"

    Heheldherhandthewholetime."IwasfiveyearsinNewOrleansattheSt.LouisCathedralbackwhenIwasfirstordained.FatherKarelHlinka.Yourehereforthefestival?"

    "Whatfestival?"Tessbrighteheprospect.

    "Pra?kéJaro.ThePragueSpringIionalMusicFestival."

    "Oh,no.Wekhingaboutthat."Sheleanedinandsaidinalow,fidentialvoice,"Wesnuckacrosstheborder."

    Hlinkalaughed,takingherremarkasajoke,andsheswiftlygedthesubject,askinghimabouthisAmeriexperiehecafelifeofNewOrleans.Astheychattedandlaughed,Iwentoutside,stoodinaertolightacigarette,andsideredthebluesmokecurlingtothesky.Thetwobloershadcircledback,thistimeleadingagroupofotherchildrengatheredfromthestreets.Likeastringofbirdsonatelephonewire,theystoodjustbeyoes,adozenheadspeekihelowwall.IcouldhearthembabblinginCzech,aphrasethatsoundedlikepodvr?enédítěpoppingupliketheleitmotifoftheirchatteringsong.Withaglamywife,whowasholdingFatherHlinkainraptattention,Istartedtowalkovertothechildren,whoscatteredlikepigeonswhenIcametooclose.TheyflewinagainwhenIshowedthemmybadranoff,laughingandscreaming,whenIturnedaround.WhenIsteppedoutsidethegate,Ifoundonegirlcbehindthewall.WespokeinGerman,andItoldhernottobeafraid.

    "Whyiseveryonerunningawayandlaughing?"

    "Shetoldustherewasadevilinthechurch."

    "ButIamnotadevil...justanAmeri."

    "Shesaidyouarefromthewoods.Afairy."

    Beyoownsstreets,theoldforestbristledwithlife."Therearen