by John Dalmas
"Your body was at home. You left it behind."
"But . . ." He shook his head as if to clear fog away, then spoke more slowly. "If I left my body behind, how do you know I was there?"
"Hrum-In-Thee imaged a copy there. We all did. Why, I don't know; it wasn't necessary."
Brokols had no response to that, or nothing he could put into words.
"What were we doing there?" Juliassa asked curiously.
"Ah! Hrum had been considering discontinuing humankind in this playground. We are only his foster children, after all, here on condition. For too long, too many of us had been violating his purpose for the world—the reason most others had come here."
Brokols stared. "You mean he was going to kill us? With some epidemic or something?"
"No, not kill. Discontinue. We would cease to exist here. We and all our works. We'd have had to go elsewhere. Or be nowhere."
Brokols couldn't handle the concepts, and sidestepped. "I guess he decided in our favor then, eh? We're still here."
Panni nodded, chuckling. "We have been granted a charter, so to speak. You two are part of the reason."
Then, looking at Juliassa, Panni changed the subject. As if knowing he'd extended Brokols to his present limit. "There is something you wish to ask me."
She nodded. "But first I want to thank you again for what you did for my fece. And my dreams! Tirros no longer—violates me and slashes my throat."
Panni's head bobbed. "And I wish to thank you, for what you did there in the harbor at Haipoor, and in the weeks leading up to it. Now, what is your question?"
"I—I wonder if I might study with you. Whether it's practical for a married woman. I'd like to become a master, but I can't live at a monastery."
"Yes, I will train you."
More tentatively then, she asked: "Do you think it will work?"
"I believe you have already seen your Kirsan and your Nasrik, yes?"
"More than once. Meditating when I was eleven and twelve. They didn't merge though."
"For one who sees them so young, the chances of Awakening are very good." He paused significantly. "Especially if one does not wish it intensely."
"Would she be expected to stay here?" Brokols asked worriedly. "At your cave?"
Panni smiled and shook his head. "You have a large yard behind your house. If there was a small house there, of one room, where I could live, Juliassa could train at home."
She turned to her husband in delight. "May I, Elver?" Then, more soberly, "It's your home too."
Brokols remembered Master Jerrsio's wedding lines, remembered how right they'd seemed, and looked at Panni. "Will she change? Very much?"
"Oh, yes. But has she not already? And yourself! And you will continue to change, both of you.
"Why do you suppose disciples wish to live with Tassi? Or myself? Certainly it isn't the comforts that bring them, yet from time to time, we have to send some of them away. To cure them of dependence.
"To be much in the sphere of someone who has Awakened," Panni went on, "or who is progressing in that direction, is to change. In the direction of greater mastery of life. Unless, of course, one resists. Or strives too strongly."
"Well, then," Brokols said, suddenly businesslike, "how large shall I have it built?"
"Fifteen feet on a side will be abundantly large. The men who live with me here will not follow me when I move."
"Could you come to town and show us where you'd like it built? And what you'd like it to look like?"
Panni put a long brown hand on Brokols' shoulder. "Whatever you make it will be fine. And anywhere in your yard. It will be yours; I'll be but a visitor. It will be there still when I have gone.
"Now there is something else I must do." He knelt at Brokols' feet, and felt between the splints. "How long has it been since it was broken?"
"Um. Seven weeks I suppose, or eight. I've about as many more with this." He indicated the crutch.
"Have you tried to walk on it yet?"
"Oh, no. A broken shinbone takes fifteen weeks to heel enough for that. A dozen at the very least. I'd just undo what healing's taken place."
"Ah. Did I not touch it, not long after it was broken?"
Brokols frowned uncomfortably. He could see where this was leading. "Yes. And it reduced the discomfort considerably."
"Good. Do you suppose it had any healing effect?"
"Why—I suppose so. Some." He looked at Juliassa for help. She was smiling at him. Her fingers went to her face, reminding him of Panni's power.
"What," Panni said, "is a broken leg good for?"
