I nod thoughtfully, and then begin to sing...

"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun."

After the last note fades away, I nod my head respectfully, and await his response.

He listens, and tears up a bit.  Its clear he's never heard this song before.

Then he sings 'Blue Suit Shoes' to the tune of Elvis' 'Blue Suede Shoes', but with occasional mispronounciations.  Still he puts a lot of enthusiasm into it.

OOC: BTW, have our conversations been in English?  Were the writings of Reformed Master Lao in English?

I observe his performance appreciatively, smiling at his enthusiasm, and nod appreciatively when he is finished.

Then I pause to silently pray for him, and then sing again...

"Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:06, Fri 27 Feb 2015.

The conversations have been in English, sprinkled with Yu.  The First Teachings were in Mandarin??

As you pray, you feel a deep pity almost overwhelm you. You see in your mind a blind man working his fingers raw and bloody to pick roots out of the ground while an inhuman slavemaster whips him, and just above the poor man's bent over head are orchard branches bending down under the weight of heavy fruit.

He listens attentively, and curiously, and then he breaks out into a Yu folk song about a fisherman catching everything but what he wants to catch.  Its a humorous tale, but despite its tone, rather dark in its words.

Its a bit haunting with its Chinese five toned music as well.

I listen appreciatively again, amused by the tale, yet moved both by the pentatonic melody and by the insight from my prayer.

Then I respond with the following song...

"A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow'r are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And tho' this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thro' us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow'rs,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thro' Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever."

"I do not seek to impose (okay, he's a lot more indirect than this), but the use of your songs at the Seasonal Meeting might be met with pleasure as they are a novelty. If you were to teach me....." Big gulp. "I would be indebted. for the time of a Lesser Craftsman's teachings."

Its hard for you to tell if your songs have touched him deeply, or if he's just been entertained by hearing something he's never heard before.  In any case, its clear that he makes a very big deal about 'debt'.

"I do not seek to impose (okay, he's a lot more indirect than this), but the use of your songs at the Seasonal Meeting might be met with pleasure as they are a novelty. If you were to teach me....." Big gulp. "I would be indebted. for the time of a Lesser Craftsman's teachings."

Its hard for you to tell if your songs have touched him deeply, or if he's just been entertained by hearing something he's never heard before.  In any case, its clear that he makes a very big deal about 'debt'.

I smile warmly, and pray silently, and speak gently.

"I remember the words of what you teach your children: 'Take not that which is not yours, nor ask any being knowledge you have not gained for in so doing you incur a debt that is passed down a thousand generations.'"

"But you also teach that we may 'read those signs that are given freely'  Is it not so?"

"So it is with us, friend Chongan Bai True Belter."

"You have kindly shared your food, and you have kindly shared the knowledge you are able to share."

"And it would be my pleasure and honor to share my knowledge with you as a sign for you to read... given freely."

"If you believe that such sharing involves a debt between us, then have you not already paid it in advance with your food and your knowledge shared to me?  But it is not a debt that I hold you to.  Did I not sing it before you, unasked, freely given?  What I give to you is given freely, my friend."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:16, Sun 01 Mar 2015.

"The signs are for things that one must know, or one risks death, or uselessness."  You can see he is deeply touched.

"And..." You can see him struggle with himself. "I am honored by your very gracious offer, but I took the burden of feeding you based on my desire to be the Superior Man that Reformed Master Lao desires us to be. A host must provide for his guest. To cast another out is to throw away your own heart, and become no man."

You recognize some of that as quotes from the Teachings.

I listen thoughtfully, and nod.

"It is well, for truly then there is no debt between us.  You chose to freely share with me... and so do I to you."

"For you have told me of things I must know, or risk death or uselessness... and so do I to you."

"The songs I have sung are ancient, from days long before the first human launched from the surface of planet Earth."

"They speak of the LORD God Almighty, Sovereign Creator of all things.  Truly, He holds the balances of all things, for with Him rest both Judgment and Salvation."

"Those that do not know of His ways and walk in them indeed risk death, not only in this life, but everlastingly."

"So it is my honor to share them with you, my friend... and to do so freely."

You can see him thinking hard. He's clearly examining ideas in his head, and weighing arguments.  Its unusual to see him thinking so hard.

Then  he nods.

"Say on. I would listen to this new thing."

OOC: In the writings of Reformed Master Lao, is there any discussion or example of an evildoer, especially a rebel or traitor, and/or transgressions that are worthy of death?

To bring war to a peaceful land for lack of station is a foul thing.

The ungrateful guest, the ill tempered child, the servant who does not serve, the rebel under a just king, these four things are not good.  Take the last man and throw him down a hill, and beat the others with sticks so that all may see and learn.

If you give your oath to a king, and he does not prefer  you, seek to be superior in patience and harmony.  Do not rebel, for all know the punishment of the rebel.

A man who has killed another man offends God.  Take the man out, and bury him up to his neck, and then deal harshly with him.

I nod, and ponder.

"I recall Reformed Master Lao writing of those that rebel under a just king.  Here is where we must begin.  What is the punishment of a rebel?"

