Cloud Weavers (*)
In the land of sand and palms, was a kingdom named after the sun. Its capital was Jinta a city carved from a series of rocky outcroppings. It rested as the desert’s crown jewel in a sea of golden sand. The city’s terraces and gardens were fed from a single river provided by the mountainous regions to the north.
A family of sheiks ruled the kingdom and had overseen the endless miles of desert for almost a thousand years. Other nations were forged and later undone but the Kingdom of the Sun remained protected by a scorching desert no invading army could traverse. The kingdom’s stability attracted skilled craftsmen who in turn brought merchants and traders. Business filled Jinta’s streets and they flowed with money. The wealth created wide, open air markets and topped domes over the royal palace clad with copper.
All of this wealth was brought in along one trade route. It meandered through the narrowest part of the desert into the city. It was a journey made many times by a merchant named Ephraim.
The men in Ephraim’s family joined his father’s caravan. They managed their own wagons and servants. Each man bought and sold independently so there was no argument over who owned each shilling or camel.
Each of his brothers and uncles had shown a great propensity for trading except for Ephraim. He was the remarkable failure amongst his family. They had an intuition for buying goods at low prices and finding the right buyers when the caravan reached its destination. Ephraim would make purchases when the price was too high. When the goods were to be sold Ephraim often had trouble finding anyone to purchase his wares. Ephraim’s wealth decreased as the years passed. His brothers and father allowed him to continue with the caravan but only out of family courtesy. Ephraim had no servants only one packed camel and three sheep.
His goals for Jinta were modest. Ephraim hoped to find a buyer for the perfume he had purchased on a whim. If he could sell it for a reasonable price he could afford to buy silks to be sold later.
Almost half way through the desert, Ephraim’s luck became poor once again. His camel became ill and refused to continue. The camel represented almost half of Ephraim’s remaining wealth and he could not carry his perfume without the animal. Ephraim was forced to let the rest of the caravan pass in order to care for the sick camel.
Instead of helping, his brothers mocked him as they passed. “Ephraim! I’ll give you twenty shekels for your perfume and another ten for all three sheep. That’s much more than you would have received anyway!”
Another says to anyone listening, “You know, I have servants who have accumulated more money than Ephraim. The man has been given every opportunity and cannot gather anything but sand.”
Ephraim’s face hardened and he refused to be baited by his brother’s harsh words. “I will stay with my animal. When it has recovered, I will catch the end of the caravan. Proceed without me.”
The brothers shook their heads in resignation and turned back to their own matters. They knew Ephraim had traveled the route many times before and were not concerned about his well being.
It took almost all of the merchant’s patience but he knew that there was nothing as hard to bend as the will of a stubborn camel. The sun was merciful and the temperatures did not reach too high. It took almost a full day for the camel to recover enough to travel. By that time, half of Ephraim’s water was gone. He would need to catch the caravan to replenish his supply but he was unable to make his camel travel fast enough.
Ephraim’s fortunes deteriorated further as the western sky began to darken and the wind grew strong. “A sand storm is coming.” Ephraim told his animals. “We will not survive without shelter.”
He hurried his camel and sheep toward a thick cluster of boulders a little less than a mile from the route he was traveling. With even a slow pace from the camel, he would reach them before the storm gathered too much intensity. As Ephraim reached the boulders, he discovered they were the footings to a short sandstone hill. On one side was a shallow cave. Thanking the gods for such good fortune, he checked it for scorpions. Then he herded his sheep in followed by the reluctant camel and himself.
Ephraim had never seen such a thick draping of wind and sand. For another full day, the sands raced outside and sent swirling bits of sand and rock into the mouth of the cave. Several times, he tried to peer into the raging maelstrom but was unable to see anything. Desperation took hold of Ephraim’s heart and he prayed for the sands to rest. On the second day, they finally did.
When Ephraim exited the cave, he and his animals entered a world that made no sense. The sun was arching though the sky on a north to south pattern. Wild gusts of wind seemed to change direction with the passing of each minute. At once blowing into the trader’s face, then a moment later wind came from behind him. Clouds crossed each other’s path and the landscape had changed noticeably as patches of hard packed earth spilt the shallow dunes.
