登陆注册
15468300000152

第152章 FIVE 1938-1953 FEE(15)

Archbishop Ralph tried not to smile; the boy had such dignity and self-possession, now he had lost his fear. Only what had frightened him? Not being found, or being locked in the basilica.

"Why were you so frightened, Rainer?"

The boy sipped his wine gingerly, looked up with a pleased expression. "Good, it's sweet." He made himself more comfortable. "I wanted to see Saint Peter's because the Sisters always used to talk about it and show us pictures. So when they posted us to Rome I was glad. We got here this morning. The minute I could, I came." He frowned. "But it wasn't as I had expected. I thought rd feel closer to Our Lord, being in His own Church. Instead it was only enormous and cold. I couldn't feel Him."

Archbishop Ralph smiled. "I know what you mean. But Saint Peter's isn't really a church, you know. Not in the sense most churches are. Saint Peter's is the Church. It took me a long time to get used to it, I remember." "I wanted to pray for two things," the boy said, nod-ding his head to indicate he had heard but that it wasn't what he wished to hear.

"For the things which frighten you?"

"Yes. I thought being in Saint Peter's might help."

"What are the things which frighten you, Rainer?" "That they'll decide I'm a Jew, and that my regiment will be sent to Russia after all."

"I see. No wonder you're frightened. Is there indeed a possibility they'll decide you're a Jew?"

"Well, look at me!" said the boy simply. "When they were writing down my particulars they said they'd have to check. I don't know if they can or not, but I suppose the Sisters might know more than they ever told me." "If they do, they'll not pass it on," said His Grace comfortingly. "They'll know why they're being asked."

"Do you really think so? Oh, I hope so!"

"Does the thought of having Jewish blood disturb you?" "What my blood is doesn't matter," said Rainer. "I was born a German, that's the only important thing."

"Only they don't look at it like that, do they?" "No."

"And Russia? There's no need to worry about Russia now, surely. You're in Rome, the opposite direction."

"This morning I heard our commander saying we might be sent to Russia after all. It isn't going well there."

"You're a child," said Archbishop Ralph abruptly. "You ought to be in school."

"I wouldn't be now anyway." The boy smiled. "I'm sixteen, so I'd be working." He sighed. "I would have liked to keep going to school. Learning is important."

Archbishop Ralph started to laugh, then got up and refilled the glasses. "Don't take any notice of me, Rainer. I'm not making any sense. Just thoughts, one after the other. It's my hour for them, thoughts. I'm not a very good host, am I?"

"You're all right," said the boy.

"So," said His Grace, sitting down again. "Define yourself, Rainer Moerling Hartheim."

A curious pride settled on the young face. "I'm a German, and a Catholic. I want to make Germany a place where race and religion won't mean persecution, and I'm going to devote my life to that end, if I live." "I shall pray for you-that you live, and succeed."

"Would you?" asked the boy shyly. "Would you really pray for me personally, by name?"

"Of course. In fact, you've taught me something. That in my business there is only one weapon at my disposal-prayer. I have no other function." "Who are you?" asked Rainer, the wine beginning to make him blink drowsily. "I'm Archbishop Ralph de Bricassart."

"Oh! I thought you were an ordinary priest!"

"I am an ordinary priest. Nothing more."

"I'll strike a bargain with you!" said the boy, his eyes sparkling. "You pray for me, Father, and if I live long enough to get what I want, I'll come back to Rome to let you see what your prayers have done."

The blue eyes smiled tenderly. "All right, it's a bargain. And when you come, I'll tell you what 1 think happened to my prayers." He got up. "Stay there, little politician. I'll find you something to eat."

They talked until dawn glowed round the domes and campaniles, and the wings of pigeons whirred outside the window. Then the Archbishop conducted his guest through the public rooms of the palace, watching his awe with delight, and let him out into the cool, fresh air. Though he didn't know it, the boy with the splendid name was indeed to go to Russia, carrying with him a memory oddly sweet and reassuring: that in Rome, in Our Lord's own Church, a man was praying for him every day, by name.

By the time the Ninth was ready to be shipped to New Guinea, it was all over bar the mopping up. Disgruntled, the most elite division in Australian military history could only hope there might be further glory to amass somewhere else, chasing the Japanese back up through Indonesia. Guadalcanal had defeated all Japanese hopes in the drive for Australia. And yet, like the Germans, they yielded bitterly, grudgingly. Though their resources were pitifully stretched, their armies foundering from lack of supplies and reinforcements, they made the Americans and the Australians pay for every inch they gained back. In retreat, the Japanese abandoned Buna, Gona, Salamaua, and slipped back up the north coast, to Lae and Finschafen.

