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Vorbis smiled

"Good Brother Nhumrod is correct," he said "Who had also not been ordained, unless the qualifications were somewhat relaxed in those days"

There was a chorus of nervous laughs, such as there always is from people e their jobs and possibly their lives to a whi line

"Although the donkey was only made a bishop," said Bishop "Deathwish" Treehly qualified," said Vorbis sharply "And now, you will all leave Including Sub?deacon Nhumrod," he added Nhumrod went from red to white at this sudden preferment "But Archbishop Brutha will rey withdrew

Vorbis sat down on a stone chair under an elder tree It was huge and ancient, quite unlike its short-lived relatives outside the garden, and its berries were ripening

The Prophet sat with his elbows on the stone arave Brutha a long, slow stare

"You arerecovered?" he said, eventually

"Yes, lord," said Brutha "But, lord, I cannot be a bishop, I cannot even-

"I assure you the job does not require ence," said Vorbis "If it did, bishops would not be able to do it"

There was another long silence

When Vorbis next spoke, it was as if every as being winched up froreat depth

"We spoke once, did we not, of the nature of reality?"

"Yes"

"And about how often what is perceived is not that which is fundamentally true?"

"Yes"

Another pause High overhead, an eagle circled, looking for tortoises

"I as in the wilderness"

No"

"It is only to be expected The sun, the thirst, the hunger"

"No, lord My memory does not confuse readily"

"Oh, yes I recall"

"So do I, lord"

Vorbis turned his head slightly, looking sidelong at Brutha as if he was trying to hide behind his own face

"In the desert, the Great God Om spoke to me"

"Yes, lord He did Every day"

"You have a hty if sie"

"Yes, lord Lord?"

"Yes, h the desert, lord"

"Remember what I said about fundamental truth, Brutha? Of course you do There was a physical desert, indeed, but also a desert of the soul My God led me, and I led you"

"Ah Yes I see"

Overhead, the spiraling dot that was the eagle appeared to hang s and fell-

"Much was given to me in the desert, Brutha Much was learned Now I o where others have not been, and bring back the truth of it"

-faster than the wind, its whole brain and body existing only as a mist around the sheer intensity of its purpose-

"I did not expect it to be this soon But Ouided my steps And now that we have the Cenobiarchy, we shallmake use of it"

Sole swooped, picked soht

"I'm just a novice, Lord Vorbis I am not a bishop, even if everyone calls et used to it"

It so ti now It was so about the edge in his voice

Vorbis was afraid of him

Why me? Because of the desert? Who would care? For all I know, it was always like this-probably it was Ossory's ass that carried him in the wilderness, who found the water, who kicked a lion to death

Because of Ephebe? Who would listen? Who would care? He is the Prophet and the Cenobiarch He could havehe says is true

Funda to show you thatup "Can you walk?"

"Oh, yes Nhu kind It's mainly sunburn"

As theyhe hadn't noticed before There were arden They were in the shade of trees, or ast bushes-not too obvious, but not exactly hidden

Steps led froround tunnels and rooms that underlay the Temple and, indeed, the whole of the Citadel Noiselessly, a couple of guards fell in behind them at a respectful distance

Brutha followed Vorbis through the tunnels to the artificers' quarter, where forges and workshops clustered around one wide, deep light-well Smoke and fumes billowed up around the hewn rock walls

Vorbis walked directly to a large alcove that glowed red with the light of forge fires Several workers were clustered around so wide and curved

"There," said Vorbis "What do you think?"

It was a turtle

The iron-founders had done a pretty good job, even down to the patterning on the shell and the scales on the legs It was about eight feet long

Brutha heard a rushing noise in his ears as Vorbis spoke