It was also increasingly conclusive that mankind, Homo sapiens, evolved from hominids apelike creatures millions of years ago. The scientific evidence had become increasingly irrefutable, evidence that most religions chose to ignore because accepting it would put them out of business.
Therefore all the many gods and religions were simply recent, made-up fantasies.
Then why did so many people choose to believe, Ainslie often asked himself. One answer: It was mainly their subconscious urge to escape oblivion the dust-to-dust concept, which, ironically, Ecclesiastes spelled out so well.
That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts . . .a man hath no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Should the practice of religion be discouraged? Absolutely not! Those who found solace in it should be left alone and, if need be, protected. Malcolm vowed that he would never, of his own accord, disturb the genuine beliefs of others.
As for himself, what came next? Clearly he would quit the priesthood. In retrospect he saw his choice of vocation as a mistake from the beginning a reality easier to confront because of his mother's death, a year earlier. At their final meeting, and knowing the end was near, Victoria Ainslie had held his hand and whispered, "You became a priest because I wanted it. I'm not sure you really did, but I was full of pride and had my way. I wonder if God will hold that against me as a sin." Malcolm had assured her that God would not, nor did he regret his choice. Victoria died peacefully. But, without her, he felt free to change his mind.
* * *
A flight attendant's voice on the PA system broke into Malcolm's thoughts. "The captain advises we will shortly begin our approach into Atlanta. Please make sure your seat belts are fastened, tray tables stowed, and seat backs restored . . ."
Tuning out those familiar words, Malcolm drifted back into the past.
* * *
He stayed at the monastery for another month, allowing time for his mind to change. But his convictions only deepened, and at the end of the second month, he wrote a letter of resignation as a priest and simply left.
After walking several miles, carrying all that he wanted from his past in a single suitcase, he was given a ride by a truck driver into Philadelphia. Taking a bus to the city's airport and undecided where to go, he impulsively bought a ticket on the next flight out a nonstop to Miami. There his new life began.
Soon after Malcolm's arrival he met Karen, a Canadian on vacation.
They were in line at Stan's Dry Cleaners. Malcolm, leaving some shirts for laundering, had been asked by a clerk if he wanted them folded or on hangers. He was hesitating when a voice behind him prompted, "If you travel a lot folded. If you don't, have hangers."
"I'm all through with traveling," he said, turning to face the attractive young woman who had spoken. Then to the clerk, "So make it hangers."
After Karen had left a dress for cleaning, she found Ainslie waiting at the doorway. "Just wanted to say thanks for your help."
"Why are you through with traveling?" she asked.
"Not the best place to tell you. How about over lunch?"
Karen paused for only a moment, then answered cheerfully, "Sure. Why not?"
Thus their romance began, and they quickly fell in love, leading to Ainslie's proposal of marriage two weeks later.
At about the same time, Malcolm read in the Miami Herald that the city police force was recruiting. Spurred by the memory of Russell's father, Detective Kermit Sheldon, who had befriended the Ainslie family, Malcolm applied. He was accepted, and enrolled in the Police Department Academy's ten-week course, emerging with distinction.
Karen not only had no objection to living in Florida instead of Toronto, but loved the idea. And having by now learned about his past, she was perceptive concerning Malcolm's work choice. "In a way you'll be doing the kind of thing you did before keeping humanity on the straight and narrow."
He had laughed. "It will be a lot more gritty, but a hell of a lot more practical."
In the end, it turned out to be both.
* * *
After a gap of several months, Malcolm learned that Russell Sheldon, too, had left the official Catholic Church. Russell's first objective was simple: he wanted to marry and have children. He wrote in a letter to Malcolm:
Did you know there are seventeen thousand of us, more or less, in the United States priests who left the Church by their own decision, and most in their thirties? That's a Catholic figure, by the way.
Russell, however, neither lost his beliefs nor abandoned religion, and joined an independent Catholic group in Chicago, where he was accepted as a priest, his unfrocking ignored. In the same letter Russell wrote:
We worship God and Jesus, but regard the Vatican and Curia as power-obsessed, inward-looking pachyderms which eventually will self-destruct.
And we are not alone. All over America are about three hundred parishes of Catholics who 've cut their ties to Rome. There are more here in Illinois, five we know of in South Florida, others in California. Don't have a full list because there's no central authority and may never be. Our feeling is that some "infallible" HQ, staffed by deputy-gods, is the last thing we need.
Oh yes, we do certain things Rome wouldn't like. We let all who wish take Communion, believing we don't have to protect God from anyone. We'll marry divorced Catholics, and those of the same sex if that's their choice. We do our utmost to persuade against abortion; on the other hand, we believe in a woman's right to choose.
We've no elaborate church, no fancy robes, statuary, stained glass, or gold ornaments, and won't be buying any. Whatever spare money there is we use to feed the homeless.
From time to time we're attacked by the Roman Catholic Church, and as our numbers grow, it happens more often. They're increasingly nervous, we thing An RC archbishop told a newspaper reporter that nothing whatever that we do has God's blessing. Can you believe that! Rome has the holy ointment; no one else.
Malcolm still heard from Russell occasionally. He continued to be an independent priest, happily married to a former Catholic nun; at last report they had two children.
* * *
The Delta flight touched down smoothly at Atlanta and taxied in. All that remained now was the two-hour flight to Toronto.
Gratefully, Malcolm turned his mind from the past to pleasant thoughts of the next few days ahead.
5
Outside immigration and customs at Toronto airport Malcolm was confronted by a raised card reading ANSLIE, held by a uniformed limousine driver.
"Mr. Ainslie from Miami?" the young man inquired pleasantly as Malcolm stopped.
"Yes, but I wasn't expecting "
"I have a car here with the compliments of General Grundy. It's right outside. May I take your bag, sir?"
Karen's parents, George and Violet Grundy, lived in Scarborough Township, near the eastern limits of Metro Toronto. The journey there took an hour and a quarter longer than usual because of a heavy snowfall the previous night, only partially cleared from the transprovince Highway 401. The sky was gloomily gray and the temperature near freezing. Like many Floridians heading north during the winter months, Malcolm realized he was dressed far too lightly, and if Karen had not brought him some warm clothes, he would have to buy or borrow some.