Tonight was amateur night. Lukas could feel how much he was looking forward to the coming weekend, when they would return to the forest and meet up with the other initiated ones. Deep down, Lukas could not understand why Pastor Simon insisted on holding meetings for the amateurs any more – after all, they had more important work to do – but he would obviously never contradict the pastor. The pastor was in contact with God and knew exactly what needing doing. Lux domus. Wait until the weekend. Lukas had to press his lips together again so as not to sigh with pleasure as the warmth and the light flowed through his body once more.
At last, Pastor Simon opened his mouth and God was in the room. The congregation sat as if glued to their seats and let themselves be filled with bliss. Lukas had heard this sermon before, it was written for the amateurs; it was fine, but simple and, besides, his mind was on the upcoming weekend. Lux domus. Another step closer to Heaven. He shut his eyes and let the pastor’s words fill him, and then, soon afterwards, it was over and the pastor was standing by the exit. Grateful hands and bowed heads proceeded past him on their way out of the hall, and they were alone again, just the two of them, in the large, white space.
Lukas followed the pastor into his office and helped him out of his cassock. He turned away so as not to see the pastor in his underwear, then helped him put on the suit he normally wore. Poured him a cup of freshly brewed coffee. He said nothing until the pastor had sat down in his chair behind the huge desk and indicated that God had left the room and that they were permitted to speak again.
‘Another name has come forward.’ Lukas cleared his throat and produced the envelope he had kept in his inside jacket pocket during the whole service.
‘Aha?’
The pastor looked up at him and took the envelope. It contained a single white sheet of paper. Lukas did not know what it said, only that it was a name. He did not know what name it was; that was for the pastor’s eyes only. His task was to collect the envelope and give it to the pastor. Not to open it; he was merely to be a messenger, like an angel.
As usual, the pastor said nothing. He read the name, folded the sheet and locked the envelope in the safe under the small table by the window.
‘Thank you, Lukas. Was there anything else?’ The pastor looked up at him. Lukas smiled back at the kind, luminous gaze.
‘No, nothing. Oh, yes, your brother is here.’
‘Nils? He’s here now?’
Lukas nodded.
‘He came right before the service. I asked him to wait in the back garden.’
‘Good, Lukas, good. You can tell him to come in now.’
Lukas bowed and went to fetch the visitor.
‘Why did you keep me waiting so long? I told you it was important.’
Simon’s brother, Nils, was also a high-ranking member of the Church. Lukas had met him for the first time in the tent on Sørlandet but, even though he had been with them just as long, Nils was not quite up there by the pastor’s side. He knew there had been some arguing and dissenting voices when Lukas was given the role of second-in-command; many people felt that place belonged to Nils but, as always, no one challenged the pastor. After all, he was the one who had been entrusted with the key to Heaven.
‘You know it’s important for the pastor to help the amateurs. He’s ready for you now.’
‘Lux domus,’ the brother with the short hair muttered.
‘Lux domus.’ Lukas smiled and showed him the way.
The pastor rose when they entered. His guest bowed and went up to his older brother. Kissed his hand and both cheeks.
‘Sit, sit, my brother,’ the pastor said, and resumed his seat behind the desk.
Nils glanced briefly at Lukas.
‘Would you like me to leave?’ Lukas offered immediately.
‘No, no, stay.’
The pastor gestured casually to indicate that Lukas should sit down; he was one of the initiated, there was no reason for him to leave the room.
Lukas thought he detected a certain amount of irritation from Nils at the decision, but he said nothing.
‘How are you all up there?’ the pastor asked when all three of them had sat down.
‘All is well.’ His brother nodded.
‘And the fence?
‘More than half finished.’
‘Will it be as high as we discussed?’
‘Yes.’ His brother nodded again.
‘So what’s the reason you’re no longer up there?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Why are you here when you have work to do there?’
Nils glanced at Lukas again. It looked as if he had something on his mind but didn’t dare say it while Lukas was in the room.
‘The flock nearly lost a member,’ he muttered at length, with his head bowed; he looked ashamed.
‘What do you mean, “lost a member”?’
‘We had an accident with one of the younger members.’
‘What do you mean by “accident”?’
‘Just an accident. A mistake. It has been taken care of.’
‘Who was it?’
‘Rakel.’
‘Rakel the good one? My Rakel?’
The brother nodded, his neck bowed even lower.
‘She disappeared from us one night. But she’s back now.’
‘So everything is all right?’
‘Yes, everything is all right.’
‘So I ask you again, my brother: why are you down here when you have work to do up there?’
Nils looked up at the pastor, his big brother. Even though Nils was a man well past fifty, he seemed almost like a little boy who had just been told off by his father.
‘You asked me to keep you updated.’
‘As long as everything is all right, then everything is all right, is it not?’
Nils nodded obediently.
‘It might have been easier if we had a telephone,’ he said tentatively after a small pause.
The pastor leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingertips together.
‘Do you have any other suggestions? Any other opinions? Are you dissatisfied with what God has given you?’
‘No, no… That’s not what I… I just wanted…’
Nils struggled to find the words, and his face grew red. The pastor shook his head briefly, and a strange silence spread across the room. It was not awkward for Lukas – he was always on the pastor’s side – but it was uncomfortable for the brother, and he deserved it. How dare he question the pastor’s orders? The brother got up, still keeping his eyes on the floor.
‘You’ll be coming up on Saturday?’
‘We’ll be there on Saturday.’
‘Good. See you then.’ His brother nodded and left the room.
‘Lux domus,’ Lukas said, when only he and the pastor were left. That was how he liked it best: just the two of them.
The pastor smiled and looked at him.
‘Do you think we have done the right thing?’
‘Absolutely.’ Lukas nodded.
‘Sometimes, I’m not so sure,’ the pastor said, and pressed his fingertips together again.
‘There is something I have to tell you,’ Lukas said.
‘Yes?’
‘You know that it’s my job to take care of you.’
‘Is it, Lukas? Is it?’ The pastor smiled.
Lukas blushed faintly. He knew the pastor so well. He knew his voice. He knew when he was being praised.
‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but we might have a problem with the congregation.’
‘You mean, this one?’
‘Yes, the amateurs.’
‘And what is the problem?’
‘Well, that’s up to you to decide, I’m only here to tell you what I see and to take care of you.’
‘Yes, so you say, Lukas, and I appreciate that.’
Lukas coughed slightly before he continued.