Chapter 20. Patriot (37)
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Bullsh*t means ‘sounds that do not make sense to anyone.’ So, it usually fails to spread widely and fades away, because both the person telling the story and the listener decide, ‘Oh, this is ridiculous.’
But even that nonsense can be transformed into an attractive story if you overturn it with ‘secretness’ such as ‘This is a secret.’ ‘Did you hear that story?’ Or ‘I heard it at the distribution center, oh my god.’
When people start talking about that attractive story, and people who don’t know the story feel left out, a strange inertia develops.
“No, yesterday I went to transport supplies outside the city, and the old lady there said that too? “There is no one who doesn’t know.”
“What is this? Why are you only talking about it among yourselves? “Let me know!”
People who see the bright eyes of an impatient person immediately shrug their shoulders, say “Ahem,” With a bit of arrogance, and then whisper about the story as if they are giving them a favor.
“Hey, hey. I was wondering what the hell was going on, and what… Are you all crazy? “You believe that story?”
Of course, just because the packaging is good, it doesn’t mean that the essence of the ‘bullsh*t’ is changed. But the storytellers surrounding the listeners only laugh louder. Because I felt the same way when I first heard that story.
So they say this.
“Director Catherine testified at the Inquisition. “Even though my head was completely shaved.”
“Elian’s scouting party. It was completely disintegrated after the reconnaissance mission in the central region. The members dispersed and joined different scouting parties. However, no matter what kind of expedition they go out on, the members of the Elian Scouts always come back alive. “Not a single hair was hurt.”
“Really? “The zombies are just ignoring me!”
It was too dream-like to just dismiss it as something truly amazing. But it was also a story that could not be simply ignored.
Those with good execution skills made every effort to meet with members of the scouting party. Those who were having a hard time even tried to meet new colleagues who had gone on a mission with the scout in question. It wasn’t difficult because most church members had formed a human network of that level.
“Is it true?”
“It was real.”
At that moment, nonsense spreads under the name ‘Why is this real?’ This is the moment when the old adage, ‘What seems plausible is actually a made-up story, but what makes no sense to anyone is actually true’ is once again applicable.
It was an embarrassing moment for the leaders of the denomination.
To sum up the ‘rumors’, it was like this.
He is a young man. Anyone who sees him, whether man or woman, falls in love. That’s because he is a noble person.
He can move among the zombies unscathed, and his movements are quick and he can appear and disappear like the wind.
He is an excellent fighter, bold, but unconditionally kind to people. Even the men who tried to harm him were not hostile.
He just shouted to love, to just love.
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The same thing happened during the Inquisition, which was originally supposed to have been held privately but was held publicly ‘considering the social repercussions’. Catherine, who had shaved her head, was given only a sack of grain and bare feet, not even decent clothes.
‘Stupid bastards. She is trying to make Catherine her martyr.’
Although she was equally imprisoned, her clothes were still intact and her hair was still intact. Elian cursed the inquisitors inwardly.
The judges greeted the ‘okay’ Elian and the ‘persecuted’ Catherine. The two women had not seen each other, let alone met, since that day. However, I only heard awkward interrogations like ‘Catherine said that?’ Or ‘Elian didn’t say that.’
A plot to separate the two people. However, although it was the kind of ruse that was easily overlooked, there was something that even they did not know.
The two women made eye contact and said the same thing with their mouths.
‘John.’
The true name of the man who identified himself as Hut. But his noble name could only be heard if you were there.
‘I know John’s name. I am not wrong.’
Catherine strengthened her resolve again.
The trial has begun. An interrogation followed that was no different from before. Catherine related what she had seen and heard. It seemed to Elian that she was a little more dramatic and seasoned than last time, but since she wasn’t talking about nothing at all, she didn’t say much.
“What crime has he committed?”
Director Catherine testified confidently.
“He saved our lives. He disappeared, leading countless zombies. I even got the impression that the zombies were surrounding him and protecting him!”
“Well, that doesn’t make sense!”
“Did the zombie virus incident make sense!”
“You are making a mistake, Director Catherine!”
“You don’t even believe that twenty-one people testified in the name of the goddess!”
