Free The Masked Family by Robert T. Jeschonek Page B

grabbed Father's shoulder. "Says who?"
    Father turned to Stefan. "Says the Roman Catholic Church, that's who."
    Then, he flashed a wink, just quick enough for Stefan to catch it.
    Olenka saw it, too, and for the first time felt a flicker of doubt in Father Stanislavski's intentions. Other people had let her down before, that was true.
    Wasn't it possible that he could let her down, too?
    "All right then," said Stefan. He let go of Father's shoulder and took a step back.
    "As I was saying." Father spread his arms wide. "If you tell the truth, you'll be free to go."
    "I won't get very far," said Max.
    "We'll personally escort you to the train and get you safely onboard," said Father. "After that, well...if I were you, I might have second thoughts about coming back to town for a visit."
    Max looked around the room, from Dominick to Stefan to Olenka to Nicolo. He ended up meeting Father's gaze again and holding it for a long moment.
    Outside, the crowd was chanting something about stringing up the Klannie.
    "Okay," Max said at last. He sighed and shrugged. "I'm with the Klan."
    Father Stanislavski smiled. "Was that so hard?" He patted Max on the back and led him toward the station door. "Now let's get you out of here."
    Â 
    *****
    Hand in hand, Olenka and Max ran down the street. Steadily, the footfalls of the townspeople who were chasing them grew nearer.
    It had all happened so fast.
    Father Stanislavski had walked out of the station first and talked to the crowd. "This boy has admitted the error of his ways. His sins have been forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." While saying this, he'd made the sign of the cross in front of Max.
    The crowd had watched silently as this happened, everyone looking annoyed and confused.
    Father had turned to Olenka then and waved her forward. When she'd stepped up, he'd grabbed her hand, grabbed Max's hand, and pressed them together.
    "Follow me," he'd whispered.
    With that, Father had started forward. "Christ our Lord has already forgiven this boy. Now, we must follow Christ's example and do the same."
    As Olenka had followed Father into the crowd, she had felt intensely conscious of the people around her. Mrs. Froelich from next-door had scowled with deep disapproval as Olenka passed. Mrs. Lorenzo from down the street had shaken her head and looked away as if she hadn't been able to stand looking at Olenka.
    One familiar face after another had glared at Olenka, silently condemning her. She had never felt such shame in her life.
    On top of all that, she still hadn't been sure if she was leading Max to freedom or death.
    "We must give this young man the chance for a new beginning," Father had said. "We must grant him safe passage home."
    That had been the moment when Olenka's father, Josef, had blocked the way.
    "I've come for my daughter," he'd said. Looking at him, Olenka had realized he'd just finished a shift in the mine. Every visible inch of him had been covered with black coal dust--his helmet, his face, his neck, his hands, his coveralls.
    "Yes, Josef," Father Stanislavski had said. "She'll be right with you."
    "She needs to come home right now." Squaring his shoulders, Josef had moved his broad, muscular frame closer to Father. "It's too dangerous out here for a young girl."
    "Olenka's helping me walk this young man to the train," Father had said.
    "This young Klansman?" Josef had taken another step closer. "What's the hurry? He late gettin' to Cresson to burn another cross?"
    The crowd had laughed nervously. No one had seemed eager to put themselves in the middle of the face-off.
    For her part, Olenka had watched the confrontation with fascination. Until today, Josef and Father had always been friendly toward each other. Now, they were poised toe to toe, nose to nose, chest to chest, radiating tension.
    The two most influential men in Olenka's life had looked like they were ready to come to blows. Not only had she wondered if they would really