Small Gods (Discworld 13)

He tossed another, thicker scroll on to the table.

"This is far worse. For while they worship false gods in error, their error is in their choice of gods, not in their worship. But this-

Drunah gave it a cautious examination.

“I believe there are other copies, even in the Citadel,” said Vorbis. “This one belonged to Sasho. I believe you recommended him to my service, Fri'it?”

“He always struck me as an intelligent and keen young man,” said the general.

“But disloyal,” said Vorbis, “and now receiving his just reward. It is only to be regretted that he has not been induced to give us the names of his fellow heretics.”

Fri'it fought against the sudden rush of relief. His eyes met those of Vorbis.

Drunah broke the silence.

“De Chelonian Mobile,” he said aloud. “ `The Turtle Moves.' What does that mean?”

“Even telling you could put your soul at risk of a thousand years in hell,” said Vorbis. His eyes had not left Fri'it, who was now staring fixedly at the wall.

“I think it is a risk we might carefully take,” said Drunah.

Vorbis shrugged. “The writer claims that the world . . . travels through the void on the back of four huge elephants,” he said.

Drunah's mouth dropped open.

“On the back?” he said.

“It is claimed,” said Vorbis, still watching Fri'it.

“What do they stand on?”

“The writer says they stand on the shell of an enormous turtle,” said Vorbis.

Drunah grinned nervously.

“And what does that stand on?” he said.

“I see no point in speculating as to what it stands on,” snapped Vorbis, “since it does not exist!”

“Of course, of course,” said Drunah quickly. “It was only idle curiosity.”

“Most curiosity is,” said Vorbis. “It leads the mind into speculative ways. Yet the man who wrote this walks around free, in Ephebe, now. ”

Drunah glanced at the scroll.

"He says here he went on a ship that sailed to an island on the edge and he looked over and-

“Lies,” said Vorbis evenly. “And it would make no difference even if they were not lies. Truth lies within, not without. In the words of the Great God Om, as delivered through his chosen prophets. Our eyes may deceive us, but our God never will.”

"But-

Vorbis looked at Fri'it. The general was sweating.

“Yes?” he said.

“Well . . . Ephebe. A place where madmen have mad ideas. Everyone knows that. Maybe the wisest course is leave them to stew in their folly?”

Vorbis shook his head. “Unfortunately, wild and unstable ideas have a disturbing tendency to move around and take hold.”