Chapter 49: The Blacksmith
Chapter 49: The Blacksmith
On the streets of Jerusalem’s Old City, pilgrims from afar were making their way along the "Via Dolorosa," translated as the "Way of Suffering." Legend held that Jesus, bearing the cross, had ascended Mount Calvary along this path to his crucifixion.
This street leading up the mountain was thronged with pilgrims from distant lands. They knelt on the ground, praying devoutly.
Not far from Lothar’s feet, an elderly man in ragged clothes was prostrating himself. He repeatedly kissed the stones on the ground, murmuring prayers in a low voice, allowing the sharp gravel to chafe his forehead raw and red.
Lothar couldn’t clearly hear what he was saying but could vaguely discern it was Latin. French was derived from Latin, intermixed with numerous Germanic words. Although Lothar only knew French and not Latin, he could still identify the language the man was speaking.
The old man’s beard was already white, his body aged and his movements slow. When he prostrated himself on the ground once more, his head resting on the uneven stones, his stiff body remained down for a long time, unmoving.
He had died.
Someone exclaimed joyfully, "Old John has ascended to Heaven from here! That enviable old fellow! The Heavenly Father has forgiven all the sins he previously committed!"
Lothar had no interest in climbing Mount Calvary again to venerate the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He was preparing to leave when a familiar figure appeared before him.
This person held a Bible, wore a white holy robe, and was shouting loudly.
"The Holy Land is in peril! Pilgrims from afar, your piety is moving, but mere worship alone cannot completely wash away your sins!"