第18部分(第4/7 頁)

keep　your　mind　on　Jesus。　He　went　that　way—upthe　steep　side　of　the　mountain—and　He　was　carrying　the　cross；　and　didn’t　nobody　help　Him。　Hewent　that　way　for　us。　He　carried　that　cross　for　us。’

‘But　He　was　the　Son　of　God；’　said　John；　‘and　He　knew　it。’

‘He　knew　it；’　said　Elisha；　‘because　He　was　willing　to　pay　the　price。　Don’t　you　know　it；Johnny？　Ain’t　you　willing　to　pay　the　price？’

‘That　song　they　sing；’　said　John；　finally；　‘if　it　costs　my　life—is　that　the　price？’

‘Yes。’　said　Elisha；　‘that’s　the　price。’

Then　John　was　silent；　wanting　to　put　the　question　another　way。　And　the　silence　wascracked；　suddenly；　by　an　ambulance　siren；　and　a　crying　bell。　And　they　both　look　up　as　theambulance　raced　past　them　on　the　avenue　on　which　no　creature　moved；　save　for　the　saints　of　Godbehind　them。

‘But　that’s　the　Devil’s　price；　too；’　said　Elisha；　as　silence　came　again。　‘The　Devil；　he　don’task　for　nothing　less　than　your　life。　And　he　take　it；　too；　and　it’s　lost　for　ever。　For　ever；　Johnny。　Youin　darkness　while　you　living　and　you　in　darkness　when　you　dead。　Ain’t　nothing　but　the　love　ofGod　can　make　the　darkness　light。’

‘Yes；’　said　John；　‘I　remember。　I　remember。’

‘Yes；’　said　Elisha；　‘but　you　got　to　remember　when　the　evil　day　es；　when　the　floodrises；　boy；　and　looks　like　your　soul　is　going　under。　You　got　to　remember　when　the　devil’s　doing　allhe　can　to　make　you　forget。’

‘The　Devil；’　he　said；　frowning　and　staring；　‘the　Devil。　How　many　faces　is　the　Devil　got？’

‘He　got　as　many　faces；’　Elisha　said；’　as　you　going　to　see　between　now　and　the　time　you　layyour　burden　down。　And　he　got　a　lot　more　than　that；　but　ain’t　nobody　seen　them　all。’

‘Except　Jesus；’　John　said　then。　‘Only　Jesus。’

‘Yes；’　said　Elisha；　with　a　grave；　sweet　smile；　‘th