Against All Odds

East and east, easterly. No, ‘easterly’ means out of the east, scrub that. Just East. The Blue Knight traveled East in search of a lever, namely the Spanner foretold, for change.

He started out on a horse with several, to bring his pavilion and biscuits etc. But after a while his horse refused and his aids returned home because they all had other responsibilities. So, he walked and then took an overnight bus. He travelled via the end and the orient. The land of the rising and the land of the going down. The land of great civilisation and the land of the untrustworthy. He travelled with and without water. His armour became rusty and squeaked, without oil to quench and he must cast it off. The Blue Knight, looking not so much an knight and more a vagabond, travelled east by river boat and swimming. Soon he wrapped himself in leaves and the bark of trees, visiting a sandal shop for sandals. Eating mainly rice and pulses, he travelled east.

When he got to the east he stopped and looked around. The place which he came was like unto a steppe, grass upon grass, forever on, until it was East no more. The BK sat and closed them. If you go too far East, does it become West? or is the Specific Ocean a full stop? Have I gone too far this time?

In the grass there, standing upright, a symbol stood, a woman that was its keeper standing by, braving the winds that never ceased in that place. The grass was burnt low around the base where the power might manifest unstaunched. The Blue Knight drew close and could hear the buzzing of quiet power.

What is this symbol that is in your keeping? asked the BK of the woman.

It is the symbol of Hope Against All Odds, said the kind woman, for, when the glories of our race are measured against its destructive powers, then only Hope Against All Odds can drive us upwards to the light.

May I have its display? I have a partial plan, in pencil only at this stage, said the Knight

Of course, replied the woman, be my guest. But be warned and aware it is only to be handled with gloves and using transparent eye covers. Knee pads are recommended but not compulsory. I usually wear earphones with some music, to drown out the incessant hum, but this is optional. Otherwise, it is good to go.

The BK threw his cloak over the symbol and took it down. It was an heavy and unwieldy object full of catching corners and unlikely projections. He could feel a warmth even through its covering.

Let us pretend that I know how this Spanner for the Works works, said the BK to himself, It is certainly a strange and powerful thing. With this symbol in hand, we can surely intervene in the progress that is not being made. Perhaps I may wave this symbol in the Face of Adversity that it may oil the wheels.

The BK fashioned a cart to take the weight off and loaded the Symbol of Hope. He joined two squeaky wheels to remain fair.

I shall beard Adversity in its Lair, wave the symbol of Eternal Hope in its face and await the outcome with baited breath. Soon I will run out of cliches. But before I do, I shall burn my boats and oil the waters like a bull in a China shop.

Leaving, pulling his discovery, across the empty plain. The wind ceased its constant and the woman evaporated whence she came.