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Show Acting Alone Page 317 voice, for Bopp's benefit, she said, "Yes, we use all kinds of surplus stuff from our hospitals. It saves money. And frugality, my friend, is a major part of the religious life" - Bopp passed, and so did her smile and bright voice - "some would say the major part. For example, Professor (may I call you Professor?) you may have noticed our elegant napkin rings." She reached into a drawer and, with a sardonic flourish, produced a crusty slip of linen girded round with a ring fashioned from a p last icky material that Sam recognized. Back at the prairie fort, Shanny had filled Sam in on many of the more naturalistic details of nunnery life in an eeew icky voice. Sam wondered if this Simone was the nun who had tormented the child during meals here in the refectory. He had a hunch she was, and loved her for it. "Don't tell me," Sam said, fingering the napkin ring, trying not to touch the besmirched fabric itself. "Bleached X-ray film." "Very good, Professor!" she cried, genuinely impressed with his abstruse knowledge of medical technology. "Were you a medical technician before getting full tenure at the University of Kansas?" "Mmnf," said Sam. "It was just a job, you know. But I was helping others. So what the fu - er, heck." Simone looked at him for a second. He wondered if she were trying to hold back scornful, disbelieving laughter. But, no. She merely continued to test his vast, varied knowledge. "And, this white stuff on our plates?" she asked, invitingly, dying to be impressed further. "Hospital rice." "Yes!" She thumped congratulations into his shoulderblades. "Straight |