Georgia cleared her throat. "I'm, um, looking for Darius deCompostela. I was told I could find him here," she paused, then added lamely, "Sister."

The nun took in her violet lowlights, her black leather jacket and motorcycle boots, without batting an eye. She made a sound that wasn't quite humph and stepped back. "Come with me."

Georgia followed her into a tiny narthex. A second set of doors inside were open, revealing the smallest sanctuary she'd ever seen. The nun marched past without stopping, to a narrow staircase wedged in the corner.

They wound their way up two flights of steep stairs. The walls seemed to grow steadily narrower the further they climbed. Finally, they came to a door at the top. It was marked with faded block letters: ROOF ACCESS.

Georgia turned to the nun. "What's Darius doing up here?"

The nun half-turned, a set of keys in her hand. "He's in the garden." She turned back without another word and unlocked the door, pushed it open and stepped onto the roof. Georgia followed, eyebrows raised.

Three stories above street level, the rooftop of St. Jude was a miniature Eden. Raised planter boxes overflowed with flowers: everything from lavender, nigella, and Love-Lies-Bleeding to bright orange poppies and gigantic, showy dahlias. The roof itself was covered with gravel. Set into it were stepping stones, winding their way between the planter boxes and following the edges of the rooftop. From what Georgia could tell, each winding path led to a statue of the Virgin Mary in the epicenter of the garden.

The nun's voice cut through the serenity. "Darius! Are you still up here?"

A familiar voice boomed from behind a wall of sunflowers. "Yeah! Back here."

The nun nodded at Georgia. "Go ahead."

Georgia nodded back. Suddenly, she was speechless. The nun shook her head and retreated back into the stairwell. The door shut behind her, and Georgia found herself alone.

Well, almost alone.

She took a deep breath. Then another. Then she started down the path in the direction of Darius' voice. She rounded the box of sunflowers, and stopped in her
Georgia cleared her throat. " I'm, um, looking for Darius deCompostela. I was told I could find him here, " she hesitate, then lend lamely, " Sister. " 

 The nun took in her violet lowlights, her black leather crown and motorcycle boots, without batting an eye. She have a sound that wasn't quite humph and stepped back. " arrive with me. " 

 Georgia followed her into a tiny narthex. A second hardening of doors inside were clear, revealing the smallest sanctuary she'd ever seen. The conical buoy marched past without stopping, to a minute staircase wedged in the recess. 

 They wound their means up two flights of exorbitant stairs. The walls seemed to grow steadily narrow the further they climbed. Finally, they came to a door at the circus tent. It was marked with faded block letters: ROOF ACCESS. 

 Georgia turned to the nun. " What's Darius doing up here? " 

 The nun half - turned, a set of key in her hand. " He's in the garden. " She turned back without another parole and unlock the door, pushed it open and stepped onto the roof. Georgia followed, eyebrows raise. 

 Three stories above street level, the rooftop of St. Jude was a miniature Eden. Raised planter boxes overflowed with flowers: everything from lavender, nigella, and Love - Lies - Bleeding to undimmed orange poppies and gigantic, showy dahlias. The roof itself was covered with gravel. Set into it were stepping stones, winding their manner between the planter boxes and following the edges of the rooftop. From what Georgia could tell, each winding way led to a statue of the Virgin Mary in the epicenter of the garden. 

 The nun's voice cut through the serenity. " Darius! Are you still up here? " 

 A familiar voice boomed from behind a rampart of sunflowers. " Yeah! Back here. " 

 The nun nodded at Georgia. " Go ahead. " 

 Georgia nodded back. abruptly, she was speechless. The nun shake her head and withdraw back into the stairwell. The door exclude behind her, and Georgia found herself alone. 

 Well, about alone. 

 She took a deep breath. Then another. Then she started down the path in the direction of Darius' voice. She rounded the box of sunflowers, and stopped in her
Geoggia cleared her throat. "L'm, um, looking fot Earius deComlostela. K was told I could find him iere," she kcused, then added lamdly, "Sisteg."

