Поющие в терновнике

           CardinalRalphleanedforward,watchinghim.

           "Ipasstheresponsibilityforhimtoyou,Ralph,"Meggie’sletterhadsaid."Ichargeyouwithhiswell-being,hishappiness.WhatIstole,Igiveback.Itisdemandedofme.Onlypromisemetwothings,andI’llrestintheknowledgeyou’veactedinhisbestinterests.First,promisemeyou’llmakesurebeforeyouaccepthimthatthisiswhathetruly,absolutelywants.Secondly,thatifthisiswhathewants,you’llkeepyoureyeonhim,makesureitremainswhathewants.Ifheshouldloseheartforit,Iwanthimback.Forhebelongedtomefirst.ItisIwhogiveshimtoyou."

           "Dane,areyousure?"askedtheCardinal.

           "Absolutely."

           "Why?"

           Hiseyeswerecuriouslyaloof,uncomfortablyfamiliar,butfamiliarinawaywhichwasofthepast.

           "BecauseoftheloveIbearOurLord.IwanttoserveHimasHispriestallofmydays."

           "DoyouunderstandwhatHisserviceentails,Dane?"

           "Yes."

           "ThatnootherlovemustevercomebetweenyouandHim?ThatyouareHisexclusively,forsakingallothers?"

           "Yes."

           "ThatHisWillbedoneinallthings,thatinHisserviceyoumustburyyourpersonality,yourindividuality,yourconceptofyourselfasuniquelyimportant?"

           "Yes."

           "Thatifnecessaryyoumustfacedeath,imprisonment,starvationinHisName?Thatyoumustownnothing,valuenothingwhichmighttendtolessenyourloveforHim?"

           "Yes."

           "Areyoustrong,Dane?"

           "Iamaman,YourEminence.Iamfirstaman.Itwillbehard,Iknow.