"Eric Flint - Grantville Gazette - Vol 7" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

Adolph Wise S.J.
(and 12 other witnesses.)

Father Nicholas Smithson lowered the letter, and looked at Father Andrew White, his superior in the
Society of Jesus. "Do you believe this, Father Andrew?"
"It does not matter what I believe, Nicholas. The Father General of the Society may or may not
believe it, but he has indicated it shall be treated as fact until it is proved otherwise."
"So be it. What the Father General orders shall be done." Nicholas nodded, then pursed his lips.
"This is all very interesting, Father, but why is this letter here in London, and why are you discussing it
with a humble parish priest?"
Father Andrew smiled. "Read the letter again. Paying particular attention to the skills of the workmen
and the request made by Father Adolph."
When Nicholas set the letter down again, he was stunned. He could feel that his eyes were wide. He
opened his mouth a time or two, but nothing came out. Finally, he coughed. "They have chosen me?"
"Aye, Nicholas." Father Andrew was sympathetic. "You are the son of a jeweler, trained in his craft,
who is also a Jesuit. You are the very man that Father Adolph has called for."
"But . . . but what of my parish? Who will serve Mass, and catechism, and the rites to those hidden
members of the true church if I leave?"
"My son." Father Andrew stood and walked to the window to stare out at the busy evening London
street scene. "The situation in LondonтАФindeed, in all EnglandтАФgrows ever grimmer. Despite the fact
that King Charles at one time did seem disposed to provide some little relief to those who follow Rome,
since the advent of Grantville he is of no mind to tolerate dissent of any kind, even from priests. I am
afraid he sees gunpowder under every chair. It may well be that we are returning to the dark times we
walked under during Elizabeth's reign."
Turning back to the room, the older priest leaned against the window sill. "Nicholas, I do not doubt
your courage. I am aware that if a martyr's crown called, you would respond willingly. The society has
many brave, fervent men who can and will serve as priests in the darkness of London, perhaps to
become martyrs if God so wills. But you, you are best suited to another task. You are called to a
different work."
Nicholas sat quietly, staring at the hands folded in his lap. There was only one decision he could
make, as much as he might desire otherwise. When he accepted that, peace descended. When he finally
raised his head to look at Father Andrew, he felt calm.
"Adsum, Domine. Here am I, Lord."
***
For when the lightning lightens, the thunder utters its voice, and the spirit
enforces a pause during the peal.
(Apocrypha, The Book of Enoch 60:15)

John Grover, head of Voice of America and de facto head of radio communications in the USE,
rubbed his eyes and massaged his aching temples. This weeks' staff meeting hadn't gone any better than
the previous meetings had gone. Oh, they were making progress on the mundane stuff, things that just
needed the application of some brute force and some material, like putting up lightning arresters and
lightning rods in various locations in town. Likewise, those issues that just required the application of
money were going pretty well; witness the report of the purchase of two more video cameras and the
completion of the second studio setup.
Even the weekly Murphy report, detailing the things that had gone inexplicably wrongтАФsuch as the
episode where someone took a glass of water into the studio and inadvertently poured it into the primary
beta recorder, or the Marine radio man who for some unknown-but-very-stupid reason elected to save
his rifle and powder instead of the radio when he fell into a creekтАФwasn't too bad. Every Murphy
incident caused rules and procedures to either be amended or created. But the ability of people and