Księga Nod (eng)

Book
of
Nod
By Aristotle deLaurent, Beckett, et al.
~~~
Introduction:
How to use the Book of Nod
The Book of Nod is not designed to be the
definitive book on the nature of vampires and
their founder, Caine. There are no game mechanics
within. The reason behind this is that The Book
of Nod is meant to be 100 percent setting
material. Ideally, Storytellers will use The Book
of Nod as a prop in either their Masquerade
Mind's Eye Theatre game or their Vampire:The
Masquerade chronicles.
They may also use it to seed their games with
an authentic culture: the culture of the
Antediluvians which filters down from Caine
himself. Want to make an EIder seem ancient and
ultra-conservative? Have him quote from the
Chronicle of Shadows. Want to give players the
sense that they are close to the Antediluvians?
Have them find a tablet with a fragment of the
Chronicle of Caine on it. Want to scare them with
threats of Gehenna? Have a Malkavian quote the
Chronicle of Secrets to them.
~~~
Preface
I cannot tell you the naked fear I
feel, putting down these words for once
and for all. Perhaps I will regret them.
Perhaps they will never see print. Yet,
it is my nature to report this. It is, as
they say, in the blood.
My sire, and his sire before him
followed this great and glorius work.
Indeed, our very nature has been shaped
by this quest; we are unable to stop
searching for knowledge. We are of the
Mnemosyne, the Memory-Seekeers.
Specifically, we have been commanded to
search for the Book, the tome of all
Kindred lore, which is a collection of
writings by Caine, his childer and his
grandchlider. It is this Book, supposedly
first written in the land of Nod, east
of Eden, that captures our daytime
nightmares and makes every night a
painful journey from ignorance towards
truth.
Still, I savor every moment of my
unlife. I savor the feeling of the
crinkly old skins through silk gloves,
turning them page by page. My hands shake
with pleasure while holding soft cool
lights and reading ink that was newly
dried when Charlemagne was young. I savor
the gentle, quiet terror of reading
cuneiform tablets that threaten to
crumble at my very presence. More than
that, perhaps more than immortality
itself, is the quest that burns within
me. It is the search. I have traveled all
over this world, perhaps even more than
any other of my bloodline.
Where my eternal quest takes me, I
shall know no fear! Though small of frame
and frail of body, my heart is strong and
my blood stronger. I am not afraid to go
to those shadowy places where the farflung
fragments of our Father's teachings
lie resting! I have gotten lost in the
raw brutality of New York, sipped tea
with the Governor of Kingston, made lifelong
enemies in Johannesburg, hired the
best diggers in all of Cairo, fought to
get through to Casablanca, learned about
ancient steel and ancient monuments in
Toledo, dug in the white cliffs of Dover,
barely avoided a deadly brawl in Dublin,
sneaked past watchful eyes in Brest, and
liberated ancient tomes from a monastery
in Cologne. I have saved fourteen sacred
scrolls from the torch in Berlin, sipped
the best coffee and talked to the
greatest Austrian scholars in Vienna,
learned ancient Sumerian from a
Methuselah in the hidden tunnels under
the University of Prague, and braved the
coldest winters Oslo had to offer.
And yet, I did not to this by my wits
alone. Barely a night goes by that I do
not thank our Founder for his foresight
in providing me with the secret ways of
hiding, the way to see beyond sight, and
the voice of command that seems to come
so easily to our line, and I have long
blessed my warrior friend Karsh who
taught me the secret of seeing in the
dark and sleeping in the earth.
And yet, I wonder what else our
Founder provided us with. My sire and his
sire seem to have fallen under a horrible
curse. A madness, dark and quiet at
first but soon growing to a terrible loss
of coherent thought and communication,
has seemed to strike them. Can I be far
behind? My Tremere friend has written me,
saying that the burning need driving my
bloodline might be the cause of the
madness. It must be true, for I cannot
fight the burning desire for more
knowledge, it is as difficult to resist
as the need for sleep or the need for
blood.
It is perhaps this madness, that which
I fear the most which has compelled me to
go to press with this translation in
haste. Know that I do not intend to break
Raphael's fragile Masquerade by putting
these words in print. It is my intent
that a scant ten score of these books be
printed, and that none of the copies of
this book be given into the hands of the
sons and daughters of Seth (as our Father
commands us in The Chronicle of Shadows).
I must publish this now, however. It
is the most complete collection of the
Chronicles of The Book of Nod that has
ever been gathered. No other translation,
not even Critias' Codex of Caine, has
been as complete.
And yet it shames me to say that this
is not the complete text. Far from it. I
have seen whole fragments go up in smoke
as flames consumed ancient buildings. I
have touched a complete Book in the tomb
of an Antediluvian, and watched it
crumble to dust.
I know that in the catacombs under the
tabled Los City of Gold, hidden deep in
the Amazon jungle, there are thirteen
stone fragments said to contain specific
words to each of the 13 tribes of
Kindred, but I only glimpsed them once
before I was forced to flee. And so I can
only boast to having part of the puzzle:
the largest part to ever be assembled,
true, but still only a part of the whole.
I have chosen English as it is my native
tongue, it is, in my opinion, the one
language which most ably dances between
the ancient concepts of Sumer, the noble
language of Ancient Rome and the
stentorian incantations of Medieval
Germany. I must beg forgiveness for its
glib simplified action in some cases.
However, I will forever defend my choice.
The King's English will serve well,
especially since so many of the original
texts are forever lost to me.
It is perhaps particularly perverse
that I follow the threads of memory to
each fragment of this Book, and yet I
know that there are those out there who
harry me at every step. I know that
Amelek has himself had a hand in
thwarting me once, and other Methuselahs
as well. It is difficult to find, for
example, lists of the names of the
Antediluvians and the Methuselahs, for
they know that in names there are power
and they, out of fear that some mage
would learn to control them with it have
blotted their names out of the histories,
where ever they have been recovered.
I have luckily managed to discover a
few of them, but I suspect these to be
falsified names that were created by the
Antediluvians to throw me off the trail,
so I offer them here. This may be the
only way in which we may identify certain
Antediluvians. Furthermore, I have fallen
into the habit (regrettably) of referring
to the founder of a clan with a
nominative of the clan's name. For
example, Malkav equals Malkavian. This
is, admittedly, sloppy scholarship but I
have been left with no choice. Once I
learned the true name. of Brujah's
Antediluvian and discovered my own name
carved in my forearm the next evening. I
promptly swore to never again seek the
names of those founders.
I am quite sure that, even as I write
these words, there are agents of the
Jyhad who are following me. I will not
join the common room downstairs tonight
for last night. I indulged in some winesotted
blood and saw a woman with silvergrey
eyes looking at me. She was wearing
Ventrue's scepter-sigil on her cloak, I
know it was her watching for me,
searching for me, sent by Ventrue to
harry me. No matter. I will write the
truth and the rest of you be damned!
I have attempted to compile these
textual fragments into some kind of
coherent story, at least within the
contexts of the various Chronicles. Where
you see an ellipsis, know that there are
more words on that particular scrap, but
that it has somehow been lost, erased or
hidden from me.
I wait now only for a package from
London to finish this missive and have
done with this book. This package will
carry one of the only copies of the Codex
of Caine left in existence, and will be
the last piece in my complex puzzle. I
look forward to touching it, holding it,
with great expectation. And if any of my
brothers or sisters comes near it, I will
... I will send them to the death of
Fire! Let Michael’s holy sword brand
them, for all I care. No one has come
this close. I will reign triumphant
amongst my kind.
With triumph,
Aristotle de Laurent
~~~
A Brief Word on the Chronicle of Caine
It is unimportant that this part of the
Book of Nod is not comparatively accurate
with the standard biblical canon. What is
important is that we have, perhaps for the
first time, a personal viewpoint on the
events surrounding the days after the Fall.
Caine tells us in his own words what his
motives were, and although it is quite
possible that this story exists only to
shape our idea of him, we can assume that
there must be some element of the truth his
tale. His account is, after all, the only
eyewitness report we have to rely upon.
Ah, our dear Father. In some Islamic
myths, the translated Satan figure is thrown
from Heaven not because he hates mankind,
but because he loves God too much to bow to
any other but God, and he will not serve
man. It is perhaps that Caine shares in this
love he so loves his brother that he cannot
think of any other worthy sacrifice to the
One Above. Surely Caine could not have had
any other reason to sacrifice his brother.
He could not know death, having been born
before Death was something humanity had
experienced.
Other figures of that time also play
instrumental roles in the Book. Surely it is
not purely mythological transliteration that
causes Lilith to appear in this story, for
she is a figure in the oldest of the Hebrew
Midrashim. Having been cast out of Paradise
first, she would recognize Caine for one who
had been in the light of heaven and
subsequently cast out. There are those among
my colleagues who believe that this stanza
should represent the idea that Lilith,
mother of magick and demoness herself,
taught the first Disciplines to Caine.
Others see her role as being a midwife to
our Father's awakening to his own magickal
potential. What remains to be discovered is
the fabled „Cycle of Lilith" which
supposedly describes the time Caine spent
with Lilith as her servant and lover. Was it
merely a dalliance, or could it have been
some kind of mystical apprenticeship, during
which Lilith gradually drew out of Caine tne
limitations that the Divine had placed upon
him and slowly Awakened him to his own
magickal powers? The fact that she shows
trepidation at his drinking her own blood
from the Awakening cup might point to her
lack of total understanding as to what,
exactly, this might do to the First Son of
Adam.
We cannot afford to speculate heather the
cup causes a hallucination in Caine or
whether Caine is actually physically
transported to a wilderness somewhere in the
Darkness. This is not understood, neither is
it explained by the translation of the
original text. The original phraseology
essentially means „breathed in" or „moved."
Both meanings of the word point to either
explanation. And we cannot gain much in the
debates: it matters not whether Caine was
physically transported. Like shamanic
visions recorded as a result of ritually
consuming hallucinogenic, Caine's experience
was as real to him as any journey might be
to you or me. My childe, Beckett, continues
to restate his opinion that the Chronicle of
Caine is a vampiric parable. I totally
disagree, but Beckett is a beloved childe. I
will include his studies and findings here,
below.
Because of the literary distance between
the current translations of the text (Dr.
deLaurent's translation included) of The
Book of Nod, the original intent of the Book
has been lost. It is my theory, based on my
own researches, that the stories of Caine
and Abel, Caine's curse, and his subsequent
meeting with Lilith are parables created to
tell the tale of the first Kindred in such a
way that even the simplest of us can
understand them. Through my own scholarship,
and drawing upon the work of the fundamental
Caine scholars in the world (including some
captured writings by a Black Hand worshipper
of Caine), I have created a story which I
believe harkens back to the original parable
of Caine.
