Another fire

Had Brother Joseph not interrupted at that point, even Brother Gregory might have been tempted to vote for Klacel's guilt. Despite his shortcomings, Droz had made a powerful presentation, and, under the guidance of Darmstaedter's questions, had built a powerful case against the monk. A case that seemed so watertight, so clear and so incontrovertible that any reasonable body of men would have been convinced, even if they had no grudges against the accused.

"What is it?" the Abbot snapped at his monk. He had been desperately unhappy at the way Darmstaedter and Droz had built and presented their case, for he was under no illusions as to who was prosecuting this case. Brother Gregory's evidence from the pollen in the mud would make very little impression on the minds already closed by circumstance and fact. However, he had intended to let the scientist monk try to give the results of his investigations, in the faint hope it would do some good.

"There is something happening that you all should see," Brother Joseph said calmly, "but before you do, please note who is currently present in this room." Mystified by this strange requests, the participants looked around and saw themselves.

"What are you talking about, Brother Joseph?" demanded Abbot Napp. "All of us are here, no one is missing."

"Good. Now come and look at this."

It is possible no one would have moved, or listened further to Brother Joseph, but acting on cue, Brother Gregory and Brother Matthew stood up from their seats and began walking to the hidden doorway. In a sheep-like reaction, all the others followed, whether they had intended to or not. The group moved through the doorway, through the study rooms and to the windows facing out onto the courtyard and the Prelate's wing of the monastery.

"Over there, look!" said Brother Joseph directing their attention out of the window, across the courtyard and up to the guest room windows. Everyone looked.

What they saw were coils of black smoke curling ominously out of the window that had once belonged to Oberstleutnant Reishach.