Aunt Carmen always insisted on Father Micah staying for coffee, no matter his excuses how busy he was, but today was Friday, and Uncle Leo was coming at 2:30 to take her to Central Park Zoo. Aunt Carmen didn’t want to take any chances of priest and atheist accidentally meeting.

Aunt Carmen escorted Father Micah to the grand vestibule. Just as she reached for the knob of the outer door, a shadow appeared from upon the door’s inset crystal glass. Eldie recognized the shape of that head, but Aunt Carmen, busy chatting with Father Micah, didn’t see it.

She opened the door and jerked back, startled. She put a hand to her throat. “You’re early,” she said to Uncle Leo.

“Yes, but I suspect Eldie is ready.” Even though Uncle Leo was only going to the zoo, he still wore a fine dark suit, and swung his gold-knobbed walking stick.

He glanced past Aunt Carmen at Father Micah, and his walking stick seized up. The two men regarded each other with flat gazes.

Aunt Carmen’s hand fluttered. “Ah, Dr. Lazzard, this is Father Micah. Father, Dr. Lazzard. Eldie’s godfather.”

Uncle Leo tilted his head. “We finally meet.”

Father Micah nodded, a bob of his squat neck.

Eldie was considerably confused. “You know each other?”

Father Micah smiled. “There is No God, and Leo Lazzard is His prophet.”

There was the tiniest twitch to Uncle Leo’s scar. “You’re Eldie’s private tutor. Why am I not surprised?”

“This is the last week,” Aunt Carmen said with a nervous smile.