This Holy Tribunal being therefore of intention to proceed against the disorder and mischief thence resulting, which went on increasing to the prejudice of the Holy Faith, by command of His Holiness and of the Most Eminent Lords Cardinals of this supreme and universal Inquisition, the two propositions of the stability of the Sun and the motion of the Earth were by the theological Qualifiers qualified as follows:
The proposition that the Earth is not the center of the world and immovable but that it moves, and also with a diurnal motion, is equally absurd and false philosophically and theologically considered at least erroneous in faith.
But whereas it was desired at that time to deal leniently with you, it was decreed at the Holy Congregation held before His Holiness on the twenty-fifth of February, 1616, that his Eminence the Lord Cardinal Bellarmine should order you to abandon altogether the said false doctrine and, in the event of your refusal, that an injunction should be imposed upon you by the Commissary of the Holy Office to give up the said doctrine and not to teach it to others, not to defend it, nor even to discuss it; and your failing your acquiescence in this injunction, that you should be imprisoned.
Furthermore, in order to completely eliminate such a pernicious doctrine, and not let it creep any further to the great detriment of Catholic truth, the Holy Congregation of the Index issued a decree which prohibited books which treat of this and declaring the doctrine itself to be false and wholly contrary to the divine and Holy Scripture.
We condemn you to formal imprisonment in this Holy Office at our pleasure.
Maculano peered up from the official decree. “There are far greater offenses against you that this learned group has judged to be the most dangerous and heretical position ever contemplated. However, it is so unspeakable that posterity shall never be burdened by its knowledge.”
With this condemnation, Galileo lost all hope.
“Galileo Galilei, do you have anything to add before sentencing?”
“Preserve the record of my research on the stars. That shall be my contribution. All else can be forgotten.”
Seventy-two
“Could the long arm of the Inquisition reach through to today?”
“It depends. Who are you asking? The priest or the scientist?”
McCauley got his line of thinking. “Dr. Eccleston…”
“In that case, unmitigated power. Everything that the cardinals employed then could have made its way to the twenty-first century, disguised, no doubt — morphed, if you will. Power like that hides and survives.”
“And does Father Eccleston believe there is still such a secret organization?”
“It would have to be dangerous and fearless,” Eccleston added, “charged with protecting great secrets.”
Quinn suddenly felt a muscle tighten in the pit of his stomach. “There’s more, Father.”
“There always is.”
“You can’t see it in the photographs. All light was absorbed, but I felt some indentations on the surface. Bumps or notches that made up a pattern of numbers. We have a drawing.”
After Eccleston studied the paper, he said, “Of course you know what this represents?”
“Yes we do,” McCauley admitted. “A prime pyramid.”
They discussed the unique quality of the numbers and their application in science and civilization This is where McCauley and Alpert learned more about Eccleston’s relationship with Robert Greene and how the American investigator had more standing than they had allowed.
“Prime numbers makes you think there’s a bigger picture,” Eccleston proposed.
“Like a higher authority?”
“Consider it an order to the universe, Dr. Alpert. One that we can actually grasp. Numbers. Undeniable. Infinite. Easily translatable. Perhaps that’s where we should leave it for tonight.”
“I think you’re right, Father.”
“Then tomorrow we’ll renew our work at the Vatican. I promise you an exciting day.”
McCauley stood and stretched. He walked to the window overlooking Via Flavia.
Jareth Eccleston soon joined him. “Typical Rome. Cars maneuvering faster than they would in American cities. Tourists examining their maps. Pedestrians talking and texting on their phones.”
McCauley also noticed a man standing next to a tree. He appeared to be looking up toward the priest’s window.
“There,” McCauley quietly observed. He tapped the window. “Look.”
Moments later, the man stepped into the shadows, but not out of sight.
McCauley grabbed Eccleston’s arm and inched him away from the window.
Alpert responded to what appeared to be a calculated maneuver. “What’s going on?”
“Dr. McCauley believes someone’s watching us,” Eccleston explained.
“There is,” McCauley affirmed.
Katrina tensed.
“Is there another way out, Father?” McCauley sharply demanded. “Other than the front door?”
“Well, there’s the basement, but it leads to an alley that opens right up to the street next to the building. Only the rats use it. You’re better off leaving quite casually. I’ll go with you and stroll back to the restaurant. You return to your hotel. All very public.”
“And tomorrow?”
“Like I said. An interesting day. We’ll meet up at the Vatican’s Secret Archives. But if you’re right about surveillance, we’ll be careful.”
The man thought he was in the shadows, successfully blending in, invisible to the threesome leaving the building. He held up a newspaper, pretending to read it. But that was impossible considering the low light. Even worse than his technique was the way he moved the paper in the direction his subjects were walking.
Not that Quinn McCauley was steeped in counter-intelligence skills. But given the whirlwind ride they’d been on the past week, he was becoming adept at such things.
After saying a very public goodnight to the priest at the restaurant, Quinn turned to Katrina, and suddenly and without warning, pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
Not even realizing it, she closed her eyes and gave in. When he released, which wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination instantly, she managed, “What was that for?”
“Two reasons,” McCauley whispered. “Because I wanted to and…”
“Yes?”
“I needed a better look at the man across the street who’s obviously intent on watching us.”
“You used me!” she said a little too loud for their own good.
“Shhh,” he said. “Hey, I had one eye closed…some of the time.”
“Well, what did you spy with that little open eye?”