after the cat has roared through my blood, this is the way forward
Dec 2nd prompt for 31_days: make him tame so he can live in peace with the world
after the cat has roared through my blood, this is the way forward
“The ambassador of Qi has arrived, Great King.”
Fu Chai waves the attendant away. “The Prime Minister will see to him. We’re not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.” He frowns at the board, forehead furrowed in concentration, and exhales exasperatedly.
“Damn him, he made Myself lose focus. Start a new game.”
Gou Jian’s brows imperceptibly rise, but he separates the black and white stones again without a murmur as Fu Chai paces about the room cracking his knuckles and rubbing his palms, while the servants scramble to light all the lamps and re-fill the braziers.
Sixty-seven moves, and they are almost evenly matched. It is White’s turn. Gou Jian, hunched over the board, twitches just a little when Fu Chai’s hearty voice breaks in suddenly on his thoughts.
“I say, Gou Jian. Don’t you find this much more restful than fighting and politicking and all the rest of it?”
“The rest of what, your Majesty? Ah, with your Majesty’s permission.” He removes a black stone, sets it aside almost reverently and replaces it with his own.
There is no reply until Fu Chai has made his move. “Being a king, of course. Don’t play the fool, Gou Jian, it doesn’t suit you.”
His opponent puts another stone down. “Gou Jian humbly submits that preferences may differ. Begging your Majesty’s pardon, your Majesty spends much more time on the battlefield than on the board.” This time, he appears startled by the shout of laughter that makes all the dozing attendants look up.
“Naturally! A King must continue to fight, to preserve and enlarge his domains. A burden that you have been spared by Myself.”
“Gou Jian must once again thank your Majesty for your Majesty’s magnanimity. I now desire nothing more than to live out the rest of my days quietly as a groom in your Majesty’s service.”
“And as a sparring partner - on the board only, you understand. Ah, this is so much more enjoyable than palavering with those tiresome ambassadors. Thank Heaven for Bo Pi and his like! Now, where were we?”
“Your Majesty’s move.”
It is the 2nd here, and looks like a busy day. Title from another of Sutardji Calzoum Bachri's poems, In front of the Ka'abah ("I look for my veins, and search for my blood...") The prompts for subsequent two days are slightly terrifying.
after the cat has roared through my blood, this is the way forward
“The ambassador of Qi has arrived, Great King.”
Fu Chai waves the attendant away. “The Prime Minister will see to him. We’re not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.” He frowns at the board, forehead furrowed in concentration, and exhales exasperatedly.
“Damn him, he made Myself lose focus. Start a new game.”
Gou Jian’s brows imperceptibly rise, but he separates the black and white stones again without a murmur as Fu Chai paces about the room cracking his knuckles and rubbing his palms, while the servants scramble to light all the lamps and re-fill the braziers.
Sixty-seven moves, and they are almost evenly matched. It is White’s turn. Gou Jian, hunched over the board, twitches just a little when Fu Chai’s hearty voice breaks in suddenly on his thoughts.
“I say, Gou Jian. Don’t you find this much more restful than fighting and politicking and all the rest of it?”
“The rest of what, your Majesty? Ah, with your Majesty’s permission.” He removes a black stone, sets it aside almost reverently and replaces it with his own.
There is no reply until Fu Chai has made his move. “Being a king, of course. Don’t play the fool, Gou Jian, it doesn’t suit you.”
His opponent puts another stone down. “Gou Jian humbly submits that preferences may differ. Begging your Majesty’s pardon, your Majesty spends much more time on the battlefield than on the board.” This time, he appears startled by the shout of laughter that makes all the dozing attendants look up.
“Naturally! A King must continue to fight, to preserve and enlarge his domains. A burden that you have been spared by Myself.”
“Gou Jian must once again thank your Majesty for your Majesty’s magnanimity. I now desire nothing more than to live out the rest of my days quietly as a groom in your Majesty’s service.”
“And as a sparring partner - on the board only, you understand. Ah, this is so much more enjoyable than palavering with those tiresome ambassadors. Thank Heaven for Bo Pi and his like! Now, where were we?”
“Your Majesty’s move.”
It is the 2nd here, and looks like a busy day. Title from another of Sutardji Calzoum Bachri's poems, In front of the Ka'abah ("I look for my veins, and search for my blood...") The prompts for subsequent two days are slightly terrifying.