Cathedral by Michael Mangels (ebook reader color screen txt) 📕

found nowhere else except Cardassia. The figure’s face is carved to represent both Bajoran and Cardassian features.

“How can this be possible? I have asked myself this question repeatedly. Ages before Bajor and Cardassia were known to have crossed paths, a statue depicting a union between our two peoples was brought to Bajor. I can come to but one conclusion: For this to have happened so long ago, for it to have been discovered now, for the wife of the Emissary to give it to me during our time of greatest change…clearly, these things all show the guiding hand of the Prophets.”

Yevir motioned to the vedeks behind him. “The peace-loving, ordinary people of two worlds have begun to bring about the rapprochement that their leaders have yet to accomplish. Some say that politics is the art of the possible, and that may be so. But to conceive and bring about a reality which has been characterized by many as im- possible requires faith. When intergovernmental diplomacy and negotiation fail to bring about what must come about, then it is time for people of faith to step into the breach.” He fixed his eyes on Shakaar and Asarem for a moment, then returned his gaze to the crowd.

“To ensure the future of both our worlds, I have joined my voice to those of a small but influential group of Bajoran vedeks and Cardassian clerics. Cleric Ekosha leads Cardassia’s Oralian Way, the largest denomination of the faithful who wish to build a trusting mutual relationship with Bajor. During the last several hours, she and many key members of the Oralian hierarchy have already provisionally agreed to an exchange of spiritual ambassadors—Bajoran vedeks and prylars and Cardassian clerics and rectorates who will go to their former enemy’s respective homeworlds as part of an ongoing grassroots effort to build a sincere, uncoerced, and enduring peace. Many of the details remain to be worked out, to be sure. Perhaps because faith is our mutual stock-in-trade, Cleric Ekosha and I both have tremendous confidence that this plan will tie our two worlds together in amity and generosity—and make any future wars between our two civilizations as unthinkable as those age-old conflicts that pitted the ancient Bajora against the Perikians, the Lerrit, the Endtree, and so many of our other ancient forebears.”

Yevir turned toward the Oralian rectorates, who responded by moving forward and repositioning the four antigrav sleds. Each Oralian knelt beside one of the sleds and grasped the cloths that covered the objects supported by the floating devices. The vedeks and Ekosha stepped forward, smiling in anticipation. Gul Macet hung back a bit, behind the others, though he remained prominently visible to all.

“As these negotiations began, Cleric Ekosha impressed me with her clear understanding that building trust was paramount, particularly with so many of Bajor’s Occupation-inflicted wounds still livid and unhealed. Ekosha and others therefore sought to bring us tangible proof of their sincerity. So together we combed Cardassia’s ruins, hoping to recover at least one of Bajor’s most significant spiritual artifacts, the Tears of the Prophets. Imagine my astonishment when a journey into a demolished Cardassian city yielded all four of the missing Orbs!”

At Yevir’s prearranged signal, the rectorates bowed their heads and pulled the cloth coverings away, revealing four ornately carved arks. The vedeks behind Yevir surged forward. Frelan reached toward one of the arks, then fainted dead away. Luckily, Eran caught her, supporting her frail body with one trembling arm. Sinchante’s jaw dropped as though captured by a neutron star.

Concurrently, faithful Bajorans throughout the Promenade began reacting in a variety of ways. A few fainted just as Frelan had. Many began to pray. Others lifted their arms and cheered. Some began to chant or sing or hug those next to them, Bajoran or not. Yevir lifted his eyes to witness the effect his unexpected unveiling was having on Shakaar and Asarem, and was delighted to see astonishment etched across their features.

Yevir spoke again, his voice clear and resonant. “Because peace is too important to be thwarted by failures of leadership, the people of two worlds have taken direct action of their own. This is no mere stunt or gesture; it is real. Children of the Prophets, on this joyous inaugural Federation Day, Cardassia returns to you the Orb of Truth, the Orb of Destiny, the Orb of Souls, and the Orb of Unity. It is my fervent hope that we will keep these four precepts in our minds and in our hearts as we face Bajor’s new future. As long as our faith remains strong, there is no goal the Will of the Prophets cannot achieve. Including the creation of peace between Bajor and Cardassia, and a repudiation of war as complete as the banishment of the Pah-wraiths.”

Yevir turned and opened his arms to Ekosha, and the two embraced.

The Prophets have truly blessed us all.

Standing on the Promenade’s upper level, Vedek Solis placed his trembling hand on Kira Nerys’s shoulder. She turned to him, shock reflected on her face as much as he imagined it showed on his. He enfolded her in his arms for a moment, his robes cloaking her as she held tightly to him. He didn’t need to touch her ear to feel her pagh; it radiated from her brightly enough that even nonbelievers should have been able to perceive it.

He smoothed her hair, speaking in low tones so that only she could hear. “Yevir is obviously capable of doing good. No matter what the Prophets are to Bajor, gods or teachers, his actions have been guided by a higher power. But I also believe that power has as much faith in you, Nerys, as you have in it.”

She embraced him even more tightly, and he heard her recite what he recognized as a prophecy from one of the sacred texts: “When the children have wept all, anew will shine the twilight of their destiny.” Then she grew silent, and he felt her begin to sob. Solis gently patted her back,