“That thing is even bigger when you get up close,” Tommy said. “It’s unreal.”
“Yeah,” Sean agreed. “Pretty awesome. Now the question is, if the sword is here, how do we get to it?”
Tommy shook his head. “I have no idea. The clue just leaves us hanging. It says we’ll find it at the altar of the sword bearer, but doesn’t say exactly where.”
Velvet ropes marked off the area so visitors would stay back. While the ropes themselves provided little security for the altar and tombs below, the Swiss Guard watching over it from one of the corners were more than enough to keep people in line.
The Swiss Guard had originally been mercenaries, brought in to protect the pope in the early sixteenth century. They’d done the job ever since with the sole purpose of watching over the safety of the pontiff. The men were extensively trained and excellent marksmen, more than enough to make someone think twice about doing anything stupid inside the walls of Vatican City. While their Renaissance-style uniforms might not be imposing, the colors were highly visible and reminded visitors that they were always watching.
There was no way Sean and his companions would be able to get close enough. He also knew there were cameras everywhere, hidden out of plain view. He imagined some might even be tucked away inside some of the statues or perhaps the gilded molding in the corners.
“We need to get closer,” Tommy said, leaning as far over the velvet ropes as he felt was permissible.
Two sets of candles sat atop the white marble altar along with a golden cross in the center. Other than that, there wasn’t anything that suggested there might be a way to get inside the altar. From the visitors’ vantage point, it appeared to be a solid piece of stone.
Adriana noticed one of the Swiss Guards was keeping a watchful eye on them.
“Well, I don’t think we’re going to get closer,” she said to Tommy. “That guard is watching our every move. Probably because we’re not with a tour group.”
June’s gaze drifted behind the altar to where another huge piece of art hung on the back wall behind the presbytery. It was hard to tell what she was looking at. Golden sculptures of cherubim, angels, and other figures hovered around an ornate chair that almost appeared to be floating in the center.
“What’s that?” she asked.
The other three looked over at the beautiful display.
“Saint Peter’s chair,” a new voice said in an Italian accent.
The four turned to find a priest standing just a few yards away with his hands folded in front of his flowing robes.
“Oh,” she said. “Thank you.”
The man bowed his head a few inches. He had a kind face with a few wrinkles stretching out from his eyes and on his forehead. His hair was gray almost to the point of being white. The black spectacles on his face gave him the look of someone who’d spent their whole life in deep study.
“Always happy to help people get a better understanding of this place,” he said as he approached. His footsteps were so light, it almost appeared as if he were levitating. “Speaking of help, is there anything else I can do to help? You look as if you have some questions.”
The guy was astute. Sean imagined it came with the job. Maybe this priest could be useful.
“We are doing some research about Peter,” Sean said. “We’re wondering if there are any relics kept inside the altar.”
The priest’s forehead scrunched. “Now that is a question I’ve never had before. I don’t get many firsts anymore, not after being here for forty years. The answer is no. The altar is a solid piece of marble. So it would be impossible for it to be a reliquary. If you are interested in seeing relics, I could refer you to the right place, though.”
Tommy didn’t want to blow off the guy’s generosity, but they weren’t there for relics. They were there for the sword of Peter. According to the priest, the altar contained nothing, which completely invalidated what the last clue suggested.
Now they were in the dark with no idea where to go next.
Chapter 29
“May I ask what your interest is in the holy relics?” the priest said.
Sean and Tommy did their best to hide the excruciating disappointment. The priest’s revelation had gutted them, removing nearly all hope of finding the sword and getting Tommy’s parents back.
“We work for the International Archaeological Agency,” Sean answered. “My friend here is the founder.”
Tommy forced a fake smile onto his face and shook the priest’s hand. “Tommy Schultz. These are my friends Sean, June, and Adriana.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you. My name is Father Giovani Totti.” He looked at Tommy with a peculiar expression. “The International Archaeological Agency? I believe I’ve heard of that before. Have you ever done work in Italy?”
Tommy didn’t think the priest would approve of some of the details revolving around their work, so he gave a simple answer. “Yes, sir. We’ve worked on several projects in Italy.”
“Anything I might have heard of?”
Tommy struggled to come up with an honest answer. He felt awkward lying to a priest. Fortunately, Sean stepped in.
“Just a few minor excavations here and there. Nothing that the media would have covered. We do work all over the world. Perhaps you heard about our discovery in Japan?”
The priest looked up at the ceiling for a moment and then shook his head. “No, I don’t believe I heard about that.”
“Well, it was pretty amazing,” Sean said, discarding all modesty. “We found one of the greatest swords of all time. It went missing in the 1940s, stolen by Allied forces when Japan was disarmed.”
“That sounds wonderful. Was it difficult to track down?”
“You could say that.”
“Well, congratulations on your discovery. I’m sure the nation of Japan was thrilled to get back one of their most prized historical possessions.”
Sean was about to bid the priest farewell when the old man spoke up again.
“You know, if you’re interested in swords, I’m sure you noticed the Tadolini on the way in.” He held out his hand, pointing the way back to the entrance.
“Tadolini?” Adriana asked. She knew the artist well. Tadolini had been contracted to create new sculptures in the nineteenth century. These new works of art would replace the ones made by Bernini, whose figures adorned the interior and exterior of the basilica for centuries.
“Yes,” the priest said with a smile. “Just outside the steps are two large statues. One is Saint Peter, holding the keys to heaven. Opposite of him, on the other side of the steps, is Saint Paul, holding a great sword.”
“I noticed that on the way in,” Tommy said. “Would you mind telling us what the significance of that sword is?”
Father Totti smiled. “Of course. The statues by Tadolini replaced the ones that were there before. The originals were created by Paolo di Mariano and much smaller than the current sculptures. The sword in Paul’s hand represents the weapon with which he was martyred.”
“That’s right. He was beheaded.”
Totti crossed himself and then nodded. “Correct. When the sculpture was first created, the sword was coated in gold. Through the years, the gold plate has worn off. There’s no trace of it anymore, unfortunately.
“Saint Paul also has a book in his hand. It is inscribed with Philippians 4:13.”
“I can do all things through God who strengthens me,” Sean said.