The Secret Cardinal

6

Three days after his audience with the pontiff, Kilkenny returned to the Redemptoris Mater Chapel, accompanied by Donoher and Grin. Archbishop Sikora announced them and, on the Pope’s signal, retired from the chapel. In preparation for this private audience, three chairs had been placed in a semicircle in front of the papal throne.

‘Sit here,’ the Pope said to Kilkenny, indicating the chair directly in front of the throne.

Kilkenny sat with Grin on his right and Donoher on his left. The Pope studied the three men for a moment, then focused his attention on Kilkenny.

‘Cardinal Donoher believes you have found a way to free Bishop Yin. Please, tell me what you have in mind.’

‘Your Holiness,’ Kilkenny began, ‘the plan I’m proposing hinges on a single fact: Beijing will not let Bishop Yin out of prison until after he is dead. And although Beijing appears content to let him live out the rest of his days in a cell, the Bishop was actually sentenced to death for his crimes. The Chinese justice system rarely executes condemned prisoners immediately after sentencing. Instead, it allows these doomed individuals the chance to reform themselves through a few years of hard labor. If, after this probationary period, the court feels progress toward reform has been made, the death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. If not, then the prisoner is executed. No attempt has ever been made to reform Bishop Yin, so his original sentence still stands. A man in his situation could be executed at any time — it’s simply a matter of paperwork.’

‘You propose a deception,’ the Pope said keenly.

‘Yes, Your Holiness.’

The Pope smiled conspiratorially. ‘Continue.’

‘Until recently, Chinese executions were carried out with a bullet to the back of the head. But in an effort to be more efficient and appear more humane, China has begun using lethal injection,’ Kilkenny explained. ‘Most Chinese prisons are not equipped to perform this type of execution, so the Chinese employ a fleet of mobile execution trucks. I propose to field our own execution truck and to drive right up to Chifeng Prison with all the correct paperwork authorizing the execution of Yin Daoming. The Bishop will be brought out to the truck, apparently executed, and then smuggled out of the country.’

‘But what of Beijing?’ the Pope asked. ‘Won’t they know your execution order is false?’

‘Eventually, but to paraphrase an old Irish blessing, “May Yin be across the border two hours before the Chinese know he isn’t dead.” Like any bureaucracy, it’ll take a while for the paperwork to move through the system. I’m counting on that lag time. And my associate, Mister Grinelli, has a few tricks to ensure Beijing remains blind to what’s happening in Chifeng.’

‘This is true?’ the Pope asked Grin.

‘China has spent a lot of money on communications technology in recent years, but there isn’t a bit of it I can’t put to sleep.’

‘We will do everything possible to protect Yin and the people who go in to rescue him,’ Kilkenny promised.

The Pope bowed his head and considered for a moment all that he had heard, then arched an eye toward Donoher.

‘Cardinal Donoher, what do you think?’ the Pope asked.

‘Your Holiness, I believe this plan has a fine chance to succeed. It’s simple, and it relies on guile rather than violence to achieve our aim. Bishop Yin could well be in Rome before Beijing realizes what has transpired.’

The Pope took Donoher’s advice with a nod, then slipped his right hand into the left sleeve of his simar and withdrew a piece of fine paper folded in thirds.

‘In anticipation that you would do as I asked, I have prepared this letter authorizing you to proceed. It is written in my hand and bears the seal of my holy office.’

The Pope handed the document to Donoher, then turned back to Kilkenny. A wry smile curled the corners of the pontiff’s mouth, and his blue eyes shone warmly. He shook an admonishing finger at Kilkenny.

‘When stealing from dragons, it is wise to be gone long before the beasts awaken.’