A Canticle for Leibniz (chapter summaries 8 – 19) Chapter 8 Summary Arks relaxes once the Dominicans take over the cause, eleven years after Francis’ incident. Francis devotes years of free time labor to his project, which blends with the tedium of days and seasons that for everyone ends with Extreme Unction and the Just King’s judgment of “come” or “go. ” Sara completes a fifth page before dying, leaving notes someone may use to finish the task. Bingo is restored to the carpentry shop and allowed an hour a day to work on his Leibniz.
Francis enjoys batching the martyrs visage emerge, with merry-but- ad crinkly eyes and the hint of a vary smile Francis recognizes but cannot place. The smile irritates the abbot, who hides the completed carving in his study. Word Of Francis’ progress on the illumination spreads and someone insists the Beats he met must inspire him. When Jeers succeeds Horned as master Of the copy room, he insists Francis put away the things Of a child and Start doing a man’s work. Francis hopes to outlive Jeers and resume work. Providence arranges another way by sending a probationary apostolic, Megs.
Malformed Gaggers as postulate for Lobbyist’s conciliation. His Dominican clerks will open the shelter, explore the “Sealed Environment,” and interview Francis about his alleged apparition. The abbot provides deluxe accommodations and entertainments beyond Sierra’s needs or wants, suggesting this abbey lives extraordinarily well. Arks suggests an unhappy end to Francis’ life if he is not very careful in what he says to Gaggers, lest Lobbyist’s cause be shelved again. Thus, Francis goes frightened to the suave, diplomatic elder, who wants him to verity a compilation of travelers’ stories about the incident.
Reading the tat scroll of hearsay horrifies Francis, who insists the event is nothing like this and wishes e had never mentioned a pilgrim to fellow novices. Francis briefly summarizes their one meeting, not marked by halos, heavenly choirs, or carpets of roses, The stranger did, however, write two unintelligible marks on a rock. Agreeing travelers’ stories are always exaggerated, the postulate throws Miracle No. 7 into the waste bin. There is more than enough evidence for sainthood without this, and the Devils Advocate would have crucified Francis, Gaggers says, before revealing 15 skeletons have been found in the inner chamber.
Gaggers hopes and believes the gold-toothed skull is Emily. Before returning to New Rome, Auger insists on seeing Francis’ unfinished illumination, declares it beautiful, and insists he finish it. Jeers must allow it. Chapter g Summary After Accuser’s departure, his malign opponent, Megs. Flaunt, arrives to a cooler reception. Arks does not warn Francis against using his imagination With the Devil’s Advocate. Flaunt inquires about mental illness in Francis’ family. Before moving on to artificially aging paper, the commonness of the name Emily and its diminutives, and the “fantastic twaddle about an apparition. Francis is interrupted frequently as he tells his version, and is subjected to a ruthless cross- examination. Deciding Francis’ story is trivial grant dismisses hire Viewing the Leibniz blueprint, Fraught finds it a vivid, “dreadful incomprehensibility,” and a waste Of six years’ work. Francis is relieved not to be told to quit. The abbeys work goes on routinely after Fraught departure, until word comes from New Rome the Pope has decided to agonize Leibniz in conjunction With a General Council.
Withered by age, Arks summons Francis to appoint him the abbey’s delegate to the event, eventually admitting the Pope has asked for him by name. He will carry’ the original blueprint, and Arks recommends he take is illumination as a personal gift to the Holy Father. Francis faints. Chapter 10 Summary Reaching New Rome takes at least three months and entails great danger from robber bands. Francis prays they will be too ignorant to understand the value of the relic and his illumination. Some thieves allow victims to leave, relieved of booty.
As precaution, Francis wears a black eye patch, suggesting to the superstitious he has the evil eye. Two months out, Francis is waylaid in a wooded area near the Valley of the Mission, a colony not affiliated with Catholic charities tort leper like mutants. Occasionally babies are born with recessive genes, appear normal, but are so devoid of human spirit some even within the Church advocate destroying them. New Rome under Pope Leo XX refuses, however, and the mission are often called the “Pope’s Children. ” The short, brawny robber who confronts Francis appears normal, but has a companion who may be two- headed.
