then again, once again, you will come to know the simple man you've always been (part VIII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part VII.)

"So you saw fire in the sky and then thunder stuck the sea?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"A physical force of thunder?"

"Yes--an intense wind."

"And the Djinn?"

"We went to look, and it was floating in the water near the shore."

"You caught a Djinn and it is in the box?"

At this point, the canvas was removed. Hiro could see a larger room. A man on the center of a circle of people, seated, facing the center. Guards stood between the King and Hiro's captors. Hiro stared out of the cage.

"It is a leopard?"

"A man-shaped Leopard in strange clothing, who fell from the sky in a hail of fire, Your Highness."

"Well.. why is it alive? Guards..."

"Your Majesty..." A man off the the side spoke up. An older man, well dressed.

"Yes, Hiram?"

"This beast could be of value. We need offerings in the Holy of Holiness. We need something unique. I can think of no greater offering."

The woman sitting next to the King spoke up. "The stone cutter is correct, there is no greater offering to the Queen of Heaven than a large cat."

The king look bored. He stood. "Pay these people what they think is fair for this beast. Hiram Abriff, please accept this beast as a gift and token of my appreciation." Solomon walked toward the back of the room. Toward a door. Hiro could not see much after the canvas was put back in place.

Solomon, he mused. Interesting...

He felt the cage being lifted and moved again...

(Continued in part IX.)