Chills flowed over Brokols as he remembered. When they stilled, Panni thanked them for visiting him. They went to their kaabors, mounted, and turned back toward Theedalit. Brokols had still used his crutch, but as they rode, he was thinking that he might, just possibly, test the leg in a week or two. Very carefully of course.
"D'you suppose I could learn to meditate?" he asked.
"I don't see why not."
"Would I have to learn to sit with my legs folded together the way they do? I don't believe I ever could."
Juliassa laughed. "Don't be too sure. Think of all the things you've learned since you arrived."
He nodded thoughtfully. "I have, haven't I?"
* * *
and they lived quite happily for a rather long time
Dramatis Personae
The characters listed here don't include those who appear or are mentioned in only one place, unless they have special significance. Names are listed alphabetically in the form usually mentioned. If commonly referred to by surname—for example, Brokols—the surname is given first and capitalized, thus: BROKOLS, Elver. If only one name is given in the story, for example Lardunno, the name is not capitalized, regardless of whether it is a surname or not.
Some readers feel more comfortable with names they can pronounce. In this story, most names are Hrummean, Djezian, barbarian, or sullsit. The convention is that the stressed syllable ends in a doubled letter, thus: ALLbarin VenjiANNi.
Allbarin Venjianni—counselor of the amirr of Hrumma
Always Fighting—youth name of the barbarian, Bloody Sword(see)
Amaadio Akrosstos—Hrummean herbalist
Argant—aide to Lord Kryger, Almaeic ambassador to Djez Gorrbul
BILLBIS—see Karrlis Billbis
Bloody Sword—Innjoka warrior, brother of chief Killed Many
Borrsio—mythical Hrummean storm god; or, aspect of Hrum associated with storms
BOSTELLI, Arnello—landlord to Elver Brokols in Theedalit
BROKOLS, Elver—Almaeic ambassador to Hrumma
BRONT, Heskil—biologist on the warpship Adanik Larvest
CADRIIO, Eltrienn—see Eltrienn Cadriio
CADRIIO, Vessto—see Vessto Cadriio
Carrnos Frimattos—see Frimattos, Carrnos
Danntis Deltibbio—a centurion who accompanies the Cadriio brothers to Agate Bay
DISOTTO, Travvos—see Travvos Disotto
DIXEN, Glembro—Almaeic ambassador to Djez Seechul
Doziellos—Hrummean general at Kammenak
Eltrienn Cadriio—centurion, Hrummean intelligence officer, friend of Brokols
Ettsio Torillo—Hrummean ironmaker and timber merchant who opened trade with the barbarians; father of Sallvis Venettsio
Formaalu—see Grimmuh Formaalu
FRIMATTOS, Carrnos—handyman at Hidden Haven
Gamaliiu—King of Djez Gorrbul
Gerrla—widowed cook for the Bostellis; girlfriend of Stilfos
Gorrvis Vendorrci—Brokols' aide on the visit to Kammenak
Grimmuh Formaalu—commander of the Gorrbian invasion army
HANORISSIA, Juliassa—see Juliassa Hanorissia
HANORISSIA, Morrvia—the naamir (approximately queen) of Hrumma
HANORISSIA, Zeenia—see Zeenia Hanorissia
HANORISSIO, Leonessto—amirr (elective ruler) of Hrumma
HANORISSIO, Tirros—see Tirros Hanoris
sio
He Means It—youth name of Killed Many (see)
Heskil Brant—life support technician and last captain of warpship Adanik Larvest
Innjoka—the Agate River Tribe of barbarians
Jerrsio—master at the Theedalit Monastery
Jenkka Yelltis—Juliassa's (the namirrna's) bodyguard
Juliassa Hanorissia—namirrna (approximately princess) of Hrumma
