Preserving Hope Read Online Free PDF

raised an eyebrow. “Very interesting. We have many carpenters, farmers, butchers, smiths, woodsmen, bakers, cooks, tanners, millers, cobblers, brewers, weavers, and even a locksmith living in this village. But we have only a small handful of Traders who can barter top prices for our goods in other towns, and secure low prices for the supplies we need. I believe you’ll fit in well with that group. Does that suit you?”
    Will nodded. He had no idea what it meant to be a Trader in this era, but believed he could adapt well.
    Arthur stood and clapped Will on the shoulder. “Wonderful! I need to take Elizabeth to Eva, and Eva is our lead Trader. Walk with me, and I’ll give you an overview of our group, and then show you to your room.” He walked out the door, and Will followed.
    “You see, Will, our group believes people are capable of a great deal more than most can imagine, let alone accomplish in their short, sickly, and frankly inconsequential lives. Our goal is very simple: we seek to find the limits of human potential and growth, streamline the means of achieving it, and then use those talents to increase our personal wealth.” Arthur stopped at the small single-person dwelling next door, knocked, and continued walking. A moment later, Elizabeth stepped out, eyes facing down, not looking directly at either man, and followed.
    Will, who had been walking behind Arthur, lengthened his stride and caught up with the shorter man. “If we figure out the answers to those questions, wouldn’t it be beneficial to tell everyone? How can we stand by and allow our fellow man to live in sickness and poverty if we can show them how to avoid it?”
    “There is no way to measure the success of these techniques if they are available to everyone,” Arthur replied. “Many would find a way to use our knowledge for evil; the only way to prevent that from happening is to carefully screen and select those we allow into this small community, and limit the practice of what we’ve learned to those living here.”
    Will shook his head. “I don’t agree with that. The best way to lift humanity as a whole is to spread this knowledge around as we learn it. The best way to ensure that no one uses the knowledge gained for evil is to make sure it’s spread so widely that no one can control that knowledge for their evil purposes.”
    Arthur stopped and turned to look at Will. “You made an oath, Will. You gave your word that you’d share nothing of what you will learn outside these walls, and that means you can do none of what you just suggested.” His gaze narrowed, and his look became menacing. “Are you reneging on your oath only moments after it was made, Will?”
    “I made my oath, and I am a man of my word,” Will replied. “But that doesn’t mean the community won’t agree to change its approach in the future.”
    “It’s highly doubtful that will be the case,” Arthur said. “You see, in our earliest days, we were able to reduce our rate of sickness and improve our overall health. That’s helped us produce better goods to sell to other towns and cities, and achieve better prices for what we buy and sell. Our improved health means that our minds work better and more quickly than those we are dealing with. We’ve done well, and have developed modest wealth as a community. That might be enough for most, but not for me or the rest of the members of this community. No, Will, we believe we’ve only just begun to see what we’re capable of doing. And it has nothing to do with merely making a lot of money.”
    “What do you mean, Arthur?” Will asked.
    The man’s eyes gleamed. “Because some of our members have already seen what human beings are capable of becoming. And we aim to match and surpass such wizardry.”

III
    Trader
     
     
    Will blinked. “What do you mean, they’ve already seen it ? What is it ? What wizardry are you talking about? What have they seen?”
    Arthur laughed. “Come now, Will. You’ve been