The Tale of the Hand and the Stomach

The Tale of the Hand and the Stomach


After a hard day of work in the field, the Hand felt incredibly tired and agitated. He postulated that the amount of labor that he was assigned to was far greater than that of the Stomach; who was contently idle and well nourished. The Hand began to wonder if the Stomach had ever suffered from the bruises and wounds that life naturally produces. As the days ventured forth, the harsh summer heat in conjunction with the fresh winter months took a toll on the Hands health. While he was attending to his acreage, hungry with thirst, he suffered a terrible wound from a pitchfork. This event was the catalyst for an infection that caused much pain in his beloved finger.

One day, the Hand awoke and noticed that the index portion of his body had been amputated. There were finite hairs on the outer edge of opening were his finger once stood. Green and blue mucus flowed from the shaft for several days and an intense feeling of heat plagued the Hand. Through the course of his misery, he developed unbearable insomnia. For all of his misfortunes and calamities, the Hand resumed his desired loathing for the Stomach; who, by some great feat, had favor over the Gods and was blessed with triumph and virtue. While the Hand regained his strength, he was propelled by an insidious rage to dispense with the Stomach once and for all.

As night fell upon the land, the Hand laid awake and clasped a sliver writing-styluses; the exact one that once robed the breath from Quintus Antyllius, the famous Roman who defeated the Talgi near the Boathus providence of Italy. However, in order to reach the weapon, he had to convince his neighbor the Arm that it was in their best interest to rid themselves of such an overweight burden, he who grew fat and old from the fruit of their labors. The Arm finally gave way towards faulty rhetoric and pledged his service towards the Hand. Soon, the Eye became an accomplice, and the Leg took part in the conspiracy also. After several moments, the entire Outer Body was inflamed by undying anger against the upper class citizens of Inner Body.

After midnight had set in, The Hand raised himself above the slumbering Stomach and broke with a fierce wind towards his enemy and dealt a decisive blow. Blood covered the ground in a mosaic of liquid red as the Stomach clenched for life; however, as the moments passed, life no longer controlled his being.

The citizens of Outer Body rejoiced while the community of Inner Body lamented for the sad fate that had taken their compatriot. The Brain gave a stirring oration for the conduct of the Stomach’s life, who was always serving both communities with the best intentions and always looked after the welfare of all citizens. The Heart poured out a gauntlet of emotion which affected all of the participants who attended the funeral; scores wailed with frustrations as the Stomach's body was adorned with oil and papyri leaves. The Lower and Upper Intestines said little, while the Lungs breathed a sigh of relieve that his close ally and friend no longer bore the burden of life - which has sentenced all to immeasurable pain and suffering until we are paroled to a greater state of being.

The Stomach was buried with full burial rites and was set ablaze on a makeshift raft that floated down the Tiber River. As the grieving party left the remains, the Brain was true to form and lashed out at the Outer Body spectators for their conspiracy against the Stomach, who favored neither community. He told the Hand that within weeks, he would understand the outcome of his insidious deeds and both of their fortunes would face the same outcome. For the Brain was the most intelligent organ within the entire realm of the Body. However, the Hand paid no attention to this “Inner Fool” who was the same age as himself. Although the Hand felt weaker after the incident, his attention to this new condition of fortune was enveloped by an incurable mania.

He organized festivals for his fellow Outer Body brethren and erected status to commemorate the event against the Stomach, which usually had the inscription - Illi quisnam es fixated, Preda ego operor non incurro vos – which translated to, “For those who are fixated, Prey I do not come upon you.” The citizens of Outer Body placed gifts on his porch and wrote sonnets about his ability to administer swift justice. Ironically, these groups of entities were in no mood to celebrate, for half of them were already overcome by an unusual malaise.

After several weeks, the citizens of Outer Body began to perish. There was incredible sickness and sorrow. The Leg developed bruises and could no longer move. The Eye grew infirm and cloudy. And finally, the motions of Chest ceased to rise. Within an instant, all of the citizens ceased to exist. However, there was one exception who escaped this fate for the time being: the Hand, who lived on the outskirts of Outer Body. Finally, the prophecy of the Brain had come to fruition, weakness and frailty attacked both communities indiscriminately. The Hand realized that the Stomach had all along provided comfort and nourishment for all and without his unrelenting aid, life was unsustainable and dire.

During his last moments on earth, it is said that he mustered the strength to bury all the members of The Body, and stoically lifted himself upon the pedestal of the once dreaded Stomach statue and concentrated on praying for forgiveness. As the day ended into night, so did the life of the Hand, a foolish entity who consumed himself with a jealous passion and ultimately sealed his own fate for the worse, along with the lives of countless others. - a.j.g