The Magdalene Deception - Ch 10
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Chapter 10
The lofty red brick archways inside the Ristorante dei Musei resembled the high-ceilinged galleries of the Vatican itself, apart from the white-clothed tables set with food and the chattering patrons huddled beneath them at the dinner hour. Tourists, locals, clergy, and nuns from around the world enjoyed Rome’s traditional cuisine here, an easy stroll from St. Peter's just north of the Vatican wall. The smells of freshly baked bread and simmering tomato sauce, potently infused with fresh garlic and basil, greeted passersby and arriving guests even from across the street as they neared the restaurant.
Father Michael Dominic and Cardinal Enrico Petrini both were dressed in street clothes so they might enjoy a conversation without drawing unwanted attention or recognition. Each ordered the pasta special along with shared servings of antipasti and carciofini, the small violet artichokes grown in Rome and bathed in peppered olive oil, with a bottle of Chianti Classico that Dominic hoped would fuel Petrini’s favorable reception of what he was about to share. While the boisterous din of the restaurant made conversing difficult, it also served to prevent nearby tables from overhearing sensitive topics.
“Rico,” Dominic began, “I’ve run across something I’d like to get your thoughts on. But first, let me give you some background.” He told Petrini of his episode in the Riserva with Mendoza and helping him to his apartment, then going back to the vault where he spent some time exploring the papers in the box, as well as the table coming apart as he fell on it, and as a result finding the hidden bottom of the box and what it held. He then retrieved photos of the documents on his phone, showing them to Petrini as he discussed his translation of each one and his brief research on Bérenger Saunière.
The cardinal, intrigued enough to stop eating, refilled both their wine glasses before he turned to the images. He enlarged the documents on the phone to better inspect what Dominic had found.
“These are spectacular discoveries, Michael, especially the Nostradamus parchment. Quite rare indeed, I imagine. Have you shared these with anyone else yet?”
“No,” Dominic said. “Just you.”
Petrini looked squarely at his young ward. “Well, to be honest, I’m a little surprised by your audacity. The Riserva holds the most sensitive papers of the Vatican, and access is restricted for good reasons, I assume. Did you feel this was part of your duties, or was it just curiosity that took hold of you, in the moment?”
Dominic blushed with embarrassment at being called out. “I know, Rico, I probably overstepped my authority, such as it is, but I did return the documents the next day. And Brother Mendoza said he’s going to give me my own key to the room, so…” He looked pleadingly at the cardinal.
Petrini took a sip of wine, weighing the situation.
“All right. Since you asked for my advice, I’ll give it to you. I can’t say I know much about the quatrains, though they do merit further examination,” he said. “But I do know something about Abbé Saunière and the mysteries of Rennes-le-Château. Apart from what you’ve read about him, there has been no shortage of speculation as to what exactly he found there.
“Some say Saunière discovered documents alluding to the location of the Holy Grail, or the Ark of the Covenant, the reputed treasure of the Cathars hidden during the Albigensian Crusade. Others have theorized the abbé found the treasure of the Knights Templar, or even Mary Magdalene’s tomb and those of her Merovingian children. Many books have been written on these topics.
“But what you have here,” Petrini whispered eagerly, “Bérenger Saunière’s own letter demanding payment from the Vatican! That would appear to support one of the other theories—that Saunière may have been blackmailing the Church in exchange for keeping secret whatever knowledge he had that might bring harm to the institution. It’s said that he did come into a great deal of money for no other apparent reason, using the funds to restore his chapel and rectory and other buildings in the village. If that’s the case, Michael, you may be dealing with something quite extraordinary here. Or, it could be as simple as an appeal to the pope for a continuing endowment.”
Dominic nervously took back the phone and closed the photos app, pocketing the device. “What do you think I should do, Rico?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Petrini said, thrown off by what he had just read. He poured more wine and poked a fork at what remained of his pasta. “But there is someone here who is well acquainted with the Grail legends, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew more about Nostradamus than I do. He’s a respected scholar who can usually be found working on his research in the Archives, a good man named Simon Ginzberg. I have known him for many years and you can trust him.”