In the time after humanity went from a
hunter/gatherer society to cultivating farm
animals and developing agriculture, there
were two tribes, named for their chiefs.
They were called the people of Caine and the
people of Abel. The people of Abel were
herders and animal husbanders, and were more
primitive than the people of Caine. They
worshipped a great Sun God, who was a warrior
who lived in the sky. The people of Caine
were agricultural, and were more civilized
than the people of Abel. Because it was so
important to time the harvest, the people of
Caine worshipped the Moon Goddess, the Dark
Mother who was both the fertility of Earth
and the mystery of the Moon.
Yet, not all of the people were happy.
Chief Abel attacked Caine's people, telling
them that they were inferior and cursed
because they did not hunt like their Sun God
hunted. Caine's people did not know much
about fighting, but Caine taught them how to
use the sharp things that they used to till
the soil to kill. When Abel's people came
back to torment them again, Caine's people
fought back. All of the men, women and
children of Abel were killed.
The Sun God of the people of Abel then
called them cursed as a people, and laid a
blood-curse on all of them that they would
wander without a home in the wilderness. He
burned their villages and salted their
fields, and told all to turn away from the
people of Caine The people of Caine were
unable to recover. They wandered in the
curse for many weeks, until they had no food
to eat and had many troubles. Then the
priestess of the Dark Mother, who lived
beyond the Moon, came. The priestess offered
Caine's people respite, succor and surcease.
She taught them magic, taught them how to
hunt, and taught them to drink blood.
The Sun God came to Chief Caine in
dreams, and told him and his people to
return and subjugate themselves to the will
of people of Seth. Chief Caine refused. Then
the Sun God told him that all the people of
his tribe would be cursed forever, and it
was so. But the Dark Mother said that there
would always be a way to overcome this
curse: if the people of Caine would come to
Her, through her mystery, she would free
them from the curse of the Sun God.
In this parable, Caine’s people (and
Caine) represent our need for civilization,
the Humanitas that we con stantly seek.
Abel’s people (and Abel) represent our
animal natures, our wild selves, the Beast
that lies within us. The Dark Mather
represents the mystery that guides our very
existence: the magic of our blood, the power
of Disciplines. We must seek the mystery of
Dark Mather while dealing with the legacy
left behind by the Sun God – the curse.
Ergo, „A Beast I am, lest a Beast I become.”
Golconda is held out as a final goal,
perhaps balancing all these things and
showing the transcendence of the Beast
Within.
~~~
The Chronicle of Caine
I dream of the first times1
the longest memory
I speak of the first times2
the oldest Father
I sing of the first times
and the dawn of Darkness
In Nod3, where the light of Paradise
lit up the night sky
and the tears of our parents wet the
ground
Each of us, in out way,
set about to live
and take our sustenance from the land.
And I first-born Caine, I,
with sharp things4,
planted the dark seeds5
wet them in earth
tended them, watched them grow
And Abel second-born Abel
tended the animals
aided their bloody
births6
fed them, watched
them grow
I loved him, my
Brother
He was the brighest
The sweetest.
The strongest.
He was the first part
of all my joy7.
Then one day
our Father8 said to us.
Caine, Abel
to Him Above9 you must make a sacrifice -
a gift of the first part
of all that you have
And I, first-born Caine, I
gathered the tender shoots
the brightest fruits
the sweetest grass
And Abel, second-born, Abel
slaughtered the youngest,
the strongest,
the sweetest of his animals
On the altar of our Father
we laid our sacrifices
and lit fire under them
and watched the smoke carry them
up to the One Above
The sacrifice of Abel, second-born,
smelled sweet to the One Above
and Abel was blessed.
And, I, first-born Caine, I
was struck from beyond by10
a harsh word and a curse,
for my sacrifice was unworthy.
I looked at Abel’s sacrifice,
still smoking the flesh, the
blood.
I cried, I held my eyes
I prayed in night and day
And when
Father said11
the time for
Sacrifice
has come again
And Abel
led his youngest,
his sweetest,
his most beloved
to the sacrificial fire
I did not bring my
youngest,
my sweetest,
for I knew the
One Above
would not
want them.
And my brother,
beloved Abel
said to me
„Caine, you did not bring
a sacrifice,
a gift of the first
part of you joy,
to burn on the altar
of the One Above.”
I cried tears of love as I,
with sharp things,
sacrificed that
which was the
first part of
my joy,
my brother.
And the Blood of Abel12
covered the altar
and smelled sweet
as it burned
But my Father said
„Cursed are you, Caine,
who killed your brother.
As I was cast out
so shall you be.” 13
And He exiled me to wander in Darkness,
the land of Nod.14
I flew into the Darkness
I saw no source of light
and I was afraid.15
And alone.
The Coming of Lilith
I was alone in the Darkness
And I grew hungry.
I was alone in the Darkness
And I grew cold.
I was alone in the Darkness
And I cried.16
Then there came to me
a sweet voice,
a honey voice
Words of succor.
Words of surcease.17
A woman, dark and
lovely,
with eyes that
pierced the
Darkness
came to
me.18
I know your story. Caine of Nod."
She said, smiling.
"You are hungry. Come! I have food.
You are cold. Come! I have clothes.
You are sad. Come! I have comfort."
"Who would comfort one so Cursed as I?
Who would clothe me?
Who would feed me?"
"I am your Father's first wife,
who disagreed with the One Above
and gained Freedom in the Darkness.
I am Lilith.19
Once, I was cold, and there was no warmth
for me.
Once. I was hungry and there was no food
for me.
Once, I was sad, and there was no comfort
for me."
She took me in, she fed me.
She clothed me.
In her arms. I found comfort.
I cried until blood
trickled from my eyes
and she kissed them away.20
Lillith's magick
And I dwelt for a time
in the House of Lilith21
and asked her
"Out of Darkness,
how did you build this place?
How did you make clothes?
How did you grow food?"
And Lilith smiled and said.
"Unlike you, I am Awake.
I see the Threads that spin
all around you, I make that
which I need out of Power." 22
„Awaken me, then, Lilith." I said.
"I have need for this Power.
Then, I can make my own
clothes,
make my own food,
make my own House."
Worry creased Lilith's brow.
"I do not know what the
Awakening will do for you,
for you are truly Cursed by
your Father.
You could die.
You could be forever changed."
Caine said, "Even so, a life without
Power will not be worth living.
I would die without your gifts.
I will not live as your Thrall."
Lillth loved me, and I knew this.
Lilith would do what I asked,
though she did not wish it.
And so, Lilith, bright-eyed Lilith.
Awakened me.
She cut herself with a knife
bled for me into a bowl.
I drank deep. It was sweet.23
And then I fell into the Abyss.24
I fell forever, falling
into the deepest darkness.
The Temptation of Caine
And from the Darkness
came a bright shining light -
fire in the night.
And the archangel Michael revealed
himself 25
to me.
I was unafraid. I asked his business.
Michael, General of Heaven,
wielder of the holy Flame,
said unto me,
"Son of Adam, Son of Eve, thy crime is
great,
and yet the mercy of my Father is
also great.
Will you not repent the evil that you
have done, and let his mercy wash you
clean?"
And I said to Michael,
"Not by [the One Above]'s grace, but mine
own
will I live, in pride."26
Michael cursed me, saying
"Then, for as long as you walk this
earth, you and your children will
fear my living flame, and it will
bite deep and savor your flesh." 27
And on the morning, Raphael came28
on lambent wings,
light over the horizon
the driver of the Sun,
ward of the East.
Raphael spoke, saying
Caine, son of Adam,
son of Eve,
your brother Abel
forgives you your sin
will you not repent, and accept the
mercy of the Almighty?"
And I said to
Raphael
"Not by Abel`s forgiveness,
but mine own,
will be forgiven."
Raphael cursed
me, saying
"Then, for as long
as you walk this earth,
you and your children
will fear the dawn,
and the sun's rays will seek
to burn you like fire
where ever you hide always.
Hide now for the Sun rises to take
its wrath on you."
But I found a secret place in the earth
and hid from the burning light of the
Sun.
Deep in the earth, I slept until the
Light of the World was hidden behind the
mountain of Night.29
When I awoke from my day of sleep,
I heard the sound of gentle rushing
wings30
and I saw the black wings of Uriel
draped around me -
Uriel, reaper, angel of Death,
dark Uriel who dwells in darkness.
Uriel spoke to me quietly, saying
"Son of Adam. Son of Eve. God
Almighty
has forgiven you your sin.
Will you accept his mercy and let me
take you to your reward, no longer
cursed?31
And I said to dark-winged Uriel,
„Not by God`s mercy, but my own, will
I live.
I am what I am, I did what I did,
and that will never change.” 32
And then, through dread Uriel
God Almighty cyrsed me, saying.33
„Then, for as long as you walk this
earth,
you and your children will cling to
Darkness
You will drink only blood
You will eat only ashes34
You will be always as you were at death,
Never dying, living on.
You will walk forever in Darkness,
all you touch will crumble into
nothing,
until the last days.”
I gave a cry of anguish
at this terrible curse and
tore at my flesh.
I wept blood
I caught the tears in a cup
and drank them 35
When I looked up from my drink of
sorrow
the archangel Gabriel
gentle Gabriel
Gabriel, Lord of Mercy
appeared to me.
The archangel Gabriel said unto me,
„Son of Adam, Son of Eve,
Behold, the mercy of the Father is
greater
than you can ever know
for even now there is a path opened
a road of Mercy
and you shall call this road [Golconda].36
And tell you children of it,
for by that road may they come
once again dwell in the Light.”
And with that, the darkness
was lifted
like a veil
and the only light was
Lilith’s bright eyes.
Looking around me, I knew
that I had Awakened.
When my energies first
surged through me
I discovered
how to move like lightning
[Celerity]
how to borrow the strenght
of the earth [Potence]
how to be as stone
[Fortitude]
These were like
breathing once was to me.
Lilith then showed me
how she hides herself from
hunters [Obfuscate]
how she commands
obedience [Dominate]
and how she demands
respect [Presence]
Then, Awakening myself further, I found
the way to alter forms [Protean]
the way to have dominion over animals
[Animalism]
the way to make eyes see sight [Auspex]37
Then Lilith commanded that I stop, saying
that
I had over reached my bounds
That I had gone too far
That I threatened my very essence.
She used her powers and commanded me to
stop.
Because of her power, I heeded her,
but deep within me a seed was planted
a seed of rebellion
and when she turned her face from me,
I opened myself up once more, to the
Night,
and saw the infinite possibilities in the
stars
and knew that a path of power, a path of
Blood
was mine for the taking,
and so I awakened in me this Final Path,
from which all other paths would grow.
With this newest power, I broke the bonds
that the Lady of Night put on me
I left the Damned Queen that evening,
cloaking myself in shadows,
I fled the lands of Nod
and came at last to a place
where not even her demons could find me.
Zillah's Tale
Let me tell the tale of Zillah38
first loved of Caine,
first wife of Caine,
the sweetest blood,
the softest skin,
the clearest eyes.
Alone of Caine's newest Childer,
did Caine desire Her,39
and she was not mindful of his
desire, turning away from Him.
Not gifts, not sacrifices,
not perfumes, not doves,
not beautiful dancers,
not singers, not oxen,
not sculpture, not beautiful clothes,
nothing would turn Zillah's heart
from stone to sweet fruit.
So Caine pulled at his beard40
and tore at his hair
and took to roaming the wilderness
at night, thinking of her,
burning for her,
and one night Caine came upon
an old Crone singing to the moon
Caine said to the
Crone,
"Why do you sing so?"
And the Crone replied,
"Because I yearn for
what I cannot have ..."41
Caine said to the
Crone,
"I yearn also. What can
one do?”
The Crone smiled and
said,
"Drink of my blood
this night,
Caine, Father of
Kindred,
and return tomorrow
night.
Then will I tell you