The robber laughs at the eye-patch ploy and demands Francis disrobe and open his Benedictine. The robber admires the gold on the illumination but dismisses the dull original. He allows Francis to leave with his clothing and donkey, but not the illumination. The robber is offended by the idea Francis venerates his ancestors and has wasted 15 years on the woman’s work Of copying a drawing. Francis offers to wrestle the robber for the documents, but loses swiftly. The victor Will allow Francis to ransom the illumination if he can get bono heckles of gold from the Pope.
Fondling the relic and blessing the robbers’ ignorance, Francis rides away as one of the bands repeats “Eat! Eat! ” Francis rides sadly, contemplating 15 years of love and torment. Chapter 11 Summary Francis is awed, watching the majestic basilica prepared for the conciliation ceremony. Every action contributes to the dignity and overpowering beauty, even the seamstress’ placement of a footstool before the papal throne and particularly a review of the armored and immobile papal guard. Pilgrim throngs are admitted, breaking the silence, and the guard goes on the ready.
To a peal of trumpets that makes Francis’ scalp crawl, the crowd rises, and a frail old man in white is carried in on a chair. The ceremony is brier but intense. Gaggers chants three requests to Pope Leo XIX to number Leibniz among the saints, A heroic portrait, sans smile, is unveiled. After a Tee Deem and Mass in Lobbyist’s honor, it is finished. The small group of pilgrims, including Francis, makes its way through a series of checkpoints to attend the Pope’s reception. The seducers demands a clan chief remove his panther headdress. Francis swoons when the Pope strides in and makes his way slowly down the line.
He insists the chief put on his headgear, which he admires. When Francis’ turn comes, he sees a meek, fragile man, who speaks in the formal curial style, only because it is expected. The Pope is grieved to hear of Francis’ misfortunes and the loss of his gift, but rejoices to meet him and through him greet the Order that prevents the world’s total amnesia. Francis produces the blueprint and tells the Story. The Pope admonishes Francis for saying he “wasted” 15 years on the illumination, which allowed the relic to arrive in New Rome unscathed.
When the Pope blinks (or Winks,) Francis’ eyes are opened to the shoddiness of his white cassock, the walls, and carpet. Dignity, he realizes, overshadows poverty. The Pope promises Francis a threat of excommunication against anyone who molests him en route home (Francis realizing highwaymen will not be able to read the decree), and says goodbye to his “beloved son. ” Gaggers pulls Francis aside and embraces him, Gaggers has geed badly, which makes Francis realize he too is graying and wrinkling around the eyes from long squinting over the copy-table, Gaggers hands him a package, which he asks be opened elsewhere.
Francis asks to confess to his Patron’s advocate, His heart is troubled only by his discovery of the shelter hindering the saint’s case. After absolving him, Gaggers gives Francis a tour of the basilica, pointing out crumbling masonry and frescoes, showing the Church is not wealthy in this age. Francis opens the package and finds a purse holding two hellos of gold, The robber is not waiting, when Francis arrives at his outpost, So, he rests, waiting him as long as necessary. He is happy for the chance to rest. Francis surveys the southwestern horizon and shivers, discerning a black iota walking through the shimmering heat.
As it nears, Francis crosses himself, wondering if this could be the same stranger A Pope’s Child arrow hits him between the eyes The wanderer rests, watching buzzards flock over a clump of trees, and then approaches to drive them away from the partial remains Of a man. Anxious about being attacked, the stranger digs a grave deep enough to frustrate the buzzards, Who divert to the body Of a dead hog and the remains Of a cougar’s meal. Buzzards lay eggs, feed their young, and eat whatever the fruitful earth offers. Sometimes a toad, once a messenger from New Rome.
Pickings are good, until a new city-state arises and ends the carnage of war. In A. D. 3174, there are rumors of war. Chapter 12 Summary Megs. Marcus Apollo, Papal nuncio to the Court of Hangman, is certain war is near, overhearing Hangman’s third wife gossiping about a favorite courier returning intact from a mission to Mad Bears clan. Had the Plains tribes and the civilized states accepted the “Agreement of the Holy Scourge, ” Mad Bear would tot have slain him in fury, Hangman’s emissary must, therefore, have gone on another, undisclosed, mission.
