Chapter 1: The Shepherd
* Summary: Mateo Esteban, a young shepherd tending his flock in the hills of Castile, Spain, witnesses a strange celestial event—a comet streaking across the sky.
* Example: Mateo's heart skipped a beat as he saw the comet, its tail a fiery streak illuminating the twilight.
Chapter 2: The Scholar
* Summary: Dr. Jerónimo Cortés, an astronomer at the University of Salamanca, observes the comet and correctly deduces its path and orbit.
* Example: Cortés meticulously plotted the comet's trajectory, using his quadrant and a celestial chart.
Chapter 3: The Astrologer
* Summary: A famous astrologer, Jérôme Coignet, interprets the comet as a portent of disaster for King Philip II of Spain.
* Example: Coignet proclaimed, "The comet bodes ill for the Crown, heralding tragedy and upheaval."
Chapter 4: The King
* Summary: King Philip II, a devout Catholic, is deeply unsettled by the comet and commands his palace astronomer, Pedro Chacón, to investigate its meaning.
* Example: The king stood at his window, gazing up at the night sky, the comet a haunting reminder of his own mortality.
Chapter 5: The Heretic
* Summary: Miguel de Molinos, a Spanish priest, sees the comet as a sign of impending divine judgment and preaches a message of repentance and atonement.
* Example: Molinos stood before his congregation, his voice trembling with fervor, "The comet is a wake-up call, a warning from God to mend our ways."
Chapter 6: The Artist
* Summary: El Greco, a renowned painter, incorporates the comet into his masterpiece, "The Burial of Count Orgaz," depicting it as a symbol of celestial grace.
* Example: In El Greco's painting, the comet hovers above the count's coffin, casting a divine light upon the scene.
Chapter 7: The Merchant
* Summary: Juan de Lusgo, a wealthy merchant from Toledo, seizes the opportunity to profit from the comet's notoriety by selling "comet stones"—meteorites thought to possess magical properties.
* Example: De Lusgo's stalls were thronged with eager customers seeking protection from the supposed jinx of the comet.
Chapter 8: The Plague
* Summary: A devastating plague sweeps through Castile, killing thousands and fueling fear and superstition.
* Example: The city streets became deserted as people huddled inside their homes, praying for deliverance from the deadly scourge.
Chapter 9: The Inquisition
* Summary: The Spanish Inquisition investigates Miguel de Molinos for his heretical teachings, eventually branding him a heretic and sentencing him to imprisonment.
* Example: The auto-da-fé, where Molinos's sentence was announced, was a chilling display of religious persecution.
Chapter 10: The Aftershock
* Summary: The year 1587 draws to a close, and the comet fades from view. The events of the year have left a lasting impact on the lives of those who witnessed them.
* Example: Mateo, now an old shepherd, still remembers the awe and wonder he felt when he beheld the comet in his youth.
