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((Double Monday -- Page 1 of 2))

Their world is becoming a terrible place. Full of stagnation and sickness and suffering. This cannot be the ideal which Father desired.

Then, one day, when the boy’s hope is just about at its end, another among the Hun’Sho takes decisive action.

His name is Torosh. He is the boy’s peer, one of the original generation, though some are now considering him their leader, the greatest among the Guong.

Torosh begins imprisoning Hun’Kui. He is even talking of executing some of them, though only those who have been found guilty of particularly heinous crimes.

Where before, the Hun’Sho had always deferred to Father’s ever-forgiving judgment, Torosh is going against Him. Torosh speaks at length to the rest of them about his decision.

“If we are to help the Hun’Kui, truly help them, then we cannot continue as we have been. While we may have all the time we desire to achieve our goals, the Hun’Kui do not. It is not a mercy or a kindness to take a gentle approach. Order must be reestablished if we are to have any hope of making progress again.”

The boy agrees, for the most part, but he fears going against Father. He does not think it wise. And so he does not join Torosh in making this decision. The boy buries such thoughts and does as he has always done. He follows Father’s orders.

As do most of the Hun’Sho. Torosh’s actions have divided them.

When Father learns of what Torosh and the others are doing, He is not angry. But he is not pleased, either. He is eerily calm.

“Freedom is integral to the goal of an ideal world,” Father tells them. “That you do not understand this after all this time, is my failing, I suppose. Forgive me, my children.”

Father frees their prisoners. And then He imprisons Torosh and his followers, instead.

The boy is more fearful than ever now. But he is glad that he did not disobey Father.

As time goes on, the boy becomes increasingly convinced that Torosh was right. The suffering of the Hun’Kui continues, unabated. And their suffering becomes the Hun’Sho’s suffering. Even if the ashen wretches bring most of it upon themselves, it is painful to observe it every day like this.

Senseless. Senseless and horrific.

The boy gives up. There is no point to this struggle. He decides to stop worrying and simply do as he is told. It is better this way. It is better to not care. Caring only brings disappointment and sorrow and pain. Allowing himself to become numb to it all is the only real solution, he realizes.

Perhaps this is Father’s true lesson. That suffering is endless and hoping for anything better is an exercise in futility.

Then, a man arrives.

No.

Not just a man. Something more. Father’s equal.

The way they speak to one another. The way they pay each other respect. And most of all, the way they quarrel. Rarely, has the boy ever seen Father get so angry as when He speaks to this man.