After a few moments, Bodhi hears a voice from over the hill: 

who goes there

what do you want of me

has the dragon sent you

if so then you must flee

With the sun high in the sky, Bodhi opens the gate and walks until he comes to the Lake of Solitude, a small wood cabin, and a cave within the Mountain’s stone. As he approaches, Bodhi calls out: 

hello i am bodhi

and hopelessly lost

can you please help me

i’ve wandered at cost

i came from the dragon

who spoke with command

he directed me to the ridge

and on revelation stand

A curious lion emerges from the cave carrying a small lantern. Its flame flickers against the stone, though the air itself does not move. Seeing Bodhi, he says warmly:

an honorable yak

camel courageous and strong 

bearing the world’s weight

while others name right and wrong

my name is zarathustra 

prophet of the cave

i fight the ancient dragon 

alone but brave 

Bodhi replies:

i started for the sea

and its warm light

but dragon said it’s hell

home of satan’s might

i freed a lamb

from an altar of stone 

it then walked away 

and my path is unknown

Zar freezes and then becomes more animated:

your coming is an omen

to descend once more

to become as a child

we must walk to the shore

years ago the sun

rose high past my cave

but i grew weary

of the wisdom i gave

so i went under

as does the sun go

through woods and hills

what i knew to bestow

yet animals are silent

they understand me not

no words for their world

no truth can be taught

A large eagle, with a serpent coiled around his neck, lands next to Zarathustra as he continues:

hideous dragon 

thou shalt is his name

lord of sheep and delusion  

truth he seeks to claim

thou shalt obey

thou shalt hate

thou shalt abandon reason

thou shalt accept fate

sheep fill the ridge

they live for death

seek to govern all

through borrowed breath

as the lion 

i shall be your guide

together we shall face him

and cast his shadow aside

Bodhi looks bewildered and responds: 

i have no idea

what you speak about

but i will not hurt another

of that i have no doubt

you see, not long ago

beneath the baobab tree

reflecting on a goat

my fear drew near

then i opened my eyes

onto this world surreal

with dragon and sheep

uncertain what is real

The eagle and serpent fly away. Zarathustra watches them depart and concludes to Bodhi, hurriedly: 

the hour approaches

we cannot be late

to the wedding tonight

where we liberate