Katrina looked at Quinn, confused.
“You’re scientists. Your stock in trade are facts. You are also members of, as we used to say, the family of man. As such, I recognize you have responsibilities. To put it in a metaphor relevant to your life’s work, the earth is solid, but we walk on eggshells. Civilization itself is fragile, held together by political parties, organized religion, and disparate sects. It’s been that way for millennia.”
“And wars have been fought defending religious dogma and keeping dictators in power,” Alpert interrupted. “Millions upon millions killed.”
“Yes, Dr. Alpert. And also billions of people clothed and fed, sheltered, and protected. There has been goodness. Yet, all of that would be gone come next Sunday if faith fails in the world’s largest religion. And what do you suppose would fill the vacuum?”
They had no answer for such a direct question.
“To put it in your pedagogy, seismic change. Another religion feared by the West, misunderstood by the world, and often misrepresented by its own congregation would take over, more swiftly than imagined. Or a fanaticism we haven’t even known. Call it ISIS today or something else entirely new tomorrow, it surely wouldn’t end in undeveloped or third-world countries. The ultimate impact on western civilization would be immeasurable, redefining life and society as we know it.”
Gruber stood and stretched his arms and legs. “Too much sitting. I have to walk a bit.” Gruber strolled and took deep breaths. His age was showing. He checked his watch. “It’s always about time, isn’t it? We’ll have to wrap this up soon, though I’m sure you want our talk to continue with the hope that you’ll be rescued by the local authorities. Sadly, for you, I’ve taken care of them.”
Gruber haughtily took in the fresh country air and straightened. “You wouldn’t know it, but doctors pronounced me dead a number of months ago. Personally, I felt it was not a good time to die and so here I am.”
Now he paced, using his umbrella as a crutch.
“The foundation of my mission is maintaining the social fabric of the world. And still, I’m reminded by events as recent as minutes ago, we’re only human. My would-be successor, whom you had the misfortune of meeting, was guilty of avarice.”
“That sounds as if it’s a distinctly religious condemnation,” Quinn remarked.
“Perhaps it is both religious and personal. While the organization I represent is not theologically based, we are an order that cannot allow self-worth to be placed above the greater good.”
“And murder,” Katrina said pointedly. “You people kill priests.”
Gruber did not answer.
“And next? You have no ethical issues about killing us?”
“None, Dr. Alpert. But admittedly, the job gets harder.”
“The job?”
“Containing potential exposure. Eliminating threats. In past years, we could destroy evidence with little notice. We could buy off investigators, intimidate and even blackmail. Today, there are more and more people like you who explore anywhere on the face of the earth and others who map from satellites. It’s increasingly difficult. Ours is a duty to maintain order, long ago decided, for the betterment of all. But we live in the age of Google Earth.”
Gruber stepped closer. As he did so, his associates brought their guns up into firing position.
“Governments come and go,” Gruber continued. “Wars move national boundaries and establish temporary alliances. The rule of normality is the only constant, driven by doctrinal faith.”
“But….”
Gruber shot his hand up. “No!” He acted perturbed for the first time. “In fact, there are many religions. Each preaching its own version of things. And truth be told, I believe that all of them would be doing the same thing if they knew.”
“If they knew what?” McCauley exclaimed.
“The secrets.”
“So the Vatican continues its Inquisition five hundred years later because it wants to?” McCauley demanded.
“Oh, no. I haven’t made myself clear. We’re not the Vatican,” Gruber stated. “Beyond Galileo we never were. I’m not a clergyman. We have no affiliation. None. Individually, we may have our own beliefs, but there is much more at stake.”
“What are you then?”
“In simple terms, Dr. Alpert, I am the man who can put an end to your questions with merely a nod to my left or my right. No guilt. You die. I walk away and have an early dinner.”
Gruber wasn’t completely satisfied with what he was saying. He gathered his thoughts.
“I have to admit, I’m not used to being out of the office. I’ve had a difficult time finding a successor. As you’ve seen, my primary choice did not live up to expectations. So all things considered, I’ve had a lot on my plate recently. Normally, we’ve been able to deal with things in a cleaner manner, but we are in a bit of transition.”
“You fucked up.”
“Dr. McCauley, can we keep this at a respectable level? If it’s any consolation, I think you’re criticizing me much too harshly. Here I am admitting mistakes. I also acknowledge that fulfilling our charge is becoming increasingly difficult. A new pope brings new leadership. The nonstop hunger for news gives muckrakers and blowhards louder voices than journalists and intellectuals. Things will change in time. Ultimately, we may be unable to contain our secrets. I pray it will not be because of my shortcomings or unwillingness to act. I fear for the world if and when that happens.”
Gruber pointed his umbrella at Katrina, then McCauley.
“There is an expression,” Gruber continued. “It’s Latin. Have you heard it? Cui bono?”
“Yes,” Katrina said. “To whose benefit.”
“Very good. It’s attributed to the wise Roman judge, Lucius Cassius, who was known for asking, ‘Cui bono?’ It often suggests that a person who’s guilty of committing a crime may be someone who has something to gain.
“Cui bono, Dr. McCauley? Let’s be truthful. You believed you would benefit. Research. Publication. Dr. Alpert’s positive review. Yes, I know these things. Tenure. Lectures. Fame. None of it possible if you truly knew. The cost to civilization is far too great.”
McCauley remained silent.
“Your site in Montana has been destroyed. The same here. There is nothing for you to report. No reason to light the fuse. We’ve contained that which would surely affect the present and change the future. Cui bono? The world benefits.”
The old man took another cleansing breath. His expression changed. “There was a man, a cardinal, Francesco Barberini. Are you familiar with him?”
“Yes,” McCauley acknowledged. “Why?”
“Just a footnote in history. It’s of no matter.”
Gruber checked his watch again. “I must admit, this was a most engaging discussion. One of the best in quite some time. But now I have other things to do. And you must take a walk with my colleagues while I begin down the hill.”
Katrina gasped.
“We won’t be seeing one another again.”
Gruber motioned with his umbrella for Quinn and Katrina to head toward the edge of the cliff they’d seen hours before.