p&c.brimstone-µÚ77½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
umiliation¡¡of¡¡her¡¡entire¡¡career¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡67¡¡
¡¡
¡¡A¡¡gunshot£»¡¡terribly¡¡loud£»¡¡sounded¡¡in¡¡D'Agosta's¡¡ear¡£¡¡It¡¡wasPendergast£»¡¡firing¡¡over¡¡the¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crowd¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡approaching¡£¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡back¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡crumpled¡¡figure¡¡at¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡looked¡¡quickly¡¡around¡¡him£»¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡fled¡£¡¡Monks¡¡in¡¡brown¡¡robes¡¡were¡¡clustered¡¡around¡¡their¡¡fallen¡¡brother£»¡¡some¡¡praying£»¡¡others¡¡crying¡¡out¡¡and¡¡gesticulating¡£¡¡
¡¡A¡¡number¡¡of¡¡monks¡¡were¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡£¡¨Da¡¡questa¡¡parte£¡¡¡¨¨¡¡scappato¡¡di¡¡l¨¤£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡Pendergast¡¡shot¡¡them¡¡a¡¡glance¡£¡¡¡¨Vincent£»¡¡after¡¡him£¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡had¡¡his¡¡cell¡¡phone¡¡out¡¡and¡¡was¡¡already¡¡calling¡¡for¡¡a¡¡medevac¡¡helicopter¡£¡¡
¡¡A¡¡monk¡¡leaped¡¡up¡¡and¡¡grasped¡¡D'Agosta's¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡help¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡broken¡¡English¡£¡¡¡¨Follow¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡They¡¡ran¡¡together¡¡through¡¡a¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡altar£»¡¡down¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡passageway¡¡and¡¡into¡¡an¡¡inner¡¡cloister£»¡¡then¡¡across¡¡its¡¡courtyard¡¡and¡¡through¡¡a¡¡second¡¡stone¡¡passageway¡¡that¡¡abruptly¡¡terminated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡face¡¡itself¡£¡¡Here¡¡they¡¡stopped¡£¡¡A¡¡lateral¡¡passage¡¡crossed¡¡their¡¡path£»¡¡arches¡¡and¡¡pillars¡¡carved¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡living¡¡stone¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨He¡¡went¡¡this¡¡way¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡raced¡¡down¡¡the¡¡ancient£»¡¡frescoed¡¡corridor¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡iron¡¡door¡¡at¡¡its¡¡end£»¡¡hanging¡¡ajar£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡threw¡¡it¡¡wide¡£¡¡Sunlight¡¡flooded¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡passage¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡through¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡and¡¡into¡¡open¡¡air¡£¡¡A¡¡dizzying¡¡stone¡¡staircase¡¡fell¡¡away¡¡below¡¡them£»¡¡carved¡¡directly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡face£»¡¡no¡¡protection¡¡from¡¡a¡¡breathtaking¡¡drop¡¡save¡¡for¡¡a¡¡rotten¡¡iron¡¡railing¡£¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡leaned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡face£»¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡the¡¡railing¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡vertigo¡¡overwhelmed¡¡him¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡glimpsed¡¡the¡¡red¡suited¡¡figure¡¡below£»¡¡scrambling¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡pathway¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨Eccolo£¡¡¨The¡¡monk¡¡resumed¡¡the¡¡chase£»¡¡robes¡¡flapping¡¡behind¡¡him¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡followed¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡he¡¡dared£º¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡were¡¡so¡¡polished¡¡by¡¡time£»¡¡so¡¡damp¡¡with¡¡humidity£»¡¡they¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡slippery¡¡as¡¡ice¡£¡¡The¡¡staircase¡¡was¡¡old¡¡and¡¡disused£»¡¡so¡¡eroded¡¡in¡¡places¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡step¡¡over¡¡yawning¡¡blue¡¡space¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡where¡¡he's¡¡headed£¿¡¨¡¡D'Agosta¡¡asked¡¡between¡¡gasps¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨To¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡below¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡The¡¡stairway¡¡leveled¡¡off¡¡briefly£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡moved¡¡slowly¡¡over¡¡another¡¡gap¡£¡¡The¡¡iron¡¡railing¡¡had¡¡rotted¡¡away¡¡at¡¡this¡¡spot£»¡¡and¡¡rough¡¡handholds¡¡were¡¡their¡¡only¡¡protection¡£¡¡A¡¡stiff£»¡¡cold¡¡wind¡¡buffeted¡¡them¡£¡¡
