They removed the lid in tandem and placed it on the rubber mat.
13
******
Attached to a rail on the side of the workstation, Charlotte slid over what looked like an oversized desk lamp and swung its retractable arm so that the light was directly over the ossuary’s exposed cavity.
Beneath his surgical mask, Father Patrick Donovan was grinning from ear to ear. Staring back at him from inside the cavity was a neatly stacked pile of human remains. Each bone had a dark, grainy finish resembling carved maple.
Charlotte was the first to reach out and touch one, running her finger along a femur. “These are in extraordinary shape.” She silently wished that her own bones might look so good when her time would come. It almost seemed like a cruel joke that she had been called halfway around the world for this. After all, the one refuge that diverted her thoughts from her horrible prognosis was her work. So much for that.
Intrigued, Bersei turned sharply to Donovan. “Whose remains are these?”
“We’re not sure.” The librarian avoided eye contact. “And that’s precisely the reason you’ve both been selected, to help us reconstruct the skeleton’s identity. As I mentioned earlier, the Vatican lacks the professional resources to analyze such a unique artifact. That is why you have both been hired.” He touched both his gloved hands down gently on the ossuary’s rim and stared down at the contents again. “We have reason to believe that this amazing relic may help us to better understand the historical context of the Bible.”
“In what way exactly?” asked Charlotte. She preferred people to say what they meant.
Donovan’s eyes were frozen to the bones. “We won’t know until we can accurately date this specimen, determine the cause of death through forensic analysis, and reconstruct the physical profile.”
Bersei hesitated, sensing the same thing as Charlotte. The priest seemed to be holding back. “Much of the success of understanding antiquities relies on knowing specifics relating to its origin. Isn’t there anything you know about how this ossuary was procured? Where it came from perhaps? An archaeological dig?”
Donovan shook his head and finally glanced up at them and straightened. “We’ve been provided with little background. You can imagine an acquisition like this has to be approached very cautiously. The price is substantial.”
Charlotte’s expression was muddled. Two prominent scientists lured here to validate bones, both having to sign letters of confidentiality. Obviously the Vatican believed the ossuary and its contents were valuable. Why else would they have gone to so much trouble and expense?
“We’ll perform a complete study,” Bersei assured him. “A full pathology report. Physical reconstruction. The works.” He glanced over at Charlotte.
“And I’ll be wanting to do a carbon dating analysis and draw up a complete genetic profile,” she added. “It’s a fantastic specimen. From what I can see here, so far it looks like you’ve made an excellent acquisition. I’m confident the results will be impressive.”
“Excellent,” said Donovan, clearly pleased. “Please let me know when you’re ready to report your findings. If possible, I’d like to present a preliminary report in the next few days.”
The scientists exchanged glances.
“That should be fine,” Bersei said.
Donovan stripped off his gloves, mask, and lab coat. “Please direct any activity through me. I can be reached by using the intercom,” he pointed to the small control panel near the entryway, “or dial extension two-one-onefour on the phone.” Donovan looked at his watch—6:12. “Well, it’s late. Why don’t we call it a day and you can both start fresh tomorrow morning. Say around eight o’clock?”
The two scientists agreed.
“Dr. Hennesey, have you had a chance to see the basilica since you’ve arrived?” the priest inquired.
“No.”
“You can’t stay in Vatican City without seeing firsthand its heart and soul,” he insisted. “Nothing else compares. Many say its like stepping into Heaven itself.”
“He’s right,” Bersei agreed.
“Would you like to see it now?”
Her eyes lit up. “If you have time, I’d love that.”
“Visiting hours are just winding down, so it shouldn’t be too crowded. Giovanni, would you like to join us?”
“Sorry, but I must get home to my wife,” he humbly declined. “She’s making osso bucco for dinner.” Bersei leaned closer to Charlotte and whispered loud enough for Donovan to hear, “You’re in good hands. He’s the best tour guide in the Vatican. No one knows this place better.”
14
******
Outside the Vatican Museum, the sun was low over western Rome. Cypress trees swayed in a gentle breeze. Ambling beside Father Donovan, Charlotte breathed in the garden’s fragrant smell that seemed to capture the complex aroma of a bouquet of flowers.
“Tell me, Dr. Hennesey,” Donovan said, “now that you’ve seen the relic, are you comfortable with this project?”
“I have to admit that it’s not at all what I would have expected.” That was an understatement. Human bones didn’t seem like the typical acquisition for the Vatican Museum. And a librarian wasn’t exactly the person she would expect to handle their procurement. “I’m pleasantly surprised, though,” she added. “Should be very exciting.”
“It will be exciting for us all,” Donovan promised. Nearing the rear of the basilica, he gazed up at it, reverently. “In the first century, this place where Vatican City now stands was the Vatican Circus, later called Nero’s Circus. It was a forum where the emperor Nero held chariot races. Ironic, since he’s best known for his persecution of early Christians.”
“He blamed them for the fire that burned down Rome in 64 AD. And in 67 AD, he crucified St. Peter to entertain the crowds.”
Donovan was impressed. “You’re a Christian then, or just a good historian?”
“There was a time when I was very good at both.”
“I see.” The priest could see that religion was a touchy subject, but ventured to say, “You know, back in Ireland we had a saying: ‘I believe in the sun when it’s not shining, I believe in love even when I feel it not, I believe in God even when he is silent.’ ” He glanced over at Charlotte and saw that she was smiling. Thankfully, it looked like he had not offended her. “Sometimes the things we really cherish just need to be remembered.” Climbing a set of wide marble steps that accessed the rear of the basilica, Donovan led her to one of the largest bronze doors she’d ever seen. He produced a keycard and slid it through the reader on the doorframe. There was a metallic thunk as an electromechanical lock turned. With hardly any effort, the priest opened the huge door and motioned her inside.
“We’re going in through here?”
“Of course. One of the benefits of being a guest of the papacy.”
With all her media appearances, Charlotte had grown somewhat accustomed to VIP treatment. But nothing compared to this. Crossing through the arched entry, she instantly felt like she was being transported to another world.
Emerging from the entry grotto, Charlotte was blown away by the basilica’s cavernous marble nave. On the plane, she remembered reading in her Fodor’s that the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris could easily fit inside this grand basilica. But standing inside it completely distorted her spatial senses.