"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars."

Word arrived from the bishop that we would soon be receiving a new and potentially permanent priest in our parish. I am so happy to write here that he has arrived! With Fr. Zelenski's mysterious absence (an absence Fr. Eamon explained to me, at least as much as he could, although I dare not write the details of it, even here), we have all been feeling the strain, and particularly after the week we have had, what with the strange green things roaming the city's streets, it was indeed a welcome relief to see another friendly face making an appearance within our walls. His name is Father Dark, which is a terribly unusual name for a priest, but God is nothing if not good-humored. There is a sort of amusing irony in the father's name, but during our short meeting, I felt he was a very good man. I am so very pleased that he has come to Midian, and although he will be here in a mostly unofficial capacity until Father Eamon feels he is ready, I do hope that he stays.

His arrival was a moment of brightness in an otherwise terrible week. The green-skinned, tentacled things that have invaded our city have made the past few days within the church feel like suffering through a siege. Father Eamon has all but forbidden me to go out, and for once I do not feel up to arguing, as there is simply no way I could hope to outrun the... sylphs, I believe they are called, should one of them take a notion to come after me. We found very old gas masks in the church's storage (how they came to be there, I haven't a clue, and it disturbs me more than I care to admit to try imagining why they were needed in the first place), so the father and the orphans have been able to venture out to acquire supplies. Some of those "supplies" have included a small, battered container of gas, which we have been using to form rudimentary fire-starters (Fr. Eamon calls them something else--a sort of cocktail, I believe?), as we have found that setting these plant things ablaze is the only effective way of destroying them quickly.

I'm not sure where Luci found the gas, and she was very evasive when asked. Fr. Eamon and I exchanged a glance, but neither of us pressed her further. In this, at least, I think we both opted to agree that the end justified the means. I can only pray that God feels the same. It would seem very foolish indeed to quibble over a bit of theft when there are so many lives at stake.

And now there are other things roaming the streets. I pray there is an end in sight.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake,
or watch, or weep tonight,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones.
And for all your love's sake. Amen.