¡¡A¡¡shot¡¡rang¡¡out¡¡from¡¡below¡£¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡slipped£»¡¡clutched¡¡at¡¡a¡¡handhold£»¡¡scrambled¡¡to¡¡regain¡¡his¡¡balance¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡pressed¡¡himself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡face¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡pletely¡¡exposed£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡help£»¡¡unable¡¡even¡¡to¡¡move¡¡forward¡£¡¡With¡¡both¡¡hands¡¡clutching¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡even¡¡unholster¡¡his¡¡gun¡£¡¡
¡¡Another¡¡shot¡¡rang¡¡out¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡spray¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡slash¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡Glancing¡¡down£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out¡¡the¡¡killer¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡farther¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stairway£»¡¡pointing¡¡his¡¡handgun¡¡directly¡¡at¡¡them¡£¡¡
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡help¡¡for¡¡it£º¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡just¡¡stand¡¡here£»¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡get¡¡shot¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡let¡¡go¡¡with¡¡one¡¡hand£»¡¡desperately¡¡bracing¡¡himself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡edge¡¡with¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡his¡¡knees£»¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡out¡¡his¡¡gun¡£¡¡Aiming¡¡as¡¡best¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡he¡¡fired¡¡once£»¡¡twice¡£¡¡
¡¡Two¡¡close¡¡shots£»¡¡missing¡¡by¡¡inches¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡and¡¡ducked¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡¡below¡£¡¡Meanwhile£»¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡had¡¡recovered¡¡and¡¡moved¡¡on¡¡to¡¡a¡¡safer¡¡spot¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡slipping£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡his¡¡gun¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨A¡¡me£¡¡¨said¡¡the¡¡monk¡£¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡tossed¡¡him¡¡the¡¡Glock£»¡¡which¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡deftly¡¡caught¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡himself¡¡back¡¡into¡¡position¡¡and¡¡leaped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡gap¡£¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡got¡¡to¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side£»¡¡another¡¡shot¡¡rang¡¡out¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨Down£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡They¡¡crouched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡walkway£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡feeble¡¡cover¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡projecting¡¡rock¡£¡¡Another¡¡shot£»¡¡another¡¡spray¡¡of¡¡rock¡£¡¡
¡¡Christ£»¡¡thought¡¡D'Agosta£»we're¡¡pinned¡¡¡£¡¡Unable¡¡to¡¡move¡¡forward£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡return¡¡fire¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡handed¡¡him¡¡his¡¡gun¡£¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡slid¡¡out¡¡the¡¡magazine£»¡¡checked¡¡it¡£¡¡Eight¡¡rounds¡¡left¡£¡¡He¡¡slapped¡¡it¡¡back¡¡in¡¡place¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨When¡¡I¡¡shoot£»¡¡you¡¡go¡£Capisci£¿¡¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡nodded¡£¡¡
¡¡In¡¡one¡¡motion£»¡¡D'Agosta¡¡rose£»¡¡aimed£»¡¡squeezed¡¡off¡¡a¡¡string¡¡of¡¡suppressing¡¡fire£»¡¡just¡¡clipping¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡behind¡¡which¡¡the¡¡shooter¡¡was¡¡crouching£»¡¡keeping¡¡him¡¡down£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡scrambled¡¡across¡¡the¡¡open¡¡section¡¡of¡¡trail£»¡¡finding¡¡good¡¡cover¡¡at¡¡the¡¡far¡¡end¡¡where¡¡the¡¡pathway¡¡once¡¡again¡¡began¡¡to¡¡descend¡¡a¡¡crude¡¡staircase¡£¡¡
¡¡Magazine¡¡spent£»¡¡D'Agosta¡¡ducked¡¡back¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡rocky¡¡projection¡£¡¡He¡¡slapped¡¡in¡¡his¡¡spare¡¡magazine£»¡¡then¡¡ran¡¡across¡¡the¡¡open¡¡area¡¡until¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡and¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡the¡¡staircase£»¡¡pausing¡¡to¡¡peer¡¡over¡¡a¡¡rocky¡¡wall¡£¡¡The¡¡shooter¡¡was¡¡nowhere¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡£¡¡
