Joaquim Mohsen

There once was a king who caused all sorts of mischief, so much so that he angered the gods. To subdue him, they sent one of their own, Death.

Death, armed with his mystical chains, came to the king’s castle. He planned to bind the king so that he could no longer trouble the gods. But the king proved to be too cunning for even Death. The king used his guile and tricked Death into wearing the chains himself. Before long, Death found himself the one bound.

This was the most egregious act of mischief by the king. The dead were unable to pass into the next life and the world was thrown into chaos. The gods discovered the king’s devilry, and their anger was kindled once again. They demanded Death’s freedom. The king obliged.

Death was humiliated, and demanded the king be punished. The rest of the gods concurred and let Death decide the king’s fate. So Death, wanting to see the king humiliated as he himself was, devised a simple task for the king.

The king would be forced to bear a mountain on his back and carry it from one spot to another. The king, having no choice in the matter, agreed. Death gathered the hosts of gods to watch. He plucked the mountain and placed it on the king’s back. His knees buckled. Some of the gods smirked, others heckled, all waiting for the mountain to inevitably flatten the king. He took one step, then another, until he carried it all the way to its destination. Returning their jests with a smirk of his own, he threw the mountain from his back. And crushed the hosts of gods.