Read Online Touch (1987) by Elmore Leonard - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elmore Leonard
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off at Zippy Printing and distributed at parish masses throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit, inviting Catholics to "Come to Saint John Bosco in Almont, the Seat of Traditional Catholic Worship." Pamphlets appeared with the titles:
WITHOUT TRADITIONS WHERE ARE WE?
WE WILL NOT ABANDON OUR TRUE FAITH.
WHY THE HOLY GHOST FLEW VATICAN II.
And August's favorite, WHY DO PRIESTS TODAY THINK THEY KNOW MORE THAN GOD?
The appeals brought them in gradually, a few dozen more traditionalists each week, until last Sunday August had estimated well over two hundred at the ten o'clock High Mass and Benediction. (Many commenting after that it'd been years since they had sung good old Genitoris and Tantum Ergo. And, boy, was it good to hear Latin again instead of those boring Protestant hymns.) They had also announced the dedication to be this coming Sunday and sent out invitations to parishioners, friends, and the press.
What August had to do now, with Father Nestor's help, was prepare a press release to be handed out after. "The Juvenal Story" or "The Miracle Worker"--something like that, basic information about Juvenal. Because if it worked out the way he hoped it would the newspapers would have to feature it on the front page and they'd be asking all kinds of questions.
Father Nestor--out of the lavatory, sitting across the desk from August--said, "Newspaper reporters will be there? You think so?"
"I know they will," August said, "because I'll be there and it happens that I'm news." He nodded to the paper on the desk. "I'm in there, aren't I? I staged a demonstration in court to make sure I'd be. Whatever I'm involved in is news. And what we're involved in together, specifically, what they refer to as church disunity and schism, that's news too. Reporters will be there, take my word. That's why I want to get this news release ready." August took the silver pen from his shirt pocket and released the point. "There're a few facts I don't think you told me, like where he was born, first."
"In Chicago," Father Nestor said. "You see, everyone who goes to Santarem is from the Chicago Province. Before I went, though, I served at Saint Paschal Friary in West Monroe, Louisiana, and also at Saint Joseph in Bastrop, Louisiana--"
August said, "Father, we're talking about Juvenal. His parents still live in Chicago?"
"He doesn't have parents that he knows of," Father Nestor said. "He lived in foster homes and at Our Lady of Mercy, a home for boys. You've heard of Father Kelly? He's dead now--"
"Father--" August began.
Father Nestor waved his hand at him. "All right, I know. He was at the home--let me see--he went to work at a hospital and shortly after that he entered the order."
"You were in Santarem a long time before he came--"
"It's pronounced Santareng," Father Nestor said. "Oh, yes, many years."
"So that you helped him along, showed him the ropes maybe?"
"No, you see I was at Sao Pio Decimo and he was, most of the time he was at Convento Sao Raimundo. Or, let me think, he may have been at Convento de Nossa Senhora Nazare."
"You knew him though."
"Yes, I met him. And we came home together on the same flight."
"Wait, first I want to stay down there."
"You want to go to Santarem?"
"No--no, I want to talk about the time you met him," August said, "when the miracles started, how it came about, and the first time you saw the blood."
"Wait," Father Nestor said. "I think I have to go to the toilet."
Chapter 8
JERRY SAID he'd close his eyes and see this guy coming right through the wall at him.
The man next to him said he saw these slimy things like lizards crawling all over the room and jumping on the bed and he'd scream and try and knock them off but they kept coming. Like lizards.
Jerry said this guy who came through the wall had a knife raised, ready to stab him with it.
Edith, Lynn's Big Sister, said, "I know, sometimes I've heard them screaming clear up on four."
Lynn stared at the wall, at the crucifix and the photograph
WITHOUT TRADITIONS WHERE ARE WE?
WE WILL NOT ABANDON OUR TRUE FAITH.
WHY THE HOLY GHOST FLEW VATICAN II.
And August's favorite, WHY DO PRIESTS TODAY THINK THEY KNOW MORE THAN GOD?
The appeals brought them in gradually, a few dozen more traditionalists each week, until last Sunday August had estimated well over two hundred at the ten o'clock High Mass and Benediction. (Many commenting after that it'd been years since they had sung good old Genitoris and Tantum Ergo. And, boy, was it good to hear Latin again instead of those boring Protestant hymns.) They had also announced the dedication to be this coming Sunday and sent out invitations to parishioners, friends, and the press.
What August had to do now, with Father Nestor's help, was prepare a press release to be handed out after. "The Juvenal Story" or "The Miracle Worker"--something like that, basic information about Juvenal. Because if it worked out the way he hoped it would the newspapers would have to feature it on the front page and they'd be asking all kinds of questions.
Father Nestor--out of the lavatory, sitting across the desk from August--said, "Newspaper reporters will be there? You think so?"
"I know they will," August said, "because I'll be there and it happens that I'm news." He nodded to the paper on the desk. "I'm in there, aren't I? I staged a demonstration in court to make sure I'd be. Whatever I'm involved in is news. And what we're involved in together, specifically, what they refer to as church disunity and schism, that's news too. Reporters will be there, take my word. That's why I want to get this news release ready." August took the silver pen from his shirt pocket and released the point. "There're a few facts I don't think you told me, like where he was born, first."
"In Chicago," Father Nestor said. "You see, everyone who goes to Santarem is from the Chicago Province. Before I went, though, I served at Saint Paschal Friary in West Monroe, Louisiana, and also at Saint Joseph in Bastrop, Louisiana--"
August said, "Father, we're talking about Juvenal. His parents still live in Chicago?"
"He doesn't have parents that he knows of," Father Nestor said. "He lived in foster homes and at Our Lady of Mercy, a home for boys. You've heard of Father Kelly? He's dead now--"
"Father--" August began.
Father Nestor waved his hand at him. "All right, I know. He was at the home--let me see--he went to work at a hospital and shortly after that he entered the order."
"You were in Santarem a long time before he came--"
"It's pronounced Santareng," Father Nestor said. "Oh, yes, many years."
"So that you helped him along, showed him the ropes maybe?"
"No, you see I was at Sao Pio Decimo and he was, most of the time he was at Convento Sao Raimundo. Or, let me think, he may have been at Convento de Nossa Senhora Nazare."
"You knew him though."
"Yes, I met him. And we came home together on the same flight."
"Wait, first I want to stay down there."
"You want to go to Santarem?"
"No--no, I want to talk about the time you met him," August said, "when the miracles started, how it came about, and the first time you saw the blood."
"Wait," Father Nestor said. "I think I have to go to the toilet."
Chapter 8
JERRY SAID he'd close his eyes and see this guy coming right through the wall at him.
The man next to him said he saw these slimy things like lizards crawling all over the room and jumping on the bed and he'd scream and try and knock them off but they kept coming. Like lizards.
Jerry said this guy who came through the wall had a knife raised, ready to stab him with it.
Edith, Lynn's Big Sister, said, "I know, sometimes I've heard them screaming clear up on four."
Lynn stared at the wall, at the crucifix and the photograph
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