Michael Malone - Weebly

"Did you know old Oglethorpe died early this
morning?"
"No. No, I didn't. Oh, I'm sorry. Poor man."
Jonathan's eyes closed, and he lowered his head for an
instant. He's praying, Saar realized, surprised that he
had never before consciously connected this beautiful
young man with Christianity, though he had noticed his
clothes. (Of course, he must actually believe…naturally,
he would pray.)
Saar waited, then said, "This is absurd, I know, but
I'm afraid I'm rather, rather terrified by my response."
He laughed quickly. "I never believed in death. I don't
think anyone does." He drank a third glass of sherry.
It was so difficult for Jonathan to imagine the
headmaster as anything but perfectly at ease that he did
not at first hear the excessiveness of the laugh that
followed Saar's saying, "Though I suppose all of us are
scared to death of death."
The curate tried to mimic the wry smile. "I'm the
opposite. It's life that terrifies me."
"That, too." Saar gulped down another glass. "But
no one believes it. After all, it doesn't make the slightest