Chapter 6

Timepiece: 6.

During the 18th and 19th century, the Mediterranean Sea was rife with Moorish pirates. They had a traditional hate for christians ... I suppose because of the Crusades ... and the muslim teaching that infidels be converted or put to death. One of the tortures had its roots in christianity.

The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the Prefect, he said: "This is the Church's treasure!"

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. "Turn me over," he said to the judge. "I'm done on this side!" And just before he died, he said, "It's cooked enough now."

Grilling.

In order to keep order among the captives they were secluded below decks. The passage to above and below was covered by a cast iron grill. The male captives who weren't to be slaves were taken ashore and the Grill would be placed over a slow fire. The captives were chained to the grill and cooked.

Grilling.

Wendy's mom wasn't that bad ... but I still carry the burns her fiery tongue applied to my soul as she attempted to discern whether or not my intentions were honorable.

This while father and daughter consumed whole plates of scrambled eggs accompanied with rashers, biscuits and sausage gravy, hash browned potatoes smothered with melted cheese, whole wheat toast dripping with real butter, milk, orange juice and copious cups of coffee.