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Chapter 15
Therewasnothingusualorordinaryabouthimafterall,evenifhisrolewasanordinaryone;inspiteofthefactthathehadlongedtotalktoanaverage,ordinaryman,HisGracewasinterested.
"Sitdown,"hesaidtotheboy,crossingtoachestandunearthingabottleofMarsalawine.Hepouredsomeintotwoglasses,gavetheboyoneandtookhisowntoachairfromwhichhecouldwatchthefascinatingcountenancecomfortably."Aretheyreducedtodraftingchildrentodotheirfighting?"heasked,crossinghislegs.
"Idon’tknow,"saidtheboy."Iwasinachildren’shome,soI’dbetakenearlyanyway."
"What’syourname,lad?"
"RainerMoerlingHartheim,"saidtheboy,rollingitoutwithgreatpride.
"Amagnificentname,"saidthepriestgravely.
"Itis,isn’tit?Ichoseitmyself.TheycalledmeRainerSchmidtatthehome,butwhenIwentintothearmyIchangedittothenameI’vealwayswanted."
"Youwereanorphan?"
"TheSisterscalledmealovechild."
ArchbishopRalphtriednottosmile;theboyhadsuchdignityandself-possession,nowhehadlosthisfear.Onlywhathadfrightenedhim?Notbeingfound,orbeinglockedinthebasilica."Whywereyousofrightened,Rainer?"
Theboysippedhiswinegingerly,lookedupwithapleasedexpression."Good,it’ssweet."Hemadehimselfmorecomfortable."IwantedtoseeSaintPeter’sbecausetheSistersalwaysusedtotalkaboutitandshowuspictures.SowhentheypostedustoRomeIwasglad.Wegotherethismorning.TheminuteIcould,Icame."