Chapter Fifteen

    Now, more and more The Voice left Gentle Bear with the Circle, and journeyed out to the out-of-the-way villages near the city.  Whenever he arrived, all work for that day was forgotten.  For the people it became a worship day, and they gathered at The Temple, to be taught by The Voice.
    2  Returning from one of these journeys along a seldom-used back trail, a woman ran up to The Voice and his party.  "Help me!" she cried, "We were resting by the trail and a bush serpent bit my mate!  I have no knife or anything!"
    3  One of The Voice's guards rushed forward, drew his knife, slashed the wound, and began to suck out the poison.
    4  "Be careful!" cautioned The Voice, "Do not swallow any of it!"
    5  When he was done, the guard rinsed his mouth several times with water, while his companions bandaged the man's wound.  "We'll have to carry him back to the city," instructed The Voice.  "We'll make a litter from poles and our robes."
    6  Soon they were on their way. The nearest Healer was in the city, and it was several hours away.  The Voice sent a messenger ahead to have one come out and meet them.
    7  The young Healer met them about an hour from the gate.  He gave both the bitten man, whose name was Red Fox, and the guard, medicine.
     8  Mountain Glory Fox, the man's mate explained that she was an accountant, and her husband was a carver of some renown.  They had been down on their luck for the last few months, but now The Lords had blessed them, and she had been appointed to The City Speaker, and her mate had been promised work repairing the city gates.
    9  "We have heard," she explained, "there is a wonderful New Teacher in the city called The Voice. My mate has long sought to be trained, but every Speaker he has ever gone to has always had a full class.  He was hoping perhaps this Voice would have room for him."
    10  "He will, indeed," The Voice told him, "and for you, also. I am the one of whom you speak, and you will surely be welcome among us!"
    11  So it was Gentle Bear's Circle was completed.  Red Fox had The Lords Power. He dreamed Dreams, and had visions, and wrote verses, but he was an AWFUL Speaker!  Whenever he tried to talk, he became confused and troubled.
    12  But his mate was a great orator. She loved The Lords, and spoke Their praises with such authority and such power that those listening were held by her words, like persons chained, not wanting to depart until she was finished speaking.
    13  So these two always worked as a team, Red Fox interpreting the people's dreams and giving them advice from The Lords, while Mountain Glory Fox did the speaking.  Many a Spirit was brought back to The Lords by their work, and many a new follower won.
    14  Of all the people The Voice trained, those who despised The Lords hated these two the most, because Red Fox wrote down his mate's speeches, and the journeys and the lessons of The Voice, and gave them to all the generations to come.
    15  After several more week's work The Voice came to Gentle Bear.  Before he even spoke, the man covered his face with his hands.  "You do not have to tell me Lord," he said. "I know.  You are leaving.  Will you ever pass this way again?"
    16  The Voice shook his head.  "Before my days are done," he answered, "you will lay eyes on me again.  But never again will I tread these roads, or share the company of them I love.  Tomorrow I will be on my way.  This place is secure now, in The Lords.  Others need me."
    17  "I wish it was not so," wept Gentle Bear, "but I know it is true!  Though our hearts long for you to stay, you must go."
    18  So it was, The Voice departed.  He tried to leave quietly, but the people knew, and the streets were filled with well-wishers.  A local merchant loaned them an ox cart, and it was needed.  For, as usual, the people's generosity was far beyond their need.  But The Voice knew that there would be those along the way with whom to share this plenty.
    19  So towards Northern they set their feet, their gentle beast following quietly behind, bearing their load.
    20  The Voice did not make haste.  He could not.  Representatives from every out-of-the-way village awaited him along the road and begged him to come and speak.  At some of the poorer villages, the ox cart was nearly emptied, at the richer ones it was filled again.
   
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