And there was, near at hand, a huge ball of molten fire that shot out from its cauldron streamers of light, and below me was a ball showing the colors of blue and green and I could see whiteness covering the land and the waters and gleams of reflected light from the snowy wastes of the northland.
And Du said, 'There I created you.'
For we and our earth are not the center of the universe. The ball that is our earth spins and travels far through blackness and is warmed only by that molten fire.
'Du!' I said.
And Du said, 'None have seen my face, much less those who in the past ignored my teaching and flaunted my word, for that which you see is nothing more than one of my lesser creations, set there in the emptiness to give life to you.'
'Teach me, Master,' I said, 'for I am in Du's paradise.' And Du said, 'When I saw a need to fill the emptiness I made the sun and the earth and those other suns and earths that you, in your ignorance, call the lights in the sky. I gave you the earth, and its goodness, I gave you the succulent green, growing things and the fresh waters and there was none to come against you. I taught you a reverence for life, and I put upon that earth the small, furred animals and the farls of the forests and others that you know not. And I made you the greatest of all living things, keepers and eaters of the green grass and the fruits and the myriad of other growing things, the vines and the small flowers, the towering trees and the growing shrubs, and of the animals I gave you custody, to see, and to admire, and enjoy.' And I came to know that all is a oneness, that all life is kindred, whether it be mobile, fixed, or animal. And I said, 'Master, how did we err?'
And Du said, 'One tasted flesh and ignored the warnings of my spokesmen. Others tasted flesh and then I brought against you the Enemy, the Devourers, and for generations I have punished you.' And I asked, 'How, Master, can we atone for the sins of our ancestors?'
And Du said, 'A few were faithful to my word, and I led them out of the land of death.'
And I asked, 'Do you speak of the Drinkers of the Valley?' And Du said, 'But they, too, were weak, and began to see my face in the disc of the sun, forgetting the teachings of my spokesmen. Yet there was a certain devoutness that remained, and I relent.' And I said, 'Du is great. What have I to do, Master, now that I am dead?'
And Du said, 'My son, you sleep only, for you are my instrument. I have regretted my own creation, and you will be my instrument of punishment for those who have for so long oppressed my people.' And I asked, 'When I awaken, Master, how will I know the proper course?'
And Du said, 'I will be with you. I will form your words as you teach my people, and I will provide helpers for you. Those you will instruct as I instruct you.'
And I said, 'Teach me, Master.'
And Du said, 'You will not take the all of any living entity, except in doing my work against the Devourers. Even then you will be merciful, for there is room for all. You will respect the rights of all brothers, neither taking nor desiring that which is theirs. You will obey me in all things, for I live, and I am unique. You will honor your old ones, and see that they have choice earth where they will await my call to paradise. You will honor the family unit, and cleave to your chosen mate, and teach your offspring the word of the one Du. You will heal the scars made upon my earth by the devourers, for their building is not my wish. You will spread my word to the far corners of the earth, and release others who are in bondage.'
And I felt myself falling and saw no more. 'Master,' I cried, 'I am but one Drinker.'
And Du said, although I heard not, but only sensed it, 'One can change a world when he believes.'
And I cried, 'Master, there are questions. Have I sinned in loving my mate, in being with her for pleasure only?'
And Du said, 'Have I not made you as you are?' Then I heard no more, save for the whispers of those who await Du's call to paradise, and I awoke. Now all living things combine in a oneness. Now I know that the sun, whom we have called Du, is but one small creation of the one Du and his gift to us. Now these words will be copied and recopied and those who copy and read will teach others to copy and read and if we learn, and obey, and keep the laws of Du this land shall be ours once more in oneness.
