The Admiral Loses More Than a Few Good Men

Griff saw him when he came up from the office for his afternoon prayers. He sat down two pews behind Cat and, after his private worship, waited for Wye to sense his presence. When he did, Cat did not immediately turn around -just lifted his hand.

"You hurtin', Cat?"

"Which kind, Reverend?"

"There's lots of them, friend. You tell me if you want to."

Cat slipped around the end of his pew to the one in front of Griff, again wedged himself into the corner and stretched his legs out along the seat. He thought about the different kinds of hurting; remembered Kenneth and Marsh, and decided he could do with some help himself.

"Several kinds, Reverend. I'm confused but I need to talk."

Griff remembered messing it up with Basie and his father. Remembered being against Lette when she wanted to adopt a child. Remembered the Sheriff out on the drive along the bluff. Winced at all of them, but particularly that last one.

-- This man caught it instead of me.

Cat started softly, stayed low. Just a hint of sing-song. Told it all.

"So there you are, Reverend."

"You told Susan?"

"Got to, but can't decide when -or how. Another kick in the belly might finish the baby. She wants it. Bad. So do I."

"You tell her. Maybe not tonight, but before anyone else."

"Mr. Hank knows, he saw me; so Mitch knows by now."

"That's different. I meant public."

"Yeah, I see that. Thank you, Reverend."

"You want to pray with me?"

Cat's mind drifted away, remembering the humming and then the singing of Down That Lonesome Road.

"Not sure I know how, Griff. When you talked about The Grace of God that Sunday I felt like I understood it...Maybe for the first time. And I feel it here, right now, and with Run-Run and Mitch and Caroline and Mr. Hank and the others...But then it stops. Out there I lose it...Hard to believe in it out there."

He took his feet off the pew.

"But I'll try."

They tried together.

Table of Contents

• Introduction

1. Maggie and Mr. Hank
2. The Reverend
3. Squalls Along the Flight Line
4. Flying Home to Church
5. A Visit with The Judge
6. Communion
7. Afterthoughts
8. Monday Morning With The Admiral
9. Into the Dining Room
10. On Toward Walking the Streets
11. Glimpses of An Election
12. The Dream and The Reality of Violence
13. The Admiral Loses More Than a Few Good Men
14. Down That Lonesome Road

• Cast of Characters
• Credits and Acknowledgements