"He is to be thrown down a hill, in this place, we interpret that to mean, he is to be thrown out of an airlock facing toward the Sun, without the suit if one is merciful. With the suit if one wishes to make an especial point."

He pauses.

"In simplicity is the greatest truth. So, I would say in answer, the punishment is death."

I nod solemnly.

"Yes.  Even in such a fallen universe, even where knowledge is so hidden, the just consequence of such evil is known."

"And such is the punishment every one of us deserves, friend Chongan Bai True Belter.  You, and I, and everyone else in this universe, are guilty.  For we are all rebels, and children of rebels.  We have chosen our own ways, and forsaken the ways of the Just King, who is the Almighty God, and Sovereign Lord of all things."

"For such rebellion, we deserve nothing but death, and indeed are under just sentence of death."

I regard him quietly.

"But though we are helpless to deliver ourselves, yet there is still one hope for us."

"Think back to the songs you have heard me sing.  Can you make any guess what that hope might be?"

He thinks back to the songs, and you can see him muttering the words under his breath...

Some he gets totally wrong.

And then his eyes open wide in fear.

"This Christ Jesus who fights the ancient foe of Humanity. You speak as to the Rebels, of taking war to the X in revenge for their trickery. You wish to see if I am willing to suffer the death of a rebel for your cause, well, I am not."

He gets up, all nine feet of him, and vigorous jerks and zags his way out with many hmmmps. And he goes to bed without another word.

"You misunderstand me, friend Chongan Bai True Belter.  I have no such desire.  Please, let me explain..."

After he departs, I sigh sadly, and silently pray.

: O LORD, thank you that you are Sovereign over every facet of this situation, and every situation.  Thank you that you shall bring about your pleasure in your time for your glory. :

: Thank you for your precious promises.  Thank you that "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."  Thank you that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  Thank you that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." :

: Please give me wisdom, to know how to lovingly, faithfully, effectively share you.  And please open the heart and mind of friend Chongan Bai True Belter, and of the others in this universe yet unmet, to hear and understand, and to turn from death to life.  I pray in Jesus' Name...  Amen. :

And, with a heart saddened yet peaceful, I go to bed as well.

Over the next few days, he shows his willingness to practise songs, and to share food, but he is not willing to discuss anything.  The time passes, and you learn to go out on the hull, and shoot solar sail launchers at asteroids with him, and then by yourself.

+@2 to EVA skill.  +@1 to shooting.

Four weeks later, on your third EVA, something in the shooter snaps, and a plastic spine of the 'gun' fragment is snapped partially off, and drives right through your right forearm suit, arm, and suit again.  Its not instantly depressurizing, and the spine bit is still attached partially to the shooter.

You're blinking back tears.

OOC: Questions:

(1) Do I have any means of communication with Chongan Bai True Belter?

(2) How long would it take me to get back inside, and how much exertion would be needed?

1. Yes. Low power radio which works fine since you're a very long way from any competing radio sources.
2. Its uncertain how long it would take to break the fragment.  On other occasions when you've decides to go in, it took you a minute and a half to do so, but you were being careful.

The stars drift past as you slowly rotate....

"Chongan Bai...  Urgent...  Need assistance...  Malfunction...  Injured...  Trapped...  Right forearm impaled..."

I silently pray as I watch the stars slowly rotate...

: Is this the means to bridge the chasm that has grown between Chongan Bai and I?  Is this the means to evacuate me from this isolated outpost to the civilization of this universe?  Is this the means to evacuate me from this universe entirely? :

: Dearest LORD, you are Sovereign.  You know best... :
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

In reply to Oak (msg # 64):

As you wait, you begin to feel a bit dazed, and you see...

Sparkles of flame in the night below you.  Each flame is far, far from another, except for a few that reside near each other.

And there are large flames that do not make you sad, and twenty or so small flames with each large flame.  And these move in complicated routes that follow back on themselves.

And there are smoking embers scattered about in the Great Black.

"They sought the wisdom of fools, and are in bondage." You hear, and you realize you're looking down on the Jittacorne System.

And Chongan Bai is tapping on your face mask.  He's used a hand-held laser to cut through the fragment, and it is still in your arm, but you're free to walk back, which you do with Chongan Bai's help.

:: Ring... Initiate healing... :

As soon as we are within and my helmet is removed, I gather my strength to speak.

"Thank you... Chongan Bai... True Belter..."

"Please hear me... my friend..."

"If I die... I fear not... for I have... everlasting... life through... Jesus Christ..."

"Please forgive... my poor tongue... that made you think... I seek rebellion...  It is not so...  We rebel against... God when we... disobey Him... and deserve death...  But Jesus Christ... paid the price... to reconcile us... to God... forever..."

"If I die... please understand... and remember... my friend... for eternal life... can also... be... yours..."

:: Dearest LORD...  please open... his heart...::

So... tired...

He's paying close attention to your words as he holds your head up, and you see what might be a flicker of understanding in his eyes before you verse out.