Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: RECORD (04/22/21)
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TITLE: Scroll Under the Sea | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Westefeld
04/29/21 -
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While swimming near her family’s home after a storm, removing debris tossed by the waves, she saw a handle of something protruding from the seabed. Unearthing it carefully, she discovered a scroll and opened it.
She wasn’t surprised that it was written in a language she couldn’t read. While fluent in English and conversant to some degree in Curish, the mer-language, reading it was still beyond her.
Lori swam home, where her father and step-mother were enjoying a late lunch, and exclaimed, “I found a scroll with some writing on it, but I can’t read it. Would you read it, Dad?”
Her father, who was known as a rebel in their community, swam to her and took the scroll. After reading it only briefly, he rolled it up and said grimly, “The Council will want to see this. What is recorded here could change the way our people think about history, if this is true.”
Lori prodded, “What does it say?”
Her father reopened the scroll and began reading. “‘In the time before the Great Flood, God was unhappy with mankind and was planning to destroy them’"
He looked up at Lori. “Not an exact translation, but you understand that it will upset the scholars who accept evolution as fact.”
He continued. "“But Curi and his family had found favor with God. God had them go and live apart from their people. Curi had heard that Noah was building an ark, at God’s direction, but wonderd how his own family would be saved when God destroyed the world. When the rain came, Curi and his family were swept out to the new sea.'"
'Lori’s father looked at both of them. “Sounds worse than the storm that hit last night.”
Returning to the scroll he continued, "'But quickly Curi and his wife, sons, daughters-in-law were swept beneath the waves, but didn’t drown.'"
Lori’s father looked at his daughter. “I hope this can be verified, or the elders will accuse you of forging this record to promote your surface faith.”
Lori stuck out her lower lip and pouted, “Dad, I can’t even read Curish, never mind write such a story. So, what happened next? I need to know more than the fact that God changed Curi in to water breathers.”
He continued, "'Curi looked up and saw the sky for what would be the last time before he and his family swam beneath the waves to live.'"
"At least this shows why our deity is called Curi, and it lists the name of his eldest son as Neh-mor.”
When Lori’s family brought the scroll to the Council, her father's prediction came to pass. Lori was brought up on charges of blasphemy. The chief councilor, Eesirahp, who claimed that he was descended from Neh-mor, started questioning her in a manner that reminded her of how Jesus was questioned the night before He died.
Shaking the scroll, Eesirahp screamed at her, “We have tolerated your surface faith for long enough! Now you seek to turn our god in to a mere mortal with this ridiculous story?”
Turning to the rest of the Council he shouted, “She deserves banishment to the open sea!”
Lori, unlike Jesus, spoke in her own defense. “Sir, I only barely speak Curish. I certainly don’t know how to read or write it. Call me ignorant in that regard, but since it’s the truth, I couldn’t have written on that scroll.”
The councilors muttered, debating her claim, until her father spoke up. “If you doubt my daughter, I propose a test. Write something in Curish and have her try to read it.”
Eesirahp decided that it sounded reasonable. He called for a fresh scroll and some ink, and wrote a short sentence on the scroll. He handed it to Lori with the command, “Read this!”
Her brow furrowed as she turned the scroll to face her. After a minute she gave up, and handing it back said, “I cannot, sir.” This was a devastating admission, since she had been an avid reader on the surface.
The Council debated her performance, and decided she was telling the truth. Once her innocence was proclaimed she asked, “Sir, what does it say?”
With a smile Eesirahp responded, “I must not tell lies.”
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Lori, a merperson had lived an interesting life transitioning from surface dwelling to aquatic living. One day after a fierce storm, she was removing debris when she spotted something protruding from the seabed. Carefully, she dug around it until she finally discovered an ancient scroll.
It's not perfect, but a quick example to show how you can combine parts and leave more words to tell your story. I only point this out because I'm so eager to read more about this fascinating family under the sea. You have a great foundation with a fresh take on the topic. The ending is good and made me smile. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more fantasy stories like this.