When we were in the elevator the
Monsignor reminded Frank to keep me on encrypted mode. I would have surmised when we left the
Monsignor’s office we would head for one of Papal palaces behind Saint
Peters. I knew that few humans were
allowed inside. However the
Monsignor took us to an elevator and then down a long corridor and then onto the
elevator we were now in. It was one
of those high security elevators.
Cameras everywhere and from my sensors and my data base I could tell we
were not headed to any place shown on the tourist maps of Vatican City. I theorized that maybe we were going to
some hidden Roman ruin with decadent murals and statues. I must admit that sometimes my digital
imagination algorithm are a little unpredictable.
When the elevator doors opened
we were in an area of very modern, but posh, architecture. Gone were the Renaissance statues and
the religious artwork. There were
no dead popes in crystal coffins or anything that looked religious. The Monsignor took us through a couple
of well decorated rooms and then into an underground courtyard with a very large
round pool. Even though we were at
least 180 feet underground there were countless flowering bushes and greenery
surrounding the pool. The walls
were covered in clinging vines where there were not floor to ceiling
windows. It had the feel of a very
exclusive resort. I guess you could
call it Club Medici.
In the pool was a naked
girl. I could not see her front,
but she was no more than 25 years old.
Across the pool were several patio style groupings of tables and
chairs. I could see another naked
human sitting and enjoying a glass of wine. I put it at 99% probable that it was
Pope Alexander IX.
The Monsignor walked us over and
as we approached Pope Alexander got up to greet us.
“Mr. Huntington. I was told you would be visiting me just
now. Have a seat. Monsignor, go get both of you a class of
wine. It’s over
there.”
Frank always tried to take
things in stride, but I could tell by his look that he was out of his league on
this occasion. The Monsignor did
not say a word but did do as he was told.
Frank clumsily sat as far away from his Holiness and still be at the same
table. Yes, my Master was
definitely spooked.
The Vicar of Christ pointed
towards the pool and asked Frank, “Would you like to take a dip before we talk
Frank? Is it okay I call you
Frank?” It took Frank a second to
get his answer out, but he finally managed to say, “Sure. I mean, Frank is okay,
but I’m fine just sitting for now.”
The Monsignor gave Frank a glass
and then stood by Frank to his left.
“Your Holiness, I have briefed
Mr. Huntington about our concerns.
He has asked to talk with you.”
“Sure, what do you have in mind,
Frank?”
Frank took a quick sip of
courage and then set the glass on the table, “Monsignor told me you recently
have had a change of heart about your faith in God. Is that true?”
“Yes and no. I lost my youthful convictions about
five years after becoming a priest.
I don’t think I was ever totally into religion, but I did love the aura
of religion. I also found out
rather quickly that life as a Bishop or higher was pretty good. The first bishop I worked for had the
best taste in wine. I learned all I
know about wine from Bishop Segius.
However, after what happened two weeks ago I have lost all feelings I had
for religion. However, as a man of
the cloth who has made it to the top, I just couldn’t walk away. Who the hell would want to give up all
this” he said pointing toward the nude girl that was climbing out of the pool
now.
I am sure Frank must have
recognized her immediately. I had
after we had walked over towards the table and my cameras could see the girl
from the front. It was Princess
Marianne. And she was still in her
birthday suit. Again, as she
approached I could see Frank was flustered. She grabbed a towel by the edge of the
pool and wiped off her perfect body. She then put the towel around her shoulders
so her hair would not drip on her.
The towels only made her breasts look more amazing. She made no attempt to cover anything
else as she walked over towards Pope Alexander.
“Come set yourself on my lap,
dear.”
She did just that without so
much as missing a beat in her walk.
She picked up the Pope’s glass and took a sip and then looked over at
Frank with an innocent smile and said, “Hello Frank.” Frank said “Hello Princess” at a barely
audible level.
Alexander took the glass from
her and took another sip and said, “You two have met before. I know you broke the story of her
marriage to Sir Terrance.”
“Yes Sir, I mean your Holiness.”
Frank said trying to regain his focus, “I thought I knew the Princess fairly
well, but I see she can still be full of surprises.”
The Princess only showed a
slight smile and arching of her eyes at Frank’s observation.
“She is an amazing woman” the
Pope said with a big smile on his face.
“Have you been helping the Pope
deal with his new atheism?”
“No, I don’t think he has much
of any issues with that” she purred.
The Pope did not notice the
irony in Frank’s voice when he had spoken to Marianne. I could see that by the way the Pope
responded to Frank’s question.
“No Frank, I’m fine. I got your drift, but I have no suicidal
tendencies. By the time I became a
bishop I had a string of mistresses as well as a good wine
cellar.”
“What about your work with the
poor that made you so famous?”
“Oh, I do feel for the
poor. Many of them around the world
have no choice but to be poor.
Their culture or their masters keep them poor. I enjoy the finer things in life, but I
prefer to see the poor not suffering.
The history of economic growth has been one of raising the poor out of
poverty. Everyone is better if you
can enlarge the middle class. While
I saw the church as a way for me to have access to fame and fortune, I did not
see a need for me to do it by exploiting the poor. I hate poverty and I know the poor hate
it, too.”
