Eifelheim - Michael Flynn [96]
“The philosophy of the likelihood of events,” Dietrich said. “That intrigues.”
“Though less so,” Joachim said dryly, “than Godhead made flesh. The Son of God, Hans, assumed the appearance of men at his Incarnation.”
Hans listened silently to his head harness. “The Heinzelmännchen informs me that ‘incarnation’ in your ceremonial tongue likely means ‘enfleshment.’ ”
“Ja, doch.”
“But … But this is wonderful! Never have we met a folk able to assume the form of another! Was your lord a being of … No, not fire, but of that essence which gives impetus to matter.”
“Spirit,” Dietrich guessed. “In Greek, we say energia, which means that principle which ‘works within’ or animates.”
The Krenk considered that. “We have a … relationship … between spirit and material things. We say that ‘spirit equals material by the speed of light by the speed of light.’ ”
“An interesting invocation,” said Dietrich, “though occult in meaning.”
But the Krenk had turned away to interrupt his fellows with untranslated exclamations. A furious debate arose among them, which ended when the alchemist donned his own head harness and addressed Dietrich. “Tell me of this lord of pure energia and how he enfleshed himself. Such a being, when he returns, may yet save us!”
“Amen!” said Joachim. But the Kratzer snapped his side-lips. “Enfleshment? The atoms of the flesh would not fit. Can Hochwalder impregnate Krenk? Wa-bwa-wa.”
Arnold flung his arm. “A being of pure energia might know the art of inhabiting a foreign body.” He took a seat at the table. “Tell me, will he come soon?”
“This is the season of Advent,” Dietrich said, “when we await his birth at Christ Mass.”
The alchemist trembled. “And when and where does he enflesh himself?”
“In Bethlehem of Judea.” The remainder of the evening passed in catechetical instruction, which the alchemist noted diligently on the wonderful writing slate all Krenken carried in their scrips. Arnold asked Joachim to translate the Mass into German so that the Heinzelmännchen could in turn translate it into Krenkish. Dietrich, who knew how poorly the figures of one tongue might sit upon another, wondered how much of the sense would survive the journey.
VIGIL-NIGHT CAME and, with it, those villagers who otherwise seldom saw the inside of the church. With them, came Arnold Krenk. Some, upon spying this peculiar new catechumen, slipped quietly outside, including Theresia. When the Mass of the Catechumens ended, and Brother Joachim, holding high the book of Gospels, led Arnold Krenk forth for instruction, a few crept back in for the Mass of the Faithful. But Theresia was not among them.
Afterward, Dietrich threw on a coat and, gripping a torch, picked his way to the foot of the hill, where Theresia’s cottage stood. He banged on the door, but she did not answer, pretending to be asleep, and so he doubled his efforts. The noise brought Lorenz from his smithy to stare at him bleary-eyed and to cast an appraising glance at the stars before returning to his slumbers.
Finally, Theresia opened the upper half of her door. “Will you allow no sleep?” she asked.
“You ran from Mass.”
“While demons are present, there can be no true Mass, so I have not broken the Christ Mass law. You have, father, because you have not prayed a proper Mass.”
This was too subtle for Theresia. “Who told you so?”
“Volkmar.”
The entire Bauer family had also departed the church. “And is Bauer then a theologian? The doctor rustica? Will you come to the Sunrise Mass?” Never had he need of the question. In the past, his daughter had attended all three Christ Masses.
“Will they be there?”
The customs and ceremonies of the village interested the Kratzer, so also many of the stranded pilgrims. Some of them surely would attend with their fotografia and mikrofonai. “They may.”
She shook her head. “Then, I must not.” She started to close the door.