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CHAPTER 20

Young soldiers of Heaven, go forth! In backwater lands you will find primitive peoples who yet dance for rain under open sky. Do not mock them, for they know no better. You must show them the truth; that prayer is reserved for T'Chen only, which is to be sung, and only within Her fine house.

- Senator Thalsha,
Speaking before missionaries

Ampharix made her way out onto the floor of the vast senate chamber, moving in purple robed procession with the other thirty-six senators as they filed in through the golden door, making their way to their assigned seats in a preordained design that was centuries old. When she reached her ornate chair, she knelt slightly to the altar of T'Chen at the head of the great dais, then took her seat, making sure to remain rigid and upright, as befitted a senator in court.

Ampharix sat in a single row with the other five members of the council of elders, behind and slightly higher than the junior senators before them. Behind the council of elders, slightly higher still, was the chair of the chancellor, occupied this cycle by the senator Chetit.

Ampharix didn't care much for this chancellor, as Chetit was the least conservative of the senior senators. Not a liberal, by any means, but she was willing to entertain to the perfidious prattle of the heretics and that, in Ampharix's mind, was a dangerous course. Beware good matrons! For Yeetas shall cheat the innocent of their faith with sweet song. As usual, the wisdom of the Scrolls drifted through her mind.

Despite the immense size of the assembly hall, it seemed very small to her now, so packed was it with people who had come see this trial. Ampharix had to keep her head straight and still, as convention dictated, but she was free to move her eyes. She scanned the crowds that packed the visitor galleries overhead and eventually found her daughter, seated among the heretic's supporters. It so pained Ampharix that Siverelle had chosen to side with them and their unholy cause. Though she wouldn't admit it to even herself, it was perhaps the thing that made her hate the heretic most of all; not that he was an offense to heaven, but that he had taken her daughter.

Siverelle was still young and naïve when she had met him, at an age when the spirit was doubly vulnerable. Not only did the mind yet retain the malleability of youth, but also it had begun to feel the rebelliousness of adolescence and such a combination was always fertile soil for corruptive thought.

Ampharix blamed herself, really. She should have been more attentive to Siverelle. Instead, she had concentrated on her political career, entrusting the raising of her daughter to nannies, nuns and tutors. Perhaps if Ampharix had been there for her more, she could have better guided Siverelle into the light of T'Chen's glory and she might have lived as a proper Priat matron, like her mother always strived to do.

Ampharix had never wanted her daughter to know that Ordinary blood flowed in their mutual veins. The senator still harbored anger towards her long dead mother for having confessed this to the young Siverelle. It was most likely the trigger that made her daughter question the teachings of the church and the ways of society, even before she had ever met the damnable heretic.

The rebellious young girl had disputed everything her teachers tried to impress upon her, from the superiority of the Priat race, to the pure perfection of their chosen faith, which in the senator's mind was the only true religion. Ampharix should not have been so surprised when the heretic won her over. Regardless, he would pay.

Ampharix knew her daughter thought that the only reason her mother had not arranged to have Sarwin disposed of long ago was the secret she harbored about their heritage. While this was partially true at least, the old senator's motives were more complex than merely the preservation of her career. One of Siverelle's arguments against her mother's beliefs was that they were inflexible and intolerant of anyone else's viewpoints. Surely if Ampharix let this heretic live and continue to spout his poisonous rhetoric, no one could accuse her of intolerance!

There was one other matter. For all the hatred Ampharix had for Sarwin, and for all the disappointment she felt for her daughter, she still wanted Siverelle to be happy. And for reasons the old senator could not begin to fathom, the heretic seemed to make her Siverelle happy. Ampharix had hoped her early infatuation with the radical would be only a temporary embarrassment brought about by a adolescent's naturally rebellious nature, but with the passing of years and the addition of children, she knew it was real love her daughter felt for the recusant Sarwin.

The children. Ampharix saw that Siverelle had brought none of her brood with her this day. Probably as a precaution against possible violence, or perhaps to spare them the pain watching their father be humiliated before the senate. An even greater sting than losing her daughter was never being able to see her grandchildren. Not for more than a few fleeting moments, at least. She could never talk to them, or read them stories from the Scrolls, or lead them on the righteous path. This saddened the old matron deeply.

