(continues from A'theist', http://forlorntears.blogspot.in/2012/11/atheist.html)
Thus Cupid stood by Hercules' chair, his curled hair just
touching the armrests. Athena patiently, yet in a stern voice, inquired,
"What, O god of lustful eyes, makes you laugh?" Smiling in a heinous
way, he answered, "Nothing, O ever wise, nothing. Nothing, but the
sculptures of me, Eros, the god of love, being shown as a lovely old man with
two flattering wings, and a bow and arrows, hardly carrying them, face filled
of wrinkles and an erotic smile." At this, Athesse laughed loud and so did
everyone in the court. As the laughter subdued, Athesse, still looking at
Cupid, in a fading laughter asked, "And why Zeus, does this feeble mind's
arrow that struck the heart of Nesmith, much drugging him in madness of Gloria,
the angel daughter of Cyclops, made him stand clapping at the temple of our
brother, which Mardeyus, the grandson of your beloved Odysseus, considered as a
belief to endow the so-called well wishes, has now primarily turned into a
superstition?" Laughing in the same sad tone, he hurled his doubly crossed
axe, flicking a little hair of Cupid's forehead that struck deep into the
chair, shaking it. The hall became so silent unable to answer what was asked
that the flinging blade's tune echoed through the rocks of the mountain.
Zeus himself sat thinking, looking deep into the empty.
Clouds and the goddess of wisdom too were blinking in the ground of shame.
Owing a ton to his precise shot, and one more to the silent hall, Athesse
jumped on words, in an uncontrollable fury into Zeus. He then said, "And
today, people made it a business. You all know it. Why you know not, of the
fortune tellers? Why, you know not of the deceiving priests? Why speak of all
this even? Why you know not, of justice being equal to all, boasted by every
rock and the mouth of every follower of yours, here? How then, is some rich and
is some poor? How are 2 human beings unequal??” Athesse smiled in satisfaction
delighted by the silent hall. But Cupid, in fear, yet in fury, in shiver, yet
in stiff posture spoke, "You know when Zeus took over the hall, when you
were not even a child, three scores of years ago, and we, you and me, and
Athena and Poseidon, were all the same posture. And since then, I made fun of
everyone, more often in serious situations and am thrown at the legs of the
strongest arms, Athens spoke in wisdom and she stands high above, seated beside
Zeus. Poseidon both wrecked ships and saved too, and he lives in a city of
pearls. And you", he chuckled. "And you, you challenged the rule, and
live in the darkest forts, far from the sea, away from the rich fat of sheep
and oxen, and the sweetest honey. Rich and poor, preferred and not, are judged
by your own virtues, kid. And so is the judgement Justice is equal to all, Hades
says, yet punishments his guests suffer are different. That's much the same
here, Athesse" he continued to be silent.
Everybody deep in
thought, and a hush rose and fell over the mountain, and chatters spread.
Athesse grabbed his dagger under his belt around his waist and glared at Zeus.
Zeus was lost in thought. And finally, he spoke, "Yes Athesse, Humans
created an ideal reference to human race as an idol and help us with our
troubles by sharing them and giving us a ray of hope. God is nothing but an
imaginary friend who shares one's problems and soothes the pain in when the
praying is in troubles. God is a friend one can find only at infinity. People
are more fancied by the magic than anything else. And these humans, they will
soon tear us down. They will group us and fight. The destiny is
so."(Religion and caste) Thus he spoke. And Athesse's image dispersed into
the clouds. He faded in the white and the song of Gloria marked the dusk. The
fat and wine flowed through the air from the offerings below, and Gloria's song
rose above the heavens.