Saat!

What concept of time has only been made by humankind, for humankind – Ba; but not for beast? The concept of time: does it truly exist, and who created it? Only Ba could make sense of the abstractions of time – Saat; and try to philosophize its nature. Only Ba would try to control it, as they try to control all things in their world. Even the poets amongst Ba would try to measure its infinite puzzlement with beautiful, sad and execrable, yet endless emotional words and context. Ba will always considered Saat as a foe, an enemy to be feared because they cannot control it. Perversely the supposed dumb animals know and bravely confront time as a friend, not a foe. They know the true nature of time, and accept its fatality, its unavoidable future.

Neptune being psychopomp; could see under the veil of this realm. Neptune knew just like the Ghostbusters, he could see the spirit, as the soul leaves the body, leaves its shell, its sacred home in this earthly realm, and moves into the next realm. Neptune didn’t need to question; he was the guide to the change process. The metamorphism. He was unaware of the wise philosophers, made famous with their grand theories of life and death, whether it was dust to dust, awaiting the day of reckoning, or water to water through earth and fire. Neptune was the spirit guide, and he helped the disconcerted, the bewildered and befuddled spirits make their way to the next place; wherever it was or whatever awaited them.

So, when Neptune announced that the newborn fox cub Braess was the reincarnated spirit of Ethel Beaver sent back to avenge bad karma, no one from Pluto, Lady, and the seven cats of Kubbeli Evler questioned Neptune. No one. In fact, this news to Lady was especially pleasing, and was good for the mind medicine when Ba took away her 8-week-old pups for profit.

Neptune added further information. Braess has come to avenge your mothers, your fathers, Wicked, Ethel - all. Braess will rid the land of evil, kill the servant of les yeux de la montagne, the evil Lupus Vulpes, and remove the fauces de la muerte forever.

On hearing this information, Pluto, Lady and the seven cats of Kubbeli Evler were less confident. Firstly, no one had mentioned in detail the exodus from the Capricorn Club, and the reasoning behind the sudden departure. No one had confided this information to Neptune, only Lady was aware of their lives before the stray cat’s arrival at Kubbeli Evler. How did Neptune know? Secondly, the concept that a newborn fox cub possessed the Ba spirit of Ethel Beaver could be accepted, it was a nebulous and impossible to prove statement and fact. But the forecast of vengeance on the stray cats’ hunters, out to murder Pluto, Lady and the seven cats of Kubbeli Evler, this was a different matter entirely. This information was close to their destinies, and this forecast created something unique in the consciousness of the group. A concept of a future destiny, a reckoning, which was not a pleasant feeling. The exodus to Kubbeli Evler was a journey of avoidance, with the sole purpose of staying alive. Nothing more than survival. Neptune’s prophecy was introducing a confrontation, a date in the future where there would be retribution, and if Neptune was right the removal of a threat. In the stray cats’ lives, the symphony on the streets, there are so many life threats, but knowing about one in the future was a different matter. Nevertheless, being reassured that good would come out of a bad situation, this was novel yet disconcerting news to the group’s general consciousness.

But more than anything Neptune’s words introduced a future event, and by that fact alone, it introduced Saat.

Surprisingly all Neptune’s forecasts for the future occurred one hot summer’s night, shortly after Pluto and the seven cats arrived at Kubbeli Evler.

Pluto and Lady were both quietly listening to the night sounds, and Neptune the black cat, the psychopomp, suddenly appeared from the shadows. Strangely, neither Lady the alert guard dog nor Pluto noticed Neptune until she settled himself on the ground, making a triangle of animals cooling off, a respite from the scorching heat of the summer’s day. The convection current generated from the faster cooling sea water, now becoming slightly cooler than the dry sunbaked land. The displacement and movement of the air caused a welcome draft which was greatly appreciated by the trio of animals.

Neptune the visitor started the conversation. “Good evening. Welcome Pluto, welcome to you and your displaced family. I have heard the story or stories of your threatened existence down below at the Capricorn Club.”

“I was a guide to both Ethel and Wicked when they passed to the next realm” It was said so matter-of-factly. Obviously for a psychopomp like Neptune the black cat, the Ba’s passing and moving to the next realm was a regular occurrence.

“They are both well, but the spirit of Ethel will return for vengeance, she must balance her karma in the next life. She will return soon.”

“There is evil in the mountains, in this land, that has poisoned the nation. It has reached out and poisoned the Ba and their leaders and all the living creatures of the land. The ancients wanted to teach all living creatures a lesson. But, like all things in the universe there must be a balance between good and evil. The cycle of life is continuously turning. Ancient evil must have its blood, its sacrifices. The blood of good-natured spirits has to be spilled in this realm, and good souls have to be absorbed in the current fracture in the universe. Now is the time for repair and redemption, and a return to the equilibrium, the equinox of good and evil.”

“The sacrifice of the evil shape changer will appease the Gods. His name is Lycanthrope, and he is hungry and murderous, and the servant of the mountain. He and his gang are the jaws of death, and they are thirsty for blood.”

“Pluto, Lady. you both have been fortunate, and both have been spared for a reason. The same with the seven strays. But you must be careful. Don’t stray too far from Kubbeli Evler. Here you are safe, there is an invisible umbrella of refuge, it is a blind spot for the sightless eyes of the mountain. Remain vigilant, because sight is only one sense, the mountain has more senses to discover your existence, and it will.”

“The antidote to the current airborne poison, comes from the evil source itself.”

“Born from the sperm of evil into the waters of good, cometh the servant to fight this evil, and with the good soul of the one you know as Ethel Beaver – Cygne Noir!”

“It will slay the jaws of death and purify the land from evil.”

Neptune concluded, and as suddenly as he arrived, he left, slipping into the shadows.

Pluto and Lady looked at each other aghast and then fell back into a long animal pause of silence, but this time their minds were full of so many unanswered questions. Only to be answered with time.

*************

*Ba means human beings and their world.

** Saat means time in the Turkish language. Using the Turkish word is more apt, as in Turkey the concept and respect for time is different to the West, and slightly closer to that of animals (a statement which is somewhat stretching the truth and imagination of the reader). Turkey like most eastern countries has a polychronic culture and can handle multiple tasks at the same time and place greater emphasis on relationships than on rigid schedules or time keeping. In fact, a meeting continuing longer than scheduled shows greater respect in this culture.