He could hear the energy in the place as it sang from the spring. He could stand so far from it as he was and feel the warmth of it though he did not do as Annie once did and soak in it. If he walked right up to it and sat a while beside it he could breathe in the mercy and the truth of it but even if he walked right up to Shoshannah he would not see what she saw.
Though he could not see it that does not negate it. He could see her. The priest stood back with Annie and watched her. Repeated the spirit's name so he would not lose it.
And he could not see Shoshannah's face any more than he could see the bear-spirit with whom she communed but the ablated hardness when she turned from the departed scene behind her took a measure of tension out of his frame. In all the weeks she has stayed on the first floor of the rectory and performed odd maintenance tasks around a church where everyone is afraid of her the priest has seen in her little of either warmth or wonderment.
With the tension gone came contrition, her discomfort not so obvious until it had gone.
"Good," he said. "Maybe we should ask Annie if it needs a keeper."
Part joke, part sincere consideration.
Though he could not see it that does not negate it. He could see her. The priest stood back with Annie and watched her. Repeated the spirit's name so he would not lose it.
And he could not see Shoshannah's face any more than he could see the bear-spirit with whom she communed but the ablated hardness when she turned from the departed scene behind her took a measure of tension out of his frame. In all the weeks she has stayed on the first floor of the rectory and performed odd maintenance tasks around a church where everyone is afraid of her the priest has seen in her little of either warmth or wonderment.
With the tension gone came contrition, her discomfort not so obvious until it had gone.
"Good," he said. "Maybe we should ask Annie if it needs a keeper."
Part joke, part sincere consideration.