“The soldier.”
“ ‘Listen, all of you! Behold your king—a great king and a good one! Know ye not the nature of a king? Lo, ye should rally to him and support him! A realm is ruled by force of discipline, wherein is strength; and to the strong all things are possible! Rally to your king and bid him lead you to a war on foreigners, who nibble at our wealth like rats and give us no return.’ ”
“A woman,” said the Lama.
“ ‘Tell us first, whose sons shall fight this war!’ ”
“Another woman.”
“ ‘And who shall console the widows!’ ”
The Saddhu: “ ‘The widows of the conquered nation will console them. They will naturally see the justice of the war!’ ”
“The soldier,” said Maitraya. “He shakes his sword at the Saddhu.”
“ ‘Peace, idiot! They will invade us, unless we first attack them. Then in which cave will you hide? If I had my way, I would send you in the front rank to the war to show us whether your sanctity isn’t really cowardice after all!’ ”
“All laugh at the saddhu,” said the Lama. “Now the king.” And Maitraya postured splendidly.