The next one to croak is very likely to be me.
Jesus, what a weird custom!
Christ, I better say something to Tony, leave a letter of instructions or something. I don't want to go on display in here!
Or do I? What's wrong with being with my father and Uncle Willy?
Jesus Christ!
"Is everything to your satisfaction, Se¤or Frade?" the monk asked.
"Perfectly. I am in your debt, Sir, for your thoughtfulness."
"Your father, Se¤or Frade, your family, have always generously supported the Recoleta Cemetery."
That's a pitch for money. I'll be damned!
What the hell do I say to him ?
I'll have to ask somebody-Humberto-about giving them money. How much and to whom.
"Again, I thank you for your thoughtfulness. And I will never forget it."
The monk smiled, turned, bowed before the altar, and walked out of the tomb.
Clete followed him. He saw Lauffer, standing twenty yards away, motion to the monk to join him.
He thinks I want to be alone with the pretty girl. What did General Lee say at Appomattox Courthouse? "I would rather die a thousand deaths..."?
"What do you say, Princess? How's tricks?"
"I really wish you wouldn't call me that," Dorotea said in British-accented English.
"Sorry. You said you had something on your mind, Dorotea?"
"This is probably the worst possible place, at the worst possible time, to tell you this," she said. "I'm really sorry."
Oh, I don't know. This is a cemetery. Shouldn't dead love get a decent bur-ial?
"What is it, Prin... Dorotea? I probably won't be nearly as upset as you think I'm going to be."
She moved close to him and looked into his eyes.
"We're going to have a baby," she announced softly.
Even as he spoke the words, looking into her eyes, he knew the question he was croaking-"Are you sure?"-was unnecessary.
"Of course I'm sure."
"Oh, Princess!"
"Does that mean 'Three cheers, hurrah!' or 'Oh, my God!'"
"Princess, you really surprised me with this one."
"In other words, "Oh, my God!'?"
"I thought I was going to get a Dear John," he said.