482 Ring out the Old, Ring in the New (1/2)
Morning of the 31st December, at the Harvest Church south of the Bridge.
Emlyn White stood in a kitchen wearing his priest robes, occasionally tossing different herbs into a large iron pot and stirring them to a certain extent.
After all the pre-prepared ingredients were tossed in, he waited patiently for another ten minutes. Then, he scooped up the ink-black liquid with a metal ladle and poured it into a glass cup and glass bottle beside him.
48, 49, 50… Emlyn glanced at the empty pot and counted the medicine he had brewed.
After confirming the quantity, he picked up a large tray and brought the bottles of dark green liquid to the hall.
In the hall, more than half of the pews had been removed, and the floor was covered with tattered blankets. Lying within them were victims of the plague who were either in deep sleep or groaning in pain.
Emlyn and Father Utravsky worked together, each carrying some of the medicine, distributing it from two ends.
The first person in the queue was a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion. He hurriedly propped himself up halfway, received the medicine, and drank it.
He handed back the bottle and said to Emlyn in gratitude, ”Father White, thank you very much. I feel much better and have some strength again!”
Emlyn lifted his chin and replied disdainfully, ”This is only an extremely trivial matter that isn't worth being grateful for. All of you are truly ignorant.”
With that, he sped up the distribution of the potions.
After ten minutes or so, he returned to the altar of Earth Mother and complained to Father Utravsky, ”You should get two more volunteers!”
Father Utravsky didn't respond. He looked at the patients and said with a gentle smile, ”They should be completely healed in two or three days.”
”How do you know?” Emlyn turned his head in surprise.
Father Utravsky looked down at him benevolently and said, ”Herbal medicine is one of the domains of the Earth Mother. As 'Her' believer, I do know some of the basics even if I'm not part of the Earth pathway.”
Emlyn tsked.
”I'm not interested in religion and know little about it.”
Although I've been copying Earth Mother's bible in the recent months… he inwardly added in a slightly resentful tone before saying, ”Father, I didn't expect you to accept nonbelievers in the faith. Among them, only two or three of them are believers of the Earth Mother.”
Father Utravsky smiled without minding what he said.
”They are also lives, innocent lives.”
Emlyn paused for a few seconds, exhaled, and said, ”Father, I've already found a way to resolve the psychological cue. Perhaps I will leave this place soon.”
Wait, why did I mention this? I was actually moved by him. What if he locks me up in the basement again? Emlyn suddenly turned nervous.
Father Utravsky's expression remained unchanged as he looked down and said to Emlyn, ”Actually, you didn't need to seek out solutions. In a little while, the psychological cue will be automatically removed, and you will be free to choose whether to come to the cathedral.”
”Any longer and I would've become the Mother's, no—Earth Mother's devout believer!” Emlyn blurted out.
Father Utravsky raised an eyebrow and said, feeling somewhat surprised, ”I didn't compel you to change your faith.
”The psychological cue I left in you was for you to return to the cathedral every day, hoping that you would be able to fully appreciate the value of life and the joy of a harvest.”
”The only effect of the psychological cue was to make me return to the cathedral?” Emlyn's expression instantly froze.
Father Utravsky nodded frankly.
”Yes.”
”…”
Emlyn's mouth gaped as he slowly and mechanically turned his head to look back at the altar, looking at the Earth Mother's Sacred Emblem of Life, as if he had become a puppet that very instant.
…
In the evening of the 31st December. 2 Daffodil Street, Tingen City.
Benson entered the house, took off his hat and coat, and chuckled.
”I've booked second class tickets for the steam locomotive to Backlund on 3rd January.”
Melissa, who was sitting in the dining room with several newspapers in front of her, worriedly said, ”Benson, the air in Backlund is terrible. Tens of thousands of people have died from the poison and diseases caused by the smog a few days ago…”
”It's a sad and regretful matter.” Benson walked to the dining room, sighed, and said, ”But the two Houses have already passed the report submitted by the National Atmospheric Pollution Council. There will be legislation to regulate the emission of smoke and wastewater, so a new Backlund will welcome us. You don't have to worry too much.”
Having said that, he smiled mockingly.
”When I came back from Iron Cross Street, I found a lot of factory owners or their employees from Backlund recruiting people. They said that due to the smog and plague, the factories there are suffering a shortage in manpower, so they're willing to promise that the working hours and minimum wage will be much better than the current standard, heh heh.”
”You think it's impossible?” Melissa asked.
”When more and more people flock to Backlund, it will be impossible unless both Houses pass the corresponding laws directly.” Benson spread his hands and pointed to the table. ”Well, it's time to receive the new year.”
There were three sets of forks and knives, three empty porcelain plates and three cups on the table.
Three cups. One for beer, two for ginger beer.
…
In the evening of 31st December.