Vampire$

But I am right, too, am I not, Lord?

Please, then, help me bear the loss of this brave one!

“When do you leave, my son?” the Man asked.

Felix shrugged and stood up. “As soon as your man comes. What is his name?”

“Father Francisco.”

“Yeah. Right.”

As if in answer, Father Francisco suddenly appeared, rushing out onto the terrace, bowing to kiss the Man’s ring, then breathlessly explaining his tardiness.

The Man assured him all was well. Felix did the same, shaking his hand. The young priest seemed relieved.

He also seemed a titan on earth.

He was over six-foot-five and weighed almost three hundred pounds, with enormous shoulders and thighs and a great bulging muscular neck.

Felix nodded pleasantly to him, then called the others together to go. Then he whispered to Francisco to go on ahead and turned back to the Man. His voice was almost a whisper.

“Father, Jack loved you, didn’t he?”

The Man hesitated, said, “Yes, he did.”

“He also hated you, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

There was a pause. The young man looked pained, looked reluctant, miserable. At last he sighed.

“I suppose I’ll start to hate you, too.”

The Man did not answer. What could he answer? Of course the young warrior would soon hate him.

And, of course, he would be correct.

Do not go! he wanted to say. But he could not say this. Stay and enjoy my gardens and the sunshine and your lives!

But he did not say this either.

Father, forgive me!

The crowd had gathered at the door to the terrace. More goodbyes were said. There were final smiles. A final embrace for the bride. Then it was time to go.

Cat, who had not yet met the towering Francisco, was impressed. He stared openly at the massive build, the great tree-trunk legs, and particularly at the bulging neck as wide as his own waist.

“What,” he asked suddenly, “is the Church’s position on steroids?”

“Never mind,” he added quickly to the cleric’s surprised face. “Come with me Francisco,” he said next, guiding the larger man through the door.

Then he stopped, looked up at him.

“Tell me, Father, can you drive a car?”

“Of course.”

“Good,” replied Cat and he started them through the door again and down the hall out of sight. “You can drive. Then, if it breaks down, you can carry it…”

Then they were all gone. Only the Man stood alone in his garden, smiling. Proud. Sad.

Oh, Sweet Savior, how you must love them…