Vatican Ambassador (36 page)

“Can I think about this?” BC asks him. “I really need some time to think about this,” he insists.

“Okay. But not for too long. I can give you eighteen hours, but then you have to decide,” he says.

“Why so tight a deadline?” BC asks Wentworth.

“We have not yet announced the, er, demise of the former chairman,” Wentworth explains. “We want to have our new chair in place when we do.”

“I see,” says BC. “Okay, then, I’ll, uh, call you in the next seventeen hours.”

“Good enough. Wentworth out.”

BC sits for a moment, still stunned, with the com on but silent.

“What was that about?” M’Bekke asks him, not having heard the exchange.

“It just gets weirder,” BC tells him. “They want me to chair the UTZ council.”

“What?!” M’Bekke exclaims, dumbfounded.

BC shakes his head. “I can’t believe it. The more I run from authority, the more seems to pile on me! The more I’m becoming the authority!”

“Oh, the irony,” M’Bekke observes wryly.

“I can’t be the right man for this job, too, M’Bekke!” BC protests. “There’s just no way!”

“But perhaps your very lack of ambition for these posts is what makes you the right person to hold them,” M’Bekke says, philosophically.

“Is that from the Bible?” BC asks him.

“Actually, I was thinking of an old poem by William Butler Yeats called, ‘The Second Coming’: ‘the best lack all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity,’” M’Bekke finishes.

“Great. So, you’re saying my lack of conviction makes me the best man for the job?” BC asks.

“Take it as you will, BC.”

BC gets up. “I’m heading to my quarters for a while. I’ve got to give Wentworth his answer in the next eighteen hours,” BC pauses, realizes he’s assuming too much. “Are the guest quarters even available?” he asks, realizing his mistake.

M’Bekke just laughs. “You’re the pope! This is the Vatican Mission. You get to stay wherever, whenever! I assumed you’d kick me out of my quarters, get your old quarters back. You’re the boss!

You get to make those calls now, BC,” M’Bekke informs him. “You see? There are perks to the job!”

“So,” BC pauses for effect, “are the guest quarters available?”

“No,” M’Bekke says seriously. Then he lets out a sharp laugh. “I’m in the guest quarters! When the Curia told me you were coming, I decided to move. I thought you would like your old quarters back, while you were here. They’re just down the cor…” M’Bekke starts.

“I know, I know where they are,” BC says, cutting him off. “I built the place, remember?”

“Of course,” M’Bekke says.

“I wouldn’t have asked you to move, M’Bekke,” BC tells him.

“I know. Not to worry. A change of scenery can often be beneficial,” he reassures BC.

“Thanks again, M’Bekke. Thank you very much, for everything.”

“You’re welcome, BC. Now go get some rest. It sounds like you’re going to be busy for a while,”

M’Bekke says.

“Indeed,” BC agrees. He leaves M’Bekke’s office and heads to his old quarters. BC’s mind is reeling as he walks.

I feel like my brain is full! At least my head isn’t hurting again! No more headaches, please!

With so much going on, I can’t afford to get knocked out by another one. With so much going on,
I’m surprised I’m not feeling one coming on! Not that I’m wishing for one! I’m glad it’s not, you
know.

The com is flashing for BC’s attention when he arrives in his old quarters. The source is a surprise: it’s a priority message from Al Salid of Mars.

He’s still alive!

BC picks up the call. “Al Salid?”

“Campion,” Al Salid says.

“How are…” BC begins, but stops when he realizes Al Salid’s message is recorded. Al Salid continues after a quick pause.

“Good. You and I are still alive, Allah’s will be praised. We need to talk,” Al Salid tells BC. “I am contacting you now, directly, myself, because I must. Now is the time. There is much I hear tell of that’s strange… new… different. The only thing all these strange, new and different things have in common is…

you, Bernard Campion,” Al Salid says. “Or must I now call you Pope Peter? For the time being I will call you Campion. But enough about such trivialities!” Al Salid says dismissively, “there are serious matters to discuss. Why do so many strange things lead back to you? Why is it when I hear that the plague may be an alien plague, I hear that Bernard Campion knows what is going on? Why when I hear of ‘flashers’, ships better and faster than any of us should have, do I hear of some ‘project’ lead by you, Campion?

