He rose to his feet, and I shrank from his rage. 'You may be happy to apply poultices and give tablets to the poorly, but you may as well pour leeches onto your patients and try to burn the evil spirits from them with hot irons! Without innovation and experiment, the human race will never expand beyond this daily trudge of.. of… maintenance!'

I stood to face him, his own reddened face mirrored in mine. I opened my mouth to respond, but stopped myself, panting, our eyes locked. Finally, I regained some of my composure, and spoke quietly, 'I think you should leave.'

He too took deep breaths, calming, and nodded. 'I will gladly walk out from this temple to ignorance.' He turned on his heel and left, slamming both the dining room and front doors behind him.