Michael Russell - The City of Shadows

‘You stood there and let this happen?’

‘It was a candle holder, like the one we put in the window at Christmas, and children lighting candles, like we do at home. That’s all.’

He had to say something, but he realised that nothing he said would satisfy the curate. Every word was a trap Father Carey was waiting to spring.

‘I will have to speak to Tom.’

‘I’ll explain it to him.’

‘That can hardly be enough. He has to know that it was wrong for him to be there, let alone participate in what was going on. Even a child must be made aware when a sin has been committed, even unwittingly, and ask for the forgiveness that always comes. I’m sure the boy understands that.’

Stefan’s hackles were rising at the thought of what Carey would put Tom through to make sure he really did understand that forgiveness. But the traps were all around him now; any protest would spring another one.

‘This is a serious matter, Sergeant. Righting this shocking error of judgement is one thing, but comprehending how you could make it is much harder. Even from a Protestant point of view, your behaviour must appear extraordinary. I have to ask, are you in the habit of associating with Jews?’

‘I’m a guard, Father, I don’t choose who I meet.’ He was evading the issue and he felt ashamed of himself, even as he did so. Hannah was looking at him. He saw the expression on her face. He shouldn’t even have answered the question. By answering it, he had given the priest the right to ask it.

‘You know that a Roman Catholic should not enter any place of worship that isn’t Catholic. But a Jewish synagogue is disturbing in a very particular way. I have to make some allowances for ignorance on your part, and I do.’ There seemed no choice except to allow Carey to make those allowances. ‘The Church is under attack. Christianity itself is under attack. I know we’re not immune from the menace of communism and atheism in our quiet West Wicklow backwater, but I feel as if you have brought the agents of all that among us, because the Jews are its agents, make no mistake. You exposed an innocent child to that, your own child. Don’t you understand?’

Stefan understood very well. These were not the curate’s words. The voice and intonation were almost Robert Fitzpatrick’s. Stefan could have no doubt Father Carey had heard him speak. He spoke the monsignor’s words as if he had been waiting to say them for a long time. He was a prophet now. And there was nothing Stefan could say in reply. Anthony Carey had his burning bow and Stefan was the one who had given him the poisonous arrows. The priest shook his head and stepped down from the mountain.

‘The question is where we go from here, Sergeant Gillespie.’

‘I’m sorry about what happened. But you’re making more of this — ’

‘Did you tell him it was a place of people who turned their backs on Christ, who handed Him to the Romans for execution, who rejected God?’

‘I said it was where Jewish people prayed.’

‘The boy told Mrs Lawlor’s son that Jesus was a Jew.’

‘Should I have said he wasn’t?’

‘You’re a man of many talents. Now you’re a theologian too.’

‘It’s hardly theology.’

‘No, it’s not. But on top of everything, I’m afraid it is too much.’

‘Just tell me what you want me to say — ’

‘I have had every consideration for your feelings, Sergeant, and for the boy’s. I have been patient. I have put the fact that you are Tom’s father before other concerns. Too much so! He has another Father, a Father you are distancing him from, whether it is your intention or not. I have felt it for a long time. I have nothing against your mother and father personally, but they are not the right people to raise the boy in the faith you committed him to when you married. And even if you were here, you are not the father his dead mother would have wanted for him, I am sure of that now.’

‘How dare you say that! You know nothing at all about his mother.’

This was more than temper; anger was in his heart and it was pounding in his chest. His hands were clenched very tight.

‘I wonder what she thinks as she looks down now,’ said the curate.

‘You have no right to even begin to wonder what Maeve might think. My God, if she was looking down on us here, your ears would be burning.’

‘I have expressed my concerns to Father MacGuire.’

‘Where is Father MacGuire?’

‘He always has his week off after Christmas. He’s not here just now.’

‘I bet he isn’t,’ replied Stefan. The parish priest wouldn’t like this. It was no accident he wasn’t there. But it would make no difference. He was an old man. Even when he disagreed with his curate, he no longer argued.

‘I’ve spoken to the bishop. And to your brother-in-law in Portlaoise.’

‘Dermot? What the hell’s Dermot got to do with anything?’

‘They have three children, Tom’s cousins. They’d happily take him.’

Stefan stared. He hadn’t seen where this was going at all. He thought it was still just another opportunity for Father Carey to throw his weight around. But as soon as the words were said, he knew it had been obvious.

‘No, under no circumstances. I’m not even going to discuss it.’

‘We will discuss it, and I’m sure you’ll agree what’s best for Tom — ’

‘I said no.’

‘I can’t leave it there.’

‘Jesus, there’s a fucking Christmas card on the mantelpiece, from Dermot and Kathleen. “Happy Christmas, all the best for the New Year, hope to see you soon!” Not a word, not a fucking word. See you soon!’

‘I think if you reflect on the situation — ’

‘I won’t be reflecting on anything.’

‘Then I need to make myself clearer. Mixed marriages are a bane to the Church. They are against God’s law and against natural law. The Church shows her displeasure, even when she gives dispensation, refusing the Holy Sacrifice during the marriage. My own view is that too much leeway is given in approving them at all, even with a commitment to bring children up as Catholics. But the commitment is there, irrespective of your wife’s death.’

‘And I am carrying that out.’

‘Not as far as I’m concerned. Not as far as the bishop is concerned.’

‘What do you want me to do? Give up my job?’

‘It’s not about you being here. The boy’s home is entirely unconducive to the health of a young and impressionable Catholic soul. There is no shortage of evidence to demonstrate your inability to bring him up in the faith he was born into. But the sight of Tom praying in a synagogue is beyond anything the Church can accept. His place is with his cousins, with his mother’s brother. For his sake, and your own, I would advise you not to fight this. The courts are no place for families. And the end result will be the same, I promise you. As for the damage to your career — ’

‘Are you threatening me now?’

‘I’m telling you what will happen, Gillespie.’

‘I promised Maeve — ’

‘There is no more to say, Sergeant. You need time to calm down. When you have, we’ll talk about this again and put the arrangements in place. It doesn’t mean you won’t see your son. But when you do, he’ll be part of a family, his family. In time you’ll understand that the Church’s interests and your son’s are the same. Those interests should be yours too.’

Stefan stood very still, looking at the satisfaction that Anthony Carey made no real attempt to hide. The curate stood taller than he had, straighter.

‘You’ve always wanted this, haven’t you?’

‘It’s about what’s right.’ The priest shook his head, frowning, almost as if he really did regret what he was doing. ‘It’s not about what I want.’