The interrogators were exhausted. All of this was frustrating. Catherine’s testimony overturned the church’s beliefs from their foundations.
“Catherine. You are putting up an idol. It means that you are blinded by delusion. “If things continue like this, I have no choice but to ask for verification!”
“Do it.”
Catherine was confident. Because she had her faith.
So ‘that thing’ really happened.
More than 100 church members gathered at the collapsed wall between the central district and the southern district.
In preparation for an emergency, the church also sent a note to the western and northern gangs saying, ‘We are going to do something like this, but I hope they don’t rush in this time’ and two boxes of canned yellow radish.
The gang graciously replied, ‘I’m not going to take the gun, but I’d like to take a look.’ They sent back with three soldiers. 284 Although they were renegades from the National Military Police Headquarters, they were not members of the religious order. These were people who had previously served on missions together with Catherine.
“Director Catherine. In the position of an overseer who must lead other believers, the sin of speaking heresy is very serious. But since they won’t listen to words or logic, show them the ‘grace’ you received in person!”
Catherine took off her clothes in front of everyone. All she could wear was a pair of sneakers.
But the heresy trial did not end there.
Three deeply hooded bailiffs approached her, holding her pistol in her left hand and her dagger in her right. The people watching screamed and shouted, but the judges paid no attention.
“It’s not too late, Catherine. “Repent.”
Yvonne, the leader of the three executioners, raised a dagger.
“Do what you must, Yvonne.”
Catherine held out her left arm. Bailiff Yvonne slashed Catherine’s arm with her dagger. It was a consideration to ensure that her muscles and blood vessels were not injured even if her blood spilled.
“If things continue like this, you will die from being bitten by zombies!”
But Catherine walked. Sunny day, cool breeze, slightly hot temperature. She said as she carefully climbed over her broken wall.
And then the zombies flocked.
The zombies approached their prey, who was wearing nothing except her shoes, her head was shaved, and her left arm was bleeding.
“Just.”
Catherine stopped for a moment and shouted to the crowd of over 100 people.
“Just love!”
Catherine walked again. Her zombies came towards her. There was an uproar in the stands. Those who cover their faces saying they can’t see them anymore, those who cry loudly, and those who raise their voices saying that heretics must die.
Three zombies captured Catherine’s body. Catherine no longer walked. She tried to remain calm, but her body was shaking as if it would break. Finally, one of them placed her mouth on Catherine’s wounded arm.
“It’s over.”
The judges turned to the audience.
“The feast is over. “Everyone go home.”
But the audience did not move. Even the renegades from the gang stood silently. The embarrassed judges were a little late to realize that they weren’t looking.
Catherine was still standing.
With all limbs intact. Even though her body was shaking, tears were flowing, and she was incontinent, she did not sit down until the end.
The zombies with her blood on their mouths walked away from her. Even though it croaked and growled, Catherine just passed by.
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The zombies’ new target was the audience.
“Catherine! Catherine!”
Elian’s scouts rushed out carrying blankets and first aid kits. The zombies showed their teeth, but did not attack those who passed by them.
“… “It was true.”
The audience shouted.
“The rumors were true! Miracles are real! “The Savior lives!”
Elian sat on the floor in silence until then. But the next moment, she jumped up like a wolf.
“In the name of John!”
Elian, in her handcuffs, glared at the judges with her hateful eyes.
“In the name of John, the true leader and baptizer of the Goddess, let us sacrifice those false ones!”
“Elian!”
The judges shouted. However, the crowd gathered there was no longer on their side. When Bailiff Yvonne personally disinfected Catherine’s arms, stitched her wounds, wrapped her in blankets, and brought her back, everyone tried to touch Catherine, she bowed, and cried out her name.
“It’s a miracle! It’s a miracle! Catherine! Catherine!”
“No!”
Catherine shouted in a hoarse voice.
“All of this is solely the grace of John! We must offer all of this to Him. He was a humble man who even tried to hide his name! He must be raised higher and I must be humbled! Oh, John! “Come!”
However, the legend of ‘Saint Catherine the Incontinent’ and ‘Elean the Indomitable Accuser’ spread along with the ‘St. John Faith’ a week after the judge, the cult leader, and the vice-priest were thrown as zombie food.