The Prophecy - 12. Chapter 12

Simon was semiconscious. He was cold, his limbs were numb, and his muscles were tensed, but Simon did not pay attention. He felt dizzy and his thoughts were incoherent. The piece of cloth in his mouth had almost choked him. Simon was scared and frightened.

He had no idea how much time had passed when he heard the door open again. Simon’s muscles stiffened even more when he sensed a hand on his shoulder. Someone turned him on his side and then seized his hands that were fastened on his back. The man cut the rope, and then freed his ankles. Simon did not move. His heart was pounding wildly. What was going on now? The man removed the sack from Simon's head, pulled the piece of cloth from his mouth and removed the hood with the false queue of hair. Simon’s eyelids flickered as he looked up to the figure that bowed over him. He saw a Black Monk, his face hidden by the hood. The man was holding a candle in his hand.

"I didn’t agree with it, Brother Simon," the monk said hastily and in a low voice. "Brother Nicholas put me under pressure. I must leave now with the others, but I will return and free you from your prison. I promise, Brother Simon."

"Brother Philip," Simon whispered as he recognized the voice of the Benedictine monk. .

"Quiet," Brother Philip hissed. "Don’t move, don’t call out for help, else they will find out that I have come here."

"Why, Brother Philip?" Simon asked desperately.

Brother Philip placed his hand on Simon’s forehead. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," he prayed.

He withdrew his hand. "Forgive me, Brother Simon, but trust in me. I’ll free you as soon as I can."

"Brother Philip," Simon begged.

But the monk rose to his feet and left the room. Simon heard him lock the door. And then he was alone again. Fear took hold of him, but Simon tried to suppress the feeling. He didn't move nor did he call out. He did what Brother Philip had told him. When would the man come back and free him? Why had they locked him up here? Where had they taken him to anyway? Simon pondered on his many questions. Time passed by and the door did not open. Many hours had gone by when Simon finally dared to sit up. He reached out his hand, as the room was in total darkness, but he only grasped at nothing. Simon crawled cautiously across the stone floor until he reached the wall of the room. He leaned against the cold wall, his arms wrapped around his body.

The hours went by, but nothing happened. Simon told himself that he had to be patient. The four monks had probably returned to St. Denis, along with the abbot’s horse and the parchment. Brother Philip had to wait for a chance to leave St. Denis again. It could well take a day or two until the man returned and freed him. A new thought bothered Simon. Would he outlive two days without water? Simon was doubtful, but then he saw a way to outlive the days, a technique he had practiced many times when he had prayed and meditated in the cloister.

A new thought came to his mind. What day was it? Had the time already come? Would the prophecy fulfil? Would the demiurge arise from hell and strike mankind with plagues and evils? Who was the man Jason who could have been able to stop him? The prophecy said that he lived in London, a place that Simon had heard of, but had never seen. Was the man Jason aware of his mission? Was he planning the devil’s defeat? Simon pondered for some time, but then he drifted to sleep. He was dead tired.

When he woke up, Simon found himself still leaning against the cold wall. He was hungry and more so he was thirsty. Simon swallowed. He told himself that he needed to stay calm. Brother Philip had promised to come for his rescue. He shifted his position until he was sitting more comfortably. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated. Simon began his meditation.

He visualized the holy cross, the sign of Jesus Christ Our Saviour. He focused on the image, he spoke to the Lord, and he recited a Latin prayer, silently, again and again. The monotonous repetition of words made him feel light and airy. Simon ignored his body, forgot it entirely, while his mind grew clear and clearer. Time passed by. The words meanwhile came automatically. Simon’s mind climbed higher. He saw the holy cross with his inner eyes. A beautiful, heavenly light surrounded it. Simon felt happy, delighted, and joyous. He felt touched by the Lord, protected and sheltered.

Simon had long lost track of time. He had entered a different level of meditation where neither time nor matter existed or were of any importance. Simon was in silent unison with the Lord. He sensed the heavenly beings around him. Many hours went by, but Simon was not aware of the passing of time. He was in deep meditation. He reached an unknown level of heavenly joy and he wanted to indulge in it. And then the heavenly light got even brighter and Simon’s heart flew out to it.

Simon approached the light, yet stopped for an instant. He looked down and, to his very surprise, saw forests and green fields surrounding a place with buildings. Simon recognized the site: St. Denis. He saw the cloister. Simon looked in astonishment at the buildings. He saw a rider, a Black Monk, riding fast on the abbot’s black stallion. Simon recognized the man. Brother Philip was coming for his rescue. Simon was deeply moved and grateful. Brother Philip had kept his promise. Simon's heart flew out to the man.

But then something attracted his attention. Simon saw a figure in the distance. The man was coming closer. He was approaching him. The man Jason, Simon realized. Jason was also coming for his rescue. And then the truth hit Simon like lightning. Total knowledge filled his mind. He suddenly knew all dates, facts and connections. He had misread the prophecy. The prophecy was to be fulfilled a thousand years in the future. Simon looked back at Brother Philip who spurred his horse in obvious hurry. Then he turned to Jason who meanwhile had joined him.

"What date is it?" Jason asked. "The 18th of May 1012. I was mistaken. So it’s up to you now," Simon replied in a sad and pleading voice. But then he smiled and turned back to the light that drew him closer and closer. He had almost reached it when he looked back to Jason again. "Hear my call. There is yet time!" he called out loudly to him. And then Simon turned away and walked into the light.

Tears filled Brother Philip’s eyes as he crouched beside the dead body.

"Forgive me, Brother Simon," he said in a choked voice. "I wasn’t able to run from them earlier."

He stroked Simon’s forehead. The skin was still warm.

"Why did you not wait for just one more hour?" Brother Philip asked in a broken voice.

An old man stood beside Brother Philip. "We had no idea that you had locked him up here," he said. His voice was shaking.

Brother Philip looked up and met the monk’s eyes. The old man’s eyes were filled with severity. He placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder and spoke again, but his tone of voice had changed.

"You and your companions broke the Fifth Commandment. Brother Philip, you committed a capital sin. Only Our Lord can release you of it. Confess and do penance, Brother Philip," he said in a stern and cold voice.

Brother Philip’s lips started to tremble. The old man looked at him and made the sign of the cross.

"Rise to your feet, brother, and raise your eyes to Our Lord," he said. "Come, I will show you to the abbot."

"Brother Simon?" Brother Philip asked in a brittle voice.

"Our brother will receive a Christian burial," the old man replied.

Brother Philip rose to his feet. He was shattered and bowed down with grief.