‘Of that I am quite certain,’ Wen said, nodding his head knowingly. ‘This mission to liberate Yin was a costly one to you and your comrades, but in the end you succeeded. And now, those two boys lead over a third of the world’s population.’
‘Excuse me?’ Kilkenny said.
‘Upon his arrival in Rome,’ Peng explained, ‘Yin Daoming was proclaimed Pope.’
Kilkenny sat rigid in his chair, dumbstruck.
‘Which explains the difficult position I find myself in,’ Wen added, ‘and why you are here. Within the hour of the announcement naming the new Pope, I received a personal communiqué from my former schoolmate. He inquired about your whereabouts, Mister Kilkenny, and made clear his interest in your continued good health.’
‘So he doesn’t know you have me?’ Kilkenny asked.
‘Your capture is a state secret. In the minds of those who collaborated in your incursion, you are missing and likely presumed dead. Making you disappear would be a very simple matter. Others counsel me to put you on trial and expose the Western conspiracy that violated our sovereign territory.’
‘If you’re looking for options, you could just let me go,’ Kilkenny offered wryly.
‘That is what your Pope suggested. There have been talks in recent years of normalizing relations between China and the Vatican, but only talks. The history between these two states is long and often troubled. There is much distrust on both sides, and this incident only promises to widen that rift.’
‘Pope Leo felt much the same after learning the truth about the tragic theater fire,’ Kilkenny said. ‘And Yin’s escape is an affront to your national pride.’
Wen nodded. ‘But unlike his predecessor, Mister Kilkenny, the new Pope understands the importance of saving face. Instead of demanding your release in a public way that would surely demean China in the eyes of the world, Pope Gousheng has offered himself as a symbol of Chinese generosity.’
‘Yin’s arrival in Rome is as big a story as his election, and the media must be going crazy trying to figure it out,’ Kilkenny said. ‘He’s offered to let China take credit for his release?’
‘A unilateral gesture of goodwill by the People’s Republic of China,’ Wen replied, as if quoting a script, ‘honoring the long-held wish of the late pontiff and with sincere hope of improved relations with the Vatican in the future. Yin is a very clever man.’
‘He’s much more than that. Despite his long captivity, Yin bears no ill will toward the government of China. He’s forgiven you, and he prays for you. So all you have to do to get a humanitarian endorsement by the Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church is quietly let me go and act like none of this ever happened?’
‘There are other details — the repatriation of the remains of your fallen comrades and the promise to preserve the site of the theater fire for a Roman Catholic church in Beijing.’
‘I might be somewhat biased, Premier Wen, but those terms sound very reasonable.’
‘My conclusion as well. Of course, this arrangement relies on all parties involved maintaining the Pope’s version of events.’
‘To the best of my recollection,’ Kilkenny replied, ‘I’ve spent the past month in Rome working on a small project for the Vatican Library.’
‘Excellent. Peng, the arrangements have been made. You are to escort Mister Kilkenny to Rome.’
‘Yes, Premier,’ Peng replied.
‘One final thought before you leave China, Mister Kilkenny. My acceptance of the Pope’s offer in no way lessens my outrage at what you have done. Once you leave China, you are never to return. Now go.’
Kilkenny and Peng stood, and both offered a respectful bow to Wen, who dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Outside the pavilion, one of the Premier’s aides handed Peng a folio containing travel documents and the itinerary for transporting Kilkenny to Rome.
‘Do I still have to wear the hood?’ Kilkenny asked as he stepped into the black SUV.
‘No, you are a free man.’
Even in nighttime silhouette, Kilkenny marveled at the beauty of Zhongnanhai. The SUV followed the winding road around the southern lake and out through the New China Gate. As the SUV cleared the gate, Kilkenny looked through the window to his left and saw barricades blocking the street, and beyond was an enormous crowd of people bathed in the white glow of portable light towers. Banners fluttered in the light wind, and people held up placards bearing slogans and images.
‘What’s that?’ Kilkenny asked.
‘Tiananmen Square. Many people have gathered to celebrate the Chinese Pope.’
‘And the government isn’t trying to stop it?’
‘No,’ Peng replied. ‘The crowd is well-behaved and quite large.’
‘Since this will likely be my one and only visit to China, could I take a look?’
Peng nodded. ‘I am also curious.’
Peng instructed the driver to park along the street — the uniformed police on crowd-control duty would not question a vehicle with government plates. As they passed through the barricades, the immense proportions of the square nearly overwhelmed Kilkenny, as did the sea of people who filled it to capacity.
‘There must be hundreds of thousands of people here!’
‘Estimates place the number at just over one million,’ Peng said. ‘Similar crowds are reported in the streets of Hong Kong and Shanghai, and smaller ones elsewhere.’
Chants and songs rippled through the crowd, some familiar to Kilkenny, others totally foreign. The throng immediately around them picked up on one of the chants, and excited youths pumped their fists in the air as if stoking the fires of enthusiasm.
‘What are they saying?’ Kilkenny asked in a shout barely audible against the rhythmic chant.
‘Long live Jesus Christ!’ Peng shouted back. ‘Long live Pope Gousheng!’
Kilkenny listened for the cadence, then waded into the crowd with his fist held high, parroting the syllables. Like a cloud, the chant slowly drifted away as voices tired. Kilkenny and Peng were grinning with the people around them, taking part in the vast celebration.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this,’ Peng offered.
Kilkenny beamed proudly. ‘Who would have ever imagined Tiananmen Square would become an extension of Saint Peter’s?’
‘Until now, a gathering like this wasn’t just unimaginable, it was unthinkable’
‘Cause enough to be hopeful.’
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I first became aware of the bitter struggle between church and state in China in March 2000 when I read a transcript of Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman’s eloquent tribute on the floor of the U.S. Senate marking the death of Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei. Through Lieberman’s recitation of the facts and circumstances of Kung’s life, I learned of the ongoing religious repression in China and found the seed of this story in the concept of a secret cardinal. The late Cardinal Kung was a man of great faith and was both an inspiration and a symbol to the oppressed Roman Catholics of China. Although some aspects of my fictional title character may mirror those of Cardinal Kung, this story is a work of fiction and not a biography.
For those interested in the fascinating story of a real secret cardinal, I refer you to www.cardinalkungfoun-dation.org. I also found Malachi Martin’s novel The Final Conclave a most insightful exploration of Vatican politics.
My deepest gratitude to Capt. B.J. Keepers (USN/Ret), Fr. Brendan Walsh, Dr David Gorski, Rita Thiron of the Diocese of Lansing, Billy Downs, Jonathan Swift, Loretta Barrett, and those who cannot be named. Their help was invaluable. As always, any mistakes are mine alone.
My thanks also to Roger Cooper at Vanguard Press, my agent Esther Margolis, and my editors Peter Guzzardi and Ed Stackler for their thoughtful advice and kind support; to my family and friends for their love and encouragement; and to my dog for keeping my feet warm as I write into the night. And last, I recognize my five children and wife Kathy, who make all things possible.