Four people sat around the round table, one on each side, so... the other two couldn't see the front of his photograph. All they could see was
a field of white snow to the north.
The Christian bishop hesitated for a long time before slowly opening the document. He didn't look at the photograph first. As he took it out, he turned it facedown, then picked up the
document and began to read.
But... after only a few glances, the Christian bishop was completely stunned. He hurriedly reread the document several times, then finally slammed it down on the table with a
bang. His hand trembled as he placed it over the photograph. The hesitation on his face clearly told the other three people present that he didn't know... whether
he should look at this photograph.
The Orthodox and Christian bishops were both stunned. One was staring blankly at the photograph; the other had finished reading the document but didn't dare look at the photograph.
Just then... a difficult choice confronted the Catholic bishop.
Should he... look at the photograph first, or read the document first?
If he looked at the photograph... the Orthodox bishop on his left still hadn't come back to his senses.
If he read the document... the Christian bishop on his right had just been trembling, and now even his whole body was shaking.
Looking utterly bewildered, the Catholic bishop glanced at the document in his hands, then at the two men beside him, and finally at the Pope, who sat there silently, pretending to be calm.
He gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and took a deep breath.
Damn it! I'll do both at once!!
He picked up the document with his left hand and the photograph with his right, then...
Three hours passed...
The