Vatican City
8 April 2010
Lourds sat in one of the great libraries in the underground network beneath the Vatican. Father Gabriel occupied a comfortable chair across from him. If it hadn’t been for everything that had happened in the last few weeks, it would have felt like the old days when Lourds had studied there.
They watched WNN together.
‘The search for United States Vice-President Elliott Webster continues,’ the news anchor reported. ‘No one knows how or when the vice-president disappeared from the hotel where he’d been a virtual prisoner in Saudi Arabia for the last several weeks.’
‘Do you think they’ll find him?’ Lourds asked.
Father Gabriel shook his head. ‘Not in this world.’
‘What do you think the eventual conclusion will be?’
‘I don’t know. Are you going to write a book about this?’
‘A story without an ending?’ Lourds smiled. ‘Not likely.’
‘Oh, so you think you could sell prospective readers on the possibility that Lucifer, at least temporarily, found a home in the office of the vice-president?’
‘Sure,’ Lourds said, ‘but it has to have an ending.’
‘What kind of ending?’
‘They find Webster’s corpse.’
‘Do you realize you still refer to him as Webster?’
Lourds had noticed that. ‘I feel more comfortable with that name. Maybe saying the other…’ He hesitated.
‘Gives him more strength in our world?’
‘Maybe that.’
‘Superstitious nonsense.’
Lourds chuckled at that. ‘After everything we’ve been through and seen, you can say that?’
‘Definitely. Lucifer has as much power in this world as we choose to give him. No more, no less. We can’t lead him to victory, nor can we push him into defeat.’
‘I have to say in my own defence, he looked pretty defeated the last time I saw him.’
‘No. His fate has already been ordained by God. Satan doesn’t have free will. Just as God knew Lucifer would fall from the heavens, he also knows Lucifer will ultimately be defeated.’
‘That’s a discussion that would take far too long to explore at this point, and I do have things to do.’
Father Gabriel grinned. ‘You have a woman waiting for you?’
‘I do,’ Lourds admitted.
‘Which one?’
‘Both, actually.’
Father Gabriel’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Not at the same time,’ Lourds said.
‘Thank God you’ve got some morality left.’
‘Though the possibility is certainly of merit and worth investigating.’
Father Gabriel covered his ears. ‘Don’t. I’m an old man and you’ve been like son to me. A wayward son, perhaps, but a son nevertheless. I really can’t bear any further disillusionment.’
Lourds reached into his backpack and took out the Joy Scroll in its wooden cylinder. ‘I’ve talked it over with Joachim. We’re both of the opinion that you would be the best person to offer safekeeping for this.’
‘Should Lucifer rise again.’
‘Exactly.’
Father Gabriel took the cylinder. ‘I shall do my very best.’
‘As I knew you would.’ Lourds plucked his hat from the table. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a picnic lunch to get to. Perhaps a scenic boat ride and a walk in the park for later.’
‘I would think you would want to rest.’
Lourds stood and clapped his hat on his head. Then he smiled. ‘The business you’re in, I’d think you’d know there’s no rest for the wicked.’
‘You’re not wicked.’ Father Gabriel stood and hugged Lourds fiercely. ‘You’re just restless. Now go. I’m sure there are a lot more adventures waiting for you.’
‘I’d like to think I’d had my fill of them.’
‘There’s still the library of Alexandria waiting somewhere.’
Lourds smiled. ‘I know. Maybe one day.’ He gathered his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and took his leave.