Read Online In The Name of The Father by A. J. Quinnell - Free Book Online

the folder and pushed it towards her. She leaned forward. This time there was a reaction. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw, at the bottom of the paper, the red circle of wax and embossed into it the Papal seal. Her eyes moved up and her lips moved silently as she translated the Latin in her mind. ‘To our beloved Sister Anna.’
    By the time she was half way down the page her lips had stopped moving. They moved again as she read the signature: John Paul II.
    She crossed herself and then looked up at the Cardinal. He thought her eyes were slightly glazed.
    ‘Have you ever seen one of those before, Sister Anna?’
    ‘No, Your Eminence.’
    ‘But you understand it?’
    ‘I think so, Your Eminence.’
    He reached out and pulled the folder back to him, looked down at the paper for a moment and then firmly closed the folder. Musingly, as if to himself, he said, ‘No, not many people ever get to see a Papal dispensation of that nature.’ He pushed the folder to one side and looked up. ‘In essence, Sister Anna, it gives you special dispensation - to set aside your sacred vows during this mission. You will of course be a nun always in your heart. Now I am going to tell you the very brief details of that mission. You may after that refuse it, if you wish.’
    She glanced at the folder and in her husky voice said, ‘I cannot refuse the wish of the Holy Father.’
    He nodded in approval. ‘Good. Now, what I have to say is, of course, a sacred secret. You understand that? A sacred secret now and for ever.’
    He watched her nod solemnly and then in measured tones said, ‘Sister Anna, your mission will be to travel and live with a man for several weeks . . . to travel and live with him as his wife.’ He saw the shock in her eyes and her lips open to ask the immediate question. He held up a hand. ‘No, Sister. As his wife only in appearance, although you will of course have to share accommodation with him and in public act towards him with wifely affection.’ He could detect a measure of relief in her eyes. ‘I must tell you that he is not a good man. In fact in some ways he is very evil. He is an atheist and in the past has been a terrible enemy of the Church. This now has changed. Although he remains an atheist this mission is to the good of the Church and to the good of our beloved Holy Father.’ He paused and took a white lace handkerchief from the sash at his waist and dabbed at his thin lips. Then, with a sigh he went on. ‘I must also tell you that this journey will take you through Eastern Europe to Moscow. Therefore it will be dangerous. Your mission ends in Moscow and you will then return to us here and to our eternal thanks . . . Now, are you willing to go?’
    She replied immediately. ‘Yes, Your Eminence . . . But what exactly is the mission?’
    ‘Just that, my dear. Of course, you must help this man as much as possible. You are travelling with him so that the authorities will think you are man and wife. You will have papers proving it. In essence you are there to make his journey appear innocent.’
    ‘And it is not?’
    He inserted a slightly stern note into his voice. ‘All you need to know, Sister, is that it is to the good of our Church. You know that very often we have to act with great caution in the Soviet bloc.’
    He watched her nod dutifully. Satisfied, he opened a drawer, took out an envelope and handed it to her. ‘Tomorrow you report at eight a.m. to the Collegio Russico on Via Carlino Cattaneo, here in Rome.
    There you will meet a Father Van Burgh and place yourself under his obedience. He will tell you more. He is in charge of this mission. He will supervise your training over the coming days.’
    He looked up at the clock and then rose. She did the same. He came around the desk and took her hands in his and said gently, ‘It will be difficult, Sister Anna, sometimes embarrassing. But remember what I told you. In your heart you will always be a nun.’
    She murmured, ‘I will always