Welcome once again to the breakfast on plus TV Africa a few days ago in an interview President Obama the Buhari made certain statements that have created conversations across the country and of course it is the president's Regular reminder that Nigerians should focus on agriculture and go back to the farms. They have of course been numerous arguments For and against there's also people who say that agriculture is doing pretty well in Nigeria FAO reports says that Nigeria's agricultural sector contributed about 25% to his GDP and That basically should say that agriculture is really not the answer to Nigeria's economic challenges but this morning we're going to be speaking with Shagun Shopitan who's an economist and Kenneth Obiyajulu is the CEO of Agrocore. Good morning to you both. Thanks for joining us Thank you All right, I'm going to start with Mr. Shopitan Get your thoughts on this argument with regards the Use of what agriculture really offers and what it does for Nigeria's economy and Nigeria's GDP Do you think it is doing enough and do you agree with President Obama the Buhari that We need to focus more on agriculture people need to go back to the farms if we need to improve on a on our economy Okay, so Thanks for having me once again and happy new year to Nigeria's You know to answer this question, I think we have to first of all ask what the objectives You know what what were his objectives was it talking about when he was talking, you know, and if you remember The question he was responding to was about the economy performance under his administration, you know, like Yes Statistics were real doubt about inflation about the GDP, you know Exchange rates and all of that and then he responded with this, you know, and a lot of people are criticized even that response Was to many people. He wasn't even answering the question But if you if you look at it With a broad mind, you realize that he was actually Responded to the question but from his own worldview and from his own Mindset, you know, so I think to the president the answer to everything is agriculture So he believes that once you're farming and people are insane, you know, then people can have what they can eat I've heard him say this several times You know, people can have what they can eat and then what's left over you can then sell or export My problem is that this is a very very simplistic Approach to the question and a very simplistic with all apologies to him and his advisors and a very simplistic Approach to the overall economic performance question So if you rate if you look at how do we begin to assess, you know, his statement For me, I think the easiest way would be to do a comparative analysis So you look around the world and say to ourselves For example, what's our objective this single mentor said they want to be top 20 Part of the top 20 economies. I think they said by 20. I think the target has shifted in 2030 now, right? Now if you take the economies in the top 20 Ranking globally and look at the contribution of agriculture as a percentage of their GDP You find that the most prosperous nations have A lower percentage contributions of agriculture to their GDP So so that begs the question is that the culture the question Or is it the answer to the economic question and I think that the answer is no Now am I saying that we don't need to go back to the lands? No, that's not what I'm saying We do need agriculture because we have to eat but I think the problem we have is The manner and approach that we are going about this whole agriculture question is wrong What the government needs to focus on if you want people to go back to the land Then you have to provide the primary imputes that would ensure that our productivity is heightened significantly so that even as we're farming with our large Proportion of arable land And our huge population which are both advantages when we farm the productivity from that farming activity would increase the output Contributions to economic growth in the soul right now the way it is and I think that if we go about it the way The president is is looking at it. Yes, we'll go to the to the plant. Yes, they'll produce what they will eat But unfortunately it will not create wealth and that's what we're looking at We're looking at how to bring people out of poverty if you are doing Subsistence family right you will not take people out of poverty. You will simply give them maybe Maybe enough to eat Okay, so I'd also like, you know, Kenneth to be a quote to also weigh in on the same I mean the same question Do you agree with the president that? Nigerians need to get to farm and do you think that this is a solution to all of the economic challenges that were faced with as a country? Thank you so much and yes, happy new year to everyone so I agree with the concept of you know focusing on agriculture as one of ways of Boosting the economic activities in the country, right? But like, you know, my the other speakers said you know, that is an oversimplification of of the Importance of agriculture and how we can bring about that impact you look at the contribution to GDP at 25% It's it's relatively, you know commendable, you know Giving all the challenges that smallholder farmers would have to go through and they face currently, right miss commendable You see issues around productivity being low post harvest losses being high Access to finance we've been beginning to see a little bit of boost to access to finance to smallholder farmers commercial farmers And what have you and then you know access to market is also increasing you see our cultures contribution, you know By export, you know, non-oil and you know export numbers, you know, it's also increasing, you know But I think there's a need for us to also look at it from a full security point How is agriculture being able to? Ensure that what we consume we produce a lot of it locally, right? You look at the expenditure on food, you know Or the expenditure of households and in Nigeria, you see that in excess of 56% is spend on food alone, right? and spending on food alone Largely over 60 percent of those food items are imported into the country And so you see the hemorrhage and the hemorrhage and the effect on the economy in itself So I think where the the president was caring towards You know, or if I were to, you know Put shed more light on on the comments, you know and and you know put it into proper context It would be more around ensuring that what is consumed is also what has been produced locally That can boost the economy that can help in creating jobs, you know Over, you know 50 60 percent of you know the workforce of the nation, you know Is in one way directly or indirectly, you know employed by the agricultural sector So there is a need for us to be able to ensure that what is being consumed Especially when over 56 percent of that expenditure is on food should be produced locally, right? It would have a ripple effect across all boards of the economic indicators and that's you know We will be able to post on the economy Well, we've continued to make statements with regards diversifying our economy and the likes, you know And there's people who argue that endurance are currently doing enough, you know with regards agriculture Mr. Ashokutu, I'm going to come to you in a bit but Mr. Obiyajulu, you are already an investor in agriculture But I want you to speak with regards, you know, the idea of a country that is serious about agriculture If you've been looking at the screen, there are different slides of I'm very high-tech agricultural engineering equipment Mechanized agriculture to be precise People have argued that the idea the president has is for everyone to buy a hoe and a cutlass and go back and You know, have this cassava every a couple of months But a country that is serious about agriculture, how do we get Nigeria to a stage where this What you see on screen now Is the picture of Nigeria's agricultural sector And is that where we are currently? Okay, so I'll start with the last question. Is that where we are currently? I'll say that Nigeria is tilting towards, you know, more of mechanization, right? But the challenges are 80 percent of the farmers engaged in agriculture are small holding, right? Those are cultivated on less than zero points or less than one hectare, right? And then a The next chunk are middle class, you know Farmers and then a very tiny percent of them happen to be large-scale farmers So we will not be able to get to the area where We are at that level of of production, right until we're able to bring the smallholder farmers towards commercial agriculture And commercial agriculture's principle is more around you're cultivating for As a business and not just as a culture, right? They're cultivating to sell and what is left to consume Whilst subsistence farming is you cultivate to consume and what's left to sell? So the orientation has to change because commercially We need to be able to ensure that we're increasing the productivity of farmers. How do we increase productivity of farmers? Ensuring that they have the right set of imputes, high yielding imputes, have the right variety seeds, have it at the right possible time Increase mechanization, right? Mechanization has the capacity to increase productivity drastically, right? Studies have shown that the use of tractors and for pre-planting, planting and post-planting activities Can reduce man-hours combined by over 80 percent You know and you look at the youth's engagement in agriculture The orientation and perception of the youths towards agriculture is that of subsistence and very crude In a very crude way that it requires the use of whole and cut losses. So the more we're able to drive the Narrative around mechanization and how it can improve efficiency How then how we can improve productivity how we can reduce post harvest losses you look at Value chains or commodities like tomatoes Rice and post harvest losses for tomatoes is in excess of 40 percent You know how are you able to reduce those post harvest losses and ensure that that money Translates the money in the pockets of the farmers and in return would ensure that they're able to increase their productivity So I think there's a long way to go We have started we have started moving towards that those engagements currently Lots of commercial farmers and processors like ourselves You know beginning to spare head those activities and show people how it can be done and agriculture can be profitable But beyond one two three If you some subset of of the players in the market, I think that We need I culture has a perception problem right and this perception problem has to be tackled by individuals and professionals Speaking to the integrity of how the challenges can be addressed and how productivity can be increased how post harvest losses Can be reduced how markets can be connected to superior systems? You know that guarantee that all year round farmers are happy and they're able to get You know decent living for what they've thought all year round All right, so let's also have shagun shopato come through here Niger is has been recorded as the largest producer of yam globally and second thought producer of sweet potato among others Respectively, but being the largest producer exports is still very low at two percent and my concern is Is agriculture still the solution and why do we have this? um Yeah, I mean agriculture is a part of the solution right um, but I think like um My colleague has said One of the challenges is that we are simply not maximizing our output Right. So for example, if you talk about mechanization if you want agriculture to contribute significantly um to Either revenues or your gdp now those are two different questions. By the way you What for the government the question is contribution, you know, the most important question would have to be revenues How much is agriculture