CS 01 The Grail Conspiracy (20 page)

"Excellent progress," Sinclair said as the other Guardians reacted.

The British cabinet minister said, "The other two groups committed to our cause-the Trilateral Commission and Europe's Bilderberg
Group-are both almost totally under our influence. As you know, the
Trilateral Commission focuses on financial and political matters while
the Bilderbergers are concerned with military and strategic issues. Since
some of you or your associates are members of those groups, I don't
have to tell you about our sweeping accomplishments."

"Let me comment for a moment, gentlemen, on some developments with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,"
the Zurich banker said. "A large number of Third World countries
defaulting on their huge loans owed to Western banks are now vulnerable to pressure to cooperate with the World Bank and its terms.
This is because Trilateral bankers-our bankers-are now in a position to dictate new terms. There's no other place to go for loansthey have no choice but to use our money. We're seeing this in action every day. We're also seeing progress in moving to a cashless society
with credit and debit card use growing substantially."

"You're right," Sinclair said. "The processing of cashless transactions and electronic fund transfer is becoming one of our major
sources of revenue, especially in the U.S. We predict a sixty percent
market share by the end of the year. Our next step is to put into circulation bar-coded currency.

"The bar code technology being developed with some of our
strategic partners has been perfected for biomedical purposes as well.
The new nanobarcodes, the ones made with gold and silver, are so
minute that several hundred thousand of them can fit in a single centimeter. You can see the implications-we will use these nanobar-
codes to track our citizens."

"What is the public response to the introduction of your presidential candidate?" the president of GlobalStar asked.

"As you know," Sinclair said, "we have been grooming Robert
Wingate for quite some time, and we feel from the initial response
that he will do fine."

The Russian general spoke. "My intelligence tells me there are
personal problems with Wingate that might jeopardize his chances."

"I am aware of that. We're taking appropriate action to resolve
these minor issues," Sinclair said. "We see no reason for changing our
timeline or any of our benchmarks."

"What of the woman who found the Cup?" the French Chief Justice asked. "Is she a threat?"

"We are keeping our finger on that, also," Sinclair answered. "We
will keep watch."

"And when do you go to the Vatican, Charles?" the president of
GlobalStar asked.

"I will be leaving at the end of the week."

"What makes you think you can persuade the cardinal to do what
we require?" the GlobalStar president asked.

"His Eminence wants only one thing in life, and I am the only
one who can deliver it to him. At least that is what he will believe." A
smile spread across Sinclair's face. "Cardinal Inaucci's weaknesses are
his devout faith and his rationale that he is to be rewarded for such
devotion."

"I hope you are right," the GlobalStar president said.

Sinclair rose. "Gentlemen, for centuries, it has been the goal of the
Guardians to unite nations into a worldwide empire. The dream of
returning to a time not unlike ancient Rome where citizens could
travel in safety over thousands of miles while speaking one language,
being governed by one set of laws, and supported with a common
currency, is about to become reality. We will accomplish this because
we are on the threshold of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. As
prophesied, He will return again like a thief in the night-and no one
will know the hour or the day. Well, I say to you that we know the
day-we will pick the hour. He will lead us into a new age-an age
where all will believe in what He says."

Sinclair extended his arms. "And he will say exactly what we tell
him."

"The enormous possibilities of scientific and technological progress, as
well as the phenomenon of globalization, which increasingly extends to
new f elds, demands that we always be open to dialogue with every person, with every social event, with the intention of giving each one a reason for the hope we bear in our heart."

-Pope John Paul II-receiving forty-four new cardinals during
the consistory, February 21, 2001

"YOUR EMINENCE, THANK YOU for agreeing to see me on such short
notice." Charles Sinclair stood in the middle of the cardinal's office,
hand outstretched.

"How could I say otherwise to a man of your stature?" Cardinal
lanucci came around his desk to greet the Nobel laureate. "It is both
an honor and a privilege to be in the presence of such an esteemed
scientist, even if we don't see eye to eye on all the aspects of your
research." He smiled warmly to soften the comment. In fact, Sinclair
had been the topic of many heated theoretical and ethical discussions
in the halls of the Vatican. The specter of human cloning was one of
the most controversial issues facing papal dogma.

"You are most kind, indeed." Sinclair shook the cardinal's handin his other hand he held a small, silver, titanium travel case.

"Please." lanucci motioned to an intricately embroidered chairits legs ending in lions' claws that appeared to grip the sprawling Oriental rug. Once the cardinal returned to sit behind his desk, he said,
"How was your trip?"

"Splendid. The duck l'orange was memorable."

"In-flight gourmet dining is rare these days. The only time I get
good airline food is when I fly with the Holy Father." He chuckled.
Wanting to get past the small talk, he asked, "What can the Holy See
do for you, Dr. Sinclair?"

"Perhaps it's what I can do for you, Your Eminence."

"And what would that be?"

"Can you assure me that we will not be interrupted for the next
hour?"

lanucci glanced at his schedule log before picking up the phone
and instructing that he not be disturbed. "You have my undivided
attention, Dr. Sinclair. But a half hour is the best I can do."

"Then that's all I can ask." Sinclair leaned back, put the case in his
lap, and rested his hands on top of it. "Do you believe the Bible is
truly the word of God?"

The cardinal covered his mouth and coughed shallowly. "But of
course, Dr. Sinclair," he said, sounding a bit indignant.

"Then you believe it contains God's revelation about our ultimate
destiny."

"I do."

