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.They have seen for themselves how precarious our position is, and they have warned us many times that we stand in danger of losing everything.”“I see,” said Clancy, recalling the reports of riots in Goa no more than a week ago.“All right.”“And our numbers are growing.There are those who were willing to endorse the woman because of the voting.We elected her twice, and many thought that we had no choice but to bring her to Rome and obey her.But now they see that this was a deception.” He stared suddenly at Clancy.“I believe that we were manipulated.That we were made to write that woman’s name, that we were not inspired by the Holy Spirit, but by some other agency, and that we failed in our duty to the Church when we accepted the voting.”“And do any of the Cardinals agree with you?” asked Clancy, hoping that Cardinal Hetre had not make a point of telling this to any of his high-ranking colleagues.“A few,” said Cardinal Hetre, dismissing the question grandly.“It isn’t discreet to say such things where you can be overheard.I am convinced that there are several who would agree if only they dared to speak.” He flinched as lightening shivered across the clouds.“Probably,” said Clancy, who was used to the continual clamoring in the sensationalistic tabloids that the election of Pope An had been brought about by the manipulations of the Chinese, the Russians, the Baptists, the Muslims, the aliens from outer space.That a few of the Cardinals might subscribe to such a theory was hardly surprising.“We will find the truth of it.In time we will find the truth.God will show us the way.” He did something with his mouth that was supposed to be a smile.“Any other of the Cardinals shifting to…our side?” Clancy asked.“What about Cardinal Tsukamara? Or Cardinal Lepescu?”There was muted, distant thunder adding to the rumble of traffic on the Via Nerone.Cardinal Hetre shook his head.“Cardinal Tsukamara refuses to comment, to any of us.He has had two private audiences with the Chinese woman, but aside from saying they were very interesting and had given him much to think about, he will not say where he stands.Cardinal Lepescu has been against her, but recently he has not been as determined.I am beginning to think that she has seduced him, in mind if not in fact.”“Why would she do that?” asked Clancy, knowing he was likely to get an involved answer.“She is the agent of the Antichrist, sent to weaken the Church so that her master may come without the stern opposition Christians require.” His voice was becoming sing-song, as if he had rehearsed this many times and it had become as much a ritual as his morning prayers.“She is capable of any sin, and she wishes to lead all the world into sin.It is her purpose to bring down the Church because the Church is a bulwark against the forces of the Antichrist.To do this she must erode all the virtue and sanctity of the Church.” He would have continued this recitation, for while he said these words his headache faded to nothing more than a niggle.“Cardinal Hetre, it might be best if you don’t say that where too many people can hear you.” Clancy’s gentle advice cut into Cardinal Hetre’s peroration.Again there was silence, and then Cardinal Hetre said, “There’s another Encyclical going out.This one lifts the ban on birth control and removes Church opposition to abortion in cases of rape, incest, and to preserve the life of the mother.” His hands locked together.“Not content with ravaging ritual and destroying the clergy, she is now attacking the Sacraments and condemning the unborn to Limbo.”“Surely you suspected she might do something like this,” said Clancy, not entirely convinced by this outburst of indignation.“Suspected, of course.There is no atrocity that woman would not commit.But to give priests the option of marrying and then removing the purpose of marriage—” His hands came apart only long enough for him to cross himself.“I have already announced to my Bishops and Priests that they are not to endorse this Encyclical.I have said it would require a Papal Bull at least to make such changes acceptable to faithful Catholics.And who among faithful Catholics could possibly believe such instruction would come from God? Or through such an organ as that Chinese woman?”Clancy sensed it was prudent to say very little.“And the others?”“The other Cardinals? A few are hailing her decision, and they are saying she has brought the Church into the twentieth century at last.One of them—Cardinal O’Higgins of Mexico City—has declared that these changes are the only hope for survival in the third world.He…he has ordered all his Priests to make birth control information available to every married couple.It is disgraceful.”Little as Clancy wanted to admit it, he discovered he was coming to like Pope An.The more he learned of her, the more she seemed a sensible woman making rational decisions for an institution bound to the past.“It would be useful to bring the birthrate down in many poor countries,” he said with as much detachment as he could muster.“If that is the will of God, then married couples will show proper control and not risk pregnancy when it is likely to occur.” He hated talking about such things; the thoughts were unclean, he knew that with all his soul.How could any man bear to contaminate his flesh with the body of a female? His headache was back full strength.“Think of the license this woman has encouraged.She has put aside the one thing that offered humanity the possibility of perfection.Nothing will stop the rutting now.Not even Priests are safe from the sins of the flesh.Nuns are permitted to say Mass, in the guise of Priests.Humility is scorned.Chastity has been made a laughing-stock.Don’t they see that without salvation, humanity is loathsome? No Catholic need save himself from the perils of desire for the glory of God.This Chinese woman has unleashed the animal in man and forgotten the angel.”This time Clancy kept his mouth shut.* * *Although he looked tired from his long flight and his charcoal-gray business suit was rumpled, Cardinal Cadini favored Gunnar Hvolsvollur with his justly famous smile.“A pleasure to see you again, Mister Secretary-General,” he said as he took the Icelander’s extended hand.The five United Nations security guards remained at the door, their attention directed outward.“And you, Cardinal Cadini,” said Hvolsvollur.The lounge they occupied overlooked the river.“I trust you had no trouble at the airport.”“The advantage of being a diplomat,” said Cardinal Cadini, “is that I need have no fear of customs officials [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]