Ryuhiko - 10

Shinmasa had figured out Lefu Sefefo's plan and the discovery made Shinmasa work all the harder to learn and prepare. By day he practiced his dragon skills and talked to Moru about dragons and life. Night after night he would return to the emptiness that is not empty hoping to meet his father. He grew stronger day by day, but more importantly he grew wiser.

He and Moru spent hours discussing nature and what was at stake in their battle with Lefu Sefefo. The reality of Lefu's use of negative human emotions naturally and quickly led to quantum physics and how that relates to the conservation of energy. In quantum physics we learn that everything in the universe is interconnected or, perhaps better expressed, one. The individual person or item being distinguished as individual is only seen as an item or individual by an observer through the illusion of macro-physics. If this is true then we must accept that what happens to one part of the universe will necessarily effect all other parts of the universe.

The famous psychologist, Carl Jung, believed in interconnectedness and studied quantum physics and eastern mysticism along with his psychological research to confirm his concept of synchronicity in which the belief in ultimate oneness of the universe is not only implicit but fundamental. The reason that the western mind has so much trouble with this concept is, according to Jung, the westerner carefully sifts, weighs, selects, classifies and isolates while the Asian “picture of the moment encompasses everything down to the minutest nonsensical detail, because all of the ingredients make up the observed moment.” What troubled Shimasa was how one could reconcile the oneness of two such extreme opposites. How could he, or anyone, accept that he was one with this spirit who is full of such hatred and animosity that he is not only willing but desirous to destroy all life on planet earth. The only possible explanation came in the form of yin and yang. Yin and yang would explain the polar opposites of Lefu and Ryuhiko, but there was something missing. It just didn't fit. Yin and yang do adequately, if not superbly, explain a perceived balance in the universe, but Shinmasa could not accept that yin and yang were absolutes; that is, that there was no other option or reality.

Shinmasa thought back to his college days when he took a philosophy course. The professor promised an 'A' to any student who could show an opposite to love. In the end result, when the smoke had cleared, none of the students could show an opposite to love. It sounds ridiculous but true. English has one word 'love' which it uses to label all forms of love. To 'love' a mate is, in fact, very different than, say, to 'love' ice cream. To the latter one can define an opposite which, in English, would be 'hate'. But there is no opposite to 'love' between two people. Long story short, it doesn't exist. The Greeks have four words for love – Eros (ἔρως) - love, mostly of the sexual passion; Philia (φιλία) - affectionate regard, friendship, love for family member; Storge (στοργή) - love, affection as with a parent for a child (rare in ancient Greek); and Agape (ἀγάπη) - love, especially brotherly love, charity. One can not identify hate as the opposite for any of these.

While Ryuhiko may be the yang to Lefu's yin, it does not define a relationship that must be. To be a day, must there always be a night? Does not the world's moon always have the same face to the sun. Yes, but that means that the dark side is the yin to the bright side's yang. The mental argument went on and on and on. The only hope was that there is no real and true opposite to love. That alone is the foundation on which one can say yin and yang are not absolute.

Lefu Sefefo knew that Shinmasa would eventually figure out his plan. Actually Lefu wanted him to figure it out and be there to see the beginning of the end of North America but he didn't want him to figure it out in time to do anything to foil his plan. To keep him busy Lefu decided that he needed to create some chaos to attract Ryuhiko's attention and keep him occupied.

Unfortunately the basic personality of the homo sapiens gave Lefu Sefefo plenty of opportunity to cause trouble. The small island of Pulau Sulu was just what Lefu needed. It was actually a part of the Phillipines but it was only 53 miles from Malaysia while it was 135 miles from the nearest other island in the Phillipines. With the average elevation being like that of so many of these small islands, only about three meters, the people were understandably worried when the sea started to rise. Malaysia and Phillipines have a cordial relationship but there's no love lost between them. Politically they are fighting over several islands and Malaysia is a Moslem nations while the Phillipines is predominantly Roman Catholic. It didn't take much for Lefu to do his dirty work.

He sent a rather skilled trouble-maker by the name of Mmolai Botle. The plan was to keep hitting Pulau Sulu with unusual and severe storms. This would not only do serious damage but cause the surrounding seas to rise which would daily increase the risk of the island finding itself under water. The people would begin to flee and they would naturally flee to the closest place; viz. Malaysia. It was then Mmolai's job to get the people in Malaysia angry at the refugees to the point that they turn violent.

Shinmasa first became aware of the situation from watching the news on his laptop. Lefu was right. It did attract Ryuhiko's attention.

“You know that's Lefu's handiwork,” warned Moru. “He's baiting you. He wants to get you out before you're ready.”

“Oh, I have no doubt that it's Lefu,” agreed Shinmasa, “but I'm not so sure he's looking for a fight.”