contributing to revenues? um As against gdp, which speaks to the issue of diversification However, the problem we have is that we're simply not mechanized enough and like my colleague has said, you know people In the mind of the president, I think What he sees is people with cutlasses and holes Meanwhile, what we what he should be seeing is people with tractors, right? So you need to mechanize now From a statistical point of view, Nigeria's um tractors per 100 hectares of arable land is 9.8 9.8 tractors per 100 hectares of arable land Now compare that to South Africa in the same Africa that has 44 Yeah, which is still terribly low by the way Then compare that to other countries across the world. I mean the highest um number of tractors per hectares per 100 hectares of arable land Is from Iceland. They have got 15 000 15 000 tractors, you know Of course, this is you know, it's a function of how much arable land you have and how much tractors you have So obviously in an Iceland, for example, it simply means that the arable land even though it's small um Almost every single blade of grass there is done is is is cultivated, you know with with with mechanized equipment That's where we need to be heading and the woman needs to come up with a policy So that in that direction that would you know elevate that number significantly so that output And then increase now that is one issue. The other issue I have is Agriculture, you know the question you ask this is agriculture the answer and I say It's a part of the answer, but it is not the answer What we need, you know So if you look at all of the economies across the world and just do a comparative analysis and a correlation You do a correlation between for example gdp per capita, which measures the wealth of nations, you know And and has speaks to the poverty question GDP per capita has an inverse correlation with Agricultural contribution to GDP so the countries that have the highest wealth per citizen Depend the list on agriculture in terms of contribution to their to their to their GDP So for example, the united states is less than 1 percent of their GDP that comes from agriculture And then you also find that The same correlation you find that the countries where there's high poverty prevalence They have a high dependence on agriculture as it was as a contribution to their GDP So that that clearly tells us that we can't be looking at agriculture for the answers to the economic performance question And to the poverty alleviation question Agriculture can only be a part of the solution But the president cannot be telling us oh night. We have a lot of variable land Nigerians should go back to farming No, no we need to go and find a way to industrialize one industrialize agriculture itself Industrialize our productive base as a whole and then move our economy to dependence on services That's the answer to the economic question. So I think the president really really needs to depend on his economic team I know he has a fantastic economic team, you know, the his current economic advisor that is just appointed is a highly respected person You know, Dr. Dwayne Salam is you know, he's an amazing guy.  I think that's how it's pronounced John Deere tractor Averagely cost about $400,000 for $150,000 So that of course is, you know, with regards that that brings to your mind funding But what role do you expect the Nigerian government to have played in the last few years if we were serious about Actually boosting the contribution of agriculture and encouraging Nigerians to get back to You know, to agriculture So, so, um, I think it was about, um, I can't remember precisely about five years ago The government came out with a statement that they had going into partnership with the brazilian tractor manufacturer We're going to set up plants in Nigeria, you know, and then those those tractors would then be made available to farmers through some sort of Um, um, cooperative working with the cooperatives and all of that Um, unfortunately, as of today now, we still don't know what has come of that And it seems to have gone the way of a lot of things that government talks about nothing has happened um, so That type of initiative is what we need to see but we need to see a whole lot more of it, you know So we need to see policies that encourages private sector investment into mechanization of agriculture Um, we have just like my colleague. I said, we have a lot of smallholder farmers You know, and that problem is not going to go away very quickly because it's just the way we are. It's where we are for now We have a large population who are Subsistence farmers How can we help those large those subsistence farmers to move into economic farming? Where they are producing not what they eat. They're producing and eating and then they're selling Significant chunks of what they're producing it's by mechanization on the one hand So government needs to find policies to make this equipment available in a manner that these people can afford And I think the easiest way for that will be to have some sort of combined effort economies of scale leveraging on Corporatives and other groups like that. That's one question the question of mechanization The other question is the question of transportation of produce storage of produce, you know, so we have A ridiculously high percentages of wastage in in in agricultural production because they get spoiled Before they even get to the markets, you know, in some cases you have a So tomatoes, for example, you have as high as 80 percent Wastage before you get to the market, you know, there is no way you can expect any serious economic contribution Or output when you have those types of numbers So government needs to find a way to improve on the transportation question the rail the ongoing rail Infrastructure project is is one, you know, but it's only a part of the answer Then how will these farmers be able to get their products to sold? Get their products to market, you know in good time even without the question of transportation And I think again the issue of commodities exchanges I remember, you know, in in those days used to have Popo boards that will take produce from from farmers Pay them off and then, you know, sell on sell those products So government needs to look at the entire value chain of of the agricultural sector and coming with policies that will encourage private investment You know, I'm a believer in private sector Participation in economic growth to get private sector investment into Various value chain sectors All right, so let's also bring in a connect at this point Now my concern is as much as we're saying that it's very important that We begin to look at earnings gdp and what have you for agriculture contributing Do you think that we have the capacity to produce enough for I mean local consumption? Because I would rather think that a country that would want to make earnings out of You know agriculture should be able to produce enough for you know the locals to consume now according to a report in 2019 Great on production of maize at the time. We had the production capacity of 10,500 Tons and the consumption capacity at order rate was at 10,700 So it therefore means that you know, you have 200 above. I mean, what did we get that from the extra? So my my question is as it is right now this administration Do you think that we have the capacity enough to produce for local consumption? Have we been been producing enough for home consumption? so the issue or the conversations around supply and demand, you know, and Capacity has has been out there for quite a while Personally, I believe that Nigeria has the capacity to work to produce what it consumes Right. The issue is not about the capacity, right? It's about the every other variable like mr Shevon has said every other variable bought that You know, we have if you look at the factors of production for most african countries and specifically Nigeria You know, it is more than favorable, right? presence of arable land, right presence of water resources presence of entrepreneurship people low capital, right? You know capital. Yes Half and half, but in terms of capacity, I think we have it. It's about every other variable That supports the system, right? There are several you look at when there was a partial ban or a full ban on the impotential rise as far back as 2016, right? We saw that the the national import the annual import bill for for rise as far back as then was over 700,000 metric tons, right? And when there was a ban, there was a lot of pressure on the local market to see how we can meet up with the requirements Of consumers, right? And we saw that the numbers kept going down, right? And the production kept going up issues around quality came up issues around the price came up, you know But in terms of the capacity it was readily available So I think one of the things that is very very important and what the economic team of the president has to also look at is agriculture is Recording in progress. The culture is not just about What happens on the farm is an entire value chain is a continuation of activities The closer you are to the farmers the poorer you are you will be or the poorer you will be, right? The farther away you are from the farmers The more prosperous you will become what I'm saying in essence is why we focus so much effort on production activities What is the essence of producing ginger? Exporting ginger and then importing ginger tea. What is the essence of producing cocoa? Exporting cocoa and then importing chocolates, right? What is the essence of producing a whole lot of activities? But importing value added products at the end of the day We are losing value every single time that we refuse to process or move farther away from the primary activity So the issue is not about capacity The issue is about how do we have how do we add value to every single thing that we produce? How do we create a strong chain from production to marketing to transportation to warehousing? You look at government's contribution to ensuring infrastructural Solutions are in place like connection of the roads. You look at countries like Ghana Ghana has been living off the activities of the Ghana cocoa board for god knows how long So but my question but my question which is you know the second part of that one. Yes You say we have the capacity, but are we have we been producing enough for you know home consumption? Of course not, you know just a few months ago last year We saw that the the government the CBN had to give a way back to I think four companies to import 240,000 metric tons of maize You know to be able to meet with the requirement of the livestock industry because we couldn't we couldn't produce well enough and you know that deficit was capable of paralyzing the entire economy because maize and sour bean happens to be one of the major Commodities required by almost everyone in the livestock industry components for feed feed Contributes and you know the livestock sector in itself is a 1.4 1.6 trillion Naira estimated at 1.4 to 1.6 trillion Naira market right and In itself contributes to about six to eight percent of the GDP You know so that was a major issue where the government had to intervene because we weren't through reasons sufficiently enough To be able to meet with the growing demand of of of the value added products that comes out of it To answer your question. Yes. We we are we still have a lot of Activities to to put in place to ensure that we hit food sufficiency at you know very closer All right. Mr. Chopiton final question goes to you. I want you to speak with regards We're Nigeria. Well, you know like you said, you know, it tells The mindset of president Muhammad Abu Ari That's of course his statements concerning agriculture, but I want you to speak with regards What you think, you know Nigeria should Be focused on if we're hoping