The Death of Kabaal [1995 and 1996]

[JON]

A gold mask with noble ‘aquiline’ features appeared. The face was a ’benign’ one, slightly smiling. The heavily-lidded eyes were open. [The ‘cornea’ was ivory or bone. The pupil and iris were obsidian, and couldn’t be told apart.] But then… .

A lightning-like ‘flash’ became a gold serpent. With red and green scales. Fanged jaws gaped, and a red tongue protruded. The snake turned green. Then white. There was a loud groaning, and agonized shrieking. Another ‘flash’. The ‘flesh’ shrunk back to reveal bone. The eye sockets emptied. The mask was ‘transforming' into a skull. Which then 'melted'....

Darkness fell. A loud ‘Aaarrrgh’ was followed by a breathless and repeated ‘Oh God’. Then came the hollow echo of pounding feet on stone. [Like shoes with soft leather soles on a wet floor.] Flickering torchlight cast the runner’s shadow onto a building.

[Its features were repetitive: tall rectangular openings [doorways or unglazed windows], divided by half-columns. [Imagine vertically-split cylinders stuck on a wall.] A projecting ledge above cascaded the heavy rain. Above that was a ‘false level’. For, in place of the openings, were ghastly stone heads with bulging eyes and grimaces.]

The runner was frustrated. The different floors in the building were not connected by internal stairs. Not only was he getting fatigued, but soaked as well. And very annoyed. But the message was urgent, and had to be delivered.

The dream drew back to reveal the huge scale of the building, and the journey facing him. It was made more dramatic by the ‘ghostly’ moonlight. And the music:- for some reason the 6th and 7th Movements from Camille Saint-Saen’s Symphony No. 3 [the bits with the loud organ].

[It was three floored and ‘stepped’. Each level was independent of the one below, and set back on a terrace. Linking the terraces was a wide, steep stone staircase. Along the roof-line was a ‘battlement’, but decorative, not defensive.]

The runner and his torch looked like a glowing ant. He disappeared into an opening on the top floor. The Music stopped. A prolonged screaming and sobbing filled the night air. Then silence and darkness fell.

My research has identified the building: The intact version of the Grand Palace in the Mayan City of Sayil, the Yucatan, Mexico.

[dantheman]

This looks like a busy dream with lots of images that "raiders of the lost ark" could use... ancient treasure hunting, curse of the mummy material. The theme seems to be foreboding and dark, so I would guess it is a warning dream. At the end, the protagonist is seen as very small, devoured by the larger complex. The good news is that he is holding a torch, a source of illumination. Also, the use of masks by the "evil thingy" could mean that things are not as they appear.

So maybe you are getting lost or losing yourself or getting drawn into something potentially dangerous, or maybe something is scaring you that really isn't that scary (behind the mask).

[JON]

Hi dantheman. Thank you for replying. As it happens, I'm a big fan of Indiana Jones, and those Mummy Movies with Brendan Fraser and Rachael Weisz. Two of my favourite actors.

At the end, the protagonist is seen as very small, devoured by the larger complex

Even though our world seems to 'be getting smaller by the day', it doesn't stop us feeling overwhelmed by it at times. The Big Fish [politicians in particular] look after themselves very well indeed. And often choose to overlook [and trample on] the views and feelings of the rest of us. The Little People.

We always seem to be in a hurry, and 'running against the clock' these days. But to what end? Maybe he was 'carrying a torch' for mankind. I haven't found out - yet - the 'message' he was about to deliver. But, considering the rest of that dream, I feel the news wasn't going to be good. The horrific imagery - snakes, skulls, etc, indicated as much.

We all wear some kind of 'mask', presenting different 'faces' to different people. Shakespeare had it right. We are all 'actors' strutting about life's 'stage'. Props, scenery and costumes may change, but our 'little show' rolls on until the curtain falls. And we take that Final Bow. As for applause, well... We never get to read the 'reviews', however!!

Thanks again. Regards. Jon