A Sacred Storm Read Free Page A

visitor to enter, hoping it would be Father Patrick Cronin with fresh news. He wasn’t disappointed.
    Cronin hobbled in on his crutches, greeted the Cardinal formally, then sat down and faced him across the desk. His boss tried to appear calm but the lines etched on his face gave away his concern.
    â€œWell then, Father,” said Desayer. “What do we know?”
    Cronin cleared his throat and proceeded. “It doesn’t look good I’m afraid, Your Eminence. Our sources in Mecca have confirmed it – there is a man there claiming to be the Hand of Allah. He has been healing all manner of illnesses and deformities: curing cancers; restoring vision; remobilizing the crippled – the list goes on.”
    Desayer’s fists tightened as he tried to control his breathing. “Then they have found the sacred knowledge. They must have.”
    â€œI can’t be sure, Your Eminence, but it appears that way. Our sources have witnessed this man’s healing powers for themselves, he’s definitely the real thing.”
    â€œSo how have they come by it? I thought that the box and the parchment were safely on their way to Majami.”
    â€œSo did I, Your Eminence. And as far as I knew everything was going to plan. Kandinsky’s man dropped them at the beach and they were last seen heading off with their guides.”
    â€œBut you’ve had no word since?”
    â€œNo. But then I didn’t expect to until they came back out of the jungle.”
    â€œDidn’t they have a satellite phone?” the Cardinal asked.
    â€œNo. It would have been too dangerous for them to have contact with anybody once they were in the jungle. It doesn’t matter how careful you are nowadays – there’s always someone listening. And it only takes a few seconds to pinpoint someone’s position from their phone signal.”
    â€œOf course,” said Desayer. “You must think me terribly outdated.”
    â€œNot at all, Your Eminence. Most people don’t realize how vulnerable technology has made us.”
    â€œYes, indeed. Soon there will be no secrets left.” He gazed thoughtfully out of the window. “What about Kandinsky? Are you sure he was telling you the truth? Perhaps he took the box and sold it to the highest bidder.”
    â€œWith respect, I think that’s highly unlikely, Your Eminence. I’ve known Kandinsky for a number of years and, although he wouldn’t be first in line for canonization, I’ve always found him to be a man of his word. He has never been anything but honest with us from the start, and he wants to see the sacred knowledge safe just as much as we do. And besides, even if he had taken the box it would be useless without the key to the symbols; and they were taken by a different route.”
    â€œYes, yes, of course they were. Sorry, Father, I am just not thinking logically at the moment.” He took a sip of water and a deep breath. “So, Father, have you any ideas as to what has actually happened?”
    Cronin shrugged. “To be honest, Your Eminence, I’m as in the dark as you are. I can only really hypothesize.”
    â€œWell then – go ahead.”
    â€œWe have to assume that the Muslims have managed to acquire both the box and the symbols – it’s the only way this man could have gained his power. Therefore it stands to reason that they waylaid both our parties in the jungle. I don’t know how they did it, but it’s the only explanation I can think of.”
    Desayer raised his eyebrows. “But the box and the parchment were taken by separate paths.”
    â€œYes, they were. And I didn’t for one minute think that both would be found, but I guess that whoever took them was one step ahead of us. I suspect treachery somewhere along the line.”
    Desayer digested the information for a moment. “What about this man who took your place? What was his name again –