Ampharix did what she could, watching from afar. She used all her influence to make sure her daughter and her grandchildren were not harmed by the more fanatical allies of the church, though by doing so she unintentionally afforded some protection to the heretic, as he was often with his family.

Ampharix pictured each of her six grandchildren in her mind, the images matching the photographs she carried on her at all times. She hoped Evoth liked his new toy hoverball. The elation in his little face when she had handed it to him surpassed the look of joy she had ever seen on the face of any priest in spiritual bliss. A part of her envied the trustful nature of the small child. She wished she could have hugged him. If there was no other reason for Ampharix to save the World from this gray skinned apostate, there were her cherished grandchildren. They would grow up knowing the unconditional love of T'Chen, no matter what the cost. She would see to it.

Ampharix scanned the rest of the gallery while the other, mostly aged, senators slowly made their way to their seats, some attended by youthful pages to support them when they knelt to the altar before sitting. She noticed that the young girl Etyiam, whom she had compelled to spy on Sarwin, was not sitting with the heretic's supporters, nor with the faithful set, but was instead nestled amid the curious throngs that espoused no outward allegiance. She did wear her purple religious vestments however. Ampharix pondered the young Ordinary student. She might yet have further use for this girl.

Finally, the last of the senators were seated and the speaker began to pound her gavel for silence. Gradually, over the course of a minute, the cacophony of the huge chamber subsided to a silence that seemed strange for such a huge and crowded place.

"In T'Chen's name, we convene this session of the honorable World Senate," shouted the speaker, "May Her grace smile upon this admirable court. Now pay heed to the honorable Chancellor Chetit, who speaks with authority surpassed only by the Goddess Herself. T’Chen tala forshick pruthon!"

"T'Chen tala forshick pruthon!" pealed back the praise from thousands of throats in the galleries.

The speaker turned and bowed to the chancellor, who in turn stood and addressed the packed chamber, invisible microphones amplifying her voice so all could hear.

"Today this court of the World Senate shall hear final arguments and render judgment in the case of 'Sarwin Kliat Aria versus T'Chen.' The prosecutor general has submitted her case in writing, as per convention, and it has been reviewed and accepted by this court. The defendant has also submitted his defense in writing, but has decided to exercise his right to oral arguments before the senate body. This court now calls upon the defendant to stand before it and prove himself innocent of the charges."

As if on cue, a great wooden door to the right of the senate stage opened, exposing Sarwin and Kleesic to the masses. Instantly, the hall once again erupted into clamor, as the throngs showered them with an unintelligible fusion of cheers and jeers. The two Ordinaries walked to the small desk and podium supplied for them, which faced the great senate platform. They both bowed to the altar of T'Chen, at the forefront of the dais, though Sarwin did so grudgingly. He knew if he did not, the offense would cost him the case before he was allowed to utter a single word.

The speaker banged his gavel for almost half a minute to restore order.

"Sarwin Kliat Aria," began the chancellor, once it was quiet enough to speak, "you stand accused of endangering our people with your unnatural travels through time and space. For the safety of the World and for the protection of T'Chen's chosen people, the prosecution has recommended you cease and desist all such travels henceforth immediately. The Council of Elders has given their complete support of this recommendation and the full senate shall vote this hour on the matter. However, you have chosen to exercise your right to argue your case in person before this court. Have you read the charges which have been filed against you?"

"I have, great Chancellor."

"And do you understand these charges?"

"I do not, Chancellor."

Kleesic gave his client a dumbfounded look while the chamber erupted again. In the delay caused by the ruckus, he started to ask Sarwin what he thought he was doing, but the speaker's gavel worked much faster this time.

"If you do not understand the charges, you cannot defend yourself," continued the Chancellor, "Has your council not reviewed the indictment and explained it to you?"

"He has, great chancellor," explained Sarwin, trying hard to look confident, but not arrogant, "Allow me to clarify. When I said I do not understand the charges, I did not mean that I do not understand them in the legal sense. I meant that I do not understand them in the light of reason."

