Shout in the Dark

by Christopher Wright

  Chapter 41

  Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore

  EARLY THE NEXT morning, Josef Reinhardt sent one of the sisters with a message to Marco's room to say that he must come at the earliest opportunity. Marco had slept badly, hearing Laura's rebuttal over and over again in his head. He tried to console himself with the thought that she was still in shock and unable to think rationally. But perhaps he was the one incapable of rational thought.

  Father Josef was waiting impatiently. "Have you seen today's paper, Marco? If not, have a look at the front page."

  "The relic?"

  Father Josef shook his head as he held out the paper. "Bruno Bastiani. You know he was a journalist? Yes, of course you do. Well, his paper has printed the start of a major series on the wartime Nazis, and today's neo-Nazis."

  "I knew it was coming. Riccardo Fermi mentioned it in the car going to Paris." Marco took the paper. EUROPE'S SICK SECRET screamed the headlines. He read the explosive details. "These are prominent names. They're not going to like it. The carabinieri think Bruno and Riccardo were in some anti-fascist plot together."

  "They were certainly first rate journalists. See for yourself, Marco. Bruno Bastiani recently obtained wartime negatives showing a raid on the monastery at Monte Sisto. The paper has put two of the pictures on the next page. In one, there is a family that has been identified as the Levis. They must be Canon Angelo Levi's people -- Laura Rossetti's family."

  Marco turned the page. The quality of reproduction was excellent. A row of frightened adults and children stood in front of wooden barrels, the women wearing head scarves. The harsh shadows from the single flash gave the photograph a grim texture of reality. "Laura didn't say anything about this last night. I don't think she was very close to Bruno and Riccardo."

  Father Josef put his glasses down amongst the clutter on the desk. "It hurts me to say this, Marco, but I am afraid I deliberately kept details of Laura Rossetti's friends from you. It was vital you acted the part of an innocent priest, or they would not have confided in you. We had to retrieve the relic, and Laura's friends certainly had no intention of helping the Vatican."

  "I've already worked that out," Marco replied wearily.

  "The outcome was gratifying, young man, expect for one thing."

  He raised his eyebrows. "Yes?"

  "I am unhappy at the way your friendship with Laura has developed so fast. I wonder if it is wise for you to continue."

  "It's over." He tried to make it sound as though Laura's refusal to see him was of no consequence.

  The old priest put a hand gently on his shoulder. "I'm glad, but I hope you are both still on speaking terms. You will be meeting Laura Rossetti tomorrow afternoon before the program."

  "What program? I thought I'd finished my work for you."

  "Just a few more days, Marco."

  "I'd like a break soon. I think even Cardinal Amendola would agree I've earned it. I've been in touch with my friend in Oxford to see if he can put me up for a few days. I've told him a bit about the excitement we've had here with the neo-Nazis, but only what's been in the papers."

  Father Josef moved to the table to pick up a letter, his hands steady. "You certainly deserve a break, Marco, but I can't let you go yet. You come over well on television, and TV Roma has asked for permission to use you in an interview tomorrow evening. Cardinal Amendola is lending the bronze head for everyone to see."

  "I didn't realize there was another Cardinal Amendola."

  "Now, now, a little more respect please. It is the same one, Marco, but I have to admit that Amendola has undergone a remarkable transformation. He says he may have made a slight mistake in refusing to admit the existence of the relic. He found Monsignor Giorgio trying to conceal the parchment that was inside the head, and discovered it was a most revealing document. But the decision to let TV Roma investigate the relic on live television is not his alone, Father Marco."

  "Why are you calling me Father Marco? The Church has taken away my position."

  "Only for six months, and it is indeed possible that your splendid work will cause the panel to reconsider before that."

  "You don't understand. I need time to think through my calling. This has been a traumatic introduction to the priesthood. Perhaps I want to be free."

  Father Josef replaced his narrow glasses on the end of his nose and looked over them sharply. "A problem with your faith?"

  "No, of course it's not my faith. My faith has never been stronger -- in spite of all that's happened. Or perhaps because of it. I've learned something about God's forgiveness for the first time. But there's something else..." He hadn't intended to hesitate.

  Father Josef said quietly, "You are still sexually attracted to women. It is a battle fought by many priests. I understand how you feel."

  Quite probably the old priest did understand. He was a man of great empathy.

  KARL HEARD THE publicity for the forthcoming program. It seemed that everybody knew of the discovery that could turn the Christian Church on its head. The preliminary broadcast would be syndicated live, with commentators on hand for all major languages. He was trained and ready, and so were his friends -- ready for the ultimate in publicity, for their moment in history.

  With a bit of luck the leaders of Achtzehn Deutschland Reinigung would be watching to see how well he could cope in a crisis. He had been trained to lead men who would fight for their beliefs. Men who were prepared to lay down their lives. Herr Kessel had been nothing but a pompous old Narr driven by hang-ups from his Jewish past. Erich had confirmed that the ADR in Düsseldorf never regarded the man as anything but a joke, and only tolerated him because of his father's SS connections.

  Karl smiled to himself. Thank God for Herr Kessel's contact in the editing suite at TV Roma, a sympathizer who was prepared to help the ADR. The video editor said he was compiling a documentary on the relic's discovery in the cemetery in Paris and its connection with the monastery at Monte Sisto. The relic would be taken to the studio in a security van three hours before the broadcast. It was to be TV Roma's reward for Laura Rossetti's part in the recovery. An exclusive, a world revelation. Karl laughed aloud. The world would soon be even more amazed!

  The noisy bunch from Düsseldorf were hopeless. For the snatch operation they needed to be more disciplined, and their training had obviously been anything but thorough. A first class leader should be given first class troops, but he accepted he was not getting better than this in the time available. He tried to make himself heard as he addressed the gang in the park, but they kept shouting to each other.

  Why had they bothered to come? Where were the million supporters Herr Kessel had boasted about?

  "Let's have a fight," shouted Klaus, a real Rowdy known to everyone as a crazy troublemaker.

  "You can have your fight in the studios tomorrow," Karl shouted back, angry at the interruption. They would fight, too, given half a chance.

  "We'll fight the Eyeties!" Leo now joined in the barracking.

  Then Karl got his best idea ever, the sort of idea to be expected from their new leader. "You'll be fighting tomorrow night," he yelled back. "You'll be fighting each other. And that's official!"