The Sixtieth Dream Of The Waiting Prince

This morning my Lord spoke to me of his dream of the night before. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And in this dream I followed in the footsteps of a ghost. And in this dream, the ghost followed in the footsteps of a phantom. And in this dream, the phantom followed in the footsteps of a spirit. And in this dream, the spirit followed in the footsteps of a memory. And in this dream, the memory followed in the footsteps of a lie. And in this dream, the lie followed in the footsteps of a desire. And in this dream, the desire followed in the footsteps that were my very own.”

The Fifty Eighth Dream Of The Waiting Prince

Now today my Lord told me of his dream of the night before. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And in this dream I looked upon the jewels of my crown. And I looked upon the jewels on my rings. And I looked upon the jewels in my hair. And I looked upon the jewels round my neck. And I looked upon the jewels upon my robe. And I looked upon the jewels on my throne. And I looked upon the jewels I held in my hands. And I looked upon the jewels piled high on my shelves. And I looked upon the jewels locked within our vaults. And I looked upon the jewels discarded upon the floor. And not a single one meant anything to me. Yet above shone the stars.”

The Fifty Seventh Dream Of The Waiting Prince

Now this morning my Lord spoke to me of his dream of the night before. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And I stood beside a well, and turned the handle of the crank, so as to raise the bucket from below. And as I turned the handle, I felt behind me the breath of another upon my neck. And as I turned the handle, I felt the touch of their fingers upon the fabric of my shirt. And as I turned the handle, I felt the caress of their tongue upon the lobe of my ear. And as I turned the handle, I heard the whispering of temptation at the edges of my mind. And as I turned the handle, I felt the sting of tears at the corner of my eyes. And as I turned the handle, I felt the sobbing of my cries in the very fibre of my heart. But still I turned the handle, and I turn it still even now, though long since did I wake.”

The Fifty Fifth Dream Of The Waiting Prince

This morning my Lord spoke to me, and recounted his dream of the night before. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And this dream was of such barbarity, I am loathe to speak it aloud. For in this dream, I walked among the golden reeds of the Fields Of The Growing Grass, which were littered with the bodies of the newly dead. And the Birds Of The Risen Sun fed upon their eyes. And the Birds Of The High Sun fed upon their tongues. And the Birds Of The Fallen Sun fed upon their hearts. And the Birds Of The Shining Stars fed upon their cocks. And the Birds Of The Many Moons fed upon their wombs. And I walked for many days and years, until I reached their end. And there I laid myself down, and waited for the birds to find me. And above I could see nothing at all, neither sky nor stars, nothing at all except for the swaying of those golden reeds.”

The Fifty Fourth Dream Of The Waiting Prince

My Lord spoke to me today of his dream of yesterday. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And in this dream I watched the sap drip from the trunks of the trees. And in this dream I watched the paint drip from the brushes in their pots. And in this dream I watched the water drip from the spouts of the taps. And in this dream I watched the dew drip from the tips of the blades of grass. And in this dream I watched the blood run from the cuts upon my wrists. And in this dream I watched the blood drip from the tips of my fingers. And in this dream I watched the blood pool upon the dirt of the ground. And in this dream I watched the tears drip from the corners of your eyes. And in this dream I watched the ink drip from the nib of your pen. And in this dream I watched the colour fade from the fabric of the world. And in this dream, I watched you record it all upon the pages of your scroll.”

The Fifty Third Dream Of The Waiting Prince

And this morning my Lord told me of his most recent dream. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And in this dream I studied the cracks in the paint, on the wall of my room, here in the High Palace, where only I am permitted to walk, and to sleep, and to dream. And in these marks I searched for meaning, and for order, and some pattern which to me would grant an understanding, to allow me to comprehend the legacies of the past, and predict the nature of those things to come. But there was no meaning there, nor was there any pattern, for they were just cracks in the paint, and spoke of nothing but my neglect, of my duties of repair.”

The Fifty First Dream Of The Waiting Prince

This morning my Lord told me the details of his most recent dream. And he said to me, “My dear scribe, last night as I slept, I dreamt. And in my dream, a woman floated upon the Silver Sea, her eyes filled with tears. And by her side I stood, the waters reaching to my chest, my eyes filled with tears. And I placed my hands upon her shoulders, and held her tightly beneath the waves.”