Day Of Confession

124

The Vatican. The Tower of San Giovanni. Same time.

'You asked to see me, Eminence.' Palestrina stood in the doorway of Marsciano's cell, his massive body filling most of it.

'Yes.'

Marsciano stepped back, and Palestrina came into the room. As he did, one of his black suits stepped behind him, to close the door and stand beside it, guardlike. He was Anton Pilger, the young man with the perpetual smirk and eager face, who, only days earlier, had been Marsciano's driver.

'I wanted to speak in private,' Marsciano said.

'As you wish.' Palestrina lifted a huge hand, and Pilger suddenly snapped to attention, then turned on his heel and left, a move not of a policeman, but of a soldier.

For a long moment Marsciano stared at Palestrina, as if trying to see behind his eyes, then slowly his hand moved out from his body and he pointed a finger toward the silent television nearby. The pictures on it, a horrible replay of those in Hefei – a convoy of trucks jammed with People's Liberation Army troops. Hordes of people crowding the streets on either side of them as they passed. The camera cutting to a field reporter dressed much like the troops, his voice not heard because of the muted television, but obviously attempting to describe what was happening.

'Wuxi is the second lake.' Marsciano's face was ashen. 'I want it to be the last. I want you to stop the next.'

Palestrina smiled easily. 'The Holy Father has been asking for you, Eminence. He wanted to visit. I told him you were very weak, and that it was best that for the time being you rested.'

'No more deaths, Umberto,' Marsciano whispered. 'You already have me. Stop the horror in China. Stop it and I will give you what you have wanted from the beginning…'

'-Father Daniel?' Palestrina smiled again, this time benevolently. 'You told me he was dead, Nicola…'

'He is not. If I ask him, he will come here. Call off the last lake and you can do with us as you wish… The secret of your 'Chinese Protocol' passing with us.'

'Very noble, Eminence. But, unfortunately, too late on both counts…' Palestrina turned to glance for a moment at the television, then he looked back.

'The Chinese have capitulated and have already asked for the contracts… Even so' – Palestrina smiled distantly – 'in war there is no pulling back; the campaign must be concluded according to plan…' Palestrina hesitated long enough for Marsciano to know any further argument would be in vain, and then he continued. 'As for Father Daniel. No need to summon him, he is on his way to see you. May even be in Rome as we speak.'

'Impossible!' Marsciano shouted. 'How could he even know I was here?'

Again Palestrina smiled. 'Father Bardoni told him.'

'No! Never!' Marsciano was flushed with anger and outrage. 'He would never give up Father Daniel.'

'But he did, Eminence… Ultimately he became convinced that I was right and that you and the cardinal vicar were wrong. That the future of the Church is worth more than the life of one single man, no matter who he is – Eminence…' Palestrina's smile faded. 'Have no doubt, Father Daniel will come.'

Marsciano had never hated in his life. But he hated now, and with more fervor than he'd ever experienced.

'I do not believe you.'

'Believe what you wish…'

Slowly Palestrina slipped his hand into the pocket of his priest's jacket and took out a dark velvet drawstring purse. 'Father Bardoni sends his ring to you as proof…'

Setting the purse on the writing table next to Marsciano, Palestrina fixed his eyes on the cardinal, then turned and walked to the door.

Marsciano did not see Palestrina leave. Did not hear the door open or close. His eyes were frozen on the dark velvet pouch in front of him. Slowly, his hand trembling, he picked it up and opened it.

Outside, a gardener looked up sharply at the sound of a hideous scream.