Chapter 6 6. Painter

"Bring me the Persians!" gasped Kharidasa. Since the stairway leading to the cliff is lined with railings, there is no danger at all to ascend the "Elephant Throne" from the mural.However, he was tired.How many years will Karidasha have to complete this distance with his own physical strength?He could have enjoyed the labor of the slaves, but it was not honorable for a king.And, to think of it, he couldn't stand that other eyes would see the hundred fairies and their hundred beautiful maids, who were all his entourage in the celestial palace. For now, of course, night or day, there were guards standing at the entrance of the stairway, guarding the only way from the palace to the paradise that Karidasha had made for himself.After ten years of extremely arduous planning and labor, his ideal was finally realized.Regardless of whether the envious monks legally recognized him, he was the emperor of heaven anyway.

Although Ferdaz has spent long years under the scorching sun of Tabrobani, he still maintains the fair complexion of a Roman; today, when bowing before the king, his His face looked even paler than usual.Karidasa gazed at him thoughtfully, then smiled approvingly: "Your words are well done, Persian. Is there a painter in the world who can do it better?" Feldaz hesitated for a moment, then replied: "Not so far as I know, Your Majesty." "Is the reward I rewarded you generous enough?" "Quite enough." The answer was not quite exact: Feldaz had endlessly demanded money, assistants, and valuable materials from afar.But it is difficult to teach painters to save money, or to understand that the treasury has been drained by these appalling expenditures.

"Now that the work is done, what do you want?" Karidasha asked. "If you want, Your Majesty, I want to go back to Isfahan (the city in today's Iran)." Karidasha expected to hear such an answer and sincerely regretted the decision he had to make.But the rulers of other countries were too many in the long journey to Persia; they would never let the famous painting out of their greedy hands.However, the fairy statue on the west slope of the cliff should not be unique in the world. "It's not that simple," Karidasa said. Feldaz bent his back slightly forward, and his face became even paler.As a king, Karidasha didn't have to explain his decision, but it was a self-proclaimed painter talking to another painter.He continued: "You have helped me to become an object of worship - the God of Heaven on earth. The news has traveled to many countries. When you are no longer under my protection, many people will ask you to do the same. "

The painter was silent for a moment, then whispered in a low voice that Karidasha could barely hear: "That means I must stay?" "No, not only can you leave, but I will also give you enough rewards to enjoy your whole life. But, you have to promise that I will never paint for others again." "I will obey." Feldaz replied hastily. Karidasha shook his head sadly. "I don't trust the promises of artists, especially when they are not under my authority. So, for your promises, I must have the guarantee of fulfillment." It seemed that Feldaz had made some important decision.

"I understand." He straightened up, then turned around calmly, with his back to Karidasha, as if the majesty of the king dominating everything was no longer there, and then he opened his eyes and looked directly at the sun. Kharidasa knew that the Persians worshiped the sun, and what Ferdaz said in a low, muffled voice were obviously words of prayer.This is nothing, people still worship evil gods!However, the painter stared at the dazzling halo as if it was the last thing he was destined to see... It's a pity that Karidasha woke up too late. "Catch him!" cried the king.

The guards rushed forward quickly, but it was too late.Although Feldaz was apparently blind, his movements were spot on.He stepped out.Three steps approached the parapet.Not a sound was heard as he plunged into the paradise that took so many years of painstaking efforts to build; voice. Karidasha had been sad for a few days, but when people translated Feldaz's suicide note to him, his sadness turned to anger.The Persian was forewarned that his eyes would be blinded when he had finished his work; this is a most shameless rumor.Yet despite the fact that several people have been tortured to death trying to prove their innocence, Karidasha has never been able to pinpoint the source of the rumors.It grieved Kharidasa that the Persian believed the lie: he should have known that, no matter what, one painter would never deprive another painter of the ability to see a work of art.

Karidasha was not a cruel or ungrateful person.He had planned to reward Ferdaz with gold...at least silver...and he had planned to send servants to escort Ferdaz back to his hometown and have them serve him for the rest of his life.He could have done nothing with his own hands, and would have lived that carefree life in no time.