WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Tedric by E. E. Smith. This is a LibriVox recording.

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<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

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<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. This

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<v Speaker 1>recording by Phil Schinevert Part one. The critical point in

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<v Speaker 1>time of mankind's whole existence is there right there? Prime

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<v Speaker 1>physicist Scandos slashed his red pencil across the black trace

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<v Speaker 1>of the chronoviagram. Why must man be so stupid? Any

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<v Speaker 1>One with three brain cells working should know that for

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<v Speaker 1>the strength of an individual, he should be fed, not bled.

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<v Speaker 1>That for the strength of a race, its versions should

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<v Speaker 1>be bred, not sacrificed to propitiate figmental deities. And it

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<v Speaker 1>would be so easy to straighten things out nowhere, in

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<v Speaker 1>all reachable time, does any other one man occupy such

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<v Speaker 1>a tremendously, such a uniquely keystone position. Easy? Yes, His

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<v Speaker 1>assistant Freman agreed. It is a shame to let tetric

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<v Speaker 1>die with not one of his tremendous potentialities realized. It

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<v Speaker 1>would be easy and simple to have him discover carburization

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<v Speaker 1>and the necessary techniques of heat treating. That freak meteorite

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<v Speaker 1>need not lie there unsmelted for another seventy years. However,

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<v Speaker 1>simple carbuization was not actually discovered until two generations later

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<v Speaker 1>by another smith in another nation. And you know, Scandals,

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<v Speaker 1>that there can be no such thing as a minor

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<v Speaker 1>interference with the physical events of the past. Any such,

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<v Speaker 1>however small seeming, is bound to be catastrophically major. I

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<v Speaker 1>know that Scandos scowled blackly. We don't know enough about time.

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<v Speaker 1>We don't know what would happen. We have known how

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<v Speaker 1>to do it for a hundred years, but have been

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<v Speaker 1>afraid to act because in all that time no progress

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<v Speaker 1>whatever has been made on the theory. He paused, then

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<v Speaker 1>went on savagely. But which is better to have our

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<v Speaker 1>entire time track snapped painlessly out of existence if the

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<v Speaker 1>extremists are right, or to sit helplessly on our fat rumps,

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<v Speaker 1>wringing our hands while we watch civilization build up to

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<v Speaker 1>its own total destruction by lithium tritide bombs. Look at

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<v Speaker 1>the slope of that curve. Ultimate catastrophe is only one

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<v Speaker 1>hundred eighty seven years away. But the council will not

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<v Speaker 1>permit it, nor with the school. I know that too.

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<v Speaker 1>That is why I am not going to ask them. Instead,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm asking you. We two know more of time than

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<v Speaker 1>any others over the years. I have found your judgment good.

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<v Speaker 1>With your approval, I will act now. Without it, we

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<v Speaker 1>will continue our futual testing. Number eight hundred eleven is

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<v Speaker 1>running now. I believe and are aimless drifting. You are

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<v Speaker 1>throwing the entire weight of such a decision on me.

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<v Speaker 1>In one sense, yes, in another, only half. Since I

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<v Speaker 1>have already decided, go ahead, so be it. Tedric awaken,

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<v Speaker 1>the Lomarian iron Master woke up, not gradually and partially

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<v Speaker 1>like one of our soft modern urbanites, but instantaneously and completely,

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<v Speaker 1>as does the mountain wild cat. At one instant he

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<v Speaker 1>lay completely, relaxed, sound asleep. At the next he had

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<v Speaker 1>sprung out of bed, seized his sword, and leaped half

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<v Speaker 1>way across the room, head thrown back, hard, blue eyes,

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<v Speaker 1>keenly alert, sword arm rock steady. He stood there, poised

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<v Speaker 1>and ready, beautifully poised upon the balls of both feet,

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<v Speaker 1>supremely ready to throw into action every inch of his

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<v Speaker 1>six feet four, every pound of his two hundred plus

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<v Speaker 1>of hard meat, gristle and bone. So standing, the smith

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<v Speaker 1>stared motionlessly at the shimmering, almost invisible thing hanging being

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<v Speaker 1>motionless in the air of his room and at its

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<v Speaker 1>equally tenuous occupant. I approve of you, Tetric. The thing apparition,

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<v Speaker 1>whatever it was, did not speak, and the Lamarian did

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<v Speaker 1>not hear the words formed themselves in the innermost depths

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<v Speaker 1>of his brain. While you, perhaps sorry a little frightened,

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<v Speaker 1>you are and have been completely in control. Any other

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<v Speaker 1>man of your nation, yes, of your world, would have

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<v Speaker 1>been scared out of what few wits he has. You

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<v Speaker 1>are not one of ours. Lord Tetric went to one knee.

