(_University News_)
(Feb. 27, 2631). When Croton Myers, outstanding physicist and professor
of Physical Sciences at the university here showed a marked tendency to
snore during his after-lunch classes, his students became alarmed and
carried him over to the University Hospital. There, doctors discovered
that the good professor had somehow been doped. There were no ill
effects, however, and Dr. Myers was awake and on his feet some eighteen
hours later. Authorities are investigating.
* * * * *
_Feb. 29, 2631_: Dear Diary: SUCCESS! Everything has been taken care
of. I am so relieved.
* * * * *
_Feb. 28, 1649_ (From the Journal of John Stowe)--Today, by the will of
the Lord, we are safely on our way from Appleby, fifteen men under the
valiant leadership of Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord Smith, having by our
very presence in Appleby served to strike fear into the hearts of the
papist plotters there, so that they dispersed--all of the troop in good
health and spirits save only for one small trouble, of which I will
relate.
It hath come to pass, that, being on our way from Appleby to Carlisle,
there to join the forces of Captain Houghton, if God shall suffer such
to come to pass, we have found ourselves at nightfall in a desolate
section of the country, wasted by the late harrying and pillaging. We
decided to pitch camp where we found ourselves rather than adventure
farther in the dark.
Therefore, we made ourselves comfortable with such simple fare as
contents a servant of the Lord, and our provisions supplied, and having
sung a goodly hymn and given ourselves over to an hour or so of prayer
for the pleasing of our souls, some among us fell to talking of the
nature of the surrounding waste, recalling that from heathen times
it hath had the name of being a place of most evil and supernatural
resort. But our good Sergeant Flail-of-the-Lord, speaking up cheerily,
rebuked those who talked so, saying "Are we not all servants of the
Lord, and strong in his wrath? Therefore, gird ye up your courage and
take heart."
But there were still some among us--and I do confess some sort of
the same weakness in myself--who found the blackness and desolation
press still heavily upon our souls, reminding us of manifold sins and
wickedness whereby we had placed ourselves in danger of the Pit and
the ever-present attacks of the Enemy. And our good Sergeant, seeing
this, and perceiving we needed the sweet comfort and assuagement of the
Word of the Lord, he bade us sit close by him, and opening his Book
which was the Word of the Lord, read to us from II Kings Chapter 9,
concerning the overthrow and just fate of Jezebel, whereat we were all
greatly cheered and entreated him that he read more to us.
But it happened at this time that a small trouble was thrust upon us,
inasmuch as it appeared to all of us that the wide and empty fields
of night which surrounded us were whisked away and the appearance of
a cell, stone on three sides, and a thick iron grating on the fourth,
surrounded us. Whereat we were at first somewhat surprised. However,
our good Sergeant, looking up from his Book, bade us mind it not, for
that it was no more than a manifestation of whatever unholy spirits
plagued the spot and which they had called up in jealous defiance of
the sweet virtue of the Lord's word, as he had been reading it.
On hearing this, all were reassured, and, the hour being late, lay down
to rest, inasmuch as we are to march at the first break of dawn. So,
now, as I write these words, by God's mercy, nearly all are disposed
to slumber, saving that the enchantment of the cell doth make somewhat
for cramped quarters and I do confess that I, myself am somewhat
ill-at-ease, being accustomed to the good pressure of my stout sword
against my side as I go to sleep. This, however, may not be helped,
for, since it is the custom of our troop to lay aside all sharp tools
on coming into the presence of the Lord our weapons are hidden from us
by the enchantment and it would be a mark of lack of faith to pretend
to search for them.
And, so, thanks be to the Lord, I will close this entry in my journal
and dispose myself for a night of rest.
* * * * *
_March 1, 65_: MEMO TO CAPTAIN OF POLICE: I notice you finally got cold
feet and got those Christians over here after all. But I warn you,
I'm not yet altogether satisfied. They look like pretty odd-appearing
Christians to me. More like barbarians. And if you've rung in something
like that on me, I warn you, the Emperor will hear of it. My gladiators
are too valuable to risk with a group of Goths or Vandals.
(signed) Lictus,