I Am Louis XIV

The poor student let out a scream and staggered back—with an ax in his hand, looking almost like a comedian on Halloween night more than a hundred years later. The ax split the plague doctor's hat, and the flat and heavy leather hat blocked the most lethal force like a helmet, and then the ax went down and was embedded in the brass lens frame—if it wasn't for this protective body Convinced, this student should have died without a word.

Among the doctors, Chambrans reacted the fastest. After all, he has the name of a mob leader in his title of doctor. He pulled out his short-handled musket, pulled the trigger, and the bullets roared away, directly knocking down the man who was chasing him. The farmer who came.

Setonham was still thinking about whether this was a misunderstanding, and found himself running with the doctors. The protective clothing of the doctors was not suitable for escaping in the jungle in the dark. Fortunately, there were many farmers at this time. Everyone has severe night blindness, but soon, someone lit a torch, and those police officers or cowherds obviously had sufficient meat supplements, and they followed the doctors, shouting and urging People catch up.

The doctors were intercepted before fleeing into the dense forest. They were a group of ordinary-looking villagers. Their eyes were wide open under the firelight, and it was obvious that they still couldn't see clearly. They only had pitchforks in their hands. flails, wooden flails and other weapons, but the plague doctor group of hundreds to less than ten is really full of oppression—especially frightening is that many of the villagers have already been infected with smallpox, Their skin was covered in hideous red rashes, they talked incoherently, and looked like they would collapse at any moment, but they looked at Anfor and their eyes were fanatical and reverent.

Anfor's parent is an old man over sixty years old, wearing a hat with a narrow brim, gloomy eyes, and a large aquiline nose. His lips are dissatisfied and his complexion is dark yellow. Holding a short halberd, the sharp edge illuminates the buttons of the vest with the sleeves, the collar of the white shirt is turned out from the collar of the round-neck leather jacket, the belt is tied with a money bag and amulets, knee-length pants and tights They are all well dressed, and the straps of the shoes are neat. In summary, they don’t look like they just got out of bed, and then those police officers, and those who obviously have the right to speak in the village, are all A sober look.

Reminiscent of the situation after the student knocked on the door, Chamberlain had already guessed that they might have uncovered a conspiracy, and this conspiracy might be aimed at them. Think about it, these people are planning that night, or the first Two days later, killing the doctors, or doing something more dangerous, the intended victims had already visited the door, and it was no wonder that the person's first reaction was to give someone an axe.

"We are doctors!" Rom yelled: "We are sent by the king. We heard that there is a plague in your place. We are here to help you!"

"The messenger of the traitor." Old Anfor took a sip: "I just said why the plague suddenly appeared here, so it was you who brought it."

The crowd immediately became agitated. Before, only two female workers were burned to death because they were not infected with the plague. Everyone here knew that such a crime must not be admitted. Now, not only Lom and his disciples shouted When they got up, even Sidonham and Malpicky started shouting. Chambrance saw the corners of the Anfors' mouths rising, and his heart sank. He knew immediately that they had made a mistake. Sure enough, old Anforl immediately yelled Get up: "My God, they are foreigners, they are spies!" Now, not only can they not be cleared of their original charges, they even added a crime of treason.

"They are all devils recruited by Louis XIV!" Old Anfor said, and then every villager under the firelight nodded, "It is to punish them that God sent such a disaster! It is to warn us , warn us pious and good people!"

"That's not right," Sidonham denied, "and you say it's a plague brought by the devil, and you say it's God's warning to you, and I say, what is this!? A Servants and masters?"

His words really made some sense, but it was a pity that they were completely lost in the hysterical shouts of the villagers, "We are here for you! You are sick and need treatment!" Malbiki was still desperately explaining, Chamborance noticed that Dr. Lome closed his mouth after a sigh—Malbikey was still a new plague doctor after all, and he hadn't seen any more mobs—and like Dr. Lome, he often Plague doctors walking in the epidemic area, when faced with the threat of the plague, are most afraid of patients who are driven to a dead end by illness and death. Their canes are not only used to direct students and assistants to do things, but also to fiddle with them. The corpse is used to resist the sudden outbreak of the patient and the patient's family members. Dr. Lom should have encountered such a situation, but this time may be the worst.

The doctors were rudely ripped off their masks, robes and fur coats by the villagers who rushed up. Their hats were trampled in the mud. Together, and then one of the old Anfor's sons led them into the village like a bunch of cows, this time there was no chapel for them, and the Anfor's cowshed became a temporary Prison, with restless cattle on one side of them, they were hoisted, the tall Chambrance bound most strongly, perhaps because he seemed the most menacing, or it was possible that old Anfort's youngest son was He knocked out.

"Wait," Chambrance shouted when he saw old Anfort going out, "I'm Albert Chambrance!" his name.

Old Anfor heard it, he waved his hand, told everyone else to go away, and walked up to Chambrance with a torch: "Hypocrites?"

"No, I never betrayed my beliefs."

"But you walked with a Catholic and almost killed my son for him."

"I don't know what the situation was, but sir, this village is experiencing a plague. Whether it's Catholics or us, we are doctors first—we came to treat the sick and bury the dead... If you Angry over your son's injury, then I'm willing to pay the price and let them go."

