st osiris had the title of abbot of the monastery, but spent his days laboring on his two great works, a universal history of theology and a refutation of all pagan philosophers.
the day to day conduct of the monastery’s affairs he entrusted to father zum.
who in turn was assisted by brother yeti and brother scratch.
no sooner had the door closed on the prophet ezekiel, than the burden he had so solemnly pressed on the abbot been handed off to father zum, who in turn had passed it on to brother yeti.
so it was to brother yeti that the two demons in human female form were brought by brother orpheus, when they returned to the monastery.
brother yeti was a great lumbering fellow who held his position by virtue of his ability to install fear and enforce discipline on the brothers, rather than from any attainments of learning.
being told to provide care for the child had not provoked any great enthusiasm in him, and the opportunity to pass it on to the two women - or at least one of them - seemed providential.
but it was with his usual ferocious face that he welcomed them into his presence, and listened to brother orpheus briefly present their case.
“i did not presume to address abbot osiris directly on this humble matter,” brother orpheus concluded.
“you did right,” yeti agreed. “i will deal with the abbot, if necessary.”
yeti fixed his eyes on the two females. neither of them, especially the stouter and younger one, were likely to attract the eye of a king or prince, but among the brothers, might they still cause some mischief and arouse sinful thoughts? still, the babe needed to be cared for, and the abbey had employed old crones in lowly jobs before…
“you,” he addressed the taller one, “you are prepared to nurse this babe for as long as necessary?”
“i am, brother,” the demon answered, keeping her eyes averted downward.
“and you,” he asked the younger one, “what of you?”
“i ask nothing, worthy brother,” she replied, “except a crust or spoonful of gruel before i head back down the highway. but, begging your worship’s pardon, i am very strong, and can make myself useful, either in assisting with this poor child’s care or any other task, no matter how foul or degrading, you might assign me.”
yeti was impressed, and his heart softened, by the humility of the two supplicants. “very well, i will let you both stay, for now.” he turned to brother scratch, who had softly entered the room while the conversations were unfolding. “scratch, find a warm corner somewhere for the nurse and the child. and put this other one in the stables with the donkeys.”
scratch, a sly little fellow who was reputed to know all the secrets of the abbey including many he had fomented or devised himself, and to be able to hear conversations between the spiders in the walls, nodded. “of course, the abbot will have to give his approval.”
“i know that,” yeti answered, “and if the abbot objects to their presence, they will be turned out. but for now, do as i instruct.”
“of course, brother, of course, “ scratch replied.
in this way the two demons, the erstwhile goat and the erstwhile serpent, came to reside within the bosom of the monastery, and to be entrusted with the care of the babe, of whom the prophet ezekiel and st francis the lover of birds had such hopes.
and the babe itself - who was it and what was it?
these were the questions the demons asked it, as soon as they were alone with it.
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