“And why would you say that?”

“Because when he confronted us in the storm he told me that he wasn't going to kill me because he wants me to see North America die,” said Shinmasa while studying maps of Pulau Sulu. Moru could tell that he wasn't paying a bit of attention to her warning. “How long do you think it would take me to fly there?”

“A very long time,” Moru snapped. She was a tad annoyed about being ignored. She'd known Lefu her entire life. But there was no argument and Moru very quickly concluded that, if she wasn't going to stop Shinmasa, she'd better do her best to protect him.

Ryuhiko planned his flight so that he would arrive in Pulau Sulu after dark. Even in the darkness he could see that all of the stilt houses along the coast were under water and what passed for the high spot of the island was just barely above sea. Most of the huts that were not under water were on their sides, broken and crumpled. They looked like grotesque silhouettes in the dark with light from the fires adding to the unnatural appearance. He could make out groups of people lying on the ground near small fires huddled together against the evening chill that was present even in the tropics. Most of the people had no clothes. Naked children lay snuggled as close as they could get to an adult while many adults were using themselves as human shelter for others. Trash and debris was scatter all around.

As Ryuhiko looked down on the devastation and human suffering he filled with emotion. He couldn't tell which was stronger, the urge to cry or scream out in rage. He struggled with the drive to do something to help. The frustration was almost more than he could bear. There was no reason to even stop here. He could do nothing about this misery. The only way he could help these people was by stopping Lefu Sefefo. Sadly he lifted high into the air and headed south toward Malaysia.

He barely made it to landfall before light. He found that the Pulau Suluians had first fled to a small fishing village on the north end of Jambongan Island. At first they had been welcomed by the local fishermen until a stranger named Kebenaran Khas, claiming to be a government official, showed up and started telling them that these immigrants were going to take their jobs, destroy the fishing and violate their religion. With sentiment turning against them the immigrants who were already on the island fled southeast along the coast to a heavy jungle area where they could hide, and new refugees soon learned where to go.

By the time that Ryuhiko arrived Kebenaran Khas had so enraged the local residents that they were hunting and killing the refugees from Pulai Sulu. It didn't take Shinmasa long to find Kebenaran, and it didn't take any time listening to the man rant and rave about the evil Pulai Suluians and how they must be destroyed to recognize this provocateur as a human manifestation of Mmolai Botle.

“These aliens will take our jobs and destroy our fishing. Their island isn't sinking. They are just saying that so they can take what is yours. Are you going to tolerate that?” The crowd yelled “No! No!”

“These aliens,” he continued, “will be around your children. They are infidels. Who knows what blasphemy they might teach your children. Do you want them talking to your children?”

“No! No!” the audience again yelled.

“Are you going to tolerate them around your women and children?” The crowd responded as expected and Kebenaran smiled an evil smile.

“They take your jobs, destroy your fishing, and violate the one true religion. What does the Prophet say of such infidels?”

“Kill the infidels!” the crowd began to chant. Kebenaran raised his arms in encouragement and the crowd chanted louder.

Shinmasa worked to get close to the hate preacher. After one of Kebenaran's rallies he was working the crowd. Shinmasa made his way up to the front and feigned being pushed into the politician as he drew near. Shinmasa caught a slight whiff of putrescine. A shiver of disgust passed through him.

As Shinmasa regained his balance he stood up face to face with Kebenaran. He looked into the imposter's eyes. There was nothing. At least there was nothing until their hands touched. When Kebenaran's hand touched Shinmasa's Kebenaran received a shock. The look of recognition, the hatred and pure evil, filled his eyes. Shinmasa wondered whether or not those around them could see his eyes. Kebenaran pulled his hand away quickly.

“The Master was right,” said Mmolai softly. “All I had to do was waste a few useless natives and you'd come running.” He paused to smile and shake the hand of a supporter then turned back to Shinmasa with a smirk, “Or did you fly, Ryuhiko?”

“It's over,” Shinmasa said. “I'm going to stop you.”

“Hush young dragon,” Mmolai said while still smiling, waving and shaking hands with well-wishers, “all I have to do is identify you as 'one of them' and you will die right now.”

“If you didn't have some reason to keep me here or let me live, you'd have already sicked them on me.”

Shinmasa turned and walked away. He didn't really know how he was going to stop Mmolai. His manifestation as Kebenaran had popular support and would keep it as long as he could maintain their hatred and anger. Shinmasa could try to expose his lies but no one was willing to doubt him. He was playing the religion card.

