25 As if knowing his question, the girl answered, "There is no age here, except for the wicked. Those who have lived good lives can be young or old, whatever they wish. But you must take him now," she said to The Old Fox's father, "the time grows short."
26 "True," the elder answered. "Come, my son. There is something I must show you. Our people are being lied to by the priests of the gods. Their prayers are useless, their sacrifices wasted. They are being led into The Path of Darkness. You must lead them back to The Light!'
27 They had left the house and journeyed some distance, and The Old Fox noticed that the land around them was getting darker and darker, like a dark fog was all around them. When he looked back he could see the brightly lit land behind him, but ahead of him was only darkness. And the ground beneath his feet felt mushy, like swamp grass.
28 His father halted. "This is one of my stops," he said, "every day. I spend my time talking to the poor souls out here, trying to help them, lead them to The Light. Are you there?" he asked.
29 "You are not alone," answered a voice. "You have brought somebody with you. Go away! You promised you would never bring anybody with you."
30 "This is my son," the elder announced. "He is visiting from the material world. I would like you to tell him your story. It will help us. If you can tell him, he will tell others."
31 "I was a rich man," the other said, "a worshipper of Tr. I made all the right sacrifices, followed all the laws. But I cheated my friends. I stole from the needy. I did foul and terrible things. But I made my sacrifices. I atoned for every misdeed. I gave the temple its due. I was handsome...so handsome. I believed the priest. I believed the god. But it was a lie. It was all a lie. For every evil thing you do you pay a price, for every man you cheat you bear a mark. I was handsome...so handsome! The women came to me. Now I bear the pain, I bear the suffering."
32 "Show him," asked The Old Fox's father, "show him what you are."
33 "Do you know what you ask?" the other shrieked.
34 "He will not understand unless you show him." The elder stepped aside and pulled The Old Fox back a bit, into the light. Something emerged from The Darkness. The Old Fox barely recognized it as a man. It was twisted and scarred, covered with sores.
35 "This is the beautiful soul the gods promised me!" it screamed. "This is my great reward, these rags my golden robes!"
36 It screamed a scream like nothing The Old Fox had ever heard, and it fled back into The Darkness, hobbling on its twisted feet. The Old Fox's father led him back toward the house. "I do not understand," said The Old Fox, "why is he like that?"
37 "He bears the pain of all those he abused," explained his father, "but he is learning. He knows now the things he did were wrong. It is only his fear now, that keeps him like that. Those he has wronged have mostly forgiven him, but he still cannot face them. But soon he will come out of The Darkness and be able to ask their forgiveness. When he can, he will be more of a man. Fear is always the last thing to conquer. And when he makes amends to each of those he has wronged, he will again be whole, but that may take many, many seasons. He may live many lifetimes before his task is done."
38 "All because he worshipped the gods?" asked The Old Fox.
39 "Not in reality," said his father, "worshipping the gods is not in itself, evil, except for those who take blood in the gods' names. What IS evil, is the idea that by praying to the gods, and making a sacrifice, they can atone for any act, no matter HOW evil. That as long as the GODS forgive them, all is well.
40 What they must learn, what they must understand, is that they are responsible for their acts, and that they can only make amends to those they have wronged; that the gods' forgiveness amounts to nothing.
41 The forgiveness of the gods is like a seed that looks sound, but when you put it in the ground it will not sprout It deceives you in the same way. The promise is there, but it bears no fruit."
42 Their walk had brought them back to his father's house and The Old Fox bowed to him. "I think I begin to see," The Old Fox told him. "I think I begin to understand. If you do evil, you pay a price. There is no escape from that price. Sooner or later the payment will come due. But what if one does good?"
43 His father spread his hands to all that was around him. "This is the price of good," he said, "contentment, peace, a pleasant After Life. I showed you the price of evil. Now, knowing The Truth, which path would you take?"
44 "You have taught me much," said The Old Fox. "This is A Dream of Dreams! Surely I will have much to tell my people."
45 The girl came up. "We must depart," she announced. "It is almost time for your awakening."
46 "I obey," answered The Old Fox. He bade his mother and father farewell, but as he journeyed off, his mother called out,
47 "Another is being readied, one who will be your Guide and Teacher. You have much, much more to learn!"
48 "I will welcome him," The Old Fox called back. And the girl led him back through the fog. The Old Fox found himself awakening. Shaking the sand from his body he felt strangely refreshed. Though his wound still bothered him, he felt strong; stronger than he had in many years.
49 He found his camp a shambles. Only the rags of two burned tents remained, and the bodies of several of his fallen comrades, the meat stripped from their bones. Already the vultures were cleaning the rest. "I must pay a price for this," he said, "it was my ignorance that caused this."
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