Chapter 75

           ThecharteredturbopropwasjustpassingoverthetwinklinglightsofMonacowhenAringarosahunguponFacheforthesecondtime.Hereachedfortheairsicknessbagagainbutfelttoodrainedeventobesick.

           Justletitbeover!

           Fache’snewestupdateseemedunfathomable,andyetalmostnothingtonightmadesenseanymore.Whatisgoingon?Everythinghadspiraledwildlyoutofcontrol.WhathaveIgottenSilasinto?WhathaveIgottenmyselfinto!

           Onshakylegs,Aringarosawalkedtothecockpit.«Ineedtochangedestinations.»Thepilotglancedoverhisshoulderandlaughed.«You’rejoking,right?»«No.IhavetogettoLondonimmediately.»«Father,thisisacharterflight,notataxi.»

           «Iwillpayyouextra,ofcourse.Howmuch?Londonisonlyonehourfarthernorthandrequiresalmostnochangeofdirection,so–»

           «It’snotaquestionofmoney,Father,thereareotherissues.»«Tenthousandeuro.Rightnow.»Thepilotturned,hiseyeswidewithshock.«Howmuch?Whatkindofpriestcarriesthatkindofcash?»

           Aringarosawalkedbacktohisblackbriefcase,openedit,andremovedoneofthebearerbonds.Hehandedittothepilot.

           «Whatisthis?»thepilotdemanded.

           «Aten-thousand-eurobearerbonddrawnontheVaticanBank.»Thepilotlookeddubious.»It’sthesameascash.»

           «Onlycashiscash,»thepilotsaid,handingthebondback.

           Aringarosafeltweakashesteadiedhimselfagainstthecockpitdoor.«Thisisamatteroflifeordeath.Youmusthelpme.IneedtogettoLondon.»

           Thepiloteyedthebishop’sgoldring.«Realdiamonds?»

           Aringarosalookedatthering