Chapter 13
Etienne's
letters to Sarah began to die away, and he could do no more for five
long years. His college years found him at University of California,
Berkeley, toiling away at a Mathematics degree. He had long
forgotten about his early Canadian citizenship. His dad had
predictably blown up, when he found out that Etienne certified
American citizenship, but when the row died down Mr. DuBois turned
his real ire upon his wife, Etienne's mother. For the rest of his
life, Etienne would hate domestic disputes.
But these
days, Sunday mornings found him warming a pew at the local church,
and scoping for the future Mrs. DuBois.
By now,
Agent Echo had occupied postings in France, Sweden and presently
could be found in Germany. But he had not been negligent of his
malice. A calendar date brought Etienne's eighteenth birthday to his
attention. He made a phone call, and in far away Berkeley, Eteinne
made the new acquaintance of an FBI agent, named Wilbur.
Wilbur was
overtly affable, and he often sat next to Etienne in the Church where
they met. With a listening ear, and a ready remark, Wilbur was soon
conversant with the prominent themes in Etienne's world views. In
return, he confided in Etienne that there was an ultra-secret
Lutheran order represented amongst the Church. These zealots
reported to the Missouri Synod.
He described
recruitment practices whereby women sleep with unwary male members,
then report to male zealots, who move in to blackmail the victims for
tithes and other favors. “It's a secret order though. You won't
find anything in the official literature of the Missouri Synod. It's
just not their way.”
Two weeks
later, “Wilbur” was mysteriously posted to Seattle. He made
abbreviated goodbye's and left Etienne bemused. Nevertheless, with a
ready wit and a protective instinct, Etienne began unthinkingly to
stand sentinel against a secret Lutheran order.
In Missouri,
no one had heard of the secret order, because none existed. It was a
fabrication for Etienne's benefit. But eighteen months later, when
Etienne's friends began treating him strangely, his mind lighted on
this cult as a possible reason, and began to watch for them in
earnest.
Etienne's
friends were treating him strangely for another reason. One by one,
each was getting a “private” visit from other “FBI” officers.
With cheap suits and dark glasses, they explained apologetically
that Eitenne's name had come up in the course of an investigation
into espionage. He was believed to be cooperating with foreign
powers, and would they please tell the authorities if they noticed
anything that was truly incriminating.
Etienne's
dating life became, if possible, even more fruitless. It wasn't all
that often that he actually set his cap for someone, but when he did,
the rebuffs became predictable. He had good hygiene and good
character, so each time he was forced to conclude that she was
simply, “not for him.” In languishing romantically, his thoughts
returned more and more often to Sarah Arberton.
At the local
Cathedral, the men made no pretense, as they stood single file in
line for absolution.
“Bless me
Father, for I have sinned.”
“How long
has it been since your last confession?”
.
.
.
The
Vatican's involvement was very prestigious for the local Diocese.
