Shrouded Destiny

by Richard William Bates

  John raised his voice, “Do you have any idea how medieval that sort of thinking is, Senator? When the church in Italy went after Galileo in the fifteenth century, he implored the church council members to simply look through his telescope so they could see the truth of his claims with their own eyes. They all declined, preferring to remain locked in their ignorance rather than have their myths shattered by the facts. It seems we haven't advanced all that much from that kind of thinking."

  "Doctor Barber, don't you think that in light of what has happened here, we may have been right?"

  That stopped John short. He was still too angry to acknowledge the senator's point, but as a scientist trained to be objective, he had to concede the senator might be right. He and Steven had often discussed the bizarre behavior of the cloned Jesus and had found their concerns growing as Jesus had stepped more openly into the political arena. In response to Harold's question, he merely glared at him.

  "Doctor Barber,” Ray spoke up. “I understand how you feel. But the senator has a point, too. We seem to be confronted with a Jesus who behaves like a common demagogue."

  "How can you blame us for that?” John protested.

  "Please, Doctor Barber ... John,” Ray often found removing titles often softened disagreements among men. “No one is placing any blame here. We have come for your help."

  "What help can we possibly be to you?” Steven wanted to know.

  "You spent time with this Jesus when he was first cloned,” Arnold stepped in now. “You watched him evolve. We hoped you might give us some insight into what may have possibly gone wrong, if in fact anything has gone wrong."

  Steven mulled this over for a moment. “You are asking me a question I've asked myself a thousand times,” he finally answered. “I've gone over the data over and over again, comparing the raw DNA we used to clone him with actual DNA from him after he was cloned. The match is exact, down to the minutest molecule. The man we see is Jesus, there is no doubt about it."

  "You both spent a great deal of time with him before he re-entered mainstream society,” Senator Hatcher said. “What was your impression of him back then?"

  Steven shrugged. “We liked him very much. He was very intelligent—he learned English very quickly—and he seemed to absorb everything around him. You could see a spark of something in his eyes. His manner was kindly and he seemed to have a wonderful joy of life. He was like a ... a...” Steven seemed to struggle for the right word.

  "A child,” John offered.

  "Yes. Very much like a child,” he agreed. “He was like a blotter, absorbing everything around him. It was really quite remarkable, now that I think about it."

  "You said the DNA was a perfect match, correct?” Arnold asked.

  "Yes,” Steven responded. John nodded his head in concurrence.

  "You got that DNA from the Shroud of Turin?"

  "Yes."

  "The Shroud has been handled by a great many people over the centuries. How can you be certain the DNA you retrieved was, in fact, Jesus'?"

  "We were, of course, aware of that problem when we began, Mr. Wills,” Steven said. “That is why we concentrated on the blood traces that were left on the shroud, figuring they would be the only DNA that was certain to belong to Jesus."

  "Isn't it possible over the centuries, blood from others would find their way onto the Shroud, Doctor Hamilton?” Arnold asked.

  "We thought of that, too. We took DNA samplings from virtually every patch of blood on the shroud. All of them matched. There weren't any extraneous bloodstains. All the blood belonged to the same individual. Since the Shroud is the burial cloth of Jesus, it was clear to us the blood had to have been that of Jesus."

  Arnold nodded his agreement with the logic.

  Ray was the next to speak. “Is it possible, Dr. Hamilton, the Shroud isn't authentic? Perhaps you have cloned someone other than Jesus?"

  "I was concerned about that, too,” John entered the discussion, his previous pique evaporating in the midst of scientific discussion. “There were a couple of things which convinced us the Shroud was, indeed, authentic, however."

  "Such as...?"

  "Jesus, himself,” John stroked his chin, recalling. “For one thing, when he first gained consciousness, he spoke ancient Hebrew.” He lifted his hand to interrupt Arnold, who was about to object. “Yes, I know. That only proved he was cloned from old DNA, not that the DNA was necessarily from Jesus. But there were other things, over time, which confirmed his identity to us."

