Pandora's Ark

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Father Auciello slid the dossier of Imam Qusim Abul, a Muslim leader who was respected and revered by the Islamic community.

Pope Pius opened the folder. The picture that stared back at him was an aged man who could have been anywhere from his early seventies to late eighties, given the deep-set wrinkles that lined his face, the vestiges of hard living. His beard was long, tapered and fashioned from minute loops of curly hair.

“Qusim Abul,” said Auciello. “He’s a respected leader of the Islamic faith who just happens to be in the alleged possession of the Ark of the Covenant. But he’s not saying how he came into its possession. But that he’s amenable to sharing in its glory with all faiths as a promotion of goodwill.”

Bonasero mulled this over as he stared at the photo. Carefully, he placed the photo down on the desktop. “He has no explanation at all?”

“None that he’s willing to offer,” he returned. “He’s obviously deflecting. But he’s standing firm about the Ark being shared by all at the moment of its opening.”

“Can he be trusted?”

“Absolutely,” he said. “He’s a true imam who is frustrated with extremists and abhors violence or anything regarding a jihad.”

Bonasero nodded. “True Muslims are pacifists,” he said. “Violence is not even a consideration with them.”

“He’s reached out to all political and religious leaders for a Summit to be held at Vatican City,” said Auciello.

“Which raises suspicions,” returned Bonasero. “But he is a respected imam.”

“He’s claiming valid points as to why it should be held here.”

“Namely?”

“He’s wants to maintain a safe haven for Jews and Muslims,” he answered. “His points are that there are no real sites of neutrality in any of the Arab or Israeli states since prejudices continue to run high, and guarantees for safety cannot be assured. Right now the Vatican appears to be the likeliest location where multiple denominations can gather in relative safety. For this to happen, however, the imam is requesting that the Ark be placed at a neutral site at the conclusion of the Summit, so that everybody can share in its wealth without one religion maintaining dominion over the relic. Right now Switzerland is being bandied about as the state of neutrality.”

“It would be a masterful showing of goodwill between the religions,” he said. “Perhaps this is the beginning of true healing.”

“The imam bears no ill will.”

The pontiff thought this over. “Of course we’ll have to open the Ark,” he said. “At least to make sure that it bears nothing of ill intent — germ, biological, radioactive, everything needs to be thoroughly examined.”

“We have scholars, scientists and historians waiting in the wings,” Auciello told him.

“Then make it happen,” he said firmly. “I’ll contact Kimball and advise him to set up an elite security line surrounding the dignitaries. In the meantime, contact the imam and set up delivery in Rome per my instructions. The Ark will be sent to the lab and examined in a controlled environment to ensure that it’s sanitized. It should take about a week. During that time I want the bishops of the Holy See to extend a hand to all clerics of the Islamic, Hebrew and Catholic faiths. And to formerly invite all the political principals willing to attend the Ark’s revealing. Such a promotion between the denominations will only serve as a message that the religions may not be so different after all.”

After Father Auciello left the pontiff’s chamber, Bonasero sat alone, musing over the fact that everything looked fine on the surface but not so in his heart. True, the imam was a man of devout faith whose conviction was geared toward sanctity and peace. But on the flip side Bonasero referred to his instincts, sensing something slightly amiss, an inborn caution.

Though the display of the Ark was too good to pass up, Bonasero would maintain prudence by having it thoroughly examined, at least giving him some control over its introduction. He would then request that the Ark be sealed and placed within a controlled environment prior to transport, and then sequestered upon its arrival in Rome where it would be scientifically examined.

Being in such an advantageous position, Bonasero Vessucci saw the glory of the Summit. But he also saw a side that could become the critical mass of pure darkness in which the intentional good behind the unveiling held nothing but the absence of light.

Picking up the phone, Pope Pius called Kimball Hayden.