The Last Day (51 page)

“Sure,” Feldman agreed, conceding the logic of the decision.

Erin reached across the table and gave Feldman's hand an appreciative squeeze. Feldman acknowledged this with the briefest flash of uncomfortable smile as Sullivan proceeded to engage the group in a discussion of strategies and research plans. This was all conducted without benefit of Cissy, who sat back in her chair, curled up and withdrawn in a huff.

The circle deliberated briefly over a suitable format for Erin's history lesson, and then moved on to structure Feldman's interview. This subject, however, required some speculation regarding the content of the pope's address.

“All right,” Sullivan tossed out, “I have my own suspicions, but what do the rest of you think the Vatican's up to with this ex
cathedra
business?”

“That's not too hard,” Hunter snorted. “It's payback time. They're gonna do a number on Jeza and order all their Catholic followers to dump her, right?”

There was collective agreement around the table.

Particularly from Feldman, whose mind had been traveling this very route. “The Catholic Church has no choice,” he said, reinforcing the consensus. “Their survival depends on successfully discrediting Jeza. They're going to take their best shot, and I'm afraid it could lead to a lot more world turmoil and violence.”

“If that's what we anticipate the Vatican's position will be,” Sullivan advanced, “I'd suggest, in the interest of balanced reporting, that we be prepared to follow up the pope's address with a critique. Assuming the Church will be leaning heavily on biblical scripture to debunk Jeza, this may be another area in which we need Erin's expertise.”

Cissy rocked forward in her chair to reenter the circle. “We're going to lose the audience with all these dry recitals!” she protested. “We need to put the emphasis on Jon's interview with di Concerci. The cardinal is where the action is. He's hot media. Everyone's going to want to hear from the guy who took on Jeza twice and got his ass kicked both times. Besides, Jon can critique the pope's speech with his questions of di Concerci.”

A volley of arguing ensued and Feldman held up his hands to impress a point. “As much as I'd like to carry the ball on this one, we've got to be realistic about what we're up against here. No doubt, the sole purpose of this proposed interview is to put a positive spin on the pope's speech. It's a manipulation game. The Vatican's sending in their heavy hitter to deflect any criticisms we toss at them. And I’ m certainly no match for a cardinal prefect of the Holy See. I can't go toe-to-toe with him in scriptural matters. And with all due respect to you, Erin”—he locked eyes with WNN's expert on religious affairs—”I'm not sure you want that assignment either.”

Erin's brow wrinkled at this and she pursed her tips, no doubt contemplating the thought of being humbled in the glare of international TV.

Cissy countered, “Then let's level the playing field and give the world a real show. Let's bring in a strong counterpoint person to neutralize di Concerci. Jon can act as referee and provoke some high-charged debate.”

This gave everyone pause.

“I like it, Cissy,” Sullivan mused. “Who do you have in mind?”

“I don't know just yet”—she backpedaled for a second—“but there are certainly plenty of good candidates out there. I'm sure we'll get someone qualified. If only we could find Cardinal Litti.”

Bollinger was cautious. “We don't have much time, guys. And just any pro-Jeza millenarian won't do. We need a really first-class opponent.”

“A real biblical scholar,” Sullivan added. “Someone highly regarded. And assuming we do find such a candidate, we'll need to be subtle in how we work him or her into the program. We don't want the Vatican to become suspicious and quash our plans.

“irrespective,” Sullivan concluded with a presumptuous smile, “I suspect Monday night at the Vatican should prove yet another ratings triumph for WNN.”

92

WNN regional headquarters, Cairo, Egypt9:12
A.M
., Thursday, March 30, 2000

F
eldman sat in his office, staring at a phone message from Anke dated the day before.
“Please call as soon as possible, “
it read. He knew full well he was long overdue in providing the very tolerant lady with some sort of explanation. Only he had none yet.

An appreciated diversion, Cissy came strolling into Feldman's office with a self-satisfied grin on her freckled face and plopped down triumphantly on the cluttered couch. Feldman looked up from the note, questioningly.

“I did it!” she exclaimed.

“You did what?”

“I found him! The perfect antithesis to di Concerci.”

“You found Cardinal Litti!” Feldman's heart jumped.

