Norberto stepped over to his brother. He put his hands on Adolfo's shoulders and looked into his eyes. Adolfo was very aware that his face was closed to his brother, A blank mask.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" Norberto asked.

"About what?"

"About-anything," Norberto replied uneasily.

"About anything? Sure. I love you, Berto."

"That isn't what I meant."

"I know," Adolfo said. "And I know you, Norberto. What's troubling you? Or should I help you? You want to know what I was doing tonight? Is that what this is about?"

"You've already said you were fishing," Norberto said. "Why shouldn't I believe you?"

"Because you knew exactly what the explosion was and yet you pretended not to," Adolfo said. "You didn't come here to be closer to the sea, Berto. You came here because you wanted to see if I was home. All right. I wasn't. You also know that I wasn't fishing."

Norberto said nothing. He removed his hands from Adolfo's shoulders. His arms fell heavily.

"You've always been able to see inside me," Adolfo said. "To know what I was thinking, feeling. When I was a teenager I'd come back from a night of whoring or cockfights and lie to you. I'd tell you I was playing soccer or watching a movie. But you always looked in my eyes and saw the truth, even though you said nothing."

"You were a boy then, Dolfo. Your activities were a part of growing up. Now you're a man-"

"That's right, Norberto," Adolfo interrupted. "I'm a man. One who barely has time for cockfighting, let alone whoring. So you see, brother, there's nothing to worry about."

Norberto stepped closer. "I'm looking in your eyes again now. And I believe there is something to worry about."

"It's my worry, not yours."

"That isn't true," Norberto said. "We're brothers. We share pain, we share secrets, we share love. We always have. I want you to talk to me, Dolfo. Please."

"About what? My activities? My beliefs? My dreams?"

"All of it. Sit down. Tell me."

"I don't have time," Adolfo said.

"Where your soul is concerned you must make the time."

Adolfo regarded his brother for a moment. "I see. And if I did have time would you be listening to me as a brother or as a priest?"

"As Norberto," the priest replied gently. "I can't separate who I am from what I am."

"Which means you would be my living conscience," Adolfo said.

"I fear that that position may be open," Norberto replied.

Adolfo looked at him a few seconds longer. Then he turned away. "You really want to know what I was doing tonight?"

"Yes. I do."