Поющие в терновнике

           "Ihaveanearforlanguages,HerrGeneral,whichmeansit’slikealltalents—notworthpraising."

           "WhatmaywedoforYourExcellency?"askedtheCardinalsweetly.

           "IpresumeyouwillhaveheardofthefateofIlDucebynow?"

           "Yes,YourExcellency,wehave."

           "ThenyouwillknowinpartwhyIcame.Toassureyouthatalliswell,andtoaskyouifperhapsyouwouldconveythemessagetothosesummeringatCastelGandolfo?I’msobusyatthemomentit’simpossibleformetovisitCastelGandolfomyself."

           "Themessagewillbeconveyed.Youaresobusy?"

           "Naturally.YoumustsurelyrealizethisisnowanenemycountryforusGermans?"

           "This,HerrGeneral?ThisisnotItaliansoil,andnomanisanenemyhereexceptthosewhoareevil."

           "Ibegyourpardon,YourEminence.NaturallyIwasreferringtoItaly,nottotheVatican.ButinthematterofItalyImustactasmyFührercommands.Italywillbeoccupied,andmytroops,presentuntilnowasallies,willbecomepolicemen."

           ArchbishopRalph,sittingcomfortablyandlookingasifhehadneverhadanideologicalstruggleinhislife,watchedthevisitorclosely.DidheknowwhathisFührerwasdoinginPoland?Howcouldhenotknow?

           CardinalVittorioarrangedhisfaceintoananxiouslook."DearGeneral,notRomeherself,surely?Ah,no!Rome,withherhistory,herpricelessartifacts?Ifyoubringtroopswithinhersevenhillstherewillbestrife,destruction.Ibegofyou,notthat!"

           GeneralKesselringlookeduncomfortable."Ihopeitwon’tcometothat,YourEminence.