The Secret of Fatima (12 page)

“Father Thrall, do you know about the secret of Fatima?” Serrano asked.

Is this what they brought me here to ask?
Kevin thought a moment and decided he'd best play along.
Let's see if I pass their little test
. “The Virgin Mary appeared to three children in a village in Portugal in 1917 and told them secrets. When the villagers disbelieved them, Mary performed a miracle called the ‘Miracle of the Sun.' Seventy thousand people were present and observed the sun spinning on its axis, plunging to earth. That is, until it stopped.”

“Very good,” Cardinal Serrano said, brushing his palms together in mock applause. Apparently, here was a cleric well versed in ecclesiastic sarcasm. “Now, how much information have you learned about the secret—the last secret?”

“Well, for many years, the secret was known only to Lucia, the surviving child, who wrote it down sometime during the Second World War, I believe, and sent it to the Vatican to be read only by the pope,” Kevin said. “It was rumored to contain apocalyptic information that, if released, would terrify the world.”

“Very good, indeed,” said Cardinal Marini.

“I happen to be a student of Fatima,” Kevin said. “Given that it was witnessed by thousands and widely reported in the press at the time, I find it the most credible of miracles.”

“I agree,” Marini said. “So you're probably aware that His Holiness, John Paul II, revealed the secret publicly in the year 2000.”

Kevin still hadn't a clue why he was discussing the secret of Fatima with the leaders of the Catholic Church. “Of course. I recall that the secret predicted that a future ‘bishop in white' would be shot or assassinated. In 1981, that's what happened to John Paul II. He was shot in St. Peter's Square.”

“Correct,” Marini said.

His Holiness joined the conversation. “Father Thrall, you might not be aware that the date on which John Paul II was shot, May 13, 1981, was the anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima.”

For Kevin, it took a moment for that information sink in. “Actually, I was aware of that, Your Holiness,” Kevin said, recalling his conversation with Max Drotti on the same subject. “It is indeed a remarkable coincidence.”

“Perhaps not a coincidence,” Cardinal Serrano added. “We believe there is a connection between the secret and Opus Mundi's attempt to take over the Church. If His Holiness's life is at risk, we must find out what it is in the secret that has them so worried. Some believe there's nothing to this, but others …” Marini raised his eyebrows and looked in the direction of the pontiff. Marini seemed to correct himself and continued, “Others believe that we must explore this possible connection.”

Kevin was confused. “The secret was made public, so we have as much access to its contents as Opus Mundi, correct?” The men nodded. “So, what is it that they seem to know that no one else does? This doesn't make sense.”

Cardinal Porter spoke up, “We have an Opus Mundi defector who told us that the key to their operations was the secret of Fatima. But all we know is that the secret accurately predicted that a bishop in white would be shot. Then there's the remarkable coincidence that the assassination attempt on John Paul II occurred on the anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima. Beyond that, we're stuck, Kevin. We need fresh eyes on this mystery.” Porter looked at the pope and then back at Kevin. “You were chosen for this assignment because of the combination of your skills and your devotion to the priesthood.”

Kevin nodded, keeping his eyes on the floor while he gathered his thoughts.
If you only knew, Blessed Father, how my priestly obligations are challenged every day
.

The pope's secretary, a young man dressed in a black suit and tie, entered and whispered in the pontiff's ear.

As he stood up, Pope Quintus II nodded and announced softly, “This meeting will end now. Thank you, my friends.”

As the pontiff left the room, the men all rose. Cardinal Porter walked out with Kevin and they chatted quietly.

“The meeting was short, I know,” Cardinal Porter said, “and there's something else you need to know about John Paul I.”

Kevin stopped in his tracks and looked at His Eminence. “I remember. Quite a shock. He was the one who died in 1978 after being in office just a month. What about him, Eminence?”

“I must share with you one of the most sacred secrets. You need to know it. The pope's death occurred on the thirty third day of his reign, while he was reading the secret of Fatima.”

Kevin was speechless. This conversation was getting just too bizarre. “He died reading the secret?”

“Yes,” Cardinal Porter said. “And it is a mystery. We've all read the secret. It was made public in 2000. There's nothing in the secret that would—or should—cause a heart attack.”

“Maybe it was unrelated to his reading. Could it have been a coincidence? Maybe it was his natural time to die.”

Cardinal Porter shook his head. “We don't think so. He had no previous heart problems. Remember, Opus Mundi believes there's an apocalyptic message in the secret.” The cardinal stopped and rubbed his eyes. “The problem, Kevin, is that we really don't know exactly what John Paul I saw and we don't know what Opus Mundi sees or what mayhem they're concocting. That's why we sent for you.”

Kevin nodded but said nothing.

“Look,” Porter continued, “I took a risk sending for you, given your colored background.” Porter paused for a moment, looking for the right words. “You're a good priest, Kevin. Your calling was genuine, your faith is strong. I want you to hear this from me because I trust you completely.”

