Push Not the River (The Poland Trilogy Book 1) by James Conroyd Martin

Author:James Conroyd Martin [Martin, James Conroyd]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Hussar Quill Press
Published: 2014-02-20T23:00:00+00:00

The red of the priest’s face deepened. He turned around immediately to finish his preparations.

He thinks me audacious, Anna thought. In his demeanor she detected conflict. What if this were but a blind wall in the labyrinth into which she had somehow stumbled? She worried that each day might be bringing Antoni closer.

Anna prayed.

The priest now descended the three short steps and strode to where Anna stood.

Antek drew Anna out into the aisle and introduced her to the priest.

“May Jesus be merciful to you,” he said “and to the souls of your traveling companions.” He held his hand out for Anna to kiss his ring. “Of course, I will do whatever may be in my power to see you restored to Warsaw.”

Anna was weak from fasting and waiting in the cold chapel, so she remained standing. This must be shocking to the peasants, she thought, but she could not help it.

“Would the Countess wish to make her confession before Mass?”

“Yes, Father.”

Perhaps her first impression of the priest had been too harsh. After all, this man had come to her from the chapel of the Black Madonna. Might he be her miracle?

The confessional, situated at the front of the chapel, consisted of nothing more than a chair for the priest and a wooden kneeler for the penitent. Anna whispered to him of the carriage ordeal, describing it in detail only at his request. She tried to be brief, knowing that the peasants were as tired and hungry as she.

Anna told the priest of Louis and Babette and her own guilt at her impatience with them. Father Florian assured her she was guiltless. “Often, when one survives and others do not,” he said, “there is this sense of guilt. Put it aside, my child.”

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