Subject:
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Re: Rules of War
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.loc.au
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Date:
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Tue, 18 Jul 2000 10:23:00 GMT
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Viewed:
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715 times
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There are many worlds and many times. In some of these Monkey was not so
fortunate.
It is written that the Great Sage won a fine victory over the Jade
Emperor, and then left the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit in search of
Enlightenment. That he journeyed with the Priest, the Pig and the Water
Spirit to India, and found Nirvana.
In another universe, the genius of Monkey was less profound. His stone
palace was destroyed by the forces of Heaven, leaving him a ragged
wanderer. But just as a stream may follow two courses for a time, only
later to make a single river, so too does this history.
Kuan-yin, the guardian of mortals and immortals alike, saw that Monkey
would be a worthy companion to the Priest, Tripitaka. She made him a
fellow pilgrim, and caused the Great Sage to call the priest
Master. Together with Pigsy and Sandy, banished from Heaven for lust and
clumsiness, they sought a greater knowledge of the Buddha's teaching.
The crow may fly along a straight line, but the path of Enlightenment is
not so direct. Thus it happened as they made their journey to the
west, the pilgrims travelled east. Guided by the wind, swept by the
waves, they ventured across the sea.
After many hungry nights gazing at the moon on the rippling ocean, the
four companions landed. "Oi, you! Have you got any food?" demanded Monkey
of a fisherman.
Trembling at the fearful visage of the Stone Monkey, the fisherman replied,
"Do not kill me master, the tribute is nearly ready."
"What tribute must a poor fisherman pay?" asked Tripitaka. "And do you
have any tuna?" added Pigsy.
"You are not warriors of the Skystalker?" "No," laughed Monkey. "We are
pilgrims, seeking holy scriptures in India!" "Then you must have taken a
wrong turn somewhere Pilgrim," the increasingly bold fisherman replied.
"You are in Garin-baroki, the country of Bonsai, in the hundred islands of
Pip-pon. Our lord is harsh -- every year my village must give half our
food and six of our daughters to the forces of the Shogun. What's more we
must follow his Rules."
"A tribute is not uncommon," said Tripitaka. "And without Rules there
would be chaos." "But Master, that business about the daughters doesn't
sound very nice." "That is true Sandy. While a priest should not fight,
neither should he let the innocent suffer."
"Have you any sons?" asked Monkey. "All were killed, except my youngest. I
sent him away, hoping he might find a samurai or seven to come to our aid.
Even a few small bands of trained warriors would be helpful. But that was
three years ago, and now I fear he is dead like his brothers."
"Hmmm," said Monkey. "I feel like a bit of fun. And for once I might play
by the rules, on the battle field or any other."
--Dave L
In lugnet.loc.au, James Howse writes:
>
> Shogun Bonsai squinted through the telescope. He could see the sails on the
> horizion. He put down the glass and turned to his advisors.
>
> "There are many questions..." he began.
> "The date is nigh, where will they land?"
>
> "My Lord," said Queue (so called because of the hairstyle he effected)
> "We think they will land either in the west, on the river plains or in the
> north."
>
> "Hmmm, we have fought on the plains before, what is the terrain like to the
> north?"
>
> Orinjade answered "No-one knows sire, our spies bring mixed reports."
>
> "This may be a difficulty."
>
> Orinjade continued. "If it is the north, there may not be a battle at all"
>
> "We have the force to face anyone is this not so? But we need not commit all
> our troops. Do we have any idea of their strength?"
>
> The forces in the ship number around thirty, and there are reports the
> Imperious Drew masses the divine armies with a count comparable to our own.
> There are further reports of the armies of The Plains and Nushwensten" said
> the Skystalker, Dragonrider and Lord of the Nightwing monks.
>
> "And the God Futbol, will he distract these forces?"
>
> "I cannot answer that, Highness, but we too can play at that game."
>
> "Quite so. And finally, do you think these foes will respect The Rules Of War?"
>
> There was silence in the room. Everyone remembered the battle of the stream,
> it was a famous story, though not a famous victory. Bonsai picked up the
> telescope again and sighed.
>
> "We will consult the oracles, let messages be sent to the corners of the
> circle, let it be know information will be rewarded."
>
> James (who's enjoying his holiday, can you tell?)
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Rules of War
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| Shogun Bonsai squinted through the telescope. He could see the sails on the horizion. He put down the glass and turned to his advisors. "There are many questions..." he began. "The date is nigh, where will they land?" "My Lord," said Queue (so (...) (24 years ago, 17-Jul-00, to lugnet.loc.au)
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