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I knew this doorway It was to the Monastery of the Caves Only candles illuminated these catacombs, and the smell of the earth overpowered all, even the stench of dried sweat on soiled and diseased flesh

In h wooden handle of a s into the heap of earth I opened up the soft wall of rubble, untilas the dirt covered his face

"Still alive, Brother?" I whispered, to this soul buried up to his neck

"Still alive, Brother Andrei, give me only ill sustain me," said the cracked lips The white eyelids were never lifted "Give me only that much, so that our Lord and Savior, Christ Himself, will choose the time that I am to come home "

"Oh, Brother, how courageous you are," I said I put a jug of water to his lips The mud streaked them as he drank His head rested back in soft rubble

"And you, child," he said with labored breaths, turning ever so slightly froth to choose your earthen cell arave, and wait for Christ to come?"

"Soon, I pray, Brother," I answered I stepped back I lifted the shovel

I dug into the next cell, and soon a dreadful unmistakable stench assailed me The priest beside me stayed my hand

"Our Good Brother Joseph is finally with the Lord," he said "That's it, uncover his face so that we may see for ourselves that he died at peace "

The stench grew thicker Only dead huraves and carts coue is at its worst I feared I would be sick But I continued to dig, until at last we uncovered the dead man's head Bald, a skull encased in shrunken skin

Prayers rose from the brothers behind me "Close it up, Andrei "

"When will you have the courage, Brother? Only God can tell you when- "

"The courage to what!" I know this boo-shoulderedhis auburn hair and beard, his leather jerkin and his weapons hung on his leather belt

"This is what you do with my son, the ikon painter!"

He grabbed me by the shoulder, as he'd done a thousand tie paw of a hand that had beaten me senseless