The tall black-clad cleric makes his way to his assistant, Brother Claret, but says only, “Sacral came back alive,” They will talk more after the wedding reception. The bride’s halt-brother, an elegantly attired academic Thong Tatted Preponderant, approaches, irritated being outside his secular cloister in the collegial. Tatted hopes to learn more from Apollo about the Liberation documents at the abbey. Apollo assures him they are authentic and encourages him to accept the abbey’s invitation to examine them.
Tatted cannot afford the time or endure the danger of a six-month visit and wants help borrowing the documents for study by himself and his colleagues. Knowing this is impossible and wanting to kick Tatted for his audacity, Apollo invites him to his quarters later. Apollo tells Claret he will meet Tatted for two reasons. First, Hangman’s important kinsman must be indulged. Second, Tatted may divulge information vital to New Romeos interests about intentions to unite the continent under one dynasty by using a Denver/Laredo alliance to tie up Mad Bear and encourage Chihuahua to attack Laredo from the south.
This will hen free Hangman to take on the Mississippi Republic. Apollo is unsure if this will work, but New Rome must be forewarned in order(doubtfully) to stay out Of the squabble. Tatted is cordial and nervous, when he reaches Polio’s quarters. This tips the cleric to his eagerness to get something, making him too easy a victim for the clerics planned verbal fencing match. Tatted reports the faculty has met and worries the abbey may be running a hoax. If the documents are authentic, they must be investigated immediately.
They appear to fit into Tattoo’s field of study, whereat 30 he has established himself as a revolutionary Hinkler in electrical essence, planetary motion, and attracting bodies. Brother Greenhorn’s list includes names like Lapse, Maxwell, and Einstein. They’re all men torment, except anecdotally by history. The abbey may contain scientific papers, To illustrate the urgency, Tatted leads Apollo to the window and points out a weary peasant leading his donkey. The fool does not realize he can ride the animal back from market, because it is no longer weighed down with grain sacks.
Tatted marВ»eel’s this illiterate, superstitious, mudrooms moron is descended from men who once invented machines that fly, talk and think, The monsignor tutorial sees in him the image of Christ. Tatted asks impatiently how a great, wise civilization can destroy itself. Lighting a tallow lamp, Apollo suggests material greatness and material wisdom are different, and asks if Tatted rejects all history as myth. Tatted insists history must be questioned. In the time of the antipodes, many schismatic orders fabricated and passed off versions of their own.
The only thing undeniable is an advanced civilization once existed, shown by its physical remains. Doubt is a powerful tool for historians. Apollo smiles and asks Tatted What he wants. He wants a letter to the abbot assuring him he materials will be cared for and returned safely, guaranteed by Hangman. Conclusions drawn away from the abbey’s influence will be more convincing to other scholars. Apollo surprises Tatted by agreeing to write Doom Paulo, but doubts it will help. When Tatted leaves, Apollo tells Claret he must go swiftly to New Rome and return via the abbey, There, Claret is to tell Paulo “Sheep expects Solomon to come to her.
Bearing gifts,” and then bring the abbot’s “no” to him for delivery to Tatted. Chapter 13 Summary Watching buzzards circle the desert, the abbot has directories of death. An assistant rereads a letter from Megs. Apollo Doom Paulo already knows by heart. Sheep will come to Solomon after all, perhaps to denounce him as a charlatan, which means Tatted, the brilliant, well-meaning, anticlerical, anti-monastic potential loose cannon, has given up on receiving the Memorabilia and will arrive on the Assumption, protected against bandits by a small party of cavalry.
Paulo is certain his old friend is saying something ominous between the lines, but cannot figure out what The courier bearing Appeals letter has explained Tattoo’s embarrassing past. He was educated by Benedictine after illegitimate birth to a serving maid. He intellectually outstrips his cousin, who, despite his illiteracy, is being groomed for the throne. He is then recalled to the duke’s court as a bitter 15-year-old, when the duchess, who bears only daughters, dies. The abbot worries about bitter memories, half-memories, and imagined memories.
