Поющие в терновнике

           DoyounotrememberthepuppetpopeinAvignonallthosecenturiesago?DoyouwantourPopeapuppetinBerlin?"

           "I’msorry,Vittorio,Ican’tseeitthatway.IsaywemustdenounceHitler,shouthisbarbarityfromtherooftops!Ifhehasusshotwe’lldiemartyrs,andthatwouldbemoreeffectivestill."

           "Youarenotusuallyobtuse,Ralph!Hewouldnothaveusshotatall.Heunderstandstheimpactofmartyrdomjustaswellaswedo.TheHolyFatherwouldbeshippedtoBerlin,andwewouldbeshippedquietlytoPoland.Poland,Ralph,Poland!DoyouwanttodieinPolandoflessusethanyouarenow?"

           ArchbishopRalphsatdown,clenchedhishandsbetweenhisknees,staredrebelliouslyoutthewindowatthedovessoaring,goldeninthesettingsun,towardtheircote.Atforty-ninehewasthinnerthanofyore,andwasagingassplendidlyashedidmostthings.

           "Ralph,wearewhatweare.Men,butonlyasasecondaryconsideration.Firstwearepriests."

           "Thatwasn’thowyoulistedourprioritieswhenIcamebackfromAustralia,Vittorio."

           "Imeantadifferentthingthen,andyouknowit.Youarebeingdifficult.Imeannowthatwecannotthinkasmen.Wemustthinkaspriests,becausethatisthemostimportantaspectofourlives.Whateverwemaythinkorwanttodoasmen,ourallegianceistotheChurch,andtonotemporalpower!OurloyaltyliesonlywiththeHolyFather!Youvowedobedience,Ralph.Doyouwishtobreakitagain?TheHolyFatherisinfallibleinallmattersaffectingthewelfareofGod’sChurch."