He Shall Not Have Dominion

In her dark place under the lion, the Barbados racer hears scraping.

Someone is poking about with a stick.

She remembers that she is expecting some chocolate.

Who did the Eskimo curlew say was bringing it? Some random clam?

She edges forward.

Yes, a stick, knees and a smartphone. Beyond those things, on the grass,  a white paper bag with a bow.

The scraping stops for a moment, as Gaius is distracted.

Should she poke her head out? Is it the clam?

She ventures to the edge of the opening.

Gaius is saying: It's a Latin inscription.

Griff is saying: Of course, I know that.

Gaius: Dominabitur a mare ad mari, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae.

Griff: He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.

Gaius: Wrong.

The Barbados racer has often pondered the meaning of the inscription outside her front door. Who is HE? It can't be the lion. He's never been anywhere. But why is it wrong?

Curiosity overcomes caution.

Pax! says the Barbados racer.

Ah! says Gaius. There she is! Griff, take a picture.

Whirr-click! Griff takes a picture. But it may be too late. The Barbados racer has retreated.

She said Pax, says Kobo. You should have waited.

The Barbados racer hears the soft clammy voice of Kobo.

She pokes her head out again.

We brought you some delicious chocolate, says Kobo.

You know I don't eat it? says the racer.

Mmm, says Kobo. Blame the sea snake. Or blame me, for going along with the sea snake.

I don't trust the sea snake, says the racer.

Nor did I, says Kobo. He tried to entice me into the water.

But you're a clam, you could have safely gone into the water.

The danger was him, not the water, says Kobo. He used inappropriate language.

Tell me about it, says the racer. Would you like to come in? I have some green tea in the pantry. Bring the chocolate.

I would, says Kobo, but as you see I must rely upon others for motion.

The racer darts out of her hole, wraps her self around Kobo, draws her inside. Then reverses and shoots her tail out to daintily pick up the bag with the chocolate.

Did you get ANY of that, Griff? asks Gaius.

No, says Griff. I was too slow. We'll have to wait until Kobo comes out now. Why did you say my Latin translation was wrong?

Dominabitur, says Gaius, is passive indicative. So the meaning is Let him be ruled. It's the -ur on the end that determines it.

Gracious! says Griff. That does change the meaning. Or....does it?

Good question, says Gaius. It all depends who He is. Perhaps it isn't the lion.

Just what I was thinking, says Griff.

It is not something the white coral stone lion has been thinking.