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<v Speaker 1>He knew, of course, that gods and devils existed, and

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<v Speaker 1>while this was the first time that a god had

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<v Speaker 1>sought him out personally, he had heard of such happenings

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<v Speaker 1>all his life. Since the god hadn't killed him instantly,

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<v Speaker 1>he probably didn't intend to right away at least. Hence,

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<v Speaker 1>no god of Lomar approves of me. Also, our gods

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<v Speaker 1>are solid and heavy. What do you want of me,

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<v Speaker 1>strange god? I am not a god. If you could

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<v Speaker 1>get through this grill, you could cut off my head

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<v Speaker 1>with your sword, and I would die, of course, so

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<v Speaker 1>would sar Teedric broke off in the middle of the word.

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<v Speaker 1>I see it is dangerous to talk very even though

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<v Speaker 1>a man is alone. The gods and hence the priests

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<v Speaker 1>who serve them, have power to hear. Then the man

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<v Speaker 1>lies on the green rock and loses his brain, liver,

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<v Speaker 1>and heart. You will not be overheard. I have power

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<v Speaker 1>enough to see to that Chetric remained silent. I understand

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<v Speaker 1>your doubt. Think then that will do just as well.

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<v Speaker 1>What is it that you are trying to do? I

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<v Speaker 1>wonder how I can hear when there is no sound,

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<v Speaker 1>But men cannot understand the powers of gods. I am

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<v Speaker 1>trying to find or make a metal that is very

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<v Speaker 1>hard but not brittle. Copper is no good. I cannot

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<v Speaker 1>harden it enough. My soft irons are too soft, My

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<v Speaker 1>hard irons are too brittle. My in betweens, and the

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<v Speaker 1>melts to which I have added various flavorings have all

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<v Speaker 1>been either too soft or too brittle, or both. I

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<v Speaker 1>gathered that such was your problem. Your wrought iron is

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<v Speaker 1>beautiful stuff, so is your white cast iron, and you

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<v Speaker 1>would not ordinarily in your lifetime come to know anything

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<v Speaker 1>of either carburization or high alloy steel, to say nothing

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<v Speaker 1>of both. I know exactly what you want, and I

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<v Speaker 1>can show you exactly how to make it you can, Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>The Smith's sigh flamed, and you will. That is why

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<v Speaker 1>I have come to you. But whether or not I

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<v Speaker 1>will teach you depends on certain matters which I have

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<v Speaker 1>not been able entirely to clarify. What do you want

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<v Speaker 1>it for? That is what basically is your aim. Our

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<v Speaker 1>greatest god, Sarpedion is wrong, and I intend to kill him.

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<v Speaker 1>Tetric's eyes flamed more savagely, his terrifically muscled body tensed

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<v Speaker 1>wrong in what way? In every way? In the intensity

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<v Speaker 1>of his emotion, the Smith spoke aloud, What good is

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<v Speaker 1>a god who only kills and injures? What a nation needs, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>is people, people working together and not afraid. How can

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<v Speaker 1>we of Lomar ever retain comfort and happiness if more

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<v Speaker 1>die each year than are born. We are too few.

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<v Speaker 1>All of us except the priests, of course, must work

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<v Speaker 1>unendingly to obtain only the necessities of life. This bears

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<v Speaker 1>out my findings. If you make high ally steel, exactly

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<v Speaker 1>what will you do with it? If you give me

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<v Speaker 1>the god metal, Lord, I will make of it a

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<v Speaker 1>sword and armor. A sword sharp enough and strong enough

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<v Speaker 1>to cut through copper or iron without damage, armor strong

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<v Speaker 1>enough so that swords of copper or iron cannot cut

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<v Speaker 1>through it. They must be so, because I will have

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<v Speaker 1>to cut my way alone through a throng of armed

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<v Speaker 1>and armored mercenaries and priests alone. Why because I cannot

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<v Speaker 1>call in help, cannot let any one know my goal.

