Chapter Thirty-Six
Now, the people came to Bold Fox with another problem. "Lord," said a Spokesman, "we are workers of metal. Now, as you know, some metals are too soft for tools, other metals are too brittle. We have long sought a way to make metals for weapons and tools. But none of us ever succeeded until now.
2 A worker in metal named Red Raven, has discovered a way to make a new metal, and this metal neither bends or shatters, but holds a good edge, and with it, many fine tools and weapons can be made."
3 Bold Fox raised his hand. "I do not understand," he explained, "what the problem is. If Red Raven has done this wonderful thing, why are you upset with him?"
4 "Because, Lord," the spokesman answered, "he refuses to share with us the secret of this metal. Only he knows how to make it. He will sell what he makes to others, but he will not tell us how to make it ourselves.
5 There is much demand for the new metal and much need for it. We say it is unfair to the rest of us that he keep this secret. He should be made to tell us how to mix this metal so that all of us may make it, and benefit the people."
6 Bold Fox called Red Raven over. "Why," he asked, "will you not share your secret with your brothers?"
7 "Lord," Red Raven told him, "I am but a small producer. My competitors have much better forges and furnaces than I. If I give them my secret, they will quickly out-produce me, as the advantage I have will be lost. I am not an unfair man, but I worked hard to find this formula. I labored many years, and spent much money. The secret is rightfully mine, and I shall keep it!"
8 "But what if something happens to you," asked Bold Fox, "before you are ready to pass this secret on to anyone else? It will be lost again, and it may be many years before it may be found again. We need here," he explained, "to make a compromise, to find a way for you to benefit from what you have found, and for the people's needs to be protected, also.
9 And I think I have an idea! You will write down your formula, exactly how your process works. Then, it will be sealed and kept secure here at the capitol. Then, you will have exclusive use of the formula for twenty-five seasons.
10 Nobody else can make this metal without your permission. They will have to pay you for the right to make it, plus, a share of their profits on whatever they make. This way, the more they make, the more you profit.
11 You will not lose money by their superior production, but make money! And this same idea," said Bold Fox, "will work just as well for any secret any process, or, idea."
12 Now, Red Raven liked this idea, and so did his competitors. And so did alot of other people. For as soon as people learned that in The Land of Spirit what you discovered would be protected, and you would have exclusive use of it for twenty-five seasons, many people with new inventions and new ideas came to The Land of Spirit to have them registered and protected. It brought much business to The Land.
13 Now, one day another case came before Bold Fox. A young man entered The Hall with a complaint. "Lord," he announced, "I am an important man in my village. Now, last year, I built a shelter for those with The Creeping Death; a fine house with many rooms where they could be secluded from the rest of the village and their families could leave for them food. Now, I desired to put my brother's name on the house, to dedicate it to him, in remembrance of him. And the local Speakers agreed. But some of the people in the village went to The City Speaker and he forbade I put my brother's name upon the house. Now I think this is wrong, Lord, and I ask that you remove this order, and allow my wish."
14 Now, Bold Fox was confused. He called in The City Speaker. "Why," he asked, "have you refused this young man permission to put his brother's name on this house for the sick?"
15 "Lord," answerd The City Speaker, "he did not tell you that his brother was a murderer, justly tried and executed. That by Law no remembrance of him may be allowed, that in no way can he be glorified or honored."
16 Now, Bold Fox turned back to the young man. "Why is it," he asked, "that you attempt to disobey The Law?"
17 "Lord," the young man insisted, "I do not. I built this house not in remembrance of my brother, but as atonement for him. I thought that by this gesture some of the burden on him may be lifted. That some of the pain he has caused might be softened. Already the record of his birth has been destroyed, all mention of him taken out of the village records. In a few years no one will even know who he was. What harm I put his name on a house? That when people see it, they have good thoughts of him, and that his pain be lessened?"
18 Bold Fox thought for several minutes. "Young man," he comforted, "I understand your heart, and I see what you are trying to do. But you cannot buy forgiveness for another. Each must earn their own forgiveness. There is a reason why The Lords demand that the name of an evil doer be removed. Evil must not be encouraged. Evil must not be remembered. Those who do evil must never be praised, their names shall never be repeated. Only the good shall be given honor, and The Blessed.
19 I must deny your request. And also, I must punish your village Speakers for granting you permission. Though they meant well, they ignored The Law for the village's benefit. This cannot be allowed.
20 The Law of The Lords is sacred. It is given to help and protect our people. It cannot simply be sat aside when it is beneficial for a few to do so. So these Speakers shall be removed from their office and shall never be allowed to serve again. That is my decision, that is my decree."
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