KINGDOM OF HUMANITY Part III
It has been nearly five decades since Franklin Meads was banished from the northern realm of Normandy for “witchcraft.”
While in Normandy, young Meads and his cohorts had been pursuing invention and knowledge of the natural world. His study of plants led to the creation of powerful remedies, and he started preaching in the public square of science being the ultimate pursuit, as opposed to God and religion. The leaders of Normandy dubbed him a heretic, and persecuted his scientific findings. After his creation of serums seemed to reverse the aging process by making people look younger, he denounced God altogether and was ultimately banished from the kingdom forever.
He was joined by many followers and wandered in the South, gaining supporters of his discoveries and healing wonders. The nomadic natives of the southern territories were the first foreigners to follow Franklin Meads, as his medical “magic” made him a God-like figure in their eyes. He gained much power in their culture and eventually exploited man power and natural resources from the natives to build new technology. Talk across the kingdoms transpired.
“Franklin has created light out of nothing and harnessed the energy of heaven!” some said.
“He is an evil sorcerer!” others would assert. “His power is that of the Dark One, and he shall bring doom to this entire realm!”
“We should have followed him when we had the chance,” some citizens of Normandy would say.
After a massive following from the indigenous people, which paid off in acquisition of lands, manufacturing capabilities, and massive amounts of wealth; he made his way into the southern Kingdom of Southumbria. His passion for technology and scientific results impressed the civilians, and he gained prominence in the public eye and rose fast in politics. Infatuation and excitement over these new opportunities allowed Franklin Meads to gain a place of power astoundingly quick. He eventually became the Head of State, gaining full political and military power, and founded a new civilization based on the pursuit of scientific discovery and equality for all men. He renamed a vastly expanded Southumbrian Empire to the Kingdom of Humanity.
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“That shriveled imbecile! How dare he question my divine authority?” Franklin asserts, stomping from one end of the room to another. “How can a measly old man defy me? I have bestowed nothing but grace to these wretched souls. I am their lord and they shall obey me!”
Franklin concludes his pacing and sits in his smoky colored chair. The walls around him are painted a deep black. A lamp shines distinctly behind him and a soft breeze enters through an open window. The spacious room reeks of smoke. Papers lay scattered on the King’s desk; piles of documents and maps expose the territory of Normandy.
“My King, do not worry what that beggar was mumbling. His words are of no importance in this kingdom,” a deep voice trails from the background.
The short and chubby doctor with a thick red beard comes out from a residing corner. He is smoking a pipe and smoke thickly fills up the room. His back is turned to face the wall, while he keeps smoking and attempting to calm the King.
“You mustn’t let that fool upset you,” the doctor continues. “You, my king, have come so far and have enlightened those wretched souls. You have deemed them worthy of living. You have started a scientific revolution! With our outrageous medicine and your rhetoric, we can rule the world!”
The bearded doctor removes the pipe from his bluish lips, lets out a cough, and then continues puffing, while cradling it in his hands like a baby.
“I applaud the wrinkled man for testifying on behalf of my creation,” the doctor laughs. “My medicine surly provides even the feeblest ones with strength, but never with immortality. HA! Those fools!”
“Why yes you are right, my friend,” Franklin says, letting out a chuckle and raising his hands, as if to applaud this great realization.
Franklin gets up from his chair and points to the map plastered on the dark wall behind his desk. He traces his finger around each marked territory and presses down his finger so fiercely that blood rushes through it. He pokes hardest at the map when he reaches the bold territory marked with a huge letter “X” on it.
“There,” he lets out a ghastly laugh and bites his lip. Blood oozes out and he can taste the bitterness of his own mortality. “All we need to do now, doctor, is take Normandy; the last territory yet to be conquered. Imagine the looks on their faces when the good news of immortality is preached! Why heavens, anyone would be a damned fool not to submit to my authority!”
“Normandy?” The bearded doctor hollers in surprise. “Finally! I don’t know why you have put it off as long as you have.”
King Franklin’s mind wanders to a far off place in memory. As a child in Normandy, he sits with another boy, named Robert in a church. They listen to a priest speak about God’s authority and man’s mortality. As he grows, young Franklin comes to doubt his faith, while his interest in the natural world grows. Robert grows a much deeper faith and eventually joins the clergy. Franklin starts exposing hypocrisy in the church body and leadership, while Robert works to change it for the better. Eventually, Franklin starts holding rallies outside the church, promoting science and the abolishment of religion. Robert rises through the ranks of the clergy. Franklin in banished. Robert becomes king.
“The people of the north are strong and wise,” King Franklin quietly states, after snapping out of a daydream. “They have not been conquered in a thousand years, and they do not give up their entire freedom for security like these petty nomads of the south. These people will not go down without a fight.”
Franklin closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. It has been over fifty years since he has been to the lands of the North, but he intends to make his return one of glorious retribution.
“My faithful doctor, send for my horse and summon my generals for a meeting,” he said. “We shall depart to Normandy in the morning. As for the old beggar, send him to a monastery and let him wither away until even his bones decay! Maybe then he will realize the error of his sedition!”
To be continued
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