Kaitmar III—("Great Kaitmar") the historical emperor of Almeon who completed the unification of the Almaeic Archipelago
Kaitmar IV—the historical emperor of Almeon who suppressed the Almaeic island province of Kelthos
Karrlis Billbis—a Hrummean adept, the criminal associate of Tirros Hanorissio
Killed Many—great chief of the barbarians
Kinnli Innjakot—the Agate Bay Clan of barbarians
Korvassu—Gorrbian lieutenant commanding a flotilla of raider boats
Krootar—a sellsu, packmate of Sleekit
KRYGER, Lord Vendel—Almaeic ambassador to Djez Gorrbul, and commander of Almaeic diplomatic mission to the droid states
S'Kthuump—an old female sea serpent
Labdallu—king of Djez Seechul
Lardunno—Hrummean government adept who goes with Eltrienn Cadriio on fact-finding mission to Gardozzi Bay
Lerrlia Vencurria—female associate of Tirros Hanorissio
LINFORRIO, Zivvas—a Hrummean adept employed by Mellvis Rantrelli
Lori Maloi—a biotech on the warpship Adanik Larvest
Lormallia—legendary "daughter of Hrum"; see Lori Maloi
Maatio—a Hrummean soldier in Vendunno's patrol
Marinnia Vencurria—female associate of Tirros Hanorissio
Panni Vempravvo—a sage, known as "the Lamp of Hrum"
Ramuulo—a Gorrbian soldier at Kammenak
RANTRELLI, Mellvis—a pious, politically active merchant of Hrumma
Reeno Venreeno—see Venreeno
Ressteto Istroovio—Ettsio Torillo's nephew, deputy factor at Agate Bay
Sallvis Venettsio—see Venettsio
Sellsu—singular of sullsi (see)
Sleekit—a sellsu, friend of Juliassa Hanorissia
Stedmer—captain of the Almaeic ship Emperor Dard XII
Stilfos—aide to Brokols
Sullsi—(singular, sellsu) "children of the waves"; intelligent marine mammals
Tarrni—young Hrummean fisherman who fights Tirros Hanorissio
Tassi Vermaatio—a sage, known as "the Is-ness of Hrum"
Terlenter—captain, warpship Adanik Larvest
Tirros Hanorissio—mirj (approximately prince) of Hrumma
TORILLO, Ettsio—see Ettsio Torillo
Torissia Korillias—Juliassa Hanorissia's young aunt and sometime chaperone
Travvos Disotto—Hrummean police inspector
Triivarum—a sellsu, packmate of Sleekit
Trinnia Akrosstas—wife of Amaadio Akrosstos
Tssissfu—a two-year-old sea serpent
VEMPRAVVO, Panni—see Panni Vempravvo
VENCURRIA sisters—see Lerrlia and Marinnia Vencurria
VENDORRCI—see Gorrvis Vendorrci
Vendunno—Hrummean lieutenant and patrol leader
VENETTSIO, Sallvis—factor at Agate Bay
VENJIANNI, Allbarin—see Allbarin Venjianni
VENREENO, Reeno—Hrummean adept and security agent
VERMAATIO, Tassi—see Tassi Vermaatio
Vessto Cadriio—a "country sage," known as "the Trumpet of Hrum"; brother of Eltrienn Cadriio
Vrronnkiess—sea serpent name for the sea serpents
WERLINGUS, Erlin—Almaeic midshipman, aide to Kryger
Zeenia Hanorissia—the amirr's sister, mistress at Sea Cliff
THE END
The Lantern of God
Table of Contents
Foreword
Prolog
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Three
Thirty-Four
Thirty-Five
Thirty-Six
Thirty-Seven
Thirty-Eight
Thirty-Nine
Forty
Forty-One
Forty-Two
Forty-Three
Forty-Four
Forty-Five
Forty-Six
Forty-Seven
Forty-Eight
Forty-Nine
Fifty
Fifty-One
Fifty-Two
Fifty-Three
Fifty-Four
Fifty-Five
Fifty-Six
Fifty-Seven
Fifty-Eight
Fifty-Nine
Sixty
Sixty-One
Sixty-Two
Sixty-Three
Sixty-Four
Sixty-Five
Sixty-Six
Sixty-Seven
Sixty-Eight
Sixty-Nine
Seventy
Seventy-One
Seventy-Two
Seventy-Three
Seventy-Four
Seventy-Five
Seventy-Six
Seventy-Seven
Dramatis Personae