the wisdom
of the Moon."42
Caine drank at the
Crone's bare neck,
and departed.
The next night, Caine
found the Crone
sleeping on a rock.
"Wake up, Crone."
Caine said.
"I have returned."
The Crone opened one
eye and said,
"I dream of the
solution for you
this night. Drink once
more of me,
and then return
tomorrow night.
Bring a bowl of clay.
Bring a sharp knife.
I will have your answer
then."
Once again. Caine took blood from the
Crone,
who immediately fell back into a deep
slumber.
When Caine returned the next night,
the Crone looked up at him and smiled,
"Greetings, Lord of the Beast," the
Crone said.43
"I have the wisdom you seek."
"Take some of my blood,
into the bowl you have,
and mix in these berries
and these herbs,
and drink deep of the elixir."
"You will be irresistible.
You will be potent.
You will be masterful.
You will be ardent.
You will be glowing.
The heart of Zillah will melt
like the snows in spring."
And so. Caine drank from the Crone's
elixir,
because he was so in love with Zillah,
and he so desired her love in return.
And the Crone laughed. The Crone
laughed aloud.
She had tricked him! She had trapped
him!
Caine was angry beyond compare.
Caine reached out with his powers,
to rend this Crone apart with his
strength.
The Crone cackled and said, "Do not"
And Caine could do nothing against her.
The Crone chuckled and said. "Love
me."
And Caine could do nothing but stare
into her
ancient eyes, desire her leathery skin.
The Crone laughed and said, "Make me
immortal."
And Caine Embraced her. She cackled
again,
laughed with the pure ecstasy of the
Embrace,
for it did not pain her.
"I have made you powerful. Caine of
Enoch,
Caine of Nod,
but you will forever be bound to me.
I have made you master of all,
but you will never forget me!
Your blood, potent as it is now,
will bond those who drink it,
as you did, once a night
for three nights.
You will be the master.
They will be your thrall, as you are
mine.
For though Zillah will love you, as you
wanted,
you will love me, forever. Go now, and
claim your
lovely bride, I will wait for you in the
darkest
places, while I brew more potions for
your health."
And so, heavy hearted,
Caine returned to Enoch.
And each night,
for three nights,
Zillah drank from her Sire,
though she did not know it.
And, on the third night,
Caine announced he would marry44
Zillah, his sweetest Childe,
and she agreed.
The Tale of the Crone
For a year and a day45
Caine labored in service
to a Crone, who with blood-wisdom.
bound him as surety
as any prisoner.
She would visit him at night
force him to give up his blood
for her secret elixirs
and potent formulas
She would take his Childer's Childer,
and they would never be heard from again.
But Caine was wise. He did not drink
from her ever again.
And she did not ask him to, thinking
that he was ever in her Thrall.
One night. Caine went to the Crone
in the forest.
and told her of terrible dreams
that he had during his sleep.
"I fear for my life, Crone.
I fear the prophecy of Auriel,
and my Children's lust for my blood.
Tell me secret knowledge, that I might
be powerful against my own."
And the Crone went to a tree
made of gopher wood,46
and broke off a limb.
She took a sharp knife
and sharpened the limb.
"Take this piece of living wood,
sharp, strong,
pierce the heart of your wayward childe.
It will render him still,
and yours to command.
Instead of feasting on your heart's
blood,
he will feel the weight of your justice."
Caine said. "Thank you, Mother," and
With that, moving in quick movements,
Caine took the stake of gopher wood,
seized it and drove it
deep within the Crone's heart.
Because Caine, wise Caine
had fed not upon her for a year and a day
and because he forced his Will through
his hands, he broke the Bond she held
on him, and turned his fortune.
She laughed again, as blood welled up
and poured out of her mouth.
Her eyes poured out hate.
Caine
kissed her
once, kissed her
cold, withred lips,
and left her there
to Raphael’s gentle smile:
the sun that rises.
The Tale of the First City
In the beginning there was only Caine
Caine who [sacrificed] his brother out of
[love].47
Caine who was cast out.
Caine who was cursed forever with immortality.
Caine who was cursed with the lust for
blood,
It is Caine from whom we all come,
Our Sire's Sire.
For the passing of an age he lived in
[the
land of Nod].
In loneliness and suffering
For an eon he remained alone
But the passing of memory drowned his
sorrow.
And so he returned to the world of
mortals,
To the world his brother [Seth, thirdborn
of Eve,]
and [Seth's children]
had created.
He returned and was made welcome.
[For none would turn against him,
due to the Mark that was laid upon him]
The people saw his power and worshipped
him,
[He grew powerful, and his power was
strong,
his ways of awe and command were great]
[And the Children of Seth made] him King
of their great City, The First City.
But Caine grew lonely in his Power.
Deep within him, the seed of loneliness
blossomed, and grew a dark flower
He saw within his blood the potence
of fertility
By calling up demons
and listening to whispered wisdom
He learned the way to make a child for
his
own.
He came to know its power, and, doing so,
decided to Embrace one of those near him.
And, lo, Uriel, Dread Uriel, revealed
himself to Caine
that very night
and said to him,
"Caine, though powerful you are, and
marked of God,
know you this: that any Childe you make
will
bear your curse, that any of your Progeny
will forever walk in the Land of Nod, and
fear flame and sun, drinking blood only
and eating ashes only.
And since they will carry their
father's jealous seed,
they will forever plot
and fight
amongst themselves.
Doom not those of Adam's
grandchildren who seek to
walk
in righteousness. Caine!
Stay your dread Embrace!"
Still, Caine knew what he must do, and a
young man
named Enosh, who was the most beloved of
Seth's kin,
begged to be made Son to the dark Father.
And Caine, mindful though he was of
Uriel's words,
seized Enosh, and wrapped him in the dark
Embrace.
And so, it came to pass that Caine beget
Enoch and, so doing, named the First
City
Enoch.
And so doing, did Enoch beg for a
brother,
a sister, and Caine, indulgent Father,
gave these to him, and their names were
Zillah, whose blood was most-favored of
Caine,
and Irad, whose strength served Caine's
arm.
And these Kindred of Caine learned the
ways
of making Progeny of their own, and
they Embraced more of Seth's kin,
unthinking.
And then wise Caine said. "An end to this
crime.
There shall be no more."
And as Caine's word was the law, his
Brood
obeyed him.
The city stood for many ages,
And became the center of a mighty Empire.
Caine grew close to those not like him.
The [children of Seth] knew him
And he, to turn, knew them
But the world grew dark with sin.
Caine's Children wandered here and there,
indulging their dark ways
Caine felt anger when his children fought
He discovered deceit when he saw them
make word-war
He knew sadness when he saw them abuse
[the children of Seth]
Caine read the signs
in the darkening sky,
but said nothing.
Then came the great Deluge, a great flood
that washed over the world.
The City was destroyed,
the children of Seth with it.
Again, Caine fell into great sorrow and
went into solitude.
And he left us, his Progeny, to our own
ends.
We found him, after much searching,
deep in the earth,
and he bade us go, saying
that the Flood was a punishment,
for his having returned to the world of
life
And subverting the true law.
He asked us to go, so that he might
sleep.
So we returned alone to find the
children of Noah,
And announced that we were the new
rulers.
Each created a Brood
In order to claim the glory of Caine,
Yet we did not have his wisdom or
restraint.
A great war was waged, the Elders against
their Children,
just as Uriel had said,
And the Children slew their parents.
They rose up
Used fire and wood
Swords and claws
To destroy those who had created them
The rebels then built a new city.
Out of the fallen Empire,
they collected the Thirteen clans
that had been scattered by the Great War,
and brought them all together,
They brought in the Kingship Clan
[Ventrue],
the Clan of the Beast [Gangrel],
the Moon Clan [Malkavian],
the Clan of the Hidden [Nosferatu],
the Vanderer Clan [Ravnos],
the Clan of the Rose [Toreador],
the Night Clan [Lasombra],
the Clan of Shapers [Tzmisces],
the Snake Clant [Setites],
the Clan of Death [Giovanni],
the Healer's Clan [Saulot],
the Clan of the Hunt [Assamites],
and the Learned Clan [Brujah].
They made a beautiful city,
and the people worshipped them as gods.
They created new Progeny of their own,
the Fourth Generation of Cainites.
But they feared the Jyhad,
the Prophecy of Uriel,
And it was forbidden for those Children
To create others of their kind.
This power their Elders kept for
themselves.
When a Childe was created, it was
hunted down and killed,
and its Sire with it.
Although Caine was away from us,
we did feel his careful eye watching us,
and we knew that he marked our movements
and our ways.
He cursed [Malkav], when that one
defamed his image
and doomed him to insanity, forever.
When [Nosferatu] was found indulging
his tastes
in foul ways with his own Children,
Caine laid his hand on [Nosferatu],
and told him that he would forever
wear his evil
and twisted his visage.
He cursed us all, for killing the first
part
of his Children, the Second Generation,
As we had hunted them down one by one,
Zillah the Beautifu, Irad the Strong, and
Enoch First-Ruler.
And we mourned them all, as we were all
of a kind,
and all of the families of Caine's
childer.
Though this city was as great as Caine's,
eventually
It grew old.
As do all living things, it slowly began
to die.
The gods at first did not see the truth,
And when they at last looked about
them it was too late.
For, as Uriel had said,
the seed of Evil planted
blossomed as a blood-red
rose
And [Troile], the Child of
his Child's Child
rose up, and slew his
Father, Brujah.
And ate of his flesh.
Then war wracked the city
And nothing could ever be
as it was.
The Thirteen saw their city
destroyed and their power
extinguished,
And they were forced to
flee, their Progeny along
with them.
But many were killed in
the flight, for they had
grown weak.
With their authority gone,
all were free create their
own Broods,
And soon there were many new Kindred,
Who ruled across the face of the Earth.
But this could not last.
Over time, there came to be too many of
the Kindred
And then there was war once again,
The Elders were already deep in hiding,
For they had learned caution,
But their Children had founded their
own cities and Broods,
And it is they who were killed in the
great wave of war.
There was war so total, that there are
none of that Generation
To speak of themselves any longer.
Waves of mortal flesh were sent across
continents
In order to crush and burn the cities of
the Kindred.
Mortals thought they were fighting their
own wars.
But it is for us that they spilt their
blood.
Once this war was over,
All of the Kindred hid from one another
And from the humans that surrounded
them.
In hiding we remain today,
For the Jyhad continues still.
And none will say when Caine will arise
again,
from his sleep in the earth,
and call for the city Gehenna,
the Last City, the City of Judgment.
The Jyhad continues still.
Notes to the Chronicle of Caine
1. The "first times" discussed in this
stanza have been researched thoroughly by
myself and my fellow Kindred. The
original text speaks of a time "before."
The oldest piece of the Book of Nod has
been dated just before the time of Sumer,
around 4500 B.C.
2. I assume in this that the first
stanza is the original narrator, perhaps
the first translator of Caine`s story.
3. ” Nod” in this case, meaning, the
” Unknown Lands” - supposedly the lands
outside of Eden, which were not named at
that time.
4. Latin translation reads ” With a
plowshare.” The translation is from the
original Sumerian, and just implies a
sharp thing. This could be a prehistoric
” spike” tool, used for planting seeds.
It is definitely tooth-like, possibly
formed of some mammal`s canines - or at
least it is depicted thus in the Coonan-
DeBrie fragment and the St. Clair
Tapestry.
5. That Caine was originally a farmer
would fall into line with his existence
in the myth as a Sun King/Dying God
figure, much like the character of
Dumuzi/Tammuz in the Inanna/Ishtar myth.
6. Blood in birth in this case. of
course, perhaps being a result of the
