Поющие в терновнике

           ***

           ArchbishopdeBricassartrandownthebeautifulhighcorridor,heedlessofthesurprisedfacesturningtowatchhim;heburstintotheCardinal’sroomandstoppedshort.HisEminencewasentertainingMonsieurPapée,thePolishgovernment-in-exile’sambassadortotheHolySee.

           "Why,Ralph!Whatisit?"

           "It’shappened,Vittorio.Mussolinihasbeenoverthrown."

           "DearJesus!TheHolyFather,doesheknow?"

           "ItelephonedCastelGandolfomyself,thoughtheradioshouldhaveitanyminute.AfriendatGermanheadquartersphonedme."

           "IdohopetheHolyFatherhashisbagspacked,"saidMonsieurPapéewithafaint,averyfaintrelish.

           "IfwedisguisedhimasaFranciscanmendicanthemightgetout,nototherwise,"ArchbishopRalphsnapped."Kesselringhasthecitysealedtighterthanadrum."

           "Hewouldn’tgoanyway,"saidCardinalVittorio.

           MonsieurPapéegotup."Imustleaveyou,YourEminence.IamtherepresentativeofagovernmentwhichisGermany’senemy.IfHisHolinessisnotsafe,noramI.TherearepapersinmyroomsImustattendto."

           Primandprecise,diplomattohisfingertips,heleftthetwopriestsalone.

           "Hewasheretointercedeforhispersecutedpeople?"

           "Yes.Poorman,hecaressomuchforthem."

           "Anddon’twe?"

           "Ofcoursewedo,Ralph!Butthesituationismoredifficultthanheknows."

           "Thetruthofthematterishe’snotbelieved."