Поющие в терновнике

           Hisgracepickeduptheflashlight."Well,youcan’tstayhereallnight,andIhaven’tgotakeytothedoors.Comewithme."Hebeganwalkingbacktowardtheprivatestairsleadinguptothepapalpalace,talkinginaslow,softvoice."Icametopraymyself,asamatteroffact.ThankstoyourHighCommand,it’sbeenarathernastyday.That’sit,uphere…We’llhavetohopethattheHolyFather’sstaffdon’tassumeI’vebeenarrested,butcanseeI’mdoingtheescorting,notyou."

           Afterthattheywalkedfortenmoreminutesinsilence,throughcorridors,outintoopencourtsandgardens,insidehallways,upsteps;theyoungGermandidnotseemanxioustoleavehisprotector’sside,forhekeptclose.AtlastHisGraceopenedadoorandledhiswaifintoasmallsittingroom,sparselyandhumblyfurnished,switchedonalampandclosedthedoor.

           Theystoodstaringateachother,abletosee.TheGermansoldiersawaverytallmanwithafinefaceandblue,discerningeyes;ArchbishopRalphsawachildtrickedoutinthegarbwhichallofEuropefoundfearsomeandawe-inspiring.Achild;nomorethansixteenyearsold,certainly.Ofaverageheightandyouthfullythin,hehadaframepromisinglaterbulkandstrength,andverylongarms.HisfacehadratheranItalianatecast,darkandpatrician,extremelyattractive;wide,darkbrowneyeswithlongblacklashes,amagnificentheadofwavyblackhair.