Project Pope

Fifty-seven

When a monk brought word that an Old One was coming up the esplanade Cardinal Theodosius went out to the basilica to meet him.

The Old One spun sedately up to the steps, halted his spinning and settled to the pavement. He instantly began his vibrating drumming and finally he managed words.

'I return your visit, he said.

'I thank you for it, said Theodosius. 'It is gracious of you. We should get together often.

'I also bring you word, said the Old One. 'I have a message for you, brought me by a Duster.

'Whisperer? Decker's Duster?

'No, not the Whisperer. One of our long-lost Dusters, happily home again. Once there were many of them here, then they went away. We had despaired of ever seeing them again. We thought of them, strangely enough, as our special children. Now one of them came back to us; we hope that others may.

'I feel happy for you, said Theodosius. 'You said the Duster brought a message.

'A message for you, Cardinal. The Tennyson and the Jill reached Heaven, but it is not Heaven.

'Thank God for that!

'You did not wish it Heaven?

'Some of us had hoped it would not be.

'Also, said the Old One, 'that the Jill and the Tennyson will be returning.

'When?

'Soon, the Duster said. They'll be returning soon.

'Fine. I shall be waiting for them.

'I suggested, said the Old One, 'that when they did return, they arrive upon this esplanade.

'How will they know?

'The Duster went back to this not-Heaven to tell them. I had it in mind that the two of us might wait here to greet them.

'We may have to wait a while.

'I have patience for long waiting and I think you have as well.

'That is fine. We both are full of patience and we have much to talk about. We can talk away the hours.

'Your pardon, please, said the Old One, 'but talking in your method is laborious for me. I cannot talk for long.

'In that case, we shall share a mutual silence. Perhaps the two of us may find we have no need of talk. Perhaps we can commune together.

'That is a noble thought, said the Old One. 'We'll attempt communing.

'If you don't mind, said Theodosius, 'I think I'll get a stool. It is silly that a robot should ever need a stool, but I have become accustomed to a stool. When I visit Jill in the library, I always sit on one. I know it is a ridiculous habit, but….

'I'll wait for you while you go to get it, said the Old One.

He waited on the esplanade while the cardinal went to get his stool.