to be among the top 20 economies in the world by 2030 If there's any chance of that There's other directions that the country should maybe also be you know focused on or try and invest in That we still aren't So quickly also share that with us um Yeah, so so I think it's um It's we don't need to reinvent the wheel You just look around you you the answers are there just look at the economies that you're benchmarking What are they doing and then we simply Strive to do that one of the advantages of being a late comer is that you don't have to make the mistakes Of people that are ahead of you so we don't need to go through the whole process again Um We need to encourage innovation. We need to encourage creativity Right. So right now. We know that the world is moving in the direction of technology You know social media spaces Amazing things are happening there. We have a vibrant Tech industry in Nigeria, you know, go down Silicon Valley in Yabba Yabba Con or as some people will say, you know And across the country So that's being just an example of so many other sectors that we need to focus attention on The government needs to look at manufacturing because you know, there is no way that Just like um, my colleague just said earlier We must add value and the only way to add value is through production So, um, all of those agricultural outputs that is coming out very very important for us to focus on agricultural Mechanize it increase the output Be confused self-sufficient and then take the the that output and add value to it In fact by doing just that if the government can just focus on Ensuring that we can add value to our agricultural space to that value chain and take it from the farmer and now move to finish products Our our GDP will double In the period that the the government is able to and I'm just saying that of the cough Probably will be more We'll double in the period that the government is able to achieve that and I think that that can be achieved Say in a five-year period, these things are not so hard. They're not as difficult as we make them sound You know, so with very very carefully targeted policy Um instruments regulations you can move Private funding into productive sector manufacturing sector to ensure that our Greek space Can then be come Um input providers into the manufacturing space so that we don't need to import so it's it's a double one So all of a sudden your dependence on foreign exchange Um to bring in things that we produce drops Which has a direct impact on the exchange rates with that means that inflation can begin to drop You I mean it's look these things are not really very very difficult And like I've said before I'm glad that the president now does have a very very competent economic advisor I will just advise that the government listens to him. I think well, you know, I I believe he's always had You know an economic team, you know that had some level of competence in it You know, it's really just about the level of interest Because this is the same government that has not been able to address properly the insecurity challenges that have also affected agriculture There's the same government that has still not been able to understand the value of ranching for cattle It's still talking about grazing routes for for cattle across Nigeria And so it basically just tells or paints a picture of what the mindset of the government really is with regards agriculture and Basically, but we're out of time for this discussion. Kenneth or be agile to see you. I'll record. Thank you very much for joining us Mr. Shegun show Peter also. Thank you also for your time and for This conversation we've just had looking forward to speaking with you both again Thank you All right, we'll move away from the discussion on agriculture and we're going to Zamfara state to have a conversation with persons with regards the insecurity challenges the death of about 200 persons And what the Nigerian government is saying or not saying we'll be back


This is stock number 11263. We are here at Summit Automotive in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. You're new and used heavy-duty truck and RAM headquarters. Today we are checking out this super clean 2015 RAM 2500 mega cab short box. This truck has 6.4 liter V8 Hemi motor. It has been fully safety and inspected by our service shop. It has a fresh oil and filter change. All the fluids have been checked and topped off. And this truck is 100% ready to go. Bright white clear coat is the color. We shoot all of our videos in 1080p 60 frames per second. So if you have HD capabilities on your computer tablet or smartphone device, turn them on right now because it is definitely your best way to check out the quality and condition of the truck before seeing it in person. And if you'd like to check out all the photos on this truck in the upper right hand party screen is a link to our website. Click that and check us out. There it comes with the 20 inch fuel chromed alloy rims and it has Open Country Toyo AT tires. These are LT 295 65R 20s and they have right around half the tread left on them. This one does have a leveling lift kit in it and it also the frame is in very nice clean condition. Front fender is in great condition. I didn't see any dents or dings on that. Headlamp lenses are nice and clear. And this one does come with the factory fog lights. Front bumper is in excellent shape. It does have a block heater. No dents or dings on that front bumper. You get the chrome trimmed grille and the hood is in really nice shape as well. Passengers side fender looks really good too. And passenger side rim is in excellent condition as well. As you go down this side of the truck take note of how clean the body is, how reflective and mirror like that paint is. We take these HD videos so if you are far away or even if you're co-spotting you just cannot make the trip down but you're still interested in purchasing the vehicle. You can see the truck, hear the truck and of confidence in the vehicle that you're looking at before you even get here. So that when you do get here there's absolutely no surprises. And that's why we offer the Summit Auto Fastpass option in the upper right hand part of your screen. A link right to our website where you can apply for financing, get pre-approved, see a payment quote, even appraise a trade all from the comfort of your own home. Back rims in excellent shape as well. And the back tires have just as much tread as the front tires. Framing under body back here is in really nice shape. And it's like that all the way underneath. Looks really good. Didn't see any corrosion. Except on the welds there just a little bit but lower rockers look really good as well and it does come with the nice factory chrome step bars. As we come around to the back of the vehicle the rear bumper, pretty nice shape. It does have the back of parking sensors full towing package, receiver hitch, four pin and seven pin wiring. Just saw a little ding right there but other than that, nothing too bad. The tailgate's in pretty nice shape and this one does come with a tonneau sport soft roll-up tonneau cover. Has a spray and bed liner. Has the fifth wheel and goose neck prep package and also has seven pin wiring back here. That spray and bed liner is in really nice shape. Tailgate shuts nice and solidly. And as you go down the driver's side just as clean as I pass in your side. No denser dings on the box here. And for full disclosure this back rim is in great condition too. No scuffs or scrapes on there. Down the rest of the side of the truck looks really good. Does have the heated fold-out tow mirrors. They also fold in like so and they do have built-in directional signals on them. Those are LEDs. Inside the big horn package gives you the gray cloth interior. No rips or tears on there. Power driver's seat, factory floor mats, auto headlamps, power windows, power locks, power mirrors and these mirrors actually do power fold in. You can see that both sides are working out. It's like showing both sides so you know that everything is working right for the truck. And as we hop inside here we'll turn the ignition on so you can check out the miles and everything. And you can see that this one has 61,324 miles. You do get the digital speedometer, compass, outside temp, miles per gallon, gain. You can change all those corners to read whatever you'd like. Comes with the heated leather wrap steering wheel, cruise controls on the right, Bluetooth and information center controls on the left. This one comes with the six speed automatic transmission with the optional tap shift. It does have the 8.43C radio, AMFM and Sirius XM radio capabilities. You also get your heated seats and heated steering wheel buttons. This is also where your backup camera is going to show up. And the cool thing about this radio is that it does not have navigation but you can add navigation to it for $595 and we can actually do that here at our dealership. See your sales professional for more details.  And you do get your stability control, tow haul and parking sensors. You can turn those off. Passengers side format and seat are in excellent condition. No rips or tears on there. Smells very clean inside this truck. I don't think it's ever been smoked in. The headliners in nice shape. You do get map lights up there and power sliding rear window controls. You have your heated, I mean your home link buttons for your garage door security systems and lane systems and 911 and assist buttons in that rear view mirror. We'll take a quick look at the back seats and then we'll check out under the hood. Started up. The back seats just clean as the front seats. No rips or tears back here. It does have the latch child safety system for any child car seats you may want to put back here. Seats are in really nice clean condition. It does have a factory format all the way across. These seats do fold down two different ways. So the first way is they fold down nice and flat and low. So you can put both sides down. You have a nice flat place. If you want to take a nap or something back here, there's plenty of room. Power slide and rear window, you do get storage back there. And then the other way that these fold down is just the backrest folds down and then you have a higher load floor. So if you're putting stuff back here, definitely easier to get up there. Child safety locks on the back doors. Doors all look really good on the bottom there. We'll start it up and take a quick look under the hood. I would personally like to thank you for checking out the video today and hopefully from this HD video you will have been able to tell just how clean this truck is all the way around. Inside note under the hood we have the 6.4-liter V8 Hemi motor engine base. Very clean runs. Very smooth. This truck has been fully safe and inspected by our service shop has a fresh oil and filter change. All the fluids have been checked and topped off and this truck is 100% ready to go. And to see more pictures of this truck or one of our other 450 new and used cars, trucks, SUVs, minivans, Wranglers, half tons, three-quarter tons, one tons. You name it we got it on our website www.summitauto.com right there above the truck. Full pictures and descriptions of every single vehicle from two locations all at summitauto.com. And if you'd like to check out more HD videos you can go to youtube.com slash summitauto. Remember to like, subscribe, and share on this video and all the videos that you see there. In fact in a second you will see a link to subscribe to our YouTube channel on your left. Link to more Ram 2500 truck videos like this tonight right if you have not been on our website on the bottom link to this vehicle on our website. Click those check us out and we really look forward to helping you with this super clean 2015 Ram 2500 mega cab short box big horn in bright white clear coat with the Hemi. Thanks again.


