Tim Coghlan: Hell’s Gates II — Retribution

Churches burning. Hundreds of them. Flames ripping through cavernous interiors; tearing holes through stained glass; felling steeples, bell towers, and domes. An abundance of fire. Firefighters battle in vain. Vast arcs of water appear as if trickles against the towering walls of flame. Locals, members of the congregation, and passersby look on in shock, the inferno illuminating their faces a sickly red. News crews rush to the scene to secure the most dramatic angle. In time, the structures tumble to the ground. The rubble smoulders for days.