Page 58 of The Forgotten
“No, Prior. He seems content and woefully unashamed.”
“How can you tell?” Prior Jacob asked, genuinely curious as to why Matthew would make such a statement.
Matthew blushed to the roots of his hair and glanced toward the window again. “Father Avery is not shamed by his nudity, nor that of the woman. He likes to gaze upon her as she lies before him. He stands before her fully unclothed while he…” Friar Matthew nearly choked on the words.
“While he interferes with himself?” Prior Jacob offered helpfully.
“I suppose you could call it that.”
“And does the woman take pleasure in it as well?” Prior Jacob asked, suddenly uncomfortably aware of his own urges. He rarely felt aroused, but the image Friar Matthew was painting was surprisingly erotic.
“The woman is filled with sinful lust.”
“Do you know who she is, Friar Matthew?”
“I followed her home. She lives in one of the less prosperous sections of town.”
“I see,” Prior Jacob said. “Thank you, Friar Matthew. You were most diligent in your task. You need spy on Father Avery no longer, and I hope I can rely on your discretion.”
Friar Matthew nodded but made no move to leave. Instead, he clasped the wooden cross hanging about his neck with both hands and fixated on the tips of his well-worn shoes, his head bowed. His tonsure glowed in the candlelight like the bottom of a newborn babe, and he muttered something under his breath, forcing Prior Jacob to lean forward to hear what he was saying.
“What is it, Matthew?” Prior Jacob asked, surprised by the young man’s behavior.
“There’s more, Prior.”
“What more could there be?” Was Father Avery seeing more than one woman? Prior Jacob wondered. It wouldn’t matter really, since although his sin would be compounded in the eyes of God, Prior Jacob had what he needed on the priest and wished to hear no more of his transgressions.
“The boy, Edwin, is this woman’s son, Prior. I heard Father Avery and the woman speaking of him when he escorted her home last week. Father Avery is the boy’s natural father.”
“What?” Prior Jacob cried. He’d suspected that Avery was succumbing to lustful urges, something that wasn’t all that unusual among members of the clergy, but to find out that he’d known this woman all throughout his priesthood and had fathered a child by her, a child who seemed to be afflicted with possible demonic possession, was news indeed.
“Are you sure, Friar Matthew?”
“Yes. I distinctly heard the woman say, ‘But, Avery, he is your son, and you have a duty to him.’”
“Thank you, Friar Matthew. You have done me and this priory a great service. It is a sordid task you’ve had to perform, but you have done your fellow friars an inestimable service, and God will reward you for your honesty and devotion to his glory.”
“Yes, Prior,” Matthew mumbled. “May I go now?”
“Of course. And, Friar Matthew, please make no mention of this revelation to the others. I must carefully consider a course of action before making this information public.”
Matthew looked as if the very last thing on earth he wished to do was discuss Father Avery’s proclivities with the other friars. He bowed his head, genuflected as he gazed upon the crucifix on the wall, and fled.
Prior Jacob reached for the jug and poured more mead into his cup. He brought the cup to his lips and drank deeply, his reservations about strong drink forgotten in view of Matthew’s confession. He’d hoped for something he could use against Father Avery should the priest wish to challenge the prior’s position, but he hadn’t bargained on a secret of this magnitude. Father Avery was clearly corrupt and had been since the day he entered the seminary, and now his sins had been visited on his son, who was possessed of the devil. Prior Jacob didn’t need to consult the Scripture, the passages came to his mind unbidden, and were frighteningly appropriate.
And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.Mark (9:20–21)
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.Exodus (20:5–6)
Prior Jacob finished his mead and hurried from the study, heading straight for the church. He needed to pray on this before he shared this foul knowledge with the other friars. He needed guidance and the light of God’s grace.
Prior Jacob’s head was bent in prayer as he knelt before the altar, speaking to God as if he were an understanding father. Theprior never regarded conversations with the Lord as being one-sided. What many people failed to understand was that if one stopped talking and truly listened, God provided an answer. It didn’t always come immediately. Sometimes the answer came in the middle of the night—a rustling whisper in one’s mind—but as clear as a bell. At other times, the response came as an action or a comment from another person which seemed to directly answer the question Jacob had asked only a short while ago.
“Dear Lord,” Prior Jacob whispered. “It is my duty as the prior of Greyfriars and as a man who has devoted his life to your service to denounce Father Avery, but is it my duty in this case to accuse the child and condemn him? Is it not my holy responsibility to try to offer him protection and salvation? Can his soul be redeemed, or has evil taken root, the devil now in full possession of his soul?”
If that were the case, there would be only one path open to Prior Jacob. He would have to drive the devil out and purify the priory which was now tainted by association. Prior Jacob hoped that God, in his mercy and wisdom, would allow him to save Edwin. He was hardly more than a child, an innocent vessel of evil, and an unwitting product of carnal sin. Prior Jacob’s head snapped to attention as he heard the slapping of leather against stone as several pairs of feet made their way down the nave toward him.
“Prior,” Friar Gregory cried out. “Prior Jacob, the boy Edwin has had another fit. It’s lasted longer this time. He’s possessed of the evil spirit, and something must be done at once.”