8. In which David and the Phoenix visit a banshee, and a surprise is planted in the enemy's Next day, Mother asked David to help her straighten out the garden, which had been trampled by the repairman, so he could not go to see the Phoenix until after lunch. But when that was finished, he rushed up the mountainside as fast as he could, wondering all the way what he and the Phoenix were going to do now. The ledge was empty when he got there. He shouted, Phoenix! And listened. Hell came a faint answering cry from the other end of the ledge. David jumped through the thicket. A pitiful sight met his eyes. There was the Phoenix, dangling by one foot from the snare, its wings fably struggling and its free foot clawing the air. The feathers of its wings and tail were singed. Great beads of sweat rolled from its forehead into a puddle on the ground below. The snared foot was blue and swollen. Get me down, gasped the Phoenix weakly. David took a running leap at the sapling, which broke under the sudden increase of weight, and the two of them crashed to the ground. He unfastened the noose and dragged the Phoenix to the shadiest, softest spot on the ledge. Hoist with my own petard, said the Phoenix bitterly. Rub my foot, will you? Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Hurts! What happened, David asked as he rubbed the swollen foot? How long have you been caught? Missed my way in the dark, said the Phoenix, wiping its brow. Thought I was on the other side of the ledge, and landed right on that fool trap. Hung there all night and all morning. Thought you would never come, my boy. Oh, dear! Oh, dear!   I fully expected to be burned to a crisp. A large tear rolled down the Phoenix's beak. David murmured, soothing words, and continued to chafe the Phoenix's foot. Does it feel any better now? The feeling is coming back, my boy, said the Phoenix, gritting its beak. Ouch! All pins and needles! It flexed its toes gingerly. Rub a bit more, please, gently. The swelling began to go down. With a handful of damp grass, David soothed the marks left by the noose.   Anything worth doing is worth doing well. They will hear from us, believe me. We shall write them a stiff complaint. Well, Phoenix, said David, hopefully. We can set the snare again if we can find another good sapling. And we still have the other ones, so we're pretty well protected. And why couldn't we meet every night by the hedge the way we did last night? The bell was a good idea, but we could get along without it. The Phoenix sighed, I suppose you are right, my boy. There is no use crying over spilt milk. One must set one's jaw and— Good heavens, my boy! Duck! The Phoenix threw itself to the ground in wildly motion to David to do the same. He flattened himself out beside the bird and said, What is it, Phoenix? Down the mountainside whispered the Phoenix, Look, do not stick your head over too far. David wormed his way to the edge, peered down and gasped. Below him on the grassy slope at the foot of the scarf was a figure clad in khaki. It was the scientist. Do you think he saw us, the Phoenix whispered? I don't think so, David whispered back. He's looking off to the left. Oh, Phoenix, what if he comes up here? What'll we do? Listen, hissed the Phoenix. Run down there. Talk to him. Lead him away. Distract his attention. Anything. Only be quick. All right. The Phoenix melted into the thicket and David jumped to his feet. As he dashed down the trail, his brain whirled with questions. What should he do? What could he say? How could he lead the scientist away? Where would the Phoenix go? In his haste he forgot one important thing. His foot tripped over the pile of grass and leaves on the trail. The release saplings sprang upward, the noose tightened with a cruel jerk around his ankle, and he was snatched into the air. As the blood rushed to his head, he lost control of himself and began to struggle wildly and shout at the top of his voice. The flat, dry voice of the scientist drifted to him as if through a long tunnel. What's all this? What are you doing here? Who set this snare? Get me down, David choked, please. A hand seized him by the scruff of the neck. A knife flashed through the air and cut the rope. David landed on his feet, but his legs gave way and he dropped to his knees. He felt dizzy as the blood rushed away from his head again. The scientist tilted his son helmet back and said, Well, well, David, in a disagreeable tone. His eyes narrowed behind the spectacles. What is this snare doing here? David struggled to his feet and clutched a bush for support. Thank you for cutting me down, he said. The cold blue eyes found David's and held them in a hypnotic stare. What is this trap doing here? Who said it? I was coming down the trail and I was caught in it, David stammered. You are avoiding my question, young man, said the scientist. Who set this snare? Answer me. There was a brilliant flash of gold and blue in the sunlight, the whistle of feathers cleaving the air, the sharp thwack of fisted talon striking. The scientist pitched forward with a surprised grunt and lay still across the trail, and the phoenix executing a flip in the air to check its speed settled down beside David. View hello, it shouted excitedly. Yoikes and tally ho. Did you see that stoop, my boy? By Jove the best-trained falcon could not have done better. Believe me, I have been saving that blow for a long time. By Jove, what a magnificent stoop. I think I shall take up scientist hunting as a regular thing. Thank goodness, phoenix, David exclaimed. Another minute and you would have been too late. But I hope you haven't hurt him very much. Nonsense, my boy, said the phoenix. A head so stuffed with scientific fact cannot be injured. He will come too in a short while. The phoenix lifted the scientist's son helmet and examined the back of his head. A large lump is developing, my boy, a most pleasant sight. I fear the son helmet is now useless, crushed like an egg shell. And the phoenix smiled proudly. Well, I hope it isn't serious, David said doubtfully, and away. We'll have to do something. Precisely, my boy, but I think we should have a drink first. The phoenix detached a canteen from the scientist's belt and took a deep swig. Ah, delicious, our friend is well prepared, my boy. And indeed, the scientist had all sorts of things with him. A hand axe, a sheath knife, a compass, a camera, binoculars, a stopwatch, notebooks and pencils, a coil of rope, maps. There was also a packet of sandwiches which the phoenix opened and began to eat. Now listen, phoenix, we have to do something. Quite right, my boy, the phoenix mumbled with its mouth full. Have a sandwich, spoils of war, peanut butter, very nourishing. The fact is that I have just thought of another plan which cannot fail. Have we any money left? Yes, for gold pieces. Why? Blended, now my boy, I shall leave you. When the scientist wakes up you will help him down to wherever he lives. Find out where his room is. I shall meet you by the hedge at midnight. Be sure you have the gold pieces with you. All right, what are we? Sure you will not have a sandwich? No, thank you. What are we? Very well, farewell then, my boy, till midnight. David poured what was left in the canteen over the scientist's head and fanned him with a notebook. Presently the man stirred and groaned. Then he sat up and muttered, What hit me? Can you stand up yet, David said? Two days to ask any more questions the scientist got up, groaning, put on his broken spectacles, collected his scattered equipment and leaned on David. The two of them proceeded slowly down the trail together, frequently sitting down to rest. The scientist murmured the name of his hotel and pointed out the direction. Townspeople stared at them as they passed but no one stopped them or asked questions and they reached the hotel without further incident. They entered the lobby and the scientist sank into a chair. Let me help you to your room, said David. In a few minutes the scientist got up again and they took the elevator to the fourth floor. David closely watched the direction they were going and when they came into the scientist's room he looked quickly through the window. There was a fire escape just outside. He had the information now, fourth floor, west side, fire escape by window. The scientist eased himself onto the bed with a groan. Then he turned to David and said severely, There's something strange about all this and I intend to get to the bottom of it. You'll be hearing from me young mad. All right, said David closing the door, and you'll be hearing from us, he added in an undertone, if I know the phoenix. Flying at night was colder than flying by day but it was more thrilling too. They whistled through an immense blackness, stars glittered overhead and quick silver patches of moonlight and shadow flashed across the clouds below. They were going to Ireland but why David did not know? The phoenix was playing its wait and see game again. In an hour or so they shot out over the edge of the cloud mass and David could see a rocky coast below, dark and cold in the half light. The phoenix began to slant down toward it and presently they landed in a little meadow. One side of the meadow ran down to a bog filled with reeds and on the other side was a gloomy wood. Everything was dark and indistinct but David thought he could tell why the phoenix had called this the Emerald Isle. The grass beneath their feet was the thickest he had ever felt. He touched a boulder and found it furry with moss. With the wood and the reed choked bog the whole place would be rich with various greens in the daylight. Just then they saw a little man approaching them from the wood. He was three feet tall, dressed all in green and had a long white beard. When he reached them he raised his cap politely and said, Good evening to you. A fine evening to you my good leprechaun said the phoenix. Could you kindly tell us will you have a cigar the leprechaun interrupted? With a surprised thank you very much the phoenix took the cigar, bit off the end and popped it into its beak. The leprechaun lighted it and the phoenix puffed away. Stick a gum lad, said the leprechaun to David, holding out a pack. Why yes, thank you, said David. He took the stick of gum from the pack and was immediately sorry for it. The stick was made of wood and had a small wire spring like a mousetrap which snapped down on his finger and made him yelp with pain. At the same instant the phoenix's cigar exploded, knocking the startled bird backwards into a bush. Ha-ha-ha shouted the leprechaun, rolling on the ground and holding his sides. Ha-ha-ha! In a trice the phoenix had pounced on the leprechaun and pinned him to the ground. Let him up, said David furiously. I'll punch his head for him. I think my boy, said the phoenix coldly, that I shall carry the creature up into the clouds and drop him. Or should we take him back with us and hand him over to the scientist? Now don't take offense, your honor, said the leprechaun. I thought you'd look at it as kind of comic. Exceedingly comic, said the phoenix severely, I am quite overcome with mirth and merriment, but perhaps I shall let you off lightly if you tell us where the banshee lives. The banshee of mare's nest would? The same. Speak. A new light of respect and fear came into the leprechaun's eyes. She's a terror, she is. What'll you be wanting? None of your business, roared the phoenix. Where is she? The leprechaun had begun to tremble. Follow the path yonder through the wood until you reach the cave, your honor. You're not friends of hers, are you? You'll not be telling on me. I'm really sorry for those jokes, your honor. The leprechaun's fright was so genuine now that the phoenix relented and let him go.   Beware the leprechaun bearing gifts! But I wonder why the thought of the banshee frightened him so. They followed the path until they came to the mouth of a cave under a heap of rocks. The phoenix plunged in and David nervously followed. The cave turned out to be a long passageway that led after several turns into a chamber. From the ceiling of this rocky vault hung an electric light bulb, which glared feebly through drifts of smoke. All around the walls were wooden boxes stacked up to make shells and cupboards.  