worry,baby,"ItoldheriJamesBond."Ivegotalisetokill."Irolledoverontopofher,andwedidourbesttoliveforthedanger.

    Wakinglatethem,wehurriedovertothegrandoldChurchofSt.Nicholas,arrivinglateforaMassinCzedLatin.healtarsatafewelderlywomen,rosariesdrapedintheirfoldedhands,andsprinkledhere,smallfamiliessatinclumps,dazedandwaryassheep.Attheentranceway,twomenindarksuitsmayhavebeenwatgus.Itriedtosingalongwiththehymns,butIcouldonlyfakethewords.WhileIdidnotuandtheservice,itsritesandritualsmirroredthoselong-agoMasseswithmymother—isabovedles,richvestmentsofthepriestsandpristiarboys,therhythmofstanding,kneeling,sitting,asecrationheraldedbythehells.AlthoughIkhenitwasjustaromanticfolly,IcouldpicturemyformerselfdoneupinSundayclothesbesideheronthepewwithmyrelut,sighingfatherawinssquirmingintheirskirts.Whatstruckmemostofallwastheanmusitheloftabove,casglikeariveroverrocks.

    Astheparishioed,theystoppedtoshareafewwordsamongthemselvesandtogreetthewizenedprieststandinginthebrightsunshinebeyondthedoor.Ablondegirlturohernearlyidenticalsisterandpoious,whisperedinhisear,aheyranhandinhandfromthechurch.TessandIliakingintheelaboratestatuesofMaryandSt.Nicholasflankirandwewerethefinalpairtoleavethebuilding.WhenTessheldoutherhandtothepriest,shefoundherselfcapturedinhisgraspanddrawncloser.

    "Thankyouforing,"hesaid,thenturome,astrangelookinhiseyes,asifheknewmyhistory."AndGodblessyou,myson."

    Tessbrokeintoabeatifi."Ylishisperfect.HowdidyouknowweareAmeris?