Fifth Horseman

THE FIFTH HORSEMAN “There

was meant to be a fifth, you know.” “A fifth what?” “Horseman.” “So, what happened to him? Why’s he not in Revelation?” “Oh, he was; originally. If you check out John’s manuscript, the one he knocked together on Patmos, it’s all there.” “What did it say, then?” “ ‘When the Lamb opened the fifth seal ——’ ” “I thought the fifth seal was all ‘souls of the slain under the altar’?” “No; not in the original version. What’s so Apocalyptic about a bunch of martyrs being dressed in white and told to wait for some other martyrs to die? Didn’t it ever strike you as odd that nothing actually happened when the fifth seal was opened?” Knull shrugged noncommittally. “Anyway, ‘When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I heard the voice of the fifth beast say ——’ ” “So now you’re telling me there are five creatures before the throne of deity?” “Look, do you want to hear this or not? Knull pouted petulantly but was silent. “ ‘When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I heard the voice of the fifth beast say, “Come!” I looked and behold naught; the fifth rider came not, for he was named Despair and he was flogging a dead horse.’ ” “Where did you read that, then?” “In the original letter John sent to the church in Ephesium. I found it in the vaults of the Celsus Library, when we were there in 262. Just before all that business with the Temple of Artemis. You remember.” “I don’t remember visiting the library though…” “No, I think you’d gone to watch the camel wrestling.” “What happened to the Book of Revelation? Get censored by the Council of Carthage, did it? “No. Just a case of apathy, really. That’s the thing with Despair – noone can be bothered; the scribes couldn’t be arsed to keep him in.”