Starfist FR - 03 - Recoil Read Online Free PDF Page B

time of the massacre the survivors had agreed it was the just punishment of God because radical members of the sect had attempted an act of war against the Confederation of Human Worlds. To escape the anticipated retribution for that act, the sect had fled to the wilderness where it suffered the anger of the Lord. He reminded them of their belief that they had been spared for a reason, and of the long trek through the wilderness that had brought them to New Salem, and a new beginning.
    “We believed that was God’s Plan for us. Now that you are living in prosperity and peace,” he reminded them sternly, “do not forget where you came from and do not project your own sins or those of his fathers upon this creature.”
    Moses sat quietly at Hannah Brattle’s side, sometimes a bewildered expression flitting across his strange face as he tried to follow the speakers. It was clear he understood that the discussions concerned him, but otherwise he had no idea his fate hinged on the outcome. Finally Emwanna Haramu, baptized Judith after she married Spencer Maynard, spoke. “I come to you with my son, Chisi, as refugees. Kingdomite soldiers, they kill my people, the Pilipili Magna,” she reminded them. “You taken us in and you showing us de Way and with God’s grace I marry good Christian man and find new life and new hoping is to us among you given. We too, Chisi, me, we wander in the desert many days, like Children of Israel long, long ago, and de Lord, he show us de way here.” Tears ran down her cheeks as she spoke but her voice did not waver, and although her Standard English was not yet perfect, what she said was clear to everyone. “Now I listen to all the talkings and you making me sad, ’cause the peoples of the City of God youselfs has lost the Way.”
    Several people protested these words loudly. “Silence!” old
    Samuel Sewall demanded. “It is her turn to speak and you shall all listen.” He nodded at Judith to continue.
    “Devils not kill my people, mens do, mens, mens like we, mens with souls, mens who turn from de Way, dem mens, I forgive dem fo’ dere sin and I pray that God forgive dem! I ignorant woman, I no can hardly read the Book yet, but I ask you why cannot our Father give souls to creatures He wishes? This little one? He no devil now! Mebbe like mens, like us, he get in de wrong way, he grow up devil! Sure. Can happen. But now?
    No, no! Now he with us and now we mus’ save his little soul.”
    Judith sat down. No one spoke for a long time. Then old Samuel Sewall cleared his throat. “We have had great argument here today,” he began, “and I am now, by this little woman, reminded of some lines by an old poet, not of our faith but exceedingly wise:
    “ ‘Myself when young did eagerly frequent Doctor and Saint, and heard great argument About it and about: but evermore Came out by the same door where in I went.’
    “Friends, there is one here who has not yet said her piece.”
    Samuel turned to Hannah Brattle and nodded that she should speak.
    Hannah stood and, holding Moses by his little hand, said, “I vote we keep him among us.”
    Moses looked up at Hannah, smiled, and in a tiny but clearly audible voice that was heard by all said, “Mumee, I love you!”
    Zechariah Brattle’s Office, Interstellar City, Kingdom And it came to pass that in the days immediately following the precipitous flight of the Skinks after their defeat by the Confederation forces on the world known as Kingdom, that Madam President Chang-Sturdevant decreed teams of specialists should be sent to that place to find out as much from survivors of the war as they could about the enemy aliens. This began even before Task Force Aguinaldo was formed. And so there came to Haven Dr. Joseph Gobels, who went down to New Salem, where Moses dwelt. Dr. Gobels and his assistant, Dr. Pensy Fogel, whom Gobels kept calling “Fogy,” sat impatiently in Zechariah Brattle’s office, regarding the old puritan with evident