The fat and ancient senator Thalsha, who was the eldest among the Council of Elders, as well as the most conservative, snorted loudly and then spoke up.

"Are you mocking us, Heretic?" She gestured feebly at him with her gnarled walking stick. "You stand accused of crimes against the church. What time is this for talk of reason? You will speak plainly before this court, so that we can better judge you."

To better judge against me, Sarwin thought. He despised this one most of all. She would cast infants into fire if she thought the Scrolls told her to do so. But he also knew she was well respected among her peers. She was sure to vote against him no matter what, but if he offended her too deeply, many others might follow her lead.

"It is my intent to speak plainly, senator," acquiesced Sarwin, "for it is not only in my interest that you understand me, but that the whole of the World should understand, as well."

"Get to it then, Ordinary," snorted Thalsha, "What is your defense against the charges."

"I have no defense, good senator. None is required. The charges are baseless."

Again, the chamber exploded while the speaker pounded for silence.

"Baseless!" thundered Thalsha, as much as her ancient throat was capable of thundering, "You offend this court, heretic! Your next words had better support your insolence, soulless one, or this trial is over."

"I apologize for the offense," said Sarwin, almost genuinely, "None was intended. I will speak plainly, as the court desires. This hearing is not about the safety of my time travel. My equipment and my procedures have been thoroughly reviewed by a previous senate investigation, which many of you were involved in and permitted, as well as numerous independent investigators, from both the church and the scientific communities."

Sarwin hoisted his thick satchel of papers up toward the senate platform.

"These are just summaries of all the investigations and research that have gone into my methods. The full body of the documentation fills several large rooms. Every one of them finds my procedures, equipment and safety precautions to be above reproach."

Sarwin punctuated his sentence by letting the fat case fall to the desk with a heavy thump.

"Now, if the senate so wishes, we can review each and every one of these supporting documents, which is my right as a defendant. The undertaking would carry us through the upcoming Leetus holiday season and well beyond, and in the end will ultimately exonerate me of the safety violations with which I have been charged," Sarwin paused for both breath and effect, "OR, we can debate what this whole matter is really about."

"And what would this be?" Now the chancellor was speaking again.

"Evolution," replied Sarwin.

Again, the great hall erupted in sound and, again, the gavel fell rapidly in response.

"This court has settled that matter long ago!" shouted Thalsha, managing to raise her crusty voice over the still thunderous crowds, "The heretic Grentus tried to sell that blasphemy to the senate before you were even born. Her black soul is now the plaything of Yeetas's children. Your behavior today tells me you wish to join her there, perhaps even sooner than the Goddess had planned for you."

Sarwin swallowed. He knew if he was not careful, he could well lose more than his case today.

"Senator, I do not wish to debate, here and now, the merits of the theory of evolution against the story of creation as preached in the Scrolls. The senate passed judgment on that matter long ago, deferring to a literal interpretation of the scripture rather than the fossilized evidence that Grentus had pulled from the ground. I do not wish to fight that battle again."

Sarwin paused, feeling the eyes of the entire World on him, then continued.

"Senator, you believe the Scrolls to be infallible, yes? You hold that they are the absolute truth of all things, indeed the direct word of T'Chen herself, passed down directly from the goddess to our people, do you not?"

"As the Goddess is my witness."

"Then you harbor no fear that they could ever be proven false?"

"None," replied Thalsha, though the tone of her voice betrayed some disquiet as to where Sarwin was going.

"Then it would be safe to assume that if I were to go back in time twelve thousand years to the events described in the Scrolls, I would find only evidence that would support the scripture, would you not agree?"

"Well, I... I suppose that is so."

"In fact, I could bring back irrefutable proof that the Scrolls are flawlessly true, ending any debate on the matter once and for always. Even the most hardened skeptics, myself among them, would have no choice but to acquiesce to the omniscient wisdom and absolute authority of the church in all matters, great and small."

Sarwin was playing to his audience, but Thalsha was herself skeptical about this particular skeptic's motives.

