Chapter 128

           TheCollegeofCardinalsbristledwithebullienceandelectricityastheystreamedbackintotheSistineChapel.Incontrast,Mortatifeltinhimselfarisingconfusionhethoughtmightlifthimoffthefloorandcarryhimaway.HebelievedintheancientmiraclesoftheScriptures,andyetwhathehadjustwitnessedinpersonwassomethinghecouldnotpossiblycomprehend.Afteralifetimeofdevotion,seventy-nineyears,Mortatiknewtheseeventsshouldigniteinhimapiousexuberance…aferventandlivingfaith.Andyetallhefeltwasagrowingspectralunease.Somethingdidnotfeelright.

           "SignoreMortati!"aSwissGuardyelled,runningdownthehall."Wehavegonetotheroofasyouasked.Thecamerlegnois…flesh!Heisatrueman!Heisnotaspirit!Heisexactlyasweknewhim!"

           "Didhespeaktoyou?"

           "Hekneelsinsilentprayer!Weareafraidtotouchhim!"

           Mortatiwasataloss."Tellhim…hiscardinalsawait."

           "Signore,becauseheisaman…"theguardhesitated.

           "Whatisit?"

           "Hischest…heisburned.Shouldwebindhiswounds?Hemustbeinpain."

           Mortaticonsideredit.Nothinginhislifetimeofservicetothechurchhadpreparedhimforthissituation."Heisaman,soservehimasaman.Bathehim.Bindhiswounds.Dresshiminfreshrobes.WeawaithisarrivalintheSistineChapel."

           Theguardranoff.

           Mortatiheadedforthechapel.Therestofthecardinalswereinsidenow.Ashewalkeddownthehall,hesawVittoriaVetraslumpedaloneonabenchatthefootoftheRoyalStaircase.Hecouldseethepainandlonelinessofherlossandwantedtogotoher,butheknewitwouldhavetowait.