Friday, June 13, 2014

The Parable of the Spider King

This story was originally written around Easter 2007. It's short, just 5 pages,  and can be a tad corny in parts and is steeped in some Easter-related themes. 

The Parable of the Spider King: A Tale of the Iron Road, by GB Kessler

In a far off land, there is a great highway that spans a vast plane. It stretches from the north to the south, reaching from one horizon to the other. Many towns and cities rest along the highway, but all are overshadowed by the luster and attraction of two great cities in particular. At the northern end of the highway is a city of pure white that shines brighter than the noonday sun; this is the City of Dreams. At the southern end is the massive metropolis of high-rise buildings and the great works of man; this is the City of Deception.

It is in the City of Deception that the Spider King resides. He is ruler of all here, and does all he can to draw people away from the City of Dreams. A master deceiver, trickster, and liar, he is adept at crafting together exquisite lures and baits for his victims. Falsehoods wrapped in bits and pieces of selective truth are a favorite of his, and he employs them well. Expertly he places them in his immense web that stretches out from the heart of his domain and reaches to the very gates of the City of Dreams. Hence, the Spider King does not lack for meals.