¡¡Quickly£»¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡resumed¡¡the¡¡pursuit£»¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡at¡¡his¡¡heels¡£¡¡Down¡¡and¡¡down¡¡they¡¡descended¡¡until£»¡¡quite¡¡suddenly£»¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bottom¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small¡¡vineyard¡¡here¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliff¡£¡¡Beyond¡¡rose¡¡a¡¡dense¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡forest¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨Which¡¡way£¿¡¨¡¡D'Agosta¡¡asked¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡gone¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡We'll¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡took¡¡off¡¡again£»¡¡half¡¡crouching£»¡¡down¡¡the¡¡row¡¡of¡¡vines¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡Within¡¡moments£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡the¡¡cathedral¡like¡¡trunks¡¡surrounding¡¡them£»¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡smelling¡¡of¡¡resin¡¡and¡¡cold£»¡¡stretching¡¡ahead¡¡into¡¡darkness¡£¡¡D'Agosta¡¡scanned¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡indication¡¡of¡¡footsteps¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡pine¡¡needles¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡have¡¡any¡¡idea¡¡which¡¡way¡¡he¡¡went£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨Not¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¡Need¡¡dogs¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¨Does¡¡the¡¡monastery¡¡have¡¡dogs£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¨We¡¡can¡¡call¡¡the¡¡police¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡The¡¡monk¡¡shrugged¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¨Takes¡¡time¡£¡¡For¡¡dogs£»¡¡two£»¡¡three¡¡days¡¡maybe¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡forest¡£¡¡¡¨Shit¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡Back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡chapel£»¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡remained¡¡one¡¡of¡¡confusion¡£¡¡Pendergast¡¡was¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡the¡¡prostrate¡¡form¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monk£»¡¡applying¡¡heart¡¡massage¡¡and¡¡artificial¡¡respiration¡£¡¡Several¡¡of¡¡the¡¡monks¡¡were¡¡kneeling¡¡in¡¡a¡¡half¡circle£»¡¡apparently¡¡led¡¡by¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡order£»¡¡others¡¡were¡¡standing¡¡well¡¡back£»¡¡murmuring¡¡in¡¡low£»¡¡shocked¡¡tones¡£¡¡As¡¡D'Agosta¡¡walked¡¡across¡¡the¡¡chapel£»¡¡utterly¡¡winded£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡beat¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chopper¡£¡¡
¡¡He¡¡knelt¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the¡¡old¡¡priest's¡¡frail¡¡hand¡£¡¡The¡¡man's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡closed£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡gray¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡background£»¡¡the¡¡steady¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡prayers¡¡continued£»¡¡soothing¡¡in¡¡its¡¡measured¡¡cadence¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡he's¡¡suffered¡¡a¡¡heart¡¡attack£»¡¨¡¡Pendergast¡¡said£»¡¡pressing¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡chest¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡trauma¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gunshot¡¡wound¡£¡¡Still£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡medevac¡¡arriving£»¡¡he¡¡might¡¡be¡¡saved¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡Suddenly¡¡the¡¡monk¡¡coughed¡£¡¡A¡¡hand¡¡fluttered¡¡and¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡opened£»¡¡staring¡¡directly¡¡at¡¡Pendergast¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨Padre£»¡¨said¡¡Pendergast£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡low¡¡and¡¡calm£»¡¨mi¡¡dica¡¡la¡¡confessione¡¡pi¨´¡¡terribile¡¡che¡¡lei¡¡ha¡¡mai¡¡sentito¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡The¡¡eyes£»¡¡so¡¡wise¡¡and¡¡so¡¡close¡¡to¡¡death£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡all¡£¡¨Un¡¡ragazzo¡¡Americano¡¡che¡¡ha¡¡fatto¡¡un¡¡patto¡¡con¡¡il¡¡diavolo£»¡¡ma¡¡l'ho¡¡salvato£»¡¡l'ho¡¡sicuramente¡¡salvato¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡sighed£»¡¡smiled£»¡¡then¡¡closed¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡took¡¡one¡¡long£»¡¡final£»¡¡shuddering¡¡breath¡£¡¡
¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡the¡¡paramedics¡¡burst¡¡in¡¡with¡¡a¡¡transport¡¡stretcher¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡eruption¡¡of¡¡furious¡¡activity¡¡as¡¡they¡¡worked¡¡to¡¡stabilize¡¡the¡¡victim£º¡¡one¡¡attached¡¡a¡¡cardiac¡¡monitor¡¡while¡¡another¡¡relayed¡¡the¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡vitals¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hospital¡¡and¡¡received¡¡orders¡¡in¡¡return¡£¡¡The¡¡stretcher¡¡was¡¡rushed¡¡back¡¡out¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡within¡¡seconds¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡helicopter¡¡was¡¡receding¡¡again¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡over¡£¡¡The¡¡church¡¡seemed¡¡suddenly¡¡empty£»¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡incense¡¡drifting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡the¡¡steady¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡prayer¡¡adding¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡note¡¡of¡¡peace¡¡to¡¡a¡¡most¡¡shocking¡¡act¡¡of¡¡violence¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨He¡¡got¡¡away£»¡¨¡¡D'Agosta¡¡gasped¡£¡¡
¡¡Pendergast¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡his¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡sorry£»¡¡Vincent¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¨What¡¡did¡¡you¡¡say¡¡to¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡just¡¡now£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡Pendergast¡¡hesitated¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡to¡¡recall¡¡the¡¡most¡¡terrible¡¡confession¡¡he'd¡¡ever¡¡heard¡£¡¡He¡¡said¡¡it¡¡was¡¡from¡¡a¡¡boy¡an¡¡American¡¡boy¡who¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡pact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡devil¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡felt¡¡revulsion¡¡constrict¡¡his¡¡stomach¡£¡¡So¡¡it¡¡was¡¡true£»¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡really¡¡true¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¨He¡¡added¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡certainly¡¡saved¡¡the¡¡boy's¡¡soul¡£¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡heknew¡¡he'd¡¡saved¡¡his¡¡soul¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡D'Agosta¡¡had¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡down¡£¡¡He¡¡hung¡¡his¡¡head¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡still¡¡breathing¡¡hard£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡Pendergast¡£¡¡¡¨Yeah¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡about¡¡the¡¡other¡¡three£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡68¡¡
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡Reverend¡¡Buck¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡inside¡¡his¡¡tent£»¡¡the¡¡beams¡¡ofbright¡¡morning¡¡sun¡¡slanting¡¡through¡¡the¡¡door¡¡net¡¡and¡¡setting¡¡the¡¡canvas¡¡walls¡¡ablaze¡£¡¡Everybody¡¡in¡¡camp¡¡was¡¡still¡¡keyed¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡showdown¡¡with¡¡the¡¡police£»¡¡still¡¡abuzz¡¡with¡¡energy¡£¡¡Buck¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡same¡¡energy¡¡coursing¡¡through¡¡his¡¡being¡£¡¡The¡¡passion¡¡and¡¡belief¡¡of¡¡his¡¡followers¡¡had¡¡astonished£»¡¡had¡¡heartened¡¡him¡£¡¡Clearly£»¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡God¡¡was¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡With¡¡God£»¡¡anything¡¡was¡¡possible¡£¡¡
¡¡The¡¡problem¡¡was£»¡¡the¡¡police¡¡would¡¡not¡¡rest¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡act¡¡decisively£»¡¡and¡¡act¡¡soon¡£¡¡His¡¡moment¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡arrive£º¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡had¡¡e¡¡so¡¡far£»¡¡worked¡¡so¡¡hard£»¡¡to¡¡fulfill¡£¡¡
¡¡Butwhat¡¡moment£¿¡¡And¡¡how£»¡¡exactly£»¡¡would¡¡he¡¡fulfill¡¡it£¿¡¡
¡¡The¡¡question¡¡had¡¡been¡¡growing¡¡within¡¡him£»¡¡gnawing¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡days¡¡now¡£¡¡At¡¡first£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡just¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡voice£»¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡disquiet¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡it¡¡never¡¡left¡¡him£»¡¡despite¡¡his¡¡praying¡¡and¡¡fasting¡¡and¡¡penitence¡£¡¡God's¡¡path¡¡was¡¡unclear£»¡¡His¡¡wishes¡¡mysterious¡£¡¡
¡¡Yet¡¡again¡¡he¡¡bowed¡¡his¡¡head¡¡in¡¡prayer£»¡¡asking¡¡God¡¡to¡¡show¡¡him¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡
¡¡Outside£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡background£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡excited¡¡hum¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡conversations¡£¡¡He¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡listen¡£¡¡Everybody¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡the¡¡aborted¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡arrest¡¡