The Devil Will Come Read Online Free PDF Page B

Commission, many of my colleagues are in the clergy, of course. I’ve heard some of them speak about their decisions to choose a religious life. I’ve just never personally known someone before and after.’
    ‘I’m the same person.’
    ‘The same, I’m sure.’ De Stefano shrugged. ‘But for me a little different. Why this particular order?’
    ‘It had to be an active community,’ Elisabetta said. ‘I didn’t have the personality to be in a contemplative one. I love children, I like to teach. This order is dedicated to education. And I knew them. I went to school here, you know.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘For eight years. Primary and middle school. Sister Marilena was one of my teachers! I was only ten when my mother died. Sister Marilena was wonderful then, she’s wonderful now.’
    ‘I’m delighted you found yourself.’
    Elisabetta nodded, then looked at De Stefano steadily, ‘Please tell me why you wanted to see me.’
    De Stefano cracked his knuckles like a man who was about to play the piano. ‘Three days ago, on Tuesday, there was a minor earthquake centered about fifty kilometers south of Rome.’
    ‘I wasn’t aware of that,’ she said.
    De Stefano paused for several seconds before continuing. When he spoke again there was a slight but perceptible hesitancy in his tone. ‘It was hardly felt here but enough sub-surface energy reached the city to cause a small cave-in at the catacombs at St Callixtus in an area already weakened by previous subsidence and the recent heavy rains.’
    Elisabetta arched her eyebrows.
    ‘It affected the zone just to the west of the wall you studied when you were a student,’ De Stefano said.
    ‘No one ever got permission to excavate there?’ she asked.
    ‘No, the decision had been taken, and when you left, well, there was no one who pressed for a reconsideration. I certainly didn’t. Archbishop Luongo was adamant at the time and he became my boss when I went to work at the Commission, so I didn’t make waves.’
    ‘But now there’s been a natural excavation,’ Elisabetta said.
    ‘Messy – but quite natural, yes, you’re right.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘That’s why I’m here,’ De Stefano said nervously. ‘We – I – need your help.’
    ‘ My help?’ she asked incredulously. ‘As you see, I’m no longer an archeologist, Professor!’
    ‘Yes, yes, Elisabetta, but here’s the situation. We’ve found something that’s quite remarkable – and quite sensitive. So far only a very few people know about it but there’s a concern that it could get out and cause some unwanted disruption.’
    ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’
    ‘The timing with respect to the Pope’s death is unfortunate. The Conclave is scheduled to begin in seven days – all the Cardinal Electors are coming to the Vatican and the eyes of the world will be on us. In the event that there might be a leak about St Callixtus, well, we’d need to have our story straight. We’d need to be able to offer some credible explanation to minimize the level of disruption which would undoubtedly occur.’
    ‘Just what did you find?’
    ‘I don’t want to tell you, Elisabetta, I want to show you. I want you to come out there on Sunday afternoon. We’ll have enough structural timbers in place by then to make it safe. Then I want you to work with me for a while at the Commission. I’ve got an office prepared for you.’
    ‘Why me? You’ve got an entire department at your disposal. You can get any expert in the world to come at the snap of your fingers.’
    ‘Time is critical. Today we’re bringing new workmen to the site to do the heavy work. We’ll have engineers involved , more people on my staff. We’ve got areas under tarps to minimize any risk from prying eyes but despite our best efforts, people will talk. We just can’t afford that, please believe me. I wish I could tell you more, but … The press could be informed at any time. The powers that be in the Vatican are very concerned.