The God is Not Willing (Witness #1)

by Steven Erikson

Twelve Teblor adults, bearing whatever weapons they could find, each took their last link of broken chain and hammered spikes through it, deep into the rock. Now bound by ankle shackle to the length of their chains, there they would stand against the ferocity of the slavers and their enforcers, the pursuing army seeking to regain its wealth in flesh. It cannot be verified, of course, if this in truth occurred. What can be said, however, is that the flight of the liberated Teblor succeeded, thus bringing to an end the institution of slavery in the Malyn Province of Malazan Genabackis, which in turn saw the fall of the final hold-out of this wretched trade in flesh. Valard of Tulips did make a curious recount in her Geographa ‘ta Mott, however, of the eponymous Teblor Pass, a mere three years later, noting the presence of a bone ridge in a certain line, there at the narrowest section of the trail, while upon the downward slope was found a deeper scatter of other bones. As if, she wrote, ‘a thousand men had died fighting a single line of defenders.’ It should be noted, as well, that Valard, being a devout Mystic of Denial, would have been entirely ignorant of both the Slave Rebellion of Malyn, and the local legend of the Stand of the Spike. Gaerlon’s History, Vol. IX The Great Library of New Morn

The longest joke I'll ever highlight. Gods, I've missed you, Steve.

A pale sky made for a colourless world.

Ohio

Stupid people always had a reason to be angry but didn’t have the capacity to understand that they were angry because they were frustrated, and they were frustrated because they didn’t understand, and they didn’t understand because they were stupid.

Lad, the most powerful constant is stupidity. Nothing else comes close. Stupidity kills all the animals, empties the sky of birds, poisons the rivers, burns the forests, wages the wars, feeds the lies, invents the world over and over again in ways only idiots could think real. Stupidity, lad, will defeat every god, crush every dream, topple every empire. Because, in the end, stupid people outnumber smart people. If that wasn’t true, we wouldn’t suffer over and over again, through generation after generation and on for ever.

So Bleak said, ‘No, not that. The undertaker’s also the local healer.’ Anyx grunted and spat a brown stream onto the floor and then said, ‘So he’s a bit of a pessimist, is he?’

Chefs kiss

‘What did she say, Sergeant?’ Paltry Skint asked. ‘Just an ex-slave,’ Spindle said, turning back to look at the town. ‘With a request.’ ‘Let’s hear it,’ Benger said in a low, careful tone. ‘She asked that we burn the town down to the ground,’ Spindle said. ‘It was all they wanted, really. Just that.’ He faced them. ‘I’m asking for a vote on this. Hands up if you’re good with…’ His words fell away, as he didn’t need the rest. Every hand was raised high.

:'(