Four interesting People \ Goren Gordon

It was a gloomy day and the air was stale with the smell of melancholy. I felt sympathy for the ones who lost their hope today, a feeling that was not compensated by the love and blissfulness of those who succeeded - those were too few. I walked slowly through the main street, brow clenched and tears dripping from my eyes. Misery and helplessness ruled the town today. I did not understand what made today different. Usually,  the mood was apathy in the average, but today the sun did not shine as brightly and the gray clouds cast long shadows on those who didn’t smile inside.

A grown crying man was not usually acceptable in our society, but I was an exception. People accepted me for what I was and didn’t shun me out - I was their healer. Discontented people, either physically or emotionally, came to me for treatment. I do not have special powers, nor lay on hands, nor do I communicate with god more freely than the next man. I simply help them. I can’t explain it scientifically, medically or spiritually, but whatever I do, it helps people heal.

After my saunter throughout town I returned home to find a young man at my door. He was excited at first, but when he saw my aggravated face, a mixed embarrassment-ridicule feeling took over. I smiled and welcomed him to my house.

‘I have a message from my lord,’ he said. I sensed it was something important.

‘Do continue.’

‘You are summoned to my lord’s castle to face a challenge.’ I listened closely.

‘She will return’ I responded. He was taken aback. ‘I don’t know what you said to her, but you love her deeply.’ I closed my eyes and concentrated. ‘She loves you back. You hurt her bad, but she still loves you and is ready to come back.’

I seated him at a chair before he passed out. I patted his hand saying ‘You have to make an effort to win her back, but you can do it. You’re an able boy. You must get over the foolish pride your society impose on you and apologize to her, crawl to her, love her the way only you know how. She is worth it, together you can have a wonderful life.’ His face was tranquil with resolution. At last, he was at peace with himself.

‘Tell me more about your lord.’ He was confused, but his duty was imprinted within him.

‘He is a gracious lord, a merciful sovereign and wonderful person. He treats us as equals, although he is above us.’ I was puzzled, something was missing.

‘Does he have a wife ? Does he love her ? Does he care for his serfs ?’ I was distraught, bafflement and confusion controlled me. The lack of feeling was wrong. I could not Feel the lord. I tried to clam down. ‘What is the nature of the challenge ?’

‘I do not know, master. My lord only told me, somehow with confidence, that you will come.’ 

‘Your lord was right, messenger. I will come.’

‘And master healer, Thanks !’

It was a routine day at work. Some people came to visit me and ask me tedious questions. It’s an honest vocation and I learn a lot, though I already know it all. It’s a difficult burden, not to be able to ascertain anything new, always be one step ahead of discovery. Understanding is a different matter. It is my good fortune that I am an intelligent woman and comprehend new concepts that are revealed to me every day with considerable ease. I’ve learnt many things during the last years of my occupation and I’m considered as one of the smartest persons in the known world. No one knows that I’m not - I’m THE smartest person in the world. No one can ever surpass me in that aspect. It’s a little frustrating, knowing  that I’m only second to God, and that there are no more formidable tasks to the mind, but I get by. The routine of my work helps me to conquer the boredom of too much knowledge. People come to ask me questions, I think for a moment and then answer. There were two incidents in my life that changed my complete being, that transformed my self: The first, when I discovered my talent, to its fullest extent, and the other is the following...

I heard a knock at my door. Not expecting any customer, I was intrigued  and opened it. A handsome man stood outside, a formal look of a courier on his face. He greeted me coldly and asked to come in. I let him in, brew some tea and said, before he opened his mouth ‘You came by order of your master to summon me to a challenge.’ My voice was bitter of knowing before I was told.

His face bleached and he said ‘You are correct, oh wise mistress, but so was my master. He told me this will be your answer and I vainly did not believe. I am unworthy of you both.’ For the second time in my life, I was surprised. His master has known of my talent, truly an obscure piece of knowledge.

‘I am intrigued by your answer, messenger, but I have been summoned to a lot of challenges in my life. What does make your master’s  unique ?’

‘I will deliver his message word by word, mistress. “To the mistress of Answers, greetings. You already know my couriers message, so his vocalizing it is mostly useless. Your special mind knows of my challenge, but I have one question for you: What is the challenge ?”’

My lips widened to speak the answer that had to be floating in my head, as were all the others, but this one was missing, a fact that made all the blood run out of my face.

‘I will come’ I said briefly, and made haste to start my preparations.

It was an awful day, just like any other. What a job, what a life ? What did I do wrong in my previous incarnation that I deserve this punishment ? Every day, every single day, on every week, on every month on every year, all my life. What  can I do, I was born into this life - a serf’s life. My lord is just, but he still needs food on his table and he still needs taxes. He doesn’t rape my wife, but I still have to wake up every morning to work. I may have food to eat and time to sleep and a healthy family, but I still want more to life. Something is missing.

I woke up that morning, as usual, at the crack of dawn to work at the field, but that day was different. I felt bad as usual, but I felt something would happen, and it did.