  Steven picked up the thought. “He had all of Jesus’ memories of his life. He remembered his disciples, the countryside in which he taught, and events. He even recalled the crucifixion. All without any prompting from us. For several weeks we did our best to keep him unaware that an entire religion and way of life had been erected based upon him."

  "I see,” Harold said.

  "There were some things he remembered that are not part of the Bible,” John continued. “He talked about a wife and family. He would ask about them. I remember once that Angelino fellow telling him his family had survived, but no one knew what had become of them."

  Ray and Harold exchanged a surprised glance.

  "What?” John said, noticing the glance. “Did I say something wrong?"

  The visitors sat silently for a moment, shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

  "What's up?” Steven asked warily.

  "It seems like we keep running into this Angelino fellow at every turn,” Arnold offered. “He was there with you?"

  "Not exactly, Mr. Wills. It turned out Angelino and Susan Morgan had been staying in a cabin a few miles from where we had taken Jesus. Jesus stumbled across them one afternoon. They spent some time with us before we returned to Washington."

  "Angelino is perhaps a bigger part of this entire situation than we have previously realized. He is no ordinary man,” Ray offered. He stood up and began pacing, thinking out loud. “Let's go over this for a moment. First, the Shroud of Turin disappears. We later find out it has been stolen by Angelino. Susan Morgan, one of my best reporters, just happens to be assigned to the Vatican beat. There are perhaps thirty or forty reporters who cover the Vatican, but he approaches Susan among all of them and asks her to make a videotape. You remember that tape, I'm sure. It was the one that started all of this talk about the Council."

  The others nodded.

  Ray continued. “Next, Susan Morgan is run off the road on an isolated road in Italy. She is fatally injured. Angelino appears and he heals her right before my eyes. No, that's not right,” he corrected himself. “He didn't heal her, he brought her back from the dead. She was clinically dead and he placed his hands on her and she began breathing again. Not only that, but totally heals all of her wounds. Next, Angelino and Susan show up with the Shroud and convince these two men to clone Jesus from the shroud, which they do with greater success than they could have imagined.

  "Angelino reappears in the mountains of Colorado, just coincidentally a few miles from where Steven and John, now joined by that snake Armand Mathias, have taken Jesus to gain his strength and equilibrium. Then, upon their re-entry into society and for reasons I am still trying to figure out, Susan Morgan joins Armand Mathias on President Crowley's staff.

  "Next, Angelino pops up right in Arnold Wills’ office, out of nowhere. He offers little information, but suggests we come here and see you two. Then he disappears in a ball of light like some sort of stage magician."

  "Angelino has been manipulating events from the beginning!” Harold's eyes lit up with realization.

  "Yes!” Arnold agreed. “But to what purpose?"

  "I don't know,” Ray continued pacing. “I trusted that sonofabitch,” he exclaimed. “That manipulating bastard!"

  "Hold on just a minute, Ray,” Harold said. “Let's not assume motives here just yet."

  "I've only come into the game recently,” Senator Hatcher spoke up finally. “How much is really known about this Angelino fellow?"

  Just the
n, there was a knock on the door and it swung open.

  "I just wanted to drop in and see how my two favorite scientists are doing."

  "David!” Steven exclaimed, clearly pleased at seeing his friend and employer.

  "Oh, I'm sorry. I seem to be interrupt.... “Number One, more commonly known as David Warrenger, stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the familiar faces all gathered together in the same room.

  "David,” Steven said. “Come in. Let me introduce you to everyone. This is the CEO of INTELINC, David Warrenger. He was the brains and money behind the Genetic Engineering Project, which you guys shut down on us.” He directed that comment to the two senators specifically, but he did it with a smile, Harold noticed.

  "I may have been the money, but Steven and John here, they're the brains of the operation,” Warrenger smiled, clasping Steven's hand

  "It's great to see you, David. You back to stay for a while?"

  Warrenger responded while looking over the occupants of the room, “Uh, I'm not sure, Steven. What's going on here?"

  Harold rose and walked over to shake Warrenger's hand. “I'm afraid this meeting was my idea, Mr. Warrenger. I'm Senator Harold Bennett."

