ker had given the night
before had left them tired and listless. Only four of the fifty-four molds
running across the river were filled with sand and gravel that morning and
afternoon--there were still nearly fifty to be filled. Builder was very
depressed--

But he was even more depressed when, at the close of day, two workmen grew
careless and slipped into the last mold being filled; their ear-splitting
shrieks brought half the tribe up over the hill above the village and down
to the dam sight.

After Builder explained what had happened, there were angry mutterings to
the effect that Thor was displeased with the dam and therefore had taken
lives. Nothing Builder could say would dissuade them from this notion, so
well had Thougor indoctrinated them with religious fear of anything used
to control nature. Builder hadn't realized until that moment just how much
the people were against the dam.

Then he saw Thougor, tall and ominous in his cloak of black skins, come
striding through the crowd.

For a moment he stood facing them with his hands on his hips. There seemed
to be a silent understanding between them. Slowly the crowd turned and
disappeared over the hill.

Then Thougor strode over to Builder and said simply, "There will be no
more dam." Turning he followed the rest of the tribe back to the village.

Builder was thunderstruck. He knew there was no use arguing or trying to
reason with either Thougor or the tribe. It was too late for that; only
some drastic measure would complete the dam now.

He walked tiredly over the black hill and down to his shack, wondering how
he could compete with an idol. He realized now, it had been foolish of him
to have overlooked the possible effect Thor might have upon the tribe.
When it had been found three months ago, he never dreamed they would spend
all their leisure in rituals.

The god was his problem; therefore he must get it out of the way, himself,
without expecting help from anyone. Each evening the clouds on the
northern horizon were darkening and drawing closer.

It was night when Builder finally stumbled into his quarters. After
lighting a pine torch he sat down by his workbench and buried his head in
his hands. He was too tired and upset to eat, which was just as well--

Outside of deliberately killing Thougor, there was only one thing he could
do--that was to kidnap Thor. With this realization, in spite of the risk
involved, came some peace of mind. He hadn'