“Then you were a priest!” blurted Albornoz. Gelmiro smiled affectionately.
“It is not quite that simple, far from it. But, briefly, yes, I became a priest of Cuenca. To this day, I am the only priest in the town who is a local person; all the rest are born in other parts of the country. Mmm…” His thoughts strayed.
“…yes, they are foreigners, if you will. But that is the way. The Bishop selects the priests for his diocese, and he prefers to bring in fresh blood, although I am living proof that there are exceptions and it can be done…err…from within.”
fresh blood, “It can be done,” echoed Albornoz. The cleric absentmindedly repeated the boy’s name,
can “Albornoz…Albornoz…your family name has been part of this region for many years, did you know that?”
“No, Father.”
“Down the valley, ma