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<v Speaker 1>Any such would lie on the greenstone. Very soon they

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<v Speaker 1>suspect me. Perhaps they know I am, however, the best

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<v Speaker 1>smith in all Lomar. Hence they have slain me, not,

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<v Speaker 1>nor will they until I have found what I seek.

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<v Speaker 1>Nor then, if by the favor of the gods or

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<v Speaker 1>by your favorite Lord, the metal be good enough, it

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<v Speaker 1>will be. But there's a lot more to fighting a

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<v Speaker 1>platoon of soldiers than armor and a sword. My optimistic

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<v Speaker 1>young savage, that the metal be of proof is all

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<v Speaker 1>I ask, Lord, the smith insisted stubbornly. The rest of

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<v Speaker 1>it lies in my care. So be it. And then

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<v Speaker 1>Sarpadian's image, as you must already know, is made of stone, wood, copper,

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<v Speaker 1>and gold. Besides the jewels. Of course, I take his brain, liver,

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<v Speaker 1>and heart, flood them with oil, and sacrifice them. Just

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<v Speaker 1>a minute, Sir, Pataion is not alive, and never has been,

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<v Speaker 1>does not as a matter of fact exist. You just

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<v Speaker 1>said yourself that his image was made of stone and copper,

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<v Speaker 1>and don't be silly, Lord or art testing me. Gods

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<v Speaker 1>are spirits, bound to their images and in a weaker way,

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<v Speaker 1>to their priests by linkages of spirit force, life force,

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<v Speaker 1>it could be called. When those links are broken by

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<v Speaker 1>fire and sacrifice, the gods may not exactly die, but

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<v Speaker 1>he can do no more of harm until his priests

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<v Speaker 1>have made a new image and spent much time and

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<v Speaker 1>effort in building up new linkages. One point now settled,

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<v Speaker 1>was bothering me what God to sacrifice him to. I'll

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<v Speaker 1>make an image for you to inhabit, Lord, and sacrifice

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<v Speaker 1>him to you, my strange new God. You will be

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<v Speaker 1>my only god as long as I live. What is

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<v Speaker 1>your name? Lord? I can't keep calling you strange God? Forever.

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<v Speaker 1>My name is scandos skisk. That word rides ill on

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<v Speaker 1>my tongue. With your permission, Lord, I will call you loser.

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<v Speaker 1>Call me anything you like, except to God. I am

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<v Speaker 1>not a god. You are being ridiculous, Lord Loser. Tetric

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<v Speaker 1>chided what a man sees with his eyes hears with

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<v Speaker 1>his ears, especially what a man hears without ears. As

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<v Speaker 1>I hear now he knows with certain knowledge to be

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<v Speaker 1>the truth. No mere man could possibly do what you

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<v Speaker 1>have done, to say, nought of what you are about

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<v Speaker 1>to do. Perhaps, not an ordinary man of your scandos

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<v Speaker 1>almost said time, but caught himself of your culture. But

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<v Speaker 1>I am ordinary enough and mortal enough in my own well.

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<v Speaker 1>That could be said of all gods everywhere. The Smith's

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<v Speaker 1>mean was quiet and unperturbed. His thought was loaded to

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<v Speaker 1>saturation with unshakable conviction. Scandals gave up. He could argue

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<v Speaker 1>for a week. He knew, without making any impression whatever

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<v Speaker 1>upon what the stubborn, hard headed Tetrick knew so unalterably

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<v Speaker 1>to be the truth. But just one thing, Lord Tetrick

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<v Speaker 1>went on, with scarcely a break. Have I made it

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<v Speaker 1>clear that I intend to stop human sacrifice, that there

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<v Speaker 1>is to be no more of it, even to you.

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<v Speaker 1>We will offer you anything else, anything else, but not

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<v Speaker 1>even your refusal to give me the God medal will

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<v Speaker 1>change my stand on that good. See to it that

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<v Speaker 1>nothing ever does change it. As to offerings or sacrifices,

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<v Speaker 1>there are to be none of any kind. I do

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<v Speaker 1>not need, I do not want, I will not have

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<v Speaker 1>any such that is final act accordingly, Yes, Lord Sarpadion

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<v Speaker 1>is a great and powerful god, but Art sure that

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<v Speaker 1>his sacrifice alone will establish linkage is strong enough to

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<v Speaker 1>last for all time. Scandals almost started to argue again,

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<v Speaker 1>but checked himself. After all, the proposed sacrifice was necessary

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<v Speaker 1>for Tedric and his race and it would do no harm.