In the middle of the chamber a little hideous crone in a mother hubbard crouched over a saucepan stirring it with a wooden spoon. The saucepan was resting in the coals of an open fire, and smoke and steam together spread out in a murky, foul-smelling fog. The crone peered at them over the top of her spectacles and cackled, Come in, come in, dearies, I'll be with you as soon as ever I finish this brew. The phoenix who had been gazing around the chamber in surprise said, My dear Banshee, since when have you taken up witchcraft? This is most unexpected. Ah, Tiz the phoenix exclaimed the hag, peering at them again. Well, fancy that now. Ah, you may well ask, and I'll be telling you. Tiz a poor life being a Banshee, long hours, and not so much as six pence in it for a full night's work, and I got that sick of it. So I changed me trade. Sure, you'll never make a go of it, they told me, and at your age they says, and once you've got your station in life they says, There's no changing it. It's in the prime of me life I am, says I, and I'll not be changing me mind for all your cackling, says I, and if certain mouths don't shut up, says I, I'll cast spells that'll make certain people wish they were dead. That set them back on their heels, you may be sure. Well, Tiz the best decision of me life. The money pours in like sorrows to a widow, and I'll be retiring within the year to live out my days like a proper queen. Then the Banshee caught sight of David and hobbled over to him, peering into his frightened eyes. Ah, the wee darling, she crooned. The plump little mannequin. What a broth he'd make, to be sure. She pinched his arm, and he started back in terror. So firm and plump, to make the mouth water. Sell him to me, Phoenix. Nonsense, says the Phoenix sharply. What we desire, at this instant, the contents of the saucepan began to hiss and bubble. Whoops, dearies, the brew is boiling. Shrieked the Banshee, and she hobbled back to the fire to resume her work. She looked in a recipe book, stirred, clapped her hands, sang hair-raising incantations in a quaver-y voice, and added a pinch of salt and sulfur.  Now for the hard part, she said, grinning at them toothlessly. She measured out a spoonful of green powder, weighed it in the scales, and flung it into the saucepan. There was a loud explosion, a huge blast of steam, flared out and engulfed them. When it had cleared, they saw the Banshee tilting the saucepan over a small bottle. One ruby drop of fluid fell into the bottle. It darted forth rays of light as it fell, and tinkled like a silver coin, rolling down flights of marble steps. The Banshee corked the bottle and held it up proudly to the light. Well, you'll look at that now, she crooned. The finest ever I brewed. Ah, the mystic droplet. Some swain will be buying that now and putting it in a lassie's cup of tea, and she'll be pining away for love of him before the day's out. She put the bottle on the shelf, pasted a label on it, and turned to them with a business-like air. Now, dearies, what'll you be wanting? Filters? Poison? I have a special today, only five shillings a vial. A spell? What about your fortunes? One shilling, if seen in the crystal ball, one in six, if read from the palm. A hex? I have the finest in six counties, a ticket to the wall-purchase night-ball. We want a wail, said the phoenix, and we shall accept nothing with the best and loudest you have. Ah, a Banshee's wail, is it, cried the hag. You've come to the right shop, dearies, to be sure. Now, let me see. She hobbled to a shelf, which contained a row of boxes, ran her finger along them, stopped at one, and took it down. Here we are. A pea of sea-sharp, two minutes long, only five shillings three pence. No, no, said the phoenix, a larger one. We have something more than mice to frighten. A bigger one? Ah, here's a lovely one now, five minutes long, ascending scale with a sob at the end. Guaranteed to scare a statue, yours for ten and six. I call that a real bargain now. Ba, said the phoenix, impatiently. Enough of these squeaks. We want a real wail, my dear Banshee. Such a wail as never before was heard on the face of this earth. And stop this babbling about shillings and pence. We are prepared to pay in gold. The phoenix took the four pieces of gold from David and carelessly tossed them into the air. The Banshee's eyes flew wide open and she twirled herself around like a top. The sweet music of its tinkling, she exclaimed. The lovely sheen of light upon it. There's a sight for eyes used to knot but silver. Ah, but dearies, I've no wail worth four pieces of gold. I'll have to make one up special. She hobbled rapidly around the chamber until she found a box as large as a birdcage and an ear trumpet. She opened the box, shook it to make sure it was empty, and hid it in two heads of cabbage. Such monstrous appetites these wails do have, she explained. She fastened the lid carefully with a catch lock and inserted the ear trumpet in a hole in one side of the box. Then she disappeared through a soundproof door which they had not seen before on account of the smoke. Fifteen minutes later the Banshee came out with the box plugging up the hole in its side with a bit of wax. She was pale and trembling and beads of sweat covered her face. She smiled weakly at them, seized an earthenware jug and drained it in one gulp. The color began to return to her face. Wooshed she gasped, wiping her brow with a sleeve of her mother Hubbard. Ah, dearies, that was an effort of me life. Tis a wail to make one burst with pride though I do say so myself. Thirteen minutes long by the clock, with a range of ten octaves to frighten the old Nick himself. Splendid said the Phoenix, the fact is I sometimes suspect that that is precisely with whom we are dealing at home. The light suddenly dawned on David. Phoenix, he cried, I bet we're going to give the wail to the scientist. Precisely, my boy, the Phoenix beamed. Oh golly, golly, golly, David sang as he danced around. And I'll guarantee it, dearies, the Banshee cackled. One hundred percent satisfaction or your money back. Defeat and confusion to the enemy, the Phoenix shouted, giving the special squawk which was its battle cry. The Banshee received her gold. The Phoenix told David, for goodness' sake, not to drop the box or let the lid pop open, or they would regret it to their dying day. David, hearing the rustle of the wail as it ravenously attacked the cabbages inside the box, assured the Phoenix that he would be careful. The Banshee said, Ah, Phoenix, do sell the laddie to me, but her tone was more teasing than serious, and they all laughed. Goodbyes were said all around, and David and the Phoenix left. The last thing they heard as they felt their way up the dark passage was the happy cackling of the Banshee and the clang of the cash register. They got back to the hotel before dawn, and very carefully crept down the fire escape into the scientist's room. They put the box on the bedside table, stuck out their tongues at the sleeping scientist, and crept out again. Then they went home. The Phoenix to the ledge and David to bed where he fell asleep instantly. The wail was wildly successful. The scientist released it from its box at seven o'clock in the morning. People living in the hotel thought the world had come to its end. They wondered if it was a riot or an earthquake or both with three steam caliopes thrown in for good measure. David, who lived twelve blocks from the hotel, stirred in asleep and dreamed he was riding a fire engine. Even the Phoenix claimed later that a kind of moan was born on the breeze all the way up to the ledge. The hotel burst into activity like a kicked anthill. People poured down the fire escapes, shot out through the doors, lowered themselves into the street with ropes, nodded blankets. Others barricaded themselves in their rooms by piling furniture against the doors and windows. One guest found his way to the cellar and hid in an ash can for two days. The manager crawled into the office safe and locked the door without even bothering to remember that he was the only one who knew the combination. The telephone exchange was jammed as calls flooded in to mobilize the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the National Guard, and the Volunteer Flood Control Association. When the whale finally died out, which was not until 7.30, because it had devoured both cabbages during the night and had grown to more than twice its original size, the police entered the hotel in force, armed to the eyebrows. They found nothing. At the end of a three-hour search, the chief handed in his resignation. As for the scientist, he disappeared completely, a farmer living three miles out of town said he saw a man dressed in a night shirt and a head bandage running down the valley road. The farmer guessed the man's speed to be thirty-five miles an hour, but he added there was such a cloud of dust being raised that he could not see very well. It might have been fifty miles an hour, he said. No one doubted him. End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 of David and the Phoenix Chapter 9 In which David and the Phoenix call on a fawn, and a lovely afternoon comes to a strange end. The Phoenix was dead tired, and no wonder, all in one week it had escaped from griffins, raced with a witch, made round-trip flights to the Pacific Isles and Ireland, been caught in a snare, got burned by a short circuit, and been knocked down by an exploding cigar. Even a bird as strong as the Phoenix can do all these things without needing a rest. So the travelling part of David's education was stopped for a while to let the Phoenix recover. The days went by pleasantly on the ledge. It was at its height. The sun fell on them with just the right amount of warmth as they lulled in the grass.  Listen, the murmuring seemed to say, don't talk, don't think, close your eyes and listen. Below them the whole valley danced and wavered in the heat waves so that it seemed to be underwater. There were long, lazy conversations that began nowhere and ended nowhere. The kind in which you say whatever comes to your head without fear of being misunderstood, because what you say has little importance anyway. The Phoenix told of the times and adventures it had had, of the forgotten corners of the world where life went on as it had from the beginning, and of friends who lived there, of trolls who mined metal from the earth and made from it wondrous machines which were and clattered and clanked absolutely nothing. The best kind of machine, after all, my boy, since they injure no one and there is nothing to worry about when they break down. Of unicorns, excellent chaps, but so frightfully melancholy, which shone white in the sun and tossed their ivory horns like rapiers. Of a dragon who, having no treasure to guard, got together a pathetic heap of colored pebbles in its cave, and really he came to believe in time that they were absolutely priceless and went about with a worried frown of responsibility on his brow. David, in turn, told the Phoenix about the games he used to play when he lived in the flat country and all about school and mother and dad and Aunt Amy and Becky. He could not help laughing now and then over the scientist's defeat, but whenever this came up the Phoenix would shake its head with a kind of sad wisdom. My boy, there are certain things, such as head-colds and forgetting where you have left your keys, which are inevitable, and I am afraid that the scientist is too. Oh, Phoenix, you don't think he'll come back, do you? Yes, my boy, I do. I can see the whole train of events. He will recover from his fright. He will be curious about the whale and will return to investigate it. Once here he will remember us and we shall have to take him into account once more. Oh, do you think it will happen soon? Oh, no, my boy, nothing to worry about for the time being. But we must remember that it will happen someday. Yes, I guess you're right. I think he's hateful. I cannot disagree with you there, my boy. Of course I have no doubt that in general the advancement of science is all to the good. Knowledge is power. But on days like this I sometimes wonder, does it not seem to you that the highest aim in life at the moment is to enjoy the