111 Ahead of them the tall buildings grew shorter
as they entered the ancient part of the city. In a beautiful park below
them stood The Temple of The Dead. North circled slowly and finally
settled gently on the narrow roof high on the Temple's back. There he
lifted one of the windows used to catch the afternoon breeze, and
squeezed through.
112 Coming out on the balcony inside, he carefully scanned the hall
below. It was only lit by prayer candles, but there were so many of
these that there was good light. There was no one else there but those
who lay in the two coffins before the altar.
113 North stepped off the balcony, and, spreading his wings to their
full width, glided to the floor below, landing expertly between the two
coffins. One had a clear top and side, the other was all black, and was
equipped with latches and hinges. It was this one that drew North's
interest. He knelt beside it, undid the latches, and lifted the cover.
114 Above him on the balcony, out of sight, Morn turned away. He knew
what his friend saw....the body of his father, brutally beaten and
burned, then, strangled.
115 "Father, what have they done to you?" North cried. He fell to his
knees and for a little while the man he had been forced to be all day
left him, and was replaced by a little boy, but his tears did not last
long. He got up, forced himself to look at the body once more. He
reached for the wire tightened around his father's neck, but drew his
hand away. Then, he saw something Morn had not seen .....initials
burned in his father's chest. "The Trumpet Of God," he whispered. "I
will remember. I WILL remember."
116 North closed the coffin's lid, and fastened the latches. Then,
turning to the altar, he raised his arms. "Holy Spirit, hear me!" he
began. "By your Name I swear vengeance for this innocent blood. Though
I am but a child, someday I will be a man, and when I am, I will bring
down this family from their high position. I shall destroy them with
the power of my vengeance. From this day forth I am the