Apocalypsis 1.03 Thoth Read Free Page B

however, two special guests were waiting for him in the reception hall. Delicate guests.
    »How long have they been waiting?« John Paul III asked his private secretary in the elevator.
    »They’ve only just arrived, Your Holiness. Monsignore Benini is taking care of them.«
    »Good. It will be a battle. So let’s go in and win it.«
    John Paul III wiped his hands on his cassock, a bad habit that he tried to hide as often as he could.
    Three men were sitting in the armchairs of the hall. One of them was Monsignore Benini, a long-time Vatican diplomat, a paragon of discretion, and a man with plenty of experience in the field of international politics. He was sitting between two men who were ignoring each other to the best of their abilities: Sheik Abdullah ibn Abd al Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, and Chaim Kaplan, the Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazi Jews of Jerusalem. As John Paul III entered the room he could literally feel it on his skin, not only the hatred that brewed between these two men but also the distrust that they both fostered against him. He realized at that moment that everything was going to be even more difficult than he had expected. One of the Sheik’s predecessors had been an admirer of Hitler, supporting him in his determination to exterminate the Jews. The parents of the Rabbi had been murdered in Birkenau. And John Paul III knew how much Kaplan hated the Germans. In his eyes, a German Pope had to be the ultimate historical cynicism and the greatest imaginable danger to Judaism. At the same time, both religious leaders had the reputation of being pragmatic and modern. And therein resided the spark of hope.
    Monsignore Benini displayed his usual tact, rising from his chair and leaving the two guests alone with the Pope.
    »Gentlemen!« John Paul III said buoyantly, welcoming them in English and shaking their hands cordially. »I’m very pleased that you accepted my invitation.«
    »What’s the deal with all this secretiveness?« the Rabbi began in an annoyed tone. »As long as the sheiks finance Hamas terror, we will not sit down at a table with murderers. Even less when the sitting-down is arranged by a German Pope.«
    The Sheik’s face contorted in rage. »As we speak, Israel is organizing the genocide of the Palestinian people. And you, Jew, dare to call me a murderer?«
    »There is no such thing as a Palestinian people!« Kaplan hissed back. »The Palestinians are an anti-Zionist invention of the Sheik.«
    Abdullah ibn Abd al Husseini shot from his chair. »That’s enough.« He turned towards John Paul III. »Listen, Christian, your attempt to mediate was honorable, but you will have to find yourself another pet project to make your name in history.«
    With gentle force, John Paul III pushed Sheik Abdullah back into his seat.
    »You will not leave before you hear me out, Sheik Abdullah.«
    Obviously, the Sheik was so bewildered by the strength of the papal hands that he obeyed.
    »Please stay,« the Pope added in a more conciliatory voice and turned towards the Rabbi. »This is a strictly informal meeting; we have complete privacy. We have one hour and I am kindly asking you not to waste this hour with further mutual accusations. As far as I am concerned you can continue with that as soon as you have left the Vatican. But I doubt that you will be in the proper mood.«
    A mere assertion, but it hit home.
    »You are making me curious, Christian.«
    »Keep it brief,« was the Chief Rabbi’s cold retort.
    John Paul III gathered himself for a moment before he began. »First, I would like to ask you to keep this conversation confidential. I did not invite you to distinguish myself as a mediator between Islam and Judaism. We are sitting here as the representatives of the three Abrahamic religions. Our religions are based on the same roots, the Patriarch Abraham. We have much more in common than there is that separates us. I don’t need to give you a full picture of the global crisis that the