How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 37: Doctrine (2)

While the others glare at Raleigh, wondering why he would ask such a question now, they too have become curious and prick up their ears, focusing on the angel's lips.

'...Why?'

'Come to think of it, that's right.'

'Now that I think about it, who did Cain marry? His sister?'

'Since Adam lived for 930 years, there could have been children not mentioned in the Bible.'

'Was incest not a sin in the beginning?'

As the place filled with such impious curiosity, the angel's voice soon resonates.

"You are... foolish."

"...Pardon?"

Lord Raleigh looks up at the angel with wide eyes at the sudden remark.

Though his expression didn't change much, there was a strange disappointment in his voice.

"I thought you were intelligent, yet how do you break the Lord's holy and quiet time with such wordplay?"

"...I am deeply sorry."

"Nothing is more difficult than giving a meaningful answer to a meaningless question.

However."

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The angel smiles slightly.

"I have a story to tell you."

"A-anything, please speak. My ears are open to you!"

"Do you truly believe that the Lord created the world in just one week?"

"...Pardon?"

At this unexpected question, Raleigh is momentarily at a loss for words. Others too tremble as if their minds have gone blank at the angel's words.

The angel, with his own mouth, just denied Genesis 1.

"But... then how about the Sabbath..."

"You."

Nemo's holy voice cuts off Raleigh and rings out.

"Do you know what causes day and night?"

"...The sun and moon."

"Correct. Then when did the Lord create the sun and moon?"

"That's when God created light, separated the sky and sea, and made plants and fruits, then on the fourth day... huh?"

"How did you count the fourth day?"

"...Ah."

This was the teaching of Origen, a church father from the 3rd century.

"The Word is infinite, but human speech and writing are finite. The Word is infinite, but the intellect and hands of those who transcribe it are finite.

Holy scripture is of course a collection of the Word, but the Word is infinite and cannot be fully contained in the finite. That is why there are so many metaphors in the holy scriptures."

Ah.

"Look at the scriptures, revere them, but do not stray from the Word by fixating on each letter. Those who cling to the letter are those who worship the letter as an idol."

"...I have sinned greatly by daring to confine the Lord's will to text!"

"It's good that you understand. Now..."

"...But I don't quite understand how this connects to whether there were people other than Adam and Eve. This too is due to my ignorance, so please have mercy on me."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Raleigh slightly raised his bowed head to look up at Nemo.

For the first time, a troubled look appears on his face.

Nemo maintains silence for a long time. Everyone begins to notice the sound of waves and their uncomfortable kneeling posture as time passes.

Finally, Nemo spoke.

"...The questions of the faithful please the Lord.

How did the Lord receive Peter, Jacob, and Thomas?

He is the King of all people and the King of all things. But when He came down to this earth, when He gathered people, what did He call the people?

Did He call those who followed Him subjects?"

"N-no."

"Then what did He call them?"

"...Disciples."

"Your words are truly correct."

Nemo's voice was solemn, but his smile remained gentle. That smile had the dignity of a great king and the compassion of a mother.

"A disciple is one who learns and questions. The Son of Man received not subjects but disciples, and is this not evidence that He wanted people to ask questions?"

"Ah, aah!"

"Ask. Then I will answer. Seek and seek again. Strive for knowledge and enlightenment.

Ask.

That is the second commandment I give to you."

"...Ah! I was truly foolish..."

"Therefore, I will now give you an answer."

Raleigh, momentarily overwhelmed with emotion, briefly forgot what question he had asked until he finally remembered.

Ah, right.

He had asked how Adam and Eve's children reproduced.

Is humanity the result of incest?

Or were there other humans?

If the former, was incest not a sin in the beginning?

If the latter, why has original sin continued?

Nemo answered.

"...Have you seen that moment at the beginning, or rather, the past so distant that no one can remember?"

"..."

"The time when it was difficult to distinguish between living and mineral things, when the distinction between all other living things was vague...

The time when the father of monkeys and the father of humans were the same, have you seen it?"

"Monkeys and humans are... what?"

"That's right."

"Ah... what?"

"It is so."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...This universe is much older than you think. There are more things between heaven and earth than your philosophy has imagined.

Rejoice in that fact. Rejoice that there is still much more to discover than what has been discovered so far. Praise the Lord who is more eternal than those billions of years."

"...What? Uh, uhh, what?"

"So do not fixate on the story of Adam and Eve. Just keep in mind the sin and pride they committed, and the great love the Lord bestowed."

"..."

"..."

"..."

In the face of such shocking statements, no one dared to add a word.

"...Through this, you shall gain wisdom."

Nemo continued speaking before the completely stunned believers.

"Within the scriptures there is the word of truth, but the scripture is not the Word itself. The Word is infinite and the scripture is of man, so you must always seek.

Seek and desire knowledge of the Word and His will that spans across this entire world created by the Lord! Illuminate ignorance!"

"...A-amen."

Eleanor absently added while imagining people crawling like monkeys among trees. Nemo nodded at her.

And then.

"Ah, aah...!"

Vicente finally stood up abruptly and walked briskly toward the back. Everyone was surprised and puzzled, but Vicente's steps did not stop.

The man from Spain said:

"Come out now. I know you're there."

"..."

Crack.

A man who had been hiding behind a tree trunk slowly stood up and came forward, then knelt before Nemo and the apostles.

"I-I'm sorry. I-I-I couldn't resist my curiosity and finally..."

"..."

"I-I am Francis Bacon.

Thank you... f-for saving me. I will never forget that grace. I really wanted to see you again..."

At these words, Nemo walks through the people and arrives in front of Bacon. Francis Bacon was still trembling with fear.

Shaking his entire body, he repeats things like, "The Lord really does exist. Really, really...!"

"It's alright."

"..."

"You look like you want to ask something."

"...Pardon? No, I... I am curious...!"

Bacon asks while kneeling and half sobbing.

"Why... why did you save me? Am I not a person responsible for your assassination?"

Nemo approaches him and whispers:

"...Don't look for reasons why one person saves another."

Bacon's eyes widen.

He bowed his head several times and trembled.

"Th-thank you..."

A man approaches Bacon who was crying as if about to collapse, and helps support him. Nemo asks the man:

"Who... are you?"

"Pardon? I'm just an actor. I came here for tourism and inspiration, and this gentleman suggested I come here..."

"An actor? Aren't you a playwright?"

"H-how did you know that?"

"Because I've seen your portrait before."

Nemo, who seemed to recognize a familiar face, finally smiles, nods, and says:

"Then, Mr. Shakespeare, please take care of Mr. Bacon."

Shakespeare, who didn't expect to hear his name from the angel, briefly flinched, then nodded in a daze.

"You all are the light of humanity."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Fulfill your duty."

They prayed toward the angel.

Harriot completed all the records.

A new gospel has been written.