That’s where the matter rested for the next few days.  Clem spent rather more time with The Reverend than he wanted and Stephen retired to his office to plan his next steps.  Eventually, Clem approached the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, his long time friend and poker opponent, who was always ready to oblige him and wasn’t at all adverse to what Clem suggested. So the nuncio, after a brief exchange with Rome, communicated to His Eminence Cardinal Mahoney that the pontiff would obliged to him is he would release The Reverend to the tender solicitude and paternal care of the Archabbot of Our Lady of Refuge Monastery.  The Reverend, it was delicately conveyed, was in need of a long rest and pastoral care of rather specialized nature, the last remaining unspecified.  The Cardinal agreed with an alacrity that would have been gratifying if one hadn’t known The Reverend.

I wasn’t there when Clem informed The Reverend that he had been placed in his care temporarily by Mahoney.  But Clem later shared some it with Stephen and me.  However that was much later when Clem was apologizing to Stephen for forgetting to tell him, in the press of other affairs how he had agreed to The Reverend’s request to occupy his time by investigating  us for proof of the demonic infestation he was sure existed. The way Clem told it, it all happened innocently enough beginning with Clem placing him under obedience.

He had spent several days listening to The Reverend on the subject of his vocation, the planned priestly community and his suspicion that Stephen and I and everyone associated with us were the spawn of the devil, and evil incarnate.  So far as the Reverend was concerned three items made that an irrefutable conclusion:  first that we had the powers we had, second that we had not immediately acceded to his demands that we let him go and third, there were signs, unspecified, of demonic activity all over the place.  That morning he was at it again.  But Clem interrupted him before he was fully launched on his theme.

“Father, I appreciate your concern for the welfare of all our souls, but that isn’t why I sent for you.”  Unwisely Clem paused, gathering his thoughts.  That gave the Reverend time start on his other favorite topic.

“Ah, you wish to continue our discussions regarding the new community.  It is my pleasure, knowing as I do that you are wholly in accord with our goals.  Truly, my lord, I am certain that God used the evil that has befallen me to bring me to you.  He has chosen you as His instrument.  With you as our patron and sponsor, I know Rome will have no more objections to our foundation.  In fact, I have been walking the property hereabouts and know just the spot for the house we will need to begin.  We can share your facilities, the church…”  He stopped abruptly, Clem’s words overtopping his.

“Father, please!  Grand as your plans are, I don’t want to discuss them now, either.”  And never if I can help it, he thought to himself.

“No?”  The Reverend seemed amazed.  “Then what is it you would like to discuss?”

Did the man never hear himself? Clem wondered.  But he let the impertinence go.  “I felt that it was my duty to make sure that both the Cardinal of Washington D.C. and Cardinal Mahoney, your superior knew you were here.  So I notified them a few days ago.  Since then, I have been in communication with the Apostolic Nuncio.”

“Ah yes, a worthy man but perhaps not the most suitable for his post.”  The Reverend interrupted.

Clem grabbed tight to his temper, promised himself the pleasure of sharing that with his friend and continued as if the Reverend hadn’t spoken. “With the nuncio who has received a communication from Rome.  I am informed that Rome, in light of the fortuitous circumstance of your presence here, has asked Cardinal Mahoney, and he has agreed, to release you to my authority for the foreseeable future. For now you have been ex-cardinated from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and are made an obedientiary of mine.  In short, Father, you have been transferred to me.”

The Reverend, Clem was pleased to see, needed a moment to digest the implications.  Then he drew all the wrong conclusions.  “Oh Your Eminence, thank you, a million times I thank you!  I know God has chosen you as the instrument for the realization of this community he wants.  It came to me in prayer a few nights ago.  I assure you, your reward in heaven will be great for this.”

“Where ever did you get that addle pated notion?  I am doing no such thing!”  Clem interjected vehemently.  “Please, disabuse yourself of the idea that I am ready to sponsor the foundation of your community.  In fact, I am not even sure that canon law would allow such a thing.  But regardless, that isn’t why you have been transferred to me.  Rome, in consultation with the nuncio and Cardinal Mahoney feel that before proceeding any further with a foundation, you are in need of a sustained, focused and indefinite period of serious discernment and reflection.  They feel that that would be best done under my care and I must say, in that I concur.”  Discernment he thought to himself, along with discretion, caution and possibly counseling.

The Reverend, who, missing the insult, had looked deflated for a moment, immediately brightened, no doubt recalling that all the saints had been tested both by God and by their superiors who acted as His instruments.  “I understand, my lord.  If it is the will of Rome then I am perfectly willing to place myself under your authority.  I have always been a faithful servant of God’s representative here on earth in the person of the Holy Father.”

“That’s fine Father.  I knew I could count on your cooperation.  So, for the time being you will join the life of the brethren here, undertaking any duties assigned to you by Father Prior and participating fully in the communal and prayer life of the community.  You will not, under any circumstances discuss with anyone Stephen or the events that brought you here.  And you will, please, cease referring to me as “my lord”, “your eminence” or any other title other than those appropriate to me as an abbot.  Is all of that clear?”

“Oh yes, your grace…I mean Father, very clear.  But what about the evil that hangs around the man Stephen and all his works and property?  If you would only allow me to do so I am certain I can find proof of my suspicions.”

Clem eyed him with distaste.  The man was impossible and now he was saddled with him for who knew how long.  The brothers didn’t like him and Father Prior had already complained about him twice.  Perhaps allowing him that much room would prevent him from constantly disturbing the flow of the life of the brothers by distracting him onto other things.  And, now that he thought about it, why should he have to bear the entire burden of the man?  After all he was properly Stephen’s problem, not his.  Besides, what harm could it possibly do?  He made a mental note to warn Stephen and gave his permission.  

“All right, I’ll allow it for now, so long as it does not interfere in any way with your purpose here which is discernment and reflection, and so long as I receive no complains either from Father Prior, the brethren or from Stephen.  Is that clear?”

The Reverend fell to his knee and groped for Clem’s hand to kiss his ring.  “Oh yes, Father, very clear.  Thank you.”  

Clem sighed and grabbed his hand back.

All in all, after that the rest of that winter passed smoothly. Stephen arranged child care for Charlie's babies while he recovered and got back on his feet. Baylee adjusted to not going out with the teams and Tommy opined that it looked like things were set for a lovely spring and no trouble on anyone's horizon.

Clem, of course, forgot to warn Stephen who in any case was busy with other things that winter and saw little of him. The Reverend prayed, worked, and studied under the watchful eye of Father Prior, a man of wide experience and not given to tolerating fools or wild-eyed visionaries. It is possible, thinking of it now, if nothing else had happened the prior might have whipped him into shape. But the Reverend pursued his investigations under the watchful eye of no one and that put paid to that possibility.

In any case, life went on. We'd averaged about one New One week or so and out of that had been blessed with several who were Listeners. There had even been a few with one of the great gifts. Stephen, working with Cal and Tommy had arranged for them to be trained on the teams, as a safety measure he assured the Council and nothing more, prior to sending them on Home.