I was plowing the field casually and suddenly I felt bad, upset, disappointed ‘Life ...’ I began to cry to the sky, but suddenly he was there. My master, my lord. He had a look on his face that intimidated me - he was in awe. And then the strangest thing happened; he knelt before me and kissed my feet. I wanted to burst out in laughter, but the sheer terror stopped me. ‘May I rise, oh wise lord ?’ he asked.

I whispered ‘Aye’, still in shock.

‘Thank you, lord’ he rose. He stared at me and continued ‘I am conducting a challenge at my castle, oh mighty being, and I ask you to attend. Will you honor me with your presence ?’

I nodded, never in my life ever thinking the master will ask me of anything, just order. I was bewildered. He bowed as he walked backward. I was summoned to a challenge and I could not refuse. What was the challenge, what was the reward, or better yet, what was the punishment for failure ? Who else would be there ? What is going on ? What, the hell, is happening ? At that moment I had an insight - I liked my former life. There were no surprises and no risks. I was afraid, but I could not refuse. I was challenged.

The room held complete silent and the tension in it was almost tangible. Four individuals sat expectantly in comfortable couches, not enjoying the beautiful arrangement of the room. Each was scrutinizing the others, trying to understand his opponents better. After all, this was THE challenge. The lord stood up:

-You have gathered here today to participate in a challenge. I personally think it is the only challenge that exists in the universe. You are the only people fit to solve this challenge. We four , in this room, are the most special persons in the world. We are the only ones alive that have a special power, a special talent.

-You are mistaken, sire.

-Silence!. We are all special. I am the Lord of Mystery. I have the talent of hiding knowledge, and asking questions. That’s what intrigued you and that’s why you’re all here.

You, ma’am, are the Mistress of Abstract Knowledge. Every intellectual information is at your disposal. All you need is ask, and the answer comes to you. I think this is an extraordinary talent and I envy you.

-You wouldn’t, if you lived my life.

-No, I guess you’re right. Moving on.

You, sir, are the Master of Empathic Knowledge. Every human feeling is at your disposal and every relationship is like an open book to you. I envy you too, sir, for you hold the answer to one of life’s biggest mysteries - human nature.

-The answer to this riddle may make you less envious, lord.

-I believe you, Master of Hearts. And now we have you, my lord. You are the most peculiar, for even I do not know your talent.

-I have none, lord.

-Ah, but you do. I believe you are the Emperor of Truth, the King of Understanding, the Prince of Ideas.

-But what is the challenge, Mystery Lord ?

-Yah, what is the challenge ?

- Can we get out, sir ?

-No! The purpose of the challenge is to kill me. I know I’m being melodramatic, but it’s true. For every one of us, when our talent can do no more good, we die. Then, and only then. When every fact that exists is known, you will die, ma’am. It will never happen. It is the same for you, sir. Your talent will never become obsolete, for we human always change and have new feelings. You both shall live forever. About you, milord, I have absolutely no idea. When we will know the TRUTH, you will die. What that truth is, or who decides when we have revealed it, I do not know. As for me, there is only one last mystery left. After that I will die. I am at peace with myself for I have lived for to long and now I am prepared to die. Your challenge is to solve that last mystery: The Meaning Of Life.

-Let me understand. You want us to find the meaning of life ?

-No. I believe any one of you already knows the answer. Your job is to inform me of what your combined answer is.

-By what do you mean combined ?

-There is only one meaning to life. That much I know. So everyone of you knows a different aspect to that meaning. I want the whole jigsaw. The full and complete answer. I want the meaning of life.

-What do we gain from it ? According to you, if we answer this riddle, it will bring us closer to our death.

-Aha, but not to death itself, like me. And when you have the meaning of life, you can live a happier and more fulfilling one.

-How do we go about it ?

‘You, Mistress of Knowledge. You know yourself best. Just ask yourself and the answer will come.’ The lady concentrated and whispered to herself. Suddenly, the concentrated face turned to a frown, and a tear appeared. She opened her eyes, looked at the lord - and laughed. The laughter was so uncontrollable and wild, that her face turned red and she was gasping for air. The lord’s temper was rising. ‘What is the answer ?’ he demanded, but she did not respond, she only laughed.

‘Master of Empathy, what is wrong with her ? What is the answer she had unraveled ?’ The man looked at the laughing lady, reading her feeling like an open book. At first he looked puzzled, then it changed to concern. Suddenly, he stretched his arms as if to encompass the entire world. His eyes lightened at a moment of revelation and then - he wept. Rivers of tears broke from the man’s eyes. Cries of anguish and despair tore the room. The lord was lost. His life was at stake, he was waiting for just one answer, not too much to ask, is it ? And here, one was crying and the other laughing. Both without the answer. There was only one more hope.

‘Oh, Truth Emperor, do not fail me too.’

‘Don’t you understand. Mortal ? Don’t you see what is going on ? Can’t you recognize the laughter of irony, the tears of despair ? You want the meaning of life ? I will tell you, so you can die in peace.: L I F E  S U C K S ! ! !’