Strict Adherence to the Rules

Photo by: Al Forbes

Phil Eierkopf was already a peerless engineer before his private plane crashed in Borneo. He spent the following eighteen years with the lost tribe, Yacanang’Ug, becoming a peerless sorcerer.

Years with jungle tribes and traveling through the astral planes where ancient Gods live, changes the way a man thinks. Phil started life as a Western Man, but he wasn’t any longer. He still found Western thought…challenging.

Phil planned to race in the Jaguar Rally Cross. The main rule was simple: the car must have a Jaguar engine. He raced and won handily over twenty-year rally champions. That’s when the race officials demanded to see the car’s engine.

Phil removed his helmet. Bones with magical symbols were woven into his red hair. Exotic tattoos shimmered with color on his right cheek. An amulet, given to him by an Egyptian God, hung from his neck. “Technical anomalies?” asked Phil.

Eberhard Freeney stood before the delegation of officials. He’d never won a rally cross, but he found his calling when it came to the rules. He was universally disliked, but he kept himself employed as an official with shrewd “interpretations” of the officials assignment rules. “Yes, Mr. Eierkopf. I…we believe there are issues with your car’s engine.”

Several officials carefully examined the sky.

“But sir,” said Phil. “I’ve strictly adhered to the rules.”

Eberhard sneered. “The engine, please.”

Smiling, Phil popped the hood.

Everyone watching gasped.

Some even turned and ran.

A Jaguar…that is, a jungle cat with huge fangs and rosette spots, stood up from the engine compartment. The beast was twice the size of any living cat, and it stood easily on its hind legs. Shrunken heads adorned a necklace around its neck. An obsidian knife hung from its crocodile-hide belt. It carried a spear with an impaled a human skull still dangling from it. Phil said, “May I introduce Tatixuacha’Jalipensa. I call him, Tati. He’s the Jaguar that powers my car.”

Tati rumbled to the watching crowd, “What up?”

Several onlookers fainted.

“That’s no jaguar!” accused Eberhard.

Phil rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay, he’s a Jaguar God, more ancient than humanity. But that’s splitting hairs, right? He’s still a jaguar.”

“Where did you get it?” sneered Eberhard.

“Impudent beast!” rumbled Tati. “Phil? Do you own this creature?”

Phil attempted to cool the tension. “I did mention he’s a God, right? A little courtesy…”

“Nonetheless, this thing is a rules violation! I must…”

Tati gestured complex symbols in the air and flicked a three-inch claw toward Eberhard. In a blink, the man shrank and became a common tree snake. The reptile looked around, squeaked, and fainted.

Tati bared his fangs at the remaining officials. “Anyone else see a rule violation?”

One official, evidently a member of Mensa, shook his head. “Nope. That’s unquestionably a Jaguar engine!”
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Written for Sunday Photo Fiction. Look here for this week’s prompt and a blue button linking to many more of this week’s stories: https://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/sunday-photo-fiction-may-1st-2016/