Death in the dark brings black news.

The plague spreads, and the god of death is approaching the town of Grantham step by step.

All the towns on the upper reaches of the river were affected. The dignitaries and nobles fled and returned to their country villas to hide. People who had no way out had to stay and wait for death. Many seriously ill patients would suddenly fall to the ground and die when walking on the street. The shops in the city were closed, the councils were closed, and the weeds on both sides of the road became paradise for rats, birds and beasts.

No one can answer why this plague started. It is said that someone once saw a comet dragging a burning long tail over London. Astrologers predicted that this was a sign that the demon was about to descend on the earth.

All signs evoke the horror name buried deep in people's memory - the Black Death.

Nightmare enveloped everyone, and the sky was like haze, as if you could see the skeleton frame of the God of Death galloping in the sky with a little look.

Grantham held emergency council meetings several times. At the critical moment, Clark, the pharmacist in the town, was entrusted with an important task to preside over epidemic prevention and diagnosis and treatment. The pastors also issued an initiative to the residents of the parish, requiring everyone to remain restrained and calm and strictly follow the quarantine regulations.

But this obviously failed to alleviate the fear and anxiety in people's hearts. Townsmen fled, and people continued to flee from larger cities. The chaotic large-scale population movement was often accompanied by the spread of the plague, and the people of Grantham were panicked.

Mr. Thomas decided to go to the country villa to avoid the plague. The housekeeper Albert has been running around recently for this matter and is so busy that he is almost unstuck.

William sometimes sneaks out to meet Anne, but rarely sees Isaac - now he is an important assistant to the pharmacist Clark, and it is already difficult to deal with a lot of things in his hands every day.

The streets are filled with the strong smell of burning peppers and hops. The officials even encourage residents to smoke twice a day in order to use the smoke to take away bacteria in their bodies and resist the spread of the plague.

They worked a lot to find a place to breathe fresh air in a small wood by the river.

"The medical report sent from London believes that cats and dogs can spread epidemics. The sheriff suggested that everyone slaughter, but Isaac has always opposed it." Anne often brought him some rumor, "He speculated that mice are the real source, but there is no basis yet."

William also found it incredible: "Rat...that's such a big thing?"

"Because he read another report of a fire in London, he found that the plague in the neighborhoods that had spread to had disappeared," Anne said. "The fired neighborhood is no different from other places, except that many charred rat corpses were found in the ashes of the ruins."

"I don't think those bad old men will believe it." William shook his head, "But killing cats and dogs, isn't that mouse even more without natural enemies?"

"That's why Isaac has always opposed it."

"What did your dad say?"

"He was so busy that I haven't seen him for several days." Annie sighed with her chin in her arms, "Two days ago, a large group of people escaped from Cambridgeshire, and my father was busy checking each other. These people are really unwilling to abide by the rules and stay honestly in the house. What should I do if someone who gets sick runs around."

"Don't you plan to hide in the country?"

"How to hide? My dad is still here. I need help with the care of the patient. My aunt hasn't had time to care for me recently." Annie rubbed her forehead distressedly, "We are pretty good. The locals are not sick. Several places upstream have become dead cities."

She looked around boredly, and suddenly her eyes lit up: "Isaac!"

He was wrapped in a dense linen burqa, covered with a hood on his head, and a weird pointed-mouth mask.

Isaac raised his hand and signaled his friends to stop far away. He carefully removed the burqa and handled the portable tools before he walked slowly: "The people in Cambridgeshire have checked it, and there are no abnormalities at present. Several university professors said that when the acting dean comes later, they can give me a verbal exam."

"That's great!" Anne cheered, "When the epidemic is over, you can go directly to Cambridge to study!"

"It's still early." Isaac smiled bitterly and shook his head. Although he said this, everyone could tell that he was in a good mood.

William was also happy for him: "You are so smart and need to take the exam? Don't ask other professors down." He then began to plan for the future, "Then I told my dad to go to Cambridge, and there was also a companion in college."

"You don't look like you're willing to sit down and study quietly." Isaac immediately exposed him, "Don't want to go out to sea?"

"I think. What can I do if I just think about it?" This time it was William's turn to sigh. He looked like he saw through the world. "I just hope that my dad will not suddenly force me to marry a girl one day."

