The news that Merlin is busy spreading the idea that this "upstart" is a humbug causes Hank to decide that he will do something else. He has Merlin thrown into prison and then begins the preparations for having Merlin's tower blown to pieces by fire from heaven. Working with Clarence, he makes a great deal of blasting powder and constructs a lightning rod. They run wires from the lightning rod to caches of powder hidden throughout the tower. Then they wait until the weather is right.
At the first sign that there will be a storm, the event is announced to the people, and Hank has Merlin brought to him. He gives Merlin a chance to stop what is to take place, but Merlin cannot. So Hank, judging matters closely, waves his hand in the air three times, and the lightning strikes the lightning rod. There is a crash, fire spews forth, and the stones of the tower leap into the air. It is an effective miracle.
Hank, who is now known as The Boss, muses over the situation in which he finds himself. He has colossal power, and he plans to make some changes in the social and religious attitudes of the people so that they are more in line with what he thinks is right.
