第30部分(第4/9 頁)

；　even　if　you　offer　it

to　me。　Can't　you　see　it's　horrible？〃

〃It　isn't　me；　it's　Christ。〃

〃What　if　it　is；　it's　you！　And　it's　horrible；　you　wallowing　in

your　own　dead　body；　and　thinking　of　eating　it　in　the

Sacrament。〃

〃You've　to　take　it　for　what　it　means。〃

〃It　means　your　human　body　put　up　to　be　slit　and　killed　and

then　worshipped……what　else？〃

They　lapsed　into　silence。　His　soul　grew　angry　and　aloof。

〃And　I　think　that　lamb　in　Church；〃　she　said；　〃is　the　biggest

joke　in　the　parish〃

She　burst　into　a　〃Pouf〃　of　ridiculing　laughter。

〃It　might　be；　to　those　that　see　nothing　in　it；〃　he　said。　〃You

know　it's　the　symbol　of　Christ；　of　His　innocence　and

sacrifice。〃

〃Whatever　it　means；　it's　a　lamb；〃　she　said。　〃And　I

like　lambs　too　much　to　treat　them　as　if　they　had　to　mean

something。　As　for　the　Christmas…tree

flag……no〃

And　again　she　poufed　with　mockery。

〃It's　because　you　don't　know　anything；〃　he　said　violently；

harshly。　〃Laugh　at　what　you　know；　not　at　what　you　don't

know。〃

〃What　don't　I　know？〃

〃What　things　mean。〃

〃And　what　does　it　mean？〃

He　was　reluctant　to　answer　her。　He　found　it　difficult。

〃What　does　it　mean？〃　she　insisted。

〃It　means　the　triumph　of　the　Resurrection。〃

She　hesitated；　baffled；　a　fear　came　upon　her。　What　were　these

things？　Something　dark　and　powerful　seemed　to　extend　b