20 The Lord God put away his dagger. Then,
ripping off the General's helmet, began to beat him unmercifully with
his fist and to knee and kick him. The man made no effort to defend
himself. Even when he fell over The Lord God continued to kick him.
21 Only Morn coming forward, and pulling The Lord God away, made him
stop. Even then, he turned towards Morn with an angry look, but that
quickly passed. "Of course," The Lord God ordered, "you are the one
that has been betrayed. The attempted murder was against one of your
party. I give the matter over to you. Guard! Bind this man! Put him in
Lord Morn's shuttle."
22 The Guard quickly obeyed. The Lord God looked back towards the
Priest. "That one," he ordered, "we will leave for the maggots and
worms that infest this world!"
23 The Lord God turned and walked over to where North lay on the
ground, one of the Security Men was doing a good job of securing his
wound so he could be moved. "My apologies, North, seem quite
insufficient. Never in our history has the honor of a Lord God been so
shamed!"
24 "I am sure," comforted North, "it will be well remembered that you
had no part in this, that the dishonor was caused by others."
25 "For your kind words," The Lord God answered, "I am grateful. It
would do me honor if I might be permitted to help carry you to your
craft. As your Servant here, will need assistance, you will need extra
hands."
26 "The honor," said North, "will be mine."
27 So it was a strange procession that went back to the Republic
shuttle ...Morn and The Lord God in the lead, carrying North, his arms
about their shoulders, the rest of the party carrying The Lord God's
former