okay then

It has come to my attention that my loyal reader(s) wish(es) to have a dissertation on the spiritual state of orcs. I'll do my best. I'm inclined to think they do have souls, since they can talk and interact...but do they have free will? Doesn't look like it, since they seem unable to make a decision based on anything except self interest. So maybe when they're created (how are orcs made? out of some primordial stew? does sauron just snap his fingers and made more out of thin air? they die off really fast, so how do the goblins in the misty mountains keep reproducing? spores?) their minds are twisted so that they are literally incapable of evincing any virtues. Ouch. In which case they are not responsible for their actions, so maybe they can't go to hell. And since I can't imagine them appreciating Heaven, I think we'll just have to trust that Illuvatar (sp?) knows where to put them. Apropos of nothing, do orcs die of old age? Well, that's enough of that. I am currently recuperating from my American Literature test, for which I produced a record eleven pages of writing. Seton leads the way, all the way, Hoorah. War and Peace is picking up the pace...lots of war, not so much peace. And I'm almost through with The Crusades (written by the love of my life) so at last I'll be able to say I've actually read something by Belloc.