Chapter Thirty-Eight
Vatican City, Rome
The Cardinal stepped out of the shadows of the colonnade in St. Peter’s Square and walked purposefully towards the entrance of the great Basilica. Still warm although the time was approaching nine o’clock, it had been a wonderful summer’s day and the evening light was just beginning to fade.
Dressed in his elegant, scarlet robes of office, he quickly ascertained that the Square was empty except for the sentry from the Swiss Guard who stood to attention at the bottom of the Basilica steps. The guard, wearing his traditional, brightly collared tunic and metal helmet with the red plume of feathers, had been stationed there by Major Dupont. Remaining motionless he watched as the senior cleric crossed the square and begin climbing the steps at the furt
