Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel, #1)

by Connie Willis

It sounded like a cross between a call to arms and a dirge, but it was most probably “Jingle Bells.”

Dunworthy stepped up to the lectern and opened the Bible to Luke. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed,” he read.

When the bell ringers appeared to be finished, Dunworthy mounted the lectern and read the Scripture. “ ‘And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed…’

‘Now it came to pass in those days that a decree went forth from Caesar Augustus that a census of the whole world be taken.’

“Cloth cannot keep out microscopic viruses,” Dunworthy said.

“Why aren’t you wearing your mask?” “It causes my spectacles to steam up. Why aren’t you wearing yours?” “We’re running out of them.

“So I decided that when I get out of school, I’m going to come to Oxford and be an historian like you,” Colin was saying. “I don’t want to come to the Black Death. I want to go to the Crusades.”