[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] it transcends far beyond such limits by denying one of the fundamental teachings given to us in the Holy Scribings: the Doctrine of Temporal Representation and Succession." He paused again, turned to address the whole chamber, and raised a hand in front of him. "The world was created in a form designed by the Lifemaker to provide a constant reminder that the Church and State function as the divinely ordained instruments of His authority, and that their organizational hierarchies constitute visible embodiments of His will. Thus the solid canopy of the sky, beyond which the mortal world is not permitted ever to look, symbolizes the Supreme Archprelate" the Prosecutor turned and inclined his head deferentially in Frennelech's direction "who sits at the highest position attainable by mere robeings. The sky is supported by the unscalable mountains of the Peripheral Barrier that bounds world, just as the Supreme Archprelate is supported by the spiritual and secular leaders of the civilized world, who are chosen to command heights unclimbable by ordinary robeings, one of whom, of course, is His Supreme Majesty." "May the Lifemaker protect the King!" Horazzorgio shouted. "Let it be so," the bench responded. Rekashoba continued, "The lesser mountains support the higher, and the foothills support the lesser, just as the lower clerics and officials of the State support higher edifices above them. And below, the plains and deserts must reconcile themselves to their rightful place in the scheme, as must the masses." He extended a warning finger. "But the masses must not make the mistake of imagining from these considerations that their lot is a harsh or an unjust one. Indeed, quite the opposite! For, just as the lowlands are sheltered from the storms that rage in the mountains and nourished by the streams flowing down to them from above, so the common masses are protected Page 35 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html and receive spiritual nourishment from the Lifemaker through the succession of higher agencies that He has appointed." Rekashoba's voice took on a harder note as he looked back at Lofbayel. "But a round world would be incompatible with the sacred translations of the Scribings. Since the Scribings cannot be questioned, a round world cannot exist." He waited a second for his argument to register, and then continued in a louder voice, "But, more than that, any claim to the contrary must therefore constitute a denial of the Scribings. And such a denial amounts, in a word, to ... heresy!" A murmur ran round the chamber. Lofbayel clutched weakly at the bar and for a moment looked as if he was about to collapse. The full penalty in the event of a charge of heresy being upheld was the burning out of both eyes, followed by slow dissolution in an acid vat. Horazzorgio's eyes glinted in gloating anticipation; the arresting officer had first option to command the execution in the event of a death sentence. The Council members leaned forward to confer among themselves in low voices. Seated behind the officials and scribes, to one side of the chamber, was a rustic-looking figure, simply attired in a brown tunic of coarse-woven copper, secured by a heavy, black, braided belt, and a dull red cloak assembled from interlocking ceramic platelets. Thirg, Asker-of-Forbidden-Questions, drew in a long stream of nitrogen to cool his overworked emotive circuits and took a moment to prepare himself. As a longtime friend of Lofbayel, a fellow inquirer after truth, and one who had enjoyed the hospitality of Lofbayel's house on many occasions during visits from his solitary abode in the forest below the mountains, Thirg had promised Lofbayel's wife that he would plead her husband's case if the trial went badly. Thirg was far from optimistic about his ability to achieve anything useful, and what he had seen of Rekashoba's zealousness file:///F|/rah/James%20P.%20Hogan/Hogan,%20...s%20P%20-%20Code%20Of%20The%20Li femaker.txt (37 of 222) [1/19/03 5:15:02 PM] file:///F|/rah/James%20P.%20Hogan/Hogan,%20James%20P%20-%20Code%20Of%20The%20L ifemaker.txt led him to fear that the mere act of speaking out in his friend's defense might well be enough to make him a marked person in future, subject to constant scrutiny, questioning, and harassment. But a promise was a promise. Besides, the very idea of not trying was unthinkable. Thirg braced himself and gripped the edges of his seat. Frennelech looked back out over the chamber. "Does the accused have anything to say before the Council's verdict is announced?" Lofbayel attempted to speak, but fear made him incoherent. Frennelech shifted his gaze to the Court Warden. "One is present who is willing to speak for the accused," the Warden said. Thirg took off his cap of aluminum mail, and clutching it before him, rose slowly. "Who speaks for the accused?" Frennelech demanded. "Thirg, a recluse dweller of the forest, who describes himself as a friend of the accused," the Warden replied. "Speak, Thirg," Frennelech ordered. The court and the priests of the Council waited. After a slight hesitation, to find his words, Thirg began speaking cautiously. "Illustrious members of the High Council and officers of the Court, it cannot be denied that words have been uttered rashly, which a moment of prudence and wisdom would have left unsaid. Since truth and justice are the business of the Court, whatever consequences must lawfully follow, it is not my desire to dispute. But the suggestion of heresy, I would respectfully submit, warrants further examination if the possibility of a hasty decision unbecoming of the elders and wisest of Kroaxia is to be avoided." He paused to look along the line of faces, and found a modicum of reassurance that he was being heeded. "For by its very definition, a heresy, we are told, is a denial of the truths [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl blacksoulman.xlx.pl