In the past, when the strong man became the king of the people, there lived twin brothers, Jacob and Hamon. Jacob was always jealous of Hamon, for Hamon had a body like that of a Greek god, and men and women admired his large thighs and broad muscular chest. But Hamon envied Jacob, for although Jacob was not strong, he was smart and could always talk his way of a fight, rather than having to spill blood. Their father, and king of the land, was called Salem. On Salem's deathbed he gathered his two sons around him and said to them,
'Sons, it is only lately that I have learnt of my illness. I am going to die soon but I have still not made out my will. Jacob, though you were first born, and tradition says that the rein of the kingdom should fall on the first born, I am not inclined to follow that tradition this time. There is a lot of social unrest among the people of the kingdom, and it needs the attention of a strong person. You must both fight between yourselves until one of you give in to the other or die.'
The king had become very pale by now and looked like death. He closed his eyes for a second, and took a few deep gasps. The two brothers who moments ago had been working together side by side in the fertile fields now stood apart from each other in distaste. Their eyes narrowed and they clinched their fists as they plotted to destroy each other, and become king. Salem opened his eyes one more time and spoke, 'You have two days to find the victor among yourselves, otherwise the land shall become the property of my servant Casio.' With this Salem gasped again and died. His body was washed by Casio and covered with the best cloths, and laid to rest for the night, as was the tradition. The two brothers went outside, into the courtyard to fight.
Jacob and Hamon had two very different personalities, and so were either very much liked or disliked by the people of the kingdom. And so when the brothers came together to kill one another, the people were split half and half in favour of whoever they preferred to win. Jacob's people stood behind Jacob, and Hamon's people stood behind Hamon. The people wondered what Jacob would do to get out of the fight, for surely he could not beat his brother, who was twice his size, and the best fighter in the land. Before the first punch was drawn, the two brothers gathered their respective families around them; Jacob was seen sobbing as he kissed his wife and sons goodbye, while Hamon was heard laughing loud while his fellow men rubbed oil into his large body.
The two brothers stood into the middle of the yard. The warm desert air and blistering hot sun made the crowd quite, so that when first punch was thrown the smack of Hamon's iron fist against Jacob's weak face was heard like the crack of a whip. Jacob was lifted from his sandals and flew into the air. He landed yards away and did not move. His family ran up to him, as Hamon stood proud, looking over his kingdom. Jacob's people joined his family in sobbing, as Jacob's son pronounced that his father was dead. Hamon summoned the guards and told them to lay his brother beside his father for the night, as was the tradition. By now Jacob's face had been washed and his body was covered in cloth. Jacob was laid to rest beside his father. Meanwhile Jacob's family had been arrested by Hamon, to be put to death in the morning.
That night Hamon's people got together in the courtyard to celebrate their hero's victory. They danced and sang all night long. They slaughtered the finest young lambs and calves for a meal, and they all got drunk. In a room in the middle of the palace however Hamon sat alone in silence. He did not drink or celebrate with the people. 'Your father would have been proud, Hamon.' said a hoarse voice from the darkness. A figure stood at the door, a black cloak covered him. 'Ha Casio, come sit with me.' Said Hamon. 'Forgive me master,' he replied, 'I was just passing by to fetch some water to wash you brother's body. Excuse my cloak, I should not wear mourning cloths in your presence. You are unusually pensive. What ails you?'
Thus spoke Hamon, 'My brother Jacob is dead, my father is dead. I am reborn a king this day, but Jacob's family and supporters are like a cancer, they will get to me if I leave them inside the citadel walls. Yet I cannot kill them all, for they amount to six times a thousand and it would do my own peoples trust in me no good to take that many lives of people they know.' Casio replied, 'relocate them outside the walls of the citadel. There they can live in the land near the quarry from which your very own father built this fine castle. There is a well there, and shelter, and you will be rid of them forever.'
