Поющие в терновнике

           ’"

           "IsawagreatmanyblackshirtsinthestreetsofGenoaandRome,"saidArchbishopRalph,watchingCardinalVittoriopour.

           "ThespecialcohortsofIlDuce.Wehaveaverydifficulttimeaheadofus,myRalph.TheHolyFatherisadamantthattherebenofracturebetweentheChurchandtheseculargovernmentofItaly,andheisrightinthisasinallthings.Nomatterwhathappens,wemustremainfreetoministertoallourchildren,evenshouldawarmeanourchildrenwillbedivided,fightingeachotherinthenameofaCatholicGod.Whereverourheartsandouremotionsmightlie,wemustendeavoralwaystokeeptheChurchremovedfrompoliticalideologiesandinternationalsquabbles.IwantedyoutocometomebecauseIcantrustyourfacenottogiveawaywhatyourbrainisthinkingnomatterwhatyoureyesmightbeseeing,andbecauseyouhavethebestdiplomaticturnofmindIhaveeverencountered."

           ArchbishopRalphsmiledruefully."You’llfurthermycareerinspiteofme,won’tyou!IwonderwhatwouldhavehappenedtomeifIhadn’tmetyou?"

           "Oh,youwouldhavebecomeArchbishopofSydney,anicepostandanimportantone,"saidHisEminencewithagoldensmile."Butthewaysofourliveslienotinourhands.Wemetbecauseitwasmeanttobe,justasitismeantthatweworktogethernowfortheHolyFather."

           "Ican’tseesuccessattheendoftheroad,"saidArchbishopRalph."Ithinktheresultwillbewhattheresultofimpartialityalwaysis.Noonewilllikeus,andeveryonewillcondemnus"