osuchthingsasfairies."

    Thegirlstoodupandfacedme,handsonherhips."Idontbelieveyou,"shesaid,andturoraceofftoherpanions.Istoodtherewatghergo,mymindtwistedinknots,worriedthatIhadmadeamistake.Butwehadetoofarformethtenedbymerechildrenorthethreatofthepoliaway,theywerenodifferentfromotherpeople.Suspiwasasedskinforme,aperfectlycapableofhidisfromeveryone.

    Tessbouhroughthegatesandfouhesidewalk."Howwouldyoulikeaprivatetour,baby?"

    FatherHlinkawasatherside."FrauDaytellsmethatyouareamusi,aposer.Youmusttryoutthepipeanhere.BestinCheb."

    Ihighabovethechurch,Isatatthekeyboard,theemptypewsstretgoutbeforeme,thegiltaltar,theenormouscrucifix,andplayedlikeamanpossessed.Toworkthefoolpedalsaherighttonefromthemassivean,Ihadtorodthrowmyweightagainstthemae,butonceIfiguredoutitsplexitiesofstopsandbellowsandwasintheflowofthemusic,itbecameakindofdance.IperformedasimplepietheBerceusebyLouisVierne,andforthefirsttimeinyearsfeltmyselfagain.WhileIlaying,Ibecameathingapart,notawareofanyoneoranythingelsebutthemusic,whifusedmelikehotidfellovermelikewondrousstrangesnow.FatherHlinkaandTesssatinthegallerywithme,watgmyhandsmove,myheadbob,andlistehemusic.

    Wheiredoftheviolentsound,Tesskissedmycheekandwandereddowaircasetolookovertherestofthechurch.Alohthepriest,IquicklybroachedthereasonformyvisittoCheb.ItoldhimofmyreseartofamilyhistoryandhowthelibrarianbaFrankfurthadadvisedmetocheckthechurchrecords,fortherewaslittlehopeofgettingaccesstothetralgoverarchive