Читать книгу Mirror, Mirror at 1600 D.C. - Edward Galluzzi - Страница 8

Chapter 1

Spia

It was a particularly warm day, even for the dog days of August, as the bright sun radiated sufficient heat to singe just about every living thing. Apparently nobody told Mother Nature that autumn was around the corner. However, everybody told Hannah with disbelief in their voice, “Hannah, this is not like you!” Hannah’s friends and colleagues were right. This was not like her—not like cautious, predictable, prudent, and planned to the minute detail—Hannah. She was having her wedding gown fitted to join a man that she has known only for four months. Four amazing months! No, this was not like Hannah, but then again, Harrison was certainly like no other man.

It was a chance meeting for Hannah and Harrison. Hannah was on assignment in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome, Italy, as a journalist for the Washington Sun. Pope Joseph Josetta, who has reigned as the patriarch of the Roman Catholic Church for these past thirteen years, was in failing health. Harrison, who was on special assignment for the President of the United States, was also in Rome. Harrison, the consummate man of duty, has never to this day confided the details of his special assignments to Hannah. She admired him for that. She knew nothing beyond that he was in sensitive negotiations with the leadership of Italy.

Harrison traveled to Vatican City during breaks in the negotiations. He was concerned about the health and emotional well being of Pope Josetta. He had numerous contacts with Josetta as part of his duties to the President over the past seven years. Harrison knew Josetta for many years even before his reign as pontiff during the time of his bishop and cardinal years when he was known by his birth name, Josepha Modesta. Despite their divergent vocations and lifestyles, they often shared common points of view given their mutual Italian ancestry. Harrison’s mother was born in Carrara, Italy, a small region northwest of Rome. The holy man Josetta was born in Venice. Carrara has long been known for its marble and it is still mined there today. Venice has historically been the city of romance with its winding waterways and canals. Rome is a tourist’s delight, a sightseer’s dream that includes St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Fountain of the Four Rivers, Castel Sant’ Angelo, Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, Piazza del Campidoglio, the Catacombs of San Calisto, the Baths of Caracalla— the historical sites go on and on.

Josetta has been one of the most popular Popes among the Catholic clergy and laity in recent centuries. As the Pope of the people, he has warmed the hearts of all Christians around the world. It was also Josetta’s divine directive that altered the traditional vow of celibacy among Roman Catholic priests. For the first time in centuries, priests who were so inclined can now marry and still celebrate the holy sacraments. The shortage of priests and vocations as well as the voice of the people fanned the historical debate of ordaining women priests or rescinding the vow of celibacy for the men of God. Such an edict was remarkable given the zealous affirmation of the vow of celibacy for priests that the then enlightened Ecumenical Council of the early-to-mid 1960’s espoused via the documents of Vatican II.

Harrison and Josetta seldom argued matters of faith and dogma, not that the humble man could debate eloquently theological issues with the venerable man of God. Yet, these good men shared their faith and lineages in Italy. These elements sustained the driving forces in their lives and spiritually bounded their friendship.

Harrison knelt by the bedside of Josetta. He sometimes looked away from the frail man. This was one of those times. Out of the corner of his eye, Harrison saw the flag of Vatican City in the corner of the room. The Vatican flag has two vertical bands of yellow on the hoist side and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter. The papal miter was centered in the white band. The holy man was conscious and peering at Harrison as if to say, “Do not pity me.” Their eyes met as Josetta spoke in a barely audible voice: “Spia” [the Pope’s Italian term of endearment for his friend and literally translated as “spy” in reference to Harrison’s many covert operations for his President]. “Spia,” he said for a second time. “I am an old man and have lived a long life for God. I am ready…” Josetta took a long, deep breath and continued, “Ready to go home.” Harrison, who witnessed many deaths in his line of duty, was unable to hold back the tears swelling in his eyes. He grasped the holy man’s hand as the man of God continued in his weakening voice, “Remember me, remember God.”

Josetta’s wry smile did not escape its translation to Harrison. His faith and the nature of his assignments conflicted many times. Harrison called upon “situational ethics” way too often. Yet, his devotion to duty and his President necessitated the delicate compromise.

Harrison’s attention returned to the holy man as Josetta weakly spoke, “You are troubled, yes?” Harrison grinned, “I am troubled, always!” The comment brought a smile to the dying man’s face. Harrison brought the gift of a smile frequently to their relationship. It was a good time for the humble and holy man to smile. The inevitability of Josetta’s death weighed heavily on Harrison, perhaps more so than for the holy man himself.

Josetta spoke, “Who is going to take care of you, Spia, guide you when I’m gone? You will be…” Josetta coughed vigorously for several minutes and then continued, “You will be lost without me.” Josetta managed a painful grin and said, “Who will absolve you of all your multitudinous sins?” Before Harrison could defend himself, the holy man anticipated his protest and interrupted quickly, “You, God and I know that you are a sinner. However, when I meet Him, I will put in a good word for you, Spia.” Harrison grinned widely and replied, “I think it will take more that a good word, even from you, Josetta.” The two friends managed a restrained laugh.

