Chapter Eighteen

    For three days The Voice kept to his bed, completely exhausted. When he was finally able to raise himself, he visited The Priest of The One.  He, too, was just able to get up, but they shared a quiet mid-day meal together.
    2  The Priest was quiet. It was after the meal was done before he finally spoke what was on his mind.  "Can there be any truth in what it said?" he asked.  "Can it really turn our people against one-another?"
    3  "It has planted ideas in certain people's minds," answered The Voice, "that's what it meant by seeds.  We'll have to fight those ideas, but they will be difficult.  They will be easy ideas for the weak to believe, thoughts pleasant to the vain and feeble-minded.  The struggle will not be easy, and may take many, many years, but in the end, we will win."
    4  "In all times, in all places," agreed The Priest, "evil must be fought.  There is no end to its domain.  We must be ever cautious. We have won a great victory, but the war goes on forever."
    5  The Voice nodded.  "It is so," he agreed.  He rose slowly, and took his staff. "I wish for you long life and prosperity."
    6  "And I desire for you, likewise," answered The Priest, "but I see dark clouds on your horizon, and I know your days are numbered.  But somehow I know in another time, in another place, we will meet again."
    7  The Voice extended his hand in the custom of the people of The One, and The Priest took it strongly.  Then, the two men parted.
    8  The following day The Voice spoke in The Temple, then loaded their ox cart and continued on.  At the city gate the farmer and his daughter met him.  "I have brought you gifts," he announced. "My servants will put them in your cart.  They are little because I know your people's way.  I also give gifts to your Temple. To say thank you does not seem enough."
    9  "I am only grateful," answered The Voice, "that we were successful.  Take the girl.  Journey to another place, buy another farm, begin again.  The people here will be kind, but there will always be the memories of what has occurred.  In another place await new friends, a new mate, and, sons."
    10  "As you have said," the farmer agreed, "that I will do.  For I trust your counsel. I have relatives near your Southern City.  They are not well, and have wanted me to buy their farm for some time.  Perhaps THIS is the time."
    11  The Voice motioned the ox cart forward. As he started to move off, the girl pulled away from her father, ran up to him, and threw her arms around him.  The Voice hugged her in return, and she ran back to her father.
    12  The little group journeyed on to Ti.  In the last village before the city, they were greeted by great crowds, and The Voice stopped to speak in The Temple. He laid his hands on the sick, and they were cured.
    13  When he was done speaking, a young woman rose, and cried "Lord, would you answer a question?"
    14  "Ask what you will!" agreed The Voice.
    15  "If a woman is young, has children, and becomes a widow, what should she do?  Should she take another mate, or should she stay loyal to the one she first loved?  Some say she should, and some say she shouldn't. Which is true?"
    16  "To every woman," answered The Voice, "It is her decision.  Some can find love in another's house, and need a man's comfort.  Others are satisfied with their memories of the love that is gone. So it cannot be said that this is right for everyone, or that is right.  Each woman must decide for herself.
    17  But I DO say this; if a woman decides she wants to know no other man, she should move in with her father, or, her brother, and give them authority over her children.  For it is not good for children to be raised in a house that has no man.  For children need both a woman's tenderness and a man's authority.  Boys need to know how a man speaks and stands and walks, and so do girls need a man's hand. For they, too, would become too soft if they knew only their mother's love.
    18  So hear me, widows of any age, even if you live the rest of your lives without a man ever touching you, for the sake of your children keep a man in your house.
    19  Now, brothers and sisters," continued The Voice, "let us give thanks for the joy that They give us, and depart, one from the other, in love."
    20  The Voice spent a quiet evening in the village, and journeyed on in the morning.
    21  As they approached the road to Ti and began to journey down it, it was packed with people.  Children of The One, worshipers of Tr, all filled the road.  All had heard of The Voice's coming.

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