recent Fall. Note that this is the first
instance of the word "blood" in the
narrative. The translational sense of the
word is more along the lines of what we
would consider 'blood' rather than the
'vitae' cognate, which implies some extra
virtue or potency
7. The "first part" is a phrase
repeated throughout the Book of Nod. It
means essentially, "the best." the
"cream."
8. "Father." in this specific case,
generally thought to be Adam.
9. I am translating this as exactly as
possible. Because of the nature of the
myth. one can easily assume that this is
the Cod of the Hebrews and later
Christianity. However, because this is
not specifically stated in the text. I do
not wish to color the narrative with
possible inter-religious complexities.
10. "Struck from beyond" might have
been a lightning bolt. In some Latinate
translations, it is a "bolt from beyond."
11. "Father", again, is probably Adam.
12. In this case. "blood" is written
as the cognate to "vitae.
13. This stanza has confused many
scholars, including myself. I have chosen
to represent it as my particular
translation, which is that it is Adam who
is the "Father" in this stanza, and it is
Adam who casts Caine out. The reasoning
behind this is that the One Above never
speaks directly to Caine: it is only
through a medium that the One
communicates Its will to Caine, as we
will see. Furthermore, the word "Father"
in the previous stanzas has always meant
Adam. This contrasts heavily with the
Genesis story, but it is internally
consistent, and since Caine himself is
said to have originated this particular
narrative, we can take it on better
authority perhaps than Noah, who penned
Genesis. There are other interpretations,
of course. In New York, Beckett once met
a member of the Sabbat who claimed this
section referred to our "true" father -
Satan. He watched my childe closely when
he said this, and then something which
Beckett can only describe as an imp
appeared on his shoulder. We have gone to
great pains to not deal with this vampire
again.
14. Here. now, we get the basic idea
behind the "Land of Nod." No longer is it
simply "not Eden." but it is now to be
considered the "Exiled Lands." "Nod" in
the Hebraic translation of the text is
basically "the wandering lands." This is
perhaps because Adam has established
himself outside of Paradise and has
created a territorial boundary between
himself and the rest of the world: thus
"Nod" is the same wilderness he was
banished to. but now it is Caine who is
leaving. One would think perhaps that
Adam would have been a little more
sympathetic to this. his last remaining
son. However, it is possible that Adam's
words in this were "divinely inspired" or
perhaps inspired out of rage. Thus. we
see the traditional tragic, tumultuous
lives of all vampires as being indicative
of their origins, Beckett says this
parallels the relationship all vampires
have with their sires, but I like to
think our own continued alliance proves
this hypothesis incorrect.
15. This stanza is quite important to
the "Dying God" myth-perspective of
Caine. Caine is destined for darkness, a
dark land where he will learn much
wisdom. This may refer to our own journey
into death, from which our sires tear us
when they feed us their own rich vitae.
16. These three things, hunger, cold.
and fear (or sadness) still obviously
attribute Caine with human feelings and
failings. Caine is not yet a "vampire" in
the traditional sense. He is, however,
clearly cursed.
17. It was hard not to use Ishtar for
this particular translation, for this
stanza seems to speak of Ishtar:
certainly her honey-voice and words of
surcease are Ishtar's. Lilith would have
to do, however, as many of the original
works agree that it was Lilith in this
narrative.
18. This stanza, and the others that
follow here, I have seen in another form.
This is the highly sought-after "Cycle of
Lilith" which appears in many different
forms. In looking for the original text
for these stanzas, I was forced to go
into the labyrinthine and saturnine
depths of the world of the Diabolists. I
started in Venice, where I met with some
of the Order of the Black Rose. dark
monks, some of whom had to communicate
with sign language because their tongues
had been severed and then mummified as
magical talismans. I soon found that they
hungered for Kindred blood, and I was
able to parley some of my own vitae for
information that led me to Boston.
Massachusetts, in America. There I met
with a woman by the name of Selina. who
at first refused to speak to me about the
diabolic Cycle of Lilith. but then
allowed me to continue for some bizarre
mystical purpose. She said that the "Dark
One Herself" asked to let me pass with
the knowledge. I was followed through the
streets of Boston by the Dark Clan
themselves (the Nosferatu) until I got to
a special bookstore: it is this bookstore
that had. in their back shelves, a few
fragments of the Cycle of Lilith behind
glass. I was allowed to view it for a few
moments before the shop owner returned.
The older man cursed loudly when he saw
me. and showed me the door quite firmly.
I stood outside the door and heard the
man bcrate his employee in some detail.
They believed to be speaking
confidentially because they were speaking
in a dialect of Italian native to Venice,
but I had learned that dialect quite
fluently and was able to listen for quite
some time. I discovered that they were
part of a dark circle of devilworshippers,
and followed the older man
later that evening back to the cemetery
where they held their rites.
Although I was not able to find the
devil-worshippers in the cemetery. I did
have a very strange encounter in the
graveyard nonetheless. A woman appeared
from the fog as if by magic. By her aura
I knew her to be Kindred, but could not
guess how old or of what clan she was.
She came to me and showed me a book bound
in silver and holding a complete
translation of the Cycle of Lilith. She
silenced me immediately, commanding me
not to ask anything as long as she stood
there. I had to obey.
I was able to look at the tome and read
it while she smiled at me in the light of
a candle. Then she took the book. kissed
me once on the forehead, and was gone
into the night before I could ask her
another question. I can't imagine who
this mysterious woman was, but I do think
that she is in some way connected with
the spirit-form of Lilith, for her powers
of command were great, and she had a
presence about her that was ancient. I
can only thank her for the opportunity to
glance at that fabled volume, and I think
that this translation benefits singularly
from her intervention.
19. It might be noted that Genesis
speaks not at all of Lilith. the first
wife of Adam. She is a creature of the
Midrashim. the Hebrew parables. She is
depicted as a demoness, cursed by God
Himself because she would not be
subservient to Adam. Lilith has
apparently, at least in this narrative,
spent some time in the Land of Nod, and
has built up her own power in this place.
She apparently has comfort where no one
else could take it. This doesn't speak
well for her being a demoness, and thus
confined to Hell. but then again Hell
wasn't a very populous place around this
time in history.
20. Here is a major inconsistency in
the narrative, and I have fought for many
years to retain it, for I feel that it
points at the fundamental flaw of the
Book of Nod translations to date: where
did the blood tears of Caine come from,
if not from the original Curse? Was he
then a vampire at that point? When did he
exactly begin crying blood? When did he
become a vampire? This is a nebulous
point still. But I leave the
inconsistency because I do not want this
point to remain "glossed over" into
history. My childe Beckett uses this
point to bolster his allegorical fancies.
Even now, he travels to Harvard college,
there to study some ancient texts
discovered in a well in the Sudan. He
keeps hoping to discover some more of
what he calls "antediluvian" mural works,
the poor boy.
21.There has been argument on both
sides of the following issue: Was Caine
imprisoned in Lilith's house, under her
control, or did Caine stay there as an
honored guest? This question is never
fully answered, but might lend an
interesting perspective if it could be
proved one way or the other. Perhaps, as
some have suggested, the situation
involved a little of both.
22. I have translated these words
specifically in this fashion out of the
advice of one Haphacstus a friend of mine
who was once a part of the mystical
Tradition known as the Order of Hermes.
He maintains that Lilith was no woman, no
demonness. but rather an original mage,
and that she used her own particular
magickal qualities to "Awaken" Caine's
magickal potential as well. This is the
story of that awakening. I believe that
what he says has merit, and it certainly
fits in the translation of the story. If
it is true that Caine was a wizard as
well as Lilith, then the Tremere may
indeed be "closest to Caine: - a theory
to which Beckett violently objects.
23. Hephaestus indicates that this
stanza may point to Lilith being perhaps
the founder or one of the first
supplicants in the magick Tradition know
as Verbena, which uses blood in its
rituals.
24. This is often translated as "And
then I fell into Hell." I did not feel
that the original text was attempting to
say this, and I felt that Abyss seemed to
indicate a less Judeo-Christian sort of
place of torture.
25. Once again, not to crossmythologize
too much. but I could do
nothing else but translate the Angels
into Angels and Michael into Michael,
even though the "shining ones" mentioned
in the original text do not specifically
seem to be angels. I was unable to come
up with a cognate that would fit. Still,
I feel that they do not hamper the
overall "feel" of the narrative, and so
they remain. Their traditional Cabalistic
correspondences also remain as they were
originally written.
26. This is perhaps a strong rebuff of
the "One Above." Caine seems to still be
angry about his exile.
27. This is the legendary "Curse of
Fire." It is perhaps among the strongest
curses of the day. It set up an eternal
enmity between the Kindred and the
singular source of life in the world: the
fire. Fire was the mortals' way of
keeping out the darkness, the wolves. It
provided a center of community and
allowed them to create new technologies.
This put us out of that light forever,
and was designed to make us outcast
forever. It is perhaps this particular
curse with, also made hospitality so
important among the Kindred.
28. Raphael being the Archangel of the
Dawn.
29. An early survival instinct,
obviously. Caine instinctively seeks the
earth.
30. Uriel's role as the Angel of Death
would place him in the ultimate position
to be the vessel of Cod's judgment on
Caine. Only through Uriel would God
Himself choose to punish our Father.
31. Note here that Uriel is offering
not to preserve Caine, but rather to
"take him to his reward." i.e.. death.
32. Is this a mockery of the more
traditional" I am that I am" phrase of
the Bible?
33. The first use of the freely
translated words, "God Almighty."
34. "Eating ashes" is thought to be a
metaphor for the tragic vampire
existence. I can find no other reference
to "eating ashes." and can only assume it
is an idiom which cannot be translated
Other versions of the Book of Nod have
translated "eating ashes" into "knowing
only sadness."
35. This is perhaps a poetic
statement, ft certainly emphasizes that
Caine is consuming his own sadness.
36. The fact that there is an
important diamond city in India also
called Golconda may or may not have
bearing to this particular stanza. I am
beginning to think that the term was
originally coined by Saulot, who was
known to travel to the Far and Middle
East on quests of enlightenment.
37. I have heard of additional
sections here describing more of the
powers Caine developed. According to my
old friend Malk Content, the original
version of this went on for 1.001 stanzas
Malk also claims his left pinkie is made
out of chocolate mousse and answers to
the name Harold, so I will stand by the
version I have here.
38. Zillah, sometimes translated as
"Sylah.' This Tale is translated from a
much more folklore-influenced original
text. A version of this tale is told by
some of the oldest of the Russian
Kindred, and I have reason to believe it
has roots in Russian folktalcs.
Remember that, among Kindred, there is no
