Sleeping Sun, part 1/?

[calime]

1.
Mieleni minun tekevi, aivoni ajattelevi
lähteäni laulamahan, saa'ani sanelemahan,
sukuvirttä suoltamahan, lajivirttä laulamahan.
Sanat suussani sulavat, puhe'et putoelevat,
kielelleni kerkiävät, hampahilleni hajoovat./…/
(Mastered by desire impulsive,
By a mighty inward urging,
I am ready now for singing,
Ready to begin the chanting
Of our nation's ancient folk-song
Handed down from by-gone ages.
In my mouth the words are melting,
From my lips the tones are gliding,
From my tongue they wish to hasten;
When my willing teeth are parted,
When my ready mouth is opened,
Songs of ancient wit and wisdom
Hasten from me not unwilling./…/)
Kalevala, Rune I (Proem)

Those two were arguing again. Joe leaned back comfortably, preparing for the evening’s entertainment.

’But you can’t deny that fairy tales and legends have always played an influential role in human psyche…trying to explain the unexplainable, bringing out strong emotions, laying down ethical guidelines…’ Duncan was saying somewhat heatedly.

’Try like glossing over and wish fulfilment,’quipped Methos.

’Well, mr. Cynic Been-There-Done-That, why don’t you enlighten us? I bet you were present at the birth of many a legend, if not actively involved in it. Tell us a story, the way you claim it happened. I’ve always been curious about the Stonehenge and it’s like – you should be old enough to have been there when the stone circles were built…’ Duncan’s voice trailed away dreamily.

Methos gave an exasperated sigh. ’I’ve tended to avoid messy things, that’s how I’ve stayed alive. And birth of a legend is just like any other birth – it’s bloody messy, risky to the participants, and the result bears very little resemblance to what it springs from. And it gets only worse over time. As to godhood, it is overrated as an experience.’

’Well, gee, thanks for an outpouring of literary metaphors. Would you just for once stop preaching in generalities and give us a little piece of inside information?’

’Yes, old man, tell us a story, ’ added Joe, ’You’re the one that has been many things…care to share one of those overrated experiences?’ He did not expect an answer, not really, so Methos’ soft words took him completely by surprise.

’There’s not much to tell about the stone circles. They’re just upgraded clocks. Another of countless examples of the human race misguidedly believing that if one builds a sufficiently sophisticated predictive device, one can control the universe. The standard human response to the world crashing around you – if you survive, build a better clock and try to believe that it is the clock that keeps the time intact.’

’What?!’

Methos had been staring down at his drink, hunching over. At Joe’s exclamation he lifted his eyes, a procession of emotions flitting through his gaze, too fast to catch and classify …irritation, sadness, irony, surprise, amusement…

’All right. I’ll tell you a story…a seed of a myth, if you will, from the time before the stone circles. ’

Joe was not sure which one of them was more surprised at the sudden acquiescence,he, the Watcher , Mac, or most likely, he decided with a fast glance at Methos, the old bastard himself.

’Well, how should we begin? A long, long time ago…in the far land of Thule, where the Sun came down to sleep, a maiden found an abandoned child…’

Methos leaned back in his chair and though his face was still turned towards the Watcher, Joe was pretty sure that he was actually looking through him at something only the old one remembered.