that which is denied? We have heard no such statement uttered, and neither has
anyone attributed any such statement to the accused. Instead we are assured, by
accused and accuser alike, merely of a question’s being asked. Since a question
cannot of itself presume its own answer, nothing that may rightfully be judged
as heresy can have been stated.”
Some of the Council priests were looking at each other questioningly while
others were muttering among themselves. It sounded as if at least some of them
were seeing the issue in a new perspective. Encouraged and feeling a spark of
genuine hope for the first time, Thirg set down his cap, made a brief gesture of
appeal, and went on, “Further, I would, with the Court’s approval, offer not a
third alternative to the two presented in the learned Prosecutor’s proof by
logic—for he has assured us that no third possibility exists—but rather the
suggestion that the second alternative may be seen, upon closer inspection, to
divide itself into two subtler variations, namely: Either the world is round, or
the anecdotes of travelers cannot be relied upon. Thus, by offering a manifest
absurdity as one of the possible answers for his students to choose, the
teacher’s question is revealed as a cryptic lesson on the reliability of faith
as a guide to truth as opposed to the evidence of the senses, when the two are
found to be in conflict.”
Some of the priests were looking impressed, and even Frennelech’s expression
seemed to have softened a fraction. Thirg concluded, “My final observation is
that in his capacity as an assistant to the Royal Surveyor, the accused renders
valuable service to His Sup—” Thirg caught a pained look from Frennelech and
emended, “to the nation of Kroaxia, which is of especial importance at a time
such as this, when we are threatened by foreign enemies. If the Lifemaker in His
wisdom has seen fit to send us a competent maker of maps and charts, we would be
well advised, in my humble submission, to think carefully before dispatching His
gift back to Him unused.”
With that, Thirg sat down and found that he was shaking. The Council went into
further deliberation, and after much murmuring and head-wagging, Frennelech
quieted the chamber and announced, “The verdict of the Council is that the
accused stands guilty of irresponsibility, irreverence, and impiety to a degree
inexcusable of a common citizen, and criminally indictable for a teacher.” He
paused. “The charge of heresy, however, is not substantiated.” Lofbayel swayed
on his feet and cried out aloud with relief. Excited murmurs rippled round the
chamber, while Rekashoba turned angrily away and Horazzorgio looked at Thirg
venomously. Frennelech continued, “The Council has accepted a motion for
leniency, and the sentence of this Court is that the accused be fined to the
amount of one-quarter of his possessions; that the accused shall serve two
brights of penance and recantation in a public place; and that the accused be
banned permanently from all practice of teaching, writing of materials for
public distribution, all other means of disseminating ideas, thoughts, or
opinions in public, and all forms of activity associated therewith. The session
is now ended.”
“The Court will rise,” the Warden ordered. Everyone stood while Frennelech rose
from his seat, turned, and swept from the chamber, followed by two attendants
and the acolyte. After a respectful pause the other Council members filed out in
silent dignity. Lofbayel nodded numbly but managed to send the ghost of a
grateful smile in Thirg’s direction as he was led away. Voices and murmurs broke
out all around, and the remaining attendees broke up and began to drift toward
the doors individually or in small groups.
On one side of the chamber Horazzorgio moved closer to Rekashoba, who was
gathering up his documents while he watched Thirg disappear among the figures
crowded outside the doorway. “Who is he?” Rekashoba asked in a low, menacing
voice. “What do you know of him?”
“But little, I fear,” Horazzorgio answered. “He lives well away from the city,
at the upper edge of the forest below the mountains. But I have heard talk of
his proclivity for dabbling in Black Arts and sorcery. I will make inquiries.”