“Where…where am I?” He looked around again. “I don’t have time or water for further delays. I can make it another day – maybe until tomorrow night on the water I have. After that I am sacrificed to the sun.”
A strong and somewhat high-toned voice came from above Ephraim. “That doesn’t need to be.”
Ephraim and the camel jerked their heads up and found a man perched on the rocks above them. Bushy eyebrows and a wide beard masked the man’s sun-browned features making it difficult to place an age on the stranger. The true surprise was the man’s clothing. The very threads of his turban and robe seemed to be in constant movement like spider webs bound and swaying. They shimmered and swirled with a beautiful restlessness. Colors as vibrant as the green of new growth, blood red, and white so pure it seemed to glow crisscrossed the robe.
Ephraim was stunned and stood staring at the man. “Where…where am I? The sun fools me into questioning my own senses.”
“No, your senses do not deceive you. The place you find yourself is a place with a certain uniqueness. The sun here charts its own course as does the much more temperamental wind. And as you can tell, even the sand has a hard time making up its mind.”
“Who are you?” Ephraim asked as he pulled his animals from the cave’s shelter.
The man hopped down from his perch on the boulders. He was not quite as tall as Ephraim expected. “I am Ezra. My daughter, son, and I make our home here in this most unique of places.” He looked at the camel and sheep then back to Ephraim. “You seem to be trapped in some difficult circumstances. Perhaps we can make a deal. Give me your thin sheep and aged camel and I will offer you a cool place to call home.”
“I am like a ship on the waters.” Ephraim replied. “There is no one place I call home. All I have is what you see with me, I know nothing else.”
“Come then.” Ezra turned and motioned toward the east. “I have fresh melon and fruit that will make your throat burst out in song. You may reconsider after you are refreshed.”
They traveled to another outcropping of tall rocks next to a low hill. Ezra led them between two of the largest. Another cave swallowed part of the hill’s side. The opening was framed by wooden door built specifically for the entrance.
Inside, the walls and floors were covered with thick carpets of extraordinary detail. There were worktables with bolts of the same amazing material that made up the swirling threads of Ezra’s clothing and just beyond that was a large loom. The polished wood gleamed even in the feeble candlelight that lit the cave.
Ephraim couldn’t help himself. “Is this the magic loom that allows you to create the material you are wearing? Do you realize what it’s worth? For such as this, I will give you my sheep, camel, and all the perfumes I am carrying for just a single roll.”
A short chuckle escaped Ezra. “No, I sell to the Emir of the Sun Kingdom personally. I have no need for a go between. But I will show you what I do need.”
They walked deeper into the cave and across further wonders. Enfolded around poles the length and width of broomsticks were spinning bits of captured clouds. Ephraim reached to touch one.
Ezra reached out and clasped Ephraim’s hand. “Oh, no. Do not spoil the small clouds I have captured. There are so few in the desert of the other world and I cannot allow the filth on your hands to taint them.”
“You are taking clouds and weaving them into fabric!? How are you able to do such a thing?!”
“A genie gave me a wish and I chose to have my happiness completed. The wish gave me extended life, a son and daughter, this hidden home, the loom, and the ability to magically weave material taken from the heavens. My son captures the clouds and brings them here. My daughter spins the clouds along with colored smoke into threads almost lighter than air. Finally, I use the loom the weave the fabric. The clothes I make breath as you do. They do not trap heat as wool does – it refuses to absorb warmth from the sun. Though the clouds and smoke are bound tight they still swim within their constraints. It creates clothing finer than silk. Unfortunately, the material wears easily and once it begins to fray the entire garment can disappear within weeks.”
Ephraim stroked his bearded chin. “And so you again sell your material to the royal family. It would seem you should be quite wealthy.”
They reached the back of the cave and another door shaped to the entrance’s exact contours. It fit so well it almost sealed out any sand from the outside desert.
Ezra opened it and Ephraim needed to blink to readjust his eyes. Outside in a small canyon, an oasis flourished. Tall grasses covered the ground before him. Healthy palms provided shade and guarded the clear pool in the garden’s center. Built into the sloped walls of the canyon were terraces where large melons and other fruits were being cultivated.
“This is amazing! May I drink from your spring?”
