Chapter 90 Chapter Eighty-Nine

A war broke out in St. Peter's Square. The square was caught in a frenzied struggle.News gathering vehicles drove into the square like commandos to seize the position.The reporters all took out high-tech electronic equipment, like soldiers ready to go.All around the plaza, TV affiliates competed for the best spots, vying to mount the newest weapon in the media news wars—flat-screen monitors. Flat-panel monitors are giant video screens that can be mounted on interview vans or on scaffolding slacks.These screens act as billboards for the TV affiliates, playing news stories and company logos like open-air movies.If the screen is placed in a good location—say, right in front of the event—the other network network will have to film the news material.

would have to advertise for their competitors. Soon, not only was a media extravaganza taking place in the square, but a frenzied public was also present, with onlookers pouring in from all directions.This usually deserted open space on the square suddenly turned into a treasured land of geomantic omen.Crowds gathered beneath the towering flat-screen monitors to watch live coverage in awe and excitement. A hundred yards away there was peace within the thick walls of St. Peter's. Lieutenant Chartrand and three guards walked through the darkness.Wearing infrared goggles and holding detectors in front of them, they shone back and forth, fanning out in the nave.Their searches of public population premises in Vatican City were fruitless.

"It's best to put your goggles up here," said an elderly guard. Chartrand has already done so.They're right next to the alcove of the Pallion where the center of St. Peter's Basilica sinks.It is lit by ninety-nine oil lamps, and if you don't wear goggles, the infrared rays emitted there will burn their eyes. Chatrand likes the feeling of taking off his heavy goggles.He craned his neck to look as they descended into the sunken alcove.This alcove is stunning... gold and shiny. He's never been here before. From the day he came to the Vatican, it seems that Chartrand has learned about the mysteries of the Vatican every day.These oil lamps are one of them.There are indeed ninety-nine ever-burning lamps here.It's a tradition here.The clergy carefully filled each lamp so that none would go out.It is said that these lamps will burn until the end of the world.

Maybe at least until midnight, Chartrand thought, feeling his mouth go dry again. Chartrand shined a detector on the lamps, but there was nothing inside.He wasn't surprised; the footage showed the cache hidden in a dark place. On the other side of the alcove, he found a slab gate covering the opening in the floor.A steep and narrow staircase leads from the opening to the bottom.He'd heard some rumors about what was hidden down there.Thankfully, they don't have to go down.Rocher's order was very clear.Search only in public entrance areas, not public places. "What's the smell?" he asked, walking away from the gate.There was an intoxicatingly sweet smell in the alcove.

"It's the smell of smoke from the lamp." One of the guards replied. Chartrand was surprised. "More like cologne than kerosene." "It's not kerosene. These lamps are so close to the Pope's altar that they're a special, exotic mixture—ethanol, sugar, butane, and perfume." "Butane?" Chatrand looked at the lights, a little uneasy. The guard nodded. "Don't spill it. It smells delicious, but if it catches fire it can kill people." The guards had searched the alcove and were about to pass through the cathedral when the intercom rang.

There is something new.The guards listened with astonishment on their faces. Apparently a difficult new situation had arisen which was too inconvenient to discuss over the phone, but the Pope's chamberlain had decided to break with tradition and make a statement to the cardinals in the secret chamber.This is an unprecedented move.Chartrand realized again that never before in history had the Holy See been on such a cusp. Chatrand was relieved to know that the Pope's chamberlain was in control.The Pope's chamberlain is the most respected person in Vatican City.Some of the guards thought that the Pope's chamberlain was a religious fanatic, obsessed with God's love-but they all agreed... When it comes to fighting the enemies of God, the Pope's chamberlain must be the one who will stand up and fight bravely.

Swiss Guards witnessed what the Pope's chamberlain did this week for the Pope's Electoral Council. Everyone commented that the pope's chamberlain looked sad, his blue eyes deeper than ever. Not surprisingly, they all remarked that the Pope's chamberlain was not only in charge of planning the conclave, but had to do it as soon as he lost his mentor, the Pope. Chatran had only been in the Vatican for a few months when he heard about the Pope's chamberlain who watched his mother be killed when he was a child.The bomb in the church...and now it's about to repeat itself.Sadly, the authorities never caught the bastard who planted the bomb...supposedly some Christian hater group did it, and the case faded into obscurity after that.No wonder the Pope's chamberlain despised an attitude of indifference.

On a quiet afternoon a few months ago, in the Vatican City, Chartrand bumped into the Pope's chamberlain as he was crossing the square.The Pope's chamberlain evidently recognized him as a recruit and invited him for a walk with him.They didn't talk about anything in particular, but the Pope's chamberlain gave him a sense of freedom. "Father," said Chatrand, "may I ask a curious question?" The pope's servant smiled and said, "I wish I could give you a strange answer." Chartrand laughed. "I've asked every pastor I know, and I still don't understand."

"What's bothering you?" The Pope's chamberlain walked with smaller steps but a faster pace, kicking the robe in front of him from time to time.His black crepe shoes seemed to fit well, Châteaux thought, reflecting the man's style... modern and unassuming, showing the style he wore. Chartrand took a deep breath. "I don't understand omnipotence and benevolence." The pope's chamberlain laughed again. "You have to keep reading the Bible." "I'm trying to understand." "You're confused by the Bible's portrayal of God as omnipotent and benevolent."

"that is." "Omnipotence and beneficence are, in short, God who is omnipotent and good." "I understand the concept. It's just...it seems contradictory." "Yes, this contradiction is a pain. The hunger, war, disease that humans suffer from..." "Exactly!" Chartrand knew that the pope's chamberlain understood him. "Terrible things always happen in life. Human tragedy seems to prove that God cannot be both omnipotent and good. If he loves us and has the power to change our situation, shouldn't he relieve our pain?" The pope's chamberlain frowned. "Should he?"

Chartrand was disturbed.Is he off the rails?Is this a religious question that should not be asked? "Oh...if God loves us, he will protect us, and he should. But he seems to be sympathetic when he is omnipotent, and powerless when he is good." "Lieutenant, do you have any children?" Chartrand blushed. "No, sir." "If you had an eight-year-old son...would you love him?" "certainly!" "Will you do everything in your power to protect him from suffering for the rest of his life?" "certainly!" "So you'll let him skateboard?" It was with difficulty that Chartrand understood.The Pope's chamberlain has always been a little eccentric when it comes to his talents as a priest. "Yeah, I think," Chartrand said, "Of course I'd let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful." "So, as the father of the child, you will give him some basic advice, and then let him learn the lessons of failure?" "I shouldn't follow him and pamper him, you mean it." "But what if he falls and breaks his knee?" "He'll learn to be more careful on his own." The Pope's chamberlain smiled and said, "So despite your ability to protect your child from harm, you chose to show your love for him by letting him learn his lesson?" "Of course! Pain is a growing process. We can learn from it." The Pope's servant nodded and said, "Exactly."