Both friends showed sympathetic eyes.

Isaac gave a blank expression: "You can pretend to like men."

Annie nodded and echoed: "You can really like men, too."

William screamed and fell backwards, rolling on the velvet-blanket grass like a woollen.

The troubles of the teenagers were different, and Anne sighed: "You all went to school, what should I do?"

"You can marry Iron-Top Jon," William quickly made trouble. "When we both finish college, you can have a lot of children."

"I don't want it!" Anne screamed loudly.

Seeing that the situation was not good, William quickly got up and ran away, but was chased by the girl and beaten up a few times. He grinned in pain: "There are not many of your fists except for the Iron Head Jon."

"Then I would rather be a nun!" Anne angrily, "Oh--I would have been a boy! In this way, Uncle George could take me around England to collect flowers and plants... Maybe he could also take a boat to the East and the New World!" She became increasingly unwilling, "Ah--Why can't I do it!"

William spread his hands: "Because women are so crying."

Isaac shrugged and added: "And it's so noisy."

Anne's whine turned into a roar. She jumped up and chased the two boys, causing them to beg for forgiveness.

The spring scenery on both sides of the river bank is just right, and dandelions are blooming one after another. The playfulness of the young men stirs up the surrounding air, and the wind blows away the pom balls, bringing countless seeds to float into the air, and it flutters along the Witmu River.

The oral exam at Cambridge University was scheduled for three days later. Isaac finished his work early and waited at St. Woolflam Church before the agreed time.

Before leaving, Anne asked her aunt to force him to take a shower, and William also brought a new outfit to him forcibly changed into it. Unfortunately, this guy's black hair was as hard as bristles. William tried several times but failed to successfully braid him a beautiful braid, so he had to deal with it and comb it briefly.

Isaac has experienced such a grand preparation ceremony for the first time in this life, and his originally calm and peaceful mentality has also become a little worried about gains and losses due to them.

Fortunately, he has always been calm, and when the professor informed him that he could enter the room and start the oral exam, his nervous mood had completely calmed down.

The oral examination was held in the worship hall. It was dusk, and the sunlight penetrated the stained glass windows on both sides of the wall, with mottled and lofty lights and shadows, as if indicating the arrival of some miracle.

Isaac prayed in his heart, begging that the angel's favor this time would benefit him.

The examination process was short and efficient, and the professors sitting around a long table took turns to ask questions; the acting dean of the college was sitting in the center, and he did not speak for a word during the examination. For fairness, they all wore masks and did not reveal their true faces.

The professors' questions mainly focus on astronomy, mathematics and chemistry, and also focused on Isaac's understanding and view of this terrifying plague. His view that the source of the plague spread was caused by a lot of controversy.

An hour passed quickly. When the church’s evening bell rang, the sunset completely sank into the distant mountain line at the other end of the wilderness.

Isaac walked out of the church, the sky was full of stars, and the air at night was already chilly. The evening breeze blew, and he stopped in front of the steps, raised his head and sucked in the cold wind.

William and Anne had been waiting outside the door, and they cheered and couldn't wait to hear him tell the expected result.

He remained silent and handed over a letter with the insignia of Trinity College, Cambridge University. The sealed varnish had been opened.

Anne took the opportunity to unfold: "Dear Mr. Isaac Newton, I sincerely thank you for applying for the Bachelor of Natural Sciences at Trinity College. After careful consideration and evaluation by the professors of the college, combined with our consideration of your personal demands, I regret to let you know that your application has not been approved-" the girl cried out in disbelief, "What!? How is this possible!"

Isaac did not respond.

She couldn't continue reading. William took the letter from Anne and continued to read with an incredible mood: "I'm sorry this decision will inevitably bring you disappointment. At the same time, I'm happy to provide you with personal feedback on your interview performance and overall assessment. If you are interested, please contact our teaching tutor directly. Wish you success in your future academic career-" William widened his eyes in disbelief, "Is it him? How could it be him!"

The letter paper slipped off his hands and fell onto the cold and hard rock steps.

The signature at the end is the gorgeous and elegant signature of the Acting Dean.

——Alphonse von Anhalt.
Chapter completed!