a stray traveler spotting them. But if The Lords
were with them, they would make it. And, The Lords were with them,
indeed, for they managed to penetrate even deeper into the enemy's
territory than they had previously planned.
31 They came upon some caves by some long, flat, rocky ledges that
would be perfect for landing their gliders. Here, they put their ships
together, and when all was ready for flight they waited in the caves,
until the rain stopped. Finally, they could dry their wet clothes and
soggy boots, and warm themselves by a decent fire.
32 To pass the time, the young men gathered around Leaping Deer and
asked him questions, for he was considered by many to be a good Teacher
in The Ways of The Lords.
33 As they sat by the fires one evening, one of the men asked, "Lord,
what is the most dangerous emotion, the one we must fear the most?"
34 "The emotion you must fear the most," warned Leaping Deer, "is love.
That is the most dangerous of ALL emotions."
35 The young men looked at each other in surprise. "But Lord," they
objected, "love is the emotion of joy, our love for our parents, our
love for our mates, our love for The Lords. These are the greatest
things we possess. Surely you are mistaken, or we misunderstood you."
36 "You do not misunderstand me," continued Leaping Deer, "love is the
sweetest of emotions, the tenderest of thoughts, but it is also the
greatest weakening force. Men will do things in the name of
love that they will not do for any other reason.
37 How many good men, and, women, have gone to The Darkness because
they listened to the greed of their mates? How many parents that
because they love their children and would not discipline them, have
suffered