Evening came to Ulan Baator again, and, as usual, the three herdsmen were getting drunk in the tavern.
“I have seen it!” the first proclaimed, “Out on the snowy plain, on a moonlit night, there it stood!”
“What did you see? What did you see?” the second asked.
“It was a huge, huge, white wolf! White as snow! Greater than any wolf-creature I have ever seen or imagined. And its silver fur glistened in the moonlight!
The second nearly fell off his chair, laughing. “What were you drinking, my friend? You’ve never seen a wolf in your life!”
“I admit,” the first replied, “that I exaggerate a bit…”
“Exaggerate? You should go onstage with that story. Make much money…”
“Enough!” the companion interrupted, “Let him get on with his story.”
“…There was this huge creature standing before me, its fur glistening in the moonlight, and then its eyes began to glow red. As that happened, I knew deep down in my heart who this creature was, and so, I knelt down and said, ‘Oh White Werewolf! I know who you are! I am in your service and I will do whatever you command me to do!’ Thereupon, the wolf transformed itself into a beautiful woman wearing a white gown, whose long tresses of hair flew in the wind. The woman said, ‘Rise, noble herdsman! Rise and tell your kind that it is time to walk for the cause of the planet!’ Then, the woman disappeared, and after…I come here!”
The second was dumbfounded.
The companion thought for a moment and reflected on the news of earth-walkers marching in the land of Selgirk the First. He’d heard on the radio of the industrialists jumping out of windows of their ivory towers. He’d heard of the National Leader, himself, losing his cadre of commandantes and lobbyists, standing ankle-deep in the ocean, not able to make it stop rising.
This time, they drank rounds of toasts to the White Werewolf. They proclaimed it a beast of mercy; a creature of mercy to all those who walked the earth for planet-survival. They added a new verse to their song…
When the sea is rising on high,
Then, the time of planet-greeting is nigh…
Suddenly, the doors of the tavern flew open, revealing Yelevan and Simoom.
“It is time to put down your bottles and march with us!” Yelevan proclaimed.
“It is the woman!” the first cried. “It is the woman I saw out on the plain!”
“Bring your herds and camels,” Simoom commanded, “and your yurts and families and children, and we will walk across the earth for the cause of the planet!”
“But do we have time to wash our herds and cleanse our children?” the companion asked.
“No!” Simoom replied, her eyes glowing red. “The cause of the planet is non-negotiable!”
“But where are we going?”
“Just do as I say,” Simoom replied, “and the Goddess of Stotemastartia will light your way!”
Simoom and Yelevan left the tavern as abruptly as they had arrived.
The following morning, a great migration of men, women, children and herds assembled outside the city. It was a cloudless day. They were led by the companion, who arose and stood before the multitude, encouraging them in this manner:
“Earth-walkers! Marching! Repeat these words after me:
Ya-ee-hee-a-ya-HEE! Ya-ee-hee-a-ya-HEE!
Earth-walkers! Chanting! And now we march to the sea!
Ya-ee-hee-a-ya-HEE! Ya-ee-hee-a-ya-HEE!”
They left the city on a mission for the survival of the world, of all beings, creatures, rivers, lakes, mountains, plains, oceans, and themselves, in it. Chanting “Ya-ee-hee-a-ya-HEE!” all the way, their journey took them across the desert to the chemical factories of Shegirkenirk, guarded by the National Army with their automatic rifles.
This would become the largest peaceful demonstration in the annals of the Book of Ghirke – but what would they do when they arrived there?
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