Ezra made a dismissive gesture and Ephraim rushed to the pool’s side. The trader drank until every limb in his body felt refreshed. Then he threw water over his face and smiled as it trickled down his short beard.
“Select a melon from the lower terraces. They should be ripe by now.”
Ephraim stood. “Have my animals been taken care of?”
“They drank long before you did.”
Ephraim ran his fingers along his forehead. The water collected along his fingers and was absorbed by his sleeve. “You mentioned striking a deal with me. What did you have in mind?”
“Look beyond that far palm. What do you see?”
Ephraim leaned to one side and caught a glimpse of a girl taking water from the spring’s source. “There is a young woman taking water. Why is this important?”
“That is my daughter Opal. She is the one who spins the clouds to thread. But with all the tasks needed to keep our garden up, she doesn’t have all the time she needs to finish her work. My son spends his days hunting clouds in the other world. I would like you to stay here with us to care for the garden while my children work for me.”
Ephraim looked about the garden again. It was huge and would take him many hours to maintain. “I decline your offer. I am a trader as my ancestors were and although I lack the business sense they have, that is my given profession. You will have to find another.”
Ezra didn’t sound too disappointed. “Are you sure? The fruits and vegetables grown here will extend your life.”
“Again, no. I would like to offer you some of my scented oils as payment for helping me and offering me a night’s stay. However, tomorrow I must make my way to the capital city of Jinta.”
“You may find that difficult since it was my magic that brought you here and without it you will not be able to leave.” Ezra’s voice still sounded pleasant. “Come, let’s eat and wash. Perhaps you will agree to my terms after a meal and bath.”
After a long soak in a reed-sheltered portion of the pool, Ephraim went inside and sat down with Ezra and his two children. The boy had returned. Except for the darker beard and younger eyes, Ezra and his son Habib resembled each other very strongly. Both were built as the common man with a small measure of added height. As Ephraim approached, Habib raised his cup and offered a warm smile. “Welcome Ephraim! I understand you will be staying with us and helping with the garden. That is good and I am sure Opal most certainly approves.”
“Is that so?” Ephraim swallowed his flux of anger. “I was not aware I had completely agreed. In fact, I have already declined your father’s offer twice now.”
Opal sat down beside her brother. “Father, you swore you would not simply take someone!”
Ezra reached for his cup but his expression was unchanging. “Ephraim, I will not keep you forever. Work on behalf of my family now and when I see fit, I will return you to the natural realm with enough gold to buy ten slaves to serve you.”
Ephraim looked at Opal and Habib for any sign that their father might be lying but their faces did not change. “I will agree but only if you teach me the art of using the loom. I have made a poor merchant. Perhaps my skills lie among the threads and shutters.”
Ezra crossed his arms. It was the first time he’d shown any real expression. “You know, you may be able to weave the magic cloth but you won’t be able to sell it without me helping you leave this canyon.”
“I know.” Ephraim was not dissuaded. “Yet I wish to learn your craft and feel the magic of spun sky across my fingers.”
Ezra eventually agreed to spend evenings teaching Ephraim the weaver’s skill. For the next five years, Ephraim worked in Ezra’s garden. The world outside the cave never changed. The garden never experienced a shift of seasons. The trader watered the plants each day from the spring that never ebbed in its flow. Ephraim removed plants Ezra grew tired of and replaced their yield with fruits from other plants. The cycle would change and so would the crops Ephraim tended. Ezra spoke truthfully about the magic of the garden. Ephraim never became sick. His limbs seemed to fill with vigor. The desert sun could cascade its heat over his shoulders and he would not grow weary.
Other things grew in the garden as well. The most important of which was a friendship between Ephraim and Ezra’s children. When all had finished their chores, the three would sit and watch the stars dance in zigzags. A breeze would enter the oasis followed by the call of strange birds.
Habib traced the stars with his eyes. “Father says you have become quite skilled with his loom. He’s even thinking of letting you make some of the emir’s cloths. Your use of the colored smokes has impressed him.”
“That’s good to hear.” Ephraim replied. “But I have special carpets that I have woven on Ezra’s loom and I wish to sell them before the sheiks. I have taken the wool from my small flock and the threads made from the clouds and blended them. The results have been quite striking. I have kept my work away from Ezra because I fear he might try to sell them himself.”
