LOOK TO THE STARS By Willard Hawkins The sky is filled with lonely stones--planets waiting for the first breath of life to warm them. N'urth was such a world--and the Gods smiled on it. [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy October 1950 Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] _"Tell me, my queen mother, the story of the gods."_ _"Do you never tire, son, of those ancient legends? But no--let this not seem a reproof. It is well that a prince of the royal line should ponder much on those mighty ones, who came from the sun, where dwells El-Leighi, the source of all, to create a fair world--the world in which some day you will reign. Shall I speak, then, of Solin-Ga-Ling, patron of husbandry and Lord of the North, or would you hear of the gentle Maha-Bar-Astro, sweet goddess who fashions the dreams of childhood? Or would you know of the mysterious Noor-Ah-Mah, who died twice, lived thrice, and was both male and female by turns?"_ _"Tell me of them all; but first, mother, who was the mightiest of the gods?"_ _"Hush, child! Among beings so exalted it would be presumptuous for mortals to regard one above the other. But know this--for it concerns you and your pride of race: Splendid legends relate to the strength and virtues of Maha-Ra-Lin, Lord of the South, sometimes called the Life-giver. For it was he who created Noor-Ah-Mah from a rock by the sea, and breathed his own life into her nostrils."_ _"But, mother, was he not defeated in battle?"_ _"It was a battle beyond our understanding--of forces that we cannot comprehend, and for a purpose beyond our knowledge--though it is said that in some manner the strife arose over the sex to be awarded the newly created Noor-Ah-Mah. Maha-Ra-Lin would have endowed the partly formed being with the attributes of a god, but Bar-Doo-Chan, Lord of the West, contended for a goddess. In their mighty clash of wills, the heavens were rent with lightning, the seas were churned, mountains were heaved by the all-powerful ones across the land. Legend has it that a single moon shone from the heavens before that event, but a lightning bolt hurled by Maha-Ra-Lin at his antagonist failed of its mark. It smote the moon by chance, splitting the heavenly body in twain, so that two moons now circle the continents of N'urth."_ _"Then Bar-Doo-Chan, who defeated Maha-Ra-Lin, was the mightiest."_