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Nostradamus free e-book novel - The Greatest Sinner Ever

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“From ancient Greek times,” he said about the structure while at the same<br />

time using it to take a rest. Michel, by contrast, was full of energy and<br />

went exploring in the area while Jean took his customary little nap. One<br />

day, the boy came back excitedly.<br />

“A little ways over there, there are all kinds of holes hacked out of the<br />

cliffs, Grandpa. Come and see!” But Jean quietly stayed where he was and<br />

coolly explained that long ago, goatherds had made those holes for their<br />

goats to protect them from predators. Apparently, he had discovered them<br />

before. One time, he could barely get up and Michel had to literally drag<br />

him home.<br />

During adolescence, the young man began to notice girls and this was a<br />

good opportunity for his mentor to speak about the marriage of two souls.<br />

He explained how the male and female souls can merge together and the<br />

male/female principle is represented everywhere in the universe.<br />

“You mean there are male and female planets too?” asked Michel.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> planets are, in principle, all female. That’s why they call our planet<br />

Mother Earth,” answered Jean.<br />

“And do we men have anything to say, in the cosmos?”<br />

“Well, the stars are male, in contrast with dust and darkness, wich are<br />

female. <strong>The</strong>se eternal polarities are also the essence of alchemy.”<br />

<strong>The</strong> boy spent the majority of his childhood outdoors with his grandfather<br />

and his parents didn’t see much of their rapidly developing son. <strong>The</strong>y only<br />

got together at mealtimes. It was not only Michel and Jean’s fault they saw<br />

so little of each other; Jacques worked at the notary’s practice all day and<br />

Reynière, besides running the household, had her hands full with the<br />

youngest children. Seven-year-old Antoine was a particularly challenging<br />

case, because he always exhibited recalcitrant behavior. For the rest,<br />

Michel got along well with his little brothers, but play with them? No,<br />

there was little chance of that.<br />

<strong>The</strong> seasons flew by very pleasantly, until that one sad day. <strong>The</strong>y found<br />

dear old Grandfather in his quarters. He had died of old age. Michel had<br />

been watching him deteriorate for a while and knew the end was in sight.<br />

Nevertheless, it was a devastating event.<br />

It was drizzling on the day of Jean de Saint Rémy’s funeral. <strong>The</strong>y took<br />

turns keeping vigil with the body in the house, until it was brought out for<br />

the burial services. All the family members were there. Old Pierre and his<br />

wife had come all the way from Grasse, as well as Jean’s three sisters and<br />

cousins from near-by Marseille. <strong>The</strong> Catholic prayer service took place in<br />

the church of Selongey. <strong>The</strong> families walked to the church, where the<br />

coffin had been placed. Michel’s grandparents were walking so slowly,<br />

that he had plenty of time to carefully observe the fancy houses with<br />

turrets at the Place des Halles. Finally they arrived at the church, where<br />

many friends and acquaintances had gathered. At the entrance, a large man<br />

with reddish hair accidentally bumped into Michel. His shoes were<br />

covered in paint. He was apparently not an invited guest, but he wanted to<br />

12

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