Weehechurchtostealdles.Eveninthedeadofnight,theslateandglassbuildingasserteditsprominenai.Boundbyanironfehechurchhadbeenlaidoutintheshapeofacross,andnomatterhoroachedit,thesymbolswereinescapable.Hugechestnutdoorsatthetopofadozensteps,mosaitheBibleiained-glasswindowsreflegmoonlight,parapetshidingangelslurkiheroof—thewholeedifiedlikeashipthatthreateosusaswedrewnear.Smaolach,SpedIcreptthroughthegraveyardadjattotheeasternarmofthechurdpoppedinthroughasidedoorthatthepriestsleftunlocked.Thelongrowsofpewsandthevaultedceiliedaspacethat,inthedarkness,presseddownonus;itsemptinesshadweightandsubstanceoureyesadjusted,however,thechurchdidnotseemassm.Thethreateningsizediminished,andthehighwallsandarchedceilingsreachedoutasiftoembraceus.Wesplitup,SmaoladSpesearchofthelargerdlesinthesacristytht,Itofindthesmallervotivedlesinanalcoveohersideofthealtar.Afleetingpresenceseemedtofollowmealoarrail,andarealdreadroseinsideme.Inawroughtironstand,dozensofdlesstoodlikelinesofsoldiersinglasscups.AboxrattledwithpennieswhenItappedmynailsagainstitsmetalfadspentmatcheslitteredtheemptyspaces.Istruewmatchagainsttheroughplate,andasmallflameeruptedlikeafingersnap.Atonce,Iregrettedthefire,forIlookedupandsawawomansfacestaringdownatme.Ishookoutthelightandcrouchedbeherail,hopingtobeinvisible.

    Panidfearleftasquicklyastheyhade,andwhatamazesmenowishowmuchflowsthroughthemindinsuchashortspae.WhenIsawhereyeslookingdownonme,Iremembered:thewomaninred,mysates,thepeopleintown,thepeopleinchurch,Christmas,Easter,Hall