Father Aguirre smiled. “The first commandment is ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,’” he said gently. “It doesn’t say that there aren’t any others, or that you shouldn’t be polite when you meet them. I’d probably try to talk you out of worshipping one, but . . . well . . . we all make our own peace with the desert. Call them spirits if it sits easier with you. And if you’re worried for your immortal soul, come talk to me.”

