THE EARTH IS OURS, THE SKY BELONGS TO THE BIRDS
ouring and imploring him to help them. The king surveyed the crowd from the balcony of his palace and said to them in a stern voice: “Stop yelling! What is this shouting and screaming? Have you forgotten that the homeland is in danger? What do you want?”
The people called out: “We want weapons.” The king replied in irritation: “And what will you do with weapons? Do you wish to use them in your quarrels?”
“We want to fight!” “We will fight!” “We will defend our homeland!” The king said: “War is a job for a soldier. Leave the business of war to those skilled in warfare. Forget not, our walls are impregnable; they will defend us from our enemies and foil their plots. Go back to your homes and your shops. Look to your livelihoods. Those who sow discord and spread rumours and lies are agents of the enemy, and they will not escape retribution. Your valiant army will do its duty and crush the enemy and their lackeys and teach them a lesson never to be forgotten.”
In zeal and admiration the king’s soldiers, aides, wise men and ministers gave a great cheer. The people remained frozen on the spot, gripped by a terrible silence of frustration and gloom. As soon as the king left the balcony to go inside the palace, the people shouted once again: “We want weapons! We want weapons!”
The king’s soldiers sprang on the people, swords drawn. Some were killed; some were arrested; some escaped. With calm restored, the king granted an old man an audience and said to him: “They say you have invented a weapon capable of saving Damascus from her enemies. Is this true?”
The old man said: “My lord, I have dedicated my entire life to science. Because Damascus, my city, my only true love, is today threatened with occupation and destruction, I have invented a weapon that will vanquish all enemies.”
“What is this weapon?” said the king inquisitively. “Speak!” “My weapon is called the flying machine,” replied the old scholar. “A flying machine is a hollow chariot made of metal. It has two wings and flies through the air like an eagle. A soldier can ride it and swoop over the enemy and bombard them without any harm touching him.”
The king said: “What price do you want for your weapon?”
BANIPAL 53 – SUMMER 2015 145
