caves."
8 Screaming Hawk marched on, though his heart was heavy. The last of
his forces barely passed the village, when the first enemy scouts
entered. The Elder greeted them.
9 A few hours later the enemy War Leader of that Army came into the
village. "I am pleased," he told The Elder, "we have liberated our
brethren from the tyranny of those that oppressed them. Now that you
have been freed, you can join us in the glorious battle to end forever
the lies that oppose The One True God. I have lost many men. The men of
your village will be given rifles and shown how to use them."
10 "No," argued The Elder, "we are a people of The Gentleness, not
Warriors. We will not take up arms. You are welcome to leave your
wounded and sick, and we will be glad to tend them. But we will not
help you wage war. It is against our teaching."
11 "Your teaching," snapped the War Leader, "is a lie, like that of the
accursed One. Those who worship The True Oneness will defend His Glory.
If they do not, then they are his enemies and must be dealt with
accordingly.
12 See reason. You are a pleasant people, and I do not want to treat
you harshly, but if you disobey The Divine Will of Our God, I will be
harsh with you. Order the men of the village to take up arms."
13 "I will not!" sighed the Elder.
14 "Then, you are either a traitor or a coward!" roared the War Leader.
He turned to one of his associates. "Take this man and beat him. Beat
him
until he accepts the will of our God."
15 The men obeyed. A few hours later they returned. "War Leader," they
announced , "we beat the man to death, but he would not obey."
16 "Bring all the men in the village here,"