“I just met him today!” Dominic said excitedly. “We spoke only briefly, but I found him to be a fascinating character, well versed in history, not to mention his own life’s background.”
Petrini’s expression darkened and his voice lowered as he leaned into Dominic’s ear. “Michael, I would caution you to take the utmost care with this information. Depending on Simon’s analysis of what it might actually represent, it would be unwise to involve anyone else just yet.”
Dominic met Petrini’s eyes, nodding in understanding, his mind dizzy with anticipation, heartened by the effects of the Chianti.
After paying the bill, they walked back to Porta Sant’Anna, the heady scent of honeysuckle from the Vatican gardens permeating the warm evening air.
* * *
Early the next morning—before the sun came out in full, before tourists jammed the streets of Rome—Michael Dominic and Karl Dengler met in St. Peter's Square for a long-planned run together.
Owing to the rigorous athletic regimen of his Papal Guard training, the tall, blond Swiss soldier was exceptionally fit, easily able to keep up with the demanding pace of a lifelong runner like Dominic.
Their course started at the Ospedale Santo Spirito near St. Peter's Square, then up to Castel Sant’Angelo, the towering cylindrical papal fortress east of the Vatican. As they ran northeast along the Tiber River, Dengler, ever curious, was full of questions.
“So, have you ever had a girlfriend, Michael, or anyone you’ve been especially close to?”
“I did have someone special before I entered the seminary, but when the time came I broke it off, for obvious reasons. Why do you ask?”
“Was your ‘someone special’ a girl—or a guy?” Dengler asked.
Grinning awkwardly, Dominic turned to look at his friend as they crossed the bridge at Ponte Cavour. “It was a girl, actually.”
“Have you ever been with a guy?” Dengler asked anxiously as he avoided eye contact.
“Well, yeah, sort of,” Dominic said hesitantly. “I played lacrosse in high school and the team captain and I were close friends. Very close. I don’t know that I’d call it ‘experimental’ or not, but we were young and had no limits then. He and I had an incredibly tight bond. I’ve never been emotionally or physically drawn to anyone else like him. But to answer the question I think you’re posing, if my life had taken another course, I’d say I’m straight. It’s kind of a moot point now, though.”
They ran in silence, each racing the other up the challenging 138 Spanish Steps to the upper Piazza Trinita dei Monti, before Dengler spoke again, breathing heavily now as they paused to rest.
“I’ve never come out to anyone before, Michael,” he said hesitantly, but bluntly. “You’re the first.”
Dominic looked at Dengler in a new light, half-expecting the confession. “Karl, I can’t tell you how honored I am that you chose to tell me that. To be honest, I never would have thought you to be gay.”
“Well, it’s not like I’m a card-carrying member of the Lavender Mafia!” Dengler referred to the well-known “gay lobby” establishment inside the Vatican. “The fact is, I’ve never been with anyone yet. There were probably opportunities when I was in the army, but I was pretty naïve then and fearful of the consequences. Now I’m twenty-five, and probably too old!”
“Trust me, Karl,” Dominic said with a gentle laugh, “a man like you will have no problem finding someone to love. I mean, look at you. You’re quite a catch!”
Dengler was contemplative as they picked up their run again, heading toward the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Soon, he found the words.
“If you were in my position, Michael, would you find me attractive?” he said tentatively.
Dominic came to a slow stop. Standing in front of the splashing waters of the Trevi Fountain now, he looked gently into Dengler’s questioning blue eyes. “Karl,” he said softly, “if things were different, I’d be the luckiest guy in Italy to have you in that way.” He gave his friend a tight embrace. “Just know there’s someone out there for you. You’ll find him.”
Dengler, trying to remain composed while fending off emotion, hugged his new friend fiercely in return.
“Come on,” Dominic said cheerfully. “We’ve got another few kilometers yet. I want to show you the Suburra, my favorite place in Rome.”