J. M. McDermott

“We will not be giving ourselves up.Death, then? said Seth.Victory, said Prince Tsui.Call it what you like, Seth replied, the end is the same.”

“They looked up and Prince Tsui introduced himself and they didn’t care. Their stomachs were empty.”

“I told them many things, she said, if you knew what was good for you, you wouldn’t truly believe anything I say without proof.”

“She smiled. Everyone is greedy, she said. Even people who have all the money and power in the universe want more to protect what they already have.”

“She shivered and turned away. These things I have seen in my life, she said. Someday a gentle God will grant me ignorance.Do you worship gods? I said, still watching the golem burn.Not lately, said Korinyes.”

“You will never understand freedom. You and your son will never understand true freedom. You think freedom is the throne of the world, where no one can alter your words, and no one can tell you what to do, and men live or die by the slight twitch of your eyebrow. That isn’t freedom. That is a life of fear.”

“Men gain their thrones by selling their daughters, or sending their sons to die.”

“I will not argue with you a moment more, said Adel. I am tired of the past, and there is so much to do in the present.”

“Justice is the motive of heartless people, who protect their gold with the sword.”

“He got in loud fights with Baba all the time. I don’t remember words. Words are never important in arguments, only how loud we shout them.”