42 But North was not disappointed. Though they
had losses, one GREAT LOSS in particular, they had killed fifty for
every one of theirs, and destroyed the thing that had kept his people
enslaved for generations.
43 They journeyed back through the system, and The Goddens did not even
oppose them. They pulled back, seemingly glad to be rid of this
nightmare that had so cruelly mauled them.
44 When they reached the holding Fleet keeping their escape route open,
they found they, too, had had casualties. Gray Mountain was gone, but
he had made The Goddens pay a high price for the ships he lost. The two
Fleets joined up and headed back for Hades.
45 North refused to stay in the sickbay. Instead he put a cot behind
the curtain where Morn's body was displayed, and slept there. He healed
at such an astonishing rate the Doctors brought other seriously wounded
in, too. And within hours their wounds were completely healed. "Even in
death," marveled North, "none ever had power such as his!"
46 When he was able to sit in reasonable comfort North went to the
command deck. Morn had already told him what had to be done. A lander
was stripped of all communications equipment and the Spirits of The
Lord Gods were put in it. Only the youngest one was saved, for he had
not yet been completely absorbed in The Holy Of Holies, and was now
free of The Lord God's influence with its destruction. The others,
however, knew that the moment The Lord God regained his wits they would
again be his helpless slaves.
47 North witnessed the last conversation between Morn and his father.
"Is there no way we can save you?" Morn asked.
48 "No," assured his father, "Do not even consider it. We are part of
him now. If any one of us survives, he survives. That which he was will
continue to grow. There is only one peace we can have, only one thing
that can