Nelson Demille - The Quest

“My doorbell rings all day. It is the only doorbell in Berini. I am here.”

“Yes… well, as I said, we are from L’Osservatore Romano. Signorina Smith is my photographer and Signore Purcell is my… assistant.”

“I understand.” He informed them, “I have taught myself English. From books and tapes. Why? It is the language of the world, as Latin once was. Someday…” He didn’t complete his thought, but said, “So forgive me in advance if I do not understand, or if I mispronounce.”

Mercado assured him, “Your English is perfect.”

Father Rulli asked, “How may I be of assistance?”

Mercado replied, “My colleagues and I were in Ethiopia, in September, and while there we came across a priest who was dying-”

“Father Armano.”

“Yes.” He asked, “Have you been notified of his death?”

“I have.”

“I see… When were you notified?”

“In November. Why do you ask?”

Purcell answered without answering, “We’re writing a newspaper article on Father Armano, so we are collecting information.”

“Yes, of course. But it is my understanding that you have all this information from the Vatican press office.”

Purcell knew that the Vatican press office and L’Osservatore Romano were not one and the same, though sometimes they seemed to be. He glanced at Mercado.

Mercado said to Father Rulli, “I haven’t had contact with the Vatican press office.”

“They said they were in contact with L’Osservatore Romano.”

“They may be… but not me.”

Father Rulli admitted, “I have no idea how these things work in Rome.”

Purcell assured him, “Neither do we.”

Father Rulli smiled. He then informed them, “But you do know about the steps toward Father Armano’s beatification.”

At first Purcell thought that the priest had mispronounced “beautification,” and he was confused. Then he understood.

Mercado seemed dumbstruck.

Vivian asked, “What am I missing?”

Mercado told her, “Father Armano has been proposed for canonization-sainthood.”

“Oh…”

“Did you not know this?” asked the priest.

“We… had heard…”

“That is the purpose of your visit, is it not?”

“Yes… well, we wanted to gather some background on his early life. His time in the army… perhaps letters that he wrote to his family and friends.”

Father Rulli informed them, “You could have saved yourselves the journey.” He explained, “A delegation from the Vatican was here in November to let me know of Father Armano’s death and his proposed canonization. As you know, if he is entered into the sainthood, and if a church is ever built in his name, a relic is needed to consecrate the church. And also a complete biography of the prospective saint is compiled. So a call was put out in Berini and we also searched the storage cellar of this rectory.” He let them know, “We found some of his old vestments in trunks, and his family had photographs and letters they had saved. Some from Ethiopia.” He told them, “The man from the Vatican press office interviewed the family and some childhood friends of Giuseppe Armano. So this has all been done.”

Mercado replied, “L’Osservatore Romano likes to do this work themselves.”

“As you wish.” Father Rulli said, “We had a special Mass when the delegation from the Vatican announced this. The town was very excited, and the bells of San Anselmo rang all day. His family was filled with joy at the news of his beatification. And of the news that he had performed miracles in Ethiopia.”

Mercado nodded, then said, “We are sorry we missed that day.”

Well, Purcell thought, Colonel Gann had guessed correctly. The Vatican was here first, and it was Henry’s unanswered letter that led them here. It was possible, of course, that there was nothing sinister about this; it was just the Vatican doing its job of making a death notification of a priest. And while they were at it, they sent a whole delegation to announce that Father Giuseppe Armano was being considered for sainthood. And they took what they needed. Purcell was impressed.

Father Rulli looked at his guests. “Did you say you were with Father Armano when he died?”

“Yes.”

The priest nodded, then said, “I am not clear about the circumstances of his death.” No one replied, so Father Rulli went on. “Monsignor Mazza from the office of beatification told me that Father Armano had been imprisoned since 1936, and that he escaped and was found dying by three war correspondents from England who did not speak much Italian.” He asked, “So that was you?”

Mercado nodded.

Father Rulli said, “Well, that is itself a miracle. After forty years, to be found by… English people who work for L’Osservatore Romano.” He asked Mercado, “Can you tell me the circumstances of this encounter?”

Mercado related an edited version of what happened that night, and Father Rulli kept nodding with interest. Mercado concluded, “We buried him in a garden of this Italian spa… and said prayers over his grave.”

“That is a wonderful story. And wonderful that this man did not die alone.”

Mercado said, “He was at peace.”

“Yes. Good.” He thought a moment, then asked Mercado, “Is your Italian good?”

“It is passable.”

The priest thought a moment, then said, “But Monsignor Mazza said to me he received a letter from one of the people who found Father Armano dying and that this man had little to report about Father Armano’s last words-because of the language difficulties and because he died soon after he was found.”

“He… was unconscious most of the time.”

“I see.” Father Rulli stayed silent awhile, then said, “As you know, there must be three miracles for a person to enter into the sainthood, and I am wondering how they in Rome would know of a miracle.”

Mercado replied, “I’m not sure.”

“Perhaps these miracles took place when he was serving in the army during that terrible war.”

“Probably.”

“And they were reported by the survivors of his military group.”

“That’s possible.” Mercado added, “That’s what we are investigating. For our story.”

Purcell inquired, “Do you have any information as to Father Armano’s military unit?”

“Well, his return address would have been on his letters, but that is all in Rome now.” He looked again at his guest and said, “It seems to me that all this information is available to you in Rome.”

“Of course.”

Father Rulli informed them, “I was told not to speak of this to outsiders. Why is that?”

Mercado replied, “I have no idea.” He added, “Rome is Rome.”

Father Rulli nodded, then changed the subject. “The most important relic of a saint is part of his body. Monsignor Mazza said that he was going to send a mission to Ethiopia to locate this spa and recover the remains.”

Mercado, wanting to appear more knowledgeable than he had been, replied, “Yes, we know that. In fact, we may return to Ethiopia ourselves.”

The priest advised them, “It has become dangerous there.”

Purcell reminded him, “We’ve been there.”

“Yes, of course.” Father Rulli looked at his watch and said, “I am to perform a burial Mass in half an hour.”

Purcell asked him, “Can you put us into contact with any of Father Armano’s family? Or anyone else who is still alive from his time? He mentioned a brother and two sisters.”

“Yes, Anna is still alive. A widow. And I can have her and other family members, and perhaps some friends, meet you here if you wish.”

“That would be very good of you.”

“Anna would find some comfort in speaking to you who last saw her brother alive.” He added, “She grieved for his loss, but now she has been delivered a miracle.”