Om thumped his Temple again. A wall caved in. That part of the crowd that hadn't managed to stampede from the Place redoubled its efforts.
XI. There Must Be Punishment! Otherwise There Will Be No Order!
` No.
XII. I Do Not Need You! I Have Believers Enough Now!
“But only through me. And, perhaps, not for long. It will all happen again. It's happened before. It happens all the time. That's why gods die. They never believe in people. But you have a chance. All you need to do is . . . believe.”
XIII. What? Listen To Stupid Prayers? Watch Over Small Children? Make It Rain?
“Sometimes. Not always. It could be a bargain.”
XIV. BARGAIN! I don't Bargain! Not With Humans!
“Bargain now,” said Brutha. “While you have the chance. Or one day you'll have to bargain with Simony, or someone like him. Or Urn, or someone like him. ”
XV. I Could Destroy You Utterly.
“Yes. I am entirely in your power.”
XVI. I Could Crush You Like An Egg!
“Yes.”
Om paused.
Then he said: XVII. You Can't Use Weakness As A Weapon.
“It's the only one I've got.”
XVIII. Why Should I Yield, Then?
“Not yield. Bargain. Deal with me in weakness. Or one day you'll have to bargain with someone in a position of strength. The world changes.”
XIX. Hah! You Want A Constitutional Religion?
“Why not? The other sort didn't work.”
Om leaned on the Temple, his temper subsiding.
Chap. II v. l. Very Well, Then. But Only For A Time. A grin spread across the enormous, smoking face. For One Hundred Years, Yes?
“And after a hundred years?”
II. We Shall See.
“Agreed.”
A finger the length of a tree unfolded, descended, touched Brutha.
III. You Have A Persuasive Way. You Will Need It. A Fleet Approaches.
“Ephebians?” said Simony.
IV. And Tsorteans. And Djelibeybians. And Klatchians. Every Free Country Along The Coast. To Stamp Out Omnia For Good. Or Bad.
“You don't have many friends, do you?” said Urn.