Chapter Seven: From The Ashes
XXXIV
The Champion of the Lightning
Before he ascended the ancient Kahndaqi ruins to deliver his speech that would change the world, Kadar Muhannad confirmed with the old priests and scholars of his country that the ancient texts were indeed correct. That this could be done.
That the legend of Teth Adam was more than a child's tale…
Three thousand years ago, Allah had delivered to His land a mighty prophet (said to be a wizard among the tribes) who was to choose a mighty champion from amongst the faithful. The wizard chose the son of a great chief, named Adam. A strong, noble man of faith who had gone against his father's wicked ways, Adam was granted a secret word by the prophet that would allow him to become an immortal champion of virtue.
Adam spoke the word and became the mightiest warrior. However, after hardships, the mighty Teth Adam chose to use his power for his own evil ends. He who could command the lightning, turned from the wisdom of Allah and enslaved men instead of enlightening them. The mighty Adam declared himself a god and slew any man who would not worship at his feet.
In Allah's rage, Teth Adam was struck by lightning from the blue sky and reverted once again to a mortal man. Beset with violence from his slaves, Adam begged Allah for forgiveness - for his terrible deeds and the evil he had allowed into his heart.
It is said that Adam, with his last breath, could have said the magic word that would have granted him all his powers once more, and continued as the mighty king, Teth Adam. Instead, as the sandals of those he had made slaves rained down upon him, he begged forgiveness of Allah until he could speak no more...
Kadar Muhannad looked once again at the sarcophagus before him and wondered how many other ancient skeletons with crushed skulls were found among Kahndaq. If indeed this was the remains of Adam.
But he must keep faith.
Below him stood thousands of Kahndaqi's. From atop the stone dais, Kadar Muhannad spoke into a microphone and addressed a nation.
The Following Is Translated from Arabic
"People of Kahndaq…
The history of Kahndaq is rich, our story one of a strong people. Life for us has never been easy. Through our struggles, we have often suffered at the hands of others who believe us weak… only to suffer our vengeance when we awoke as a nation once more!
It is the folly of our enemies who believe our faith to be less powerful than their spears. If one of us perishes to their spears, do we fall on our knees before these infidels who threaten us? They believe the faith is in our blood. When our blood is spilled, so too does our faith spill out of us, lost to the desert sands with the tears of Allah. Our faith is in our soul!
Under the pretense of friendship, our enemy the Americans made deals with my formal generals. It saddens my heart, but it is true. They shamefully confessed this before taking their own lives. America provided them with a nuclear weapon, to be kept secretly in the heart of our capital. In return, they wanted only friendship and loyalty. What price did the Greeks of old demand of the Trojans for their gift of the carved horse?
Would one gladly drink the wine offered by Bagoas? I am a man of history. Our forefathers have shown us the wisdom to guide our ways before God. I punished these men for their treachery and demanded this gift be returned. Just one day on its return journey, this gift claimed the lives of thirty brave soldiers in a poisonous bloom of Hell. How many more would it have claimed had it not been moved from the city?!
The Americans wish us to open our borders to inspectors.
They wish us to open our arms for their diplomats and surrender to their lies.
They want us to cower in fear before the Great Eagle. That their God has granted them a champion who justifies the evil they perpetrate on the faithful. Satan also bestows gifts upon those who will follow him. America has become Satan's pawn and its ruler the whore of Satan!
But Kahndaq too has a champion. A champion chosen by the prophet of Allah, bestowed of the powers of the great sky. Before me lies the remains of Teth Adam, blessed of Allah. By Allah's will, he will rise again!"
End Translation
Muhannad listened as a murmur spread throughout the throng before him. They knew of the old legends. Most thought him insane until dark clouds began to roll in across the sky above him. The bomb had made the weather cold and chaotic, dry desert dust begged for its blackened rain.
The commander's right hand gently grasped the three thousand year old jaw bone lying before him. A strange sensation ran along his arm… exhilaration? His heart raced as he stared to the heavens and offered his final prayer to his god above in the form of a word that had not passed the lips of mortal men in thirty-two centuries…
SHAZAM!
Author's Note:
You can't have Kahndaq without Black Adam. It just isn't done.
P.S. This version of Black Adam's 3,000-year-old origin is being reinterpreted from a Muslim perspective by Muhannad.