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<v Speaker 1>Sarpadeon will be enough. And as for the image, that

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<v Speaker 1>isn't necessary either, Art wrong. Lord. Without image and temple,

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<v Speaker 1>everyone would think you a small, weak god, which thought

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<v Speaker 1>can never be. Besides, the image might make it easier

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<v Speaker 1>for us to call on you in time of need.

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<v Speaker 1>You can't call me. Even if I could receive your car,

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<v Speaker 1>which is very doubtful, I wouldn't answer it. If you

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<v Speaker 1>ever see me or hear from me again, it will

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<v Speaker 1>be because I wish it, not you. Scandals intended this

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<v Speaker 1>for a clincher, but it didn't turn out that way.

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<v Speaker 1>Wonderful Tetrick exclaimed, all gods act that way in spite

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<v Speaker 1>of what they, through their priest say. I am overwhelmingly

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<v Speaker 1>glad that you are being honest with me. Hast found

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<v Speaker 1>me worthy of the god Lord Locier. Yes, so let's

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<v Speaker 1>get at it. Take that biggest chunk of metal which

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<v Speaker 1>fell from the sky. You'll find it's about twice your weight.

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<v Speaker 1>But I have never been able to work that particular

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<v Speaker 1>piece of metal. Lord, I'm not surprised. Ordinary meteorites are

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<v Speaker 1>nickel iron, but this one carries two additional and highly

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<v Speaker 1>unusual elements, tungsten and vanadium, which are necessary for our purpose.

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<v Speaker 1>To melt it, you'll have to run your fires a

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<v Speaker 1>lot hotter. You'll also have to make a carburizing pot,

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<v Speaker 1>and willow charcoal and metallurgical coke, and several other things.

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<v Speaker 1>We'll go into details later. That green stone from which

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<v Speaker 1>altars are made, you can secure some of it, any

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<v Speaker 1>amount of it. Of it take your full weight, and

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<v Speaker 1>of the black ore, of which you have occasionally used

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<v Speaker 1>a little one fourth of your weight. The instructions went

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<v Speaker 1>on from or to finished product in complete detail, and

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<v Speaker 1>at its end. If you follow these directions carefully, you

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<v Speaker 1>will have a high alloy steel chrome, nickel, vanadium, molybdenum,

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<v Speaker 1>tungsten steel to be exact case hardened and heat treated

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<v Speaker 1>exactly what you need. Can you remember them all? I can, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>Never have I dared write anything down, so my memory

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<v Speaker 1>is good. Every quantity you have given me every temperature

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<v Speaker 1>and step in process and item, they are all completely

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<v Speaker 1>in mind. I go then goodbye. I thank you, Lord Losir, goodbye.

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<v Speaker 1>The Lomarian bowed his head, and when he straightened up,

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<v Speaker 1>his incomprehensible visitor was gone. Jeddric went back to bed,

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<v Speaker 1>and strangely enough, was almost instantly asleep. And in the morning,

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<v Speaker 1>after his customary huge breakfast of meat and bread and milk,

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<v Speaker 1>he went to his sprawling establishment, which had no counterpart

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<v Speaker 1>in modern industry, and called his foreman and his men

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<v Speaker 1>together before they began the day's work. A strange god

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<v Speaker 1>named Loser came to me in the night and showed

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<v Speaker 1>me how to make better iron. He told him, in

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<v Speaker 1>perfectly matter of fact fashion, So stop whatever you're doing

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<v Speaker 1>and tear the hole top off the big furnace. I'll

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<v Speaker 1>tell you exactly how to rebuild it. The program, as

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<v Speaker 1>outlined by Scandos, went along without a hitch until the

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<v Speaker 1>heat from the rebuilt furnace began to come blisteringly through

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<v Speaker 1>the crude shields. Then even the foreman, faithful as he was,

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<v Speaker 1>protests against such unheard of temperatures and techniques. It must

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<v Speaker 1>be that way, Tedrick insisted run more rods across from

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<v Speaker 1>there to there to hold more hides and blankets. You

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<v Speaker 1>four men fetch water, throw it over the hides and blankets,

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<v Speaker 1>and him who turns the blower take shorter tricks in

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<v Speaker 1>the hot places. Here. I'll man the blower myself until

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<v Speaker 1>the heat wanes somewhat. He bent his mighty back to

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<v Speaker 1>the crank. But even in that raging and fair nooe

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<v Speaker 1>of heat, he kept on talking. Knowest my iron sword,

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<v Speaker 1>the one I wear with rubies in the hilt, He

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<v Speaker 1>asked the foreman that worthy did, with longing to buy

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<v Speaker 1>it would take six months of a foreman's pay. This

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<v Speaker 1>furnace must stay this hot all day and all of tonight.

