Chapter Fifteen
Now, The Old Fox finished The Book of The Law and sent
messages to all The Churches, saying "It is three Worship
Days from The Birth of Fall. Let each Church send a committee to
receive their Book of The Law.
2 Let them come with pipes, flutes, trumpets, and drums. Let the
banners of The Lords fill the roads.
3 Bring sheep and goats, flour, milk, butter, honey, fruits and
vegetables from the storage bins. We will gather at my house for
a Great Celebration, and each committee will return to their own
city with The Book of The Law."
4 So it was, that in the weeks following, the roads to Tr were
filled with grand processions, and the ships entering the harbor
flew the banner of Spirit.
5 The land of The Old Fox's house was filled with tents, and that
of The Speakers' School, also. Many people began to say that the
New Religion was really growing.
6 Now, come The Day of The Celebration, after Worship, The
Speaker from each city mounted a platform that had been erected
in the yard before The Temple, and was given a Book of The Law.
7 When they all had been presented, The Old Fox announced,
"On The First Worship Day of Fall, have we received The Book
of The Law. From this day forth, for every year to come, we shall
celebrate this day. The Day The Law of The Lords was put in Our
Hands! Let there be music! Let us dance! Let the singers sing
joyful songs, for The Law of The Lords is known!"
8 He motioned to all the musicians who were off to one corner of
the yard and they began to play a lively tune. The young people
began to do The Round Dance.
9 As The Old Fox was leaving the platform, he caught sight of a
woman peeking around the half-opened gate. She was bent over and
leaning heavily on her staff. "Come in, woman!" he
cried, "Come in! There is no need to be afraid! No one will
harm you! There is food and drink for all. Even if you are not of
our Faith you are welcome to share our Feast."
10 The woman hobbled into the yard, looked timidly around, and
came over to him. "Who," she asked, "is The First
of Servants, The Speaker of Speakers, The Voice of The
Lords?"
11 "Now, I am sometimes called by those names," The Old
Fox told her. "What is it you desire?"
12 "Lord," she began, "when I was eleven years
old, my back started to bend. Each year it gets worse and worse.
Now, I can barely walk.
13 Now, one night I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed I was walking down
a road, and my brother, who had been dead for many years, came
from the opposite direction. He stopped and looked at me.
14 'Woman,' he comanded, 'why do you hobble like this? Go to The
City of Tr, to the house of Fox, and find Our Servant there, Our
Master, he who is The Speaker of Speakers, The Glory of The
Lords, and say to him, 'The Lords command all that are with you
pray for me, and let you lay your hands upon me and make me
straight.'"
15 The woman lowered herself on her staff, then roused herself
again. "And now, as I have said," she continued,
"so must you do."
16 "And so I shall," answered The Old Fox.
17 He summoned two servants and they helped the woman up onto the
platform. The Old Fox banged his staff and the musicians stopped
playing. Everyone gathered around. "This woman," he
announced, "has been sent by The Lords to be healed. They
have said we must pray for her, and that I must put my hands upon
her and heal her. That, we shall do."
18 And as the people prayed, The Old Fox put his hands on the
woman's back, but nothing happened. Then, a voice spoke to The
Old Fox saying, "Remove her jacket, and lift her blouse so
the people may see her back and know there is no deception. Then
put your hands upon her bare back, and have the people pray
again. For some doubt and feel they are being deceived."
19 So The Old Fox obeyed, and some of the people cried out in
surprise, and some of the women looked away. 20 "Now, again
we pray!" cried The Old Fox. And as the people did so, a
fire entered The Old Fox's hands and he felt the flesh beneath
his fingers twist and turn. Some places grew smaller, others grew
larger, while he moved his hands up and down the woman's back.
Slowly, she pulled herself up her staff until she stood erect.
Finally The Old Fox removed his hands. His clothes were soaked
with body water. It dripped off his chin.
21 "I'm straight!" the woman cried, "I'm straight!
Look at me! I can stand! I can turn! I can dance! I am alive
again!"
22 The Old Fox raised his hands to the sky. "Oh,
Lords," he cried, "your Servant knew Your Power was
great, but he did not know how great! Glorious are The Gifts You
give Your People, oh Lords. Glory be to The Lords!"
23 And the people answered. Again and again they cried. Then, The
Old Fox lowered his hands and staggered to his staff.
24 "Stay with us the night, woman," he invited,
"journey home with the people from your city in the morning,
and everyone spread the word of this. Today we have seen a wonder
- only the first of many that The Lords will do." Wearily he
trudged to his bed, and a long night's sleep while The
Celebration continued.
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