More in this series: Prologue, Ch. 1, Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, Ch. 5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch. 8, Ch. 9, Ch. 10, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 13, Ch. 14, Ch. 15, Ch. 16, Ch. 17, Ch. 18, Ch. 19, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch.22, Ch. 23
Nic quickly slid into the holes
Setting in motion the plan to unfold.
A little while later Nic arrived at Central Pole Bank
Fully exposed except for the deep dark of the night so late.
Nic prepared to sneak in.
“It’s time to begin,”
Nic thought nervously
Pulling the keys out with a sense of urgency.
In the front door with an eight elf team. Then back to the vaults to prepare the first scene. No one else in the building this early in the morning. No security yet to sound an alarm or send a warning. They had the keys. So they were free To do as they pleased, And set up everything they would need. In a few hours the march would start, But now was one of the most critical parts To mitigate mass confusion, And prepare for those who would abuse them. Deep in the vaults They made a series of holds With secret holes For food and resources to pass through, And others for marchers to escape to. They removed certain goblin gold As a strategic ransom to hold Against some of the most powerful. Not stealing. They’d just withhold Quite a hefty sort of collateral As an incentive for the goblins to fold. When the bank workers arrived None were surprised, For they found nothing out of the normal. Most sat at their desks. Others performed routine checks. Nothing appeared out of the normal. Back in the vaults The secret work came to a halt So as not to signal premature trouble. All was going to plan. So, when the march began It could go as smoothly as possible. Nic and the eight Sat in wait In the hidden tunnels they had made Ready to make a quick escape Just in case Some part of the plan went astray.
Klasina and Shurshkenmöch worked hard and long
To help yetis and herders work together and get along.
The Pole needed all they could get
To protect the workers from outside infringement--
To set a precedent of nonviolence if possible
And hold positions of strategic significance throughout the North Pole.
“Our task is to shut the goblins out,” Klasina urged
While Shurshkenmöch elaborated and affirmed her words.
Yeti’s trusted Klasina and Shurshkenmöch.
It was to the herders that Klasina primarily spoke.
Yetis inspired fear
Often killing herders’ deer.
Usually territorial and violent,
Relations between the groups were consistently hostile.
“Yetis and herders have to stand together
If the Guild and their friends are going to weather
“The force the goblins will inevitably send
Against us until whatever end.
“Level snow
Or high drifts blow,
“When we unite all will know
We won’t be deterred from our goal.
“For good or for ill
Is a matter of will,
An intentional decision
Through imagination and vision.
“We have the will and the vision.
Now is the time to make the decision.
“Will we drown in our own tension,
Or come together for this mission:
“To oust the goblins who took our land?
Working together we’ll carry out this plan.
“This shift is coming in days and hours,
Shifting world of changing powers.
“We must rise from the melting ice
To bring new life from goblin demise.
“The snow falls on all of us alike.
Let’s make a North Pole where all can thrive.
“We’ll give the gift of our strong presence
Beginning to shape an economy of presents
“In which we give to each other,
Give for the good of one another.
“We’ll share the beautiful North Pole
Equally as it is all of our home.
“We’ll show the world what grace can do
Living together in the abundance of generosity we choose
“As a way of life in which we refuse
To participate in a system of abuse.”
Klasina and Shurshkenmöch carved a rough picture for their listeners.
They portrayed a wonderfully possible future with vivid words.
Then they came back to the task at hand.
Klasina explained the details of the plan.
She ended with these words of exhortation
Having lit a fire in the collective imagination,
“Before we can prosper in peace
We must accomplish this one thing.
“We must strike at what the goblins care for the most.
We will do this as a massive popular polar host.
“Strike the banks and strike the commerce.
Through this we protect the elves and all other workers.
“Ruffle your furs.
Unsettle your herds.
“Surround the polar outskirts
The goblins can join us or leave, in other words.
“Together we strike.
It is time to unite.”