Chapter Thirteen
One day a Warlock brought an Epon merchant into The Speaker's
Hall.
"Lord," he announced, "this man was selling books and paintings of a
lewd and defiling nature which were outside of our Law. But HE says he
is not guilty because he did not know we forbade such things.
Our local Speaker disagreed, and said he should serve the five years in
punishment and his goods should be destroyed."
2 "Let me see some of the merchandise," The Hawk commanded.
3 Some paintings were brought in, and some well made books. To The
Hawk's surprise, the books all looked identical! He opened several to
the same place and compared the pictures. They were exact to every
detail, even the printing under the pictures was the same. The
words in the book were Epon, but the pictures didn't really need any
explanation.
4 The Hawk motioned the merchant over, as he picked up a couple of the
paintings, lifted the cloths, and examined them. They were more disgusting than the pictures in the
books! "Do you speak our language?" he asked the merchant.
5 "Yes, Lord," the man answered. "I am proud to have learned your
words!"
6 "You haven't learned them very well," The Hawk announced, "but I can
understand you. In our Land, paintings of naked men and naked women are permitted, and even
pictures of naked men and women together. But pictures of men together, and pictures of women together,
especially doing the things these books portray, are absolutely forbidden. NOTHING of this kind is allowed. You
did not know that?"
7 "I swear to you, Lord," the man answered, "I had no idea your people
had such foolish notions.