Nelson Demille: The Quest

In any case, the monks had taken them-he, Vivian, and Henry-with them, and when they reached the monastery of Kirkos on Lake Tana, their three uninvited guests were put in a small boat with two oarsmen who rowed them across the lake to the mouth of the Blue Nile. The oarsmen left them, and the boat continued on in the swift current of the river with Purcell at the helm, across the border into Sudan until it reached Khartoum, where the American embassy helped get the three refugee reporters on a flight to Cairo.

Purcell had chosen to stay in Cairo for a few days to visit his apartment and see some people at the AP office. Henry and Vivian had gone on to Rome. And when Purcell had joined them, he discovered, not to his complete surprise, that Henry and Vivian were at the Excelsior together.

As he’d thought, and as he’d always known, Henry and Vivian were better suited for each other. But better is not best, and though he was angry-and hurt-he was also concerned about Vivian. He still liked Henry, but not as much as Henry liked himself. He would have told Vivian this-as a friend-but she might think it was coming from a jealous ex-lover. So he wasn’t going to say anything now.

He said to Vivian, “I meant to ask you-what were we chosen for?”

“I’ve thought about it. I think we were chosen to give some meaning to Father Armano’s life. I think God blessed him, and sent him to us so he could die with peace in his heart.”

“Okay. But why us?”

She smiled at him. “There must be something special about us.”

“There was-we were the only ones around.”

“Don’t start being cynical again.” She asked him, “How can you be cynical after what you saw?”

“I’m not sure what I saw.”

“I am.”

“I envy you.”

“Open your heart, Frank.” She reminded him, “If you believe in love, you believe in God.” She asked him, “Do you believe in love?”

“You shouldn’t have to ask that.” He looked at his watch again. “I have to go.” He stood. “Tell Henry I said good-bye. And tell him I’ll see him next time I’m in Rome.”

She stood, too, and they looked at each other.

He thought she was going to suggest that he walk with her along the path, toward Henry’s office. But she didn’t.

He said to her, “I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

“I wish you God’s peace and God’s love.”

“You, too.”

“We have a bond that can never be broken.”

“We do.”

There wasn’t much else to say, and he didn’t want it to be awkward or emotional, so he said, “Take care,” turned, and walked away.

This was the first time his sense of loss was not made easier by a sense of relief. In fact, he felt as though he were walking away from life.

Purcell knew never to look back, but this time something made him look back. She was standing near the bench, watching him.

He took a few more paces, then turned and looked at her again, and she was still looking at him.

He walked back to where she was standing, and she came to meet him.

They stopped a few feet from one another and he saw she had tears in her eyes.

He asked her, “Where’s Henry?”

“I told him not to come.”

He nodded.

She reminded him, “You said you’d take me back.”

He’d thought it was a moot question, but apparently it was not.

She smiled. “Are you taken?”

“No.”

“You are now.”

He didn’t know what to say, so he asked, “Would you like to take a walk?”

She put her arm through his and they walked through the Vatican park.

She reminded him, “You said we’d return to the Capitoline Hill.”

“Right.” He asked her, “Are your things in my room at the Forum?”

“I’m not that presumptuous.” She let him know, “They’re in the lobby.” She also let him know, “We have been chosen for each other. Believe it.”

“I believe it.”