The Brotherhood Of The Holy Shroud

32

ADDAIO ENTERED HIS HOUSE QUIETLY, TRY-' ing not to make any noise. The journey had exhausted him. Guner would be surprised when he found him in the morning. Addaio hadn't informed anyone in Urfa he was coming back so soon.

Bakkalbasi had stayed on in Berlin. From there he would fly to Zurich to withdraw the money they needed to pay the two men who were being hired to kill Mendib before he could be released from prison.

Addaio had known Mendib since he was a child. He was a fine boy, friendly and intelligent. Obedient. The pastor remembered how eagerly he had embraced his mission, their last words before he submitted to the age-old sacrifice and surrendered his voice forever so that the community might prevail. But now he was a known link between them and the cathedral. A link that must be broken.

They had managed to survive the Persians, the Byzantines, the Crusaders, the Turks. They had been living their secret lives for century upon century, carrying out the mission they had inherited.

God's favor should have been with them as the true Christians they were, but it was not-instead, He sent them terrible trials, and now a faithful young man had to die.

The pastor slowly climbed the stairs and went into his room. The bed was turned down. Guner always did that, even when Addaio was away. He could not have been a more faithful friend, trying always to make Addaio's life comfortable, sensing his wishes before he could make them known.

Guner would never betray him-it had been stupid to think that. If he could not trust Guner, then he would never be able to bear the burden he had carried since he was barely a man.

He heard a soft knock on the door and stepped to open it.

"Did I wake you, Guner?"

"I haven't slept for days. I must know. Is Mendib to die?"

"You got up to ask me about Mendib?"

"Is there anything more important than the life of a man, pastor?"

'Are you determined to torment me?"

"That's the last thing I want. But I can think of nothing else. Addaio, I appeal to your conscience-stop this madness."

"Guner, go. I need to rest."

Guner stared at him as if he could see into the depths of his dark soul. Then he abruptly turned and left the room. Addaio pressed his hands to his temples, trying to contain the rage and despair that pounded within him.