“No,” Cissy responded, momentarily annoyed. “Rabbi Mordachai Hirschberg.”

Feldman searched his memory in vain.

“Hirschberg's the current head of the Jewish Lubavitcher movement,” Cissy elaborated, sifting through news clippings she'd brought with her. “He's a resident of New York City … he's considered one of the foremost scholars in the world on Old Testament scripture … he attended both Mormon convocations—and he was one of the first rabbis to recognize Jeza as Messiah.”

“Sounds good,” Feldman concurred. “Let's bring his name up at this morning's meeting and see if he works for everybody else. Is he available?”

Cissy's pleased expression deflated slightly and she bit her lower lip. “I don't know yet. I had a brief conversation with him yesterday to broach the subject, and he's agreed to a teleconference call with me at three this afternoon. It's such short notice. I was hoping you'd sit in and help me convince him.”

“Sure,” Feldman offered without hesitation, and Cissy flitted away to prepare for the staff meeting.

A little before three that afternoon, Feldman accompanied Cissy to the WNN teleconferencing center and together they settled in behind a table in front of a large TV screen and video camera for a conversation with the rabbi. Feldman was not quite sure what to expect from this reputedly mercurial, often confrontational religious teacher. In a moment they were teleconnected to their party halfway around the world in Brooklyn, New York.

“Good morning, Rabbi,” Cissy opened as the grave, wise countenance of the Lubavitcher leader flickered up on the screen. The rabbi was a large, alert man of seventy-seven, with full white beard and hair, bushy white eyebrows, and deep-set eyes that sparkled despite the serious gaze.

“Good morning,” Hirschberg answered.

“I appreciate your willingness to come by our studio in New York to conference with us so early in the morning,” Cissy said, recognizing that the sun was not yet up in New York.

“It is not early for me, Miss McFarland,” Hirschberg replied matter-of-factly. “I've been up for hours, as is my custom.”

“I'm glad to hear that, Rabbi,” Cissy replied. “I'd like to introduce you to my friend and colleague, Jon Feldman.”

“Yes.” Hirschberg nodded politely to Feldman. “Mr. Feldman is a well-known figure to us here, and everywhere, I'm certain.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Feldman returned, not able to get a read on the rabbi's disposition yet. “Do we find you in good health and spirits this morning?”

“Yes, Mr. Feldman, you do,” the rabbi continued in a noncommittal manner. “At the very least, I'm always in good spirits. But I suspect you're not investing eighty dollars per minute of your company's money to make small talk with me. You wished to discuss the arrangements for my attending Monday night's telecast?”

Both Feldman and Cissy were caught off-guard.

“You mean you accept our invitation?” Cissy could not mask her surprise and delight.

“Of course,” he responded as if there were never any question. “I simply had to consult my doctor first. I have a slight medical condition. Nothing to be concerned about.”

“Wonderful,” Feldman quickly responded. “We welcome your participation. May I ask you, Rabbi, what, in your opinion, will be the Vatican's strategy here?”

“There's no question in my mind that the thrust of this speech will be to discredit the Messiah and command the world Catholic community to reject Her as an impostor and false prophet. The decree ex
cathedra
will no doubt require the Catholic faithful to disclaim Jeza under penalty of mortal sin and excommunication.”

“How are you intending to respond to that proclamation, Rabbi Hirschberg?” Cissy asked.

“With prophecy, of course,” he replied. “With the Word of God! You must fight fire with fire!”

“Begging your pardon, Rabbi,” Feldman interrupted with a personal observation he couched in hypothesis. “May I play devil's advocate for a moment?”

“Of course.”

“Couldn't it be said that the source of this entire Jeza controversy lies in an undue reliance on scripture? And on the completely inconsistent ways in which all these obscure prophecies are interpreted? Isn't the real obstacle for many people that the prophecies you rely on are simply too ancient and ambiguous to relate to?”

The rabbi nodded his head, impatiently tapping his fingertips together as if he'd anticipated this question all along. Then, compressing his lips tightly, he turned to a sheath of papers beside him, sorted through them, and held up a selected document. “Can you make this out, Mr. Feldman?” he asked.

“I can see what looks like a handwritten letter, Rabbi.” Feldman squinted at the screen. “But I'm unable to read what it says.”

