llage.

Whatever had taken place during the day was done, and little groups of
people stood around fires resting and talking--as though it were the old
days before the coming of Thor, thought Builder. That was good.

Builder moved in closer to one of the fires to warm himself against the
early spring night. Someone recognized him--it was one of his workers--and
he was suddenly made welcome, once again being given the place of honor
nearest the fire, as in the old days when he'd first discovered the
humans.

Builder was dumbfounded at the sudden cordiality. In recent days, Thougor
had done such a good job of discrediting, he never dreamed of regaining
his old standing.

Then he was told what had happened during the day while he lay almost
dying:

When the god and Morge were discovered missing, Thougor had called the
village together, explaining that Thor had left them, taking Morge as a
sacrifice because he was dissatisfied with the tribe's paltry blood
offerings and worship. Therefore a great death sacrifice of young men and
women must be undertaken to pacify Thor and cause his return.

But the people questioned Thougor's order; they seemed to feel it was the
priest who had been at fault, not themselves. After all, he was the
closest to Thor, was he not? Therefore it was Thougor, not the village,
that Thor had become angered at. And after holding quick council, they had
driven Thougor out into the wilderness, telling him he was not to return
unless Thor was with him.

Old Builder almost cried when he heard this joyful news. The dam would be
completed after all, he was almost certain. He decided to say nothing more
about religion, Thor or Thougor. Maybe soon they would forget the whole
thing. Now he could go back to teaching the youngsters and some of the
brighter oldsters the methods of writing in symbols instead of drawing
pictures.

Hours and days turned into weeks and months as Builder taught his people
what feeble knowledge he possessed in arithmetic, simple engineering--such
as the dam--and most of all, instilling in them the will to want to learn
and investigate and question anything they came in contact with--even the
very thing he was asking them to do.

As the weeks passed on and the dam was completed, he gradually gathered
around him an ardent little group of seeker after that most elusive of all
things--"Truth".

But Builder knew that his days were numbered now, and his work completed;
there