Part One
In which Nathan enters the realm of darkness and the circle of Pride.
The Ferryman.
King Minos, the demon king.
I awaken on a hard floor of dented wood,
a conundrum at least, for my last memory
I perished to the sound of a harsh bullet-storm.
Curiouser and curiouser.
O great muse!
Tell me what of this terrible predicament,
Whilst I gradually sail on this wooden boat,
filled with the sounds of screams, the smell of rotting flesh;
a smell associated with the battle field.
The boat rocks as something monstrous sits at the rear,
I go to where, none know, but pray I’ve a future;
A reality that probably won’t come true.
I walk shakily to the ferryman and asked,
“Pray thee, sir. Where is this vessel
(for I was not sure what it really was)
taking us? When shall this voyage be over?”
The ferryman smirked, which was only visible
I was left unanswered; confused as we sailed-
Sailed through the thick impenetrable darkness.
We eventually approached a dim landmass,
a veritable slug floating in the river,
illuminated just by fiery torches.
When is this, I ask myself, the sixteen hundreds?
Scolding myself, I notice that the damned vessel
is coming to a stop and that the large, dim slug
is but an island filled with ringing screams and cries.
The cloaked ferryman prods me hard with his cold oar.
I recognise as blood; so I move, walking to
what appears to be an ornate black and gold throne
with a tall, spindly figure seated upon it.
The spindly figure pointed a spindly finger
at what appeared to be a long spindly pathway;
one which led deceitfully to oblivion,
but I sensed that my future lay along that road.
And thus I walked alone,into the depths of Hell...