sunlight and allow others to do the same? You're right, Phoenix, but then you always are. I was just thinking the same thing. It's funny, I mean, well, you know. Why can't people leave other people alone and well just enjoy themselves and lie in the sun and listen to the wind? That is the way of the world, my boy. Getting and spending and all that sort of thing. But come, why should we worry over the follies of the rest of the world? A day like this was made for living, not thinking. Begone, dull care. And they would forget the scientist and watch a pair of butterflies chase each other instead. But one day the Phoenix suddenly stood up with a startled expression on its face. My dear chap, it exclaimed, I have just remembered. Tomorrow? What about tomorrow? My boy, tomorrow another century rounds its mark. To be brief, tomorrow is my birthday. My five hundredth birthday. Well, congratulations, Phoenix. Thank you, my boy. Five hundred. Destiny. Have I mentioned before, my boy, that I have a magnificent destiny? No, what is it, Phoenix? Well, it is strange, my boy, but I do not know. But that it is magnificent Do I have one, too? Of course, my boy, we all do. David was glad of that. He did not know exactly what a destiny was, however, and he tried to think of how one would look. But the only picture which came to his mind was that of a small, mousy creature, his destiny, looking up in admiration to a splendid thing of flame and gold dazzling to the eyes. The Phoenix's mysterious destiny. He said, I have to do something special tomorrow to celebrate Phoenix. The Phoenix looked thoughtful. I think we had better do whatever we are going to do today, it said. Well, we can do something today and tomorrow then, said David. After all, a birthday only comes once a year, and it seems a shame to spend only one day on it, especially when it is a five hundredth birthday. Tomorrow, said the Phoenix doubtfully, I have a strange feeling, my boy, once I find myself unable to explain. Most odd, most odd. Five hundredth birthday. Ah, well it went on more cheerfully. I shall undoubtedly remember later. The pressing question is, what shall we do now? David got up, thought for a while, and suddenly flung his arms wide. Oh, Phoenix, he cried. It's such a beautiful day. I wish it could go on forever. Couldn't we go somewhere? I don't know, I can't explain. Anywhere you say, Phoenix. The Phoenix looked at him for a long time. I think I understand, my boy. Yes. How about one of the forgotten places I told you about? Should you like to meet a fawn? It was a green valley, completely enclosed by the barren mountains which towered above it. At one end, a waterfall hung on the face of a cliff. A misty thread, an arched pool. A brook serpentine through fields and groves of trees. There were flocks of sheep and goats in the fields. Here and there were strange ruins of marble and red granite. Columns, peristals, benches carved with lion's heads and pedestals. They landed in a little glade and David got down in silent wonderment. The very stillness of the air was enchanted. There was a giant mantle of flowers. Clouds of butterflies sprang up at their approach and swirled about them. To their right stood two broken columns, half hidden beneath a wild tangle of vine and clusters of purple grapes. Beyond was the forest dark and cool and silent, with shafts of sunlight in it like golden spears pinning the forest floor to earth. There was no breeze, and as David stood there, scarcely daring to breathe, the sound of shepherd pipes coming from the edge of the wood. It was a minor tune, but somehow lilting too, with the rippling of water in it and the laughter of birds flying high. And the whisper of reeds as they bent together by the edge of streams and the gaiety of crickets by night and the pouring of summer rain. The piping died away and the phoenix beckoned to the spellbound David. Together they walked across the glade, and the water flies. An immense oak stood at the edge of the forest. At its foot, on a bed of moss, set the fawn. He was the same size as David. From the waist down he was covered with shaggy hair like a goat's and instead of feet he had cloven hooves.   The fawn waved his pipe saucily at the phoenix and gave a rye smile. Hello, phoenix. Back again to honor us with your wit and wisdom. What gems of advice have you got for us now? My dear fawn said the phoenix stiffly. I have brought my friend David who is acquiring an education. We, the fawn, smiled at David. Want to race, he said? Sure, said David. Where to? The fawn humped the phoenix. What we, down to that pedestal and back, said the fawn. All right, wait till I tie my shoe. The phoenix humped again. This is all very well in its place, but we should. Ready, said the fawn. One, two, three, go. They dashed for the stone marker. It was an even race until they reached the pedestal. But there David tried to turn without slowing down, looked on the grass and went sprawling on his hands and knees. The fawn knew better. He sprang at the pedestal with both hooves, bounced from it like a spring and began to race back to the oak. But then he too fell, tripping over a vine, and David shot past him and touched the oak one jump ahead of him, shouting first. They sat down on the moss panting. The fawn said, You can really run. Even, said David. They looked at each other, and for some reason burst out laughing. They rolled around on the moss and laughed until tears came while the phoenix fidgeted in reproachful silence. When they had calmed down a little, the fawn said, Can you dance? No, said David. I wish I could though. The educational value of dancing is practically nil, but listen, he brought the pipes to his lips and began to play. And much to his surprise and delight, David found himself dancing as though he had never done anything else in his life. The wonderful thing was that he did not have to think about what he was doing. The music was doing it all for him. He saw that even the phoenix was shuffling round in time to the piping and looking very embarrassed about it too. There, said the fawn, can dance, and very well. Even old phoenix can dance. Suddenly he jumped up and cried, Let's go, come on, and started to run. David followed, not knowing where they were going, and not caring. The phoenix came after them, half running and half flying to keep up. They raced across the glade through a stand of trees and out into the meadow beyond. There they came to a bank of daisies and threw themselves into the middle of it each other with blossoms. The phoenix, finally caught up in the spirit of it, collected a huge bunch while they were wrestling, flew suddenly over them and drowned them beneath a deluge of flowers. Nearby was the stream. They splashed in the shallows, skipped pebbles over the surface, and dug a harbor with two dykes in the sandy part of the shore. The fawn showed David how to build little boats of reeds, and the phoenix made them sail to wind with its wings. They had a tree-climbing contest, which David won because his feet were better than hooves for standing on branches. But the fawn won the jumping contest because of the tremendous spring in his legs. They came out even in the handstand, summer salt, and skin-the-cat contest. And the phoenix won when they played skip rope with a piece of vine because it could hover in the air with its wings while the vine was over and under. They had fun with the sheep and goats, too. The fawn made the animals dance and caper to a tune from his pipes and showed David how to ride on the rams. You crept up very quietly from behind, jumped suddenly on their backs, got a quick grip around their necks, and away in a rush. It was almost as good as flying except that you got jolted off sooner or later. Then, watch out, it took some quick dodging to escape the horns of the angry rams. They left the goats alone because of their sharper horns and the wicked look in their eyes. I know where some pictures are, said the fawn. Come on. And he led them to a kind of glade ringed with shattered columns. The ground there was covered with moss and drifts of leaves. They each got a stick to clear away the debris and uncovered a beautiful mosaic pavement. It was made of bits of colored stone and tile, which were arranged to make pictures. There were scenes of youths treading out wine, minstrels with liars, gods with curly hair and a beast, which was half man and half horse. There were maidens dancing to flute and drums, hunters battling with boars and lions, warriors clashing with sword and shield and spear. There were series of pictures telling stories of wonders and adventures in far distant lands, voyages, wars, conquests. The fawn proudly pointed out a picture of other fawns dancing with nymphs. The phoenix gazed very thoughtfully at some scenes of a bird building and sitting in a nest of flames. But the last picture of this story had been broken up by roots so they could not see how it ended. When they came to the end of the valley, where the rainbow arched over the pool, David told them of the pot of gold which is supposed to be at the foot of rainbows. They looked for it but without success because the rainbow disappeared whenever they got too close to it. So David and the fawn contented themselves with jumping into the pool and ducking each other and making bubbly noises while the phoenix, who could not swim, stood on the shore and beamed at them. They picked ferns from under the waterfall and made wreaths and garlands which they threw at the phoenix's head like coys. The fawn showed them a certain place to shout from if you wanted to hear an echo. The phoenix shouted, a stitch in time saves nine, and the echo deloriously answered, a switch is fine for crime. Wet and tired from splashing in the pool, they stretched out in the sun to dry. A grapevine grew near them and they gorged themselves on the fruit, smearing their faces and hands with purple. And David closed his eyes and thought, now I'm having a dream and so is the phoenix. We're all dreaming the same thing and living in the dream and I wish, oh I wish, none of us will ever wake up. But he had just opened his eyes again when the fawn leaped to his feet and cried, listen, inflict his pointed ears forward like a cat. David stood up and said in a puzzled voice, I don't hear anything. He noticed that the phoenix had also got up comfortably to whatever it was. Listen, oh listen, cried the fawn. There was a joyous light in his eyes as he leaned forward with his lips slightly parted, straining toward the mysterious silence. Suddenly he shouted, I'm coming, I'm coming, and dashed off into the wood. Good heavens, muttered the phoenix, I had forgotten about this. Let us go home, my boy. A strange, uncontrollable trembling had seized David's legs. He still could hear nothing, but some feeling, some hint of an unknown, tremendous event hung quivering in the air about them and sent little electric thrills racing up and down his whole body. Oh, phoenix, what is it? What is it? he whispered. I think we had best be going, my boy, said the phoenix anxiously. Come along. Phoenix? But he heard it now. It came whispering toward them, the sound of pipes caroling. Pipes such as the fawn had played, the organ is greater than a flute. The wild sweet sound rose and fell, swelled like a full choir, diminished into one soprano voice that pierced David through and through, caressing and tugging, calling, come, come, run, run. Phoenix? David cried. Oh, phoenix, listen, listen. Run, run, the pipes whispered. Let us go home, my boy, said the phoenix warningly. Come, come, cried the pipes. They could be resisted no longer. In a transport of joy David shouted, I'm coming, and raced away toward the sound. There is nothing in his mind now, nothing in the whole world, but a desire to be near those pipes. He must run like the winds, leap and shout, roll in the grass, throw himself down flowered slopes, follow that magic, music, wherever it should lead. He fled blindly through the wood, heedless of the branches which whipped his face, and the thorns which tore at his legs. The pipes were calling more loudly now, run, run, faster, faster. Then the phoenix plunged to earth in front of him, throughout both wings, and shouted, stop. Let me go, phoenix, David cried. Let me by. I want to run, I must run. He made a desperate effort to push past the outstretched wings, but the phoenix flung him to the ground, picked him up before he could kick once, and threw him on its back. Then they were flying at full speed, dodging through gaps in the branches and between close-set trunks, with leaves and twigs slashing them from every side. They burst out of the wood and sped over a meadow. David saw below them a huge fawn-like figure pacing majestically across the sword. A flaming wreath encircled its brow. Garlands of flowers hung from its arms and shoulders, and those enchanted pipes were lifted to its lips. Around the cloven hooves and trailing out behind danced a multitude of creatures, lambs and kids, gambling, goats and rams tossing their horns, foxes, furry waves of squirrels, rabbits kicking up their heels, fawns and nymphs rollicking, frogs and crickets and serpents. Above them flew birds and butterflies and beetles and bats in swirling clouds.  