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<v Speaker 1>And there are the things as bad, but twill not

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<v Speaker 1>take long. Ten days should see the end of it.

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<v Speaker 1>Actually seven days was the schedule, but Tedric did not

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<v Speaker 1>want the priests to know that. But for those ten

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<v Speaker 1>days matters must go exactly as I say. Work with

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<v Speaker 1>me until this iron is made, and I give you

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<v Speaker 1>that sword, and all of the others who shirk not

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<v Speaker 1>each will be given an iron sword. This in addition

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<v Speaker 1>to your regular pay. Dost like the bargain. They liked

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<v Speaker 1>it then, during the hours of lull, in which there

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<v Speaker 1>was nothing much to do except keep the furious fires fed,

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<v Speaker 1>Patrick worked upon the image of his god. While the

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<v Speaker 1>Lomarian was neither a phidious nor a praxateles, he was

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<v Speaker 1>one of the finest craftsmen of his age. He had, not, however,

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<v Speaker 1>had a really good look at Scandos's face. Thus, the

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<v Speaker 1>head of the image, although it was a remarkably good

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<v Speaker 1>piece of sculpture, looked more like that of Teedric's foreman

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<v Speaker 1>than that of the real Scandos, and with the head

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<v Speaker 1>any resemblance at all to Scandos ceased. The rest of

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<v Speaker 1>the real Scandos was altogether too small and too pitifully

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<v Speaker 1>weak to be acceptable as representative of any Lomarian's god. Hence,

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<v Speaker 1>the torso and limbs of the gleaming copper statue were wider, thicker, longer, bigger,

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<v Speaker 1>and even more fantastically muscled than were Tedric's own. Also,

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<v Speaker 1>the figure was hollow, filled with sand throughout except for

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<v Speaker 1>an intricately carved gray sandstone brandsan and red painted hardwood

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<v Speaker 1>liver and heart. They come master to the number of eleven.

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<v Speaker 1>His lookout boy came running with news at mid afternoon

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<v Speaker 1>of the seventh day, one priest in copper, ten trarchians

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<v Speaker 1>in iron in each of five bowmen and spearmen. Tedric

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<v Speaker 1>did not have to tell the boy where to go

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<v Speaker 1>or what to do, or to hurry about it, as

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<v Speaker 1>both ran for the iron master's armor. The youngster was

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<v Speaker 1>two steps in the lead. It was evident too that

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<v Speaker 1>he had served a squire before, and frequently for in seconds.

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<v Speaker 1>The erstwhile half naked blacksmith, was fully clothed in iron.

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<v Speaker 1>Thus it was an armored knight leaning negligently upon a

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<v Speaker 1>fifteen pound forging hammer, who waited outside the shop store

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<v Speaker 1>and watched his eleven visitors approach. The banner was that

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<v Speaker 1>of a priest of the third rank. Good They weren't

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<v Speaker 1>worried about him enough yet to send a big one,

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<v Speaker 1>and only ten mercenaries, small short bandy legged men of

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<v Speaker 1>tark and good enough fighters for their weight. But they

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<v Speaker 1>didn't wait much. This wouldn't be too bad. The group

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<v Speaker 1>came up to within a few paces and stopped art

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<v Speaker 1>in armor smith. The discomfited priest demanded, why why not

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<v Speaker 1>tis my habit? To Greek guests in apparel of their

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<v Speaker 1>own choosing. There was a brief silence. Then to what

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<v Speaker 1>do I owe the honor of this visit? Priest, he asked,

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<v Speaker 1>only half sarcastically. I paid as I have always paid

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<v Speaker 1>the fraction due. True, it is not about a fraction.

