73 "Because you asked me to!" The Voice told him.
74 "I beg your pardon, sir," Gray Deer told
him, "but I have only seen you in the marketplace, and have never
spoken to you."
75 "But did you not say in your mind this very
day," The Voice told him, 'I wish that man would come to my house and
teach me of The Lords. For the promise I have made my father
weighs heavy on my Spirit, and I wish to serve the Lords.' ?"
76 Gray Deer looked in disbelief. "That is
truly," he said, "what I thought. Do you hear what is in my mind?"
77 "The Lords hear," answered The Voice.
"Today, when you entered the marketplace one of Them put his hand on
your shoulder and told me 'Behold, this is the one who shall lead his
people in this city. Give him counsel and comfort him, for he is
troubled by the promise he made his father and wishes to be free of it,
and walk his own way.' Now, is there any untruth in what I have
said?"
78 "Unfortunately," agreed Gray Deer, "there
is none. I DO wish to be free of the promise I made my
father. But how can I be, and still live with honor?"
79 The Voice smiled. "By reading The
Law," he answered. "It has been before you all the time. Do
you have a Book of The Law?"
80 Red Blossom quickly rose, went to her room,
and returned with a Book of The Law. The Voice flipped it open
and laid it in front of Gray Deer, who read the passage. "'A
contract made under threat of blood is not binding. A man may
break it at his leisure. For that made by threat bears no honor.'"
81 "But my father did not threaten me," argued Gray Deer. "I do not see where The Law applies."
82 "He threatened to shed blood in your name,"
explained The Voice, "and thereby threatened the safety of your
soul. Your promise was made to keep innocent blood from being
shed. It is not before The Lords binding. You can be free
from it any time you wish."
83 "My father still will not understand,"
argued Gray Deer. "He will not look at it that way. Could I
not wait until he leaves this world and then follow Spirit?"
84 The Voice laughed. "What good will
that do?" he asked. "If you believe in Spirit, then you believe
our Loved Ones know what is happening to us, and watch our daily
acts. That they do not sleep in the ground and await the
awakening by The One True God, and entry into The Land of The
Blessed. You know that each soul goes to dwell in Spirit as
soon as they leave this world.
85 Your father will know you have worshiped
The Lords, why wait until he is gone to do so? What have you said
time and time again in your heart? 'As soon as my father is gone
I will worship The Lords.' Why wait? Worship Them now!"
86 "Will you teach me?" asked Gray Deer, "Will
you make me part of your circle, teach me how to serve The Lords?"
87 "If you will permit," said The Voice, "I
will make this house my headquarters. I will not only teach you, but
ten others so that when I travel on to the next city, you will be
fighting for The Lords here."
88 "I'll do it!" cried Gray Deer.
"It's what I've wanted for years. I wanted to be a Speaker all my
life. I knew it was my destiny. Teach me The Ways of The Lords!"
89 "No!" Mountain Glory cried, jumping
to her feet. "The only reason my family approved of our marriage
was because you were a Oner! If you go to worshiping The Lords,
they will demand I return home. You can't! You can't do it!"
90 "I have to!" Gray Deer told
her. "Your family are reasonable, good people. They will
understand and respect my choice. We have been friends for
years. My returning to Spirit will not end our years of
friendship."
91 Yellow Blossom only began to cry and ran to
her room. Gray Deer looked after her in bewilderment. "I
seem to have a problem," he announced. "I offer you the hospitality of
my house, a bed, and comfort."
92 "I do not believe in the old custom," The
Voice answered, "of taking a man's mate when you are a guest in his
house. Just give me some cushions and I will make a place
somewhere here on the floor."
93 The two women looked at each other in
surprise. "Do you find us unattractive?" asked Red Blossom.
"Are we not fit company? Will you have us dishonored in every
house in the city if it became known that a man in our house slept on
the floor? We will not have it! If we are not good enough
for you, neither is our house! Find shelter elsewhere!"
Yellow Blossom only nodded her agreement.
94 "As you can see," commented Gray Deer, "the women in my house speak their mind!"
Page 167
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