And David, in a delirium of desire, shouted, I'm coming, and jumped from the phoenix's back. For an instant as he fell through the air, he thought he would succeed in joining the dancing throng. But the phoenix, plunging after him falcon-wise with folded wings, seized his collar in its talons and snatched him up from the very arms of the fawn who had recognized him and called his name as he fell. The phoenix ignored, David cried, pleading, pommeling the phoenix with his fists. The phoenix ignored his struggling and continued to climb, with tremendous wing strokes, up and up and up. The piping grew fainter in the distance. Its magic weakened, the enchanted dancers diminished into specks. The valley fell away until it was only a moment. And then, wondered why he was crying, and tried to remember and could not, the trembling left his body and he dangled limply, his eyes closed. End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of David and the Phoenix This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 In which a five hundredth birthday is celebrated and the phoenix bows to tradition. That's funny, said David, rubbing his eyes and looking around in a puzzled way. Where are we, Phoenix? Home is the sailor, home from the hill, the phoenix said, and the hunter, home from the sea. Or is it the other way around? At any rate, we are home, my boy. With a fawn just now? Quite so. But there was something else David said, something didn't somebody say follow before it is too late or something like that? Did we follow? I can't remember. No, my boy, by the time one hears that it is already too late. Oh, too late for what, he wondered. Oh well, he sighed and fell to daydreaming. A cough from the phoenix brought him back. Beg your pardon? I have never seen you so thoughtful, my boy. However, I believe I know what you are thinking about. It is a difficult problem, is it not? Yes, I was just thinking what you could get me for a birthday present interrupted the phoenix. Am I not correct? David, who had not given this a thought until now, flashed. Aha, said the phoenix triumphantly, just as I thought. Believe me, my dear fellow, when you have been around as long as I have, you can read the minds of your friends as easily as a book. Now, the problem of what to give is a hard one at any time, but the problem of what to give for a 500th birthday is even harder. A monogrammed ashtray? I do not receive cigars often enough to make that practical. A hand-knitted sweater? It would not fit. They never do. A gold-plated watch chain? I have no watch. No, the best idea would be to get me something which I can use. Certainly, Phoenix David stammered, what do you want then? Ah, we have reached the kernel of the problem, and the answer, my boy, is this. Cinnamon. Cinnamon? Precisely. Also a box of matches, the kind that strike anywhere you know. Well, all right, it does not sound like much of a present, but if that is what you really want, what are you going to do with them, Phoenix? I mean, if you do not mind my asking. It is, my boy, said the Phoenix doubtfully. The plain fact is, well, I do not know. Odd, but something tells me I shall need them. Well, it will come to me in the morning, no doubt. And then, of course, I shall be very glad to have them on hand. All right, cinnamon and matches then, and I'll get some. No, I won't tell you that. It'll be a surprise. A surprise? Splendid, my boy. You could not, I suppose, drop me a small hint? But of course not. One hint in my powerful intellect could guess everything. And then the surprise would be spoiled. Well, until tomorrow then.  It was a squat cast iron box with a penny saved as a penny earned in raised letters on one side. The only way to open it was to smash it with a crowbar, but it could be emptied. It had to be tilted so with a knife blade in the slot to catch the coins and guide them out. This is what David did with a bread knife borrowed from the kitchen. It was a slow, uncertain job, and one coin, he guessed it was a dime by the way it rattled, never did come out. But the rest, which included his change from Uncle Charles present, would be enough. Early next morning he went to the store and bought three large boxes of stick cinnamon, two cans of powdered cinnamon, and a huge box of matches. For the surprise he got a whole quart of strawberry ice cream with a piece of dry ice to keep it from melting. He wanted to buy a cake, too, and candles, but there was not enough money left. Then he remembered that a new batch of cookies had been baked at home yesterday which would have to do instead. He wrapped the cinnamon and matches up in a neat package with white paper tied it in a blue ribbon and wrote on it, Phoenix, happy 500 birthday from David. Then he took all the cookies from a jar, borrowed two plates and spoons, put everything into a large paper bag and set out for the Phoenix's ledge. He was surprised to find the Phoenix working busily in the middle of a wide place on the ledge. Apparently the bird had been added all night for a huge pile of sticks and brush had been heaped up on the ground and shaped roughly like a nest. Right now the Phoenix was struggling with a small log trying to get it on the pile. Hello, Phoenix, happy birthday. Ah, there, my boy, thank you very much. Could you kindly give me a hand with this log? They heaved and grunted the piece of wood to the top of the pile and David said, What's this for, Phoenix? This, my boy, is a pyre, a bit untidy around the edges, but nonetheless a pyre. Oh, said David, what's that? Well, a pyre, you know, a pyre, as it were. Oh, pyre, I thought you said, oh yes, pyre, isn't it awfully warm for a pyre? The weather is unusually tropical, said the Phoenix, cocking one eye towards the sun. This pyre, however, is necessary, but I shall explain later. Meanwhile, if you will just aid me with this branch, and for the next 15 minutes they worked over the heap adding to it and shaping it up. David kept his thoughts to himself. He could see that the Phoenix knew what it was doing, so everything must be all right. By the way, my boy, said the Phoenix casually when they had finished. My prediction was correct. I knew it would be. The inevitable has occurred. What are you talking about, Phoenix? The scientist, my boy, he is in our midst once more. David clutched a branch in the heap and said, oh, Phoenix, in a frightened voice. Now, my dear fellow, there is no cause for alarm. He is not nearby at present. I sent him back. Sent him back, how? Nothing to it, my boy, said the Phoenix smugly. He was up at the crack of dawn toiling with typical stupidity in full sight on the slope below. He was making a blind of green branches to hide in while he spies on me. Really, the childishness of his efforts to think for a minute he could fool me with such tricks. Well, I waited until he had gone down the slope to cut more greenery, and when his back was turned, I slipped down to the blind and took his binoculars. But, Phoenix, what did you want with his binoculars? I did not want his binoculars, my boy, but he did. His language when he discovered the loss was simply frightful. I could hear it all the way up here. Of course, he had to return to town for another pair. But he'll be back? Precisely, my boy, but he will have something to keep him busy when he returns. The idea of destroying his blind, that will hold him. But it won't hold him long, Phoenix. We've got to think of something else. Now your whole birthday is spoiled. On the contrary, my boy, it will hold him long enough. Now, please, do not ask me why. You must take my word for it, and I shall explain later. And my birthday is not spoiled. I am looking forward with a great deal of pleasure to the surprise which you promised me. Come, let us enjoy it, and let's get the scientist. Well, are you sure about the scientist? Absolutely. The Phoenix was so positive that David began to feel better. He picked up the paper bag and said, well, it isn't much of a surprise, really, just a birthday party, and your present, but I think the present should come after the party, don't you? Quite so, my boy, but I shall leave the management of the whole affair in your capable hands. All right, said David. I will not look while I am getting it ready. The Phoenix obediently turned around, clasping its wings behind its back, and tried hard not to peek. David set the party things out on the grass, ice cream in the middle, the cookies in a ring around it, plates on either side, and spoons beside the plates. He set the Phoenix's present off to one side, where it could be reached when they had finished. All right, Phoenix, you can turn around now. The Phoenix took a long look at everything and said huskily, my dear chap, this is quite the nicest moment of my life. How can I possibly thank you? They sat down in their places, David passed the cookies and served the ice cream, and said that as far as he was concerned, this was the best birthday party he had ever been to. And the Phoenix said, quite so, my boy, but might I make so bold as to ask why?  In spite of the fact that eating good things is the real reason for having a party as everybody knows. And the Phoenix said, precisely, my boy, that people have somehow lost the main idea of the thing. When you come right down to it, ice cream is the basis of any sensible party, and everything else is a waste of time. And David said, yes, Phoenix, they get cake and cookies and candy and nuts and things. They're not as good as ice cream, but they're not a complete waste of time, either. And the Phoenix said, of course not, my dear fellow, they are important, too. And speaking of ice cream, have you noticed that, well, chocolate is very good and vanilla enjoys great popularity, still there is nothing like strawberry? And David said, yes, you're right, rather sadly, because the Phoenix was eating most of it. At last the ice cream carton was empty and all the cookies were gone. They both sighed regretfully and brushed away the crumbs. And the Phoenix looked hopefully at the present David had brought. Happy birthday, Phoenix, David said, and he handed the gift over with a little bow. Thank you, my boy. Thank you. The Phoenix opened the package eagerly and gave a pleased cry. Just what I wanted, my dear chap. I'm glad you like it, David said. Do you know yet what it's for? Can you really use it for something? The Phoenix suddenly stopped smiling and looked at David with a strange expression on its face, an expression David had never seen there before. A vague dread swept through him and he faltered, Phoenix, you do know what it's for, what is it, tell me. Well, my boy, well, the fact is, yes, I do know. It came to me this morning while I was constructing the nest here. I am afraid it will be a bit hard to explain the cinnamon, the cinnamon, well, cinnamon branches are what I should really have. But, Phoenix, what's it for? Behold, my boy, the Phoenix opened the boxes and spread the cinnamon sticks on the nest. Then it took the cans and sprinkled the cinnamon powder over the top and sides of the heap until the whole nest was brick dust red. There we are, my boy, said the Phoenix sadly. It was the traditional cinnamon pyre of the Phoenix, celebrated in song and story. And