You would seem to be in a central position, in a position to tell me what is going on. So… what is going on?”

Jeesh. He’s heard some of it, no doubt… the UIN still have agents among us, it seems.

“We hear much from the New catholic Church and the UTZ. I have heard you are now Pope, of course. And word came today that you are now on the UTZ council. I did not realize you were so ambitious, Campion. But perhaps you are the unique individual needed in this unique time and in this unique place. If this is true, you have been given a unique opportunity as well.

“You can either rise or fall to the occasion. If you fall, all will know your failure, and all will fall with you. If you rise, if you succeed, all will rise with you: all will share in your success. It is the old story of the hero or the goat. You may be in a position to go either way. If any of this makes sense to you, I offer you my counsel.

“In any case, I ask you to call me, as soon as you can. We have much to discuss. I have said more than I had planned to in this message, but I will leave it all the same. Salaam,” Al Salid says in closing, and the message blips off.

“Damn,” BC says under his breath.

More on my plate? Who does he think I am?

Who am I? What am I now?

BC can almost hear an answer, somewhere on the edge of his awareness, a tingle on the edge of his consciousness.

Yeah? You out there, “God”? You gonna answer that one, “Jesus”?

There is no answer.

The UTZ is in tatters. And they want me to take over the chairmanship of it! I’m already in
charge of the NcC, although the Curia pretty much runs everything, anyway. The Earth is a
graveyard. They’re having trouble keeping up with burying everyone who’s died from this plague.
But the UTZ tries to maintain a strong front.

Survivors are turning to the NcC for comfort, for answers, but what do we have to offer? What
do I have to give them? Nothing, really. Maybe some hope? Jesus, I just don’t know.
If I am the right person in the right place, the unique person for this unique situation, what do
I do next? Meet with the Eldred? Should I not meet with them? What course? Should I return Al
Salid’s call?

Why not?

BC turns on the com and places a call to Mars, to Al Salid.

“Campion? This is a surprise,” Al Salid says when the contact is finally established.

“I found your message… refreshing,” BC says, searching for a word. “Honest. And thought provoking.”

“Thank you,” Al Salid says. “Kind words coming from the nearly de facto ruler of Planet Earth.”

“Oh come on,” BC answers.

“Well, they’re all turning to your NcC, to your religion. They are looking to you for their salvation, Campion. You are their leader. Do you run from your responsibility?”

“No. Yes. Sometimes. Maybe…” BC decides to level with him, “I’m just not… well, I’m not used it yet. All these responsibilities…”

“And I hear tell you may be adding more,” Al Salid says. He lowers his voice, “I hear you may be named the new chairman of the UTZ council.”

Damn! Must be a leak on Wentworth’s end!

“Seems like you hear a great deal, for someone isolated on Mars. Maybe even more than I do,” BC

says.

Heh! Let him chew on that one for a bit!

“I’d like to hear more,” Al Salid says. “What else can you tell me?”

He’s going for it. Might as well tell him.

BC levels with Al Salid. He tells him all about the aliens, The Project, the plague. The Eldred. Al Salid soaks it all in, in silence.

“And now I’ve asked the Eldred to meet with me,” BC says, drawing to a close. “What do you think?”

“There is much they are not telling you, is what I think. I will say more on that in a moment,” Al Salid says. “But I thank you for telling me what you know. Much of what you’ve told me I had heard in part from other sources. But the fact you’ve confirmed it, and not tried to dissemble about it, is of prime importance to me. You have been straightforward and honest with me.”

“Thank you,” BC says, “I’m glad you realize that. I don’t think we have anything to hide from each other anymore. There are bigger threats, to all of us.”

“So, you think these ‘Eldred’ may hold the key? That this plague is
their
plague, a weapon used against us?”

“I do. At least, I think so,” BC affirms.

“Then you should meet with them,” Al Salid says. “I believe this is a risk you must take. For all of us.”

“Oh,” BC says.

I didn’t expect a decision from him so quickly. Didn’t expect that would be his answer, either.

“Well, then,” BC says, continuing. “I guess I will. Thank you for your insights, Al Salid.”

