The Iscariot Agenda

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

It’s said that if you do not view everything on a daily basis but return later after a long gap of interaction with someone, then the changes are evident. But if you see someone daily, then the changes are not as clear. Such was the case of Pope Pius XIII.

When Kimball saw the man he seemed to have aged dramatically over the past few days. He was pale. And his face was beginning to drop as his jowls became more pronounced. But the old man’s smile was remarkably genuine as the pontiff raised himself from his seat to greet Kimball as he walked through the chamber doors.

The men fell into each other’s embrace, and suddenly Kimball felt a terrible pang of impending loss and did not release the man after a long moment.

“I’m glad you’re well,” said the pontiff, drawing away.

“Your condition…” Kimball let his words fall away.

“It’s all right, Kimball. I’m fully prepared. And that makes all the difference in the world. Now please,” he said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. “I want you and the cardinal to have a seat. We have much to discuss.”

Kimball was dressed as a Vatican Knight — the black cleric shirt and Roman collar, which was incongruous to the black fatigues and boots. Cardinal Vessucci wore his typical black cloak and scarlet zucchetto.

“What’s going to happen to me is inevitable,” began the pope. “What may also be inevitable, if Cardinal Vessucci does not ascend to the papacy, is the continuance of the Vatican Knights.”

Kimball turned to Vessucci, then back at the pope. “Bonasero has a strong camp,” he said. “And he’s the secretary of state. He’s well positioned.”

Pope Pius nodded. “He is. But it has come to my attention that Cardinal Angullo’s camp is going to merge with Cardinal Marcello’s.”

“Has this been confirmed?”

“I’ve been told by those who are neutral that the camps are merging.”

“What does that mean?” asked Kimball.

“It means,” started Cardinal Vessucci, “that my camp has been severely weakened.”

“The world is becoming secular but Cardinal Marcello is unwilling to bend, even in small measures. And the traditionalists within the rank and file see this as a moment to fill the papacy with a staunch conservative, which Bonasero is not.”

Kimball leaned forward. “Are you saying that if Cardinal Marcello wins the papal throne, then he’ll disband the Vatican Knights?”

“Cardinal Marcello will not see the Vatican Knights as saviors of the citizenry of the Church. He will see them as a military force and equate them with warfare and brutality.”

“But that’s not what we’re about.”

“I know that. And Cardinal Vessucci knows that. And so do those within the Society of Seven. But there are certain constituencies within this Church that will never align themselves with those who agree with the existence of the Vatican Knights for the reason I just proposed to you.”

“Then we’ll enlighten them,” said Kimball.

“To inform the constituencies of the Vatican Knights will cause controversy and most likely division within the Church, which we cannot afford. The pope is the bearer of Vatican secrets and must hold them close, in order to keep the Church from dividing. However, all secrets must be delivered to the pope in a way that the mantle is passed, and he must become the Bearer. And as the Bearer, he has the right to choose what to do with those secrets accordingly. Knowing that Cardinal Marcello is conservative by nature, he will most assuredly disband the Knights, which is something I would believe to be in grave error.”

“So what do we do?”

“In the time I have left, the good cardinal and I must campaign with due diligence. I still have pull with some of the traditionalists. And Bonasero has good report with those in the College, who have remained neutral. I believe together we can develop a constituency that will exceed Cardinal Marcello’s. But it will take work.”

“Do you think this can be done?” asked the cardinal.

“It has to be done,” he returned.

“Why don’t we just operate under the guidance of Bonasero and the members of the Society of Seven?” asked Kimball.

“No matter what, my friend, we cannot and will not hold secrets from the reigning pope. If we begin to do that, then structure within the Church begins to break down. The pope is the figurehead of Catholicism and must sit upon the papal throne in full control. If he is not, then the institution will ultimately fail from corruption within. What the pope knows, what the pope has to know, is optimum.”

Kimball fell back into his seat. Things weren’t looking up.

The pope then addressed Kimball. “But what is even more important, my friend, is to protect you from whoever it is that is out there trying to kill you. Without you, then there can be no Vatican Knights.”

“Not true,” he said. He instantly realized the adulation. “Isaiah and Leviticus can easily lead the teams. A Vatican Knight is a Vatican Knight.”

“But none as unique as you are. And that, my friend, was not meant to be flattery.”

Kimball bowed his head with humility. He truly respected this man who saw in him what he did not see in himself: an underlying goodness. “Thank you.”

“With the grace of God,” said Pius, “then we will be able to win on both fronts.”

“And if we don’t?” asked Kimball.

“Then the Church will come under the power of a Traditionalist. And the Vatican Knights will be no more… And if you do not survive the war that is sure to follow you, then we will all lose.”