"I find it hard to believe that you are so eager to prove the Scrolls true, apostate," she challenged, "How could we be sure you would not ignore any evidence you find that supports the Scrolls and bring back only falsehoods that support your own misguided conjectures of our genesis. Worse yet, you may try to destroy any proof of the Scrolls accuracy that you come across."

Sarwin shook his head.

"I understand your trepidations in this regard, honorable senator, you have every right to be suspicious of me," he answered, "but know this... I am a scientist and though I understand that title holds scarce value to you, it means that I have pledged to seek the truth in all things that I choose to investigate. This pledge to find the truth, no matter what that truth may turn out to be, I take as seriously as you take your oath to the goddess herself. You already have your answers... in the Scrolls... and they satisfy you. I will confess a part of me is envious of the comfort that must bring you."

Sarwin paused, gauging his audience, then continued.

"But my heart and my mind are more restless, seeking to find greater proof of things beyond words written by long dead persons I can never know. I am a skeptic; I make no apologies for that. I do not view the World only through the prism that others have handed to me. I need to forge my own prism. The lens through which I look upon the World matters to me as much as what I see through it. I intend no disrespect toward the Scrolls. I grew up on them, as do all our people, and I respect the moral teachings therein. I yet try to follow them, though I was long ago shown to the door of the temple."

Sarwin paused again, regarding Thalsha and the other senators, trying to judge their reactions, but the chorus of stony expressions yielded no clue.

"If indeed, I prove the Scrolls to be correct," he continued, "I, myself, will kneel before the altar of the goddess and recant everything I have ever said that contradicts the scripture, and dedicate my life to their greater glory. I shall disavow the teachings of Grentus and her followers, and side with you against them. I shall personally burn every book I have ever written and encourage my followers to turn to the church for guidance. This they will do, having the proof that I brought back to bolster their faltering faith. You, yourselves, have said that the church is in a crisis of late. That many of our people are turning away from the Scrolls, seeking answers to life's mysteries from other sources. You say your faith in the accuracy of the Scrolls is steadfast. Then prove it today... To all our people... Let me go to the past and bring back proof to all the doubters that besiege this institution that the scriptures are correct. If you truly believe that the word of T'Chen, as written in the Scrolls, is totally without error, then you have nothing to fear from me. I ask only to be given the chance to prove it to myself and to the many others like me, whose faith is not so unwavering as your own."

Sarwin stopped and the silence in the chamber seemed louder than any ruckus the crowd had earlier produced. After a long minute of quiet, the chancellor finally spoke up.

"Unless you have more to say, the senate will now retire and consider your case."

"I have expressed myself as plainly as I know how," he answered, "It is now up to you and this fine senate to decide the fate of my faith and that of billions like me. Deny us the chance to prove the Scrolls to ourselves and we will always be skeptical of them. No words of priest or threats of inquisitor will ever change that skepticism. It will fester and grow. Allow us to prove the Scrolls true, as you believe they only can be, and me and my kind will be in their service, and yours, forever."

"Does any senator wish to question the defendant further?" inquired the chancellor of her stone-faced cohorts, receiving in return only silence, punctuated by a few headshakes here and there.

"Then this court stands adjourned. The senate shall debate this matter in private and return a verdict one hour hence. This we do in the service of our goddess. T’Chen tala forshick pruthon!"

"T'Chen tala forshick pruthon!" echoed thunderously back from the thousands of throats in the great chamber. Most of them, anyway, as the speaker pounded his gavel.

"This court stands in recess," she yelled, "All rise!"

The groan of thousands of chairs and benches suddenly being relieved of their load might have been audible, were it not overwhelmed by the noise of the crowds.

From her position high in the galleries, Etyiam watch the purple ribbon of senators file out of the chamber. She turned her attention to Sarwin, who seemed to be arguing quietly with his lawyer friend. It would appear Kleesic did not agree fully with his client's tactics.

The girl regarded Sarwin wistfully. She had never seen him speak so earnestly, nor had she ever heard him give any assent to the church whatsoever. If her mind was not so preoccupied with impending events, she might have consciously realized that she found this new side of him very captivating.

But for now, she just hoped he knew what he was doing.

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