The Godmakers

Chapter Twenty-Five

“He shows a nice restraint,” the Abbod said. “I observe that in him: a nice restraint. He doesn’t play with his powers.”

The Abbod sat on a low stool in front of his fireplace, Macrithy standing behind him with the latest report on Orne. In spite of the hopeful words, there was sadness in the Abbod’s voice.

Macrithy heard the tone, said: “I, too, observe that he did not call his woman to his side or otherwise experiment with the Great Machine. Tell me, Reverend Abbod, why is it you do not sound happy about this observation?”

“Orne will reflect upon this himself, given time. He will see that he does not need the machine to do what he wills. What then, dear friend?”

“You have no doubts that he is the god you called up?”

“No doubts at all. And when he discovers his enormous powers…”

“He will come seeking you, Reverend Abbod.”

“There will be no stopping him, of course. I don’t even want it tried. There exists only one challenge I pray he will face.”

“We stopped the Speaking Stone,” Macrithy ventured.

“Did we? Or did it turn away in amusement, seeing another purpose in existence?”

Macrithy put his hands to his face. “Reverend Abbod, when will we stop these terrible explorations into regions where we have no right to go?”

“No right?”

“When will we stop?” Macrithy lowered his hands, revealing tearstains on his round cheeks.

“We will never stop short of our total extinction,” the Abbod said.

“Why? Why?”

“Because we began this way, dear friend. This has begun, it had a beginning. That is the other meaning of discovery. It means to open up into view that which has always been, that which is without beginning and without end. We delude ourselves, you see? We cut a segment out of forever and say, ‘See! Here is where it started and here is where it ends!’”

“But that is only our limited viewpoint speaking.”