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“Is this a Christian church?” I said

“How dare you ask!”

“Don’t you think, at a ht show mercy?”

“Mercy!?” cried the Reverend “He broke into our service, yelling, ‘I away!’ He ran to the stage to display his wounds He ive? There was shock and alation may never come back If they tell, if the newspapers call, you see? He hasstock Your friend!”

“My friend—” but my voice lacked luster as I climbed up to stand by the ham Shakespearean actor

“J C,” I called, as across an abyss

J C’s eyes, fixed on eternity, blinked, refocused

“Oh, hello, junior,” he said “What’s going on?”

“Going on?!” I cried “You’ve just made yourself one helluva mess!”

“Oh, no, no!” J C suddenly sahere he was and held up his hands He stared as if soain? Did they follow? I’ a bottle?”

I patted my pockets as if I carried such itelance at the Reverend, ith a burst of invective scuttled behind the throne and shoved some red wine at me

J C lunged, but I grabbed and held it as lure

“This way Then the cork comes out”

“You would dare talk to Christ like that!”

“You would dare to be Christ!?” cried the Reverend