113 For two hours North pleaded, begged, tried to
make The Mindlo understand, but made no headway, whatsoever. Finally
his limited patience ran out. He jumped up from his seat and began to
scream, walking back and forth in front of the little Peepians, letting
go with his full rage.
114 Havens, Hashons, or perhaps The Spearons could withstand North in
such a state, but these poor gentle little Mindlo were no match for his
rage. North did not remember everything he said later, nor did
Spearonias, who had been sitting in on the discussion, but there had
been something about them being worse than their Ancestors. Their
Ancestors had not had The Light, but they did. But still, they were
ignorant. They
would murder their daughters rather than see reason. They weren't worth
the effort The Republic was putting into them. If they wouldn't see
reason, North would send home The Speakers, The Healers, and The
Technical Advisors. Why waste them on such ignorant fools?
115 When North was done, one of The Mindlos was curled up in his chair,
his arms wrapped around his head, as he cried like a little child. The
others sat shivering or frozen in sheer terror. North felt completely
ashamed of himself, and turned to walk back to his seat, when suddenly
the little Peepian Spokesman literally threw himself from his seat and
wrapped his arms around North's legs.
116 "Please, Lord," he begged, "Please! Do not forsake us to The
Darkness! Please forgive us. We will obey. We will listen to The
Priests and The Healers. We will do what they say. Don't turn away from
us. Don't leave us to The Darkness!"
117 "Stop that!" North said quietly. "You're men, not children. I'm
sorry. I'm sorry I was so cross with you. I only wanted you to
understand."
118 The Little Peepian got up. "But now we DO