demons to Spirit. People say they heard their screams as they burned!"
25 "Perhaps," argued those who doubted, "he is
simply more powerful than these other demons, and they flee from him in
fear of his power."
26 Now, in every way, those who disbelieved
tried to prove The Voice was not of The Lords. But they had
little success. One day, as the Voice neared The Eastern City he
passed a farm of a child of The One.
27 Now, the owner of this farm was known to be
a wicked man. Though he did no great evil, many of his dealings were
known to be questionable, and he took advantage of the wives and
daughters of his servants.
28 As The Voice was passing by his farm he
cured one of the man's servants who had been crippled for years. And
when this man saw, he was amazed, and rushed out.
29 "Lord," he cried, "I am not of your house,
but you have done my servant a great service! It is late in the
day, journey no further. I beg of you. Accept my
hospitality. Enter into my house. I pray, let me honor you."
30 The Voice accepted his hospitality.
The man invited all of his neighbors and they had a great feast.
The man showed his servant who had been healed, and expressed his
thanks.
31 "Wondrous are your Lords, indeed!" he
cried, "that They show such kindness even to those that are not of
Their House! Truly, having seen these things, I ask Their
Blessing. And after hearing this man's words, I will study Their
Writings."
32 Now, some local Speakers, sitting at the
end of the table, whispered among themselves. "How can this man
be of The Lords?" they asked. "He wastes his power on those who
are our enemies. He accepts the hospitality of those who are
known to do evil. How can he be of The Lords?"
33 The Voice rose angrily, shouting over the
crowd. "Fools! If a child is brought to a Surgeon with a
broken leg, does he ask to whom it belongs? No, he mends the
leg! Does a Healer go with medicine to the houses where the
people are well? No. He goes to where the people are sick,
and he cures them of their sickness.
34 Perhaps The Lords have not shown many
wonders in this place because those that serve Them here, limit Them,
The Lords deny no man. If any man comes to Them and says 'Help
me,' They help him. Can Their Servant do any less?"
35 Now, the Speakers rose, made The Sign of
The Star, bowed to The Voice, and left. "He has shamed us," they
said, "for we did not have The Lords in our hearts. We complain
about the laxities of others, and do not see our own
shortcomings. Truly if any man is of The Lords, this man is!"
36 The following day, The Voice journeyed
on. Passing the final village they could see the towers of
Eastern in the distance. "We have plenty of provisions," he
announced, "and I am strangely weary. Let us go into the hills
for a couple of days, away from the people, before I begin my work in
this city."
37 So it was, they went into the hills for a time, and rested.