In the weeks since the letter arrives, Paulo has slept badly and suffered a recurrence of an old bowel problem. There is no reason to worry politically or economically, but Paulo feels foreboding about a small, malicious, compulsive devil lurking, and wonders if he has grown life-weary. When his prior and likely successor, Father Gaul, approaches, Paulo wonders if buzzards have eaten another Old friend, Lazar Benjamin, whom he has not seen in five years. Paulo has been thinking lately about the Old Jew, whom he resolves to visit soon.
Lazar claims to be at least 3,209 years old, but Paulo gives him just over 100. Gaul needs direction on 1) expelling the Poet from the guest room,2) serving vespers, and 3) resolving the perdition vs.. Progress feud between brothers Ambusher and Greenhorn. Paulo hopes the latter’s experiment in electricity will fail, and intends to deal personally withal but vespers. Paulo heads to the guesthouse, smelling rotted food, hearing he bleating of a goat, and seeing an eyeball in a vase of water on a shelf. The poet sprawls on his bed, a wine bottle nearby, irritable about being awakened.
Paulo orders him to vacate immediately and scrub the place in the morning. The poet replies he is anxious to leave, because the place is infested with bedbugs, Paulo confiscates the stolen sacramental wine and learns the bald, blue-headed, mutant goat has been won from Benjamin in a game of numbly-peg_ Paulo orders the Poet to return it, and heads for the basement. Chapter 14 Summary The vaulted basement, dug while the Barring Horde lies in the region, has retorted the Memorabilia from nomads, sectarians, and schismatic knights friars for 12 centuries.
A small flame of knowledge is now smoldering and some claim valid knowledge is indestructible, ideas are deathless, and truth is immortal. The abbot contemplates this applies only to the Creator’s ineffable Logos, while human thought and speech is valid only within given cultures. Cultures are not immortal, and truth can be crucified and, perhaps, resurrected. Coming from a different society, the Memorabilia ancient words and formulae can be little understood. The early AOL brothers’ pressing of a Veronica’s Veil o the face of their crucified civilization is incomplete. Faint, and confusing.
It cannot generate a revival of ancient science or civilization, but can offer hints to a new evolution. Venerable Bedrolls asserts this has happened before, and Paulo plans on reminding scientists who has kept the spark burning while the world sleeps. The basement bustles with construction, watched by the grim Librarian and Rector of the Memorabilia, Brother Armatures, but supervised by Brother Greenhorn, who rushes to the abbot, enthusiastic about the light no man alive has seen, which will soon burst out here. Paulo is concerned they have ruddier installing a makeshift machine just to impress Tatted.
Wagon wheels, copper wire, and iron blocks formal “dynamo,” which stands poised to cause a lamp burn brighter than 100 candles. Paulo declines a scientific explanation, but wonders why predecessors have failed to do this. Greenhorn says the dynamo’s only partially implicit in fragmentary writings, from which he has theorized and deduced his system. Greenhorn is a seminal thinker in this area. Ambusher insists Tatted work in an alcove like everyone else, while Greenhorn suggests he be given a partitioned, well-equipped work area and free access to rare volumes chained own for security.
Paulo sides faith the librarian, because the villagers are anxious to fill the shelves of their new library. Greenhorn next insists if Tatted is to work in an alcove, the crucifix must come down temporarily to accommodate his light, and the librarian rages about desecration and threatens physical violence. Paulo winces at the inventor’s suggestion, but dislikes Embrasure’s worsening disposition and supports the logic of removing the crucifix. Paulo remains in his study during the test next day, having privately warned and publicly rebuked Ambusher, with whom he nevertheless sympathizes.
The abbot’s crapping does not go away as it usually does, and he takes this as a warning from an angel, a demon, or his conscience. He studies Bingo’s 6,000- year old carving of SST. Leibniz, odd for a sacramental image, with crossed, crinkly eyes, wry smile, and frowning brows. Paulo ascribes these features to irregularities in the wood. His stodgier predecessors have often disliked it, and Paulo is certain it will one day give way to a more orthodox plaster version, because religious art must please simpletons and sages alike and tastes change over centuries, usually downward.
The day’s heat makes both Paulo’s cramping ND depression worse. He asks SST. Lobbyist’s intercessions and considers dispensing himself with a more digestible diet. He contemplates how the scales, weighing life and labor against silver and gold, are crooked and ruthless, spilling many lives, and a king is carrying them across the desert. Paulo suppresses the vision, wondering, as SST Leibniz smiles at him, if they are laughing at him in heaven.