"incest" taboo in lusting after the blood
of your childe. Indeed, this is perhaps
indicative of the Methuselahs attitudes:
they often create childer to feed upon.
40. A flagrant transliterative idiom,
but one that I felt had literary
importance. Imagine Caine with a full,
long beard, tugging on it! This is
perhaps the only descriptive feature of
Caine that we have on record, and its
provenance is impure.
41. This Crone remains a mystery to
archaeolo-gists trying to locate the
source of this story. I believe that the
Crone is a shaman/ witch/priestess who
perhaps knew a bit about Caine from
relations with a demon or some kind of
familiar spirit. In sticking with his
allegorical paradigm, Beckett suggests
that she may be a metaphor for the lust
we have for blood and the control it has
over us.
42. Another clue: she is affiliated
with the Moon. I originally believed this
pointed to her origins as a Lupine
shaman, but I learned from my Gangrel
friends that they do not twist their
spells in such fashion.
43. Others have translated Caine's
title as "Master of the Blood Fury" in
this instance.
44. In Enoch, marriage between Kindred
was common. I have read fragments of the
"Love Hymn to Zillah" which has led me to
believe that it carried with it specific
ownership of all house slaves and
property, as well as special privileges
such as the ability to temporarily invoke
one's spouses' power.
45. The traditional Lunar year. It is
such a mythological cliche, especially
among the "Wise Woman" traditions of the
pagan folk. that I must count it as a
purely symbolic period of time.
46. A traditional material. Strong,
sturdy. The Ark of Noah was built of it.
47. This is perhaps the best-known
part of the Book of Nod. Because of the
frequent copying by the Tremere and
Ventrue Clans of this fragment, there arc
many colloquial versions of it. My first
task was to totally disregard these
"popular" versions, and go on to tackle
the truth of the matter. Thus, you see my
translations of the "non-traditional"
verses in brackets.
~~~
A Brief Word on
The Chronicle of Shadows
These are a collection of pieces and
fragments that I have unearthed during my
many travels. I must admit that I have
used a considerable amount of personal
prudence in determining the contents of
this book. This is because there are
known complete versions of the Chronicle
of Shadows. In fact, many of the scholars
who have researched this Chronicle claim
that it is not a part of the Book of Nod,
but rather a creation if the scholars and
writers of Carthage who took poetic
license in writing down „Caine’s Laws.”
Still, I have seen enough seminal text,
enough original foundation to convince me
that these fragments have some basis in
the actual words of our Father, his
children, and his grandchildren.
Choros, who was an admitted member of
the Sabbat, told me that he believed the
Chronicle of Shadows to be a collection
of propaganda created by the Camarilla to
support its tyrannical reign. I do not
believe this to be the case, but it is
quite uncanny that many of Caine’s Laws
and the Traditions of the Camarilla
dovetail.
It is my sincerest hope that these
fragments are not some elaborate
Malkavian prank, especially the thirteen
commandments, which were provided on
authentically aged tablets. Still, they
were too enticing to leave out. So,
Iharkav , if you are reading this and
you’ve tricked me, a point in your favor,
and I’ll be sure to exact revenge when
next I see you!
~~~
The Chronicle of Shadows
Of progeny
These are the words that Caine said,
regarding our Progeny
as he ruled in Enoch, as King.
Hear the words of Caine Law-Giver:
"Thou shall not make Progeny against My
will
and if you are given leave,
then choose of those Children of Adam
well,
think of them as your future Brother or
Sister.1
Look to the everlasting night ahead,
and know Auriel's Prophecy:
that forever shall Childe rise up
to slay Sire.
Know thou that. as in all things, the
Father
overcomes the Childe, the Mother her
Daughter:
Only through Me will you come to Truth,
Only through Me will you come to Peace,
Only through Me will you come Awake to
your Power.2
Know thou that the right of life or
death,
as it was in My times,
will ever be the Sire's over the
Childe's,
for it has been set in Heaven
as well as in this world,
the way of things.
My Father, Adam, over me,
I, over you,
You, my Children, over all Progeny you
get.
Thou shalt not suffer your Childe to live
If it is found that he has killed
one of your Brothers
and has drunk his hearts blood.
This is the Serpents Way, and I will not
abide it.3
Thou shalt not Embrace those who are
unworthy,
Thou shalt not use the Embrace as
punishment,
Neither shall you Embrace the youngest,
who
should live long before being brought
into
My family, so that the wisdom of our line
will grow.
Thou shalt not Embrace those who are
diseased,
insane, or full of ill humors,
for they will taint the Blood.4
Never shall there be more Kindred of
Caine
than Kindred of Seth in a place,
neither should there be one of Caine
for every three of Seth.5
All Childer should learn from their Sire
The Law and the Traditions
The Rites and the Customs,
as I have given them to you
Thou shalt not Embrace the Moon-Beasts,
for these should be outcast and called
Abomination.
Neither should you taste of their blood,
for they are forbidden,
they bring Death to our door.6
Embrace not the blood of the Enlightened,
rather listen to their words,
watch their actions,
and move swiftly against them should
they strike:
a useful sword, but often too sharp.7
Taste not the blood of the Wild Ones,
for in it is Madness, neither should you
Embrace them: for you will not survive
it.8
Embrace not Love, for Love in My Embrace
will grow cold, wither, and die.9
The Rules of the Canaille
These are the words that Caine said,
regarding the Children of Seth,
as he ruled in Enoch, as King.
Hear the words of Caine Law-Giver:
"We are given Dominion
over the line of Seth,
third son of Adam,
as he is our youngest Brother,
we will watch over his Children
as if they were our own,
we will show them the right way,
and in return,
they will serve us all of their days.10
They will serve us while the Sun rides
the sky,
and watch over our houses, with quenching
water,
against Michael`s Fire.11
They will feed us. and provide us with
clothes,
They will dance for us, and provide us
with song,
They will lay with us, and provide us
with comfort.
They will advise us, and we will listen
to their advice.
They will worship us, and we must not
allow their worship.
Thou shall not become as a God to the
Children of Seth.
for the One Above, growing jealous in his
sky,
will strike down the line of Caine
forever.
Remember gentle-faced Ashtareth,
Remember golden-fat Baal.
Remember strong Tammauz,
Know thou that the Children of Seth will
rise up
with weapons from the One Above,
and conquer us, should we be as Gods to
them.12
Thou shall guide the Children of Seth as
a
shepherd
guides his flock,
and cull them as they are needed.
Thou shall cleanse their blood,
and keep all of them free from disease.13
Of the Feeding
Find you a place that is yours,
And the mortals that dwell there,
let them be your sheepfold,
let them be your cup,
let them be your holy bread14
Of the Gifts of Caine
Mark ye that a Mortal who,
marked with the Power of another Cainite,
does a thing, yea verily
He does it as if that Childe of Caine did
it,
and that Kindred will pay the price
of crime or retribution, just as
he had done the thing, for in this way,
there is an Accounting to be made,
and the Children of Seth not be
merely swords in the hands of dark
strangers.15
Mark well the threefold drinking, the
Bond
of Blood, and let
those of Seth's Children with great
skill,
come to serve the Children of Caine,
as it is we are the first part of Wisdom,
and should be served.16
As well, in Blood Bonds,
know that there is no greater Bond
than Caine has with his Childer,
and through Me, all chains are broken,
all shackles are shattered.17
Mark well the Children of the One Above,
the Cherubs, the Seraphs, the Archangels,
for their touch will burn you as does
the Flame of Michael.18
Mark well the Children of the One Below,
the Serpent's Kin,
for their touch will burn you as well,
and their tongues will delude and deceive
you.19
In need, you may feed the Beasts of the
field,
of your Blood, and husband them: they
will grow
strong and loyal, but beware of the Beast
with the Beast within, and feed not a
Hunger
that may not abate.
Of Those Who Serve
Those you choose to bless
with the Potence of Caine,
may come to live within your house,
to protect you,
let no one Embrace these guardians,
let them be given blood at the
appropriate time:
let their Strength be your Strength,
Strength that does not abate with the
sun,
let their Eyes be your Eyes,
Eyes that can see in the day.
Let their Ears be your Ears,
Ears that can hear while you slumber.
Let those who serve be named greatest of
the Children of Seth. and most
privileged.
Let them enjoy the fine cloth of the
Kindred.
Let them enjoy the gentle music of the
Kindred.
Let them know the sweetness of our wine.
Let us protect them from those who would
hinder and hurt them,
and let us all rise up in outrage should
one
of those-who-serve
be shin by another Kindred, for no
Kindred
has the right to
kill another's Servant without
provocation.20
Of the Moon-Beasts
The Moon-Beasts, the ones-who-change,
they are the Oldest of all,
before my Father
they roamed the lands.
Tarry not in the path of them,
Avoid them, they are set upon
us
like wolves in the sheepfold.
For we are of one kind,
and they another.
Beware their sacred ground,
walk softly through their
wilderness.
Their bite is as our bite,
Their claws are as our claws
Tarry not in the path of them,
they are of one kind,
and we are another.21
Of the Wild Ones
Of the mad ones, the wild
ones,
I say, first, drink not of their
blood!
But watch them,
For they are beautiful in their
wildness,
They are enchanting in their
mystery,
They are deadly in their warskills.
Alone among the creatures of
the night
They kept me company in the
earth
and brought me water when I
was thirsty
and could still breathe.
Like Me, they were cast out,
Like my Children, they are
homeless,
Like my Children's Children, they wander,
Like my Mother and Father,
they know too much,
But they keep their own
counsel, and, of them, I say
Mark me well: keep silent!
Say nothing.
Watch, and learn.22
On the Enlightened
The Mother of Power, dark Lilith,
is of the greatest of them,
but there are others,
and more yet to come.
Drink not of their blood, for they will
ensnare you,
Keep wary of them, they are crafty.
They know Adam's knowledge,
and Eve's wisdom.
they are the bringers of fire,
the tillers of soil,
the husbanders of animals,
the bringers of writing,
they are the Sun-children,
the Rising Stars.
They will seek to involve you in their
journey.
Resist! Resist! their path disregards
hunger, blood, and body.
Trust not the ones with bright eyes
towards the dawn:
Remember always, it is the Dawning that
brings your death.23
Of Those Spirits of the Dead
Mark you well: there is a place
beyond spirit, beyond life
which is Darkness.
Shadow,
and there Shadows dwell.
An island, a fortress, a land
of the Dead,
I have traveled there
through
a pathway of doom
and I have witnessed the
dread king
of the Stygian City as he
sat at court.
I have seen the faceless
hooded ones
traversing River Styx.
They swarm about us like
flies on a
putrefying corpse, and
like us, feed on fear,
ecstasy,
and anger.
Dead they are, but undead,
and they are closer to us
than we will ever know.
The Blood of my Brother
cries out to me as I sleep
as the Sun crosses the sky,
I hear my brother, secondborn
Abel,
screaming.
Mark well the spirits of
those who have died,
Know their strength is not
your own,
Listen to their words: they
carry wisdom.
Listen not to their songs:
that way is oblivion.
Do not seek to bind them,
but free them if you can,
Such is the commandment
of Caine, who himself has been
imprisoned and freed.24
Of the Commandments to the Kindred
Thou shalt not slay thy Sire and drink
his heart’s
blood
Thou shalt hold the eldest among you
as Lord, even as I am your Father, the
eldest is closest to me.
Thou shalt honor each other’s Domain.
Thou shalt not reveal yourselves as
Gods to the Children of Seth.
Honor always your Sire.
Thou shalt teach your progeny the ways
of the Kindred.
Thou shalt not Embrace Love
Thou shalt not feed of the

