The Human Soul
Worry—a trap of the human mind.
Stress—the food of the devil kind.
Disbelief—the desert for the evil life.
And greed—a double-edged sword for humankind.
Why worry if the future's unknown?
No one holds answers but the One on His throne.
Yet you doubt His plan, ignore His clues,
While your heart fears what it can't choose.
Why stress in this world so small?
Step outside, find light, stand tall.
Don't let tomorrow steal today—
Breathe in the moment, don't fade away.
Why disbelief, when belief holds no pain?
If He is merciful, won't He forgive again?
Even if your path was slightly wrong,
Turn back—His mercy's endless, strong.
And greed, oh greed, a hunger for more,
It can build you up or break your core.
Use it wisely, a magnet for success,
But know—it's control, not excess, that blesses.
These feelings lie in every human soul,
They can shatter, or they can make you whole.
After Ramon asked Jack to help cure Alaine's mother, Jack agreed and began his questions.
"So, what really happened to your mother?" he asked Alaine. "What medicine have you given her, and how long has she been ill?"
Alaine took a breath. "It started when I was very young, back in the city of Saharan."
Kamil's eyes widened—she had lived there too.
"When we were attacked," Alaine continued, "we fled and kept moving from place to place. Somewhere along the way my mother must have eaten or drunk something bad, and she fell sick. My father spent day and night—every coin he had—taking her to the best priests and sunu. Just before the war with the Royal Army she was improving—she could walk more. But when she heard my father had died, and what he did to save us, she felt responsible. Her health crashed, worse than before."
Jack nodded. "I might know the cause, but I need to examine her. Can we see her?"
"Of course," Alaine said. "Our house is just around the corner."
Henu hesitated, then shrugged. He was curious too. "My soldiers will stay here and guard the car," he told his men. "The rest of us will go."
As they walked, Kamil asked, "Commander, why are you so interested in visiting Alaine's home?"
"I want to see what 'modern methods' Jack uses," Henu replied.
Jack turned to Kasib. "Do me a favor—find a round wooden bowl."
Kasib thought for a moment. "Sure. I'll pick one up."
Then Jack glanced at Khonsu. "Bring a thin copper rod from the storage box—and the leather bag in the car."
Not far along the dusty lane they reached the hut. Alaine's mother lay inside, coughing—still strong in frame, but exhausted.
"Who is this, Alaine?" she asked, wary of the strangers.
"These are Ramon's comrades," Alaine explained. "Ramon and I have agreed to be together. He told me one of his friends might cure your illness."
Henu stepped forward. "Good day, ma'am. I'm Henu Safir, Commander of the Royal Army of Thebes. Forgive the intrusion."
"It's no problem at all," she said gently.
Henu signaled the others. Kamil, Kasib, Yune, and Noya sank to their knees, hands folded. "Sorry to intrude," they echoed.
Alaine's mother waved it off. "No, no—please, don't worry."
Khonsu arrived with the copper rod, and Jack went to work. He crouched beside Khonsu. "Open the leather bag—take out the leftover rubber from when we built the car."
Khonsu produced a strip of rubber. Jack wrapped it tightly around one end of the thin copper rod. "Now," he said, "hold the rubber and send a spark of electricity to the rod's tip—keep your distance."
Kamil frowned. "How does that help?"
Jack grinned. "Copper heats up under an electric current."
Next he turned to Ramon. "Find me a straight, medium-sized wooden stick."
Ramon searched outside, found nothing—until he spotted an old man carrying a perfect stick. Ramon bought it from him and hurried back, puffing. "Here!"
Jack pressed the hot copper rod into the stick, burning a clean channel. He did the same to the wooden bowl Kasib had brought, then carved a recess so the stick would seat snugly in the hole.
"Ta-da," Jack said, holding up the finished piece.
Kasib blinked. "What is that?"
"It's a stethoscope," Jack answered.
"Steh-th… what?" Kasib tried again, bewildered.
"It's called a stethoscope," Jack explained. "With it I can hear a patient's heartbeat—and more."
"Right, ma'am, could you turn around, please?" he asked gently. Alaine's mother blushed but complied. Jack pressed the bowl end against her back, eyes closed as he listened. He shifted the device lower, over her lungs, then straightened, letting out a slow breath; for an instant his face clouded with helpless concern.
Almost at once he forced a smile. "She can be cured," he announced. "I'll make a remedy that works in two weeks—the Moon-Flower Blend. Drunk at night, it restores the body fully."
Kamil frowned inwardly. Something feels off—Jack never talks about 'marvelous' cures…
Jack continued briskly. "We'll need: warm goat's milk, honey, crushed mint or basil, powdered date seed, and a drop of lemon."
Henu barked, "You heard him—move!"
"YES, COMMANDER!" the group echoed.
Kasib hurried to a nearby shepherd for goat's milk. Khonsu, Yune, and Kamil scoured the market for honey, herbs, and dates. Alaine rummaged through her basket. "I found a lemon already!"
When they returned, Jack warmed the milk, crushed the herbs, stirred in honey and the powdered date seed, then added the lemon. The mixture turned a pale gold with a faint green tint and a delicate, sweet aroma.
He poured a small cup, set a spoon inside, and handed it to Alaine's mother. "Best at night," he said, "but you can try it now."
Skeptical, she stared at the cup. Jack reassured her: all natural ingredients, perfectly safe. At last she nodded and drank.
1 hour later…
On the road back from Alaine's village everyone slumped in the jolting wagon, half-asleep—except Kamil. His thoughts kept circling. At last he leaned toward Jack.
"Does that medicine really heal her?" he asked, suspicion in his voice.
Jack's shoulders sagged. "No," he admitted softly. "It wouldn't cure a common cold."
Ramon jerked upright, gripping Jack by the arms—not angry, but bewildered. "Then why give it to her? We just lied to Alaine."
"Sit down," Jack said, calm as ever, and waited until Ramon did. "Listen.
"The body is astonishingly efficient—trillions of cells working every second, all run by the brain. That same brain can drive us past our limits… or imprison us in fear, sadness, guilt."
Henu cut in, impatient. "And?"
"Alaine's mother once was ill, yes," Jack went on, "but the physical disease is gone. What keeps her weak is the weight of grief and blame. When I listened to her heart and lungs they were sound, yet she still looked pale. She's trapped by her own mind. So I gave her a placebo."
"A fake?" Kamil asked.
Jack nodded. "When she believes she's healing, her body will follow. The mixture itself is harmless—goat's milk, honey, mint, date seed, lemon—good nutrients, nothing more. But its real power is in her belief."
Ramon frowned. "Why not tell Alaine?"
"If either of them learns the truth too soon, the spell breaks. Then her mother would sink back into that powerless state."
Khonsu laughed. "I thought you wanted goat milk for supper!"
The wagon erupted in relieved laughter; even Henu allowed himself a thin smile, though his thoughts ran deeper "This boy can diagnose an invisible illness of the mind and mend it with a harmless trick"