vanished. The night after the funeral he had
taken a party to retrieve it, himself, but had found the coffin gone.
It was too dark for others to see, but with his superior vision he
followed the tracks leading to the cliff and saw the marks from the
ropes where the coffin had been lowered to the ledges below. In one
muddy spot he found a single footprint of a Hashon boot, which he
quickly erased.
86 Why the Hashons had risked their lives to preserve the body of
North's father Morn couldn't understand, but obviously they had taken
it away, hidden it somewhere. It was before North had any Hashon
friends, so Morn's curiosity was great. Now, he watched his friend's
face as he held the leather folder containing the documents that would
again give his father honor.
87 "Of course," The Lord God continued, "I cannot protect you from
every situation. You must learn to depend on your own strengths, but
I'm not going to let this cunning demon deprive me of either one of
you. I have plans for you both. I understand, Morn, that both of you
and North plan, after the ceremonies tomorrow, to go to the hotels
where your men are quartered. Does The Palace no longer please you?"
88 "Of course I am pleased in The Palace," Morn assured, "but an
Officer's place is with his men. It is not for them to carry on his
duties while he seeks pleasure. Even with my ship in dock, there are
things that must be attended to. Of course there are the families of my
dead to see to, and, my injured. It will simply be easier for me to
handle things if I am closer to my responsibilities. I'm sure North
agrees! "
89 North nodded in response. "Your answer pleases me," praised The Lord
God. "Your concern for the welfare of your men is exceptional. Many
Commanders leave their men to solve their own needs. Those are not the
Officers that get promotions. A well cared for crew is a loyal and