Paulo wonders if the coming king (Tatted) will agree with Venerable Bedrolls that half the Memorabilia should be called the “Inscrutability” and find his trip across the dangerous desert worthless The fist in Paulo’s stomach lunches and he collapses on his desk, wishing the chalice could pass for a while, but realizing crucifixion is always now. If you fall Off your cross, they beat you to death with shovels, robbing you of dignity. SST. Leibniz smiles on, perhaps at his hangman, or at Satan himself. Gaul rinds Paulo With blood showing between his teeth, but quickly revives him. Paulo insists it is ridiculous. Idiotic, and absurd, and declines to see the doctor. Gaul reports the test is successful and Paulo pretends to listen, while thinking about a safe time for him to die. Chapter 15 Hangman So (“Mad Bear”), ruler of the Plains clans, sis just and kindly man, more merciful to his animals than his warriors, and careful about the sensibilities of the superstitious, grass-eating allies he needs. Knowing if the Learns learn Hangman is arming his tribes, his plan will tail, and never doubting his clans are superior, Mad Bear breaks taboos and risks tribal restlessness to deal with a messenger trot Texans.
He is willing to stop raiding his Eastern rival, Hangman, as long as he provides arms and supplies. A joint war on Laredo is left implicit, but fits Mad Bear’s plans of expelling the farmers who have encroached n his ancestral grazing lands, The twelve Eastern guests are divided into two mutually repugnant groups, one of which is led by an untrustworthy manic, who writes mysteriously in a small book and digs in the dry riverbed.
Mad Bear puts on his ceremonial wolf robes, is anointed by a shaman, and is hailed with the legend of his nickname during a solemn entrance to the fire ring Mad Bear ignores the eulogies, as he drains a cup of fresh steer blood, which offends the grass-eaters’ religious taboos. Tatted, present among the Testatrixes, mollifies Mad Bear and amuses him by requesting guards for their westward journey into the Dry Lands to visit Leibniz Abbey. There, he hopes to obtain the skills of ancient sorcery. A shaman derides the dark-robed ones, Who are easily captured, but admires how well they endure torture.
Tatted says the monks do not know how to use the incantations they hoard, and hopes to master them himself. Tired Of Mad Bear’s insults, he retires, while the warriors talk on. Tatted disdains his ignorant cousin’s political aspirations but happily accepts his useful patronage. Chapter 16 The sunburned old hermit, Benjamin, with hat, beard, sandals, burlap loincloth, and water skin, stands on a mesa, watching a speck cross the desert, and editing on peace. He descends to the arroyo and surprises his visitor, Doom Paulo. Benjamin demands Paulo return the goat to the Poet, who won it, or curse it and cast it into the desert.
The grumpy old friends eventually embrace, and Benjamin confesses to throwing pebbles at fasting novices who camp too near, because one often once mistook him for a distant relative, a scalawag Leibniz, and Benjamin does not want it to happen again, Paulo cannot believe the Old Jew is pretends to be 12 centuries old, but Benjamin insists he buried Francis and informed New Rome where to find the grave. Accepting Benjamin offer of hospitality, Paulo is exhausted climbing to the primitive hovel, in front of which a pillar stands displaying a large Hebrew sign Benjamin claims means, “Tents Mended Here. Only by squeezing between a flat rock and the outer wall can another Hebrew inscription be read. Benjamin dares not display it in times like this, and refuses to translate. Benjamin offers milk and an opportunity to explain Why a Tatted visit worries Paulo, Who counter-offerings and refuses to discuss it. Benjamin notes he too has been labeled a secular scholar, staked, stoned, and burned for IL Paulo Objects Trademark is dead, and out Of loved eggs Benjamin not to think of himself as the embodiment of the scattered Jews and sole bearer of their burden.
Benjamin insists he cannot refuse. Paulo says he too is a member of a congregation that the world despises, and as a priest is accountable for the acts and deeds of every cleric since the time of Christ, who alone has the strength to bear that. All men bear the burden of the guilt of original sin, and must admit this as readily as they accept the inheritance of ancestral glory, virtue, triumph, and dignity. Christ crucified has lifted the burden and left only the imprint, which is an easier yoke. Paulo knows Benjamin is itching for another Messiah.
