The Fallen and the Elect
Page 75
Chapter 46
Walking into his office, the thin, aged cleric was startled to see Bishop Grielle sitting in one of the visitor chairs across from his desk. “Andrew? Didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, somewhat annoyed at his new intern for not telling him about the visitor. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m here to petition for Father Hernandez to be able to return to his parish here in the city. I’m sure he wouldn’t be a threat to your pet project considering what I heard when I talked to him. He’s heard about what’s happened to part of the work on Aurora, although he wouldn’t reveal all the details of all he’s found. He felt that his role to keep the confessions confidential shouldn’t end even though the one who confessed most everything to him passed away.”
“Well, I appreciate his dedication to his spiritual mandates, but I feel the Church’s destiny will keep its course regardless of these recent events,” the Cardinal responded as he sat down at his desk.
“You realize it seems this would call into question everything about Aurora don’t you?” Bishop Grielle noted.
“I would disagree with you,” Cardinal Millhouse replied. “I’ve already talked to Gary Applethorpe and he’s confident they should be able to make progress, regardless of whatever events may have transpired.”
“It just seems with all the impediments, the Church should reconsider these worldly pursuits.”
Cardinal Millhouse’s face depicted a veneer of rage Bishop Grielle wasn’t accustomed to.
“Andrew, this is not some whim the Church is following!” the Cardinal harshly declared. “I know I mentioned this to you before; there is a divine purpose to our endeavors.”
“Think about some of the unique insights Father Hernandez, Sister Justine, and Michael Saunders extrapolated from their research and investigation.”
“We’re not going down this heresy road again for them to think the named angels are of God just because of something as simple as the ending of their names or simple hearsay comments by a missing alleged witness. I don’t care how much research they’ve committed to this thesis. Remember, we embrace the miracles, the traditions, the supernatural when confirmed, and they have been. For those of us able to read the notes and writings of those who witnessed the divine revelation and to be able to understand experiencing the majestic, the beautiful, light-emblazoned cherub—what a truly inspiring experience to know a new age is upon us.”
“I don’t know why, but a verse just came to mind, ‘Even the enemy can appear as an Angel of Light’ from 2nd Corinthians if I recall correctly. Are we truly to know those that are fallen versus those that are elect?”
Cardinal Millhouse was not happy being lectured to on the verse and follow on rhetorical question. He wanted to ignore both as if they were inconsequential. “The angels presenting their gift of death to those, their friends, and their families who served the Church in their unique ministry through science, science we’ve come to accept after so many centuries, those angels deceive and attempt to present darkness upon the Church’s path? No Andrew, those spirits only confirmed what Aurora predicted. They would attempt to impede the overall plan of one church, one religion, being diametrically opposed to what we strive to achieve, the Church universal. God would not be against his own church.”
Without a knock or mannered process for interruption, the assigned intern rushed through the door into the office, surprising both men.
“Rome is on the line,” the intern exclaimed, and both clergymen in the office noted the excited jitters in his voice.
“Thank you Antonio. Andrew, we’re done, and your request for Father Hernandez to return is denied, especially since he and his companions attempted to prevent Everest from moving forward, with their little escapade in Las Cruces.”
“Well, is it true you’re thinking of relocating him again?”
“Like I said Andrew, we’re done.”
No emotion breached the Cardinal’s concrete expression. Stubbornness painted his countenance. Bishop Grielle knew it would be of no benefit to attempt and press for a harder sale and decided to leave. Patiently waiting for both Antonio and Bishop Grielle to depart his office before picking up the phone handset, he answered. “This is Cardinal Millhouse.”
After a short pause, listening to the caller on the other end, he continued. “I’m thankful to be talking to you again. And yes, I do have an update. You can pass on that I’ve talked to the primary representative from Everest earlier today and although his package did go down in the aircraft, he was lucky his lead doctor transporting it had ensured it was in an extremely secure and ruggedized container. It was found intact with no apparent rupture, so the area wasn’t declared dangerous; but he was able to work with a contact in the CDC just in case things did go awry. They were going to use the Hanta virus as a cover if the unfortunate did happen. The only problem, however, was the heat. They weren’t sure if the fireball destroyed the protein bonds or some such. Anyway, more to come when they’re able to start up work at their Canadian facility.”
“Yes, if it did survive, the Holy Church will be ready to initiate the purge of the Middle East nuisance nation as declared from the secret Council of Rome.”
After listening for a few minutes to the speaker on the other end of the phone conversation, Cardinal Millhouse continued. “I agree, we should at least be thankful for a child so perfect.”