Twisted Cross

Blas, excited to see the Bishop, waved his hands as he talked. “Let’s take the sundial, the silver goblet and a pair of candlesticks from our finishing table,” he said. Blas worked fast, buffed, and polished each item then wrapped them in the cloth bags with great care. Sal noticed Brother David reach for the tooled wooden box and turn his back away. Blas kept wrapping and chattering.

“Your Mamà saw a vision,” Blas said. “God has saved us for this work, Sal.” He made the sign of the cross, as Brother David did so often.

 “Vamos a ver, let’s just see what happens,” Sal said. “If you ask me, you and Brother David are both too religious. Just like Mamà.” How could some people ignore the signs of danger until too late?

 “The B-bishop waits for us, let us g-go,” Brother David said. Each man clutched one of the bags as they crossed the Mission grounds. Sal remembered passing the Bishop’s room only once, near a locked closet containing the holy vestments. He never expected to return. Now he lagged behind and dragged his feet on the crushed gravel pathway. He hated taking orders from anyone.