August (2011)
“He emerged slowly from the tunnel, blinking at the brightness. There was a moment before he fully registered where he was, conscious only that he swayed in a bubble outside time, that his past had ended but his future was yet to begin.
The rector stood waiting, a torch in his hand, satisfaction dancing on his face. Minutes earlier Tristan had stepped lightly through the streets; now nausea compressed his stomach and his stance turned fuzzy.
‘Welcome back,’ the rector smiled. ‘I hope the experience was worth it.’ Tristan looked at his feet, embarrassment turning to fear.
‘Did you think,’ the rector purred, ‘that you would be left to defy the church? Do you really imagine we take such little interest in your progress? Some would be insulted by the assumption, but I remember well the deficiencies of youth. Don’t worry, Tristan, you will survive your punishment. Your defiance has presented me with an opportunity and now I mean to use it. Follow me.’ Tristan was a child again, a boy withou...t bearings, the ground beneath his feet no longer solid.MoreLess
The rector stood waiting, a torch in his hand, satisfaction dancing on his face. Minutes earlier Tristan had stepped lightly through the streets; now nausea compressed his stomach and his stance turned fuzzy.
‘Welcome back,’ the rector smiled. ‘I hope the experience was worth it.’ Tristan looked at his feet, embarrassment turning to fear.
‘Did you think,’ the rector purred, ‘that you would be left to defy the church? Do you really imagine we take such little interest in your progress? Some would be insulted by the assumption, but I remember well the deficiencies of youth. Don’t worry, Tristan, you will survive your punishment. Your defiance has presented me with an opportunity and now I mean to use it. Follow me.’ Tristan was a child again, a boy withou...t bearings, the ground beneath his feet no longer solid.MoreLess
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