Opal took Ephraim’s shoulder. “You are wise. My father does take whatever advantage he can. Perhaps I should not mention this but my father has no real plans of freeing you. The skill you have developed with our loom has made you much more valuable than a simple gardener. He wishes to keep you.”
Ephraim became angry. “That’s not possible! Ezra and I had an agreement! He must release me soon! I have done everything I have been asked for more than five years.”
“Our father,” Habib began. “He takes whatever he desires even the clouds. The desert that surrounds the kingdom is so large because I harvest them. When they are woven to thread the water seeps into the earth under the cave and feeds our spring. Areas that are now the outer rim of the desert were once productive farms. Now the land is being given to sand and dune. We have more gold than three emirs and yet our father demands more at the expense of others.”
“Then what must I do?”
Habib replied, “After our father leaves for the capital city, I will take you and your rugs to the natural realm. While I spend the day hunting clouds you may sell your loom work.”
“I will travel with you Ephraim.” Opal spoke over her brother. “Someone has to make sure you return and it has been too long since I have walked the streets of the city. I look forward to tomorrow’s trip.”
The next day after Ezra left, the three friends loaded a small cart with Ephraim’s rugs and walked to the small cave where the trader had long ago taken shelter. They backed the cart inside then squeezed in as well. Habib took a handful of sand and spoke to it in tones Ephraim didn’t understand. The other man then threw it outside. The sand didn’t fall to the ground instead the wind gave it life and it began swirling. More sand was picked up and soon it was impossible to see out of the cave’s entrance because of the sandstorm.
“This storm will only last about an hour. My father and I have developed ways to speed the magic. We will only need to wait a little while longer before we reach the Kingdom of the Sun.”
When the sand subsided, the three left the cave. Ephraim immediately recognized the world he had left. Everything moved correctly and in order. It was like he had lived in a box of twisted gears for five years and was now in a working clock.
Habib took three poles out of the cart. “I’m leaving to gather the sky’s fleece. I will meet both of you here one hour past sunset. That will allow us to return home before father returns. Good luck Ephraim.”
Jinta was exactly as Ephraim remembered it. The tall walls made of sun baked bricks funneling crowds of people and animals up and down narrow streets. There were merchants everywhere under awnings of bright colors. The temples with their wonderful statuary and glazed bricks filled Ephraim’s heart with joy. In vain, he looked about for his brothers and found no one he recognized.
As they neared the royal grounds, Opal spoke, “Ezra will be here today bartering the value of his magic garments for gold. We will not want him to recognize us. All I will need to do is keep a veil over my face but you will need more of a disguise.”
She handed him a small sack and razor. “Your beard has grown long. Cut it short and dust your hair with fine ashes. It will gray your hair enough to make you look older. It should be enough to fool my father.”
Once their disguises were set, they wheeled their cart up the slope to the palace gates along with other merchants hoping to sell to the emir. A minor official approached Ephraim. He looked over the rugs and nodded to the guards. “This one may pass. Let the vizier see these.”
Opal and Ephraim were allowed entrance into the grand hall. Proud columns covered in turquoise spiraled upward from floors of smooth stone. Gilded doors and banisters offered entrance to some of the palaces more private chambers.
Ephraim was awestruck but Opal didn’t seem to notice. “Ephraim, you cannot look around like a charmed snake. You will embarrass yourself.”
A tall man with oiled beard and hair approached them. His staff was set with small gems marking him as the vizier. He listened to the official for a moment then looked at Ephraim with unfriendly appraising eyes. Then he examined the rugs and his expression changed completely. “Not once in my many years of service have I seen such exquisite detail! The least of your carpets make the best we have into rags. Wait here and you will see the emir.”
Ephraim knew his work was good but his reception was unexpected. He looked at Opal whose face also glowed with pride and another emotion Ephraim hadn’t seen in a long time. Opal realized she was giving away her feelings and hurriedly pulled the veil over her face.
The palace’s inner court shown with so much wealth Ephraim was sure the dust his sandals collected was made of gold. Incense burned from the mouths of solid silver lions. Life size calves of solid gold guarded the very steps to the emir’s throne. The emir was dressed in Ezra’s heavenly garments with wide jewels adoring his brow and arms. Other attendants surrounded Ephriam all dressed in the clothes made from spun clouds. The emir looked on and said nothing as one of his officials bargained with Ezra over a beautiful cloak made with swirling patches of red smoke.