The Rules of the Canaille
These are the words that Caine said,
regarding the Children of Seth,
as he ruled in Enoch, as King.
Hear the words of Caine Law-Giver:
"We are given Dominion
over the line of Seth,
third son of Adam,
as he is our youngest Brother,
we will watch over his Children
as if they were our own,
we will show them the right way,
and in return,
they will serve us all of their days.10
They will serve us while the Sun rides
the sky,
and watch over our houses, with quenching
water,
against Michael`s Fire.11
They will feed us. and provide us with
clothes,
They will dance for us, and provide us
with song,
They will lay with us, and provide us
with comfort.
They will advise us, and we will listen
to their advice.
They will worship us, and we must not
allow their worship.
Thou shall not become as a God to the
Children of Seth.
for the One Above, growing jealous in his
sky,
will strike down the line of Caine
forever.
Remember gentle-faced Ashtareth,
Remember golden-fat Baal.
Remember strong Tammauz,
Know thou that the Children of Seth will
rise up
with weapons from the One Above,
and conquer us, should we be as Gods to
them.12
Thou shall guide the Children of Seth as
a
shepherd
guides his flock,
and cull them as they are needed.
Thou shall cleanse their blood,
and keep all of them free from disease.13
Of the Feeding
Find you a place that is yours,
And the mortals that dwell there,
let them be your sheepfold,
let them be your cup,
let them be your holy bread14
Of the Gifts of Caine
Mark ye that a Mortal who,
marked with the Power of another Cainite,
does a thing, yea verily
He does it as if that Childe of Caine did
it,
and that Kindred will pay the price
of crime or retribution, just as
he had done the thing, for in this way,
there is an Accounting to be made,
and the Children of Seth not be
merely swords in the hands of dark
strangers.15
Mark well the threefold drinking, the
Bond
of Blood, and let
those of Seth's Children with great
skill,
come to serve the Children of Caine,
as it is we are the first part of Wisdom,
and should be served.16
As well, in Blood Bonds,
know that there is no greater Bond
than Caine has with his Childer,
and through Me, all chains are broken,
all shackles are shattered.17
Mark well the Children of the One Above,
the Cherubs, the Seraphs, the Archangels,
for their touch will burn you as does
the Flame of Michael.18
Mark well the Children of the One Below,
the Serpent's Kin,
for their touch will burn you as well,
and their tongues will delude and deceive
you.19
In need, you may feed the Beasts of the
field,
of your Blood, and husband them: they
will grow
strong and loyal, but beware of the Beast
with the Beast within, and feed not a
Hunger
that may not abate.
Of Those Who Serve
Those you choose to bless
with the Potence of Caine,
may come to live within your house,
to protect you,
let no one Embrace these guardians,
let them be given blood at the
appropriate time:
let their Strength be your Strength,
Strength that does not abate with the
sun,
let their Eyes be your Eyes,
Eyes that can see in the day.
Let their Ears be your Ears,
Ears that can hear while you slumber.
Let those who serve be named greatest of
the Children of Seth. and most
privileged.
Let them enjoy the fine cloth of the
Kindred.
Let them enjoy the gentle music of the
Kindred.
Let them know the sweetness of our wine.
Let us protect them from those who would
hinder and hurt them,
and let us all rise up in outrage should
one
of those-who-serve
be shin by another Kindred, for no
Kindred
has the right to
kill another's Servant without
provocation.20
Of the Moon-Beasts
The Moon-Beasts, the ones-who-change,
they are the Oldest of all,
before my Father
they roamed the lands.
Tarry not in the path of them,
Avoid them, they are set upon
us
like wolves in the sheepfold.
For we are of one kind,
and they another.
Beware their sacred ground,
walk softly through their
wilderness.
Their bite is as our bite,
Their claws are as our claws
Tarry not in the path of them,
they are of one kind,
and we are another.21
Of the Wild Ones
Of the mad ones, the wild
ones,
I say, first, drink not of their
blood!
But watch them,
For they are beautiful in their
wildness,
They are enchanting in their
mystery,
They are deadly in their warskills.
Alone among the creatures of
the night
They kept me company in the
earth
and brought me water when I
was thirsty
and could still breathe.
Like Me, they were cast out,
Like my Children, they are
homeless,
Like my Children's Children, they wander,
Like my Mother and Father,
they know too much,
But they keep their own
counsel, and, of them, I say
Mark me well: keep silent!
Say nothing.
Watch, and learn.22
On the Enlightened
The Mother of Power, dark Lilith,
is of the greatest of them,
but there are others,
and more yet to come.
Drink not of their blood, for they will
ensnare you,
Keep wary of them, they are crafty.
They know Adam's knowledge,
and Eve's wisdom.
they are the bringers of fire,
the tillers of soil,
the husbanders of animals,
the bringers of writing,
they are the Sun-children,
the Rising Stars.
They will seek to involve you in their
journey.
Resist! Resist! their path disregards
hunger, blood, and body.
Trust not the ones with bright eyes
towards the dawn:
Remember always, it is the Dawning that
brings your death.23
Of Those Spirits of the Dead
Mark you well: there is a place
beyond spirit, beyond life
which is Darkness.
Shadow,
and there Shadows dwell.
An island, a fortress, a land
of the Dead,
I have traveled there
through
a pathway of doom
and I have witnessed the
dread king
of the Stygian City as he
sat at court.
I have seen the faceless
hooded ones
traversing River Styx.
They swarm about us like
flies on a
putrefying corpse, and
like us, feed on fear,
ecstasy,
and anger.
Dead they are, but undead,
and they are closer to us
than we will ever know.
The Blood of my Brother
cries out to me as I sleep
as the Sun crosses the sky,
I hear my brother, secondborn
Abel,
screaming.
Mark well the spirits of
those who have died,
Know their strength is not
your own,
Listen to their words: they
carry wisdom.
Listen not to their songs:
that way is oblivion.
Do not seek to bind them,
but free them if you can,
Such is the commandment
of Caine, who himself has been
imprisoned and freed.24
Of the Commandments to the Kindred
Thou shalt not slay thy Sire and drink
his heart’s
blood
Thou shalt hold the eldest among you
as Lord, even as I am your Father, the
eldest is closest to me.
Thou shalt honor each other’s Domain.
Thou shalt not reveal yourselves as
Gods to the Children of Seth.
Honor always your Sire.
Thou shalt teach your progeny the ways
of the Kindred.
Thou shalt not Embrace Love
Thou shalt not feed of the Moon-
Beasts, the Wild Ones the diseased, the
insane, or the drunken.
Thou shalt protect always those-whoserve.
To your Brothers and Sisters, always
give hospitality. To your Sire's Brothers
and Sisters, always give the best part of
your house, to your Progeny's Brothers
and Sisters give a
roof from the Sun and the blood of a
sheep, no more.
Never forget your Sire's Sire, Caine
the Wanderer.
~
The Words of the Clan Chiefs26
Brujah's Commandments27
Throw off the Elder s shackles
of the mind, reach into thyself
and see the truth revealed.
The Truth, as truth is seen,
will illuminate your soul and
heal your wounds.
Know who you are, first,
and be true to your self.
You are my children, all,
but I would sooner shatter you like
flawed pottery than have your weakness
be that you are but a flawed copy
out of my mold.
The Words of Gangrel to his
Childer28
Lo my Children, you will walk the earth,
wander far and carry these Words.
Move one step before those
who see by the Moon.
Never abide weakness.
Keep your children loyal.
Walk with your head high.
Let the Beast rule you.
Mark where you hunt, so that
your brothers and sisters will know
and not intrude.
Take all you need, but be mindful
that the hunter can become the hunted
and there are those who find us
no matter how we flee.
Should you become confused
go and eat only of animals
for a moon
sleep in the earth
and drink in sweet water
You will hear my voice in your ears
like a distant bird's cry
or lion's roar, And you will know
what to do.
Let no one say that the House of Cangrel
is a dishonorable one
Let no one say that we are not brave.
Let no one say that we are not fair.
You, a child of the Beast, a child of
Darkness,
are first among Kindred.
Malkav’s Words29
In the singing… midnight
By the coral …… of time
Through the …… gates of heaven
...the ... in my mind
Bring about the change so quickly
Bring about the terror’s night
Bring about the blood of lovers
Bring about the smell of fright
I see you watching where I walk
Through the moonlit jasmine field
Listen closely as I talk
About the stars and their lovers past
Past fields of poppies, burning
bright
Into towers of Blackened Bone
Follow me, Bastard of Caine
Come with me, I have no home
As I drain your live’s blood sweetly
As you sigh into my warm hands
As I suck your madness nearly
Streaming down like crimson bands
I dance the dance of the fool
And pray you find me mad
For if you lay hands upon the root
You’ll know me without illusion
And find me guilty of the truth.
Nosferat's Words30
You are the children of Shadow
You are the sons and daughters
of Darkness
Seek the darkest place
Make it your own
Feed on the wicked, feed on the sinful.
Feed on the ugly souls
For such is our diet, such is our
Father`s wish, our pre-ordained
meal.
My childer, look not at your
visage to curse me,
for I know the beauty that lies
within,
and no greater beauty will there
ever be.
The Words of Toreador to his
Childer31
In quiet, you will know beauty, in beauty
you will know truth,
in truth you will know love, in love, you
will know quiet.
My children, my creations my beautiful
things
Watch and listen, listen and watch.
Use your sight,
to see the truth in beauty.
Use your speed,
to stay still,
Use your beauty,
to know truth.
My children, my creations, gentle roses
all
I have called for your sculpture
I have called for your pictures
I have called for your song
I have called for your dancing
Beautiful children, beautiful creations
Gold is not as precious Honey not as
sweet
Milk not as pure
Like the tiger, you bite like the hawk,
you dive,
like the cat, you stalk.
Beautiful predators!
Sweet succubi!
Daring incubi!
Taste virgin’s blood and find bliss!
Find your greatest part of Joy,
Follow your greatest part of Joy,
and know that I watch you, enthralled,
my children, my creations,
my beautiful ones.
The Words of Ventrue to his
Childer32
We ruled in Enoch! We ruled in [the
Second City]
Dumuzi! Gilgamesh! Zeus! Jupiter!
We are every great man, every perfect
man.
We rule, not by strength, but by right.
Be the law-giver, the tool-maker,
Carry the sacred [Me] to the people,
Keep the covenant,
Bind those that rebel,
Glory in those who fight and win,
Keep strong swords about you always,
and sharp eyes at your back.
Cower not in fear of the Sun!
Shrink not from Fire!
Though cursed we may be
We are the Lords of the Earth,
and all things fall under our dominion.
Saulot's Words33
Know you are made to be unmade
You are the white lamb
The gentle sacrifice
You are the greatest part of the bounty
of Caine
And on your shoulders shall be his
greatest Sin,
for alone among the children of Caine I
have asked
the One Above for forgiveness,
and I have been visited by the worst of
the One
Below's demons
Those snakes, which bit me in my
sleeping,
Those foul wyrms who suck my blood,34
I learned from them to take the blackness
from the blood
The wounds from the flesh
the evil from the soul.
And though I may die, you, my childer
will live on.
Open thy Eye, and see the world truly,
and know that what you do now
goes on to heal another generation.
~
A Valediction, Forbidding
Diablerie35
And the enemies of dine were great,
and fell to fighting over his trail
like hounds, the scent would not abate
through flood and moon. and much travail
The hunter's skill was great,
as they looked for their Father, and they
did see
... ancient Discipline used they to find
the road to Shal-ka-mense
They came at last to that secret place
where Caine hid, amongst the waters
Showing himself, Caine called them under,
"Gentle sons, gentle daughters,
Why do you disturb my slumber?"
And they tried to embrace their Father
with steely things
and things of wood,
but lightning Caine, fast-moving Caine,
would not be stopped by such as them.
Under the curling, blasting waters,
beyond the pool of Veyd-sah-me,
in the grotto of Shal-ka-mense
did they gather, did they gather,
to embrace their sleeping Father's form.
Found him sleeping? Found him wakeful,
battle-ready, eyes abright,
smiling at his ancient Childer
waging war in the waxing light.
Now the stars they one by one
blot their ways into lightning sky
Now the fires burn hell and cinder
Now the heat reveals the pyre.
Too long! the hunters waited further,
Too long! They did by Veyd-sah-me,
tarry long enough to see the
light of Dawn upon their Father's Face.
And in the turning, burning Mark,
they saw the Finger of Gods own hate,
twisting, curling, God's own Word it
Set apart Caine's lonely fate
And as they burned in hell-bright fires,
as they saw the melted flesh
as they burned with their own Kindred
Caine blessed more funeral pyres
Taking in his bloody Sacrament.
Seek not the blood of thine own Elder
Seek not the blood of thy Sires Sire
Seek not the blood that made thee Kin
For thou will feel the funeral pyre
When thou dost pay for thy immortal sin.
~
Caine's Law and Punishment36
It is very hard. my children,
to prescribe for you the punishment
of burning,
of exsanguination,
of beheading,
of torture,
of paralysis,
of the sundeath.
You are my Childer: alone among the
rest of existence,
you are my only companions,
forever will we be locked
in the way that fathers are bonded to
their sons
and sons to their fathers.
And yet. I will root out the bad
seed.
I will weed out the worst of you.
I will prune my dark tree,
in the manner
that my Father, Adam, taught me.37
~
Proverbs38
"Go not to the Clan of the Rose for
advice, for they will give no single
answer.39
"Watch Gangrel, and when they are
uneasy leave."40
„The first to die in any Jyhad are
Nosferatu."41
"Bless those who fight our natural
enemies. Keep safe the water-bearer, the
builder, the undertaker. These are not to
be prey."42
„Let not the priest, poet, or peasant
see you feed. Not one of them will leave
it be."43
"Let Honor be your shield, your sword,
and your cloak: let Ventrue save face,
and you will go far."44
„To rid yourself of an enemy, outlive
him."45
"Vengeance is best when the blood is
still hot."46
"Know that in all times there will be
Caesar: pay him his due."47
"Fight the first battle, win the first
war."48
"Watch your own Childer on the lips of
all is the honey-taste of Diablerie."49
"One sip of Blood, I take. Two sips. I
accept. Three sips. I refuse."50
"Bargain not with the Darkness: in
time it will take tis all."
"Ride the Beast, do not let it ride
you."
"Make not friends among the Poets,
they till sing too much of you."
"Be not known. Seek shadows."51
"When the Cross has a point, find your
safety."52
"Take gently from women. Take directly
from men. Take sweetly from children.
Take haltingly from animals. From
Kindred, share. From the Moon-Beasts,
feast."
"Be as a King: your sacred duty is to
protect
the weak and fight the mighty."

