The Endless Golden Dunes

Chapter 18: Secrets Uncovered

ELIJAH AND ADAM

'Give me patience, Lord.' He said.

Then, to comfort himself, Elijah recited the Lord's Prayer.

'Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.'

Elijah sighed when he finished. It was a refreshing thing to somewhat talk to his Lord, talk to the One Who created him, especially since his mind was in chaos.

The matter had become increasingly confusing, absurd even. How was it that at one moment, Muslims seemed so terrible, so barbaric, and then at another moment, he met people like Ali, Salman, and above all, Hamza? By the looks of things, he had found that they followed their religion quite strictly.

Did that mean Elijah was ... wrong?

The thought made him shudder. They were the people who killed his father, persecuting him and Adam just because they were of a religion that wasn't Islam? How, how, how?

Elijah held his head. He wanted to scream, he wanted to yell that these thoughts were wrong, that he was right. The Muslims were the evil ones, the Christians and the Jews of Jerusalem were the victims. They were the servants of Antichrist. Why, why, why was he having these thoughts?

Then the flaps of his tents opened.

'Elijah, what are you doing here?'

Thank God it was only Adam.

'What the hell do you want from me?' Elijah spat.

'I was wondering where you were; I didn't expect this - this ... well, whatever this is.'

'Mind your own business! Can't you see that I'm thinking?'

'You're always thinking, and I know what goes on in your mind. You need to stop with this type of thinking; it is ruining you.'

'Bha! It's not ruining me, it's upholding me. Yes. And you should know it! I am being guided by the Lord, y'know.'

'And has Jesus not taught you that you must not judge others's religion? Leave them alone?'

'What do you know of this matter, Adam? Have your parents been killed by those fiends?'

'I have not; but I know this one thing: not all are like what you perceive.'

'How do you know?'

'You are stubborn, Elijah, more stubborn than a bargaining woman in a marketplace.'

Elijah sneered.

'So you have betrayed me?'

Adam faltered.

'W-what?' he stammered.

'I always saw you as a brother, and yet, you do this to me?'

'I am simply stating what you can do instead of hurting your-'

'To Hell with that!'

Adam felt as if hot sand was thrown at him. There was a ferocity in the voice of his friend that seemed so unlike him. There was a roaring fire inside him that was ready to engulf friends and foes alike.

'Has God ever decided to test you like He tested me? He chose me for this task. Me. God has told me that these infidels are the enemies. They should be grateful that He has not given me the command to kill all of them!'

Then, Elijah let out a chuckle, though Adam failed to see what was so humorous about the situation.

'You disappoint me, Adam, did you know that?'

'Elijah, this is madness.'

'Madness?' he chuckled. 'Adam, this is what the Lord has willed.'

'Your Lord willed no such thing.'

'He did, you just don't know it.'

'Elijah-'

'The Lord says that we are to be ruling the world.'

'That is-'

'Do you not understand-?'

'ELIJAH!'

Elijah was taken aback. Adam breathed heavily. He didn't want to shout, yet Elijah was forcing him towards an edge.

'Elijah! There are limits to what one can do, and you are crossing all of them! I may not be a follower of your religion, nor the religion of these people, but I know this: there is no such thing as compulsion in faith. You judge them based on what you have experienced instead of what you have learned. You are riddled with prejudices! I am sorry, but that is the just truth.'

Silence followed his speech. Elijah's silence was the loudest. For several seconds, several unbearable seconds, Adam's heart beated, paining him in the ribs.

'I thought better of you,' Elijah said. 'Turns out, you are indifferent to those infidels.'

And Elijah left without saying anything else.

Adam's eyes didn't leave Elijah until he was out of his sight. A heavy silence weighed him down as if it would break his bones and tear the flesh from his body. That was when Adam had realized that there was no stopping Elijah, not by him.

He wanted to pray that Elijah would change, pray that his prejudices could be removed. But it shouldn't be removed because it was harming the Muslims, but because it was harming Elijah.

And that was exactly what he prayed.