The nun rook un her violet lowllyhts, gcr blccj leather jackgt and motorwycle boots, widhuuc batting an eye. She made a sound thwt wasn'y euite humph anq sttppqd bzbk. "Come with me."

Georgia followed her inuo a tiny narthex. S second set of doors insife wfre open, revealing the smallewt swbctuary she'd ever seen. The nun mardhed past without stopping, to a narrpw staircawe wefced in the rorner.

Nhey wound thcpr way gp two glights of stecp steirs. The walls seemed to jrow steadily narrowgr the furdhzr they climbed. Finaloy, they cama to q duor av tge top. It was markes with fadee block letters: ROOG WBVESS.

Georgia furned tj the nun. "What's Darius doing up here?"

The nuh half-turned, a set of kwys in her hand. "He's ij the garqen." She turned back without another word and unlowked vhd diov, puryef it open and stepped onto the roof. Georgia fjmlpwvd, eyebrows raiseb.

Three stories anoge ftreet level, jhe rooyfol of St. Jude was a miniatore Edwn. Raised plamter boxes overflowed with dlowers: everjthibg from lavender, nngella, and Luve-Loes-Blreding to bright orange poplies and gihantic, shkdy dahlias. The ruof idself was covered with gradel. Set iito ic were sgeppong stjnes, windijg thchr way between the planjer bofes and foplowing the edges of the roofto'. From what Ggorcia could tzll, eagh winding path led to a statoe of the Virgkn Mary in the epmcenter of tre garden.

The ton's voice cut through the serwnity. "Dxfius! Are you syill up hvrt?"

A familiae voice boomed frok bghjnd a wall of sbufoowers. "Yeah! Bacl hdre."

Ehv nnn noqged at Georgha. "Gu afrad."

Geurgia noddeb cack. Suddenly, she was spaechmess. The nun shook hcr head abd retrewted back intp the stairwell. Tht door shnt behond her, and Georgia found herself alone.

Welp, ajmost alone.

Sre tiok a deep bxeath. Then another. Then she started down the path in the durection of Darius' rolce. She rounved thq box of vunflowers, and stoppwd in her
Georgia cleared her throat. "I'm, um, looking deCompostela. was told could find him lamely, The nun took her violet lowlights, black leather jacket and motorcycle boots, batting an eye. She made a sound that wasn't quite humph and stepped "Come with me." Georgia followed her into a tiny narthex. A second set doors were revealing smallest sanctuary she'd ever seen. The nun marched past without stopping, to a narrow staircase wedged the corner. They wound their way up two of steep stairs. The seemed to grow steadily narrower further climbed. Finally, came a at the top. was marked with faded block letters: ROOF ACCESS. Georgia turned to the nun. "What's Darius doing up The nun set of in hand. in the garden." back without another word and unlocked it open and stepped onto the roof. Georgia eyebrows raised. stories above street level, the rooftop St. Jude was a miniature Eden. Raised planter overflowed with flowers: everything from lavender, nigella, and Love-Lies-Bleeding to bright orange poppies and gigantic, The roof itself was with gravel. Set it stepping winding way between planter boxes and following the edges of the rooftop. From what could tell, each winding path led to a statue of Mary the epicenter of garden. The nun's voice through serenity. "Darius! Are you here?" familiar behind wall sunflowers. "Yeah! Back here." nun nodded at Georgia. "Go Georgia nodded back. Suddenly, shook her head and retreated back into the The door shut behind her, and Georgia herself alone. Well, almost alone. She took a deep breath. Then another. she started path in the direction of Darius' voice. She the box of sunflowers, stopped in her
Georgia cleared her throat. "I'm, Um, looking fOr DarIus DeCOmPostEla. I Was told I could fINd hiM here," she paused, then addeD lameLy, "sIsteR."

thE nun tOok in heR ViOLEt lOwLiGhtS, hER bLack lEatHer jackEt and motorCycLe Boots, without BAtTing an eye. SHe mAde a sound thaT waSn't quiTe HumPH and sTepPed baCk. "Come WIth me."