When the haggling was finished, Ezra bowed and stepped away from the throne. Then the vizier advanced to the bottom of the throne’s steps and called for attention. “I have found a weaver of skill that matches Ezra’s! This man’s work is so exquisite that I have brought him to you my master, without delay!”
The emir straightened. “Bring him before the steps.”
Ephraim took three of his finest rugs and laid them before the emir and his servants. Those in the court crowed in and a servant held them up for all to observe the amazing patterns. Ezra also looked on but did not seem to recognize his daughter or Ephraim.
Even the emir seemed impressed. “Yes, these are outstanding. Ezra, come before me and tell me why your work is superior.”
Ezra stepped forward. “Master, I fear that your court has grown callous to my craft for if I had walked in today and offered you my magic robes for the first time you would not look twice at this man’s trash. As it is, I do have something special to show you.”
He snapped his fingers and a servant brought Ezra’s sack to him. He opened it and pulled out a sash that glistened then flashed. He offered it to the vizier who walked it to the open hands of the emir. “I have found a way to not only force the sky into my threads but now the lightning as well. This sash is the first of its kind and it can gird a man with the power of the gods.” Ezra smiled and bowed. “I give it as a gift to you, master, that I will again find the utmost of favor in your eyes. In fact, if you still find this man’s work superior to mine I will offer him three requests of his choice. If not he will give me all of the rugs he has that I may sell them.”
The emir ran his fingers over the slow flashing sash. “Merchant, do you accept?”
Ephraim deepened his voice and replied. “I do. Master, you will find my carpets far superior than captured lighting for my work is not strictly ornamental.” He stepped onto the nearest. “My craft is also woven with the power of the elements. I have used wool and spun it with the restless power of the wind as well.”
As Ephraim raised his hands the rug floated up. A cry of wonder escaped those gathered. By simply adjusting his feet Ephraim controlled the path and speed of the rug. He flew between the court’s pillars before coming to rest where he started.
“A flying carpet! How magnificent!” The emir was on his feet and coming toward Ephraim. When he was close enough he embraced Ephraim and shouted, “Leave them here with me and take whatever treasures you deem as yours!”
Ezra flew into a rage. “Foul! Merchant, how did you do that!? How is it possible? Only I have control of the magic loom!” He stepped close to Ephraim. Then he recognized the trader and Opal.
“Ephraim!” Ezra clenched his teeth. “I saved your life and taught you the art of the loom and this is how you repay me!? I will not accept this shame! You will never leave my service now! Never again will you set foot in my home. From here forward you can sleep in the garden with the animals.”
“There is nothing you can do now to control the path my sandals take. In fact, it is I who has some measure of control over you. After all, you owe me three requests.” Ephraim calmly continued. “I want freedom for your son. I desire your daughter’s hand in marriage and you must cease stealing clouds from this realm. It must rain again.”
The emir’s brows knitted. “The drought we have experienced since the beginning of my reign is caused by your weaves!? The desert grows and threatens to further isolate us because of the clouds you have taken?!”
Ezra looked about. He saw in the court’s eyes a reflection of the emir’s anger. There would be no way for him to leave without being caught. Quickly, he jumped onto the third flying carpet and lifted off the ground. With one final look toward Ephraim, he flew out one of the high windows and was gone.
************
When Habib returned to the cave after sundown, the mouth had collapsed and only a rugged pile of rocks remained. He set the staffs he carried and the clouds that quickly swirled around them against one of the boulders.
“What happened?” He mumbled to the night air. “How will I return home?”
From above his head, Opal replied, “You could travel with us.”
Habib looked up and found Ephraim and Opal hovering on one of the merchant’s rugs. “Brother, you may free the clouds you have captured. Rain must again return to the desert and allow portions of her to bloom.” She embraced Ephraim. “Father has left us to this world but I have no doubt we will find happiness.”
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:20 am
I love a good story or should I say fairy tale??? I am really into your new book….it’s got me captured…Saul DOES have a kind side.(traders wife) although the thief in him wants to surface….