Поющие в терновнике

           He’stocomehome."

           "Nooneisgoingtodenyyouthat,Meggie,"hesaidgently."It’sconsecratedCatholicground,whichisalltheChurchasks.ItoohaverequestedthatIbeburiedonDrogheda."

           "Ican’tgetthroughalltheredtape,"shewenton,asifhehadn’tspoken."Ican’tspeakGreek,andIhavenopowerorinfluence.SoIcametoyou,touseyours.Getmebackmyson,Ralph!"

           "Don’tworry,Meggie,we’llgethimback,thoughitmaynotbeveryquickly.TheLeftareinchargenow,andthey’reveryanti-Catholic.However,I’mnotwithoutfriendsinGreece,soitwillbedone.Letmestartthewheelsinmotionimmediately,anddon’tworry.HeisapriestoftheHolyCatholicChurch,we’llgethimback."

           Hishandhadgonetothebellcord,butMeggie’scoldlyfiercegazestilledit.

           "Youdon’tunderstand,Ralph.Idon’twantwheelssetinmotion.Iwantmysonback—notnextweekornextmonth,butnow!YouspeakGreek,youcangetvisasforyourselfandme,you’llgetresults.IwantyoutocometoGreecewithmenow,andhelpmegetmysonback."

           Therewasmuchinhiseyes:tenderness,compassion,shock,grief.Buttheyhadbecomethepriest’seyestoo,sane,logical,reasonable."Meggie,Iloveyoursonasifheweremyown,butIcan’tleaveRomeatthemoment.I’mnotafreeagent—youaboveallothersshouldknowthat.NomatterhowmuchImayfeelforyou,howmuchImayfeelonmyownaccount,Ican’tleaveRomeinthemidstofavitalcongress.IamtheHolyFather’saide."