When Schiller arrived at the village church, he saw someone unexpected: Batman.
His figure was swallowed by the fog, leaving only a hazy outline before the fence of the withered garden outside the church, so light it seemed ready to drift away.
The moment Schiller emerged from the street corner, Batman turned to look at him. But Schiller keenly noticed that Batman's gaze was unfocused. He seemed to be looking at Schiller, yet not seeing him at all.
Schiller had a bad feeling.
"You came here too." He walked over and said, "I found something very important in Jeff's house. It made me feel that this is far more serious than we imagined."
"What was it?" Batman asked. "What made you feel so alarmed and incredulous?"
"Don't joke like that." Schiller said, "You're not some mind-reading master. How did you know I was alarmed? Or do you think a church is a good place to flirt?"
Batman turned his head back and said, "You should ask your collar."
After saying that, he headed for the church doors. Schiller tugged at his Roman collar.
The Roman collars worn by Catholic priests were quite distinctive: a strip of white cloth held in place by the collars on either side, pressed right against a man's Adam's apple. Every time he spoke, he could clearly feel the fabric there, and it was exceedingly uncomfortable.
That was precisely the collar's purpose: to remind priests to watch their words and, before speaking, to think devoutly of God.
"You'd better not curse out loud," the Beyonder suddenly warned. "Otherwise, you'll break character."
Schiller pressed his lips together and silently climbed the steps.
Batman had already pushed open the church doors. This church in a remote little village was as crude and gloomy as ever. A huge cross