Chapter 7
352 Words
A slim, dark clad figure hunched over a slender Readings Way Book. A larger book was at his right hand. He was vainly searching for something to guide his words and his decisions in the coming days. The heat of the day had dissipated and he felt the evening breezes might clear his mind and his Pathway. He"d forgotten the number of times he"d read the old Teacher"s prophecy for following the true Pathway of the Stars or the false Pathway leading to the one thousand years of burning. After a few minutes, he opened the Waybook with the last Teacher"s prophesies:
Final Readings:
The other book of Readings was also from the old Teacher. They were mundane and stressed learning, walking the Way, creating buildings of stone, and studying until the next Star Shift. He closed the slim book and leaned back.
The new Teacher knew in his heart the passages he chose to read would be disappointing to all who had heard the prophecies of the revered Teacher and an acrid taste filled his mouth.
It was no different in the morning when he gave his pronouncements at the hastily constructed Kirche. He read them verbatim and expounded on the hard work they all faced. There was no stirring prophecy to inspire them or to pull new brethren into the Western Star Shift Institute or its Academy in Tonath. He bowed his head as silence fell over his listeners and he knew his work would increase.
Later he sat in his dark paneled office in his dark robes and considered his course. The Way Book Readings lay to his side and the letter from the previous Teacher was in front of him. The letter had been very specific about his duties and when to read the True Man prophecies to the populace of Tonath, but there was nothing to tell him how to proceed during the interim. He tightened his lips, folded his slender hands, and closed his eyes. So many decisions, so many lives, and no clear idea of how many years he would have to complete his work.
- Writer
