Chapter 40: Unexpected Guests

"As flattering and stylish as black is, I do like other colors."

Amanda jumped up when the door to their trailer opened. Father Dietrich poked his head in.

"Hello?"

"Oh wow." Amanda said. "You made it. This is amazing. Kurt is going to be so happy."

"Thank the lord for English speaking countries where we can actually do something useful." James announced, carrying in the Father's suitcase.

"And we survived left handed cars on right handed roads. Or is it the other way around?" Brin said holding up the keys to the circus' smallest truck, the one they always used to run small errands with.

"I'm sure Wolfgang can arrange a hotel or something later." Amanda said

"It's fine. I'm not worried about it." Father Dietrich said. He turned to Margali. "How are you? You look tired."

Margali sat at their table, dark circles ringing her eyes. She rose from her seat at the table. "Hans, it's so good to see you." She said. "I'm alright now. It was a long night."

Father Dietrich took off his coat and turned to see Amanda, James, and Brin all staring at him. "What?"

"It's just…" Amanda began.

"We've never seen you dressed like that." James finished.

Father Dietrich looked down at his clothes. "You don't like my traveler disguise?" He asked. "The collar is a privilege, not an obligation." He said in response to their faces. "When I travel dressed as a priest I have a ten foot radius around me where everyone acts like they're still in church. This is easier on everyone."

"I think it's the Hawaiian shirt." James said.

"What can I say? As flattering and stylish as black is, I do like other colors. I get them all in at once this way." He shrugged. "I'll change if it makes you that uncomfortable." He said.

"I like it." Margali said.

"It doesn't," said Amanda. "It's just different than what we're used to. Anyway I don't think Kurt will care."

"That's true. Where is he?" Father Dietrich said looking into Kurt's empty bunk.

"In mom's bed." Amanda said. "It's quieter back there and bigger." She stood up and led him to the back of the trailer to where the door to Margali's room was. She slid it open and looked in. Kurt was pretty much how he'd been since Wolfgang brought him back, asleep except he had turned onto his back instead of on his side like how he normally slept. She knelt by the side of the bed to wake him and then turned to look at Father Dietrich when she couldn't.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know. I can't wake him up. And it sounds like he can't breathe." She said.

Father Dietrich joined her, sitting quickly at the edge of the bed. She was right. Up close he could see Kurt struggling with each breath he too k and he didn't stir even when he lifted one of Kurt's eyelids. He'd served as chaplain at several different hospitals and though the doctors rarely bothered to explain their patients' medical conditions, he had enough experience to know when someone was in trouble.

"Did the doctor leave a number you could call?" He asked Amanda.

"Yes." She said, standing up and starting to back away.

"Call it." He said. "Hurry."

Without a word Amanda turned and ran out of the room. Margali rushed in with James and Brin following.

"What's going on?" She said. "What's the matter?"

Father Dietrich shook his head. "I don't know." He moved aside so that Margali could take his place next to her son. He listened to her trying to wake him, speaking to him in comforting tones. But, other than the sound of his labored breathing, Kurt was distressingly silent. And so Father Dietrich did the only useful thing he could think of. He prayed for him.