Chronicles of Windies Chapter 11

1. And it came to pass that Missy rose early in the morning and looked out.

2. And, behold, the sun was rising, its ever widening glow spreading warmly across the eastern sky.

3. But, as Missy looked, a great cloud hung over the south-east. And the name of that cloud was Weeper. And she pondered deeply and long on that south-eastern cloud.

4. And putting on her raiment, she went out into the morning and headed for the garden.

5. And it came to pass that as she entered the garden she lifted her eyes and saw a man, T Bear of the house of Griffith and the Tribe of Baje.

6. And it was that T Bear had journeyed north to a far land and lived in Yaad.

7. And seeing Missy disconsolate, T Bear said unto her, ?wherefore your distress??

8. And she said unto him, ?sir, they have lain Windies cricket in the tomb under that great cloud and I know not whether it will rise again.?

9. And T Bear, looking steadfastly at her smiled and said, ?Verily, verily I say unto you, I am come that Windies cricket may have new life and have it more abundant.?

10. But casting her eyes away from him and perceiving that the cloud had not moved, Missy entreated him to tell her how this was to be.

11. And once more T Bear looked at her with compassion and said unto her, ?O ye of little faith. Because Short P and Ruffhouse and Wes were unable to do it, doesn?t mean it can?t be done.?

12. But in her deep distress, Missy was not buying that and answered him saying, ?But, sir, the cloud is still there, and Ram is doing all he can to make it stay there. And, what is more, The Prince and the Six have been crucified. I don?t see them anywhere and I know not where to find them.?

13. But T Bear smiled softly at her and said ?Verily, verily I say unto you, we walk by faith and not by sight!

14. And taking her up unto a hill in the garden he showed her not one tomb but three. And behold, all were marked ?Windies Cricket.?

15. On seeing this, Missy ran towards the tombs crying, ?My Prince! My Prince!?

16. And it came to pass that on entering the first tomb Missy saw no on there. But casting her eyes on the ground she beheld 14 cast-off garments with the logo CW and carbon copies of 14 contracts with the logo DCell.

17. And while she stood entranced, behold there came a voice saying: ?This is the depths from which springs my beloved team. They were here and they have arisen and are working out together to fight the Saffies. Yuh worried 'bout Chanders? Don't watch that. Watch the ride!?

18. And turning around, Missy saw the determined face of Ben of the tribe of King from a land far, far away, a land called Oz.

19. And seeing the doubt and disbelief on her face, Ben of King lifted up his voice again and said unto her, ?Not because Gus and Harps and Rohan and the rest couldn?t do it you should bathe in the thought that it can?t be done, o ye of little faith. We are all now of one mind. And what is more, we walk by faith and not by sight.?

20. And she, lingering still in doubt, replied and said unto him, ?Sir, Not until I see the Prince alive, and touch the CW contract in his back pocket, and hear those words from his lips will I believe.?

21. On hearing this, Ben of King said unto her, ?Come with me.?

22. And he led her past the second tomb to the third tomb.

23. And she, expecting to find the Prince, entered the tomb.

24. And lo, it was not the Prince but the Six who were there, clad still in personal raiment with a CW logo all over it. And they wore faces of resignation.

25. And they did not notice Missy enter, for they were playing cards for Bling!

26. And after gazing at them for some time, Missy lifted up her voice and said, ?Ye men of Bling, why are ye here? I am come to seek the Prince. Can you tell me where to find him??

27. And one Onry, he of the tribe of Gayle and from the land of Yaad, replied to Missy and said, ?Why seek ye the living among the Living Dead? We are here because we are condemned by our contracts to spend some time in this purgatory. But when this time is passed we will be rejoined with the flock. And then it will be less Bling and more flockery! (Selah!)

28. And as for the Prince, he was put in the second tomb. There you should find him.?

29. On learning this, Missy departed the third tomb and ran with all haste to the second tomb.

30. And, entering the tomb, she was amazed at the brilliant strobe lights and the sounds of music and revelry and dancing.

31. And lifting her eyes, she beheld and saw that it was a large tomb with three storeys.

32. And behold, there were dancing girls on every floor throbbing to the sounds of David Rudder and Chalkdust and Sparrow and Beginner and Marley and Tosh and Beres and Janet Jackson and Nat Cole;

33. And Ray Charles and Drumbago and Lord Flea and Count Lasher and Nina Simone and Nancy and Aretha and Whitney and Calypso Rose and Chakademus and Pliers and U Roy flashing his whip and Boris Gardner.

34. And behold in the midst was the Prince, with a Banks in one hand and a Red Stripe in the other, a small Union Jack in one side pocket and in his back pocket a tattered CW contract.

35. And as Missy watched she beheld him looking steadfastly across the field to where the 14 were practising and getting ready for the First Test.

36. And while the girls were singing "Where did the naughty little flea go," behold, as he gazed at his erstwhile teammates the Prince was singing earnestly along with Boris, "I wanna wake up with you!?

37. And it came to pass that at that point Missy woke up from her dream.

38. And she pondered all these things in her heart. (Selah).