Wide awake…
by Phil LongA number of years ago I was on my adventures in alternative realms, dream dimensions, parallel existences and Skipton. While journeying I came across disturbing events in the Land of Oz. I visited recently and things have only gotten worse.
Strolling along a brightly coloured brick road, I reached the familiar jungle within which were creatures so timid you’d think I meant them harm. My curiosity got the better of me and I felt compelled to discover the cause of their distress. I called forth the power of 10 Ray Mears and chased a monkey until it could fly no more. Once grounded I explained that I wouldn’t hurt him and asked for an explanation for why the jungle creatures were so afraid. I was shocked at his response;
“Since you were last here…Lion,” he panted “Lion’s gone mad, he’s taken over.”
“But Lion was a pussycat, I can’t imagine he’d hurt a fly?”
“That was before. Since your last visit we’ve had somebody else here. An American woman. She befriended Lion with promises to provide him the courage he lacked, in return for his help. They disappeared for a time and since his return he’s not been afraid to throw his weight around. He’s got a water hole of his own, but he wants everybody else’s too.”
I listened as the monkey explained the Lion’s trip to the Emerald city, the American woman who had persuaded Lion and other allies to follow her and how the Wizard of Oz had helped Lion get what he needed. Apparently that had bought the Lion’s friendship - for a time. But as his courage grew so did his lust for power - he feared nothing and his ambitions grew. He turned his back on his former friends, and was only concerned with the welfare of himself and his pride. Other creatures were persecuted - just a few months ago his pride had slaughtered most of the gazelle in the North. Now he’s making overtures to attack the Tigers in the South, to gain control of their water holes.
***
A year later I returned. Lion had gone ahead with his attack on the Tigers in the South, which resulted in the Wizard and the Good Witches putting a stop to things, but not before Lion and his pride soiled most of the Tiger’s water so it was unusable for years. The Jungle creatures had hoped that would be the end of things, but Wizard and Witches stopped there, happy that they would be able to restore the Tiger’s water holes. They fed the Emerald city. The Jungle creatures couldn’t help but think that the Wizard and Witches were driven by some motivation other than helping those in need.
I found the monkey I had spoken to the year before. He was more frightened than ever before;
“Some of us, we thought we were going to be saved so we fought against the Lion and his pride. Now the Wizard and Witches have stopped I don’t know what will happen - we’re all terrified of the Lion’s revenge.”
***
More years passed before my random wanderings once more brought me to the Land of Oz. Things had changed dramatically.
As I entered the Jungle I found myself immediately under attack. Rocks were hurled at me from above. I felt several strike me before I eventually found cover in a fallen, hollow, tree trunk. I cowered in fear as I heard the rocks continue to fall around my wooden shelter - hoping that the rotting husk was enough to prevent a rock breaking through and striking me. Eventually the pounding of rocks stopped, replaced by the sound of wings flapping and folding shut. I lifted my head to see the angry face of the monkey I had spoken to years before. When he recognised me his features softened… a little;
“Come with us.” he barked.
I crawled out of my cramped shelter. Several monkeys rushed forward and tied my hands behind me.
“I’m sorry, but we don’t know who we can trust.”
I just nodded and let the monkeys pick me up and fly me to a cave they used as a base. Once there once-fearful monkey explained what had happened since my last visit.
The Wizard and one of the Good Witches had killed the Lion and now occupied the Jungle - but it was in chaos. Nobody was in control and everybody felt as though the Wizard and the Witch were trying to impose their will upon the Jungle. Given what happened with the Lion nobody was happy with that, and felt they could do better - yet nobody could agree to work together. He told me of their dilemma;
“If the Wizard and Witch stay then we fight and everybody lives in fear. If they leave then we have war - a lot of people will die. Years ago we might have helped the Wizard and Witch - but we’re worried they only care about water for Emerald City.”
He then escorted me back to the edge of Oz and bid me farewell.
(post title inspired by: http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/2147433929/Audioslave/Wide_Awake)
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