All wrong. The words seemed in this moment to describe Hale’s whole life. - Tim Powers

Rivas smiled, remembering his response to his first taking of the Jaybird sacrament—while the rest of the recovering communicants had been praising the Lord Jaybush and making sure they knew when the sacrament would be administered again so as not to miss it, young Gregorio Rivas, though stunned, exhausted and glad to have found shelter and company, was coldly appraising the situation. He didn’t doubt that the mysterious Norton Jaybush was certainly more than a man and possibly a god, but the prospect of abandoning his individuality in order to “merge with the Lord” was profoundly repugnant to him.

I think we're dead."
"Maybe." Vickery shook his head. "Would that make a difference?

The church has become a more...exclusive club since the founder’s day, it’s clear. No doubt the Devil is more hospitable.