The stratagem

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The stratagem

It's God's wish

An excerpt

Several days later during the Independence celebrations conducted by the province governor, father Desirade met the Bensons. He saw John's tall figure and approached them making his way with difficulty through the crowded little hall, and reached them as if by accident; he greeted them politely and moved on among the crowd of locals that put a siege on the free drinks bar, ignoring the demonstrated contempt and the disrespectful remarks uttered with impudence by some of the locals.

But he did not stop following the Bensons with his eyes, and as he saw them leaving after almost two hours time he rushed outside after them.

He stopped near their car where they were standing ready to leave and greeted them again, and expressed his wish to visit their church on the next Sunday. They've exchanged a smile of satisfaction and seemed very pleased, but John hastened to express his opinion; he thought that it would be much better to invite father Desirade to have dinner with them in which they'll discuss theological problems, which differentiate their two churches apart, and thus it would be much easier to father Desirade to participate in the ceremony and prayers at their church. After it was decided politely when it would be convenient for the sides to meet, Friday eve was chosen and as the conclusion satisfied both sides they parted.

Father Desirade rode on his bike back home, while the Bensons kept waiting near their car to take leave of the province governor and the village notables.

On Friday eve after the Bensons offsprings were put to bed and John spent with them about half an hour till they fell asleep, father Desirade knocked on their front door.

Edit welcomed him with a polite smile and guided him to their living room, before he managed to exchange a few words with her John has returned from their children bedroom. He too welcomed father Desirade politely and shook his hand warmly, and made him sit on one of the armchairs; while he went over to their improvised bar and poured two glasses of high quality French brandy for his guest and himself. Edit excused herself and went to the kitchen to check their maid's dinner preparations.

After John took his seat they raised their glasses and drank the excellent brandy in silence.

Father Desirade praised his host for choosing the excellent drink that he is so fond of, and the latter filled again their glasses and offered a toast for father Desirade's health. John asked father Desirade how the state of his health is without referring to the miserable state of his church, which was very well known all over the village. Father Desirade answered without any inferior feelings and told John even about his plans to return to France, there was no need of course to explain the reason and John nodded his head in polite understanding.

The preparations for dinner were completed successfully and their house maid stayed in the kitchen while Edit came to invite them to the dining table.

The dinner went on rather pleasantly father Desirade told his hosts some of his adventures during his first days in the black continent and about his preliminary success; to his failure he did not refer of course; but he brought up several religious issues that differentiate his church from their church, while they all realized that the gap between the two churches was not too deep. John answered and Edit listened attentively and thus the dinner passed rather pleasantly. When John ended his words father Desirade hastened to note with emphasize the three words: 'it's God's wish'.

Edit lowered her pale face to her plate, while to father Desirade it was very clear that Edit has understood well his message.

With the dinner over John accompanied father Desirade to their front door and parted with him with warmth.

Father Desirade moved to his home that wasn't at all far from the Bensons' abode on foot very excited, he was convinced that the night has not ended yet; and instead of admitting his failure and returning to his homeland, the formula to defeat the Bensons and reassemble his church goers was in his hands.

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