Scotty punched his com, Anglo, can you take this Torg to a place where he will be safe?
Ill move him to a herd on the southern continent. The hot tropical band will keep the cats in the northern continent. They wont tolerate that much heat.
Grang rubbed the giant Torg behind the ears and hugged his neck. He stepped back and the Torg disappeared.
It reappeared in the middle of a huge herd of Torg on a broad grassy plain. The lead male came charging up to challenge the newcomer and saw Bravos immense size. It skidded to a halt and quickly lowered its head. Bravo turned and kicked dust at the creature and it scurried away in submission. The giant Torg looked up at the sky and roared its sorrow. It was many years before it found happiness again.
It looks like youve got a teleportation device.
We do. It was on the Searcher that destroyed the planet.
He was right to do it.
Anglo, send us to the community.
Scotty climbed up Vring and Grang said, Im not worthy to ride this noble creature.
Hand me your bowgun and quiver, and mount!
Grang handed Scotty the bowgun and quiver and climbed the giant Zord. All right, Anglo.
They disappeared and Vring caught the air currents and screamed. Julie looked up and wondered what was going on. She watched the Zord get closer. It had turned off its color shifting and she caught her breath. Grang! Oh, no!
Scotty and Vring landed in the clearing, and Grang climbed down to a rapidly growing crowd that showed its anger toward him.
Julie ran up and asked, What are you doing?
Scotty looked in her eyes and she didnt know what she saw. Something was different. Thats when Jing and Samuel showed up and stared at the big Magrum. Jing looked at Scotty, Is he here for a reason?
Yes. Be patient.
Jing stared at Scotty and then nodded to Samuel. They turned and moved to the front row of the gathering communities and sat down in silence. Those that had arrived watched their former leaders and decided they should also be quiet. After half an hour, the three communities had gathered, and all sat in silence.
Grang stood the entire time with his head bowed in silence. Scotty looked around the gathering and said, Vring, I want you to share Grangs thoughts with our communities.
Vring sent the big Magrums thoughts to everyone present for ten seconds. Scotty looked around and saw most of the women were crying. Even Jing and Samuel were shaken by what they saw. Everyone saw that Grang was praying that Scotty would end his suffering with an arrow. Samuel said, No one should suffer like this!
Scotty looked at Julie, who refused to wipe away her tears, and he said to the gathering, I know. Scotty walked up to Grang and said, Youre right.
Grang looked up, Youre going to end my suffering?
No, Grang. To end your suffering would be a dishonor to the one who valued all life. Im going to give you the opportunity to atone for your crime.
Grang lowered his head, There is no possible atonement for what Ive done.
Scotty looked at him and said, You arent the first to say those very same words.
Grang looked up with a puzzled expression.
Before the Holy Realm was started, my home world was in a life and death struggle with 800 planets. The Cainth were a vicious warlike species, and they were given the honor of attacking us with more than 2,000 starships. The Admiral of the Cainth sent two hundred ships to a small Human colony planet in advance of the main invasion. Following his orders, the Cainth Warriors rounded up the colonists in all of their communities, pulled twenty percent of them out, and herded them into the center square of each town. The Cainth troops then fired heavy blasters and killed them all.
The gathering listened in silence. Later, after their fleet was defeated and the Humans invaded their home system, the two species found peace between them. The Admiral that ordered the executions placed himself into the Humans hands so that justice could be done. The leader of the Humans, Thomas Gardner, who later became the first King of the Holy Realm, forgave the Admiral and charged him to work his entire life to make up for his atrocity. Scotty paused and said, The planet where he killed the colonists was Ross. The Admirals name was Dorg. Scotty looked at Jing and nodded.
Jing stood and said, The Admiral never forgave himself. However, he was the reason the Algeans stopped their war. He was the one that saved the Dremel from annihilation. The Heroes Park on Ross was named after him and the planet loved him. His funeral was the largest gathering in the Realms history. I bear his last name proudly. as do many of my people. Jing looked at Grang and said, He died still feeling the guilt of what he had done. But to the Realm, he was its greatest hero.
Scotty looked at Grang, And now I charge you, just as Thomas Gardner charged Dorg-Ross, to go and atone for your crime by working your entire life to make up for it. Scotty turned and faced the communities, Admiral Dorg added Ross to his name to always remind him of his actions, and to make him remember what arrogance and power can do to a person. Scotty looked at Julie and then turned to Grang, From this day on, your name will be Grang-Robbins. You will carry the name of the woman you killed to remind you of what cruelty can lead to. You will be my brother, not only in name but in spirit. I know my Mother wouldnt have had it any other way. You will be the one responsible for my safety. Jingo has duties and, though he has sworn to look out for me, I need him elsewhere.
Jingo said, Hes not qualified. I cant let you depend on someone that cant do the job.
Scotty handed Grang his bowgun and quiver. Grang clipped the quiver to his belt and looked at Scotty. Scotty turned and pointed over the crowd at a house at the edge of the clearing three hundred yards away. I want the first arrow in the column closest to us, the second arrow in the center column, and the third arrow in the far column. I want them hit in the center of the columns.
Jingo looked at Scotty, Get real. I dont think we could make those shots.
Scotty said, Are you ready?
Grang took a deep breath, Youre not going to kill me?
What do you think Madeline would say if you asked her to do it?!? Scotty shouted, Now!!
The bowgun fired so fast that it sounded like one shot. The crowd listened and then heard three loud twocks.
Scotty looked at Jingo and said, Go and see.
Jingo turned and walked away. Hundreds followed him down the path and when they arrived, there was an arrow in the center of every column. Jingo looked at the distant Zord in the clearing and looked back at the arrows. He walked back up the hill and said, Ok, its his job.
Scotty started laughing and Jingo said, What!?
That is the least Ive ever heard you say.
The three communities roared their laughter. Even Jing smiled. Jingo shook his head, Frapped if you do, frapped if you dont. Theres just no winning. Every time I open my mouth someone has something to say. Have they ever considered what Im saying may be important?!? Noooooo. But are they quick to criticize? Yessssss.
Scotty looked at Grang and he said, Your friend talks a lot.
Vring nearly fell off his back legs laughing, and Julie held on to Scotty to keep from falling.
Scotty smiled at Grang, You have no idea.
The cats arrived at the Zords lands two days after they left. They discovered the huge Torg herds living close to the forest, and the leader stopped the migration. There would be food for his family for many years.
Four weeks later Scotty, Julie, and Grang sat on Anglos bridge watching the main display. The three communities were placed on the sites of the former hunting lodges. The ground had been cleared for a radius of a mile, and each of the three communities were settling in.