The old man watched the band of warriors emerge cautiously from the jungle. There were about twenty of them, heavily armed with bows, swords, and spears. They stood guardedly along the edge of the cleared area surrounding the cave he watched over.
He knew why they had come. They were not the first, and sadly he knew it was unlikely they would be the last. For rumour spoke of the power of the stone known as the Green Sun hidden inside the cave, and rumour brought many groups seeking to possess it.
Slowly they approached him, looking around constantly for signs of an ambush. It was hard to believe the cave and the fabled stone it contained could only be guarded by one old man. Who simply stood back from the cave entrance and awaited their approach. He held his hands out in front of him to show he was unarmed.
“We have come for the stone,” said one of the men, evidently the leader. He was a bearded man of forty or so years, tough, scarred from many battles, evidently a man not to be trifled with. “Do not stand in our way.”
The old man nodded, “The Green Sun sits in its casket inside the cave. Neither I nor anyone else will try to stop you from taking it. But do not be mistaken.”
The old man paused, turning his attention to the wider band.
Raising his voice so they all could hear him, he said, “I do not guard the Stone. I stand here only to warn you and others who seek the stone, you do so at the risk of your lives. Take it if you must, but be assured, great misfortune will visit you.”
The leader relaxed, and walked past the old man, laughing dismissively.
“A trick to keep out the foolish. I fear no evil spirits, old wives’ tales to frighten children. Come, my brothers, let two of you guard the entrance, the rest follow me.”
“Then,” said the old man as they strode past him, “if you are so determined, I say only this to you, if you take the stone, take its casket too, for it, and only it, can keep the Green Sun’s power in check.”
The cave was dark, made darker by the contrast with the bright sunlight outside. It took the men a minute or two before they could make out the large off-white casket standing on a plinth at the back of the cave.
“There,” said the leader, walking forward, and after a pause, “help me lift the lid.”
The casket stood three-foot square, with a large domed cover surmounting it. It looked, and proved to be, heavy, needing four men to push the top aside. As the top moved, a strong green light shone out, illuminating the cave, and bathing everything in its phosphorescent glow. It brought a collective gasp from the gathered men, and instinctively they all stood back.
The leader showed why he was the leader. He stepped forward again, “Come, aid me,” and the lid was cast aside. Then he reached inside the casket and lifted the large stone that glowed so strongly.
“See,” he cried, “I do not fear any green light,” he said, lifting the stone above his head. Turning to face the warriors, many of whom had retreated to the cave entrance, triumphantly he called out, “The Green Sun is ours; it will bring health and wealth to our people, our crops will grow, and our cattle will multiply!”
Smiling, he wrapped the stone in a large cloth and placed it in a pouch brought for the purpose. Turning, he looked carefully at the grey casket that had held the stone, giving heed to the warning of the old man. It had taken four men to just move the lid of the casket and it was clear, moving the whole casket would be a mighty task.
“Come,” he said, “we have what we seek.”
The old man watched the seven men stumble out of the undergrowth. They walked unsteadily toward him. As they drew near, he could see all had sores on their faces and body parts, and three were completely bald, The old man had to stare hard, but he was sure their leader was the same man who had taken the Green Sun two years before. It was difficult to be sure. With just tufts of hair on his head and sores oozing pus, severely stooped, he bore only a faint resemblance to the warrior leader who had once so brazenly carried off the stone.
Silently the seven men walked past the old man and into the cave. The leader was carrying a large pouch, and a few minutes later, a bright green light briefly illuminated the entrance. The sound of a heavy lid being moved could be heard, and slowly the green light faded and vanished.
The Green Sun had been returned.
The Wisdom of Rhiannon 