The Feet of God

22 - EXODUS*

Bob and me followed Ma’s lead to the dining barn.  Apparently it was second seating.  Scruffy youngsters stood around idly chatting among mostly empty pots and pans and small piles of turkey hash, Velveeta, and reconstituted egg product.  The place was hot and steaming.  I reaped me a couple’a stale Happy Boy donuts and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible.  The place was a hive of youthful lethargy and the stench of unchanged clothes.

Ma hopped up on one of the makeshift tables.  “Seekers!  Finders!  Reapers!  Your Mother is talking to you.  So listen up.”

The grunting sounds fell silent.  “My precious little lambs, I have a public service announcement to make.  As you know, by the will of our Master, Krishna Merman, I have sent you forth, two by two, or four by four, six by six or whatever, it doesn’t matter, to spread our message along The Path.  The higher aim and greater purpose was to gather unto ourselves the bounty to which we are all universally entitled.”

A voice in the back of the room cried out, “For the love of Merman, what’re you talking about?”

“What I have to tell you is difficult.”  Ma turned her face to the ceiling, cleared her throat, and swirled the orange wings of her gown as she sang in a decent rhythmic reggae: 

Exodus, movement of Jah people

Exodus, movement of Jah people

Men and people will fight ya down, tell me why

When you see Jah light

Let me tell you if you’re not wrong, and why

Everything is all right

Exodus, movement of Jah people

Exodus, movement of Jah people

Open your eyes, and look within

Are you satisfied

With the life you’re living

We know where we’re going

We know where we’re from

We’re leaving Babylon

We’re going to our father land

A complaint rose from the back, “I don’t speak Rasta.”

Ma stopped her singing long enough to explain in plain words.  “My lambs.  It is far better for us to fan out before being led to slaughter in Babylon.  You need to show your devotion to the ways of Krishna Merman starting now.”

The barn was stunned into silence.

“In other words,” Ma was loud and emphatic, “it’s time for you to leave.”

The crowd muttered.  Ma spoke up over the background buzz, “Seekers, raise your hands.”  She started counting, “One, two, four, five, nine….”

A voice yelled, “Thirty-two Seekers.”

“Right, okay.”  Ma went on, “Now Finders, raise your hands.  Hmm, uh-huh, looks like….”

“Thirty-one,” another voice shouted.

“Well, that won’t work.”  Ma scanned the crowd.  “You, over there, with the purple dreadlocks.  You a Seeker?”

“Yeah,” the boy scratched under the armpits of his torn flannel shirt.

“Congratulations.  You’ve just been promoted to newbie Finder.”  Ma waved her hand in benediction.  “All right then, that’s thirty-two of each.  Pick your partner and pack your things.  You’re all heading down The Path.  I repeat, this is not a test.  I want the lot of you out of here by sundown.”

As bewildered young travelers milled about, Ma shouted to her Reapers, “Be sure to check their backpacks and other personal possessions before they go.”

Again Ma spread her arms and smiled down benevolently on the gathering.  “Don’t hit the road without the latest edition of the Itinerant’s Guide.  Or you can download the app.  It’s handy and well worth the $12.50.  And be sure to come and kiss your Ma goodbye.  And Reapers, there will be a meditation for our departing ones after sunset.”

She started up her singing again: 

Exodus, movement of Jah people, oh yeah

Movement of Jah people

Send us another brother Moses

From across the Red Sea

Send us another brother Moses

From across the Red Sea

Exodus, exodus, exodus, exodus

Exodus, exodus, exodus, exodus

One, two, three, four

Move, move, move, move

Move, move, move, move

Exodus, movement of Jah people

Movement of Jah people

Movement of Jah people

It was an entirely unexpected and amazing performance, I gotta admit.  The impromptu recital concluded with the old woman springing off the shaky platform she used for a stage and cartwheeling out the door.

__________________

*Bob Marley & The Wailers, Exodus (1977)

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