Chapter Five

    "I bring a message from Mountain Glory's family. They do not want her, or, her child in a house full of demons.  She is to return home at once.  Have her gather her things. I will take her myself.  I am strongly disappointed in you, my son.  I had hoped that after you had been in this foolishness for awhile, you would see the truth, and return to The One.  But you have been totally deceived by this giver of lies, and lost your soul.
    2  You are no longer part of my family. I disown you. Your employment at my factory has come to an end.  If you wish to be a Speaker for these lying Spirits that defile my god, let THEM support you.  I will not."
    3  Gray Deer covered his face with his hands.  "That you feel this way, father, fills my heart with sorrow, for I still hold the greatest affection for you and my kinsmen. You are always welcome at my door.
    4  Though we follow different ways there is no reason for us to be enemies.  Let us speak kindly, one of the other.  Let there be no bitterness between us."
     5  "I can never enter your house again," answered his father, "you have chosen to follow after evil. My temple speaker blames me for failing in your education.  You have chosen.  Live with your choice."
     6  Mountain Glory appeared with several bundles.  "I told you this would happen," she wept, "but you would not believe me.  You said my parents would understand."
    7  "I thought," answered Gray Deer, "they were better people than this."
    8  Mountain Glory spat on the floor and carried her son outside.  Gray Deer's father motioned to a servant who came in and gathered up her things. "Never come to my door," he told Gray Deer, "never speak to me on the street.  I do not know  you.  You are no kin of mine."  He turned and left.
    9  "What are we to do now?" asked Red Blossom. "How will we live?   Your Speaker's pay and Yellow Blossom's income will not be enough to get us by.  How will we survive?"
    10  "I do not know," replied Gray Deer.  "I will find another position.  There is plenty of work in the city."
    11  Screaming Bear, who had been standing in the background, spoke up. "Do not be concerned with it. I will take care of it tomorrow.  You will have no worry about finances.  I have been thinking about it for some time.  This simply makes the need more urgent. Let us return to our studies."
    12  "You are right," agreed Gray Deer, "it is a problem for tomorrow.  I do not know what you have in mind, my friend, but I will trust your judgment."
    13  They returned to their lessons.  The next day Gray Deer had many errands and was gone most of the morning.  When he returned for the mid-day meal, he found a stranger sitting at his table. "This man has been waiting for you," Red Blossom told him, "a Law Speaker."
    14  "How can I serve you?" asked Gray Deer.
    15  "I have some transfers of ownership for you to sign," The Law Speaker informed him.  "One Screaming Bear came to my office this morning with the documents of his inheritance; a considerable amount of property!  He has requested they all be signed over to you, save for two farms that shall be held in trust as inheritance for his children.  The total income from all the properties is in excess of two-hundred-fifty gold a month."
    16  Gray Deer's mouth fell open with disbelief.  "He's signing all of his property over to me?" he asked.
    17  The Speaker nodded.  "If you don't mind, sir, I'm in somewhat of a hurry.  It's near the end of the month. If you are to start receiving the payments when they're due, I MUST get these papers registered!"
    18  Still in a daze, Gray Deer signed the documents and The Speaker Left.  When The Voice returned later in the day, Gray Deer told him what had happened.  "What am I to do?" he asked.  "I can't just take his whole estate!  It is more than I would ever need in my lifetime!  I must return it to him!"
    19  "You must counsel with him first," instructed The Voice, "hear his reasons.  Then, decide what you must do."
    20  That evening when Screaming Bear arrived, Gray Deer took him aside.  "What you have done," he said, "is a marvelous thing. But I cannot take all that is yours!  We must go together to The Law Speaker, and you must take back your property!"
  
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