Chapter 44 Chapter Forty-Four

They came out of the tent.On the eastern horizon, rising Onas glowed pink.In the sky, the sister suns of Tano and Xisa have pierced through the clouds and exposed themselves. Now they are at their peak, exuding indescribable rays of light. And one, in the far north, is the little crimson dovim.It shone like a tiny ruby ​​on the horizon. "Four suns," said Theremon, "are a good omen." In the camp of the Christians around them, there was a burst of activity.Trucks are being loaded and tents are being put away. Theremon saw Freemont, who was directing a team of workers at the far end.

The leader of the cult waved to Theremon, who nodded in return. "You hate the practice of Christians ruling the world," Sifna said, "Yet you are still willing to join Freemont? Why? What's the point of that?" Theremon said quietly: "Because there is no other hope." "You think so?" He nodded. "Fremont talked to me for two or three hours and I began to understand. My rational intuition told me that I couldn't trust Freemont and his fanatics, no matter who he was. Riman is a manipulator with great desire for power, very cruel and ruthless, and very dangerous, but is there any other possibility besides him? Alzanor? All those little bosses along the road? To unify all the new provinces into one It takes a million years for a nation. Freemont has the authority to bring the nation...or rather to Mondial...to its knees...Listen, Sifna, most of humanity is insane state, and there are millions of crazy people out there right now. Only the strong-willed people like you, me, and Beanie, or very stupid people come to their senses. As for most of the others, it will take months or years or even Never to be able to return to normal thinking again. A charismatic prophet like Mondial, as much as I hate to say it, may be the only option.

"Then, is there no other choice?" "Not for us, Sifna." "why?" "Look, Sifna, I believe that healing is of the utmost importance and that the rest is secondary. The world has suffered a terrible trauma, and..." "A terrible trauma was imposed." "I don't see it that way. The fires are the product of a massive change in circumstances that would never have happened if the eclipse hadn't pulled back the curtain and brought the stars into view. And the trauma continues, now one after the other. Yes. Arzanol is a scar, these new little independent provinces are a scar, killing each other in the forest... or those madmen who captured the fugitive university professor... a scar."

"And Freeman? He's the biggest scar of all!" "Arguably yes, and arguably no. Sure, he's spreading fanaticism and mysticism, but there's principle in that too. People believe what he's peddling, even madmen, even those who are out of their minds. His scars are so Big, able to swallow the rest. He can heal the world, Sifna, and... from the inside... we can heal everything he does. But only from the inside. If we join him, we There is a chance; if we are completely on the opposite side, then we will be swept away like fleas." "What are you talking about?"

"We have two choices: rally with him and become part of the elite ruling force that will bring the world back from its insanity, or become bums and outlaws. Which do you want, Sifna?" "I want a third option." "There is no third option. Amgando and his gang do not have the strength to form a viable government. People like Arzanol have no scruples. Fliman has controlled half of the territory of the former Salo Federation and Republic, and he It will definitely extend to the rest. Sifna, no matter what you and I do, it will take hundreds of years to restore the rule of reason."

"So you're saying it's better to join his ranks and try to control the direction of the new society than to simply fight because we don't like the kind of fanaticism he represents." "Exactly, exactly." "However, to cooperate with him in the steady and rapid turn of the world towards religious fanaticism..." "The world has been marching towards religious fanaticism before this, hasn't it? Now, the important thing is to find a way out of the chaos. Only people like Fremont have a little hope. Think about it, in a period when other state machinery has been paralyzed, they That machine-like belief will drive civilization. Right now, that's the only thing you can hope for. First, fix the world, and then, hope our children and grandchildren get tired of those dudes in hooded robes. You understand me Do you mean, Sifna? Got it?"

She nodded in a strange and vague way, as if answering the question in her sleep. Theremon watched her, and walked slowly away from him, toward the clearing where they had been frightened by the cult sentries before.This looks like something from a few years ago. For a long time she stood there alone, under the light of the four suns. How beautiful she is, Theremon thought to himself. How much I love her! Strange how it all turned out. He waits.Robed and hooded figures passed him back and forth as the demolition of the cultist camp came to an end. Freeman came over. "How about it?"

"We're considering it," Theremon said. "Us? Anyway, I get the impression you're with us." Theremon watched him impassively. "If Sifna joins you, then I will join you. Otherwise, never." "Whatever you say. We don't want to lose an eloquent man like you. Not to mention an archaeologist as proficient in artifacts as Dr. Sifna." Theremon smiled. "Let's see how my eloquence goes, shall we?" Freemont nodded and walked back to the truck that was being loaded.Theremon looked at Sifna.She faced Onas in the east, Sisar and Tano above her head poured dizzying streams of light on her, and the red light of Dovim had been exposed from the north.

four suns.Best sign. At this time, Sifna dragged her feet across the field and walked back here.Her eyes twinkled and she looked as if she was laughing.She was running towards him. "Oh?" asked Theremon. "What do you think?" She takes his hand. "All right, Theremon, that's it. Almighty Freeman is our leader, and I'll follow him wherever he tells me to go. But on one condition." "Go on. What is it?" "That's the condition I mentioned in his tent, I won't wear a robe, never. If he insists on me, it's all down!" Theremon nodded happily.Everything will be fine, after the sun goes down, the dawn returns, and a new life returns.A new Kargash will rise from the ashes.He and Sifna had a desire, an unwavering desire to shape it.

"I think that can be settled," he replied. "Let's go talk to Freeman and see what he says."