Book of JUDAS

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Vatican City, Rome

Colonel Renauld stood, arms clasped behind his back, watching out of his office window the pious procession of Cardinals below crossing Bernini’s piazza on their way to the Sistine Chapel. It was a unique time. Dressed in their deep scarlet robes of office, one hundred and twenty elder Cardinals strode purposefully towards the entrance of St. Paul’s Basilica. The time had arrived to choose the new Pope and Ruler of the Holy See.

Just outside the Vatican walls thousands of people had gathered to observe the proceedings, some with religious passion to hail the new Pontiff, others realising the importance of the historic moment, excited to watch the ceremonial spectacle and be part of the moment.

The Cardinals’ response to the break with tradition had been successful. Every elected Cardinal, from every part of the globe, had been prepared to forgo his plans and travel at short notice to the Vatican. This had not been achieved without considerable effort. In certain cases there had been an underlying reluctance from Cardinals who had made serious ecumenical commitments involving Royalty and ruling Heads of State in their representative countries. Some of the more senior clerics openly questioned the Rome’s authority to break with tradition and pull the election date forward. In these cases, depending on the relationship with the Vatican, Colonel Renauld had called upon Cardinal Fiore to telephone them personally to explain the seriousness of the occasion.

It was eleven o’clock in the morning and, in this case, in keeping with time-honoured tradition, the conclave of Cardinals would remain within the walls of the Sistine Chapel until the successor was chosen.

“I’ve reviewed the transcripts,” said Colonel Renauld dryly, continuing to gaze out of the window.

Behind him, standing to attention, was Major Claude Dupont, a dependable and trusted member of his elite inner cell. A cell he had selected personally and whose unquestioning loyalty he knew he could count on. Under his orders, they were recording all of the outgoing and incoming calls within the Vatican walls.

“Nothing − I’ve found nothing to raise suspicion,” he continued with disdain.

Major Dupont, standing to attention in front of his Commanding Officer’s desk, remained silent.

Following the call with Goran, Colonel Renauld had decided to set a trap. He was convinced that there was a top-level leak. This meant that one of the senior Cardinals who had been privy to the decisions of the deceased Pope had delivered the information into the hands of the Satanica. Indeed it was likely, he thought, that the deceitful Cardinal himself was a member of the evil organisation.

During the previous day, no matter how improbable their guilt in his view, he had sought appointments with those who were knowledgeable about the Vatican’s inner decisions. This included only the most senior members of its top echelon who were fully informed and briefed on all matters relating to the scrolls and their quest to destroy the Book of Judas. Disturbingly, the list he had drawn up included the three most prominent and favoured Cardinals, namely Fiore, Gregory and Alphonso, from whom the deceased Pontiff’s heir was likely to be chosen. In addition to them the list included Cardinals Weiss, Lefebvre and Giacoma, making a total of six suspects in all.

The engagements with most of the respected clergy had been arranged privately and in advance so as not arouse unnecessary interest. However, in the case of both Cardinal Gregory and Fiore who had onerous commitments, he had made it his business to find out their likely movements around the Vatican and had subsequently staged “accidental” meetings.

During the course of each separate meeting he had told each Cardinal that Goran had made an incredible breakthrough. As he had planned, their curiosity was aroused immediately. When pressed for further information, he told them in total confidence that he had discovered details that pointed to the labyrinth’s entrance being close to a town called Hom in southern Syria.

All the Cardinals had expressed their dismay and surprise at the news. As a consequence the questions had poured out from the confused clergy. Are you saying that the Trenchards have uncovered all the keys of arkheynia? How do you know this? Where are they now? The questions had flooded out, with the Cardinals demanding immediate answers from Renauld but he had followed his carefully laid plans. By promising to give those answers as soon as possible in the right circumstances when he could address them together he had managed to deflect their spontaneous barrage of questions.

“We need to meet at the earliest possible opportunity,” he had replied, knowing that this was not possible until the completion of the imminent papal elections – but the proposed meeting had not satisfied everyone. Cardinal Fiore himself had been outraged by Renauld’s lack of response and made it clear to him that his position in the Swiss Guard would be reviewed at some point in the very near future.

It was a gamble and Colonel Renauld knew it. If the traitor in their midst was not exposed by the time the new Pope was chosen he would have to come clean at the first meeting with the senior clergy. How they would react to his unilateral action, he couldn’t be sure, but he was certain that it was worth taking the risk.

Turning away from the scenes in the piazza below, he stepped back towards his desk, picked up the ream of transcripts he had studied in infinite detail earlier and threw them angrily in the bin.

“Nothing!” he repeated through gritted teeth. The Major flinched at his superior officer’s irritation.

“Have we got every possible means of communication covered?” demanded the Colonel.

“Yes, Sir,” replied Dupont sharply.

“Ok, Major,” the Colonel’s tone softened. He knew he was being unreasonable and that his trusted officer’s performance was not really the source of his frustration.

“I want every report as soon as it’s taken, do you understand?” he ordered.

“Yes, sir,” he repeated.

The election may have started, he thought, but there would be recesses during the holding of the secret ballots in the Sistine Chapel. It was still possible, indeed likely, that one of the Cardinals could communicate with the outside world.

“Ok, Major, I appreciate that you’ll be working around the clock. You and the team are doing a commendable job − just keep me informed of all communiqués no matter how irrelevant you think they may be. Do you understand?”

“Of course, Sir,” responded the smartly presented officer to his superior.

“That’s all, Major Dupont,” said Renauld.

As the Major left his office he returned to the window and gazed pensively towards the final procession of Cardinals climbing the steps to St. Paul’s Basilica.