Part 63 (1/2)
”We'll start with the basic point we agree fully on, then. There is one Creator of all the universes, right?”
”I only know of one universe, but other than that, yes.”
”There are more. You'll have to take my word for now, but I'll give you proof later. Anyway, you believe the Creator is three beings in one, a belief I don't share. We do agree, though, that there are lesser supernatural beings. Right again?”
”The various kinds of angels and demons, yes.”
”And the souls of those who've died?”
Odeon thought about that, then nodded slowly. ”I suppose so, though I don't usually think of them that way.”
”Even the saints, who work miracles?”
”G.o.d works the miracles through them,” Odeon corrected. ”Okay, I can go along with all of that.”
”Good, because the next step is where you're going to get upset. Since everything ultimately comes from the Creator, including the power to work miracles, Omnists don't see any practical difference whether these lesser beings intercede, as you believe, and the Creator works the miracle directly, or He delegates the power and they work the actual miracle independently. Since demons in almost all theologies can work the negative equivalent of miracles, and I don't think it likely they'd ask the Creator's permission, I tend to the latter view.”
Odeon didn't like that, but looked at from a purely logical viewpoint, he couldn't argue. It was for d.a.m.nsure Shayan could do things on that order. ”Go on; I can handle it so far.”
Medart smiled. ”You're doing better than I expected. Maybe you won't blow up on me at this stage after all.”
”I've heard a couple of Imperials swearing 'by the Creator and all the G.o.ds', so I can make a guess. I don't like it one little bit, but I'd say what we agree on as the lesser supernatural beings are what they mean by the last part of that phrase.”
”Exactly right! The Omnist definition of a G.o.d is a being subordinate to the Creator who is the proximate cause of a miracle. It's not a judgement of good or bad; it's a simple term to distinguish those who work miracles from those who don't. And if the Creator chooses, He can grant a material being the powers and knowledge normally restricted to those on the supernatural plane. From what you tell me, He loaned Joanie those powers temporarily, and has just given them to Keith--maybe permanently.”
”Umm.” Odeon mulled that over for almost a full minute. That was a little better than the absolute betrayal he'd felt before, but not by much. ”We were promised the Final Coming of G.o.d, and His Kingdom--not a human transformed into an embodied angel or saint.”
Medart sighed. ”Mike, I wish I could offer you what you really need, but that's the best I can do. If it's any consolation, I know and respect Sandemans very much; you couldn't get anyone better for a Protector than one of their warriors. The only change I can see necessary for him to function that way, besides enhancing his natural att.i.tudes and abilities, would be for him to be given a more open outlook s.e.xually.”
”I think he's been given that; at least he undressed when we did, and said he'd take my place conducting his service. But--part of the protection is from sin. How can he do that when he doesn't even know what our sins are?”
”How do you know he doesn't, now? Giving him that information would hardly be beyond the Creator's power.”
Odeon rubbed the back of his hand, studying the blue circled triangle on each. ”Do you know what these mean?” he asked abruptly.
”No. I'm curious, but elsewhere it's one of the symbols of the Trinity, so I didn't think I should ask just yet.”
”It is? Here it started out as the Brothers' symbol, and when you see it burned into someone's hands, it's a mark of their particular hatred.
When it's normal skin with a blue glow, like mine, it's the Protector's Seal--means the person with them has given up the ability to sin.” He studied them for several more seconds. ”Considering what I think about being tricked the way we have been, I'm a little surprised he hasn't taken these away.”
”You're thinking standard human, not Sandeman warrior. I'm sure he thinks you're perfectly justified in feeling betrayed, since he's not what you were promised. While he can and will carry out the functions, since he accepted the position, and in Omnist terms has apparently become a G.o.d, he certainly isn't the Creator.” Medart paused, wondering if this were the time to broach the subject of Odeon becoming a Ranger, or at least claiming his Imperial citizens.h.i.+p and moving to Terra. Before he could decide, Odeon solved that problem for him.
”Jim--can I ask you something?”
”Of course. I'll answer it as the private individual I am here, or as a Ranger, whichever you prefer.”
”What's the difference?”
”As a private individual, I can take your feelings into consideration, and the answer doesn't have to be complete. As a Ranger, you get it all, with no shading. And I'll warn you in advance: most people don't ask us questions, because they don't have the first option and they know they probably won't like our professional answers.”
Odeon managed a grin. He didn't mean it all the way, but Jim's response did deserve something. ”At this point, I'm feeling like nothing can go right, and I don't know what to do about it. I've got to work something out, so you might as well give me the professional version.”