suppose.”
“This is Father Christopher,” said Father Mateo, acknowledging his colleague. “Officer Howe.”
“We come as fast as we can,” said Elliot. “The whole system is overtaxed right now.”
“Yes, but how did we arrive here?” said Father Christopher. He held up a hand and snapped his fingers, though the gloves cut the sound. “What systems did we choose to invest in in the first place?”
Father Mateo said, “Officer Howe is here to help us.”
The older priest folded his arms. “I apologize, Officer. We have lost part of our flock, you understand. It’s been very painful.”
“Faith must be a comfort these days,” said Elliot. Platitudes had a time and a place, and never more so than during a crisis. They were the shared language of well-meaning strangers.
Father Christopher nodded as though Elliot had said something profound. “It’s difficult,” he said. “Our congregation could use some solace, but we’ve had to suspend regular services, of course.”
“The webcast seems like a good solution,” said Elliot.
Father Christopher nodded again and stepped aside to allow the younger priest to lead Elliot into the storeroom. The small space was lined with shelving along each wall.
“Our food cupboard,” Father Mateo said, raising a hand to indicate a level just below the full height of the shelves, as though it had at one time been nearly filled. Now there were just odd boxes of spaghetti, some cans that had rolled onto their sides, and a few spurned tins of Spam and sardines. “We always kept a bit on hand in case it was needed, then during the swine flu we thought it was a good idea to keep a little more. Just some emergency provisioning, so our congregation knew they had somewhere to turn.” Father Mateo clasped his hands together in what appeared to be a habitual gesture. “There are times when the Church can do what the government cannot.”
Elliot glanced at the door. “Was it kept locked?”
The priests looked at each other.
“No,” said Father Christopher. “The idea was that it was to be distributed as needed. We didn’t lock it because we received donations and requests at all hours.”
“You see, it had to be one of our parishioners,” said Father Mateo, drawing down his dark eyebrows as he shook his head. “Nobody else knows about it. And they must have been desperate.”
The older priest remained in the doorway of the empty room. “But is it theft if people are starving?”
“I understand,” said Elliot. “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing,” said Father Mateo. He spread out his hands, seeming bewildered. “Absolutely nothing. But it’s my duty to report the crime, is it not?” The younger, anguished priest appealed to the elder, who continued to observe Elliot with guarded concern.
“Officer,” said Father Christopher with emphasis, “there has been no robbery here. And certainly no looting, least of all.” He exchanged a worn-out glance with his colleague. “At least with divine law, you can be sure of mercy.”
Elliot nodded as he prepared to leave. He envied them their certainty.
NextExtinction.com/ForumHome/GeneralDiscussion/ARAMIS
HEPTOMCAT
User since: Sept 2001
Posts: 2083
Forum Level: Admin
Posted: November 11, 2020 at 9:18 a.m.
So the virus has finally landed in Denver. Three people sick, all members of the Chinese Evangelical Church. Surprise surprise. Looks like ARAMIS Girl paid us a visit. What I wouldn’t give to throw her ass in jail.
RAGECORPS
User since: Nov 2009
Posts: 4295
Forum Level: Elite
Posted: November 11, 2020 at 9:33 a.m.
ARAMIS Girl is just the start. Every organized military in the world has mastered hypnosis!! Going forward, you can bet that *INFECTED CIVILIANS* programmed for soft targets will be the weapon of choice for governments overfunded by the liberal snowflake agenda. Need any more proof than the To America With Love concert? Stay vigilant!
GRANTER
User since: July 2010
Posts: 19
Forum Level: Apprentice
Posted: November 11, 2020 at 10:17 a.m.
You guys should know better than to believe all that nonsense about ARAMIS Girl. The arrival and dissemination of the virus on American soil has been well documented. AG is not and has never even been speculated by the authorities to be Patient Zero.
HEPTOMCAT
User since: Sept 2001
Posts: 2084
Forum Level: Admin
Posted: November 11, 2020 at 10:46 a.m.
Oh please. As if you can believe the official story on these things. The left-wing media is so politically correct they’d never point the blame where it really belongs. Next they’ll be saying it was really a white man who was making everybody sick.
BLISTERBURN
User since: Jan 2014
Posts: 761
Forum Level: Sage
Posted: November