Free There Comes A Prophet by David Litwack Page B

whole city was strange and he was fast learning mistrust.
    "Let me see you first. It's my turn."
    He heard scuffling steps from the far side and then put his eye to the hole.
    In the neighboring cell was an old man, with skin so loose the outline of his skeleton showed. He was panting and his mouth hung open, exposing a tongue covered with sores. Nathaniel looked away.
    "Not pretty, no." The man's voice became clearer by the moment. "This is what happens when a body is given just enough food and water to survive. The Temple doesn't harm its children. Oh no. It loves its children. But they don't know what I am and it frustrates them, so they keep me here. Do you want to know what I am, young man?" He paused, more for effect than to wait for a reply. "I'm what they fear most. The truth. So here will I stay forever."
    Despite his revulsion, Nathaniel returned to the hole and looked again. An image of madness? Or courage beyond anything he'd ever imagined?
    ***
    Alone now, the clergy met in a windowless room that was brightly lit despite the absence of candles. The arch vicar gazed as a pale glow flickered off his face, giving his actions a mystical cast-the light bestowing wisdom on its high priest. He tugged at his beard, nodding repeatedly, then spoke without looking away.
    "Perfect."
    "What is?" the junior vicar said.
    "The boy's background, his family, his profile. As I suspected." He turned to face the younger man. "I had him placed in the cell next to the old prisoner."
    The younger man stared back, his lips spreading agreeably, but his eyes narrowed.
    "But holiness, it failed the last time."
    Yes. It had failed. But the idea was sound. He'd spent weeks the last time begging the council for approval, overlooking how they indulged him like a child. Let the old prisoner die, they said. The secret's just a legend. Finally to humor him, they conceded. Then, when his plan failed, they were unfazed. No matter, they said. The secret will die with him. Just a legend anyway. A myth.
    But only he among his peers had immersed himself in the archives where he'd found snippets of proof. He believed it existed. He believed.
    Should he try again? This time, he'd be on his own. An unauthorized attempt, discovered too soon, might damage his standing-support he'd need when the grand vicar was gone. Maybe they were right. Let the secret die with the old prisoner.
    But it haunted his dreams. When he thought of it, his chest tightened and his breathing became short. Why did that ancient place pull at him so much? In the archives, hints of what lay there had tempted him, almost more than he could bear. What did he hope to find that would justify risking a lifetime of service? And if he found it at last, would he have the faith to resist its temptations and destroy it once and for all?
    And why, at the very thought of its destruction, did he already mourn its loss?
    Now, the light had granted a second chance. The boy from Little Pond had fallen into his grasp just as time was running out. And the boy was perfect.
    The arch vicar waved his hand and the mystical glow vanished.
    "The last time was different. Our man was not true of heart."
    "But the old man's cynical, holiness, suspicious. He'll never-"
    "I tell you it's different this time. The old man is failing and knows it. The boy is naive, but brave-a vessel waiting to be filled. The old man will trust him."
    "What will you tell him, holiness?"
    "That we want him to commit to the Temple, to lead the people of the Ponds in the light."
    "But holiness, how do we know he'll believe us?"
    "According to his friend... " The arch vicar consulted a slip of paper. "... Thomas... he fancies himself destined for greatness. We're offering an opportunity worthy of him." He turned and headed to the door, but stopped and reversed himself. "And if that doesn't work, he'll believe us anyway."
    "But why, holiness?"
    The arch vicar's pupils became black embers, but a wicked twinkle had begun to show. "Because he