"Of course, of course," Elio raised his hands in surrender. "I was just rambling. Must be the confinement affecting me."
Ivan grunted, clearly unconvinced. "If you want to survive this, I suggest you keep your mouth shut and your mind empty. Understood?"
Elio nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir. Completely understood."
Elio approached the bars again. "But, I was wondering... Have you ever heard of the Goddess?"
Ivan's body visibly tensed. "What nonsense are you saying, boy? I told you to shut up."
"Oh, nothing, nothing," Elio quickly backed off. "It's just that... Well, I was thinking about the stories they tell us as children. You know, about the Creator and all that."
Elio couldn't contain the questions bubbling inside him. The book's revelations were too big, too important to keep silent.