The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 837: Original: Chapter Three Hundred Eighty-Six: God Says: Have Faith in Science (7K)_3 Modified: Chapter 386: God Says: Have Faith in Science (7K)_3

As the recorder for this meeting, he formally bowed slightly to King William IV and introduced, “Your Majesty, to summarize for you, based on the current situation, the doctors advise you to believe in theology, while Your Excellencies suggest you trust in science.”

The Archbishop of York heard this and his expression changed. He replied in a deep voice, “Your Excellency, although I am aware of your reputation, it is best not to speak too harshly on such inviolable principles. Or should I say, are you actually standing with the Vatican, being a spy sent by the Pope to Britain?”

The Bishop of London also added cynically, “If that is the case, then it’s not hard to explain why Your Excellency founded the ‘Atheistic Academy on Gaul Street.’ You say ‘atheism,’ but in secret, you engage in idol worship?”

Prime Minister Count Grey, seeing the bishops intending to escalate the matter, quickly interjected to mediate, “Your Majesty, to some extent, I also agree with the bishops. Officer Hastings’ resurrection must be a case of medical misdiagnosis, rather than him actually returning from the underworld.”

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he quickly drew objections from the doctors.

Vickery insisted, “Your Excellency, I still maintain my stance. What I am saying is entirely substantiated. We previously questioned the doctor who operated on Officer Arthur Hastings specifically, and obtained the medical conclusion that Officer Hastings was indeed clinically dead.”

Unexpectedly, the Bishop of London frowned upon hearing this and interrupted, “Your Majesty, regarding the matter of people presumed dead rising from their coffins… Although such situations are rare, they have occurred before. In my thirty-plus years of serving God, there have been two similar incidents within my diocese.

In both cases, the deceased were, as Mr. Vickery mentioned, declared medically dead by the doctors. However, in reality, one deceased rose from the coffin in a daze half a day after his heart had stopped. When his wife returned home, she found him cooking in the kitchen, almost scaring her to death.

In the other so-called ‘deceased’ case, it was the same misdiagnosis, but he awoke earlier, right at his funeral. While everyone mourned in the church, they suddenly heard knocking from the coffin. When they opened it, they found the hapless victim of a careless doctor lying inside, his hands scratched raw.

The first lucky fellow lived peacefully for another five years after his ‘resurrection’ before passing away. As for the second, if you send someone to the countryside in Lancaster now, you might still find him working vigorously in the fields.”

After speaking, the Bishop of London couldn’t help but glare at the doctors before adding, “Because of this, the faithful in the Lancaster countryside are worried about being buried alive. So when they order coffins from the undertaker, the wealthy request ones with good ventilation, while the poor ask for a small hole to be drilled in the coffin to insert a breathing tube. This has almost become a custom, and I find this practice even spreading to London. If Your Excellencies don’t believe me, you can ask the undertakers in London if they have similar designs.”

Vickery and Brunode, the two doctors, couldn’t believe what they were hearing and widened their eyes in disbelief.

They stood up and said, “It’s not that we distrust Your Excellency’s integrity, but we wish to verify the relevant situation.”

Yet Barry, the doctor who had been silent until now, began sweating profusely. Biting his lip and opening his mouth, he said, “Actually, I… I have indeed encountered a similar case…”

Vickery was stunned, “You encountered it too?”

Dr. Barry nodded slightly, “Not just encountered, but the situation was much like what Your Excellency described. As you know, whether as an internist, surgeon, or general practitioner, even as a pharmacist, we all regard the cessation of the heartbeat as a sign of death.

In the case I encountered, the patient had the same situation. His heart had stopped for over thirty minutes, so I issued a death certificate. But to my surprise, when I had my apprentice put him in a body bag, he suddenly sat up.

At that moment, I thought I had misdiagnosed. Fearing that the misdiagnosis would damage my reputation, I kept it secret for many years, intending to take this secret to the grave. But upon hearing Your Excellency’s story and seeing Officer Hastings’ case, I now genuinely doubt whether heart stoppage is the correct criterion for death.

Despite saying that, given that Officer Hastings’ heart had stopped for three days and was pierced by a bullet, if he could recover from that, I can only marvel at the wonders and endless possibilities of God’s creation.”

Although Dr. Barry’s furrowed brow and existential crisis were indeed concerning, the other members of the Privy Council found great comfort.

They finally could reassure themselves that this was not a divine miracle, but a trivial medical accident.