The City of Ten Gates
Once there was a shining city on a hilltop, called by name Melasurej. Surrounding the city was a wall, and in this wall were ten gates. Now each of the gates, having a special name, served a certain purpose to the city. The inhabitants were free to come and go at will. It was such a pleasant place that even the animals seemed to radiate happiness.
One of the gates served the purpose of assembly, while other gates were there for one reason or another. Sometimes the city punished criminals outside of a certain gate, but for whatever reasons the gates stood, they were not guarded by day or night.
Now, how this came to happen is another story, but a man of Melasurej, Haimehen by name, was living in the court of a Persian king serving as his royal cupbearer. Haimehen was a very smart fellow, a man of action and few words. He believed in watching, working hard, and praying. He was a good, moral, and honest man who was held in high regards by the king.
One day while he was busy going back and forth in the palace, he saw one of his countrymen, a friend, who had just arrived from Melasurej bringing with him a message for the Persian king. Haimehen stopped his friend and asked, "How are things going in the land?"
His friend described to him how the city of Melasurej had fallen into captivity by bandits, and all of its gates, save one, had been burned down by fire. Haimehen became extremely concerned over this report, but offered no platitudes. None of the usual cliches seemed appropriate at the time so he simply sat down and wept many tears. Then he called out with great effort, "ICHABOD!" an exclamation of dismay.
Haimehen knew that he must seek the king's attention immediately, but it would be with great risk to present himself without first being summoned. "What did he do?" I asked quickly.
The old sage chuckled and said, "He marched right up to the cannon's mouth, and cried: 'O king, my master, the city of my fathers, and the sepulchers where they are buried lie in waste, and the gates are consumed with fire. Please, master, grant me permission to go straight away to Melasurej.'" So, it was granted, and Haimehen left immediately on a difficult journey through dangerous country for the city of his ancestors. The king had provided Haimehen with letters of introduction, and explanation to the governors along his route that would give him protection as he traveled through their lands. In time, Haimehen reached the revished city on the hill, where he set about reviewing the ruins, and encouraging the people to rebuild its walls and gates.
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