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3/06/2010

Anok and Eroneke

Tell me a story...

Anok's people lived in a village not far from a large mountain. On this mountain lived a giant made of rock and lava. It's name was Eroneke. Eroneke was so large that he cast a long shadow over the village of Anok's people. The people were so greatful to live in the shadow of Eroneke, for he shaded them from the heat of the sun. So grateful were they that they gave him offerings of food and riches. Eroneke took these offerings gladly, and ate them up. After a long time Eroneke had eaten so many offerings that he got larger and larger. Until his shadow cast further and wider. Soon his shadow blocked the sun from the crops and the farms. Anok's people grew to resent Eroneke. Their crops would not grow. Their food deminished. The people of the village stopped giving offerings to Eroneke. Soon Eroneke's hunger was so great he began to grab villiagers that walked to close to his mountain, eating them, to sustain his hunger. The people cried out, calling him the monster Eroneke. Eroneke cried as the people who once beloved him, now called him monster, and his tears were of rock and lava. His tears fell from the mountain and destroyed homes and farms. Anok's people cried out for him to end their suffering and slay the monster Eroneke that had caused them so much grief. Anok heard his people crying out and went to Eroneke's mountain and climbed it. Eroneke did not see Anok climbing for he was crying, and when Anok called out Eroneke's name, he was surprised
"Why does the great monster Eroneke cry" Anok asked
"Because the people that are beloved to me call me monster." Eroneke said.
"They call you monster because you ruin their crops, and eat anyone that comes near."
"My shadow ruins their crops. And I eat those that near because my hunger is so great since my offerings have stopped."Eroneke said.
"The offerings stopped because your shadow blocked the sun from our crops."Anok pointed out.
"My shadow grew because out of love the people gave me offerings after offering." Eroneke said.
"I have come to slay you, the people have cried out and I have heard them." Anok said holding up a sword.
"If you kill me great Anok my carcass will remain, blocking out the sun still."

With Eroneke's words Anok knew he killing the giant would not solve the problems. Anok went back to the village and told them this. Still they cried out for Anok to find a solution. For five hundred and twelve days Anok thought of the problem. On the five hundredth and thirteenth day Anok instructed the village to build a rope. One that could withstand the heat of lava, and was strong enough to move a mountain. Having nothing to make rope of the poeple of the village learned to grow special crops that grew without the sun's warmth. They grew these plants for one harvest. When the rope was done they cried out for Anok to rid them of Eroneke. Once more he climbed the mountain.
"You have come to move me with the rope you made that won't burn, and that can move a mountain." Eroneke said as Anok reached him at the peak of the mountain.
Anok did not stop climbing, and continued to climb, even climbing up to Eroneke's head. When he stood upon Eroneke's head Anok spun the rope in his hand, and with all his might he cast the rope up. When the rope was caught on the sun Anok began to walk down the other side of the mountain. As the rope grew tight the sun began to move in the sky. Eroneke's shadow moved until it covered half of the village but not the crops. The people cried out their thanks for Anok and began to plant crops once more.

Anok tied the rope to a tree. A tree only he knew where it was. And knowing the people of the village could grow their crops once more, and that Eroneke would be giving tribute once more, Anok continued forward, away from the tree and the village. Though for a long time through the rest of his journey he could still see the mountain with Eroneke sitting at the top. And when he would look to this mountain, Eroneke was always watching over him from his high throne.

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