That's the interesting thing about religion, thought Shinmasa. A truly evil person can easily use religion because people are afraid to doubt, question or contradict what they are saying. Many religious documents from the Abrahemic religions end with statements threatening hell and damnation if the person reading the document doubts it. Shinmasa thought about a friend of his who was a Christian seminary professor with a PhD in both Old and New Testament. One day a Christian door-knocker stopped at the professor's home. When the professor opened the door they started their speel. Without telling them that he was a seminary professor he started replying to their memorized statements and proof texting with his own “biblical quotes”. The only difference was that the professor was making them up. The evangelizer could do nothing but agree with the professor because he was afraid to doubt, question or contradict. If it would turn out that, in this case, the professor was correct, it would be evident that they didn't really know all about their religion or they might go to hell.

In Ulster, commonly known as Northern Ireland, a man named Ian Pasley wanted to incite the public against those who wanted Ulster to be a part of the Republic of Ireland. The Republican Irish in Ulster were almost all Roman Catholic. Pasley knew that he couldn't keep people excited or angry over politics, but with religion he could kindle such hatred that people would kill for him. He founded his own “Protestant” church, proclaimed himself ordained and started preaching hatred against those horrible Roman Catholics. Since most Roman Catholics were Republican Irish he had accomplished his political goal with the use of religion.

Such a common ploy, and now Mmolai Botle, Lefu's evil servant, was using that ploy in the most classic manner. In any case, playing the religion card always works. How was Shinmasa to get around it?

Shinmasa spent the night with the Pulai Sulu refugees. As Shinmasa he had gathered a great deal of food and other supplies and taken them to an isolate clearing near the village. Once it was safe Shinmasa transformed to Ryuhiko and carried the load to a small clearing deep in the jungle about a mile and a half south of the village near where the refugees were hiding.

Ryuhiko made no attempt to hide himself. The refugees saw him land and were hiding in the nearby jungle watching him. He turned toward them.

“My name is Ryuhiko,” he called to them. “I will not harm you. In fact, I have brought you food and supplies.”

“Why should we trust you?” one of the refugees finally dared to reply.

“ I have seen your plight and come to help,” said Ryuhiko. “You know the stories of the protector dragons.”

“They were just that,” said the refugee. “Stories that our parents and grandparents told us.”

“Perhaps now that you've seen me you might think they were not just made up for children.” Ryuhiko transformed back to Shinmasa. “Besides this food is real and good and you have no one else you can trust.”

A man came out of the jungle and walked toward Shinmasa. He was tall and slender with dark skin and wearing a pair of torn up shorts that were little more than a loin cloth. Shinmasa could hear others calling warnings to him as he approached Shinmasa.

“Are you the leader?” asked Shinmasa.

“No,” said the man looking over his shoulder, “just the only one crazy enough to walk up to a man who was just a dragon.”

Shinmasa smiled. “I'm glad you took the risk. You can show the others that I'm really a friend and want to help.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you want to help us? Everyone else here wants to kill us.”

“Because I know the one who started all this and I'm going to stop him.” The man was now close and Shinmasa smiled and held out his hand. “Wouldn't you like to be able to go home?”

“Can you stop our island from sinking?” asked the man who now held Shinmasa's outstretched hand.

“Kebenaran is right about one thing. Your island isn't sinking. The sea is rising. If I can stop the one who is causing this then hopefully the sea will stop rising and you can go home.”

“That would be wonderful. What can I do to help?”

“Tell the others that I am a friend. Have them carry the food and supplies back to your camp and offer me a place to sleep tonight.”

“Done!” The man turned and called to the others who were now near enough to the edge of the jungle that Shinmasa could see them. With obvious hesitation the others came toward the two men and the pile of food and supplies. You could almost see the sight of the desperately needed food overcome their fear of the dragon turn man. Each in turn bowed, thanked Shinmasa, took a load of food and headed back into the jungle.

One man stopped after picking up a large bundle. “My parents told us stories about akai ryu,” he said, “but I always thought they were just stories. Thank you!” With that he followed the others into the jungle.

Their camp was not far from the clearing. Group of huts and lean-tos gathered around fires. Children played in the jungle while women were tending the fires, making basket and other necessities. They jumped up excitedly when they saw the men returning with food.

The refugees had a thanksgiving feast that evening. Each of them had come to Shinmasa and expressed their personal appreciation. After the meal the people told Shinmasa about their experiences. They recounted how their homes had been flooded, how the people of Jambongan Island had attacked them and they had fled to this place. They also shared stores of those who had not made it. There was the boat load of people who had been chased down by Jambongan fishermen in boats. The Jamboganians had sunk the Pulau Suluian boat and left the people in the water to drown. A young pregnant woman was stoned to death when she entered the village without her head covered, and a man was beheaded for talking to a Jambonganian child. They couldn't understand what was different. The Pulau Suluians had frequently visited and often traded with the villages on Jambongan. Why were they now filled with hatred? Shinmasa told them about Kebenaran Khas and tried to explain how he was using their religion to create hatred but did not try to explain who Kebenaran really was.