'Indeed Casio, my father often spoke of your wisdom, but never did I think you would rid me of a plague such as my brothers terrible family and supporters with so few words. However, Casio, we must fix a border between us and them, so that they must never cross that border and enter the citadel.' Hamon looked worried that such a possibility might exist. 'Casio, how far to the quarry? Two miles?' 'Four miles Sir.' Casio answered. 'Too little Casio, too little. I will build a pile of rocks twenty miles out from the walls of my citadel. I will man it with the keenest eyed guards I have. Out side that pile of rocks again shall a tiny settlement of my brothers family and supports be. I shall tax them to such a degree that they will either move further away out of my sight or that they will perish under my might! Either way Casio, we will live well off them.' With this Hamon burst out laughing, donning his favourite cloak, 'join me Casio' he said in a loud voice, 'the night is still young, there is still time to party and dance for a while before your old bones being to betray you.' As Hamon walked for the exit Casio rejected his offer adding 'I must clean my master son, that the gods might have mercy on his soul.'
The next morning the guards gathered up all of the known supporters that Jacob had. Fetters were tied around their necks so that no one might escape. Hamon knew that Jacob's people loved him, and would risk their lives to avenge his death. Jacob's wife and son were in heavy chains, but due to the persistence of Casio's appeals they were given mules to ride on. 'Your father will not be buried until you come back. Surely you are not going to leave them on their own with a stiff in the same house as them. Plus the outing would do your family well. Your wife must be under great stress right now.' Hamon listened to Casio and ordered that his family join him on the trip.
The day was very hot. But for the thousands of people that travelled there were only a few gallons of water. Hamon, however, made sure that his feet never dried out by pouring water on them every few hours. He had a square tent over his head carried by a person on each corner. This kept him in the shade. But for the people who walked the story was different. By the time that they had reached the new settlement one old man had died due to the extreme heat, and had to be carried by the people in front and behind him. There was obvious discomfort from the crowd but Jacob's son spoke, 'let there be no more grumbling. Soon we will be settled down forever, and we can each start new lives.' The people went quiet.
'It is a pity we must leave you here,' Hamon said to his nephew, 'after all, you are such a good speaker. Tell your people that they must built a pile of rocks, fifty feet high, and when they do so their lives will begin again a-new.' Jacob organised his men so they built the pile of rocks up into the fashion that Hamon desired. They collected the rocks diligently, having at last to resorting to travel as far as mile away to collect enough rocks. They worked through the night and were finished by morning. The air was cooler when Hamon climbed up to the top of the pile of rocks. He looked over the land where the settlement would be built, and began to speak, 'Son of Jacob' he pronounced, 'what shall I call this land before me eyes that might please you.' He smiled as he looked down at the weary people that were hungry, tired, and uncomfortable, for they were still in their fetters.
At this Casio stepped out of the tent. He walked up to the pile of rocks and said, 'you may call it anything you choose. After all, brother, it is you that shall live here not my family.' Hamon peered down at the dark figure revealing itself. 'Brother?'
'Yes Hamon, the rightful owner of our late fathers kingdom.' As he said this he threw off the dark cloak that Casio owned. Jacob stood alive at the bottom of the pile of rocks; flies hovered around the open wound on his chin caused by the smashed jaw he received the day before. 'You were dead Jacob, what happened that you now stand before me like a curse?'
'My family wrapped me in cloth before you had time to investigate weather I was dead or not, as I had arranged with my family, minutes before the fight began. I got a blade from my son and hid it on my person. Then when I knew that I was alone in the room with the corpse of my father, I escaped out of the cloth. When Casio came in to tend to his past master, I stuck the blade in his ticker. He died instantly. I wrapped him up, lest you might come in.'
'So what happens now brother?' spoke Hamon from a high. 'Do we fight to the death for real this time?'
'I give you a choice, stay here, live the miserable life you had bestowed upon us, or my people and I will kill you and your family as well as you guards. And we out number you immensely.'
Hamon gracefully gave in. He had already killed his brother once and failed, so he saw that he had no chance at all this time. Jacob spoke, 'You and your people may never cross the border that is the pile of rock as long as you survive. You may never pass to our side of the pile of rocks. We will collect taxes from your people until we feel you have paid enough dues to us. When I arrive home with my people, I will tell your people of your misfortune. Those who wish to join you and you family may leave. You will know in a day or two how popular you are.' Hamon accepted the deal, and with a tear in his eye looked in distaste as his brother and his people marched away happy, singing, and laughing. Hamon would never see his brother again.
A few months later, Jacob visited the pile of rocks again. He looked in sorrow at the lonesome bones of his brother and his brother's wife. Remains of a makeshift tent were evident. But only one tent. No one joined Hamon.
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