Blessing this brave, wise fool, Benjamin observes Paulo is a devotee tot paradox, mystery, and contradiction, able to find sense in the Trinity. Paulo equates the Jewish burden of being Chosen with the Catholic burden of Original Guilt. Both imply responsibility. Benjamin exalts in making Paulo want to argue about the Trinity, to which Paulo counters, waiting years for One-Which:-lass’s-coming has taught Benjamin no wisdom but made him shrewd. Benjamin smiles, declaring, insult, railing. Baiting, and persecution cannot keep him from knowing He is already here, because he has seen him. Talk turns to
Tatted, Greenhorn’s lamp, and how radically things have changed in two centuries. Paulo has electrical essences in his basement. Paulo then opens up about various fears, including the Order’s responsibility for the Memorabilia. He feels like a shoemaker trying to sell his wares in a village of shoemakers. Leave the business or learn to make better shoes, Benjamin advises, and warns him monks should pray, not build strange contraptions or resort to metaphysics. He has no sympathy for their meddling in affairs Of the world. The children Of the world will take all the monks have to give and then toss them aside.
The flippant rods conform to Paulo’s fears about Tatted. Benjamin wants to examine the entrails of this New Era before prophesying if things like the lamp Will work, and does not truly expect the coming of Him who once shouted to him, “Come forth! ” but still, he waits. Paulo is shocked by Benjamin request he bring Tatted past the foot of his mesa. He hopes the scholar will be on their side and not make authorities more dangerous by offering them advice. It is late, and Paulo must leave, realizing his belly hurts less than recently.
El Shadow is merciful, Benjamin observes, but also just, They embrace affectionately and part, Chapter 17 An envoy from New Rome assures Paulo war is coming, Vatican attempts to warn King Gorilla about Hangman’s threat has led to Megs. Polio’s arrest, which the Vatican countered by putting Texans under interdict, Since of the population is cultist, this has little effect. The envoy doubts Tatted can make it to the abbey unscathed, but he will arrive, Paulo judges the world can ill afford to lose such a scholar and doubts the Empire of Denver will be affected by war.
The envoy enlightens Paulo on Hangman’s strategy and treachery in gathering allies, shattering them, and picking up the pieces. This will free him to strike sat or northeast into lucrative areas. The abbey is in no immediate danger Of being overrun, but should begin taking steps to keep the Memorabilia safe. Paulo angers, picturing centuries Of effort being compromised by an rough- riding illiterate prince, and reminds the envoy of past success in fighting off raiders. NOW, the envoy warns, they have bountiful supplies Of gunpowder and grapeshot.
Assumption passes without word from Tatted, and pilgrim requests for votive masses keep the priests busy. Rumors have it the abbot is fasting as penance for putting the scholar in harm’s way, but the truth lies in his stomach rubles. The watchtowers are continually manned, and on afternoon spots riders on the horizon. Next morning, 20-30 horsemen approach and break into vivo groups. The wolf-skinned nomads, apparently guides, gallop eastward, while 6-7, some in uniform, trot to the gates, Paulo welcomes the scholar fulsomely and receives a monosyllabic reply.
Paulo feels like a bridge across centuries between the last martyred scientist and the first of a new age, hut then begins feeling more like he is stranded on a sandbar in Time’s river. As the visitors settle in, Paulo notices how the wooden saint’s smile resembles Benjamin smirk and is warning “The children of this world are consistent too. ” Chapter 18 Summary The refectory reading conflates the familiar story of God granting Satan permission to try Job’s loyalty with the mythology of the Flame Deluge about princes receiving the very fires of Hell.
A crafty Judas Chariot-like magi named Blackened counsels the prince to believe pennons may be used, provided they not exceed a set limit, and enemy cities are smitten for three days and nights, God takes offense at this holocaust of his sons and slays the prince and the betrayer, and there follows pestilence on the earth and madness in mankind. A an named Leibniz, who as a youth loved the wisdom of the world more than the wisdom Of God like SST. Augustine Of Old, repents The abbot raps sharply on the table and the reader falls silent. Tatted asks if this is their only account Of the fall Of civilization.
