virtue or be it my curse, it has never been within me to
yield to aggression, or to stand aside and let violence pass.
Something has always risen inside me when persecution, in any form, is
at hand. In this I claim no virtue, no heroism. This only will I say:
that I have ever given my strength to those unable to defend
themselves, the downtrodden, the weak, oppressed by the strong. But
most bitter in my malice have always been those who kill in the name of
God, some higher purpose. They are to me blindness and murder
personified. Thus, I do not claim it.

"In twelve wars have I fought---in half as many victories. For in time
my soldiering became no longer a conscious action, but an instinctive
response.

"Well do I know my folly in choosing this bitter course. But if I am
to live, then it will be as a man. And if by the loneliness that is my
soul I can turn aside the sword of injustice, even for a short time,
then so help me God I will do it."

The words ended and the glow receded. It lived no more. Again
himself, alone, Simin lowered his head, so deeply moved that the water
flowed freely from his eyes. The ruling queen approached him.

"Simin-that-was. Do you take this Quest?"

"I will take it, though I fear to falter."

"You will not."

The queen stepped back, and all proclaimed him.

"Si-mai, ungol, misch-naik!" AGAINST THE EVIL THAT WAS AND IS, WE SEND
YOU. The joining was ended, and the gathering dispersed.

II

He had flown for many days into the growing cold. The sun was gone and
the wind was rising as he searched the ground below him for a place to
pass the night. It must be sheltered, not so much from the elements
(though this too was important) as from the marauding bands of ground
wasps that lived in these northern regions. There was still far to go
and much danger ahead. He had no strength for useless battles.

At last as all light faded he came upon a towering pillar of stone in
the midst of a vast wasteland, split at the top as if cloven by a giant
axe. Reaching its heights, he descended slowly into its broad
embrasure. Detecting some deeper shadow in the blackness of the
eastern wall, he flew toward a narrow fissure in the rock. Landing
silently on the lip of it, he tested the air for vibrations. All was
still. He moved inside and huddled close together. He was empty and
cold and weary to the point of exhaustion. He remained in quiet
thought for many hours.