On the fifth of September 1943 the Ninth Division was landed from the sea just east of Lae. It was hot, the humidity was 100 percent, and it rained every afternoon though The Wet wasn't due for another two full months. The threat of malaria meant everyone was taking Atabrine, and the little yellow tablets made everyone feel as sick as if they had the actual malaria. Already the constant moisture meant permanently damp boots and socks; feet were becoming spongy, the flesh between the toes raw and bloody. Mocka and mosquito bites turned angry, ulcerated.

同类推荐
  • The Rise of Roscoe Paine

    The Rise of Roscoe Paine

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 冬至后西湖泛舟看断

    冬至后西湖泛舟看断

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 唐愚士诗

    唐愚士诗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 东海文集

    东海文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 学古编

    学古编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 执剑江山

    执剑江山

    逆天而行的决绝,投身到这万丈红尘之中只因为前世仇恨的难解。执一把听雨剑从江湖再去朝堂,既然我回来了就是天翻地覆万劫不复。血雨腥风因我而起,如何?爱我就陪我倾覆这天下。等哪一日江山为聘,日月为礼,再来说爱我!“子卉,江山为聘,日月为礼,朕带着这万里河山,做我的皇后可好?”
  • 药中祠

    药中祠

    宋朝建隆年间,有李、解二家世代凤凰结鸾。传闻两家风水实则阳镇阴,阴奉阳。解家药馆除医病疗疾之外,暗地里更涉足焖药养蛊,驱怨化魂的行当。清朝宣统时突然举家销声匿迹,仅留下兰溪药馆流传至今。现代,李家后人收到无名邮寄,藏有陈旧的李家家谱和一尊玉面麝香像。同时郑州一小学底下发现大型古墓的新闻曝出。他攥着先人遗留的线索,向市内唯一一座设有中医药馆的大学城下走去.....新人探水,若有一定人数,会建群大家分享聊天。
  • 热血神战

    热血神战

    一颗坚强不屈的信念,一个执着超越的平凡。道路上坚辛万苦,努力争夺改变命运。苦,没有什么,累,没有什么,活着是为了向往传奇的人生,再苦再累只要敢付出,生活总有一日可变。少年不甘于平凡,不认于天命,他从此在战争学院开始……修为划分:灵力,脉境,玄境,灵境,武皇,天尊,圣战,战神
  • 三界玄皇

    三界玄皇

    三界浩瀚,有龙蛇混杂交错。凡界少年,闯天地逆天无惑。一块黑朴玉佩,系煞尊天经隐秘,将少年引入那精彩纷呈的浩淼世界。为求身世混沌迷,立毅通开玄窍,伴涅槃阴阳神卷,搅乱世而通天。脚踏蛟蛇尸,手举苍龙颅。且看天资少年以杀证道,直至炼玄之尊。【群号243376900,邀你开启至圣之旅。】
  • 极品皇妻:太子好奸诈

    极品皇妻:太子好奸诈

    穿越过来就背上了刺杀太子的罪名。一纸合约,刺客却成了准太子妃!身边接二连三出现的大帅哥让凌楚瑶根本找不到北。谁知,不是福气,却成了肉盾!不止差点被马踩死,还烧了护国寺!这可惊动了皇上,不过凌楚瑶就是有这个狗屎运,连皇上派来的使者都拿她没办法。美男左拥右抱,凌楚瑶睡觉都流口水!忽的一夜间,一个陌生人闯了进来,凌楚瑶这才忆起自己背后的组织以及自己的使命。面对心爱的人,面对自己的愁,国仇家恨,要怎么抉择?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 帝淼

    帝淼

    鉴沉沦万古,主一界沉浮。纵然天道无常,我亦君临,不朽!
  • 神弃之路

    神弃之路

    尼罗大陆,种族繁多,征战不断,传闻每万年皆会发生天变。老的神将要死去,降下神胎也就是神的候选人。看神的候选人如何在战火与鲜血杀出一条成神路,而一个忘记过去的小乞丐与老去的神的一次交集,这个被叫做神弃之体的孩子,又在成神的路上给人们带来怎么惊喜?而他又在模糊记忆里是否能找回自己失去的记忆?
  • 异世重生录

    异世重生录

    徐崇辉跟朋友一起出去玩,却因为一个意外而来到另一个世界。为了能够寻找回去的路,徐崇辉不断的变强
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 这就是末世吗

    这就是末世吗

    突如其来的末日让整个城市陷入了瘫痪,在这随时都会死亡的人间地狱,人性被无限的放大。贪婪,残暴,色欲,背弃……人们不单单要对付强大的怪物还要警觉周围的人,因为人……更加的恐怖!