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Chapter 5

Kofur, the Demon of Evil

One will be measured according to what one has achieved,

not according to what one has destroyed.

The next day was very hot. Not the faintest breeze was felt. Prince Aron was just in the midst of overtaxing his treasurer (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) with his plans. "Edifices convey a message," he made fun of the narrow-minded official who refused to expend a single penny without being coaxed. Aron felt it necessary to distract the parsimonious official's attention from the depleted coffers with the grandiosity of his design. "The message of our sun palace proclaims: The Sun remains and the sun palace praises the sun's immortality. The eyes of the Nubians will light up when they see my monumental work, (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) a work that surpasses any other, for I shall erect the highest tower.

It will be topped by a golden sphere that captures the rays of the sun and makes them gleam like a diamond. People shall be astounded by the golden spire that shines at them from afar like the sun itself. "What this will cost!" moaned the treasurer. "And all for a little amazement." "For now, two hundred sun thaler will suffice," the prince snarled at the treasurer.

Following this altercation, Aron ran immediately to his flowers. He wanted to forget about it as quickly as possible and hoped for a bit of rest for his agitated mind. But he had not yet calmed down and, therefore, chewed out the thirsting lilies: "Where's the wind? I can't stand this searing heat (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) any longer."

"Go to the unfinished third tower. We saw the demon Kofur." Then they let their heads drop. When Aron heard the news, he was filled with ill foreboding. Kofur was the messenger of evil, the messenger of Ozelot, an eagle who penetrated the darkness with his two heads and six eyes. The prince ran as quickly as he could to the third palace tower. There he saw Kofur. Evil and menacing, he sat on the highest turret of the unfinished tower. As he got closer, the prince saw that Kofur was holding the wind on a leash while he grunted: "All that comes into being deserves to perish."

Aron, who knew this famous poet's saying, was greatly alarmed. He saw Kofur tightening the noose around the wind's neck, making him cry out in pain. That's exactly what Kofur intended. The little storm made the part of the just finished tower collapse.

"Stop it, you miscreant!" yelled Aron. "Don't you know how much work goes into building a tower?"

"But, of course," croaked the eagle scornfully. "That's why it's such fun to destroy it. I can only destroy, not create."

Aron wished with all his heart that the next wind blast would blow Kofur off the tower and that the leash with which he was holding the wind would snap. He sent this wish via telepathy to his wish official. Just as he finished the thought, the wish was granted. Kofur was lying wailing on the ground with a broken leg.

"I won't forget this, ever. You can bet on it," moaned the injured eagle.

"You'd better not show your face here again, ever. The sunland is no place for creatures with sinister thoughts," Aron admonished the two-headed eagle. Kofur lifted himself up into the air, his two mouths twisting with pain.

"Kofur can only destroy and destruction he shall suffer," the prince turned agitated toward the wind. The sun prince assessed the extent of the damage and was beside himself.

"I have enough problems with the treasurer and now this to boot," Aron gave his anger free rein. "Isn't it better to build something than to demolish?" the prince asked the wind maker.

The wind couldn't care less about the prince's quarrels. He pulled his head out of the noose. His only concern was that Kofur could really become dangerous for him. It was good that the prince rescued him. He actually wouldn't have expected him to be that magnanimous since he always favored the lilies.

"Then again," the wind kept on brooding, "maybe the prince just wanted to save his tower and didn't really care about me."

He felt his neck which was still sore. "One never knows what's up," the wind doubted Aron's honesty and crouched at the feet of the lilies to get some rest. As suspicious as he was, he was sure he picked the best spot for overhearing the latest news. He allowed only a gentle breeze to spread some coolness.

"Did you meet your angel?" asked the lilies when Aron returned.

"I wasn't sure how to call him since I fell asleep while playing with my toy clock."

"Too bad," the flowers shook their heads.

"Try again today," they suggested to Aron. next

8 steps for more creativity