words was the correct path for them.
“Sir, you needn’t worry.”
“There is another matter and it’s delicate and not nearly as important as the others we are discussing.”
“Yes?”
“Aragon is very strict about church law and does not dissent on one single matter. Do you understand, Father?”
“Yes, Father Hitchens.”
“Good.”
“What is it then?”
“If the men are in good standing and are truly celibate, then they need not worry for their lives. Barring starvation or these damned animals that keep killing villagers that is.”
“Understood, Father Hitchens, I understand.”
“Anyway, true celibacy requires that they don’t even touch themselves or provide for their own sexual gratification. It’s forbidden by church law.”
“I assure you that none of that is going on either.”
“Father, you can’t assure these men that they won’t be eaten by wild beasts in the middle of the night. How can you assure me this behavior isn’t going on?”
“Trust me, I can.”
“Oh, you mean the loophole?”
“Sorry?”
“I know you think that when men confess their sexual sins to one another then they are washed clean. It’s like they are receiving baptism all over again!”
“No, actually…”
“That won’t work with our master. He’s sick of men who use the confessional to justify mortal sins.”
There was a certain level of decency and rationality that was coming from Hitchens. Darrow had to admit to himself that he was partially incorrect on his assumptions on the man’s nature. He thought he had a fanatic who was ready to feed all who dwelled in the monastery to the beasts of the night. He was a coward but he was in his own sad way trying to make the peace and satisfy a bloodthirsty master without a drop of blood being shed.
“These men are as pure as the snow that comes to this place. Incidentally, you’ve come in the early winter. In a month’s time, you may not be able to make the travel back. You’re horses will freeze to death.”
“That’s my affair, Father Darrow.”
“Yes it is.”
“Now onto less important matters, perhaps not to you or me but from the perspective of Aragon and the church these are lesser matters.”
“Yes.”
“What are we supposed to do about these damned animals?”
“They’re wolves, Father.”
“How many wolves do you think there are there Father Darrow?”
“There are as many wolves as there are monks.”
“Jesus, our lord, I see.”
Father Hitchens knew the Jesuits would always be an order in trouble, an order fighting to exist and that was almost all of the time. The kind of group that made the members concerned if all of this aggravation was worth it. It was just so they could be the most intellectually gifted. They were humble enough to communicate with the peasants and bright enough to discuss philosophy with kings. If it wasn’t for Luther, the radical order known as Jesuits may not ever have existed. There would be popes who were Jesuit sympathizers but Darrow always felt that there would never be a Jesuit Pope.
“These wolves are not as much as a problem as your master thinks,” said Father Darrow.
“ Oh?” said Father Hitchens.
“I think we have things under control.”
“Father Darrow, with all due respect, you have wild beasts that come out in the middle of the night to devour peasants. This is a serious problem. The church needs these folks to reproduce as much as possible. When folks get eaten alive, it spoils the romantic mood and they cannot pro create. Do you understand me, Father Darrow?”
“Yes, I do, Father.”
“Excellent.”
“What’s to be done?” asked Father Darrow.
“My master wants to hire hunters to kill these beasts off.”
“I believe there is no need for that, Father Hitchens.”
“These aren’t imaginary ghosts. These are real monsters.”
“Yes, real monsters.”
“Well, let’s kill them and make the problem stop.”
“Very well then…”
“We will defeat
“Sir, you needn’t worry.”
“There is another matter and it’s delicate and not nearly as important as the others we are discussing.”
“Yes?”
“Aragon is very strict about church law and does not dissent on one single matter. Do you understand, Father?”
“Yes, Father Hitchens.”
“Good.”
“What is it then?”
“If the men are in good standing and are truly celibate, then they need not worry for their lives. Barring starvation or these damned animals that keep killing villagers that is.”
“Understood, Father Hitchens, I understand.”
“Anyway, true celibacy requires that they don’t even touch themselves or provide for their own sexual gratification. It’s forbidden by church law.”
“I assure you that none of that is going on either.”
“Father, you can’t assure these men that they won’t be eaten by wild beasts in the middle of the night. How can you assure me this behavior isn’t going on?”
“Trust me, I can.”
“Oh, you mean the loophole?”
“Sorry?”
“I know you think that when men confess their sexual sins to one another then they are washed clean. It’s like they are receiving baptism all over again!”
“No, actually…”
“That won’t work with our master. He’s sick of men who use the confessional to justify mortal sins.”
There was a certain level of decency and rationality that was coming from Hitchens. Darrow had to admit to himself that he was partially incorrect on his assumptions on the man’s nature. He thought he had a fanatic who was ready to feed all who dwelled in the monastery to the beasts of the night. He was a coward but he was in his own sad way trying to make the peace and satisfy a bloodthirsty master without a drop of blood being shed.
“These men are as pure as the snow that comes to this place. Incidentally, you’ve come in the early winter. In a month’s time, you may not be able to make the travel back. You’re horses will freeze to death.”
“That’s my affair, Father Darrow.”
“Yes it is.”
“Now onto less important matters, perhaps not to you or me but from the perspective of Aragon and the church these are lesser matters.”
“Yes.”
“What are we supposed to do about these damned animals?”
“They’re wolves, Father.”
“How many wolves do you think there are there Father Darrow?”
“There are as many wolves as there are monks.”
“Jesus, our lord, I see.”
Father Hitchens knew the Jesuits would always be an order in trouble, an order fighting to exist and that was almost all of the time. The kind of group that made the members concerned if all of this aggravation was worth it. It was just so they could be the most intellectually gifted. They were humble enough to communicate with the peasants and bright enough to discuss philosophy with kings. If it wasn’t for Luther, the radical order known as Jesuits may not ever have existed. There would be popes who were Jesuit sympathizers but Darrow always felt that there would never be a Jesuit Pope.
“These wolves are not as much as a problem as your master thinks,” said Father Darrow.
“ Oh?” said Father Hitchens.
“I think we have things under control.”
“Father Darrow, with all due respect, you have wild beasts that come out in the middle of the night to devour peasants. This is a serious problem. The church needs these folks to reproduce as much as possible. When folks get eaten alive, it spoils the romantic mood and they cannot pro create. Do you understand me, Father Darrow?”
“Yes, I do, Father.”
“Excellent.”
“What’s to be done?” asked Father Darrow.
“My master wants to hire hunters to kill these beasts off.”
“I believe there is no need for that, Father Hitchens.”
“These aren’t imaginary ghosts. These are real monsters.”
“Yes, real monsters.”
“Well, let’s kill them and make the problem stop.”
“Very well then…”
“We will defeat
Similar Books