“You are most welcome. I must also tell you something. The Eldred have been in contact with me as well. I do not believe they told you of this,” Al-Salid informs BC.

“This is another reason I am contacting you. They have asked me to meet with them to discuss religion. I was truly astonished to be contacted by members of an alien race. I did not know then that they could be the originators of the plague. Now I must wonder about their motives. Thank you for this information,”

Al-Salid says.

“You’re welcome.”

Haven’t actually spoken with them, Al-Salid. They haven’t told me anything! Wonder if they
called Al-Salid before or after my request for a meeting?

“And Campion? If I may?” Al Salid says solicitously.

“Yes?”

“You should accept the chairmanship of the UTZ, too.”

“But I hadn’t said anything ab…”

“No need,” Al Salid interrupts him. “I will be glad to see you in that capacity, Campion. It will be the first time ever that a real human being is in charge of them,” Al Salid says.

“Huh,” Campion pauses, “Thank you, Al Salid.”

“You are welcome, Campion. You have changed. Do you know this?”

“I have? I don’t feel…”

“You seem different to me,” Al Salid says. “You are feeling more of the weight of this world, are you not?”

“What?” BC asks, but then answers, “I guess I am.”

“We should meet after we get back from our meetings with the Eldred,” Al-Salid suggests. “But we need to keep it quiet, low key and off the radar. People otherwise will read too much into such a meeting.”

“I could come see you on Mars,” BC offers, “maybe travel incognito!”

The Curia’s gonna love me!

“Incognito?” Al-Salid says. He laughs. “You do have a flair for the dramatic, don’t you, Campion?”

“Do you think so?” BC asks him. “It’s just that I’d rather work behind the scenes.”

“Indeed. That may no longer be an option for you.”

“You could be right,” BC admits. “Let’s keep in touch on this.”

“Indeed. Well, then,” Al Salid says. “I look forward to our next communication. Call me when you need me,” Al Salid says in closing. “Good night, Campion. Allah be praised.”

“Good night,” Campion answers. The com goes silent.

Huh! Not what I expected. Not exactly. But it’s becoming clearer: I really do need to meet
with the Eldred, don’t I? It’s becoming obvious! Should I call Anita now and find out if she’s set it
up? Nah. It can wait. I’ve gotta get some sleep. Now that I can sleep! I’m exhausted.
BC crashes hard, sleeps soundly, but wakes with a headache just behind his eyes.
Like an Irish punk band is beating on the inside of my skull! And like I almost had an answer
to something in a dream… lost it, though! Didn’t make it past the waking edge. Just can’t
remember, but it feels like something was there.

BC has messages waiting for him when he gets to his temporary office. He gives a cursory glance to Vatican business, referring most back to the Curia.

They know what to do. They’d do it anyway! They’d just rather do it with someone telling
them it’s “okay”.

What’s this?

A voice message from Anita: “BC? Guess I got an earlier start than you. Um, give me a call when you get this, okay? Bye!”

BC calls her back.

“Hey Anita, BC here.”

“Good Morning,” she answers. “The Eldred have been in touch. They seemed to know you wanted to meet with them. They actually said they had wanted to meet with you, to discuss religion,” she says, sounding a little confused. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“No,” BC tells her, “But I am going to meet with them.”

“Okay,” she says slowly.

“Are you surprised?” BC asks her.

“A little bit,” she admits. “I don’t like surprises,” she adds quickly, changing her tone and again saying more than she’s saying out loud.

“I see,” says BC, but he really doesn’t.

I can only hope that it’s easier to understand these aliens than it is to understand women…

“I want you to set up the meeting for me, Anita, put all the details together. Then just let me know where, when and how. Use any of The Project’s resources you need to make it happen.”

“I’ll get right on it, BC,” she says. She pauses for a moment. “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?”

she asks him.

What a question…

“No,” BC tells her honestly. “But I don’t see us having a lot of other options right now. That ‘us’

being the human race, by the way,” he chuckles at his attempt at humor. “I guess I’ve got to do it.”

“Okay… I’ll be back in touch soon,” she tells him. She cuts the connection.
The wheels are in motion!

Now for Wentworth.