Paulo says there are several versions, differing in minor details. This version dates from a few decades after SST. Lobbyist’s death, written by a young monk Who is not an eyewitness but has a liking for biblical mimicry. The monks have determined many minor nations have such weapons before the Deluge, so ‘Name” and “Blacksnake” are probably Legion. Tatted abruptly asks bout examining the Memorabilia, and Paulo invites him to come and go as he pleases. The library is unusually crowded in the morning, awaiting the arrival of the abbot and the scholar. Paulo lets them cool their heels. In Principia Dues’ is the password from the assistant, and other monks assigned specific tasks, chant verses from the story of Creation as checkpoints, leading up to Greenhorn’s “Destitute Dues: ‘FIAT LAX,”‘ Three set their shoulders to the turnstile to activate the dynamo and the verses continue, broken by a yelp of “Lucifer! ” when the monk gets a shock and Greenhorn’s loud “CONTACT! ” as the guests arrive. The arc eight floods the vaults with brilliant light, which stops everyone in their tracks. The abbot crosses himself and whispers, “l had not known! “Recovering from the shock, Tatted surveys the room and breathes, “Incredible! And “Unthinkable! ” -opinions confirmed as he inspects the machinery. Paulo rebukes Greenhorn for frightening their guest with this hellish brightness. Sighting for self-control, Tatted asks how – and why – they have kept this secret for centuries. Chapter 19 The abbot does all he can to make amends, and the scholar apologizes for his outburst, having been informed about how Greenhorn designs and manufactures he device just recently. Paolo worries Tattoo’s ego is bruised by not having made the invention, the scholar is more concerned four monks must spend all their time running and maintaining the dynamo for him to enjoy light.
He spends several days studying the abbey at large, verifying the “oyster” before turning to the “pearl. ” the Memorabilia. When Greenhorn finds an assistant on his knees at the refectory entrance, he suspects some special devotion to Mary, but learns he is measuring the depression made by centuries of sandals at the optimal point for calculating traffic – three times per day per monk. They use this to validate architectural and historical records, since objective evidence is the ultimate authority. Nature cannot lie like human recorders.
Greenhorn observes the drawing shoves a normal distribution cur. ‘e, which the assistant says is expected, The abbot’s interest in the officers’ systematic inspections is less esoteric. He demands of Gaul why they are making detailed drawings of the fortifications. The Poet has pickpocket a drawing. Paolo considers it for now professional admiration of an abbey never conquered, Gaul suggests an army bound for Denver would find it an attractive, ready-made garrison. Paolo admits he has Hough of that, but doubts they are spies, because Hangman has never heard of the monks, but now he will.
The officers are the scholar’s escorts, not his servants, so the monks must think about how to approach him. Tatted satisfies himself the abbey is not a clam, and turns to the pearl, using rare originals, stored in light- and airtight casks, whenever possible, being wary about copyists’ facsimiles. After five days, Tatted catches a scent and accelerates the pace, finding fragments from a 20th-century physicist. Greenhorn cannot make heads or tails of the “beautiful” mathematics, and Tatted tries to explain to him a whole yester Of equations sharply contracted.
Armatures, Who sees books as Objects to be preserved rather than used, grimaces, as casks are unsealed. To give the scholar a perch for crowing, Paolo suggests he explain his work to the community in non-technical terms. The scholar studies the abbot and smiles doubtfully. Scientific language is the simplest language for this subject matter, simplifying thousands of pages of “simple” narrative into a half-page of equations. Still, Tatted believes he has enough pieces of the puzzle to talk about how he expects them to fit together. He worries only that religious people Will take offense at his on-traditional ideas.
Paolo sees no problem, since the monks have been waiting centuries for the world to take interest again. Tatted is amazed Greenhorn has turned fragmentary data into a working model, skipping 20 years tot preliminary experimentation. This is a case of miraculous intervention, Imagine what he could achieve in a proper machine shop. What is he doing cooped up in a monastery? A time is set for the lecture, and Paolo is relieved the esoteric gulf will be narrowed by a free exchange of ideas. Gaul restrains the abbot’s optimism by reminding him about the officers and their sketchbooks.
