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Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
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has become necessary for the Church to locate a man in China, and to do it without attempting the usual diplomatic rigmarole that often develops when the Church has to deal with countries…not affiliated to her. You know how the People’s Republic views the Vatican.” He put his hand to his forehead, then lowered it, staring at his fingers. “As we are both Canadians, I hoped you might be willing to provide us with a little discreet assistance, unofficially of course.”
Of the many things Cyril Obata had anticipated, this hedging request was not among them. “What do you need me to do?” he asked, thoroughly puzzled.
“We wish to find someone in the People’s Republic.” It was humiliating to admit it so baldly, and he hurried on to rid himself of the chagrin he felt. “It must be done in complete confidence. I have to impress on you the need for acting in such a way that your inquiries attract little or no attention, certainly no more than is required for us to accomplish our goal.” Cardinal Hetre was about to continue when the door opened and Obata’s personal assistant approached with a tray. He looked away from his host. “It is a rare occasion when the Church finds herself in this situation. We could not anticipate these developments, or establish our own direct contacts. You must understand.”
Obata’s personal assistant opened the wine and poured a sample for Cardinal Hetre, who approved it with the most cursory of tastes. “Mister Obata?” the young man asked when he had poured the wine and set down the heavy silver coffee service and Spode cups and saucers.
“That will be all, Winston. Thank you.” He paid no more attention to his assistant, preferring instead to concentrate on Cardinal Hetre. As the door closed he said, “Please continue, Your Eminence.”
“Is your assistant trustworthy?” Cardinal Hetre demanded, suddenly wary of what the young man might have overheard.
“He is my assistant and has been for four years. If he were not trustworthy, he would not be in my employ.” He was short with the Cardinal, although he knew it was rude, for he was outraged at the implication that he would have unreliable men working close to him.
“Of course, of course,” said Cardinal Hetre. “Well, I didn’t intend to give offence, Mister Obata. In the Church we have learned caution over the centuries, and the circumstances now are…unusual. The last weeks have been difficult, and the necessity to keep this confidential.…” He let his words fade to nothing. There was a hotness behind his eyes that made his headache worse.
“Why do you want to find this man in China?” Cyril Obata made his inquiry as to-the-point as possible.
“It…it has to do with the conclave and…the election of the next Pope.” He lifted his wineglass, noticing that the crystal was of the first quality. The shine of the glass was almost painful in its clarity. “To have so many changes so quickly—”
“Will finding this man make it easier for the Cardinals to select who the next Pope will be? Some crucial information is required by the College of Cardinals that this Chinese possesses? Is that what you’re implying?” Obata asked, more bewildered than ever that Cardinal Hetre should be speaking to him. “I doubt there’s much I can do, though I am naturally willing to help. Why do you need to see this man in China?”
“I wish I knew,” said Cardinal Hetre, his eyes bright with an emotion that was not quite shame.
Chapter 4
When the report came back to Jivin, Cardinal Tayibha, he heard it with a sinking heart. As soon as the priest in Nepal concluded giving his apologetic news, Cardinal Tayibha did his best to assuage the worst fears. “Father Hastin, you have done your work well. I am impressed with what you have been able to achieve in so little time. Few would have been as diligent as you have been. That you were not able to discover the identity of the man we seek in China is no cause for
Of the many things Cyril Obata had anticipated, this hedging request was not among them. “What do you need me to do?” he asked, thoroughly puzzled.
“We wish to find someone in the People’s Republic.” It was humiliating to admit it so baldly, and he hurried on to rid himself of the chagrin he felt. “It must be done in complete confidence. I have to impress on you the need for acting in such a way that your inquiries attract little or no attention, certainly no more than is required for us to accomplish our goal.” Cardinal Hetre was about to continue when the door opened and Obata’s personal assistant approached with a tray. He looked away from his host. “It is a rare occasion when the Church finds herself in this situation. We could not anticipate these developments, or establish our own direct contacts. You must understand.”
Obata’s personal assistant opened the wine and poured a sample for Cardinal Hetre, who approved it with the most cursory of tastes. “Mister Obata?” the young man asked when he had poured the wine and set down the heavy silver coffee service and Spode cups and saucers.
“That will be all, Winston. Thank you.” He paid no more attention to his assistant, preferring instead to concentrate on Cardinal Hetre. As the door closed he said, “Please continue, Your Eminence.”
“Is your assistant trustworthy?” Cardinal Hetre demanded, suddenly wary of what the young man might have overheard.
“He is my assistant and has been for four years. If he were not trustworthy, he would not be in my employ.” He was short with the Cardinal, although he knew it was rude, for he was outraged at the implication that he would have unreliable men working close to him.
“Of course, of course,” said Cardinal Hetre. “Well, I didn’t intend to give offence, Mister Obata. In the Church we have learned caution over the centuries, and the circumstances now are…unusual. The last weeks have been difficult, and the necessity to keep this confidential.…” He let his words fade to nothing. There was a hotness behind his eyes that made his headache worse.
“Why do you want to find this man in China?” Cyril Obata made his inquiry as to-the-point as possible.
“It…it has to do with the conclave and…the election of the next Pope.” He lifted his wineglass, noticing that the crystal was of the first quality. The shine of the glass was almost painful in its clarity. “To have so many changes so quickly—”
“Will finding this man make it easier for the Cardinals to select who the next Pope will be? Some crucial information is required by the College of Cardinals that this Chinese possesses? Is that what you’re implying?” Obata asked, more bewildered than ever that Cardinal Hetre should be speaking to him. “I doubt there’s much I can do, though I am naturally willing to help. Why do you need to see this man in China?”
“I wish I knew,” said Cardinal Hetre, his eyes bright with an emotion that was not quite shame.
Chapter 4
When the report came back to Jivin, Cardinal Tayibha, he heard it with a sinking heart. As soon as the priest in Nepal concluded giving his apologetic news, Cardinal Tayibha did his best to assuage the worst fears. “Father Hastin, you have done your work well. I am impressed with what you have been able to achieve in so little time. Few would have been as diligent as you have been. That you were not able to discover the identity of the man we seek in China is no cause for
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