Thomas had observed their passion silently.
From within the crowd, he might have passed as obedient.
But he had considered what he saw. It reformed him.
Now, he tried hard to concentrate.
He knew a little French. He thought: maybe a good fire. Victorious..
Later: in the next world, perhaps it might be called a Bonner-fire; a keen instrument for curing apostasy.
Then he realised: a bone-pyre, created to turn bodies into ash.
He was being punished with transubstantiation.
His legs started to blister. There was a hiss as he began to melt into the tapering flames.
From within the crowd, he might have passed as obedient.
But he had considered what he saw. It reformed him.
Now, he tried hard to concentrate.
He knew a little French. He thought: maybe a good fire. Victorious..
Later: in the next world, perhaps it might be called a Bonner-fire; a keen instrument for curing apostasy.
Then he realised: a bone-pyre, created to turn bodies into ash.
He was being punished with transubstantiation.
His legs started to blister. There was a hiss as he began to melt into the tapering flames.
