The Price of a Miracle

Stranger in a Strange Land

This thread traces the tension between Smith’s protective abilities and his growing willingness to use them against people he judges dangerous.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The First Disappearances The First Disappearances from "Stranger in a Strange Land". Protection Becomes Force A sudden intervention When an officer strikes Gillian, Smith makes the attacker disappear.

The First Disappearances from "Stranger in a Strange Land". Protection Becomes Force A sudden intervention When an officer strikes Gillian, Smith makes the attacker disappear.

Protection Becomes Force A sudden intervention When an officer strikes Gillian, Smith makes the attacker disappear. He then removes Berquist when the latter threatens her with a gun. Shock and withdrawal Smith interprets his action as a possible mistake and collapses into trance. The scene establishes that his power is not merely defensive spectacle; it carries moral weight for him.

Learning to Control the Power

Questions of Scope Demonstrations for witnesses Harshaw tests whether Smith can make objects disappear, suspend them, and remove a weapon without killing its holder. Smith follows the precise wording of each request. Danger without mastery The tests reveal that Smith’s abilities depend on understanding and intention, not simple physical force. Harshaw begins warning others that a gentle appearance does not mean Smith is harmless.

Violence at the Pool Violence at the Pool from "Stranger in a Strange Land". A Defense Becomes Decisive Threats multiply Special Service officers arrive armed and attempt to arrest Harshaw, Smith, and Gillian.

Violence at the Pool from "Stranger in a Strange Land". A Defense Becomes Decisive Threats multiply Special Service officers arrive armed and attempt to arrest Harshaw, Smith, and Gillian.

A Defense Becomes Decisive Threats multiply Special Service officers arrive armed and attempt to arrest Harshaw, Smith, and Gillian. Harshaw’s legal objections buy a little time but cannot remove the immediate danger. Smith acts at distance From beneath the pool, Smith perceives the threat and removes the attackers and vehicles. His action saves the household while raising questions about accountability and proportionality.

The City’s Violent Men The City’s Violent Men from "Stranger in a Strange Land". A Larger Judgment A list accumulated Smith says he has long been observing violent people in the city.

The City’s Violent Men from "Stranger in a Strange Land". A Larger Judgment A list accumulated Smith says he has long been observing violent people in the city.

A Larger Judgment A list accumulated Smith says he has long been observing violent people in the city. Once he decides that they are a danger, he makes roughly 150 disappear. Protection or execution He views the act as removing people from a game, not killing them. The scale of the action nevertheless makes him judge and executioner without human process.

The Refusal to Imprison The Refusal to Imprison from "Stranger in a Strange Land". Freedom as a Principle A jailbreak with consequences Smith escapes custody and removes bars and doors from prisons.

The Refusal to Imprison from "Stranger in a Strange Land". Freedom as a Principle A jailbreak with consequences Smith escapes custody and removes bars and doors from prisons.

Freedom as a Principle A jailbreak with consequences Smith escapes custody and removes bars and doors from prisons. He also disarms local law enforcement, rejecting confinement as an inherent wrong. A public limit His actions make the authorities’ coercive power look fragile, but they cannot persuade the crowd to accept his ethic. At the climax, force returns in its crudest form.

During the escape from Harshaw’s apartment

During the experiments at Harshaw’s home

During the first attempted raid on Harshaw’s home

After Smith’s church is attacked

During the final city crisis