kingdom of nations

Chapter 300 The Isaacs in the Plague

When the angry mob, torches in hand, stormed into Haredi's workshop, put a rope around his neck, and dragged him like a dying old dog from his bedroom, workshop, and courtyard, hurling him heavily onto the stone slabs, he felt no panic, but rather that it was all perfectly reasonable.

Although this is only the third night.

As Bishop Andre had worried, the priests' actions, ostensibly to bless patients but actually to count their numbers, did indeed arouse suspicion among some clever or scheming individuals.

Among them were quite a few who had witnessed or even contracted malaria. They immediately deduced that a plague was spreading in the city. Some decided to flee immediately, while many others took immediate action. People in this era used only a few methods to resist plagues.

Prayer, asceticism, and burning incense—this was perhaps a lucky accident, as the smoke from burning most dried plants could repel mosquitoes, and César did not prohibit it.

The fourth method also involves burning, but instead of burning incense, it involves burning the patient and their clothing and utensils—this method is effective in the face of all plagues and can be considered to extinguish the source of infection.

Some people would ingest mercury, lead, or powdered unicorn horn—in fact, most of these unicorns came from narwhals—which the poor could not afford, so they would smear themselves with feces and mud to avoid the disease.

People came in droves seeking the priests' help. They may not all have contracted malaria, but due to psychological stress, they desperately hoped that the priests could comfort them.

Moreover, these people are usually hard to refuse; they are great benefactors of churches, monasteries, and priests.

The last method is to find a scapegoat. In remote villages, there is always a strange and crazy old woman; while in the city, Isaac is the prime target—Haredi made a wrong judgment because of the panic that arose earlier. During the day, he ran around and knocked on everyone's door, which had already attracted the attention of others.

Once they found out he was an Isaac, the charge was immediately established, and Haredi's subsequent reclusive behavior was seen as a sign of a guilty conscience.

If Haredi hadn't contracted the disease, he might have had the strength to escape. But after he fainted, he lost consciousness, and by the time these people rushed in, he was only slightly conscious. The goldsmith was almost powerless to fight back, and during that short journey, he took countless punches and kicks.

He heard someone shout, "There's a dead man here!"

That was Lego. Lego was still alive, but the vomit beside him, the blood and feces beneath him proved that he was a patient, and a hidden patient at that. The people were furious. They picked up pitchforks and hooks, dragged Lego off his bed, pulled him across the workshop, and pushed him onto Haredi.

"Let those two dogs stay together!"

They bound Haredi and Lego together face to face, and the breath emanating from the dying man nearly suffocated Haredi.

He murmured prayers, which only fueled the people's hatred towards them. Some even loudly proclaimed their crimes—colluding with the devil and bringing the plague into the city. Ironically, most of these accusations had been false in the past, merely attempts by bishops and lords to shirk responsibility.

This time it's really true.

The Isaacs' leadership orchestrated this conspiracy, and they may have had other accomplices, but so what—when necessary, even the wise men in the synagogue could be sacrificed, let alone ordinary Isaacs like themselves.

More Isaacs were pushed, insulted, and beaten, and driven from their homes. Although they tried to explain themselves, no one listened. Among them were young and strong men, but none of them resisted. At most, they glared at them or cursed them under their breath.

They stumbled through the streets, their silk garments, gold jewelry, gleaming belts, and boots completely exposed because they hadn't had time to put on their coats, which angered some of the pilgrims.

They could not tolerate these heretics living so peacefully and prosperously in this holy city. They took everything from these people, including the clothes the Isaacs used to cover their bodies, leaving them not even a loincloth—the white cloth was thrown on the ground and immediately trampled on by countless feet.

Some even began stealing and looting as they stormed into their homes.

A petty thief rushed over excitedly, but unfortunately, he was too late.

All the chests in Haredi's workshop had been opened, the tables and chairs had been taken away, the paving stones on the ground had been overturned, and someone had even climbed onto the wooden beams. There were practically no hidden corners left.

As he hesitated, he saw a well-dressed pilgrim carrying a box walk out of the room.

Although the newcomer was tall and composed, reminding him of those imposing lords, he still couldn't control his greed: "Sir, what have you found?"

César found the syringes and needles that Haredi had hidden. Haredi might hide them from anyone, but not from his master—César certainly knew where he would hide these precious creations.

The thief saw that the other party not only did not answer him, but also only glanced at him from under the hood. This silence angered him more than disdain; he even put his hand on the belt with the short sword hanging on it.

“You have already committed a crime,” Cesar said. “Go away, and I can forgive you again, since you have not yet profited from this atrocity.”

“Everyone’s doing it.” The thief hesitated for a long time but still dared not take the risk. The other person was almost twice his height. “And he’s an Isaac.”

"This plague was not brought by the Isaacs."

"If it's not them, then who is it? Sir, that's the role they play." The thief had already realized that the other party was a reasonable person, so he became even more self-righteous. "They are inherently guilty, but they are not ashamed or repentant for their crimes; instead, they regard them as a kind of glory."

