GLN:5:19 Wrathfully the captain shouted, "What kind of men have I been given, why have you not brought trumpets to announce our coming? Who can see the ass among the bushes or hear it among the stones? Then, as lights appeared below and the voices of men were heard in the night, they withdrew.
GLN:5:20 Coming to a place of safety, the men took counsel among themselves, for the captain of the men said, 'If you would go unpunished for this night, then you must slay me now; even then, can you return without me? Also, who knows where the blood will flow? Therefore, shall we not all say, with mine own eyes I beheld the blood of this child and know it is dead? Are we men of wisdom who live, or are we foolish ones who die? Thus, borne on the back of an ass, Hurmanetar came to the land of Kithis.
Chapter Six - Companionship of Yadol
GLN:6:1 Concerning our father Hurmanetar, these things were written in the scroll of Pakhamin, scribe of the Firehawks. Generation had grown out of generation, and the Lord of Light and Life had hidden himself, for He knew the nature of man, and none could find Him. Time passed, and they sought Him no more.
GLN:6:2 Then high riding, ass-borne, came one who was to reveal the Light to men. Praises to the Lord of light and Life for Hurmanetar the Lightbringer! He wandered the hillsides among shepherds who tended their flocks with care, and he learned their ways. This was the wisest of men, and his body was filled to overflowing with manly powers; wide-striding, he measured the mountains' broad pastures. In anger, his face burned like the sun at noontide, while in benevolence, it shed the calm glow of the moon in the night quietness. In courage and skill, none could match him. He was a child like no other; before others crawled he stood upright; he learned his letters at three years; he could read and write at five; he taught those who attended the temple with him when he was seven. He was ten when his foster-father joined his fathers, and the estate was divided through the women. At twelve, he changed the course of the river falling down from the mountains to lead it through new pastures, and thus, his mother became rich. At thirteen, he was sent to the Shepherd of the City and trained with spear and shield. At seventeen, he slew the king's right hand man and fled to the mountains of Akimah.
GLN:6:3 Like a beast of prey, he wandered at will; he was the mountain- dweller, firm of limb and swift-footed, taking according to his whim from those who passed his way. Mighty was his bow of anshan wood; sinew- strung, it sped swiftly his straight-shot arrows.
GLN:6:4 High on the mountains wandered another, Yadol his name, one who lived on herbs and wild honey, tall and long-haired, for no knife had ever touched it. His hand tamed a wild wolf cub, and it was his companion; wherever he went, it followed. The wild beasts did not molest him, and he walked freely among them.
GLN:6:5 Hurmanetar was a trapper of wild beasts; he dug a pit at the place where they came down to water, and other traps were set. Yadol passed that way; the pit was filled in and the traps broken; the ensnared deer was set free. When Hurmanetar returned and found the pit filled in and the traps broken, his heart was seized by a whirlwind; he raged against the skies, he swore against the trees. He sought, for days he sought but could not come upon Yadol, the evasive one, the cunning one. His traps were useless, his pits a vain labour. He hungered, and because he hungered, he became less cautious. When he lay in wait among the bushes to waylay men who passed, he was not held back by thought of their number, but loosed his arrows and leapt among them. Hurmanetar attacked stormy-hearted; like a whirlwind, he attacked, but when they saw he was one alone, they stood fast. Hurmanetar turned back into the bushes, but arrows sent after him found their mark.
GLN:6:6 For three days, he lay in his place upon the mountain; his leg swelled up and he thirsted, for he could not get water. He lay in a body of pain, and his spirit prepared to depart from him. A wolf came, and his hand sought a stone, but weakness held his arm, so it could not be cast. Then lo, the wolf licked his hand and departed. Then, Yadol came; in his hand was a skin filled with fresh water, and he knelt beside Hurmanetar and gave him a drink. Yadol dressed the wounds and brought herbs to eat, and so it came to pass that Hurmanetar grew strong again.
GLN:6:7 Thereafter, Hurmanetar and Yadol dwelt together within a cave among the mountains, but Yadol would neither slay for meat nor eat of it. Yet they roamed the wide mountains together in joyous companionship, and their days sped swiftly by. But Hurmanetar longed for other things and therefore was tempted to attack men who passed, for he desired fine meats and garments and ornaments for his body.
GLN:6:8 These things were brought to the ears of the king, and those about the king said, "Let us take men up into the mountain and slay this wild hill wanderer, this manslayer and robber." But the king bade them hold their hands, for he desired to see the man for himself; he wanted him taken alive, and he said, "Should any man slay him, that man is mine." The king, therefore, took counsel of the wisemen, saying, "How shall we take this man, if man he be and not a spirit of the mountains? I would look upon him with my own eyes, for I know of none such as he. One such, there once was, but he is no more." Then, one among the wise men said, "This man of the mountains, if man he be, will follow the ways of men; therefore, let us procure a harlot from the temple, a woman of pleasure, and let her go and take him; ensnare the hunter in the well baited trap." The king said, "This is no new thing, and perchance, it can bring the wild man of the mountains down to me in chains of silk, even into the city; therefore, go and put your words into deeds." Then, a man was sent to the temple, and he brought back Hesurta, a woman of pleasure, in exchange for gold, and she was taken to the hunters who knew the ways of the mountains.
GLN:6:9 They set off, journeying for some days, the hunters, the harlot and those with her, until they came to a place where there was a waterhole, close by the way of Elamki. They passed beyond the waterhole to the spring above, sending men into the surrounding forest. The day came when one returned saying, "The wild man comes." Then, the chief of the hunters said to the woman, "O woman, bare your breasts and sit beside the waters; use the wiles of your calling, have no shame but welcome him boldly. When he comes up close reveal your secrets, drawing him to you; teach him the arts of the harlot that ensnares men."
GLN:6:10 The woman was not loath to take him, responding well to the task, sitting by the waters, singing. However, Hurmanetar circled warily about the place, but discovered nothing, and no harm came to him. He drew closer, and when he did, the harlot revealed her secret charms and was well pleased by the eagerness he displayed. She instructed him in the harlot's art and they dallied there for several days; but the hunters did not come to take him, for they found no way to come upon him furtively. Then, after seven days, Hurmanetar departed, passing up the incline of the mountainside without looking back. The harlot was afraid, because the hunters murmured against her, but it was not her fault, and the chief of hunters said, "Wait and see, let us bide a while yet."
GLN:6:11 Hurmanetar returned to the place where the wild deer grazed, but Yadol was not there, and when he crossed the wind of the deer, they fled away.
GLN:6:12 He went to the cave, where they shared their rest, but Yadol was not there. The wolf alone lay close by and Hurmanetar called out to it, but the wolf stayed afar off, it would not come near, because Hurmanetar was not purified from contact with the harlot.
GLN:6:13 For a day and a night, Hurmanetar stalked the mountainside, wide-striding along its paths, but he did not find Yadol; therefore, he returned to the place where he had left the woman. She greeted him warmly, making him welcome with cooked meats, rejoicing in her heart. They remained there for three days, and she tamed him to the need for a woman. Then, the day came when she said, "You are wise; You are strong even as a bull, why run wild upon the mountainsides with one who deserts you at will? Come with me unto the king, for he has heard tales of your might and would close his eyes to your deeds. He will give you a house and gold, and I, Hesurta, will become your servant. The temple of love will be opened for you, and I will show you the delights within. Come and dwell under the shadow of the king, for he is mighty, he is the wild bull, which roars over men."