Page 413 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

The mournful procession moved in complete silence. Finally they reached the
ground with the raging enormous fire. It burned only in the middle, perhaps waiting
for the living flesh to be tied to the posts to devour it merrily and quickly despite gloomy
windy weather, despite human pain...

Esclarmonde slipped on a hummock, but the mother caught her, preventing her
from falling down. They were a very sad couple, mother and daughter... Thin and
freezing, they walked erect, proudly carrying their bare heads despite cold, tiredness
and fear. They wanted to look sure and strong in front of the executioners. They wanted
to be brave and unbending, because both husband and father were watching.
Raymond de Pereille remained to live. He did not go to the fire with the others.
He was to help others who remained to live and had nobody to protect them. He was
an owner of the castle, a seignior, who by his honour and word was responsible for
these people. Raymond de Pereille had no right to die. But in order to stay alive he had
to renounce everything in which he had sincerely believed for so many years. It was
much more terrible than the fire. It was a lie. And the Cathars never lied... They did
not lie under any circumstances for whatever price. Therefore his life ended now with
all... because his soul was dying; what remains will not be him. It will be just a living
body, but his heart will go with his nearest and dearest – with his brave girl and his
sweet faithful wife.

The same short man, Hugues des Arcis, stopped in front of the Cathars.
Impatiently stamping his feet (it was obvious that he wished to be through with all this
as quickly as possible) he began the selection procedure with his hoarse cracked voice.
– What is your name?
– Esclarmonde de Pereille.

Stained-glass windows from a church in Limoix, showing the history of Qatar

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