GENESIS (GODS CHAIN) (16 page)

On the right side of the
c
ardinal
’
s eminent desk sat the doctrine manuscript of daily prayers from Benedict.

Both men
halted
not far from the Cardinal’s table
,
near two large wooden chairs with
forest-
green leather
upholstery
.
Solidly constructed
with
dark oak and hand
-
carved with many Latin inscriptions
, the cardinal’s
was a mighty office
.
B
ut for all th
e
magnificent works and rich tapestries that hung on all sides
,
it was a cold place.

The two men looked at the top of the
c
ardinal’s red beret
. The cardinal
wore
a red velvet cape trimmed in ermine
and
s
eem
ed
disinterested in his audience; he continued to write furiously with a scratching sound
, dipping his
quill pen in and out of the golden well like a
n inspired
artist painting a picture. Using his left hand with wide
,
sweeping strokes across
the
old parchment and tap, tap, tapping
the pen as he pondered is
words
and scratch, scratch, scratching
the nib against the paper, he wrote. T
hen
, quite
suddenly
,
he
stopped.

Without
looking up
at the men,
the cardinal gestured
,
raising his right hand, palm up and open towards them
,
and then angled it downwards. They sat slowly in silent command and waited
until
t
he
c
ardinal raised his head.

             
‘Gentlemen
,
’
he began,
smiling
al
though no warmth was reflected
in
his frosty blue eyes.
T
here was a moment
’
s silence
...
and then
in quiet authority and thoughtfulness
,
he began to speak.

             
‘Last night
,
the acquisition of another small company was completed by the Illuminati.
This company is completely unaware of the
true
buyer details or who the real shareholders
’
identities are
.
’
E
yes opening wide and pressing towards the men
,
the cardinal dropped his voice to a whisper.

‘I have a vision from God and one that I wish to share with you both. I have been instructed that the works of this company are blasphemous and contrary to the teaching of our father and holy leader.
I cannot say more
,
but the message was crystal clear.
Gentlemen
,
with our mission nearing its conclusion
,
a new golden age is approaching.
On that high holy day
’
s eve on the last day of October
,
we must prepare the way and ready the path to receive a divine deity.
There is little time for these preparations before our holy mass
—t
here is much that still needs done
, but
I have faith that all will be ready.’

He turned and l
ook
ed into
the eyes
of the man to his left.
‘I want you, my most trusted Generale, to action
Aequinoxium
.’
General
Fernando Benedetti
listened eagerly, his army insignia
glistening against his green jacket. He was the Military Chaplain of the Italian Armed Forces, a tall man and very fit for forty years of age. He
did not flinch or show any sign of reaction
to the cardinal’s news, although
anyone
who
knew
the man would understand that his stillness indicated a deep horror
.

             
‘Si
,
Monsignor
,
’
the general answered
in a dull
,
monoto
nous
voice.

Turning to
the man on his right
with eagerness in his eyes
,
the
c
ardinal
continued.

‘Salomone,’
he said
in a quite hiss, ‘you seem very uneasy
,
my dear Prefect. What is it? Well?
” he paused to wait for the man’s response.
Salomone
di Francesco was
a lay member of the scientific community and a handsome, dark-skinned Italian. He shifted uneasily under the cardinal’s gaze, beads of sweat trickling behind his ears.

‘
Should you not be welcoming a new dawn and embrac
ing
our genesis,
’ the cardinal insisted.
‘
We
should
all
feel
honoured
that these events are
occurring at this
time in which we have been blessed to live!
So why
,
my friend
,
do
you
seem so
on edge?’
The cardinal continued
without allowing the man to speak
.
‘It is very unfortunate that you feel
so unenthusiastic...or are you
frightened
...
?
’ he whispered
with false sympathy
.

             
‘I beg your forgiveness
,
your Grace.’
T
he
prefect
lower
ed
his head submissively
,
showing the lower whites of his eyes
as he
star
ed
up at the
c
ardinal
’
s cold expression.
‘It is true that I am rather anxious
,
but not because of the coming new age
,
which will unify all things.
My God is almighty
—
visible and invisible,
omniscient.
He
will guide
us all
to meet
our
true destinies
,
’ the
p
refect spoke
bravely
to the
c
ardinal
’
s apprehensi
ve
line of questioning
.
T
he
g
eneral affirmed the man
’
s
speech,
nodding in slow agreement and saying nothing.

             
‘Well said, my dear
p
refect
—
that’s more like it!
’ the cardinal’s gaze seemed to lift.
‘
Mmm
...
but
do not
think you can
keep anything hidden
from me—eventually, I will know everything.’ He glared forcefully into the man’s eyes.
“N
o mercy
will
I show any unbelievers.
It is a great sin.’

Cardinal Giovanni
Dalla Gassa
’s face seemed to transform once more as he
lowered his voice to a whisper
.
‘This will be a very special harvest.
Go now and we will soon gather again.’

The
c
ardinal gestured
for
the men to
leave
by lowering his head
to the page
and
his
hand to the quill.
The men stood up and bowed as the
c
ardinal made
the
sign of the cross
and intoned quietly,
‘In nomine Patris et fillii et Spiritus Sancti
,
’ without looking up.

The men turned and quickly moved towards the great doors where they had entered earlier
,
their eager steps watched carefully
by
the ever
-
present and patient late
-p
ontiff’s friendly eyes
.
T
he men lowered their heads
as they
pass
ed
beneath
his divine presence
,
as though they had unclean conscience
s
.