The Hammer of God

58

S amuel wiped his nose on his shirtsleeve and looked up at Cardinal Polletto, who gave him an encouraging nod and smile. Moron!

Seeing Cardinal Polletto there at the castle surprised him, and talking to his mother, knowing she was a part of everything that had happened to him shook him to the bone. Once more, Cardinal Polletto’s words, that Father Tolbert was his father, didn’t make sense, and Samuel refused to believe it.

Samuel and his brothers had made a pact. They’d lost trust in everybody and were determined to escape, for good, even if it meant defying the people they loved most. Everybody had let them down. They were on their own.

Samuel took in as many details about the castle as he could, as they made their way along a dark, eerie hall, downstairs, and then outside.

Along the back of the castle were two sections of stadium seats, with large, bright lights shining down. Samuel stole a glance at his brothers, who, as planned, were taking in as much as they could remember too.

Eduardo nodded to Samuel’s right. Carefully, he turned and saw thick woods and brushes down a slope of rocks. Cardinal Polletto babbled on about their place in history, but Samuel had long since tuned him out. I’m getting out of here. That’s all the history I need.

Yet, something stirred in his gut as they walked through the elaborate stages. When the cardinal first mentioned their royalty and place in the world, a surge of unfamiliar recollection engulfed him, and he felt truth in Cardinal Polletto’s words. Even now, as he looked out into the darkness and stared across the water, something raged inside him, fighting to burst out. A power he’d felt several times since he’d been taken away.

Samuel forced down the feelings, and fed the cardinal a few,

“Yeses,” and “Uh huhs,” but continued to scan the area, making mental notes every step of the way. Later, he and his brothers would devise a final strategy, and run away as far as they could.

As Cardinal Polletto droned on, the voice of Samuel’s mother forced its way into his mind. Hearing her speak was something he’d longed for since this entire ordeal began, but something was wrong. How could she allow this to happen to me? Why? And what about my father?

Samuel shook it off. Cardinal Polletto looked down at him.

“It’s one of the most important days in all the world,” said the cardinal. “Everyone coming will be your servant.” Samuel fixed his gaze hard on the cardinal. “How long have you been seeing my mother?”

He didn’t know where the words came from, but the look on Cardinal Polletto’s face told Samuel he’d hit his mark.

Cardinal Polletto cleared his throat. “I’ve known her for quite sometime. She’s been waiting for this day ever since I told her who you are.”

“Who am I?” asked Samuel.

“You’ll know soon enough.”

Samuel stepped forward. “Did you kill my father?” The cardinal’s face went ashen. “Absolutely not. Why would you ask such a thing?”

Samuel moved even closer. “If I am who you say I am, and I find out you’re lying, I’ll kill you.”

Cardinal Polletto slapped Samuel hard. “Don’t you ever speak to me that way again.”

Samuel let the blood flow from his nose. Felipe and Eduardo took his side. “So, you are lying.”

Cardinal Polletto snatched Samuel and pulled him back toward the castle. Felipe and Eduardo ran to keep up. When they reached the front door, Father Sin was waiting, and soon they were back in their room.

Deep into the night, the three boys whispered what they remembered about the area surrounding the castle. Samuel’s nose stung, but he didn’t care. As they talked and planned, his mind drifted. Uncle Robert, where are you?