more
powerful, until now, not too many years after the first voyage of Sira
Nal, they virtually ruled the island.

For some years, Tonda, a conservative man and a firm believer in his own
ancestral gods, had paid little attention to this strange, new religion.
Upon arrival at Tanagor, to be sure, he had sometimes placed small
offerings in the votive bowl, but more often, he had merely strode past
the Slave of Kondaro, and gone upon his affairs.

At last, however, attracted by the great profits in the new, oversea
trade, he had decided to arrange for a voyage in one of the great ships.
Then, the efficiency of the priestly bookkeeping methods had become
apparent. The Great God had become incensed at Tonda's impiety during
his many previous trips across the channel, and a curse had been placed
upon him and upon his goods. Of course, if Tonda wished to do penance,
and to make votive offerings, amounting to about two thousand caldor, it
might be that the Great God would relent and allow his passage, but only
with new goods. His former possessions had been destroyed by the angry
Kondaro in his wrath at Tonda's attempts to place them in one of the
sacred ships. Empty-handed, Tonda had returned to the mainland.

"But why did you return with more goods?" inquired Musa.

Tonda smiled. "The wrath of Kondaro extends only to the Great Sea. And,
even though I cannot go farther east, trade here in Tanagor is quite
profitable." He paused, smiling, as he sipped his drink.

"I think the priests like having a few penitents around to explain
things to newcomers, and to furnish examples of the power of Kondaro."

Musa smiled in response. "But my ten caldor make me and my goods
acceptable?"

Tonda looked around quickly, then turned a horrified face toward his
protege.

"Never say such things," he cautioned in a low tone of voice. "Don't
even think them. Your piety makes you acceptable, so long as you
continue in a way pleasing to the great Kondaro. The money means
nothing. It is only the spirit of sacrifice that counts."

"I see." Musa's face was solemn. "And how else may I be sure I will
remain acceptable?"

Tonda nodded approvingly. "I thought you were a man of good sense and
prudence." He launched into a description of the technicalities of the
worship of Kondaro, the god of the Eastern Sea.

At length, Musa left his tutor, and repaired to an inn, where he secured
lodging for the night.

* * * *