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<v Speaker 1>I come. It is noised that a strange God appeared

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<v Speaker 1>to you, spoke to you, instructed you in your art.

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<v Speaker 1>You are making an image of him. I made no

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<v Speaker 1>secret of any of these things. I hide nothing from

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<v Speaker 1>the Great God or his minions, nor ever have I

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<v Speaker 1>have nothing to hide. Perhaps such conduct is very unseemly,

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<v Speaker 1>decidedly ungodlike. He should not have appeared to you, but

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<v Speaker 1>to one of us, and in the temple it is

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<v Speaker 1>unsarpedian like. Certainly, all that Sarpadian has ever done for

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<v Speaker 1>me is let me alone, and I have paid heavily

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<v Speaker 1>for that. What bargain did you make with this losser? Oh?

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<v Speaker 1>What was the price? No bargain was made. I thought

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<v Speaker 1>it strange. But who am I an ordinary man to

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<v Speaker 1>try to understand the actions are the reasonings of a god.

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<v Speaker 1>There will be a price, I suppose, whatever it is,

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<v Speaker 1>I will pay it gladly. You will pay. They rest

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<v Speaker 1>assured not to this loser, but to Great Sarpadion, I

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<v Speaker 1>command you to destroy that image forthwith you do Why

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<v Speaker 1>since when has it been against the law to have

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<v Speaker 1>a personal god. Most families of Lomar have them, not

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<v Speaker 1>like yours. Sarpadian does not permit your loser to exist.

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<v Speaker 1>Sarpadion has nothing to say about it. Losir already exists.

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<v Speaker 1>Is the great God so weak, so afraid, so unable

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<v Speaker 1>to defend himself against a one man stranger that he

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<v Speaker 1>take care smith silence? That is rankest blasphemy perhaps, But

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<v Speaker 1>I have blaspheme before, and Sarpaedion hasn't killed me yet,

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<v Speaker 1>nor will he, methinks, at least until his priests have

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<v Speaker 1>collected his fraction of the finest iron ever forge, and

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<v Speaker 1>which I only can make. Oh, yes, the new orn.

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<v Speaker 1>Tell me exactly how it is made. You know better

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<v Speaker 1>than to ask that question, Priest. The secret will be

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<v Speaker 1>known only to me and my God. We have equipment

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<v Speaker 1>and tools designed specifically for getting information out of such

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<v Speaker 1>as you seize him in and smash that image. Hold

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<v Speaker 1>Tedric roared in such a voice that not a man moved.

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<v Speaker 1>If anybody takes one forward step, priest or makes one

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<v Speaker 1>move towards spear or arrow. Your brains will spatter the

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<v Speaker 1>walls across the street. Can your copper helmet stop this hammer?

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<v Speaker 1>Can your girl muscled, fat bellied Priest's body move fast

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<v Speaker 1>enough to dodge my blow? And most of all those

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<v Speaker 1>runty little slavelings behind you? Waving his left arm contemptuously

345
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<v Speaker 1>at the group, will also die before they cut me down.

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<v Speaker 1>And if I die now, of what worth is Sarpadion's

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<v Speaker 1>fraction of a metal that will never be made? Think well, Priest.

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<v Speaker 1>Sarpadion's agent studied the truculent, glaring iron master for a

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<v Speaker 1>long two minutes. Then, the sighting that the proposed victim

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<v Speaker 1>could not be taken alive, he led his crew back

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<v Speaker 1>the way they had come, trailing fiery threats and tetric

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<v Speaker 1>going back into his shop. Was thoroughly aware that those

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<v Speaker 1>threats were not idle. So far, he hadn't taken too

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<v Speaker 1>much risk, But the next visit would be different, very different.

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<v Speaker 1>He was exceedingly glad that none of his men knew

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<v Speaker 1>that the pots they were firing so fiercely were in

357
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<v Speaker 1>fact filled only with coke and willow charcoal, that armor

358
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<v Speaker 1>and sword and shield and axe, and Hammer were at

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<v Speaker 1>that moment getting their final heat treatment in a bath

360
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<v Speaker 1>of oil but little hotter than boiling water, in the

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<v Speaker 1>sanctum to which he retired, always alone to perform the

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<v Speaker 1>incantations which his men and hence the priests of Sarpadion,

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<v Speaker 1>believed as necessary as any other part of the metallurgical process.

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<v Speaker 1>End of Part one.