“Thank you, Eminence.” Kevin breathed deeply. “I appreciate your confidence and I'll do everything I can not to disappoint you. I'm overwhelmed by all this new information: papal assassinations, wars between nations, and now a mystery surrounding the secret of Fatima …”

Well, this was certainly getting more interesting
, Kevin thought silently. One pope died reading the secret of Fatima just a month after being elected. Another pope, John Paul II, was shot, but survived. When the secret of Fatima was revealed publicly to the world, it predicted ‘a bishop in white'—the pope surely fit that description—would be assassinated. But nothing in the secret, revealed publicly, pointed to a cataclysmic event that would have given an earlier pope a heart attack and excite a fringe group to commit atrocities against Church leaders.
So, what was hiding in the secret that no one but Opus Mundi could see?

The awkward silence passed. Finally, Kevin said, “I'll do everything I can, Eminence.”

Porter seemed relieved. “May I answer other questions you may have?”

“Did Monsignor Drotti know about the test I was given?” Kevin asked.

“Yes, he did.”

“Okay, I'll stay on the job, Eminence. But Drotti must go. I can't work with him. I want him off.”

“As you wish.”

“And I'll need him replaced with someone I can trust,” Kevin said.

As the men exited the Apostolic Palace, Cardinal Porter stroked his chin. “That will take some time, Kevin.”

“Then, in the interim, I'll work alone.”

Chapter Fourteen

Rome, Italy

Back at his apartment, Kevin collapsed on the bed, mentally wiped. For any Catholic, a meeting with the pope would be emotionally draining. In his case, given the weight resting on his shoulders, it was both exhilarating and enervating.

Kevin clicked on the flat screen TV. CNN was showing an ominous screen title in a box just below the picture:
Middle East Turmoil
. The news stories were ablaze with reports that Israel had bombed a nuclear arming site near the holy city of Qum in Iran. In its third “Special Report” of the morning, CNN was saying that the U.S. President was expected to make an announcement from the Oval Office imminently.

Then CNN was airing live scenes of ambulances with sirens screeching and dense black smoke hovering over minarets in Iran. Minutes later, the White House appeared on the screen with the president facing the cameras from the Oval Office. His address was brief and to the point. The United States had nothing to do with the attack. That said, the United States was committed to the defense of Israel. An attack on Israel would result in an immediate and appropriate response from the United States.

“All parties involved are encouraged to remain calm and resolve their differences through negotiations to be hosted by the United States.” The President paused. “And I urge outside parties to refrain from involvement in this situation. If left to ourselves, we will peacefully resolve this.”

When the President had completed his statement, NBC announced that Hezbollah, the Shiite party funded by Iran, had launched a missile attack on Israel from the South of Lebanon. In retaliation, the Israeli Army was moving to invade Lebanon.

The world paused in anticipation of the Iranian reaction to Israel's strike. Did Iran have nuclear missiles?

Kevin sat up in bed, clenching his jaw. He was transfixed by the images on the screen. His nap had been short and was over now. No way could he go back to sleep. The world was teetering on the brink of a nuclear holocaust.

He went into the living room, turned on the television there, and got himself a Peroni out of the fridge. He kept the TV volume on low and as the stories were now getting repetitive, decided to do something while he watched.

Kevin retrieved his two pistols from safekeeping and started cleaning them. He reassembled the smaller Glock, then put the weapons away.

His mental inventory of recent days was hitting overload. Like shuffling through files, he organized his thoughts: a review. First, he was brought to Rome, initially, as some kind of test, because of his one-of-a-kind military skills, traits, and experience. Now he'd learned that the real mission was for him to solve “The Big One,” which had something to do with the famed secret of Fatima. The only problem was that Opus Mundi was cognizant of things in the secret that nobody else could figure out. So, the first task would be: Read the actual text of the secret as written in Lucia's hand
. But would this be possible?

Second, according to the news, a nuclear war was about to start. That had been part of his initial assignment, the “test,” so to speak. Kevin had gotten wind of the plot to bomb Iran and the Israelis did just that. Now the world held its breath waiting for the Iranian response.
Would it be nuclear? Where would they hit?
It seemed inconceivable that a shadow organization like Opus Mundi could have had a role in starting this war, but the evidence was pointing in that direction. And despite the devastating consequences of a nuclear war in the Middle East, why was the Vatican more concerned about the secret of Fatima?

Kevin picked up his phone and pressed the numbers for Cardinal Porter's office. His request was simple and direct. He needed access to the primary source, the original text of the secret of Fatima. The cardinal's chief of staff put him on hold, then came back on the line, explaining that Kevin would be given the access code to an encrypted website where he could read the secret in both its original form and in the translation.
Well, they've come a long way
, Kevin thought.
To think that he now could access a secret document held in the Vatican archives, via electronic technology!

Minutes later, the link appeared on Kevin's laptop. He typed the access code. The original, handwritten text of the secret popped up on the screen, followed by the English translation. Kevin first studied the original, then the translation.

TRANSLATION

The third part of the secret revealed at the Cova da Iria-Fatima, on 13 July 1917.

I write in obedience to you, my God, who commands me to do so through his Excellency, the Bishop of Leira, and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.

After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: “Penance, Penance, Penance!”

And we saw in an immense light that is God: “Something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it,” a Bishop dressed in White; “We had the impression that it was the Holy Father.”

Other Bishops, Priests, men and women, and religious groups going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins; half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross, he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another, the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions.