The Second Son by Charles Sailor

Author:Charles Sailor [Sailor, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780983854241
Google: XQ7MMQEACAAJ
Amazon: 0983854246
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 1979-04-09T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Carlo Lambessi was concerned. Across the table the Holy Son listlessly picked at His breakfast. He seemed more depressed this morning than ever, and Carlo wished there was something he could do.

He was grateful for being chosen as the Holy Son's valet, such an honor for one so young with only three years of Vatican service. Being chosen had given him a new understanding of God's purpose in giving him his affliction. Though he had long ceased questioning God's will, he felt clearly for the first time that not being able to speak or to hear had been not merely a punishment or a test, but a gift of God's incalculable goodness.

He was troubled, however, by how little service he had been to the Holy Son. Almost everything he offered to do was rejected. The Holy Son was very kind, of course, and he understood that He simply preferred to do most things for Himself, but it left Carlo searching for ways to be more helpful.

As he had watched the Holy Joseph grow increasingly sad, he could not help thinking that what He needed was not someone to bath or shave or dress Him, but someone to help Him to find a way to relieve His inner suffering. He dared not think that he himself should be that person. But now, as he saw the Holy Son even sadder on this third morning, he could not help searching his own mind and heart for some small contribution he might make.

He wrote on his pad and shyly handed the note across to the Holy Son: "Beautiful place here. You wish to see beautiful rooms, great art in palace? I call someone to guide?"

Joseph read the note and smiled sadly. "No, Carlo, thank you, I'm just not in the mood."

Carlo wrote again. "Forgive Carlo, but maybe You stay sad sitting in room? Maybe looking beautiful things help?"

Joseph put down his fork and looked at the pale, shy young man across from him, understanding how hard he was trying to help. Until now, he had seen Carlo as just one more strange Vatican being who treated him as a nonhuman God, but as he looked into the clear blue eyes watching him he felt Carlo's understanding of his very human sadness. "Thank you, Carlo," he said. "And you're probably right-I do need to get out of here and do something else for a while. Would you come with me, show me around here a little?"

Carlo looked embarrassed but pleased. "You honor Carlo, Holy Son," he wrote. "Of course, yes. You wish special places?"

"No, just show me your world here. Let's just walk."

They left together and spent two hours exploring long hallways leading to rooms leading to hallways and to more rooms. The high-ceilinged corridors were spacious and airy, and all of them were decorated with brilliantly colored frescoes. Joseph was surprised to see on these walls and ceilings not only Biblical scenes, but also the fabulous creatures of pagan mythology, satyrs and fauns and nymphs playing in vine-filled forests.

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