Tak mi powiedzial, macie pojecie, jak rownemu sobie? Calkiem mu sie na tej wojnie poprzewracalo w glowie. Trzeba bedzie o tym porozmawiac z Kurczakiem i Myszakiem, zanim trafi na kogos bardziej wrazliwego ode mnie i bardziej przywiazanego do idei czolobitnosci czarnych wzgledem bialego czlowieka.

W kazdym razie potem zrzucil mi pod nogi sterte suchych galezi - fakt, na smierc zapomnialem o tym chruscie na ognisko - odwrocil sie na piecie i poszedl sobie. Reszta jednak wcale nie zwracala na nas uwagi. Chcialem sie z nimi podzielic tymi wszystkimi rewelacjami, ktore wyciagnalem od mojej nowej znajomej nad sadzawka, ale sie nie dalo. Zajeci byli. Powiadam wam, wrzaski na pewno niosly sie dobre kilka mil, zupelnie jakbysmy bawili na jakims cholernym pikniku, a nie usilowali ukrasc fortune na terytorium wroga.

Najglosniej darl sie Kurczak. Zwykle tego nie robi, bo gdy sie naprawde wkurzy, glos mu sie zalamuje i zmienia w falset. Kiedy bylismy mali, wybuchalismy z Myszakiem w takich chwilach przerazliwym gdakaniem, co go jeszcze bardziej rozjuszalo. I teraz musial byc mocno wyprowadzony z rownowagi, skoro dobrowolnie wystawial sie na kpiny.

