Presented in sequential order
And when the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour... And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
The Bible, Revelation 8:1 and 8:6
[cut to Crusader Antonius Block, resting near crashing waves on the beach; silence abruptly descends, and a black-robed man with an unnaturally white face appears]
Who are you?
I am Death.
Have you come for me?
I have walked at your side for a long time now.
That I know.
Are you prepared?
My body is afraid, but I am not.
You all say that. But I give no respite.
You play chess, do you not?
How do you know that?
I've seen it in paintings, heard it in the songs.
I really am a rather skilful chess player.
Even so, you can't be more skilful than me.
Why do you want to play chess with me?
That is my business.
You are right about that.
My condition is that I may live as long as I resist you. If I checkmate you, you set me free.
[to decide who begins, Block hides a white and black piece in each hand, Death chooses the hand that has the black piece]
Black for you!
It becomes me well.
