WHITE SMOKE, BLACK FIRE! c 1986, 2001

Fourteenth Chapter

Episode Two continued
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       The journey had not been as perilous as Pat had anticipated. He was making good time. He had to be getting closer to the Vatican for he could hear the crowd murmuring below, a polyglot of prayers in different languages wafting up, though the Italian Ave's seemed to drown out the rest. As he pressed forward deeper into the dark passage he could not help but think he was living an actual Dungeons and Dragons game. But this was no game. He was growing hungrier by the minute. If he was starved, imagine the Pope! He had to be literally dying of starvation. Pat knew his first priority was to somehow find some food and water, then stop the funeral. No matter where this led, he knew he was getting close. He felt like he had been walking for hours where, in truth, it had only been 15 minutes.
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       Elena had backtracked to check on the old priest in the second-floor men's room in the Apostolic Palace. About the same time she pushed the door open to the lavatory to find it empty, Stephen led Dr. Ogidi through the tunnel up to the Papal closet and into the Pope's quarters where Sister Bridie was waiting. Quietly he introduced the two, not wanting the guards outside the Papal doors to hear anything inside.
       "Sister, I'd like you to meet Dr. Makuta Ogidi."
       Sister Bridie was a bit taken back. "A doctor? Sure n' ya be lookin' like a priest from the Orient."
       Ogidi chuckled, whispering. "Good, it is convincing then."
       "He was afraid it was a bit over the top," Stephen kidded.
       A noise alerted them and they froze. Stealthily Stephen inched close to the door. No voices outside. Perhaps one of the guards. Then the door handle jiggled and he heard various keys being inserted in the lock. None opened the portal to the Papal quarters. Finally he heard the unmistakable guttural "Dass schlock!" Definitely Elena Grabe. They all listened, remaining motionless until she moved off disgustedly down the corridor and away.
       "She may be back," Stephen whispered, still listening at the door.
       "Who was it?" Ogidi asked as he pulled off his disguise.
       "She be the German nun, she be."
       "Thank God, she didn't have the right key," Stephen exhaled as he moved away from the door.
       "That be because, Father, you be havin' it." A smile filled the Irish nun's cherub-like face.
       "So that's what the other key is to?" Navarro looked at her in delightful amazement.
       "I be feelin' she be evil since I met her," Sr. Bridie insisted.
       Stephen smiled. "Good intuition, Sister."
       "I suspect she could be part of the Legion," Ogidi deducted.
       "I don't suspect, I know, Makuta. She definitely is. Remember what I told you about last night. You must somehow make sure those candles are not distributed."
       Pulling out his watch, Ogidi's urgency intensified. "The funeral procession will be starting soon. I want to make sure the German nun doesn't return and that the door to where the candles are stored is locked." Picking up his black bag he retreated to the back room, the Pope's bedroom. "I shall only be a minute," he announced as the door closed.
       "You know, Sister," the Monsignor relayed, "it's hard to believe this nightmare. Yet, somehow, I feel God will win out. He has to."
       "Our faith be gettin' us through this, Father. Faith n' begorrah, without it, lost n' despairin' I be."
       "True. Let us take a few moments and pray." Together they knelt in the Holy Father's living room beseeching the Almighty to have mercy on His people. Instinctively both reached for their Rosaries as they prayed in silence the Psalter, recalling the pleas of David which he expressed in the Psalms. Soon they were both lost in meditation until Ogidi emerged. No longer was he a simple Eastern Rite priest, now he was an African bishop.
       "You like? It should get me into the funeral, no?"
       "That could get you into the conclave," Stephen acknowledged, standing in awe at the tremendous transformation Ogidi had accomplished in such a short time.
       "That will be next," Ogidi played along. "For now I go as..." He pulled out an official Vatican pass to read the name, "Auxiliary Bishop Bantu Nukumba of Zaire."
       "Sure n' ya be amazin', sir. Ya fooled me."
       "I will leave by the main door."
       "But, the guards, Makuta." Stephen seemed alarmed.
       "No guards posted this day."
       "N' how ya be knowin' that?"
       Ogidi turned back toward them. There was a gleam in his eye. "They would have challenged the fraulein." As this disguised bishop exited, he turned back to Stephen and Sister Bridie. "Open this for no one."
       Makuta opened the door carefully and ducked beneath the wide red ribbon that had formed an X across the double doors. Stephen made sure it was locked before he returned to pray with Sister Bridie. Only prayer would save them from the fates that awaited.


Next: PART V: The Shedding FOURTEENTH CHAPTER Episode Three

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For the Prologue of "White Smoke, Black Fire!" see Prologue