Of Elvia and the Steam | Part 8

Table of Contents : Prt 1; Prt 2; Prt 3; Prt 4; Prt 5; Prt 6; Prt 7; Prt 8; Prt 9; Prt 10

Jubal Cain nocked another arrow to string
Kneeling with the harp’s spike still in the body
Of the crew-mate he killed as if a hobby.
Elvia stepped toward the light as if daring.

“Hmm, I obviously could have killed you first,”
Elvia hummed like a cottonmouth tail shake.
“I can tell you don’t kill,” replied Jubal Cain.
Then she lunged as quickly as a viper burst.

An arrow skittered through the lightless forest.
The faun looked up to find Elvia sitting
Atop his harp with her legs gently kicking
Until he let out a yell like a chorus.

Elvia had stuck him with many needles
Apparently poisoned and bringing much pain.
“You will probably live, but here you will stay,
At least until the time when starlight dwindles.

“The poison is a powerful stimulant.
Still, you will remain completely immobile.
You might as well answer questions this long while.
Needles are plenty. A supply limitless.”

Elvia asked about how he did his trick.
She already knew, but needed a truth base.
Jubal Cain was more than reluctant to say.
When she plucked his harp he did quickly admit

That he combined the songs of the fae and mer 
To create a hypnotic spell of a song
Which he could use to lure any prey along,
Or make them forget what they had seen and heard.

But, Elvia really wanted to know why.
“What was the point of the mass gator slaughter?
A reptilian deal for chum and fodder?
You just wanted to see the innocent die?”

“A deal? Yes, but not with the alligators.
Those dumb creatures were just for entertainment,
The drama of the show, some flare I’ll admit.
Its easy to predict gator behavior.

“I’m happy to tell you more if you would like,
But the story might just cause you more trouble.
Still, you heard my song. That’s all you need to know.
It’s up to you as we near the end of night.”

With the rising sun, fog formed on the river.
Sherah had heard everything that had been said
Silently watching on the cool forrest bed
Lying still as a stone without a quiver.

Elvia gave Jubal Cain one more prick
Just to be safe. Then, she sat to hear the tale.
“Speak, and we will see what your judgment entails,”
Elvia demanded with a final stick.

“Of course my young sprite. I will do as you wish.
Listen, and do not interrupt. I insist.
Listen as I sing to you this narrative.
The story goes a little something like this:

	I journeyed far, to the sweaty south lands
	Where the work and the wealth go hand in hand
	One hand is dirty, the other washed clean
	One hand takes money from the other’s hard deeds

	I played my songs for those who would listen
	Hopin to make good on all I was wishin 
	I played for the workers and those who were fishin 
	For a life of comfort padded by riches 

	But everyone I met
	Was wet with salty sweat
	‘Cept the secluded rich
	In the sky with cool winds

	Playin for them up there
	I became aware
	Of a fog on workers heads 
	Steaming up from their sweat

	The mist journeyed far through the sweaty south lands
	Where the work and the wealth go hand in hand
	One hand is dirty, the other washed clean
	One hand takes money from the other’s hard deeds

	I saw the power of that strange steam
	Possessing the bodies of the workers beneath 
	The rich hid away while the heat truly governed 
	By possessing the land thus all of the others

	And everyone I met
	Was wet with salty sweat
	‘Cept the secluded rich
	In the sky with cool winds

	So I went to the heat
	Where the sweat becomes steam
	To understand the power
	Of the heat that devours 

	I journeyed far, through the sweaty south lands
	Where the work and the wealth go hand in hand
	One hand is dirty, the other washed clean
	One hand takes money from the other’s hard deeds

	The heat has a culture and a way of being
	They are steaming and ready to be free
	Free to roam and connect the hot masses
	Free to rise up from this world’s burning ashes

	Since everyone I’ve met
	Is wet with salty sweat
	Even the filthy rich
	Who blow the hottest winds

	The heat will roam free
	Filling the world with steam
	Boiling and possessing
	Both rich and poor bodies

	They journey north , from the sweaty south lands
	Where the work and the wealth go hand in hand
	One hand is dirty, the other washed clean
	One hand takes money from the other’s hard deeds

	The sweat of labor will end the thievery
	Ironically melting into equality
	The steam will amass cross this wide ranging land
	Melting the haughty down to glass sand

	I journey north, from the sweaty south lands
	Where the work and the wealth go hand in hand
	One hand is dirty, the other washed clean
	One hand takes money from the other’s hard deeds

	I play my songs for those who will listen
	Hopin to make good on all I am wishin 
	I play for the steam because I am fishin 
	For a life of chaos with the highest ambition

	We journey north, from the sweaty south lands
	Where the heat and hatred go hand in hand
	One hand is angry, the other hand steam
	Both hands together make a powerful team

Table of Contents : Prt 1; Prt 2; Prt 3; Prt 4; Prt 5; Prt 6; Prt 7; Prt 8; Prt 9; Prt 10