Postanowilem najpierw troche posluchac. Rodzinne klotnie McAndrewsow nie byly pozbawione uroku, ale dzisiaj nie mialem ochoty dostac polanem w leb.

Ja bym padl jak kloda, a oni na pewno ukradliby mi moja czesc zlota.

Jak sie okazalo, Myszak z Kurczakiem rowniez zwloczyli na polowaniu. Nie, nie wrocili z pustymi rekami, nad ogniem opiekalo sie jakies niezidentyfikowane, nieco juz przyrumienione scierwo i kilka pokaznych wezy podobnych do naszych pytonow. Co sie krzywicie, po kilku tygodniach na konserwach zjedlibyscie nawet papuge, a Francuzi jakoby nie gardzili tez zabami czy slimakami i nie mialo to nic wspolnego z wojna. Ale Lloydowi i chlopakom ze Speewah nie chcialo sie chyba czekac na pieczyste, bo pod nieobecnosc McAndrewsow szybciutko zbudowali piec ziemny, a do srodka wrzucili - no wlasnie! - dwa jaja. Te same, ktore Kurczak z godnym podziwu samozaparciem taszczyl dotad w plecaku.

-Wy swinie! - wrzeszczal teraz, rozgrzebujac patykiem resztki pieca. - Kto wam pozwolil?!

Wzruszylem ramionami. A zdawaloby sie, ze mlody spedzil z Przygietym Mickiem dosc czasu, by zrozumiec, ze ten nigdy nie krepowal sie grzebac w cudzym plecaku, zwlaszcza jesli zweszyl gdzies ekstrawyzerke. Mick to dusza chlopak, ale szacunek dla cudzej wlasnosci byl mu zupelnie obcy. No, chyba ze szlo o jego wlasnosc, tej bowiem strzegl zazdrosnie i z zapalem wiejskiego psa.

Dziwilo mnie tylko, ze tak dlugo sie guzdrali z ta przekaska. No, ale pewnie nikt sie nie kwapil do roboty przy wykopaniu pieca i ostatecznie Kurczak przylapal ich na goracym uczynku. Swoja droga, mial mlody sile. Ja po calym tym niedawnym wysilku ledwo moglem ruszyc noga, a on obskakiwal kumpli, jakby mu ktos wsadzil smiglo w tylek. Chociaz tak naprawde meczyl sie bez sensu, bo jaja tak czy inaczej upiekly sie juz na kamien.

Mlody jednak nie dawal za wygrana i skoro zrozumial, ze nikt nie zamierza mu pomoc ani nawet okazac stosownej skruchy, zaczal ryc w ziemi jak dingo za trupem. Piach, zmieszany z popiolem i kora, pryskal na wszystkie strony. Wreszcie Kurczak dobral sie do jaj. Byly tak rozgrzane, ze pierwsze upuscil z sykiem.

-Na twardo - ocenil ze znawstwem Mick, ktory przypatrywal sie wysilkom mlodego z mieszanina zaklopotania i lapczywosci.

Kurczak, wytaczajacy wlasnie patykiem jaja z paleniska, rzucil mu wrogie spojrzenie. Wygladal teraz jak dziecko, ktore odkrylo, ze do sloika z ulubiona zaba zakradl sie waz wodny.

-I po co ta afera? - zniecierpliwil sie Lloyd. - Znajdziesz sobie inne. Byle pozniej, kiedy juz zdobedziemy co nasze.

-Nie zdaje mi sie... - probowal wtracic Sal.

Ale Dan najwyrazniej mial poczucie winy - w samoobronie wkurzal sie jeszcze szybciej niz zwykle - bo z marszu na niego napadl.

-Och, zamknij sie! - Machnal pogardliwie reka. - Z byle gowna zrobicie afere. W lesie musi byc ich zatrzesienie. Nie ma o czym mowic.

Przygiety Mick przelknal sline.

-Dobrze gada! Najlepiej zjesc, poki cieple.

Nie wiem, dlaczego sie tak czepil tych jajek. Po zapachu czulem, ze mieso nad ogniskiem juz dochodzi.

-Ani mi sie waz! - Kurczak pogrozil Przygietemu bagnetem.

Mickowi donosnie zaburczalo w brzuchu.

-Ty, Kurczak, w ogole straszny sobek jestes! - rozgoryczyl sie. - Glupiego jaja ci zal, kiedy kumple zdychaja z glodu. Szybko zapomniales, kto ci pod ostrzalem donosil wode.

-I piwo - dorzucil basem Wielki Bill. Faktycznie, ruchliwy jak zwykle Kurczak zapuscil sie kiedys az pod same linie Abduli, tyle ze na koncu utknal w leju po pocisku pod takimi dwiema palmami, ktorych jakims cudem nie skosil ostrzal. Oczywiscie pewien szczesliwy Johnny Turco natychmiast go wypatrzyl, zaalarmowal kumpli, a pozniej zrobili sobie polowanie na krolika w jamie. Kurczak, trzeba przyznac, dzielnie sie okopywal na dnie dolu, ale pociski padaly gesto i nie mogl wychylic nosa na zewnatrz. Po trzech dobach zaczelismy sie martwic, wiec Lloyd szybciutko zarzadzil wyprawe ratunkowa. Zabrali z Billem i Mickiem skrzynke nabojow, bo dotad mogly sie juz mlodemu skonczyc, chlopaki ze Speewah dorzucily tez cos na wyzerke, a potem przez kolejne trzy dni balowali tuz pod nosem Abduli - turbanowych najbardziej wkurzalo, kiedy nasi zaczynali zawodzic Waltzing Mathilda dokladnie w porze ichniejszych modlow.

Myszak dotad mial im za zle, ze go ze soba nie zabrali.

-Wystarczy. - Kurczak z rezygnacja podniosl rece. - Masz, nazryj sie moja krzywda.