H2

H2

She wrote KLAUS HANSEN, APOSTLE, JAN. 20, 1943 and turned the book for his inspection and signature. When he was done, Robyn applied her initials.

Looking at all the recently entries she said, "I just had a sudden image of someone in 2043 reading this and wondering what it must have been like, this whole sudden flurry."

Hansen said, "The Reformed Church is gathering this morning to meet down at our own temple. Will you meet with them, Prophet Shybear, and affirm our schism has reached an end?"

"I will."

"And I would have them meet the new Deacon. One of our parishoners passed away. I would have the Deacon perform the Last Rites."

Dory was incredulous. "The Last Rites in that barn?"

"It would do much to bring healing between the Red and White Wings of the Church," Bergin put in.

"Can it not wait a week until Gabriel can perform the Last Rites properly in the actual Temple?" asked Robyn.

"It has already been two weeks," replied Hansen, "and the corpse is beginning to grow . . . unpresentable."

Robyn nodded her head. "We should do it, Gabe. Everything leads up to a blank wall for me. But the Lord showed us that we always need to trust God with the faith of a little child and when it is necessary we should take that leap into the dark."

"I'm glad I don't have to see it," said Dory.

"You wouldn't be much welcome down there anyway," said Paul.

"I have to retrieve the Golden Gift," Gabriel said, "and I would not have our former Deacon Paul Bergin know where I keep it, as he is no longer an officer of the Church."

Paul said, "This is not a problem. I can drive the Prophet to our own temple, and Apostle Hansen can bring you along in his own truck after you fetch the Relic."

To this Robyn and Gabriel agreed, and they shared a farewell kiss before they parted, knowing that it was indeed farewell.