On Friday night, after waiting nearly ten minutes outside the Great Prayer Hall, Klein supported Miss Sharron, who had taken Daly's appearance, and entered with the other worshippers attending the Moon Mass under a pastor's guidance.
In the dim, tranquil hall, they were greeted by voices chanting in unison:
"The crimson full moon rises, shining upon the earth,
"Everyone sinks into a sweet dream, dreaming of themselves,
"Dreaming of parents, wives, and children. This is forever..."
As the sacred, rhythmic voices echoed through the hall, the worshippers settled into a calm. They seemed to forget their daily troubles and all the difficulties of the Real World.
Bishop Elektra, who was presiding over the Mass, stood before the altar and began a brief sermon.
Only after he had preached on classic passages from Night's Revelation, distributed Communion, and finished the hymn praising the Goddess did Klein take Miss Sharron's arm. Holding his wallet in his other hand, he walked down the aisle to the altar and, under Elektra's kindly, compassionate gaze, veered toward the donation box.
Klein tapped his chest four times clockwise, tracing the Crimson Moon, then slipped in all his large-denomination notes.
Three hundred pounds in total!
At that moment, Klein felt neither pain nor reluctance. He was perfectly calm, because he remembered the ritual Old Neil had performed to repay a debt.
That time, under the Goddess's protection, they had found a wallet containing more than three hundred pounds in cash.
He stepped aside, traced the Crimson Moon again, and made room for the next donor.
Bishop Elektra approached them. As he tapped his chest four times clockwise to trace the Red Moon, he said:
"May the Goddess bless you, Mr. Dantès, Mrs. Dantès."
After Klein and Sharron returned the greeting with smiles, the bishop led them to