A Picture of a Faith-Holder

One of the most perceptive fiction writers of our time is Gordon R.
Dickson, originator of Dickson's Law, which I have found to be of
immense spiritual and practical value.

In his book, "The Final Encyclopedia", Dickson introduces and develops
the character of a Faith-Holder by the name of James Child-of-God,
second-in-command of a group of partisan warriors resisting the
Occupying Forces on the world of Harmony.

This is a fascinating character, as Dickson portrays him: a harsh old
man, who has spent his entire life fighting against those whom he
regards as the enemies of God.  Not of his world, but of God.  The
current leader of his command is a young woman he raised from childhood
while fighting and running and fighting again.

Child-of-God was married for two and a half years, before the militia
of the Occupying Forces killed his wife in a running battle.

Child-of-God is now an old man, and the command has been fleeing the local
militia for weeks.  Finally, the old man's constitution gives out, and
he elects to remain behind, while he still has the strength to give the
militia a fight that can delay them significantly in their pursuit of
the command.

The hero of the book, Hal Mayne, briefly stays behind to help set up
barricades and a field-of-fire for Child-of-God.  At this point, let's
take a look at these last moments in an old warrior's life: