Maxym gazed on Derek—there is no other verb for it—as if from a lofty height and then explained in a subdued voice, almost a monotone, “Perhaps you spent too little time on Bravenna,” he said. “I was part of something bigger than myself when I was on Bravenna. I was part of a great and creative vision. And though I have devoted my life to Amel, I have never known the complete acceptance by any group since the days of Bravenna when I and my brothers were being prepared for our mission—to kill Amel, and destroy what he had done.”

“What happened to your brothers?” I asked.

He smiled bitterly and shook his head. He looked like a human being of maybe twenty-five years. Prime of life as it was then. We were from the same design in that regard.

“Who knows what became of them?” Maxym replied. “They lacked the fortitude to choose.” He looked at me intently and I found myself uncomfortable with his hostile expression. “They fled Atalantaya,” he said. “Perhaps the Bravennans destroyed them. How should I know? That was long ago, before the great dome rose over Atalantaya. People came and went, came and went. There was something craven in them. They were afraid of Amel, afraid of Bravenna, afraid of me. We’ve heard nothing of them since.”

Amel looked off as Maxym spoke. I think Amel had heard all this before. He looked faintly sad, but perhaps he was simply thinking of other things.

“And you don’t feel part of this magnificent Atalantaya?” asked Garekyn. “You chose for Amel, but do not feel part of all this?” No answer. “We’ve been in love with Atalantaya since we arrived,” he went on. “And we were in love with Earth before.”

Now Maxym gazed from his lofty spiritual height on Garekyn and said with amazing force, “Amel doesn’t give these people enough! Amel has never understood. If there is a Maker beyond these skies, then our highest calling is to do the will of that Maker, to open ourselves, our hearts, our souls, as Amel is always saying, to the Maker who will guide us to be what he wants us to be.”

Amel turned and glared at Maxym as if he’d had enough. “And what if there is no Maker?” he asked. “When have you ever seen the slightest proof of any Maker?”

“The Maker offers us creation itself as proof of his greatness,” said Maxym, “and we are to seek his will in what we see in the creation, in the green grass, in the trees, in the stars above. Not build great edifices of our own to tempt the wrath of the Maker with our presumption and ingratitude.”

They went on arguing, just Maxym and Amel, Maxym pushing at Amel with his assertions ever harder. Maxym believed life was too easy in Atalantaya. Maxym believed its people were lazy and selfish. Maxym believed Amel had fostered a population of pampered beings who never became true adults. Maxym believed in the superiority of those who struggled in the Wilderness lands.