"I, too," she announced, "suffered a great
tragedy, and my faith, too, was shaken. Even through the joy of the
rest of my life I wondered of it. But when I joined The Lords, I
learned The Truth of what had happened, and my sorrow turned to joy.
35 We are all trying to soothe your doubts, to restore your courage.
But we should know that we cannot. Let him who you thought we betrayed
speak. Let him tell you. Only then will you know what is true." She
held out her hand, and as if out of a mist, a man appeared.
36 When Red Cat saw him, he rose, and tears came to his eyes. "Father!"
he whispered. The man came forward, and took his shoulders, and Red Cat answered.
37 "My son," cried his father, "what a man you have become, and what
things I hear of you! Why is it you turned against The Lords?
How do you think They failed me?"
38 "Father," answered Red Cat in a little boy's voice, "you promised
you would come back. You promised! You said The Lords would
protect you and bring you home. You said you had faith in Them, that
you knew no harm would come to you. But you did not come home. A friend
came and said you had been very brave, that you had saved many lives,
but you had lost your own.
39 You DIDN'T keep your promise. The Lords DIDN'T protect you. You
DIDN'T come home. Mother cried and cried, and I was so lonely. I said
it was all tricks, all foolishness, all lies."
40 His father motioned him to sit down, and he sat down beside him. "My
son," he answered, "it was I who was the fool to make such a promise! I
should have remembered that I was The Lords instrument, and that when
my Hour came, They might use me