The Hunter Victorious by Rose Estes Read Free Book Online

I am unaware of, but we are but a small minority.”
    “You don’t understand,” Saxo said patiently, lookingdown at Thunder and stroking the soft fur reflectively. “This return to the old ways is nothing but a ploy. If it were not
     religion, it would be something else. This just happens to suit his needs.”
    “You see, Braldt,” said Brandtson, “our sun in dying. Sooner or later, but most probably sooner, this world will die just
     as surely as old earth did.”
    “Yes, I understand that much,” said Braldt. “But why is it necessary to kill large numbers of people? It seems to me that
     everyone will be needed to find a solution to the problem.”
    “It doesn’t work that way,” Saxo said with a sigh. “You see, there are
too many
people. Once again, we must leave our world behind, find another planet to call home. There are many, many planets in the
     universe, but few of them possess the qualities which we require to sustain life. We are already strained to the limit, trying
     to produce enough food for those who, exist on Valhalla. If we are to migrate to another world and survive, it will not be
     possible, or even desirable, to take everyone.”
    Braldt stared at the two old men, hearing but scarcely believing the words. “Do you mean to say that Otir Vaeng is using this
     religion as a cover for eliminating all of those people he does not wish to take to the new world?”
    “That is precisely what we are saying,” said Brandtson.
    “But that is ridiculous!”
    Saxo and Brandtson stared at him without comment.
    “Otir Vaeng has been reviving the old gods for just that purpose,” Saxo said at length. “It is a test, of sorts. All those
     who follow it are in essence paying him allegiance, accepting his guidance. Those who oppose the gods are declaring themselves
     against him.”
    “But that is not what it means,” cried Braldt. “It merely means that they do not agree with his choice of religion. Whator whom did they worship before Otir Vaeng brought back the old gods?”
    “Most worshiped and believed in little,” replied Brandt-son, “although there were those who still clung to a number of more
     established earth religions. Technology and science were the death knell of most organized religions after the year 2000.
     The more we learned about the universe and the more difficult life became on earth, the easier it was to disbelieve in the
     old gods, for what merciful and all loving god would allow his followers to die in such agonizing ways?”
    “The unanswerable question of the centuries,” murmured Saxo.
    “But it makes no sense,” Braldt protested. “The sun will not die for many years to come. Nor has Otir Vaeng found another
     planet to migrate to. Why, he could use every single pair of hands. It is insanity to even think of killing so many people!”
    “You do not understand the logistics of such a move,” Saxo said patiently. “It is not like moving a family or a village or
     even an entire city from one location to another. When one leaves a planet and colonizes another, each person has been carefully
     chosen for the skills he or she possesses. There is slim margin for error. Who knows what the conditions of the new world
     will be? Who knows how long it will take to set up a food chain that will provide for all? Every mouth is a liability.”
    “But there is so much time!” Braldt said vehemently. “I have heard it said that this sun will not fade for many thousands
     of years. Is it not possible to send everyone? The most important workers go first and then the others in turn according to
     the needs of the world! Would that not work?”
    “If indeed we had the amount of time that you are suggesting,” said Saxo, “such a thing would indeed be possible.But we are working against a much more difficult time frame.”
    “I do not understand.” Braldt frowned.
    “The solar flares,” said Brandtson. “Yes, the sun will most likely exist for many thousands of