Chapter 43 Chapter Forty-One

Outside Castel Gandolfo, a gust of mountain wind blows from the bottom up over the cliff, through the cliff, and blows straight to Bishop Aringarosa who just got off the Fiat car, making him feel chills.I should add more clothes to this vestment, he thought, trying not to shiver.He must not show weakness tonight. Except for a few ominous lights from a few windows on the top floor, the whole castle was dark.That must be the library, Aringarosa thought.They are still awake and waiting for me.He glanced at the dome of the observatory, lowered his head, and continued walking against the wind. The priest who greeted him at the door was sleepy.He was the priest who had greeted Aringarosa five months ago, only tonight he seemed less enthusiastic than before. "We are worried about you, my lord," said the priest, looking at his watch.His expression was not so much worried as it was uneasy. "I'm very sorry. The latest flight schedule is always unreliable."

The priest muttered something in a low voice, and then said: "They are waiting for you upstairs. I will go up with you." The library is housed in a large square room with dark wood trim on the floor and ceiling.Around the walls are tall bookcases filled with books.Amber marble floor tiles and black basalt around the edges of the floor remind people that this was once a royal palace. "Welcome, Your Excellency Bishop." A man's voice came from across the room. Aringarosa tried to find the speaker, but the lights were strangely dim, much dimmer than during his last visit.The lights were dazzling then.A night of full awakening.Tonight, these people sat in the shadows, ashamed of what was about to happen.Aringarosa walked slowly through the door, looking like a king.He vaguely saw the figures of three men at the long table across the room.At a glance, he recognized the man in the middle from the outline. It was the fat secretary of the Vatican, who was in charge of all legal affairs in Vatican City.The other two were high priests in Italy.

Aringarosa walked towards them. "I'm so sorry for coming to you at this time. We're in a different time zone, you must be tired." "It's okay," said the secretary, clasping his hands over his fat stomach. "We are very grateful that you have come this far. We just got up to meet you, and it is not hard. Would you like a cup of coffee or some snacks?" "You're welcome. I have another flight to catch. Shall we get down to business?" "Of course you can." The secretary said, "I didn't expect you to act like this."

"yes?" "You have a month left." "You guys told me five months ago about your concerns," Aringarosa said. "Why should I wait?" "Indeed. We are very pleased with your quick action." Aringarosa looked at the large black briefcase across the long table and asked, "Is that what I want?" "Yes." The secretary replied unnaturally. "Although I have to admit that we respect your request very much, but that is too..." "Dangerous. ' went on a cardinal. 'You know we can't send it to you.The number is too large. "

Freedom is expensive! "I have put life and death on the line, God bless me." The gang looked suspicious. "Is that the amount I want?" The secretary nodded: "Large bearer securities issued by the Vatican Bank. Like cash, they are used all over the world." Aringarosa walked to the end of the table and opened the briefcase.Inside were two thick stacks of securities, each bearing the Vatican's seal and the church's inscription, ensuring that any bearer could redeem them for cash. The secretary looked embarrassed. "I have to admit, my lord, that we'd all be a little more at ease if it was cash." I can't handle that much cash, thought Aringarosa.He closed his briefcase and said, "Securities can be circulated everywhere like cash. That's what you said."

Several cardinals exchanged anxious glances, and finally said: "Yes. But these securities can be traced to the Vatican Bank." Aringarosa snickered, which is why the mentor asked Aringarosa to ask for Vatican Bank securities.This is for the sake of insurance, our fate is tied together. "This shows that our transaction is completely legal." Aringarosa argued. "Opus Dei is the supreme authority of the Vatican, and it has the authority to dispose of the money. Besides, everything we do is within the scope of the law." "Indeed, but..." The secretary leaned forward, and the chair creaked under his pressure, "We don't know exactly what you will do with the money. If there is any illegal act..."

"Given what you've asked of me," Aringarosa retorted, "what I do with the money is none of your business." There was a sudden silence in the room. They know I'm right, Aringarosa thought. "So now, is there anything I need to sign?" They sprang to their feet, eagerly shoving a document in front of him, as if expecting him to leave. Aringarosa glanced at the thin piece of paper in front of him, and saw that it was stamped with the great seal of the Pope. "Is this document identical to the copy you gave me?" "exactly the same." Aringarosa signed, surprised at how calm he was.The three looked relieved.

"Thank you, Bishop," said the secretary, "for your service to the Church will always be remembered." Aringarosa picked up the briefcase, feeling the weight of commitment and authority right now.The four of them looked at each other, as if they had something to say, but obviously they couldn't say anything. "Bishop Aringarosa was approaching the door when a cardinal called and stopped him. Aringarosa stopped, turned around and asked, "What's the matter?" "Where do you plan to go after you leave here?" Aringarosa knew that he should be asking about the belonging of the soul, not the geographical location, and he didn't want to discuss spiritual and moral issues now. "Paris," he said, and went out of the room.