Was it the priest? Was there anyone at these churches other than the priests on the off-hours? Ropati did a once-over of Mr. Brennan’s frock, trying to remember how the swearing ‘priest’ had been dressed.

Maybe not. He had been in mostly white rather than mostly black.

“I apologize, I am mistaken.”

Little did he know.

There was a sympathetic look Brennan’s way when he mentioned his disorientation. He hated so much as stepping on the ramp of a boat himself.

“I don’t envy you,” Ropati said. “Hopefully the next trip isn’t so bad.”

Priests were always getting moved around, right?

He was sure that he minded.

“Not at all, not at all,” were the friendly words that came out instead, and he held his hands out. “Here, let me take that.”

He was kind of wary this wilting lily might expire under the weight of his own luggage.