Konted's Make My Day 2: Oh, There Was A 4th King !

Oh, There Was A 4th King !

There were Three Kings and they were Melchor, Baltazar and Gaspar. There was a 4th one but he didn't get as famous as the other three. While the Three Kings took the limelight, the 4th one was relegated to the background and into obscurity. The 4th King was named Artaban.

Bearing Sapphire, Pearl and Ruby as his gifts to the real King of Kings about to be born in the little town of Bethlehem, Artaban left the mountains of Persia for his long journey to an appointed place and at an appointed time where he would meet Melchor, Baltazar and Gaspar. Time was of the essence.

Riding on top of his horse Visda, Artaban traveled in blinding speed through mountains, streams and valleys. On a stretch of a lonely road where darkness covered the area, Artaban chanced upon a weak, dying Hebrew sprawled on the ground. Knowing fully well that he had no time to stop for him to be able to make it to the Temple of the Seven Spheres, Artaban, just the same, dismounted from his horse and took care of the dying man. He gave him bread, wine and healing herbs. Precious minutes were lost but he continued his journey.

Reaching the Temple of the Seven Spheres, Artaban didn't find anyone there. The 3 Kings had left with instruction written on a papyrus for him to follow across the desert. Frustrated, he thought long and hard. With his horse a spent one and his ration down to nil, he decided to sell the Sapphire to be able to buy a train of camels and food. The stop at that dark, lonely road had cost him a lot.

Following that bright star, Artaban reached the little, quiet town of Bethlehem. He searched but didn't find the place and the 3 Kings. Entering an open door of a stone cottage, he was welcomed by a woman holding a new born baby and singing a lullaby. Artaban learned from the woman that the 3 Kings had left after visiting the new born child of Mary and Joseph. Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus had left too to an undisclosed place.

At this point, voices of Herod's soldiers could be heard as they were looking for infants and they were out to kill all of them. Artaban bravely opened and stood by the door and called for the leader of the group. Handing the leader a Ruby, he said: "Nobody else is here. Leave this place at once." To which all the soldiers obliged. Artaban was able to save the woman's child but, in return, he had to give away that Ruby which was intended for the King of Kings. First, it was the Sapphire. Now the Ruby had been lost. Only the Pearl remained.

Artaban was frustrated for missing the opportunity to join the 3 Kings. He missed offering his gifts to the Child Jesus. But he was determined to continue his quest for the Son of God. For years, he looked for Him in places where the sick were treated, hoping to find Him there giving assistance. He searched for Him in prison cells and almost everywhere but failed to find Him. 33 years had passed, yet Artaban had not yet succeeded .

One day, an old, weak Artaban was awakened from deep slumber when news broke out that a man called Jesus Christ was to be crucified at Golgotha with two other thieves. Holding the Pearl, which was the only gift left to him to offer to Jesus, he hurriedly walked towards Golgotha. On the way, he met soldiers dragging a young lady. She was to be taken as a slave as payment for the debt incurred by her merchant-father. "Help me" cried the young girl. Thinking in a quick manner, Artaban drew from his pocket the precious Pearl and gave this to the soldiers as ransom. The young girl was freed.

After a few seconds, the earth trembled. Structures were collapsing and debris was falling, hitting Artaban. Seriously injured, he heard a voice from nowhere. The young girl could see Artaban talking to somebody she could not see herself. Artaban was saying: " I had looked for you for years. I had failed. Now that I have seen you, I have nothing more to offer. The Sapphire, Ruby and Pearl are all gone. "

The thundering voice said: "Artaban, you have not failed. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you are doing it to me". With that, Artaban heaved a sigh of relief and with a smile on his face, he closed his eyes forever. The 4th King had succeeded in his noble quest. Finally !!!

- Konted

^ I came across the long, original story by Van Dyke while assisting my son Allen in doing his homework during his grade school days at ADMU. This is now my grandson Maximus' favorite story.