One Follower At a Time, Part Ii

...But with no drink to bring them enjoyment, more folks went down to the music halls, finding relief in the soft swoon of strings that echoed out from within crafted walls. It soon became so very popular that many didn’t come around to pray, they’d rather listen to frivolous tunes then the great truths the prophet did say. So the very next day Pelchag declared that music ran counter to God’s will, and true believers should tear down the halls, all who resisted would come to ill. The grumblings became all the louder when the buildings were put to the flames, the people did not return to the temple, a good many of them cursed Pelchag’s name. Now a cleric is still just a man, and all know that men have certain needs, the prophet ordained they could have lovers and concubines in the number of three. Pelchag already had two such women who were wives in everything but name, and had his eyes set on a mason’s daughter, a dark-haired beauty called Dehlarain. But whenever he asked her to help serve God, she would steadfastly turn down his request, her obstinance just enraged him the more, he was a holy man, he new what was best! Then one night the girl emerged from the back door of a young carpenter’s house. angered and unwilling to share the girl Pelchag hollered loud, and called the girl out. Dehlarain had been caught fornicating, this was something that carried with it death, the prophet’s words were quiet clear on this charge, as punishment Dehlarain would be pressed! Her father wasn’t there to defend her, Pelchag dragged her down to the big town square, a mob tied her flat using stakes in the ground, and they piled big rocks upon her there. Her screams lasted only a few minutes, then the rocks drove the wind from her chest, all did look on as her rib-cage collapsed, she died red-eyed and gasping for breath. Pelchang looked on, keeping himself stone-faced, Said,”Let all who watched learn from her great crime. We must always be serving the prophet, one follower at a time.” And when her father returned from a job, he was told of all that had taken place, he froze for a minute, then said slowly, “It was God’s judgement upon her disgrace.” For the next week the town was so quiet, the air around it seemed heavy, subdued, Pelchag the Cleric preached the prophet’s words, wanting people to come to his views... CONCLUDES IN PART III.