lot…”
“I wasn’t born on the ship,” said Wellmod brightly. “I’m too young for that.”
“Back to work,” said Utrersin. “I still can’t hardly believe what you say.”
The boy started bringing Fremant a jelly of the golden busk, which he ate with pleasure. “You children are so well behaved and kind,” he said.
Wellmod smiled and nodded his head without answering.
Every evening in the little square, Elder Deselden and Essanits held a service which all attended. An a cappella choir chanted sacred songs, after which dancers danced. Such songs were designed to be understood by the peasant farmers.
The seed we put in the land
In ways that we don’t understand
Will grow into food we eat—
As God takes us all by the hand
And when our growth is complete
Will lead us on to the Glor-huh-hory Seat…
And one evening after this ceremony, a bench was brought out and a boy tied down on it, his arms spread and strapped down along the bench. Fremant was amazed to recognize the lad as Wellmod. He was then subjected to twelve lashes with a long, springy cane.
Wellmod had been caught stealing busk jelly from a nearby shop. After the beating, his mother led him away.
Now Fremant understood why the children of Haven were so well behaved. They feared punishment.
When the Shawl brought Dimoff again to Haven, a fire was lit in the little square and sacred songs were sung. Elder Deselden preached that the Shawl was passing over them to express God’s contempt for his people, and that they should repent their sins.
Since the doctrinal disagreement between Deselden and Essanits, their relationship had become frosty. Essanits still preached on the fringes of Haven, and some came to listen. He claimed that God loved all his children and the Shawl was an expression of his sorrow. Meanwhile, Elder Deselden ordained that a long melancholy dance was to be performed about the central fire.
After this ceremony, Fremant ventured to argue with Essanits. “You merely confuse people’s minds, saying that the Shawl is somehow an expression of your god. The Shawl is merely an astronomical fact, like the Sun, like Stygia. It’s a physical law. There are only physical laws.”
“Fremant, my son, I grieve that you do not let God into your heart. Who do you think ordains the physical laws, if not God?”
They argued for a while. Both Ragundy and Bellamia came and told Fremant to be quiet. Essanits was patient, if disdainful, appearing prepared to argue forever. He said, “My friends, you cling to your foolish ways if you must. God will accept sinners who repent. I have a disagreement with Deselden, so I shall leave Haven and return to Stygia City.”
Fremant spoke respectfully but firmly. “It is obvious that the Shawl and the six broken Brothers are the remains of some kind of cosmic collision. Why do you need to bring God into it?”
Essanits frowned down at the ground before he spoke.
“Remember, God is in everything—even in your disbelief. Remember how we came here. The great voyage here took many many years. We were contained in molecular form in the vats. Only in the last years of that voyage were we reconstituted from the LPRs. Many persons failed to reconstitute properly and died. Time had taken its toll.
“In those years before we hit Stygia, there was much turmoil. Many factions grew up. It was not only weapons that were destroyed. So was much equipment. Captain Calex was powerless to stop the destruction. I was fortunate enough to salvage a disc which explained to me the omnipresence of Almighty God in the universe.”
Sighing, Fremant said that there was no proof God existed.
“Not so. You and I, Fremant, are that proof, with our immortal souls.” He stood up, thereby signaling an end to the discussion.
“I am needed in Stygia City and have much to do. I shall see how poor, frightened Hazelmarr fares. I shall slip away while the Shawl is still overhead.”
Ragundy cursed. “Essanits, you are a
“I wasn’t born on the ship,” said Wellmod brightly. “I’m too young for that.”
“Back to work,” said Utrersin. “I still can’t hardly believe what you say.”
The boy started bringing Fremant a jelly of the golden busk, which he ate with pleasure. “You children are so well behaved and kind,” he said.
Wellmod smiled and nodded his head without answering.
Every evening in the little square, Elder Deselden and Essanits held a service which all attended. An a cappella choir chanted sacred songs, after which dancers danced. Such songs were designed to be understood by the peasant farmers.
The seed we put in the land
In ways that we don’t understand
Will grow into food we eat—
As God takes us all by the hand
And when our growth is complete
Will lead us on to the Glor-huh-hory Seat…
And one evening after this ceremony, a bench was brought out and a boy tied down on it, his arms spread and strapped down along the bench. Fremant was amazed to recognize the lad as Wellmod. He was then subjected to twelve lashes with a long, springy cane.
Wellmod had been caught stealing busk jelly from a nearby shop. After the beating, his mother led him away.
Now Fremant understood why the children of Haven were so well behaved. They feared punishment.
When the Shawl brought Dimoff again to Haven, a fire was lit in the little square and sacred songs were sung. Elder Deselden preached that the Shawl was passing over them to express God’s contempt for his people, and that they should repent their sins.
Since the doctrinal disagreement between Deselden and Essanits, their relationship had become frosty. Essanits still preached on the fringes of Haven, and some came to listen. He claimed that God loved all his children and the Shawl was an expression of his sorrow. Meanwhile, Elder Deselden ordained that a long melancholy dance was to be performed about the central fire.
After this ceremony, Fremant ventured to argue with Essanits. “You merely confuse people’s minds, saying that the Shawl is somehow an expression of your god. The Shawl is merely an astronomical fact, like the Sun, like Stygia. It’s a physical law. There are only physical laws.”
“Fremant, my son, I grieve that you do not let God into your heart. Who do you think ordains the physical laws, if not God?”
They argued for a while. Both Ragundy and Bellamia came and told Fremant to be quiet. Essanits was patient, if disdainful, appearing prepared to argue forever. He said, “My friends, you cling to your foolish ways if you must. God will accept sinners who repent. I have a disagreement with Deselden, so I shall leave Haven and return to Stygia City.”
Fremant spoke respectfully but firmly. “It is obvious that the Shawl and the six broken Brothers are the remains of some kind of cosmic collision. Why do you need to bring God into it?”
Essanits frowned down at the ground before he spoke.
“Remember, God is in everything—even in your disbelief. Remember how we came here. The great voyage here took many many years. We were contained in molecular form in the vats. Only in the last years of that voyage were we reconstituted from the LPRs. Many persons failed to reconstitute properly and died. Time had taken its toll.
“In those years before we hit Stygia, there was much turmoil. Many factions grew up. It was not only weapons that were destroyed. So was much equipment. Captain Calex was powerless to stop the destruction. I was fortunate enough to salvage a disc which explained to me the omnipresence of Almighty God in the universe.”
Sighing, Fremant said that there was no proof God existed.
“Not so. You and I, Fremant, are that proof, with our immortal souls.” He stood up, thereby signaling an end to the discussion.
“I am needed in Stygia City and have much to do. I shall see how poor, frightened Hazelmarr fares. I shall slip away while the Shawl is still overhead.”
Ragundy cursed. “Essanits, you are a
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