For these people, even if God were willing to rescue them, it would be useless. They ask for too much. Even if they were immediately elevated to heaven, they would still be dissatisfied. They are the devil's reserve force and do not deserve any trust or protection.

"Do you know who I am?"

"I didn't know at first, but now I do. He's one of your people, isn't he?"

The thief took two steps back. "Little saint, you love us so much, and we love you just as much, but please don't waste your kindness on these Isaacs; they don't deserve it."

“You may be right, but as a lord, I cannot stand idly by and watch trials and executions take place on my territory without my permission.”

“You’ll regret this,” the thief said, then leaped backwards out of the small window. His landing was light and deep, a sound he must have made often. Cesar sighed softly. The Isaacs were hated by many, but not all of the Isaacs he knew were beyond redemption—like Haredi and Lego.

He knew that Lego had resumed his business and residence in Nareza, and César admired his courage and decisiveness, but he didn’t know why he would suddenly return to Bethlehem.

César did not believe that Lego was the one who spread the plague, not because he was kind, but because there was no need for it—no Isaac would easily give up his life; they knew very well that even if they accumulated a lot of wealth, without their lives, it would all be for nothing.

Moreover, they were not the first to show symptoms; there were two or three people who showed symptoms earlier than them.

------

In Manger Square, the excited crowd had already piled up firewood and erected stakes. They tied Haredi, Lego, and the other Isaacs to the stakes, waiting for the order from their leader to light the fire.

Those around Haredi—except for those too ill to speak or move—were all loudly proclaiming their innocence; they truly were innocent. Haredi knew that the Isaacs shouldn't always claim that they should help and rely on one another—he himself was a student of the wise men and knew that some wise men only cared about their own interests; in their eyes, ordinary Isaacs were not their own kind, but rather useful tools.

When they act as the white or black gloves of lords or bishops, these people are an inexhaustible pawn.

But how could these ordinary Christians possibly know the mystery? They only knew that whenever misfortune befell them, it must be the work of these Isaacs.

They couldn't even distinguish which Isaac was which, let alone understand their tight organizational structure and hierarchical hierarchy.

But just before the fire was lit, a group of knights arrived, and their squires waved clubs to disperse the crowd.

The lead knight approached the person in charge—a strange monk. “The lord forbids you from doing that,” the knight said coldly. “Put these Isaacs down and take away your firewood and wood.”

If you absolutely must light a fire, you can put some dried mint or pine needles in it; this will help curb the spread of the plague.

“We are containing the spread of the plague. Once we deal with these Isaacs, the devil’s lackeys, it will leave as quickly as it came.”

Are you willing to take responsibility for those words?

"Take responsibility?"

“Yes, if the plague of Isaac is burned but does not leave.”

"I am a monk."

“Yes, you are a monk, and like these Isaacs, a resident of Bethlehem who pays taxes to our lord. Now that you have burned these Isaacs, are you going to pay their taxes?”

“I have heard that your lord is a devout man.”

“He was very devout and was deeply favored by God and saints. It was for this reason that he only needed people to do things for him, not people who would cause him trouble at this time.”

"Does he need these Isaacs to do his bidding? The devil doesn't pay taxes, doesn't exchange money, and certainly doesn't borrow from these bastards at exorbitant interest rates."

His words sparked a commotion; clearly, people at that moment were more interested in settling old scores.

"If you feel there is any injustice, you may appeal to the lord!" the knight shouted, raising his voice. In any other place, this statement wouldn't have been believed by the people, but in Bethlehem, it was different; they instantly fell silent.

The monk immediately showed a hint of anger. "Does your lord intend to rescue these Isaacs?"

“You can’t say that. It’s more accurate to say that if it’s about judgment and punishment, that’s the lord’s prerogative. And right now, the lord needs them, of course, not to deal with the devil.” But that’s about right, the knight said softly, then raised his voice: “Bishop Andrei is planning to gather all the patients together and have someone take care of them.”

Will they receive treatment at the same time?

A person asked with hope, presumably because a relative of his was suffering from malaria.

"Yes, priests and monks will come to care for and treat them. But there aren't enough people to serve them. They need a clean and quiet environment and plenty of nutrition."

We need people to chop firewood, boil water, bathe and massage patients, feed them, wash soiled sheets, and empty bedpans—are you willing to do these things?

No one dared to answer him. Although malaria was a mild plague—at least not as terrible as smallpox and the Black Death—how could they know that it was a disease transmitted by mosquitoes?
The idea that prolonged contact with patients might lead to infection was deeply ingrained in his mind.

Aside from a few people who passionately love their family and friends, I doubt anyone else would have that kind of courage.

The knight was not surprised to see this.

He nodded. "It seems you're not too keen on it either. Why not make use of these wastes? Gentlemen, we need some slaves that we can afford to lose."

He turned to Harry, who had been put down, and asked, "Are you willing?"

“I am willing,” Haredi said weakly, while the other Jusahans, though less willing, knew this was the best outcome they could hope for, unless they were willing to return to the stake and be burned alive.

(End of this chapter)