rouses mine, too, Brother.â
Brother Heart looked as though he wanted to pursue the subject but didnât dare pry into Sister Blessingâs affairs or state of mind. âWell, Iâll go now and make breakfast. I have the fire lit, wonât take a minute to boil some eggs for the two of us.â
âWhy will there just be two of us?â
Brother Heartâs pudgy face turned pink. âIt will be more peaceful without Sister Contrition around, sheâs the regular cook. Oh, but that womanâs a devil in the morning. Sour, thereâs nothing worse than a woman gone sour.â
By the time Quinn finished dressing and went over to the dining room, Brother of the Steady Heart had breakfast waitÂing on the table, boiled eggs and bread and jam. He continued the conversation as if it hadnât been interrupted: âIn my day, the ladies didnât own such sharp tongues. They were quiet-spoken and fragile, and had small, delicate feet. Have you noticed what big feet the women have around here?â
âNot particularly.â
âAlas, they have. Very large, flat feet.â
For all his barber-shop chattiness, Brother Heart seemed nervous. He barely touched his food and he kept glancing over his shoulder as if he expected someone to sneak up on him.
Quinn said, âWhy the big hurry to get rid of me before the others are up?â
âWell, now. Well, I wouldnât exactly put it that way.â
âI would.â
âIt has nothing to do with you personally, Mr. Quinn. Itâs just, well, you might call it a precautionary measure.â
âI might, if I knew what you were talking about.â
Brother Heart hesitated for a moment, biting his underlip as though it itched to talk. âI suppose thereâs no harm in telling you. It concerns Sister Contritionâs oldest child, Karma. Last time the truck was going to the city the girl hid in the back, under some burlap sacks. Brother Crown of Thorns drove halfway to San Felice before he discovered her. The burlap made her sneeze. Karma went to school for a while, it filled her head with bad ideas. She wants to leave here and find work in the city.â
âAnd thatâs not possible?â
âOh no, no. The child would be lost in the city. Here at least she is poor among poor.â
The sun was beginning to rise and a faint rosy glow filled the skylight. From the invisible Tower came the sound of the gong, and almost immediately Sister Blessing hurried in the door. âThe truck is ready, Mr. Quinn. You mustnât keep Brother Crown of Thorns waiting. Here, let me have your coat and Iâll give it a good brushing.â
Quinn had already brushed it but he gave it to her anyway. She took it outside and made a few swipes at it with her hand.
âCome along, Mr. Quinn. Brother Crown has a long day ahead of him.â
He put his coat back on and followed her down the path to the dirt road. She said nothing about either the money or OâGorman. Quinn had an uneasy feeling that sheâd forgotten what happened the previous night and that she was a little crazier than heâd thought at first.
An old Chevrolet truck, lights on and engine chugging, was parked in the middle of the road. Behind the wheel, wearing a straw hat over his shaved head, sat a man younger than the Brothers Quinn had met so far. Quinn guessed his age to be about forty. Brother Crown of Thorns acknowledged Sister Blessingâs introduction with a brief smile that revealed a front tooth missing.
âAt San Felice, Brother Crown will let you off wherever you wish, Mr. Quinn.â
âThanks,â Quinn said, getting into the truck. âBut about OâGorââ
Sister Blessing looked blank. âHave a good trip. And drive carefully, Brother Crown. And donât forget, if there are temptations in the city, turn your back. If people stare, lower your eyes. If they make remarks, be