with the third mention of the word pyre, David's legs went weak and something seemed to catch in his throat. He remembered now where he had heard that word before. It was in his book of explorers and it meant, it meant, Phoenix, he choked, who is the pyre for? For myself, said the Phoenix. Phoenix, I implore you, please, oh dear, I knew it would be difficult to explain. Look at me, my boy. David did as he was told, although his eyes were filled with tears and he could not see through the blur. Now, said the Phoenix gently, the fact is that I have, besides my unusually acute intellect, an instinct. This instinct told me that it was my birthday today. It also told me to build this nest of cinnamon. Now it tells me that I must make this nest my pyre because that is what the Phoenix does at the end of 500 years. Now, please, my boy, I admit it does not appear to be a very joyful way of celebrating, but it must be done. This is the traditional end of the Phoenix, my boy, and we cannot ignore the tradition no matter what our feelings may be. Do you see? No, David cried. Please, Phoenix, don't do it. It's horrible. I won't let you do it. I cannot help it. This is what it means to be the Phoenix. Nothing can stop the tradition. Please, my boy, do not take on so. It is not in the least horrible, I assure you, my instinct tells me so. You said you were going to give me an education, David sobbed. You said we would see, you said, and we've only been on four adventures. You never told me about this. I am terribly sorry, my boy. I could not tell you about it until now. As for your education, it is a pity to have it cut short in this way. I had great plans, but consider you have had four adventures which no one else in the world has had, and besides, my boy, we shall see each other again. I do not know how or where, but I am positive of it. The Phoenix flicked a tear from its eye with the tip of one wing, while with the other it padded David awkwardly on the shoulder. Don't go, Phoenix. Please don't go. I must, my boy. Here, permit me to present you with a small token, ouch, of our friendship. Dimly through his tears, David saw the Phoenix pluck the longest, bluest feather from its tail, and he felt it being pressed into his hand. Goodbye, David, said the Phoenix gruffly. David could stand it no longer. He turned and rushed blindly from the Phoenix, blundered into the thicket and dropped to the ground with his head and his arms. Behind him he heard the stick snapping as the Phoenix mounted its pyre. A match rasped against the box. The first ton of flames sizzled in the branches. David pressed his hands over his ears to shut out the sound, but he could feel the heat of the flames as they sprang up, and the noise would not be shut out. It grew and grew, popping, crackling, roaring until it seemed to fill the world. Once he fainted or perhaps from numbness he slipped into a kind of deep sleep. Whichever it was he returned to consciousness again suddenly. His hands slipped from his ears, and a sound had brought him back. He lifted his head and listened. The fire had burnt itself out now. The only noise was the hiss and pop of dying embers. But these sounds were too gentle to have awakened him. It must have been something else. As a voice he could hear it quite plainly now. There were angry shouts coming from somewhere below the ledge. Carefully, avoiding the sight of the pyre, David crawled to the edge and glanced over. Far down on the slope at the foot of the scarf was a tiny figure dancing and bellowing with rage. The scientist had returned and discovered the ruins of his blind. David watched him dolly. No need to worry about him anymore. How harmless he looked now.  David turned away. He noticed then that he was holding something in his hand. Something soft and heavy. As he lifted it to look more closely it flashed in the sunlight. It was the feather the Phoenix had given him. The tail feather. Tail feather. But the Phoenix's tail had been a sapphire blue. The feather in his hand was of the purest palest gold. There was a slight stir behind him. Right of himself he glanced at the remains of the pyre. His mouth dropped open. In the middle of the white ashes and glowing coals there was movement. Something within was struggling up toward the top. The noises grew stronger and more definite. Charged sticks were being snapped. Ashes kicked the side. Embers pushed out of the way. Now like a plant thrusting its way out of the soil there appeared something pale and glittering which knotted in the breeze. Little tongues of flame it seemed. Licking out into the air. No, not flames. A crest of golden feathers. A heave from below lifted the ashes in the center of the pile. A fine cloud of flakes swirled up into the breeze. There was a flash of sunlight glinting on brilliant plumage. And from the ruins of the pyre stepped forth a magnificent bird. It was the Phoenix. It must be the Phoenix. But it was a new and different Phoenix. Even wild with a fierce amber eye its crest was tall and proud. Its body the slim muscular body of a hunter. Its wings narrow and long and pointed like a falcons. The great beak and talons raised a sharp and curving. And all of it from crest to talons was a burnished gold that reflected the sun in a thousand dazzling lights. The bird stretched its wings shook the ash from its tail and began to preen itself. The movement was like a flash of a silent explosion. Phoenix, David whispered. Phoenix. The bird started, turned toward him, looked at him for an instant with wild fearless eyes then continued its preening. Suddenly it stopped and cocked its head as if listening to something. Then David heard it too. A shout down the mountainside. Louder and clearer now. Excited and jubilant. He shivered and looked down. He was as fast as his long legs would carry him and he was waving a rifle. Phoenix, David cried. Fly, fly Phoenix. The bird looked at the scientist then at David. Its glance curious but without understanding. Paralyzed with fear, David remained on his knees as the scientist reached an open place and threw the gun up to his shoulder. The bullet went whining by with an ugly hornet noise and the report of the gun echoed along the scarf. Fly, Phoenix, David sobbed. A second bullet snarled at the bird and spattered out little chips of rock from the inner wall of the ledge. Oh, fly, fly. David jumped up and flung himself between the bird and the scientist. It's me, he cried, it's David. The bird gazed at him closely and a light flickered in its eye as though the name had reached out and almost but not quite touched an ancient memory. Hesitantly it stretched forth one wing and with the tip of it lightly brushed David's forehead, leaving there a mark that burned coolly.  Get away. David ignored him. Fly, Phoenix, he cried and he pushed the bird toward the edge. Understanding dawned in the amber eyes at last. The bird, with one clear defiant cry, leaped to an out jutting boulder. The golden wing spread. The golden neck curved back. The golden talons pushed against the rock. The bird launched itself into the air and soared out over the valley, sparkling, flashing, shimmering. A flame, large as a sunburst, a meteor, a diamond, a star, diminishing at last to a speck of gold dust which glimmered twice in the distance before it was gone altogether. End of Chapter 10. End of David and the Phoenix by Edward Armandroid.


Mountain Eagle's therapeutic horsemanship in Brainerd hosted an open house today in conjunction with the Lakes Area Music Festival. A free concert was provided and the public was able to learn about the services that Mountain Eagle provides. Our reporter Rachel Johnson has more. Horses Naid, while classical music filled the air at the Spirit Horse Center, saw us a Brainer today during Mounted Eagles open house. And we're hoping that this is a way for them to just come and see and, you know, see what we do and tell others about what we do. Many of the people came for the concert, and we hope the same thing for them. They enjoy the concert, but might leave with a, you know, in the back of their mind. They might think, oh, somebody I know could benefit from Mounted Eagles. Mountain Eagle's was established in 1992 to use equine assisted therapy to enhance the lives of people with physical, mental, social, and emotional challenges. The participants work with horses to help them overcome obstacles during guided activities. We work on things like following directions, focusing, self-esteem, socialization. There's just a wide variety of things that they benefit from. This is an Equicizer, a non-motorized mechanical horse that is used to relax and get riders ready for their lessons. Equine assisted therapy uses many techniques to make the riders feel comfortable, appreciated, and accepted. We want the kids to realize they can when they've been told they can't, and we want them to start maybe dreaming on their own, like picking a goal that might never have chosen before. Megan has been a participant at Mounted Eagles for five years and rides Lily the Horse. What I feel like when I ride horses, it's relaxing. It seems like she's my horse, not theirs. I really enjoy it. The equine therapy provided at Mounted Eagles has had an immense impact on the riders that have participated in the program over the last 12 years. We see changes in our riders sometimes every week. We see riders that as long as they're not afraid of the horse, we see kids that might speak their first word. We see kids that had problems in their gate or walking, and all of a sudden you'll look up and they've got to follow through. Mounted Eagles has grown immensely since starting with one horse and one rider, and they hope to keep impacting people's lives well into the future. Reporting from Brainerd, Rachel Johnson, Lakeland News. For more information about Mounted Eagles and equine assisted therapy, visit this story on our website at lptv.org. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.


Yeah, I also, I often advise people not to jump too quickly into diagnosis or solutioneering in the face of the wrongness that both of you are now talking about. Because when you jump too quickly to that you end up defaulting to patterns of solution that are actually part of the problem. And one of them is find the bad guy. Find the virus find the one thing I mean this is actually what you're talking about is actually deep at the core of our entire response to the pandemic. People are getting sick, find one thing, one causal agent and exercise technologies of control to dominate and win a battle against that pathogen. Once I then get supplied. Oh, there's something big problem in the world. The world is sick. Who's the pathogen. Is it Bill Gates, is it Vladimir Putin, is it Klaus Schwab, is it like Donald Trump, you know you find the bad thing in the vein hope that if you could only control that bad thing all the problems will be solved so basically you're putting a complex pathology that that is ambient outside of us and inside of us on to something external that you can go to war against. And if you do that, you will end up with permanent war. Because if the totality of the pathological situation is not addressed, it will generate new viruses and new viruses and new viruses and new Klaus Schwab's new Bill Gates and new bad guys, and new rogue states, again and again and again, the symptoms of something deeper. So, yeah, like that then this is this speaks to also that the earlier theme of sometimes you actually do need to step back, take the time to deep program from these default concepts to enter the space between stories I like to call it. Allow in the unknowing to really let go of those things to let go of thinking that you know to let go of these totalizing discourses to let go of these frameworks of understanding. Just put them down and and create an empty space of vacuum into which something new can come. More now than ever, because it's becoming obvious that I don't know how many thousands of years has it been we have not actually improved the human condition. So let's try something else, and maybe doing nothing at all, not as a permanent strategy, but until we have clarity about the deeper causes, and what to do about them. See, we do step back.