While Alexander was talking he
gently circled one of his fingers around Marianne’s nipples. Frank imagined if he was not there that
something quickly would be taking Alexander’s attention away from world
poverty. Frank was focused now and
did not let this surreal display of sexuality get to him.
“Your Holiness –
“
“Shit, Frank, call me Alex. I’m off duty and I sure as hell don’t
look holy.”
That did bring a smile to Frank
and so he rephrased what he was going to say, “Alex, so you didn’t feel anything
when the other two did?”
“No, I felt something. I felt liberated. I also felt less inhibited. I got these monkeys right where I want
them. The curia I’m sure is pissed
at me, but they know I still can put on a good show for the religious
masses. I still take care of
business and I see no reason why I shouldn’t continue to do so. Compared to my predecessor I have
increased donations for helping the poor by 400%. I love shaming the rich to give until it
hurts. They all want to think they
can go to heaven by giving me a hundred million.”
“No feelings of
hypocrisy?”
“Listen, there isn’t a world
leader who believes in the fucking Bible, but they all know they need to play
the game if they want to get elected.
Even the despots play the religious game. Anyone in my curia who tries to come out
and say I am an atheist know I would fuck them. You don’t get to the top without knowing
how to deal with enemies.”
“You realize I have written many
articles trying to reveal what assholes politicians are.”
“Sure I’ve seen some of your
stuff. Even Popes read the Wall
Street Journal.”
“Aren’t you afraid I will spill
the beans?”
“No I’m not. I know your beast over there has been on
encryption. What you have seen here
no one would believe. But you are
not here to see my big dick, you are here to discuss this religious mystery we
have. Someone is fucking with
religion. They fucked with me. Luckily, I was already fucked up as far
as faith goes. They didn’t know
that. I’m sure they are wondering
why I haven’t gone and hanged myself or told the world Jesus is a joke. But the fact remains that whoever and
however they are doing this needs to be stopped. I’m not sure what Pietro has said to
you, but the masses need religion.
They can’t handle a world without a personal god and free tickets to
heaven. They can’t cope with all
the crap in the world without religion.”
“I think they could under the
right circumstances.”
“Maybe. Most likely many could, but many could
not. Many will refuse as they have
already refused to listen to the likes of famous atheists like Coopersmith or
their dead saints, like Sagan or Hitchens.
You know, Mr. Frank, it really comes down to the old concept of there
being two kinds of people – gods and clods. The human gods can face the truth about
the Universe. They always have –
just look at the Greeks like Epicurus.
Clods on the other hand have always lived within their times accepting
what the majority accept and questioning nothing. They are easy to lead. Trust me on that. I have worked with the poor. I know how easy it is to make them sheep
of the church. This sudden loss of religion threatens not only my gig, but the
current world order. They refuse
cold hard logic on how ridiculous religion is and so they would be totally lost
if their faith was magically removed.”
“I don’t think it is magic that
is doing it.”
“Neither do I fucking believe it
is magic, but my geniuses that we have consulted don’t know how it is
happening. All they have said is
whoever is doing it is just in the beta testing phase. Geek babble for what most would call
practice shots. Do you know how it is being done?”
All this time the Princess kept
sitting on the Pope’s lap. She
would passively encourage him to enjoy her body. I could tell that it was distracting to
Frank, but he was using anger to keep himself in check. Not that he was angry at her, per say,
he was angry at the world for being so insane. It was obvious that the Pope was
used to such foreplay and could still focus on business.
“No. It’s a dead end. Can’t be anything that has been done
before. Princess, have you ever
asked your husband if he has any idea how this could be
happening?”
She smiled and got up from the
Pope’s lap and went and sat down next to Frank. I am not sure why she did that. Hard to say why she would leave such a
cozy spot. Once she sat down she
first looked at the Monsignor and said “Would you be a dear and bring me a glass
of lemon water?” Then she turned
back to Frank and said “I showed your article about the nuns to my husband and
we did briefly talk about it at dinner some time ago. He really didn’t have much of an opinion
on it other than to say religion sucks.”
“What about the
Buddhists?”
“I don’t know if he saw your
article about suicide.”
“Did he say how someone might
medically extract religious faith out of someone?”
“No, but I could ask
him.”
The Pope looked at her and said,
“He is the most fucking smart scientist in the world. He should be able to know if it is
possible. I would love to go with
you and ask, but I don’t think my curia would appreciate that.”
The Monsignor gave out of sigh
and said, “No we wouldn’t, so get that out of your addled head your Holiness.”
“Then get me another glass of
wine, Pietro.”
Frank let out a small laugh and
said, “You can’t go, but I can. Can
you arrange it?”
“Sure.”
“When?”
“Now.”
“No you don’t. You need to attend catechism tonight,”
the Pope said doing a mock genuflect.
“Seriously Alex, I can’t stay
forever. The press will start
another diatribe about my disappearing again and my husband may get
suspicious.”
Frank said, “Tomorrow or the
next day would be fine.”
With that said, the Pope got up
and stretched his arms high above his head. Frank took another sip and the Princess
looked pleased.
“No suits required and the holy water is nice and warm.”
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