“This,” Hirschberg explained, “is no ancient prophecy. This is a prediction made in 1937 by the great Hasidic holy man, Rabbi Haim Shvuli. It prophesies about a war in the Middle East to be waged in the year 1990 by an Arab nation. According to Rabbi Shvuli, this war would involve the use of chemical and biological weapons, and involve attempts to bomb Jerusalem from the air. However, it predicts that the city would be protected by the Almighty. And note this most important aspect, Mr. Feldman—Rabbi Shvuli proclaims that this war would signal
the beginning of the messianic era!

“As you no doubt recognize, my young friend,” Hirschberg continued, “Rabbi Shvuli was accurately describing the war with Iraq known as Desert Storm, anticipating it to the very year,
more than fifty years prior.

“Bear in mind, Mr. Feldman, that this prediction was made
eleven years
before the Jewish State of Israel even existed. Back when the Holy Land was under the complete control of the Palestinians.
Before
the true implications of this prophecy held any significance for the Jews.

“You see, even the creation of the Jewish State in 1948 foretold of the coming of the Messiah Jeza. The Old Testament predicted the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, and the Great Exile of the Jews. Yet the scriptures also promised there would one day be a great ‘ingathering of the Jewish exiles.’ And that this ingathering would mark the long-foretold beginning of the messianic era.

“After two thousand years, that prophecy was fulfilled with the formation of the modern Jewish state, which brought about the ensuing mass immigration of Jews to Israel from their scattered, displaced existences all across the globe.

“But let me provide you with yet another current prophecy, Mr. Feldman, as you require. In August 1990, two years before his death, in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait that same month, my esteemed rabbi, Menachem Schneerson, delivered a special sermon here at our temple in Brooklyn. Regarding the Iraqi threat against Israel at that time, he predicted this.” Hirschberg selected another paper from his collection and held it up for Feldman to observe. “Let me document this to you in a published copy of Rabbi Schneerson's very words:

“‘These events do not have to disturb the spiritual and physical peace of a single Jew because they are a preparation and preface for the actual coming of the Messiah.’”

Hirschberg returned the paper to its place. “The Rabbi Schneerson went on to say that there would be no need for Israelis to acquire gas masks or stockpile food or gird themselves for attack. That Israel would never be truly threatened by this war at her doorstep. And that the advent of the Messiah was
imminent!”

Cissy looked over at Feldman with raised eyebrows, denoting her approval. Feldman nodded his head in concurrence. This refreshingly contemporary, non-Christian perspective sounded like just the sort of solid rebuttal WNN had been looking for. Cissy had done well.

“Excellent, Rabbi,” Feldman commended him. “If you will, I'd like to ask you to fax copies of these materials to us so we can make some visual excerpts for the telecast. We're going to need persuasive material like this if we hope to counter the Vatican's position.”

The rabbi smiled for the first time. “Somehow, Mr. Feldman, I feel as if you've chosen sides.”

This took Feldman aback for a moment, his eyes flitted with internal conflict. He then leveled his gaze at Hirschberg and his brow creased. “I'm not pursuing any personal religious convictions here, Rabbi. And I certainly have no desire to endorse one theological view over another. Quite frankly, I believe that the resolution to all this current unrest lies somewhere in the temporal world, not the spiritual. But I don't want to see any harm come to Jeza, either. And I support whatever can be done to balance the threat of a backlash against her.”

93

Cairo Airport, Egypt11:30
A.M
., Monday, April 3, 2000

L
ate Monday morning, Erin and Feldman were shuttled to the airport and deposited aboard a small charter jet for the hop across the Mediterranean.

This was the first time Feldman had truly been alone in Erin's company, and it was not something he'd looked forward to with any degree of comfort. Nevertheless, aside from infrequent exchanges of pleasantries and a few requests of Feldman for his opinion, Erin remained completely absorbed in the project. For the duration of the three-hour flight, she kept her professional distance.

The two newspeople were met at the airport by WNN Europe staff and transported first to their downtown hotel to freshen up, then directly to the Vatican and the cathedral for prepping before the telecast. As he crossed familiar St Peter's Square, Feldman's sensations of queasiness increased.