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"Mayor, could your black Irish laborers cook one more day in hellfire?"

"I'd turn and baste them for you, Father"

Father Peregrine nodded to the hills "Then that's where we'll go"

There was a murmur from everyone

"It would be so sio into town I prefer to think that if the Lord walked here and people said, 'Here is the beaten path,' He would reply, 'Show me the weeds I willmake a path'"

"But----"

"Father Stone, think hoould weigh upon us if we passed sinners by and did not extend our hands"

"But globes of fire!"

"I iine man looked funny to other animals e first appeared Yet he has a soul, for all his homeliness Until we prove otherwise, let us assume that these fiery spheres have souls"

"All right," agreed the mayor, "but you'll be back to town"

"We'll see First, some breakfast Then you and I, Father Stone, alk alone into the hills I don't want to frighten those fiery Martians with machines or crowds Shall we have breakfast?"

The Fathers ate in silence

At nightfall Father Peregrine and Father Stone were high in the hills They stopped and sat upon a rock to enjoy aThe Martians had not as yet appeared and they both felt vaguely disappointed

"I wonder----" Father Peregrine ht answer?"

"Father Peregrine, won't you ever be serious?"