Chapter 4
A sharp sting pierced Ironside's right arm. For a moment he had to clutch his arm in order to be able to cope with the pain. His left hand was slippery because of the blood, but he gritted his teeth and moved on towards the altar.
The weapon was an old six-shooter revolver indeed. If Danny's observation was correct there had to be one round left – enough to kill Ironside or anyone else.
In spite of the terrible pain in his arm Ironside stayed seemingly cold. This John was no hardened criminal but a troubled person with a mental disorder. It had to be possible to get through to him.
"John, that's your name, isn't it? You don't want to do this. You want justice for yourself and for your mother, am I right? You will get it, but not by shooting me."
John still pointed the gun at him, and he was trembling like an aspen leaf.
Slowly moving to the front church pews Ironside saw Eve and Danny, who were kneeling next to a prone body... Ed's. His face was covered with sweat. Eve had wound her scarf around his temple... and his eyes were open!
The relief about Ed being alive combined with the pain in his arm made Ironside feel dizzy. But he could not give in to that. He had to face this man, knowing full well that he was risking his life.
"Now tell me, John – what exactly is it you want?"
His voice sounded very determined. It led John to forget the absurdity of their situation and to believe that he would just have to explain everything.
"Listen, I was brought up by monks. They talked about 'substitution' – about Jesus taking sins away. But that's far too easy, far too convenient for those who did something wrong. I want somebody to take responsibility for what happened to my mother and to me, here on earth. This priest got my mother pregnant and then left her. And all you people here are accomplices, because you support this unjust system and this hypocrisy!"
Ironside nodded. "You are perfectly right to be angry about the wrong which was done to you and to your mother."
How on earth could he convince the man to drop his weapon? Maybe a shock therapy would work.
"Now look at this boy here, Danny. He was a home child too. He has a bad scar on his arm – and he is autistic." For a second Ironside considered if he would hurt Danny by telling the truth so openly. He decided that no. The kid was as realistic as himself. "Nobody ever wanted to adopt a handicapped, scarred child... until Ed and Eve Brown did so. You have shot the man who made Danny his son and who gave him a family. Is this really what you wanted? Take this father away from this child? Do you reckon that the past injustice will be rectified by the new one?"
John stared at him with blank eyes, trying to understand what he had said.
Ed forced himself to pull himself standing. "Danny, please – tell 'em about Christmas and what it really means..." He swayed and Eve had to support him. She helped him sit down on the nearest pew.
Danny needed all his courage to obey. "Violence is never a solution. Jesus came into the world and gave his life, so that crimes don't lead to revenge anymore. The cycle of violence is broken. Forgiveness can begin. Healing."
John was all mixed up by what this child said to him: a home child like himself... who had got a family and who was loved now... and he had almost killed his father... and now this child was talking about forgiveness... what had he done to that boy? This was so completely wrong...
The gun dropped out of his hand.
"Forgiveness doesn't work. Some things are unforgivable, like what was done to me and my mother, and like what I did to you."
Twenty pairs of eyes were fixed on the boy who had never wanted to attract any attention. He sought eye-contact with his father. Ed, who was barely able to keep upright, nodded at him reassuringly.
Danny swallowed hard.
"Yes, it is forgivable. I forgive you, and so will my father. This is what Christmas is all about."
John sank to his knees, covering his face with his hands.
Ironside made another effort and pulled up beside him. He rested his left hand on John's shoulder. "John, we understand you. We will help you. This evening was not in vain. We heard what happened, and it will not be forgotten again. You were right to tell us. And we won't press charges against you." He knew that Ed would agree with him.
Now Bill Crawford rose. He had not really understood his own part in what had happened, let alone the entire problem. "This is madness. You can't risk letting this man go free, he's dangerous!"
Ironside answered very determinedly, "We risk it. We can't make good for all the wrong which was done. But we can try a new start from here."
Eve saw that Ironside was at the end of his rope as well as Ed, much as he tried to hide it. "Father, please dismiss these people now. We have two injured men here who need medical attention."
Father Paul pulled himself together.
"What we have seen tonight has probably much more to do with Christmas than what I had planned. Go with the Lord's blessing and spread the good news that our Redeemer is born. Amen."
Quietly the people left, even Bill Crawford.
Father Paul led John towards the sacristy. Ironside threw him a questioning look. Could he risk leaving the two alone together? The old priest nodded, surprisingly confident.
Katherine brought in the doctor in who had come with the paramedics. He wanted both victims to be taken to the hospital. Of course both refused.
With a shrug he disinfected Ironside's flesh wound, administered a tetanus jab, dressed the arm and put it in a sling. "At least let me check on that arm the day after tomorrow. It could still get infected. And no driving your wheelchair around on your own, is that understood?"
Under his wife's firm look Ironside nodded, almost a little meekly. Incredible, what women could do to a guy's resistance!
Ed didn't fare any better. "Mrs. Brown – that graze wound is only superficial, but your husband has a concussion. He needs a lot of rest, at least for a few days. See to it that he gets it."
Eve didn't voice her thoughts: That now Ed would have to take the much needed time out... Maybe this injury was a blessing!