In the early hours of the December morning, when the night was blacker than sin, the town of Saint-Malo rose like a ghost from her tomb. From the castle to the town walls and beyond. A vast throng of people were gathering from every direction. Each one had brought their voices with them — singing or speaking in loud whispers, they made up the song of the night.

They gathered around a bonfire in a huge circular clearing at the center of a forest glade. The fire lit up the area and cast long, long shadows against the thick undergrowth of trees. The bonfire burned hot and bright and sent up tall plumes of smoke into the starry air.

The crowd danced about the fire, holding hands and swaying to the music of the harps, clavichords, lutes, and bagpipes. After the revelry died down, entering into the clearing was Alain Armorlaire and his wife.

"There he is, at last! The Scourge! The Admiral of the Ocean Sea! Our savior!" said a member of the crowd. They began to shout and cheer.

"God Almighty!" exclaimed another man. "I have heard of his coming, but have never seen him! It is an honor to see such a man walk among us. May God protect and prosper the Admiral of the Ocean Sea! May the Holy Mother watch over him! Praise the Lord!"

Armorlaire turned to his wife and whispered, "I clearly have a reputation to uphold." He drew his sword from its scabbard and held it above his head in the air. Then he shouted into the night, "God of my fathers, I thank thee that Thou hast granted me the powers to sail, to fish, to explore, and to speak to thy wonderful creations."

He lowered his blade and pointed it towards the fire.

"I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast given me the power to behold the stars, the moon, the heavens, to see the world in a mirror of sea and sky. Thou art the God who has given me dominion over men and beasts, and I thank thee for granting me the courage and boldness to command them."

More cheering and applause.

Alain said, "I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast given me the gift of sight to see the glory of thy creation from the farthest reaches of the earth." He waved his arm around into the distance. "I do indeed see the glorious lights of heaven and the splendor of the deep, and my sight is blessed, but I know not yet of Thy presence. Where are Thou, Lord? Have Thou come to the aid of a wretched sinner?"

A long silence fell upon the gathering. The air became cold and still like night itself. Alain seemed to be going into a bit of a trance as he gazed out over the crowd.

Then a sailor stepped forth. In his hand was a book bound in red leather. Its cover had an ornate gold design of intertwined angels and stars. The book was opened. The man said, "I have brought this holy text because there is no other book that I know of which contains such a vision of God's glory. It is a true and ancient book of the Bible."

Alain turned to the crowd, pointing his sword toward the stars. "Behold, all ye people. God hath given me the gift to speak to the sea and to his precious angels. It is the angels and it is the great ocean that guides me on the waves. Listen closely, put your ear up to the waves, and it will be speak to you. There the voice of God is heard. Hear now the voice of God."

The sailor held his open book up before him, reading aloud in Latin:

"Caeli enarrant gloriam Dei et opus manus eius adnuntiat firmamentum"

Alain looked up at the sky and cried, "Oh, how beautiful it is! How splendid are the works of thy hands! Let the whole earth stand in awe at the great wonders of thy creation!"

"Benedicite gentes Deum nostrum et auditam facite vocem laudis eius," recited the pious sailor holding the Holy Book.

He raised his sword overhead, and cried, "Woe to those who do not believe and cannot see the wonder of thy works."

The crowd looked on in amazement, both charmed by Alain's speech yet also slightly concerned for his wellbeing.

"Weeping may remain for a night," he continued, "but joy cometh in the morning. For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever."

Alain sheathed his sword and turned away from the bonfire, joining back up with his wife. Alain and his wife quickly departed the party, leaving the crowd of revelers behind and retiring to their Saint-Malo home.