The Witching Snakes pt 14
Agatha, aka Bai Suzhen's origin story. The White Snake Studies the Sacred Texts, Meditates, Becomes Human. Meets Gilgamesh.
Book 2: Agatha's Story
Mount Emei
Mount Emei stood above history, empire, lake. On its peaks, swarmed holy men. The golden summit rose to heaven, mild in the summer and cloudy in the winter. Azalea blossoms, milkweed and dove trees; deep hidden caves sheltered macaques, hermits and frogs.
On Mount Emei, in a deep secluded cave near the White Cloud Grotto a snake of talent and discipline lay in perfect repose. For a thousand years, she devoted her breath to Tao. She stayed in her cave for centuries thriving and meditating. Historical and sacred texts echoed from the walls. She strove for purity of soul and insight. Light came to her mind.
With radical kindness, she lifted up her head. Chaotic joy to her, transformed her into wood and flesh and stone and plutonium. She spent three years as a wooden stick for pilgrims to steady their knees. Upon resuming her true form, she frightened an elderly Han. His heart exploded. He died and she licked his face in sorrow.
She returned to her cave; meditated upon holy texts abandoned under trees. For many centuries, she'd choose a mortal woman and appeared to her as a maiden for three days. She helped with tasks, licked her tears and sang ancient love songs.
In one violent century, she stayed a willow tree on the side of the mountain. When she became a snake again, warlords had been negotiating under her shade. Without forethought, she wrapped her body around the three largest men and swallowed them whole, weeping copious tears. The two living generals split the territory in equal measure. One of them became the emperor and the other found peace in a begging bowl. Both lived long lives. At night they dreamed of the snake woman; cursing her. They loved her.
After centuries or days, life drove a warrior king from the Euphrates into her grove. He was elegant wool. His entourage accompanied him with swords and cymbals. A singer roughly proclaimed the king's greatness. Bai Suzhen heard ostrich squawks.
“Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin, the bells and the horns. Laugh!” declared the singer, “His pride hops and bops over the cadavers. By day and night he takes sons from fathers and daughters from husbands. His lust bestows honor. He is the wisest and the most special. One third man and two thirds god. He walks the earth. He slays virgins and fucks monsters. Every soul! Everybody! Bow to Gilgamesh.”
Bai Suzhen watched the weary procession. She stared at the arrogant man who dared allow such ballads to echo through her caves. His skin was dark like a crab shell and his eyes hung far apart. The White Snake heard of savage bulls and lamentations. She conspired to appear to him as a small woman with her natural fangs, offer him obedience with a bowl of rice wine.
As the conclave passed, she jumped from the highest tree; landed in the king's chariot. He stabbed her with a spear until she cried. Her venom flew in eight directions. In her shouts, she remembered a blue tune.
Gilgamesh's nearest soldier fell blind. Buddhism had taught her new ways to kill. She had hoped to escape cynicism. She wept for a man in pain. She wanted to comfort, lick him. Her hand could only touch his face as death rattled in his throat. She bent to kiss his lips; his last tears were for a faraway boy. All the days he strove to serve his mad king and return to the boy. She tasted regret.
His soul fled to sacred horses and simple demons. She wailed. Into her neck, the soldiers planted spears; the battle dew flowed crimson, stained her silks. She rose to greet the musicians and warriors. With a swift arm and a strong body, she grabbed Gilgamesh, the king and hero. He tasted like bitter nostalgia and pine cones. Then slowly, ever so slowly, she spit the blood into his mouth. He tasted her centuries. He gulped, hearing the sounds of birds long dead. Pandering sorrow left him.
Another guard stabbed her in the side and she withdrew with a kiss. The venom became plasma, and he swooned. She looked around; his people saw impotence. With a head shake, she became the great White Snake goddess. Her neck grew and her eyes narrowed. She felt the hand on her ankle and heard the cries of broken men.
“Please,” said the epic hero, “Tell me where I can find Enkidu! I have lost him. Did I meet him yet?”
“Your friend is dead,” said Bai Suzhen, the White Snake, “but he is yet born. Your story is fragmented. In this moment, he may be roaring in the trees.”
“I have heard rumors that when I find Enkidu that I will meet my greatest friend, my worst lover. Tell me please, this will happen?"
“I cannot know.”
As they spoke, the singers stopped. Bai Suzhen returned to her cave - to dance for gongs. Everything sounds beautiful to fools. Goddesses love bloody scenes.
This was a free chapter. To read other chapters, please
I also write short stories including Sugarplum Zombie Motherfuckers.
