Point Zero by Narek Malian

1. Mass (Clermont, AD 1095) On a cold November evening in 1095, Pope Urban II summoned all believers to attend Mass at Notre Dame de Clermont. The noble knight stepped out of one of the many coaches driving up to the cathedral and, adjusting his mantle, walked toward the entrance. A man in shabby clothes got out of his stagecoach, emptied the contents of an ointment into his palm and started massaging the leg of one of the horses. It was the groom, Mark. On the day of Urban’s sermon, he arrived at Notre Dame with his master, a noble knight. One of the knight’s horses had slipped a few weeks ago, and it was necessary to apply some healing balm to its leg, which needed massaging at hourly intervals. The veterinary surgeon had said that the injury was not particularly severe, but that the horse’s leg needed care for some time. For this purpose, the knight had employed Mark, who was to follow his horse everywhere and take care of its leg in a timely and conscientious manner, which he did. Mark would stop the horse from time to time, rub the healing balm into the areas the doctor had indicated and massage its right hind leg.

The horse obviously enjoyed the massages; it had no problem letting Mark get close and would snort with satisfaction while being massaged.

The master of the horse had decided to attend the Mass that the pope was to deliver that day. There were rumors going around the country that Urban had a special message to deliver. Therefore, all those who had the opportunity to get there took it and arrived at Clermont Cathedral. Having finished massaging the horse’s leg, Mark stood in the churchyard feeling bored and cold. Yawning from idleness, he looked around and tried to guess which region each approaching coach had come from. Most coaches, lavishly decorated with old-fashioned ornamental sculptures, would stop in front of the cathedral. The ones with gilt statues, thick dark red curtains and decorative arbors were pieces of art – absolute masterpieces. There were a few such coaches in the yard, and their dazzling beauty added a particular [7]