Поющие в терновнике

           Ifinditinmyhearttopityhimdeeply,andIshallpraytonightthathefindsmorestrengthinthefuture,"thevisitorsaid.

           Hisaccentwasdistinctlyforeign,hisvoicesoft,withahintofsibilanceinitss’s.BynationalityhewasItalian,bytitlehewasHisGracetheArchbishopPapalLegatetotheAustralianCatholicChurch,andbynamehewasVittorioScarbanzadiContini-Verchese.HiswasthedelicateroleofprovidingalinkbetweentheAustralianhierarchyandtheVaticannervecenter;whichmeanthewasthemostimportantpriestinthissectionoftheworld.

           BeforebeinggiventhisappointmenthehadofcoursehopedfortheUnitedStatesofAmerica,butonthinkingaboutithedecidedAustraliawoulddoverynicely.Ifinpopulationthoughnotinareaitwasamuchsmallercountry,itwasalsofarmoreCatholic.UnliketherestoftheEnglish-speakingworld,itwasnosocialcomedowninAustraliatobeCatholic,nohandicaptoanaspiringpoliticianorbusinessmanorjudge.Anditwasarichcountry,itsupportedtheChurchwell.NoneedtofearhewouldbeforgottenbyRomewhilehewasinAustralia.

           TheArchbishopPapalLegatewasalsoaverysubtleman,andhiseyesoverthegoldrimofhisteacupwerefixednotonArchbishopClunyDarkbutonFatherRalphdeBricassart,soontobecomehisownsecretary.ThatArchbishopDarklikedthepriestenormouslywasawell-knownfact,buttheArchbishopPapalLegatewaswonderinghowwellhewasgoingtolikesuchaman.