In an effort to assure Josetta that he would be cared for, Harrison spoke, “I want you to know that I met someone, someone I’ve grown to care for very much in the past few months.” The news seemed to energize His Holiness and he asked excitedly, “A woman? You are taking time out to fall in love with a woman, Spia?” Harrison, pretending he was hurt at the pontiff’s remarks, said to his beloved friend, “You don’t think a woman could become interested in me?” The men smiled and Josetta said, “Interested? Yes, for you are indeed a captivating man.” The holy man chose his next words carefully and shook his index finger of his right hand, “Spia, does this woman know, shall we say, the details of your vocation?”

Harrison raised his eyebrows momentarily as if to ask ‘My vocation?’ without stating the words. He thought to himself, ‘my vocation? Who would believe my vocation?’ Before Harrison formulated his response, the holy man said confidently, “I thought not.” Harrison spoke in a somewhat defensive voice, “Hannah is aware that I conduct special assignments for the President.” “And I’m the Pope,” said Josetta. “Hannah?” Josetta appeared delighted at the sound of her name. “Conduct?” the pontiff commented in his typically subtle manner, “Perhaps you mean to say ‘execute’?”

Harrison chose not to argue the aesthetics of his livelihood, something they had deliberated on many occasions anyway with no productive resolution. “Besides,” said Harrison, “I have you to thank for meeting Hannah.” “Me, Spia? Cosa intende, io?” It was common for Josetta to lapse to his native tongue, a language quite familiar to Harrison. “Hannah is a journalist for a Washington newspaper. Like most journalists, she is here to cover your health,” said Harrison. “You mean my death,” the holy one corrected.

Harrison gave his old friend a look of indifference and continued, “You are not going to die.” However, the words sounded hollow even to Harrison given the state of His Holiness’ health. This time Harrison spoke before Josetta formulated his thoughts, “Hannah has a great deal of respect for you. She considers you ‘progressive’ you know.” “Progressive?” queried Josetta. The holy man heard the descriptive adjective before, but dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “Progressive?” said Josetta with some disdain. He protested, “I’m only the servant of the Lord and His word.” Harrison was acutely aware of Josetta’s longstanding humility in his papacy, but his impressive list of accomplishments as servant of his church and his dogmatic encyclicals belied his modesty.

In dismissing the cosmopolitan label, Josetta said with a noticeable twinkle in his eye, “Tell me about this Hannah, Spia. Cosa è piace? What is she like?” Harrison observed that his holy friend sparkled a bit over the idea that not only could he have a girl friend, but also that somebody might actually marry him. Perhaps even take care of him.

“As I said,” Harrison noted, “she’s a journalist for the Washington Sun out of Washington, D.C. She has the most beautiful eyes…” “It’s always the physical with you first,” interjected Josetta. ‘“The lust of the eye’ the Bible speaks” added the holy man. Harrison raised his eyebrows giving him that boyish charm and resumed, “Hannah has the most beautiful hazel eyes and the most angelic face…” “Oh, fratello!” mused the holy man placing his right hand to his right cheek. “Oh, brother yourself,” echoed Harrison while mimicking his friend’s hand movement. “I’ll spare you Hannah’s other incarnate qualifications,” said Harrison. Josetta only smiled as Harrison continued, “She’s a bright woman, very smart, but doesn’t flaunt it. Hannah is dedicated to journalism, ‘truth from the pen’ as she puts it. She has your sense of humor…” Josetta again smiled, but then coughed uncontrollably for a minute or so. “Can I get you anything, Josetta?” The holy man waved his hand ‘no’ and coughed once again. “Is it my description of Hannah or that she loves me that you can’t take?” smirked Harrison. He continued, “You need your rest. I have to get back to work while you lay here with all your servants waiting after you!” Josetta smiled once again although weakly this time. “Good evening, your excellency.” At that, Harrison bowed his head, as he was accustomed for Josetta’s blessing: “Maggio che Dio benedice Lei nel nome del Padre, e del Figlio e del Spirt Santo.” “Amen,” responded Harrison. With that, he placed his hand on Josetta’s, squeezed lightly. “Don’t worry,” Harrison said, “You are not going to leave this world of ours until after you meet Hannah.” The Pope managed a smile and a nod of his head as Harrison left the room.

Harrison stood in the corridor outside of Josetta’s room. He took a deep breath in an attempt to compose himself. Harrison drew strength from his holy friend and it hurt deeply to watch him slip away. He vowed to keep his promise that Josetta would meet Hannah while he remained conscious and alert. With that certainty, Harrison worked his way out of the Vatican and the multitude of Swiss Papal Guards who protected the Holy See.