STORY: Nadan; His Purpose

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(Story By David DeLane Snow)

After the death of his wife, Nadan sat quietly by the widow while holding his infant son wrapped in swaddling. He gazed out pondering the meaning of his life. "If there is a reason for all of life's pain and struggling I would love to know - if only it was revealed in even the briefest I would so follow it the remainder of my life."

It was in that very moment that his life changed. A Cicada landed on the window seal. The incest's wings fluttered and yet it did not take flight before the father holding his son. As Nadan looked on, the creature walked about to face his onlooker. The Cicada began its shrilling call. Nadan was captivated by the sound and then became bewildered by it. The shrill continued, and then within its noise Nadan began to hear the voice of a man speaking to him. "LISTEN! Listen and know who you are before! From henceforth, even as I am speaking to you in this manner shall others learn the answer to your question - from me; through you! Thereby, even your son shall be bolder than you, and his voice a Cicada's shrill before others. His words shall be a hard thing to withstand before Men."

Nadan was bewildered and leaned in closer to ask the insect to explain, but the creature flew away.

Nadan pulled a cord alongside the wall and a young Nasilian maiden entered the nursery, to attend to the babe, Kyon. After breastfeeding she lay the infant in his bed, then turned to leave.

"Lome, please - may I inquire something of you?"

"Certainly Prince."

"With all due respect, my name alone is sufficient," he smiled at the youth.

"Yes, Nadan," returning his smile with honor.

"I had a most peculiar thing happen just before I called you." Nadan then relayed his visitor's comments.

The young girl's eyes grew large as her countenance brightened with a joyous smile, "Indeed, you say!" She crossed both of her arms to embrace her own shoulders with a brief head bow. Adding, "The appearance of a Cicada is a most auspicious encounter Prince Nada. Long have my people revered them as Holy Presence. Rare indeed, and only to those called Shamans have heard Cicadas speak with the voice of men!"

Nadan's eyes questioned, "So - it is a good thing, and that I am not going mad?"

"You have been chosen, Nadan to be a mouthpiece of the Lord. Two others - shall come to you in like manner, only then will you fully understand whom it really is that is speaking to you. Yet, I pray Nadan you keep all these between us alone until they come. The fourth voice from him will come through you to the people and then indeed even they will know! Gratitude for your sharing." With that the nurse left the babe's room.

Standing near Kyon's crib, Nadan looked down, "My son, I feel that both our lives have changed, we have a purpose to answer."

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