The Book of Temples Chapter 34
Hand and Knife observed
her thriving People
and wished to tamper their deeds.
She meant them no harm
but ‘twas her nature
to enjoy healing and death.
Without pestilence,
there’s nothing to heal
and death came only with age.
The Children did not
think like their People.
Their minds cannot be fathomed.
Child God created
new flying insects
upon a vacant island.
She caused these insects
to carry disease
fatal to many humans.
She had the insects
fly over the strait
and breed close to her temple.
The insects fed on
the blood of people
and gave to them a disease.
People afflicted
within just one day
were stricken with a fever.
They quickly weakened
and bore a great thirst
vast draughts could not satiate.
Three days of disease
brought maiming fatigue,
sleep only paused for water.
Disease’s fifth day
caused the final sleep
from which victims would not wake.
Yet still lingering,
the sleeper still lived
for three to five days longer.
The victim succumbed
to dehydration
for sleepers cannot consume.
Sadly, People shared
the disease without
bites from infected insects.
Slowly the disease
spread on the island
then to mainland visitors.
Hand and Knife’s People,
many did suffer,
but some were oddly immune.
They cared for the sick
and buried the dead
thanking their god for their health.
The Wasting Slumber
had no known relief
grief and horror ran rampant.