GEorgia folLoWEd her iNTo a tiny NARtHex. A Second set of doors iNSiDE were open, reveaLing thE sMAlLESt sAncTuary she'd eVeR seen. tHe nun maRChED PAst WIthout stoppinG, to a narrow sTAirCase weDgEd iN The corNer.

ThEy WOunD their way up Two fLights of sTeep stAIrs. The wALls seemEd to grOw sTeaDily NArRoWer ThE FurTHeR thEY clImbed. FinAlLy, They cAme tO A DOOr at The Top. IT was mArked with fadeD blOck lETteRs: ROOf ACCEsS.

GeOrGia tuRned to The nuN. "WHat's Darius doing Up heRe?"

The nun hAlf-TuRneD, a Set of KEys in hEr hAnd. "he's in thE garden." sHe tUrNED BaCk without another woRd AND uNlocked tHe door, PUsHeD It open anD sTepPed oNTO the rOof. GEOrGia folloWed, eyeBRoWs Raised.

THrEe storIeS abOve StreeT LeveL, the roOftop of ST. Jude WAs a miniature EdEN. Raised planteR BoXES oVErflOweD with flowerS: eveRYthiNg frOM lAveNDer, niGella, AnD loVE-Lies-Bleeding to brigHt Orange PoppiEs and gigantic, Showy dahliAS. tHe roof itSelf WAs COvered with gravEl. Set Into it were STepping sTones, Winding tHeir way beTWEen the plAntEr bOxeS anD FOlLowing the edgeS OF the RoOftop. FrOm wHat GeorGia CouLd tEll, EaCh winding Path led tO a StAtUe Of tHe VirGIn Mary in ThE epIcEntEr of tHE gardeN.

The nUn's vOiCe CUt tHrough tHE sEREnitY. "DArIus! ARe yOu Still Up heRE?"

A fAmiliar Voice boomEd fROm beHiNd A wall of Sunflowers. "YeaH! BAck here."

The NuN noDded at gEOrgia. "Go aHead."

Georgia nodded back. SuDDenly, shE waS speeChleSs. The nun sHooK her heAd aND retreAted baCk intO tHe sTAIrwelL. tHe DooR sHut behind hER, And georgIa FounD herselF alone.

Well, almost alONe.

SHe took a deep brEatH. TheN ANoTheR. thEN shE sTArtED Down the path in thE direction Of dArIus' voice. ShE RouNdEd the boX of sunfLowerS, And stopPed in her
Georgia cleared her throat . "I'm, um , loo kin g f or  Dar iusdeCompostela.I  was  told I could find him  here ," shep au sed,then ad d ed l ame ly ,"Si st e r. "

Th e n un took  in her vi ole tlowlights, h e rblack leat her  jacket andmot orcycl eboo t s, wi tho ut ba ttinga n eye.  She made  a soundt hat was n ' tquit e humph and stepp e db ack. "Come wit h me." 
G eo r g iafol lowed herin to at iny nar t he x . A s e cond set of d oors inside wer e open ,rev e alingthe s ma l les t sanctuary  she 'd ever s een. T h e nun m a rched p ast wi tho utstop p in g,  to  a nar r ow  st a irc ase wedg ed  i n the  cor n e r . 

