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THE SCARECROW
chapter iii - the scarecrow
Translated by William M Hutchins
T
hey reached the
oasis at dusk but did
not breach the walls
or traverse the Western
Hammada Gate till sunset’s
gloomhadmastered the earth.
Then they crept through the
land, which was enveloped
in threadbare darkness
that was not concentrated
in tenebrous recesses but
remained mysterious, excited
whispered enticements in
weak souls, and opened a
portal to the nether reaches,
which released a morose
creature disguised in human
raiment to lay a trap for
mankind. The Spirit World’s
foot soldiers rallied their allies
to form legions of armies to
combat the people of the
wasteland and take revenge
for their tyranny. These legions
returned to their homes in the
Spirit World bearing booty
and loot. Simpletons—people
who had never ever suspected
that other creatures might
share the desert world—
simply assumed, however,
that their tribe had been
attacked in a treacherous
raid by some neighboring
tribe. The pious ancestors
were also pleased to emerge
in the dark gloom from their
spiritual world. They disguised
themselves in the rough
attire of wayfarers before
visiting their descendants in
this or that hamlet, where
their offspring whiled away
the night entertaining them