The Two Confessions by John Whitbourn (good books to read for adults .TXT) 📕

turf. Even torrential rain was greeted with joy. Evidently, summerdownpours did not exempt the Elven realms.

Atthe Forge Inn the Sicarii took both inhuman visitors and seeing Samuel again inhis stride. Trevan and escort returned to mundane reality on the main landing,yet somehow, though snug in his room, the Negro had prior notice. However, whenthey entered, his defensive stance and levelled pistol were graciouslyabandoned as though accidental. Indeed, he seemed already on good terms withthe Elf spokesman.

Thetwo approached – but only moderately close - and made pretence of shaking handsat a distance. The Sicarii leant round to clue Samuel in.

‘We'vemet before,’ he explained, matter of factly. ‘England is a strange country tome, so naturally I contacted the main players.’

Samuelsaw the sense of that but hadn't until then fully realised the high strangenessof his own land.

TheSicarii resumed his interrupted shave. His guests found perches on thefurniture and bed. The room was now crowded - but not convivial.

‘Ididn't know you were down there,’ he said to the leading Elf, whoremained standing and centre-stage. ‘You never mentioned....’

‘Younever asked.’

Oddly,that was accepted as entire explanation.

‘Justyou?’

‘No.’The Elf shook his head. ‘We were merely passing. It’s mostly your kin –estranged kin. Bogomils.’

‘Oh,them.’ The Sicarii carried on scraping away, flicking soap-froth fromthe blade into a basin. ‘Much simpler. Any objections?’

‘None.We are no longer friends. Burn them out. I will show you how.’

‘Thankyou.’

‘Wesaw fit to save this one.’

‘SoI see. Why?’

Thequestion was ignored as irrelevant. Again, the Sicarii refused to take umbrage;neither his perma-calm nor razor wavered. Instead, answer came to an unposedbut more acceptable query.

‘Therest were lost,’ said the Elf. ‘He will tell you the details. I shall leave himwith you but he must be removed soon. They will seek him. All those who know ofhim must also go. There can be no trail.’

‘I'llsee to it,’ said the Sicarii. ‘But I repeat, why such concern for a 'newcomer'?’

‘Wehave further business with him. I'll call to collect. Meanwhile, he wants allkind of words: explanations even.’

‘Naturally.’

TheElf smiled: a horrible sight. His teeth were all canines.

‘Toyou, maybe,’ he said.

Andwith that they left, just as Samuel, in their company, had left the 'cathedral'.It felt uncanny: having to assume their presence, departing but unseen. Bothhumans agreed to leave an interval of silence. Then, the more assured orimpatient of the two, the Sicarii spoke.

‘Well,did they?’

Expectingmore of a welcome, Samuel felt disinclined to stretch himself.

‘Didwho what?’

TheSicarii left off shaving and somehow, just by pausing, implied that cut-throatrazors could have all sorts of uses.

‘Meetme half way, Trevan. I meant the 1702 expedition.’

‘Thenyes.’

‘And?’

‘Theydid and then died.’

‘You'rewilling for our magicians to probe your bonce and check that?’

‘Ifneed be.’

Somefinal test was passed. White and gold teeth flashed in a smile.

‘Godis great! Now Mott will be pleased with you. And I'm pleased with you.You shall be indulged.’

TheSicarii took up a linen towel and started wiping lather from a newly smoothface. Then he went to the door and bellowed down the stairwell for tea.

‘Now,my hero,’ he said, returning, ‘apparently you want explanations. Very well: areyou sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. The Bogomils are....’

U[U[U[U[U[U[U

************

'…somewhen in the tenth century. A town in Macedonia called Bogomila is said tobe his place of rest, where he went to his maker in the fullness of years,sadly later rather than sooner. A former shrine to him there has now beenerased by his Imperial Majesty's triumphant forces.

Thisturncoat shepherd and his disciples polluted their way through the EasternImperial provinces of Bulgaria and Thrace, even penetrating (le mot juste!)the capital, Constantinople. They foully preached an equal and co-eternalopponent to Almighty G*d, and ascribed this world to his evil invention, ratherthan the gift of our loving Father. It was also held (one shrinks to repeat it)that Christ both survived and descended from the Cross, to strive against hisevil older brother, 'Satanael'. The invention of such baseless fantasiesis still a cause for nauseous wonder.

Theyaccordingly abominate the symbol of the Cross and take all opportunity toslight it. This is one means by which you shall know them.

…the latitude permitted by despising the material has appeal to depraved sorts,and in this manner they recruit. No action towards the flesh (deemed theenemy's realm) is considered sin, as they seek the swiftest route home to thepurely spiritual hereafter. They likewise shrink from the proper functions ofmarriage, reluctant to create new life, and thus practise the sin of the Citiesof the Plain. This is another infallible token. In the same manner, they arejoyless beings, refusing G*d's myriad blessings such as wine and laughter andthe pleasures of progeny. Their stolid misery may well mark them out for you.

...the most thoroughgoing are their 'Perfecti' who radically renounce the materialby vow. Ever after they abstain from intercourse and eating flesh or anywholesome food. Some fanatics have even been known to truncate theirextremities or self-destroy their G*d-given sight, blasphemously citingBiblical justification (Matthew, ch. 18, v. 8-9: ‘if thy hand or thy footoffend thee, cut them off, … thy eye offend thee, pluck it out.’)

[NB.Inquisitors should prepare refutations against such satanic subversion ofScripture. 1 Peter, ch. 3v. 15: ‘… be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you areason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.’]

Likewise,whenever possible this so-called elite sorcerously eschew the ground, tosymbolise severance from this earth. These sort should not be hard to spot....’

From: 'THE MALEFACTOR'S FOOTPRINTS: BEING A GUIDE (for Inquisitors &Reformers) TO PERVERSE SPIRITUAL STATES.

Prescribed for use in the recovered territories of Magyar-land, theprovinces ascribed to Buda & Pest, the former Turk-vilayets of Transylvaniaand Bosnia, the Free-cities of Szeged, Pecs, Debrecen and Kecskemét, and suchsteppe land beyond the Danube as may come back to the Christian fold and thecustody of his Imperial Highness.'

ResurgamPress. Vienna. 1848. Issued under Imperial licence.

Withdrawnfrom circulation by Papal decree (Judex Crederis Esse Venturus) 1902.

************

cHAPTER 38

Foremost speaker'sbusy-ness was interrupted by his god's return. The eye burst into splendouragain.

Heand the other floating ones quit their torturing of the negligent and spedback. The voice did not wait for them.

‘Whereis the one?’ Plaintive tones were a shocking novelty. It sounded childlikeand lost. ‘Why was he taken from me?’

Then,in contrast,