The next day there was another horrendous storm followed shortly by more refugees. Shinmasa spent hours sitting on the beach trying to think of how he was going to stop Kebenaran.

One of the refugees asked him why he didn't just turn into a dragon a scare the Jambonganians. Shinmasa explained how Kebenaran would just call him a devil and turn it into more evidence of how evil the Pulau Suluians really were. But that gave him an idea.

The following morning Shinmasa said good-bye to the refugees, transformed into Ryuhiko and headed toward the village.

He landed outside the house where Kebenaran was staying and called to him.

“Mmolai Botle, come out.” People gathered around as Ryuhiko waited. A couple of brave men tried to shot Ryuhiko with a bow and arrow and an old shotgun. Ryuhiko just gave them an angry look and told them to quit. “Mmolai Botle, come out. Are you afraid of me?”

“That is the home of Kebenaran Khas,” one old man shouted.

“Kebenaran Khas is an imposter,” Ryuhiko told the growing crowd. “His real name is Mmolai Botle and he is a deamon who has been using you to kill innocent people.”

The crowd muttered disapprovingly.

Finally Mmolai appeared. He appeared calm and filled with self-confidence, but Ryuhiko could see into the deamon's eyes. They were filled with anger, hatred and agitation.

“I've been telling these good people all about you, Mmolai Botle,” Ryuhiko stirred the anger and moved closer to the evil spirit. “They don't believe me, but you'll tell them the truth won't you?”

“My good friends, here you see the true nature of the Pulau Suluians,” Mmolai became quite theatrical. “Take a good look and know why you must be strong against them.”

“Oh, come on, Mmolai,” Ryuhiko continued to taunt him, “tell them who you really are. Show them the real you.”

Ryuhiko was getting quite close to Mmolai and he could see the concern on Mmolai's face. Mmolai didn't dare let the people see him as Mmolai Botle, the evil spirit servant of the spirit of death. Ryuhiko started physically pushing Mmolai. Each time he touched the evil spirit sparks flew. The pain was showing on Mmolai's face and the anger growing in his eyes.

“How's it going to serve your master to let me destroy you right in front of these humans?” Ryuhiko started to heckle the evil spirit. “No, you're not staying in the form of Kebenaran because you don't want them to see the real you. You're afraid. You're terrified of my power.” Ryuhiko kept physically pushing Mmolai. “You know that I can easily destroy you and you're scared. You're staying in the form of Kebenaran because you're hoping that I won't destroy you in human form.” Ryuhiko started pushing harder and the harder he pushed the greater the sparks. The people in the crowd started yelling at Ryuhiko, praying for their god to stop him, and throwing things at him. “Well if you think I'm not going to destroy you because you look like a human, you're wrong . . . . dead wrong!”

Ryuhiko put on a great act of pulling back his claw and reaching for Kebenaran. Before Ryuhiko could bring the powerful claw down on the human there was a cloud of smoke around Kebenaran followed by the stench of putrescine. Then before them stood the evil spirit Mmolai Botle in all his grotesque evilness. The crowd backed away even farther. Some women fainted and people began to vomit at the stench.

“Behold your pious leader,” Ryuhiko proclaimed in a loud voice. “See the one who has been telling you to kill innocent people.” Mmolai began to swing violently at Ryuhiko who easily ducked the attack. “Is this the faithful follower of your prophet or servant of your god?” By this time Mmolai was in such a rage that he was swinging wildly. “He tricked you into doing his foul deeds for him. In the name of this evil one you slaughtered innocent people.”

Mmolai Botle lunged at Ryuhiko. Ryuhiko struck with all the force he could muster. There was an enormous flash of brilliant light immediately followed by a violent explosion. Mmolai screamed in pain. His grotesque form launched upward by the power of their encounter. Hanging above Ryuhiko and the crowd of people he screamed at Ryuhiko, “You may have won this one, but you haven't seen the last of Mmolai Botle.”

The people stood starring. They were trying to comprehend what they had just witnessed. Ryuhiko could hear them talking among themselves.

“He tricked you,” Ryuhiko said to the people. “He made you do his bidding by making you think he was a faithful servant of Allah when his real master is the evil spirit of death. He got you to kill innocent people who wanted only a safe place to wait out the storms so they could go home.”

The Jambonganians just stood and watched as Ryuhiko rose above the crowd and flew off. He stopped by the refugee camp to tell them about his encounter with Mmolai and suggest that they might be able to return home soon.

Ryuhiko returned to his mountain lair. A few weeks later the people of Pulau Sulu returned to their island followed a short while later by people from Jambongan offering to help them rebuild their homes.

As Ryuhiko flew home he was totally unaware of the dark figure that followed at a distance.