The Girl in Black

Chapter 6

“Charity is the third commandment of Islam,” Gabriel said. "Zakat".

"It"s a noble quality," said Shamron, "if not to fall into the hands of murderers."

“Do you think the bond between Massoudi and the Saudis is more intimate than money?”

“We will never know because the great Professor no longer exists in this world. But it"s clear that the person he works for is targeting the Vatican - and someone needs to warn the Holy See."

“I suspect you have envisioned the right person for the job.”

“Consider this as the first assignment of a Task Force captain,” Shamron said. “The Prime Minister wants you to accept the assignment. Immediately".

“What about Amos?”

"Amos was going to give this task to someone else, but the Prime Minister and I turned heads to him that we wanted you to do the job."

“My personal profile is full of scandals. And unfortunately the whole world now knows this."

"The Lyon train station case?" Shamron shrugged. “You were tricked into that case by a clever opponent. Moreover, I have always thought that a career without scandals is not a great career. The Prime Minister also shares this view with me.”

"Probably because he himself got into some trouble." Gabriel sighed heavily and looked at the pictures again. “There were many risks in sending me to Rome. If the French knew that I was in Italy…”

"You don"t have to go to Rome," Shamron interrupted. "Rome will find you."

"Donati?"

Shaman nodded.

"What did you tell him?"

"Enough to make him ask Alitalia to borrow the plane for a few hours," Shamron replied. “He will be here early tomorrow morning. Show him the pictures. Tell him what it takes to let him know that we think the threat is real."

“What if he asks for help?”

Shamron shrugged. "Give him what he needs."

Monsignor Louigi Donati, Pope Paul VII"s personal secretary, was waiting for Gabriel in the lobby of the King David Hotel at eleven o"clock the next morning. He was tall and thin, as handsome as an Italian movie star. His Roman robes, expensive Swiss watch on his wrist, plus a gold ink pen in his breast pocket showed that Monsieur, although seemingly plain, was actually quite a man. delicate. His black eyes exude brilliant intelligence and determination, and the defiant line of his chin shows that he never falters even in danger. The Vatican press describes him as a paper Rasputin, a power behind the papal throne. Donati"s enemies in the Council of Cardinals often refer to him by the nickname "Black Pope", an honest evocative term, of his Jesuit background.

They crossed the Hinnom valley and climbed the hillside to the eastern wall of the Old City. The path along the wall was lying in the shade. They took that path south, then rounded the corner and passed through the gate of Zion. On Jewish Street, Donati took a piece of paper from his pocket. “The Holy Father wants me to put this piece of paper on the west wall.”

They followed a group of haredim (orthodox Jews) down to Tif"eret Yisra"el. Donati in black looks like the same group as them. At the end of the street, they descended the wide stone steps that led to the square in front of the wall. A long line of people from the security counter. Gabriel, after whispering something to the border policewoman, led Donati around the metal detector into the square.

"Why don"t you act like normal people?"

“Father come in,” said Gabriel. "I"ll wait right here".

Donati turned and involuntarily walked towards the women"s wall. Gabriel discreetly clicked his tongue and guided him toward the men"s wall. Donati chooses a kippah (Jewish hood) from the public basket and wears it carelessly over his head. He stood in front of the wall for a moment and prayed silently, then he inserted the small scroll into the c***k in the brown Herodian stone.

"What did that paper say?" Gabriel asked as Donati returned.

"On it was written a plea for peace."

“You should have left the paper on it,” Gabriel said, pointing in the direction of the Al-Aqsa mosque.

“You have changed,” said Donati. “The person I met three years ago never said this.”

“We all change, Luigi. There is no more peace in this country, only security. A"one doesn"t take this into account when he uses suicide bombers."

"A"one is no more".

“Yes, but the damage he left behind takes a generation to recover.” He shrugs. "Who know? Perhaps the wounds of the second uprising will never heal.”

“Does the killing go on forever? Surely you wouldn"t expect such a thing."

“Of course we have to be ready, Luigi. That is the reality of this place.”

They left Jewish Street and walked to St. Sepulcher"s church. Gabriel waited in the courtyard while Donati, after refusing the invitation of his freelance tour guides, entered the church. He returned ten minutes later. "It"s so dark inside," he said. "To tell you the truth, I"m a bit disappointed."

"I"m afraid everyone will say the same thing as Father."

They left the churchyard and went to Via Dolorosa. A group of American pilgrims, led by a priest in a brown tunic holding a red helium balloon in his hand, headed back toward them. Donati watched the scene with joy evident on his face.

"Do you still have faith?" Gabriel suddenly asked.

Donati thought for a while before answering. “I"m sure you can guess that my personal beliefs are a very complicated one. But I believe in the power of the Roman Catholic church. I believe it will bring good to this sinful world. And I believe in the Pope.”

“So maybe Father is a man of no faith compared to those of great faith.”