I was working in the study the following afternoon when the telephone rang. ‘David, it’s Ronald Trask.’ The voice was abrupt to the point of rudeness. ‘What’s this Cynthia tells me about an outbreak of Satanism at St Mary Magdalene?’ He used the word Satanism like a cudgel. I took a deep breath and tried to persuade myself that Ronald was only doing his duty. An archdeacon used to be known as the bishop’s eye. Such matters came within his province. ‘We don’t know it’s Satanism. I think it’s unwise to jump to conclusions. It may just have been a teenage prank which got out of hand.’ ‘A prank? A cat beheaded in your own parish church?’ ‘It wasn’t beheaded in the church. We found the body hanging from a hook in the porch.’ ‘That’s not the point, in any case.’ ‘Then what is?’ ‘That this could be a public relations disaster.’ Ronald lowered his voice, as if he were afraid of being overheard. ‘Not just for the church. For you personally.’ There was a pause.
What do You think about The Judgement Of Strangers?
