Jack Vance Elder Isles 3 Madouc

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came to worship.
Ha! King Casmir was interested despite his prejudices. And how is this
miracle accomplished?
There is no mystery. The worshippers hope to attract the favorable attention
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of Divinity by making a financial contribution. Father Umphred turned out his
hands. Who knows? The belief may be well-founded! No one has proved
otherwise.
Hmf.
One thing is certain! Every pilgrim arriving at Lyonesse Town will depart
enriched in spirit, though poorer in worldly goods.
King Casmir appraised the unfinished cathedral as if with a new vision. How
do you hope to attract wealthy and munificent pilgrims?
Some will come to worship and to participate in the rites. Others will sit in
the hush of the great nave for hours, as if steeping themselves in a holy
suffusion. Others will come to marvel at our relics, to feel the awe of their
presence. These relics are of signal importance, and attract pilgrims from far
and wide with great efficacy.
Relics ? What relics are these? To my knowledge we have none.
It is an interesting subject, said Father Umphred. Relics are of many
sorts, and might be classified into several categories. The first and most
precious are those directly associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. In the
second rank and very excellent we find objects associated with one or another
of the Holy Apostles. In the third rank, often most precious and most rare,
are relics from antiquity: for instance, the stone with which David slew
Goliath, or one of Shadrach s sandals, with scorch-marks on the sole. In the
fourth rank, and still very fine, are objects associated with one or another
of the saints. There are also what I shall call incidental relics, interesting
because of association rather than holy essence. For instance, a claw of the
bear which devoured Saint Candolphus, or a bangle from the arm of the
prostitute Jesus defended before the temple, or a desiccated ear from one of
the Gadarene swine. Unfortunately, many of the best and most wonderful relics
have vanished, or were never collected. On the other hand, articles of
guaranteed quality sometimes appear and are even offered for sale. One must
take care, of course,
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King Casmir pulled at his beard. How can you know that any of the relics are
genuine?
Father Umphred pursed his lips. If a false item were placed in sanctified
surroundings, a divine lightning-bolt would strike down to destroy the
factitious article and also the perpetrator of the hoax, or so I have been
told. Further, the debased heretic would languish forever in the deepest pits
of Hell! This is well known and is our safeguard and our surety!
Hmmf. Does this divine lightning-bolt descend often?
I have no knowledge as to the number of such cases.
So how do you propose to acquire your relics?
By various means. Some will come as gifts; we will dispatch agents to seek
out others. The most cherished relic of all is the Holy Grail, which the
Saviour used at his Last Supper, and which also was used by Joseph of
Arimathea to catch the blood from the divine wounds. Later he brought it to
Glastonbury Abbey in Britain; thence it was taken to a sacred island on Lough
I Corrib in
Ireland. Thence it was brought to the Elder Isles to preserve it safe from the
pagans, but its present whereabouts is unknown.
That is an interesting tale, said King Casmir. You would be well-advised to
seek this Grail
for your display.
We can only hope and dream! If the Grail came into our possession, we would
instantly become the proudest church of Christendom.
Queen Sollace could not control a small cry of excitement. She turned her
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