Tell them they are lesser.
And they will feel lesser.
Show them they are nothing.
And they will be nothing.
Take their identity.
And they will be no one.
—Writing confiscated from the Dredge. The writer and date of the poem are unknown.
Tomorrow we celebrate Ardae, the day Anyme climbed into the sky to watch from above and guide us through life. I tell not the story preached by the Abosom or the words chanted by the Embers, but the words carried from griot to griot. You chose which is fact, but does truth need faith and faith need truth?
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Anyme was a musawa. Neither man nor woman, but both and none. Anyme was clever. Anyme was smart. Anyme knew every person, plant, and animal by heart.
One day Anyme said to the sky, “Why are you up there, so high, so high?”
“Because I am wise and clever and I have earned my place above,” the sky replied.
◊
Centuries passed and Anyme became full of knowledge, wise and clever. So Anyme returned to the sky.
“Why are you up there, so high, so high?”
“Because I take care of the world below, I know my duty,” the sky replied.
◊
Anyme wandered the earth, caring for all beings. Anyme learned of obligation and responsibility. So Anyme returned to the sky.
“Why are you up there, so high, so high?”
“Because I am merciful and true.”
◊
Anyme drew followers, named the Abosom, who preached the sky’s truth.
So Anyme returned to the sky.
“Why are you up there, so high, so high?”
“Because I am strong.”
◊
Anyme created the most powerful of regimes, the Nuba martial art, and trained for centuries and grew strong.
So Anyme returned to the sky.
“I have done all you have done and more. I am clever, and trustworthy, strong and dutiful. I have earned my place in the sky.”
“It is true, Anyme, you have done all I have done, and more. I welcome you above.”