The town ruled by the Eyrie has a gaudily painted, Asian-looking temple for prayers to Yasu and sacrifices to Oktai. Havig is told:
"'Give them their religion, make the priests cooperate, and you have them...'" (p. 66)
He asks:
"'Where's the gallows?'" (ibid.)
- and is told that there are no public hangings.
What would I want to do?
Do not interfere with popular religion.
Do not make anyone cooperate.
Do cooperate as far as possible with everyone.
No hangings, public or otherwise.
On the one hand, life is rough during recovery from the Judgment. On the other hand, the Eyrie is brutal and Havig will rebel against it. Great acorns will grow from small seeds. An interstellar civilization lies ahead. Havig will glimpse that civilization without yet knowing that he is also going to initiate it.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I do not entirely agree because I believe some crimes are so appalling they are rightly punished with death. That said I have no problem with capital punishment being difficult to carry out.
Ad astra! Sean
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