Chapter 136

           ThemidmorningskystillhungheavywithcloudsastheSistineChapel’schimneygaveupitsfirstfaintpuffsofwhitesmoke.Thepearlywispscurledupwardtowardthefirmamentandslowlydissipated.

           Farbelow,inSt.Peter’sSquare,reporterGuntherGlickwatchedinreflectivesilence.Thefinalchapter…

           ChinitaMacriapproachedhimfrombehindandhoistedhercameraontohershoulder."It’stime,"shesaid.

           Glicknoddeddolefully.Heturnedtowardher,smoothedhishair,andtookadeepbreath.Mylasttransmission,hethought.Asmallcrowdhadgatheredaroundthemtowatch.

           "Liveinsixtyseconds,"Macriannounced.

           GlickglancedoverhisshoulderattheroofoftheSistineChapelbehindhim."Canyougetthesmoke?"

           Macripatientlynodded."Iknowhowtoframeashot,Gunther."

           Glickfeltdumb.Ofcourseshedid.Macri’sperformancebehindthecameralastnighthadprobablywonherthePulitzer.Hisperformance,ontheotherhand…hedidn’twanttothinkaboutit.HewassuretheBBCwouldlethimgo;nodoubttheywouldhavelegaltroublesfromnumerouspowerfulentities…CERNandGeorgeBushamongthem.

           "Youlookgood,"Chinitapatronized,lookingoutfrombehindhercameranowwithahintofconcern."IwonderifImightofferyou…"Shehesitated,holdinghertongue.

           "Someadvice?"

           Macrisighed."Iwasonlygoingtosaythatthere’snoneedtogooutwithabang."

           "Iknow,"hesaid."Youwantastraightwrap."

           "Thestraightestinhistory.I’mtrustingyou."

           Glicksmiled.Astraightwrap?Isshecrazy?Astorylikelastnight’sdeservedsomuchmore.Atwist.Afinalbombshell.