Death of Hypatia ~ William Mortensen
Fingers on the edge, legs splayed, the Zealot drags aside the stone door of the tomb. The stone slides aside smoothly, quietly, uncomplaining of the entry gained by this regular visitor. The Zealot likes to analogise the act, which he performs whenever he needs to deliver absolution on some poor sinner, with Decree 73:52: Draw aside the curtain you have stitched to your eyes; behold the works of God’s emissary.
Today’s sinner has slumped in the chair.
“Have we reached a position of mutual consent yet?” his voice is low and, if we didn’t know him better, compassionate, “You know this is the most important moment in your wasted life; do you accept your redemption or do you waste your after-life too?”
The sinner spits blood through his broken mouth “jahst keunhee”, the Zealot draws back, wipes the blood from his cheek; his expression does not change. He looks down at the toolbox beside the chair.
“Perhaps I have not made myself clear,” he says, “I shall need to be penitent for some considerable time if I fail in my duties toward both you and God – I feel your pain, really, but it is important that you enter the next life in the right frame of mind.”
“fuakeu”
The Zealot turns and leaves the tomb; slides the stone back to leave the sinner in darkness.
Today’s sinner has slumped in the chair.
“Have we reached a position of mutual consent yet?” his voice is low and, if we didn’t know him better, compassionate, “You know this is the most important moment in your wasted life; do you accept your redemption or do you waste your after-life too?”
The sinner spits blood through his broken mouth “jahst keunhee”, the Zealot draws back, wipes the blood from his cheek; his expression does not change. He looks down at the toolbox beside the chair.
“Perhaps I have not made myself clear,” he says, “I shall need to be penitent for some considerable time if I fail in my duties toward both you and God – I feel your pain, really, but it is important that you enter the next life in the right frame of mind.”
“fuakeu”
The Zealot turns and leaves the tomb; slides the stone back to leave the sinner in darkness.
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2 comments:
I love this decadence ;-)
Courtney: Decadence? I'll have you know we are all god-fearing folk here :)
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