The soldiers closed in as the Windrider’s bow touched shore and surrounded the craft. The leader of the group, an army captain with a thick black beard and mustache and a Sikh turban, yelled an incomprehensible order at them, but his hand motions clearly expressed his intent. They were to get out of the boat. Tao and Han were the first ashore, followed by Yin and then Gates. Several soldiers lifted the Windrider out of the water and carried it away from the water’s edge.
The captain issued another order, this time without gesticulating.
‘Padre, any idea what he wants?’ Gates asked.
‘I believe he wishes us to remove our hats,’ Yin replied.
Gates pointed at his helmet, then motioned as if he was to lift it off. The captain nodded. He scowled at Han, Tao, and Yin when he saw their faces, but seemed genuinely surprised after Gates doffed his helmet.
‘English?’ the captain asked in a tone as much London as Punjab.
‘American, actually,’ Gates replied. ‘Same with two of my associates. The third’s situation is a bit more complicated.’
‘That’s a relief. Dressed as you are, we thought you might be scouts for the Chinese army.’
‘You haven’t seen another American dressed like this?’
‘No, ought I have?’
‘We kinda thought he’d be here by now.’
‘Sorry, no sign of him here. Papers?’
‘We have none,’ Gates admitted. ‘We sort of left the People’s Republic in a bit of a hurry. You’re welcome to search us and our boat — we’re not carrying any contraband. In fact, we’re carrying only what we have on. I’m sure a few phone calls will clear this whole thing up.’
Just then a young enlisted man rushed down from the outpost. He ran up to the captain and snapped to attention with a crisp textbook salute.
‘At ease,’ the captain said as he returned the salute.
‘Communiqué from Delhi, sir.’
The captain held out his hand, and the young soldier placed in it a folded slip of paper. The captain pursed his lips as he read the page, then he handed it back and dismissed the man.
‘It seems we may be able to clear this matter up even sooner,’ the captain said.
With his hands clasped behind his back and standing ramrod straight, the captain strode over to Yin Daoming.
‘Sir, what is your name?’
‘I am Yin Daoming.’
‘Are you the Roman Catholic Bishop of Shanghai?’
‘I am.’
‘Then on behalf of my government, and with the warmest personal greetings from your friend Cardinal Velu of Bombay, I welcome you to the Republic of India.’
‘Thank you. I have been looking forward to a visit with my old friend for many years.’
‘Then, sir, I will notify Delhi of your arrival and arrange for your transport to Leh. I believe Cardinal Velu’s representative is waiting for you there.’
Less than an hour later, a Sikorsky S-92 civilian transport touched down at the helipad at Spangmik. The clean white craft bore a single emblem, a coat of arms consisting of a papal tiara above the crossed keys of Saint Peter. A small detachment of plainclothes Swiss Guards arrived and took formal custody of Yin and the others. As they prepared to leave, Yin approached the captain.
‘Captain, I wish to thank you for your hospitality during our brief stay.’
‘Your Excellency, your arrival broke the normal tedium of our posting here and provided a story that will be passed on by soldiers here for years to come.’
‘If I may ask a favor, please keep an eye out for our missing comrade.’
‘We will do what we can for him,’ the captain promised.
65
‘My Most Eminent Brothers in Christ,’ Donoher called out from in front of the altar. The Sistine Chapel grew quiet as all attention focused on him. ‘I apologize for being unavailable to you yesterday, but I am certain you all made productive use of the pause in our deliberations. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us in our work.
‘I have two items of news to share with you. First, Cardinal Gagliardi passed away yesterday after a long battle with heart disease. I was with him at the end, and his thoughts and prayers remained with us in this difficult time. I would like to offer at this time a moment of quiet reflection in his memory.’
Donoher struggled to offer a prayer for a man he knew had betrayed the Church, but he left Gagliardi’s final judgment in the hands of the Almighty. After a respectful pause, he looked up at the assembled cardinals.
‘Regarding the matter of Bishop Yin, I am pleased to announce that on this day, the Feast of All Saints, our brother is free. I received word early today that Bishop Yin crossed the border into India. He is, at this moment, en route to Rome.’
Several of the cardinals smiled broadly, nodding happily to each other like fans of a sports team that had just won an important victory. Others bowed their heads in thankful prayer. Near the center of the chapel, Velu rose from his seat and waited for the Camerlengo to recognize him.
‘My Esteemed Lord Velu,’ Donoher announced.
‘My Lord Cardinal Camerlengo, I believe I speak for all my brothers in expressing my joy at the good news regarding Bishop Yin. Sadly, I now feel compelled to report to you that a cloud has fallen over our conclave, a matter that only you can address.’ Velu’s words reverberated in the otherwise silent chapel. ‘During our informal sessions yesterday, a rumor began to circulate among us. It started at first with a question, one cardinal to another, asking if anything in their rooms seemed out of place. Most noticed no disturbance to their belongings, but the question forced others to reexamine what they initially considered a lapse of memory. Among those asking the question, it became clear that an entire section of Domus Marthae Sanctae had been systematically searched.’
Velu slowly paced as he spoke, his deep brown eyes meeting those of the other cardinals, his voice peaceful and certain. At the chancel screen, he turned and began walking back toward the altar.
‘My Lord Brothers, within the sealed confines of this room, I must now break my silence. Mine was one of the rooms searched, and in it something was found. Lord Donoher questioned me about a device that I brought with me into the conclave. I did so for personal reasons and with full knowledge that the Apostolic Constitution explicitly forbade my action, and for breaking my oath I am answerable to our next pontiff. But my transgression, though grave, was not what Lord Donoher sought. Now, with Bishop Yin at long last free, it is time for truth.’ Velu now stood directly in front of the Camerlengo. ‘I ask you, my Eminent Lord, to share with us the reason for your search.’
Donoher stepped close to Velu, their faces mere inches apart.
‘Why?’ Donoher asked in a whisper that barely concealed his anger.
‘I am sorry to force your hand,’ Velu replied softly, ‘but to protect Yin, you must name his betrayer.’
Velu bowed and walked slowly back to his seat, providing a brief time for Donoher to collect his thoughts.
‘My Most Eminent Lords,’ Donoher began, ‘the searches that disturbed a number of your rooms were conducted under my authority as Camerlengo and with the approval of the particular congregation. The first rooms searched belonged to the four of us who currently serve on that congregation as we are entrusted with the secrecy of the conclave. The justification for this action comes from evidence that the secrecy of our conclave had been violated with regard to Bishop Yin, and that this violation threatened not only his life but the lives of those who were sent to rescue him.’
Donoher’s words hung in the air like a pall of smoke — the sanctity of the conclave had been betrayed, and the Camerlengo believed a prince of the Church was responsible.