Tichon remained silent, while Father Sergius gazing at the darkness sang a litany to Jesus. And the gentle words of the prayer mingled with the gentle rumbling of the thunder.
Jesus, invisible force,
Jesus, infinite mercy,
Jesus, luminous beauty,
Jesus, unspeakable love,
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner!
Tichon felt that Father Sergius wanted to say something to him, but could not make up his mind to do it. Darkness had hidden the monk’s face from him, but the swift flashes occasionally revealed on it an unwonted sadness.
“Father!” said Tichon, at last breaking the silence, “I shall soon leave you.”
“Where are you going, my son?”