Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
At the end of the day, when all the men had gone through with their
ritual respect, they took the limp, unconscious woman and set her on
top of Allen's dead body. Both were then carried to the grotto, in the
cliffs at the ocean's edge, and were sealed inside, forever. From the
moment of the bodies' entombment, all those that were in Halls
Cathedral abstained from any and all normal human functioning for three
days. During this three day period -- a further show of respect for
their dead -- no one ate or had sexual intercourse and during this time
they kept themselves from sleep, and prayed for the Cardinal's soul.
From the Cathedral spires the Rogjans called out to the countryside
some cantorial chants, announcing and honouring, and strangely, even
canonizing the Cardinal Allen.
On the evening of the third day, all those residing at Halls made
preparations for a day of feasting, and at sunrise the feeding began.
To enjoy this day to the fullest, the coenobites brought to Halls a
caravan of women from Iÿnondan and they caught up from their three day
celibacy.
Everyone was fulfilled, promising their living spirits to Allen's
resurrection as they reflected on his well-rounded life.
After their observations of praise, Manguino and Tohm repaired to the
office to speak of their friend. Of all the brothers at Halls, they
two knew him best and regarded him most highly.
"How he will be missed by all!" Tohm told Manguino. "Most everything
that I know, he showed me.
"Even the few, and greatest, amongst us falter. He made a mistake and
so paid for it." Manguino explained to Tohm that Allen's obsession to
inseminate Dearborne overtook him. The manner of his death, however,
greatly puzzled him.
"I would like to know how such a dainty woman as she could break the
neck of a man as physically powerful as Allen?" questioned Manguino.
"I don't believe that Brook had killed him."
"That is something we all ask, Your Grace. We must bring them both to
justice, regardless of guilt!" Tohm was speaking like his teacher. He
didn't care, now. He just wanted Allen's death avenged.
"I agree, but it's said that Allen was caught forcing her and Brook
himself admitted to the killing our friend. Yet, I know that he's
lying."
"Would you like to know my thoughts?" Tohm asked Manguino. "I believe
it was that northern man, that had disappeared, who was the man that
killed Allen. What perfect place to hide from us -- at the Blue
Mansion!"
The Archbishop's eyes glared for a moment but refused this idea. He
speculated that the dissident was long gone from Pomperaque by that
time.
Tohm, however, carried on until he began to convince Manguino of his
idea.
"We must bring the Lady Dearborne to trial then, if only trying her on
the basis of her refusal, as your subject, to bare his Holy Child. We
can try Brook on harbouring a dissident and charge him with heresy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account