It looks like there's a storm brewing, said the haughty and proud queen, to her husband the king. Tell some of the servants to strengthen the poles round the old oak tree in the palace garden, so it will not be pulled up as the linden tree further down was, during the last storm. Also, tell all the servants, without exception, that they must be prepared to protect everything which belongs to us and our kingly palace.
The king looked out through the great palace window. He saw how large, grey-black storm clouds were gathering in the sky. He felt an inner anxiety which he couldn't explain. The king was a good fine person, who always wanted the good. But many times he had been driven by his power-hungry and cold queen to do things which had made him a shadow of his real human-I. The queen had been like an evil poison during her husband's whole time on Earth. She had caught him with her fine clothes and soft fine words. Words which were as empty and meaningless as a newly-made can which was ready to be filled with something good, but in the end all it had was a beautiful label.
Often he had asked the Almighty to take him away from this dreadful place. However, he couldn't just leave his position as the highest in the land, and say it was all the queen's fault. No, it's a good man who has the ability to like also what is less good.
The darkness grew deeper and deeper. The storm increased. Trees were thrown around like matchsticks and the houses in the castle garden lost their roofs. The hurricane increased. The large oak, the queen's favourite tree, swayed like rye in the wind. The lights from the castle swept over the park and the queen saw `her oak' trembling as if in the throes of death.
A long time ago a little beggar woman had come to the castle. The queen now recalled every word this woman had said. She cannot remember why she had listened so carefully to this poor beggar, as she had a real distaste for poverty and people she regarded as worthless. But something the poor woman had said had caught her attention. Just tonight, in the terror of this evening when her proud oak was shaking in its inmost core, she remembered the woman's words.
"Don't think that a queen remains a queen forever. The justice of the Almighty doesn't work like that. Surely the Highest One has not meant it that some of us will always wander in the sunlit heights whereas others wander only in the shadows, in the valley. No, there will come a time when a great justice will come to the world. As a sign for this, you will one day see a large tree plucked out of the Earth by an invisible hand." So said the poor woman, and off she went to continue her journey.
The queen had sometimes pondered on these strange words of the beggar woman, but she had also put them out of her mind. Surely, a great queen should not have to concern herself with what a little grey Earth rat has said.
But tonight, just when the storm was raging, both outside and in her innermost being, she sensed she could read the woman's words, as if they were written in fire before her.
The messages became more and more frequent. Many of the servants' quarters had been thrown to the ground. Terrified they came rushing to the castle. It seemed the only way to escape this stormridden night of terror. The king received them kindly. He invited them into the great hall, which was furthest away from the raging storm.
The queen's face was contorted in terror, but at the same time she was glowing red with rage over what she called the cowardice of the servants.
---Go out and care for our possessions, she said. This is what you are here for. Why should you be servants otherwise? The servants, looking like wounded animals, turned their pleading eyes to their king.
Out of his own free will and being a good man, the king would never have hurt anybody. He looked around. He saw his queen, she who had been his wife for many years. He saw the servants, men and women, he saw their children, the little ones he had known since they were born. He had seen them playing in the park and had played with them himself. He had known them as if they were his own children. He wasn't simply going to drive these people out on such a terrible night, just to satisfy the will of his power-hungry queen. No, never! As if a clear light began to shine, he saw past the storms and castles, past the servants and the queen, past even himself. He became conscious of something other than what could be grasped through earthly means.
---Stay in here and shelter from the power of Nature, said the king. Nobody will force you to go out on this terrible night. Let us have a little supper and eat together. Let us get the bedrooms ready for all of us, but first let's turn to the children.
The faces of the servants were filled with joy. This good man knew how to give joy and happiness to his fellow human beings. But the queen, did she feel any joy inside her?
No, her whole being was in uproar. She was about to silence her husband when a terrible crash was heard.
The oak, her own tree, had been pulled up by its hundred years old roots and was thrown against the castle.
After the fall of the oak there was a deathly silence. The only thing that could be heard was the ticking of the large clock. It was as if it came from another world.
The storm increased. The park was littered with fallen trees, roofs, fencing and anything that could be pulled loose.
The queen broke the silence.
---I demand that you servants go and do what you can to prevent more destruction.
---Don't you understand that we cannot stand against the power of Nature. So spoke the despairing king.
Within he felt something unpleasant taking shape. He felt himself overwhelmed by everything he had experienced since she had become his queen. All of her wickedness towards him and the servants. He felt a longing, deep in his inmost being, to see just an inch of humanity, humility and gratitude show itself in her.
In his utmost need he cried out for help. Forgetful of all the people around him, he prayed to the King of the World: Release me from this woman, take me where she cannot reach me with her hate and cunning. Do with me what you like, but let this evening be my last together with her.
Erect and silent he stood amongst his beloved servants and their children.
The king's words went forth from the room. They passed from servant to servant, from child to child, out into the free world, past the grey horizon and rose upwards, towards the light and to where he had called to for help.
The queen was immobile, like a lifeless statue, only her eyes were alive. They glowed with hate, humiliation and rage. She reached out a hand and pulled down a sword that was hanging on the wall.
Frozen with fear, the people were watching, completely unable to understand what was happening. With great power the queen pushed the sharp sword into the chest of the king. The storm was howling without, like an eternal accompaniment to the earthly drama taking place within.
But this was only an act towards the body of the king. His earthly dwelling had been killed, but his eternal `I', his self and the self's `I' returned to its true home: the king's dwelling place, called Eden.
Now he was able to look down on the Earth and see how sad everything was. He saw the Earth and the castle, the queen and the servants. He saw the little children. He saw the sword, which was half covered in red blood.
He also saw the castle park, destroyed and all the forces of Nature in uproar.
Where is everyone, the king was asking. Where is he, the Highest?
He could hardly think straight, as he had only just left the evil Earth. |
