Bohemia 1229, a monk named Herman the recluse watched the bricks stack up around him, sealing him in,

punishment for his sins.

Then Herman made a desperate offer, set him free, and in one night he'd bring glory to the monastery

by creating a book containing all the world's knowledge.

A manuscript of that size would take 30 years to

write. Herman had 12 hours. Impossible. Still, his offer was accepted. His execution could wait one more

day. In the morning, the monks unlocked Herman's room, ready to drag him back to his brick tomb.

But there was the book, complete, over 600 pages. When Herman was asked how he achieved this, he said, I prayed for help. The monks were confused. Herman's sins were envy, lust, fornication, and worse. Why would God help him? But Herman didn't pray to God. He prayed to someone else.

The Herman heard the bolt slide into place and footsteps disappear down the hallway. He was alone.

His cell was 12 feet by 8 feet, stone walls, one high window, a table, quill, ink, blank parchment, and candles.

Herman thought about the promise he'd made.

Complete the manuscript by dawn or face amurement.

Amurement or immuration is a type of torture where you're enclosed in a tight space and left to die.

Ew, it sounds like a spirit airline's flight.

Herman was found guilty of serious crimes against God.

His punishment was he'd be forced to stand in a stone room no bigger than a coffin,

then walled in alive.

If the cold didn't kill him, the thirst would, or starvation, or the rats.

Definitely a spirit alien's flight. Just had the screaming children and a guy next to you

eating a tuna sandwich with his shoes off.

Herman lit the candle and started writing. The manuscript needed to contain all the world's

knowledge, art, science, history, philosophy,

...