Shepherd One

EPILOGUE

Three days after Shepherd One landed safely at Denver International Airport, the news talked about nothing else. The focus, of course, was on the terrorists’ capability to bypass all security measures and commandeer the jumbo jet. And, of course, the justification from airport officials was that Shepherd One and its staff was not considered a faction of ‘hostile intent.’ Congressmen and senators from all over the nation were up-in-arms and called for a dog-and-pony-show Hearing. Obviously somebody at TSA and the regulatory system had to be held accountable, right? And senators would have to yell into their mikes from their seated stations in examination of TSA principals, who would get dressed down with stern reprimands. And of course they would appear humble and on the defense, pointing the accusing finger at standing regulations. Just another political exercise in futility, which Kimball had seen many times before while he sat inside the terminal of the Hartsfield-International Airport staring up at a TV screen watching CNN as he waited for his flight.

It was amazing how much the media altered the story based on assumptions, he thought. They weren’t even close to the truth. Perhaps fiction was far more interesting.

When Shepherd One landed he saw the federal agents board the plane, which prompted him to seek shelter below. After getting to the cargo bay, he then worked his way to the level below that one, which was an area not much larger than a crawlspace, and worked his way aft. Reaching the hatch, he lowered himself to the tarmac and escaped into the darkness. It was really quite simple since the area had been cordoned off, giving him a wide area to roam while under the cover of night.

Now, three days later and trying to look less conspicuous by discarding the cleric’s shirt and Roman collar, Kimball made his way east. With the aid of Cardinal Bonasero Vessucci he was able to catch a flight to Rome under the name and false ID of John Antonucci.

And Kimball held no regrets for his decision to abscond from the States for a second time.

He was going home to the Vatican where he belonged.

For Kimball Hayden is more than a soldier.

He is a Knight.

He is a Vatican Knight.