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call a disciple.”
    “As you may know, that doesn’t matter. People come and go within the Church as their spiritual needs require. As to evil, that is what occurs when sapient creatures who understand the difference between good and bad intentionally do the latter. It’s not nearly as complex a matter as philosophers once made it out to be.”
    “But what about evil in a physical sense, padre?”
    “A physical sense . . .” Bateleur pondered uncertainly. “Are you asking if there is a way to quantify evil?”
    “Yes, that’s it exactly!” Flinx responded eagerly.
    Bateleur punctuated his response with delicate gestures. “That’s something theologians have debated since sapients first huddled in caves and developed organized religions. I’m still not entirely sure I understand your question.”
    Once released, the words spilled from his visitor. “I mean, can evil be real in the physical sense? Can it have physical properties, like light or energy? I’m no physicist, but I know that everything is composed of particles and waves. There are strong forces and weak forces, colors and flavors, directions and sensations.” He leaned forward so intently that Bateleur was momentarily taken aback.
    “Could some combination of forces or particles constitute that which we have always referred to as ‘evil’?”
    “Interesting notion. I suspect I’m even less the physicist than you, my young friend. But speaking theologically, these days we tend to regard evil as an embodiment of immorality, not an actual presence.”
    “What if it’s not?” Flinx pressed his host. “What if it’s a combination of forces, or particles? What if there’s such a thing as an evil wave-form? Wouldn’t it explain a lot, about how people are influenced and why seemingly rational beings commit inexplicable acts?”
    “Be nice if that were the case,” Bateleur admitted. “Then someone could build an ‘evil-meter’ or some such similar device. It would be a great help in my line of work. But I’m afraid I simply don’t have the specialized knowledge necessary to respond intelligently to your question. I suppose anything that hasn’t been overtly disproved is theoretically possible. Tell me, my son: what led you to this intriguing line of speculation?”
    “I’ve seen it,” Flinx informed him tersely. “Or sensed it, anyway.”
    There
. Whatever happened now, he’d shared what he’d experienced with another person. Even if the padre decided he was insane, it felt good to have it out.
    No question that it led Bateleur to speculate on the stability of his visitor. That was part of his job. “I see.”
    “It’s out there,” Flinx went on. “That way.” Raising his right hand, he pointed. As a melodramatic gesture, it was decidedly understated.
    “You don’t say. People commonly tend to think of evil as lying in this direction.” Smiling, Bateleur tapped the floor with a foot.
    “What I’m referencing has nothing to do with archaic, traditional concepts of Hell. I’m talking about an actual physical presence that’s pure distilled evil. Do you have access to star charts?”
    “This is the United Church. Of course we have charts.” Turning, Bateleur made the request of the nearest monitor, then pivoted the screen so Flinx could see it as well.
    “How’s this?” the padre asked when the screen came to life.
    “No.” Flinx contained his impatience. “That’s just the immediate stellar vicinity around Samstead. You need to pull back by several orders of magnification.”
    Bateleur nodded agreeably and directed the monitor to comply. After a moment he glanced expectantly at his visitor.
    “No, no. Farther out. Much farther.”
    “That’s the whole galaxy we’re looking at now, with the Magellanic Clouds off to the lower left,” Bateleur informed him. “You said that you saw, or sensed, this presence yourself?”
    “That’s right.” Having come this far, Flinx saw no point in holding back any