6 - The Plot
Vatican City, Rome
May 28th 11.30 p.m. local time
On the third floor corridor of the Vatican Palace the silence was absolute.
In the dimly lit antechamber the two Bishops were sitting motionless, waiting. It was late, but they were prepared to wait for the whole night, if necessary.
A feeble echo of soft murmurs seemed to reverberate among the high ceilings and the saints' portraits that decorated the walls. A few nuns came out of the papal chambers and passed behind them, sweeping the precious marble floor with the hem of their habits and vanishing into the dark hallway.
They had been waiting for hours. From the window overlooking St. Peters square they have seen the flaming Roman sunset dissolve into a dark and starless sky.
The sound of hurried steps told them their
