The cliffs hung over the countryside, their red-clay towers standing like a citadel above the sandy plains. They were part of nature, yet not natural to the human observer. They were eerie and foreign. Their tops went too high into the sky. They jutted out in too many places. The shadows they cast were too large, dark and cool. Their sun -lit sides too bright and hot.

But, most of all, the treasure within the largest one was so valuable that it could be accurately described as being dangerously valuable. The small -minded would only see its beauty and their thoughts would go no deeper. But the treasure's beauty was not only skin -deep. It had more powers than the mediocre brain of a simpleton could comprehend. Only the intelligent and clever would understand once told, and even they had to be told of its power. Their minds would not comprehend something as it to be a tool of magic.

The hot wind blew up the red dust in gusts. Its force, over the years, had carved amazing shapes into the hard rock. The clay had once been soft, but those were the old days. One day, the sun had become brighter, the wind had become hotter, and the clay had been baked as a pot would be in a kiln.

That day, the creatures of the country looked up. They believed that they had been blessed. The gods were happy with them. They would now have warmer summers, the trees would be greener, the sky would be bluer. Later, they rejoiced even more, because one of the gods had seen fit to come down from the heavens and rule them. He came down the dusty roads, looking no more than a mere traveler at first. He then told them the purpose of his visit. The citizens now realized that, while coming down the wind -blown road, his loose garments had not been whipping against the wind as it should have been. The entire countryside had come to the beautiful city to throw a celebration in his honor. It was a lovely sight.

The stars shined their brightest, the moon was its fullest. The city was bathed in light from lanterns hanging from wires that cris -crossed every street and every turn. The town square was full of food. Everyone brought their most valued possessions -- that is as the god had wanted it. He had said, that, in order to share a kinship with his followers, he would need to keep something they valued. Were they fools? No, this god had bestowed upon them many pleasures, and now he wanted to be close with them! He wanted to share a kinship! He was a most wonderful god indeed! They would give him whatever he asked.

Their god was a kind, giving god. He had insisted that they not call him a god -- king would be good enough. What a humble god this was! This god deserved a throne atop the highest mountain in the East. No, no. One in the palace would be good enough, he had said. What a gracious god! He wished to live among the common mortals instead of close to the heavens where he could speak to his heavenly companions whenever he liked. They were insistent that he should not eat the poor, earthly food. It was not worthy of his greatness. Instead, they suggested, they would send out their best men to find the greenest leaves atop the highest, most sun -lit trees. That's what the old stories had stated as the foods of the gods. Oh, no, he said. He would eat the fine food that they had prepared there. He wanted to learn their ways.  How considerate he was! He wished to know about them, live with them, and eat with them. They were convinced that he would be the best king they had had in ages. The former king handed over his crown and placed it atop the god's head with the utmost pleasure.

The day the god came -- they called it The Day the Sun Came Closer -- was a day placed in the city's books of history. That night, they all bowed to him as he sat, for the first time, on his new throne.

The next day, the sun burned bright, but the sky was not blue.

It was now a dusty red.