The Spike or Victoria College Review October 1930

The Guardian Of The Castle — A Parable

The Guardian Of The Castle

A Parable

Once very long ago there lived a race of men known as the Subgrads—however they have no connection with the Belgrads of the present day. These people had developed intellectually and socially far beyond their time. They were law-abiding and gentle, kind and courteous and their very name was symbolic of chivalry. Often they met together to discuss things of import such as a game which they played called Rugha, often to speak of the women of their kind, sometimes to confer on matters of political moment such as whether the women of other tribes should be admitted to their frolics. They had no council chamber, nowhere to gather in comfort and perforce their meetings were held 'neath open sky and shimmering stars and ofttimes it rained and dampened the bodies and the spirits of the people wherefore many of the latter found their way to heaven.

So there arose one of their elders, honoured for his age and learning and suggested that there should be built a great castle in which they could meet. The proposal was hailed with acclamation. Every able-bodied man set to work. They stinted themselves in their food that they might buy goods from the outlying tribes and to purchase rich ornaments from the cities, to make beautiful their castle. They worked with hand and heart and lo ! one day there stood proud in the sun, a wondrous building. In it were marble halls, swimming pools and beauteous paintings. The floor was of beaten gold and the ceilings of platinum studded with diamonds which at night scintillated like the roof of heaven.

In this wondrous place they held a great meeting. One of their number rose up and proposed that they should nominate one as guardian of the castle. This was was called Plancius. He was of wondrous beauty and few were the women of the Subgrads who had not ogled him in desire. He was a modest man, despite, and he stated the qualities which they should seek in electing their guardian. And lo! when he had finished speaking the concourse saw that there was only one man for the honour and a great cry, "Plancius, let it be you," shook the golden pillars. One or two dissented, but these were but the underlings of Macdo, a great potted fellow who was ambitious. And so Plancius became guardian of the castle of the Subgrads.

Content and well-being filled the people. They lolled in their rich cushioned divans, smoked their hashish and carelessly deposited the ashes in the beautiful jade stands, discussed the qualities of their women, the capabilities of Maki and Oliva, Corna and Kilbi, Porta and Nikols, all great Rugha players,—and so all was sweetness and happiness.

One day there fell a bombshell. Someone had broken a jade hashish stand. No-one knew who had done it and the finger of suspicion pointed at no-one. The thing had been done deliberately. It was no accident.

Then Plancius bethought himself, "Here can I win for myself, immortality. My name will go down to the people for ever."

And what think you this Plancius did do? Sufficient it is to say that one night after their labours, the Subgrads tired and anticipating strolled up to the oaken portals of their castle—to find it closed and barred and on the door writ in a huge hand—

Know Ye a jade stand has been broken. Until the wrongdoer doth come to me and pay the castle will be closed to all. Aye and even though it be a year.

Guardian of the Castle. Plancius,

And there arose a great wail of anguish. For the cold nights were on their way and a great giant Brooki, struck terror into their hearts with his roaring. Desolate they wandered away. Then came the cold nights and many caught chill and died. Too, the great ugly giant Brooki drove the Subgrads from the plains into the dry fetid caves. But all the while Plancius himself was comfortably housed in a villa which he had built himself. With him were his admirers and underlings who in comfort smoked their hashish and discussed their Rugha. All the while Plancius smote his chest and cried, "Aye, the name of Plancius will go down to posterity as the name of one who had a will of steel." His toadies chorused, "Truly Plancius, thou art great."

While out in the night there shivered and died the Subgrads. Then for the first time they noted how noble was the brow of Macdo, how the children loved him and no more did they laugh at his great pott. And so there came a rebellion. Into the villa of Plancius poured the Subgrads. "Death to Plancius," they screamed. And lo! soon the guardian of the castle and his underlings lay dead on the plains, meat for the swooping carrion. Broken was the door of the castle and into it hastened the Subgrads. "Macdo for ever," they cried, and thus did Macdo become the guardian of the castle, while outside Brooki gnashed his teeth since he was baulked of his prey.

Macdo rose. On his head was a wreath of white lilies which a maid who loved him, had set thereon. In measured tones he stated the policy he intended to follow for his term of office and so wise was his edict that all shouted with delight. "He is a student of the law; he will do us no wrong," they cried.

Macdo concluded his speech—"and my dear people I have made a minute study of the law and now there is nothing which I do not know concerning it. To-morrow I become a Divinity student."

There was a great shout of triumph and the outlying tribes wondered what strange religious rite was this. And the guardianship of Macdo was one glorious for its equity and justice and during the many years of his rule, the Subgrads smoked their hashish and discussed their Rugha, reclining at ease on the cushioned divans well content and happy. And to this day they know not who broke the hashish stand of jade. Who knows, perhaps it was the evil Plancius himself?

—G.I.J.