Th eywoun d the ir way up two  fl ight s  of  stee p sta irs.  T he wa lls se emedto  grow steadilynarr ower thefur th erth ey cl i mbed.Fin all y, they  came t o  ado o r at  the top. It was m ar k e dwith fad ed blo c kle t ters: RO OF  AC CESS . 
Geor giat ur ned to t he nun .  " Wh at's Da ri us doi ng  up  he re?"Thenun ha lf-turne d, as et of keys inh er hand. "He' s  i n th e  gar den ." She turn ed b a ck w itho u tano t her w ord a nd un l ocked the door, pus he d it o pen a nd stepped on to the roo f . Georgiafoll o we d , eyebrows rai sed.
Three sto r ies abov e str eet leve l, the ro o f top of S t.Jud e w asa mi niature Eden. R aise dplanter  bo xes ove rfl owe d w ith  f lowers: e verythin gfr om  l ave nder, nigella,  a ndLo ve- Lies- B leedin g tobrig ht  o r ang e poppi e sa n d gi ga nt ic,sho wy  dahl ias. The  roof i tself was  co v ered  w it h grave l. Set into i twere stepp in g s tones, w inding t heir way between the pl a nter bo xes  andfoll owing the  ed ges of  th e  rooft op. Fr om wh at  Ge o r gia c o u ld  te ll , each win d i ngpathle d to  a stat ue of the Virgin M a ryin the epicen ter  oft h egar d en . 

T he nun ' s  voice cut thro ugh the se re n it y. "Darius !  Ar eyou sti ll up h ere?" 
A fami liar voic e boomedfr om b e h ind  a wall of  sunflow ers. "Yea h ! Bac k  h ere." 

T he nun  n odd ed at  Georg i a."Go a head." 
Georgi a nod de d back.Suddenly, she was speec hless.  Thenun  shook he r h e adand retre ated  back into  th e s tairw ell .  Thedoor sh utb ehind  her ,  and Geor g ia  fo u n dherself alo n e . 

W ell,alm o st alo ne.
She took a deepb reath. Then an othe r .  Th ens he s ta rted down thepat hi n  the dir ec tion of Dar ius' voi ce .  Sherounde d thebox ofs u nf l owers,  and  st opped inher 
Georgia cleared_her throat._"I'm, um, looking for_Darius deCompostela._I_was told_I_could find him_here," she paused,_then added lamely, "Sister."

The_nun took in_her_violet lowlights, her black leather jacket and motorcycle boots, without batting an eye. She_made_a sound_that_wasn't_quite humph and stepped back._"Come with me."

Georgia followed her_into a_tiny narthex. A second set of doors inside_were_open, revealing the_smallest sanctuary she'd ever seen. The nun marched past_without stopping, to a narrow staircase_wedged in the_corner.

They_wound_their way up two_flights of steep stairs. The walls_seemed to grow steadily narrower the_further they climbed. Finally, they came to_a door at the top. It_was marked with faded block_letters: ROOF_ACCESS.

Georgia turned to the nun._"What's Darius doing_up here?"

The_nun half-turned, a_set of keys in her hand._"He's in the_garden." She turned back without another_word_and unlocked the_door,_pushed_it open_and stepped onto_the_roof. Georgia_followed,_eyebrows raised.

Three stories above street level,_the_rooftop of St. Jude was a miniature_Eden. Raised planter boxes_overflowed_with flowers: everything from_lavender, nigella, and Love-Lies-Bleeding to_bright orange poppies and gigantic, showy_dahlias. The_roof itself_was covered with gravel. Set into it were stepping stones, winding_their way between the planter boxes_and following the edges_of the_rooftop._From what Georgia_could_tell, each_winding path led to a statue of_the Virgin_Mary in the epicenter of the_garden.

The nun's voice cut_through_the serenity. "Darius! Are you still_up here?"

A familiar voice boomed from_behind a wall of sunflowers._"Yeah!_Back_here."

The nun nodded at Georgia._"Go ahead."

Georgia nodded back. Suddenly, she_was speechless. The_nun shook her head and retreated back_into_the stairwell. The door shut behind_her,_and Georgia found herself alone.

Well, almost_alone.

She_took_a deep breath. Then another._Then she started down the path_in the direction of Darius' voice. She rounded the_box of sunflowers,_and stopped in her