"And tell them to call in more Catholics?" Old Anforl looked Chambrance up and down with a look like do you think I'm a fool. "You're letting me down, Chambrance. I think I'll have to tell Those people in Orleans, their leader is a coward." He took another sip, right on Chambolrance: "Don't think about it, none of you can escape, whether you are Catholic, foreigner, or A traitor."

"Are you ignoring those villagers? They are already showing symptoms! They need rest and treatment!"

"Don't use the devil's words to shake me," Old Anfor shouted rudely: "This is a test from heaven! As long as you pass it, you will be blessed by the angels like saints...as long as they are devout enough!" He proudly Open the skirt to let people see the light scars on it, "Look at me, these are the holy marks! The angel blessed me, so that I will not be infected with the plague brought by the devil!" He was satisfied to see Chambolrance His eyes widened.

"Damn it..." Dr. Lom whispered on the side. This is probably what they were looking for. What's funny is that after giving this group of hidden Huguenots the ability to immunize them from the plague, it also made them Fools think they have become a saint.

"Don't think too much," said old Anfor. "We'll burn you tomorrow."

"What are you going to do with the interrogation that follows?" said Chambrance. "You don't think the King will leave his chief physician unaccounted for."

"Isn't it normal for the plague doctor to die in the plague?" said old Anfor. "Unless they can find something out of the mud, that's all--when the blockade is lifted, we'll go to England."

After saying that, he left and took the light with him. The cowshed was hot and humid, full of stench, and the cowflies or other unknown insects spread on their bare skin, and they quickly got up. Countless big bags, the pain is unbearable.

"I think he's quite right," said Setonham, much later.

—————

On the second day, four plague doctors and students had the honor to watch the most nondescript parade. Everyone knows that Huguenots, as a derivative religion of Calvinism in France, have many teachings and rituals that are similar to those of Catholicism. Different places, but now they saw not only the icon, but also the cross of the Savior and the reliquary. As the leaders, leaders and saints of this parade, the Anfort family was able to turn a blind eye to this. Angry, calmed down again after a few minutes, thinking about it, in the past few decades, one-third of the Huguenots have betrayed their faith and converted to Catholicism. There is nothing to blame for this, but it seems ridiculous .

Except for him, the others were ridiculous and a little desperate. They only hoped that the parade would last a little longer, and maybe someone would come to save them in the next moment, and Old Anfor might have thought of this, he Holding the Bible, he loudly scolded these demons who brought the disease, and made a terrible sentence. People rushed up and beat them up—especially those who had smallpox. Christians can see their own piety, and the plague is removed from them.

When these people were beaten to the brink of death, they were tied to a crude burning frame—a tree trunk with a pointed end inserted into the ground, and the bark was not peeled off. Straw and twigs piled up underfoot, "It's too bad," said Malbiki, "we'll be smoked first, our lungs will be filled with black ash, and when people dissect us, they'll find, It was like our lungs were on fire."

"Would you like to persuade them to dry the stuff first, then?" said Setonham. "I wish you would, but the saint seems to know what he's about--more brains than a cowherd." Cowherd," he remarked, looking at Chamborence next to him.

Chamborence also saw the tricks of old Anfort. He may not understand how he is immune, but he can use this to trick the villagers, just like a Roman priest, to confuse the villagers, and wait for the epidemic to pass and survive. His believers are his most reliable thugs and barriers. Maybe when they go outside of France, he will become a real saint. Maybe he is not a devout Catholic, let alone a devout Huguenot There are sectarians, but that is the kind of people who can wear the brightest halo on the religious stage-so they must die.

The fire started.

As Malbiki said, the first thing that rose was the smoke, white, gray and black, and they coughed first, felt a desperate heat under their feet, and they heard old Anfor cursing the devil, saying they were a bunch of people. The humblest of wizards, claiming to throw the ashes of their limbs into the swamp.

At this time, the eyes of the doctors could not be opened at all, but Malbiki, who had the best hearing, suddenly heard a woman saying: "...talk about the devil, and the devil will come when you say it."

To put this sentence in its entirety, it should be, pray to God, God may not always hear it, but if you talk about the devil, the devil will come when you say it—Old Anfor stared at the woman in horror, she smiled and said Appearing in front of him suddenly, it was like walking out of the air, and the clamor of the villagers was suddenly silenced, yes, they can burn any "witch" as they like, no matter if she is guilty or not. Sinful, smart, stupid, or beautiful, ugly, have children or not, anyway, they are all weak - the same is true of these plague doctors, although they are usually big people they dare not touch - —But under the promotion and instigation of the saints, they can also be very bold, and different from dealing with the widowed old women in the village, these high-ranking gentlemen who even have silk underwear, and the feeling that life and death are also controlled in their hands is true. No bad wine or prostitutes can compare.

But... A woman who appeared like this shows that she is not extraordinary.

The eldest son of old Anfort gave a loud cry, raised the musket in his hand (the one from Chambrance), and pulled the trigger violently. He thought he could kill the witch in one fell swoop or hallucinations, but the bullet was in the gun. The pipe exploded, and iron pieces and projectiles sprayed into his face, his screams became indistinct, and blood splashed on Old Anfor's face.

The witch waved her arm lightly, and the fire under the stake went out.