I began to question what this snake truly was.  As I pulled on its tail and slowly formed it into another being, it seemed to slowly grow and change in the most subtle and peculiar of ways. It seemed harmless enough however and before long I had the snake I wanted, placing it back into the pen with the other snakes.  Yet as I stood and watched my creatures, my mind seemed to be whispering something I could not quite make out.  I noticed my modified snake would not play nicely with the others.  It crawled over and atop of the other snakes.  When I put them in line it refused to stay in position.  This snake seemed to affect the others, even casting the slightest hints of maroon on the edges of the others as they danced about.

 

Distraught, I took the snake back to my work table only to realize the working table was not adequate for this job.  The table was simple enough, but did not give me the tools to work this snake properly.  I tugged and pushed and fought with the snake and the table, as the table slowly hardened into stone.

 

Something was wrong.

 

I walked a bit away from my working area and hut, to search for another table. A table with the tools I needed to mold this snake.  I came across a number of prophets, each one declaring they new the answer. Each one pointing me down a path they guaranteed would take me to my answer.  But I questioned their motives, their judgement, what they would ask of me.  Must I renounce my existence in this world to use the table you tell me of?

 

I continued on. The landscape turning to pale yellows and pockets of soft blues. Before long, sand dunes rose before me. The snake was now too big to carry, I drug it behind me as it slashed and thrashed about.

 

I found a clearing that one of the prophets had spoken of.  This clearing had a table that looked suitable.  I turned to haul the snake onto the table.  I was met with the glare of a serpent’s eyes.  I stumbled back frightened by this transformation.  The serpent reared up, towering above me and enveloping me in harsh purples.

 

Gathering courage I straightened and stared down the serpent.  With conviction I walked towards the beast, eyes fixed on the glint of deceit in its eyes.  It did not move. I walked further. It stood still, gazing down at me.  I inhaled, and grabbed its tail. It did not fight back. I lugged its tail onto the table and began to work. Slowly pulling one way, then another, massaging the beast’s tail into the form I needed.  Occasionally I would pull too hard and the beast would tense, a subtle hint that if I continued on all would be for naught. I continued, finding more and more tools to work with. The prophet had spoke true, the table was honest.

 

Eventually the tail was in place. With the confidence of victory I grabbed the tail to move it off of the table. The beast roared, the table shattered. I was thrown back. In horror I watched as the beast grew larger, blocking out the sun, the sky, everything.  All I could see was the sickly purple of its shadow; on the ground, on my skin, I could feel it in my lungs.  The table lay in pieces, standing before it was the prophet. The prophet had deceived me. I was forced to choose, the serpent bearing upon me I scrambled across the sand to the table.

 

“This table can be fixed.”

 

“How”

 

“Give me the gold coin in your pocket”

 

Was it worth it? I had not the time to consider the validity of this prophet’s deal.  The serpent was bearing down, in desperation I threw my gold coin.  The prophet smiled and tapped the table. It assembled again. I rolled past the charging serpent, grabbing its tail and clamping it onto the table. The beast screamed in the color of hatred, yet I continued, smashing and tugging its tail into submission.  With one final blow the tail curved and the beast  fell.

 

I charged in its moment of weakness.  I grabbed the vile beast by its neck and flung it over the heavens and back to where I began.  I myself flew over the sands with the fervor of victory, gliding along the warm air streams.  In moments I stood before the beast, my snakes already assembled. I shoved the serpent back into line with the others, pummeling its body into place, spittle flying from my sneering lips.  In fear the other snakes did my bidding, aligning as I needed. The serpent could not best my will, it fell onto its back and I saw there its weakness.  I slammed my fist into its stomach and felt it depress.  The snakes immediately danced as I had bid them, but the dance was wrong! The serpent laughed in triumph and mocked me as complete chaos fell upon my troop.

 

I watched their thriving bodies as I lay upon the sand. My breath came in short draws, my vision gathering darkness at the edges.  I looked at my hands, bruised and bloodied. I would not win this battle.  With resignation I began to crawl. The snakes bit and lashed at my body.  Behind me was a trail of blood and defeat, slowly turning black as it seeped into the earth.  As I drew close to the serpent it paused, watching in confusion at my pathetic attempt to overcome.  I had no hope, no knowledge of what to do. I was resigned to defeat. The music began to play in my ears, a slow piano number gently floating along.  With my last energy I crawled past the serpent and into my hut, into my bed, and as I shut my eyes all I wished was that I could have another chance. If I could just travel back, reload, restart, whatever it took, maybe I could make it right.  Outside the beast stared at me. My eyes closed.

 

…

I dreamed of success. I dreamed of recognition and honors bestowed upon me.  In this world of shifting vantage points, I witnessed myself on stage as they gave me all that I desired.  

…

 

I am awake! I look outside to see the creatures. It appears as if they are coming back into form. As if during my slumber they just ceased to exist and were now forming back into being, as demanded by some all knowing deity.  Their color and shape began on the ground and slowly flowed up , filling them in with jumps and starts that seemed to mock me, as if it would end when it chose, whenever and if ever it did.  The serpent was center among them. Towering in the air, yet somehow appearing unsettled by my continued presence. I stood up, knees shaking.  I began to walk on my legs of glass.  I stumbled once or twice, but I was approaching still as the creatures continued to form.  I reached the serpent. I looked deep in its eyes. What I saw was not hate or hunger, merely complete and absolute indifference. The serpent did not despise me, it did not want to harm me, it simply did not want. I reached out my hand and collapsed into the belly of the beast. In my last moment I felt my hand slowly depress its stomach.