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Epilogue: Teaardens had not spoken in some time

"Are you well?" the man asked hi away

"I was just thinking It’s never going to end, is it?"

The man was silent What could he answer?

For, of course, it would not end Not for this planet It would end for this brave young soul seated beside hiedies

For the " with hi to "deal" with anyone, save heads of state He had enjoyed it i he wanted One dozen priests, recruited fro, all brave, all devoted He had gotten the bishop he had demanded, an American-born bishop, who even noaited for them in Brazil, where the Team would first train for a month

There was a happy peal of laughter and both turned to the source

Several of the sisters had co with the poverty vows, of course, but the Man believed every single sister in Roed to coht the Man, seeing her proud display

There was another peal of laughter, and then a wicked squeal, as the other young American, the one called Cat, made a co off-color once again, thought the Man

But even in this he was glad, for this one had been such a thin and shallow scarecrow of a soul when first he had arrived, uncertain, unbelieving - suspicious of all save his leader

But now look at him! How he smiles and jokes and how devoted are he and Davette! Hard to believe they were not brother and sister

The Man glanced again at Felix, as still watching the show

He was right not to tell his friend about Jack

He was right about ," said Felix suddenly, almost shyly

The Man nodded It was an ancient stone, three hundred years in the Vatican treasury being dusted Now it shone on a bride’s finger, as it should

"And thanks," added Felix, withus"

The Man smiled "It was our pleasure," he said sincerely

And it truly had been His aides had not understood his enjoyment, for Felix had, at the last second, refused to be converted to the Church To everyone’s amazement, the Man had waived the requirement and had performed the ceremony personally

He had, heAmerican’s stubborn "point of honor" And he would sht of it

What was that Anant"?

For the young warrior was converted He sie of a terrace door, eyeing him expectantly The Man knehat he wanted, to remind him of his scheduled duties for that day But the Man did not wish to go until the others did This was their last day, their last hours, in his personal care And

And do I fear I will never see theo?

But no He could not help theht He could not tell the world what he - and they, and the victi warrior He had tried, telling hi, hard journey of the Mother Church, of the awful tragedy if they should return, or even be perceived to be returning, to those dark, Dark Ages

For there were not many vampires There were not And soon, with the power of world knowledge, there would be none And that would, as the young warrior had insisted, be a great goodness

But what then? When every priest felt emboldened and e of the witch hunts of other authorities, once the boundaries of law had been "teht for the victirieve for the excesses ofthe Beast’s business for hi warrior’s ears been deaf "Scapegoat" and "guinea pig" had been his bitter terht, too, am I not, Lord?