Sinclair smiled. "One quarter of the Bible is prophecy, and we
must not ignore or reject any of it. Remember what the Apostle Paul
said in Acts about the Jews: that because they did not listen to the
voices of the Prophets, they actually fulfilled the prophecy by condemning Jesus."

The cardinal leaned forward. "Dr. Sinclair, do you think I rose to
this station without knowing what is in the Bible?"

"Certainly not. And please don't take offense. But I must prepare
you for what I am going to say. I want you to recall the book of Revelation where it says `He stands at the door and knocks. If any man
hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him.' Eminence, I believe that today, God knocks at our door. We mustn't turn a deaf
ear to the prophecies."

"I'm finding your Bible study lesson tedious, Dr. Sinclair."

"Please bear with me, Eminence. My point will be made clear
soon.

The cardinal nodded, reluctantly-he had a full schedule today
and grew impatient with Sinclair's patronizing ramblings.

"Can you describe for me how you envision the Second Coming?"
Sinclair asked.

Ianucci tapped a finger on his thigh. Where was Sinclair going with
this? "Interesting question. That seems to be a popular topic these
days with so many books being written on the subject-apocalyptic
fiction, they call it. Well, in the classical sense we're taught that Christ
will return in a triumphant conquest of good over evil, gathering to
His bosom those who have been faithful, and sweeping them into
everlasting joy and peace. A good model for Renaissance painters, Dr.
Sinclair, but probably not reality."

"Exactly."

"The fact is that no one knows for sure when or how Christ will
return. The prophecy is right there in the Bible, but there are dozens
of interpretations. We do agree, however, that many signs of His
return are present. Of course time is relative. How soon He will come
again is parlayed about by all who study the scriptures. Does that sufficiently answer your question?"

Smugness set in Sinclair's eyes. lanucci cocked his head wondering what brought on such an expression, and why the doctor was
delaying his response.

Finally, Sinclair spoke. "Eminence, I not only know when Christ
will return, but how."

lanucci pushed forward. "You mean you have a theory?"

"Not a theory. I know."

"Dr. Sinclair, many men down through the ages spent their lives
dedicated to studying and investigating the written word for that single purpose."

Again, that faint smile creased surface lines in Sinclair's face, but
he said nothing. It made lanucci shift in the chair. "You believe you
can predict when the Savior will come again, and you have traveled
all this way to share that knowledge with me?" the cardinal asked.

"I must, Your Eminence, because without you, it will not take
place."

lanucci leaned back, interlocking his fingers over his stomach. He
wondered if the famous scientist had joined the likes of some doomsday cult. The line between genius and insanity ... He would humor
Sinclair for a few more moments before politely ushering him on his
way. "I'm listening."

"Most who preach the Word of the Lord look at the prophecies as
proof of the approaching Apocalypse. But they wrongly fixate on the
fire and brimstone in Revelation. We must think of it as God's
promise that He will send His Son again to earth so mankind will
finally have peace on earth-heaven on earth. Who's to say in what
manner Christ will return to Earth? What if it's in a way no one has
thought of-a means that mirrors the times, the technology? I believe
you and I have been selected-chosen by God to make it happen.

"I recently had a vision, Eminence. I was awakened in the middle
of the night by a brilliant white light. At first I was frightened, but
soon, a sense of peace overwhelmed me. I heard a voice-one as clear
as my own is now. The voice quoted scripture. `The wolf also shall
dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child
shall lead them.. .'Are not science and religion often in oppositionthe wolf and the lamb? Yet prophecy is that we will lie down together,
fuse with a common objective. And like our two disciplines, the world will follow, the calf, the lion, the fatling. Peace is to come. And
heed these words especially, a little child shall lead them. It is those
words that made God's plan so unmistakable to me. It clarified what
my purpose is on Earth-and yours as well. Since that night, my
whole life has changed."

"And what is your purpose-and mine?"

"God has given me great talents, Eminence, just as he has bestowed
so many upon you. My knowledge of genetics has allowed me to perfect a method of reproducing a human by using DNA. And God has
blessed you with being a great spiritual leader to shepherd Christ's
church and prepare it for the Final Judgment. He has led us, guided
us, brought us to this day. Every decision we have made in our lives
has been governed by this hallowed inevitability. We have the means
and the power to fulfill our destinies."

"I don't think I follow you. What inevitability? What do genetics
and cloning have to do with God's plan for us all?"

"God has delivered to you the Cup from the Last Supper-the
Cup that caught Christ's blood at Calvary. Sheltered for centuries in a
dark, arid tomb, it is the only remnant of Jesus Christ left on Earth.
Beneath the protective layer of beeswax inside the Cup is the blood of
Christ-blood holding the secret of His DNA. It is a gift from Goda means to an end. And the end is by His doing-His divine plan.
Jehovah delivered the Cup to you, to the spiritual leader He has chosen over all others. And He has delivered it at this time, a time when
the technology is perfected. Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Messiah,
is coming back. And we have been chosen to do God's work."

"You are suggesting that I somehow turn over the Cup of Christ
to you so that you can clone-?" lanucci made a fist and pounded it
on his desk, then rose to his feet. "This is blasphemy! Out! Get out!"

"I'm not surprised by your reaction, Your Eminence. These are
not concepts we ponder often. It is certainly foreign in nature to a man like you. All I ask is you think about what I've said. And while
you do, consider the moments in history when an unusual or controversial concept was proposed and immediately labeled blasphemy,
only years or even centuries later proven true." Sinclair took a folded
piece of paper from his pocket and laid it on the cardinal's desk. "Just
think about it. Pray about it. God is waiting for you."