  Warrenger accepted the greeting. “Yes. I recognize you ... all of you. What's this meeting about?"

  "We just had some concerns about the Jesus your men cloned and wanted to see if we could find anything out."

  "Have you?"

  "Only enough to confirm our concerns, I'm afraid,” the senator said gravely.

  "What concerns are those, Senator?” Warrenger asked seriously.

  Harold hesitated. “Well, I guess you have a right to know, since it indirectly involves your company.” He then proceeded to catch Warrenger up on their conversation of the past thirty minutes.

  "Wow,” Warrenger said, playing his role to perfection. “So you think this Angelino guy might be up to something suspicious?"

  "We don't know, Mr. Warrenger,” Ray said. “As Senator Bennett told you, we have been just brainstorming here. We haven't reached a point where we have been able to reach a conclusion, I don't think."

  Just then, a brilliant flash of light illuminated the room. A voice came from within the light. “Perhaps I can help you reach a few, then.” As the light subsided, a smiling Angelino stood at the point from which the light had emanated.

  "Doctor Hamilton. Doctor Barber. It is good to see you both again,” he said with a nod of the head.

  "Wha ... what's going on here?” John stammered. Steven just stared with his mouth open.

  "We have been discussing you, Father Angelino,” Ray said. Then he smiled wryly, “But then I imagine you were already aware of that."

  Angelino merely lifted an eyebrow and the trace of a smile crossed his lips. “I thought I might be able to be of some assistance to you."

  Glances were exchanged.

  "Come now, gentlemen, don't be shy. What is it you would like to know?"

  Harold stepped forward. “Father Angelino, we have been attempting to establish your role in all which has transpired with Jesus.” He paused for a moment and then added, “...and your intentions."

  "I see,” Angelino said thoughtfully. “And Jesus’ motives ... have you stopped to consider them?"

  Harold considered that. “That is a fair question, Father Angelino. Yes, we have become quite concerned about his behavior. That is what prompted this meeting in the first place."

  "That's understandable. You have been confused by the apparent inconsistency in Jesus’ actions. He has turned out to be very different than the image of him you have been taught."

  "That's putting it mildly,” John said, in agreement.

  "What was it exactly you expected?” Angelino asked, somewhat to their surprise. They all had quickly and unanimously agreed Jesus was not what they expected, and yet none of them could clearly articulate what they expected him to be like.

  "Don't feel too badly that you are unable to answer that question. Few people have really bothered to ask that question to themselves, and fewer still have bothered to think the question through when they have thought to ask it,” Angelino continued. “Now, here is another question for you to contemplate. Why do you suppose so many people have accepted Jesus at face value?"

  "I think,” Steven offered, “his origin is considered as pretty conclusive evidence he is authentic. There is no room for doubt it is his DNA that was used to bring him back to life. So people accept he is who he appears to be."

  "And they are precisely correct,” Angelino went on. “He is exactly what he appears to be, which raises yet another question: Who exactly is he?"

  "I don't understand,” John responded. “He's Jesus, of course."

  "Yes he is."

  "Jesus Christ,” Stuart offered.

  "NO!” Angelino said forcefully.

  "Wait a minute, Father Angelino,” Steven protested. “He is Jesus and he isn't Jesus, too? I'm getting confused here."

  "So am I,” Ray confessed. The others murmured their own confusion.

  "You are not listening,” Angelino chastised them. “He is Jesus of Nazareth, or in his original Hebrew name, Yoshua ben Yoseff, Jesus, Son of Joseph. But he is not Jesus the Christ."

  "I'm afraid you are going to have to block this out in crayons for me, Father Angelino,” Harold said. “I don't understand the distinction you are trying to make."

  "Yes, Father Angelino,” John added. “I don't understand what the difference is."

  "I know you don't. And neither do the people who are blindly following him now. They are all forgetting the words of the very man they are now worshipping ... words which ironically, would discredit Jesus immediately in their eyes if they were to seriously heed them ... by their fruits shall ye know them, I believe is how your version of your Bible translates it."

  "Uh, I'm still lost,” Steven said.

  Angelino sighed in mock impatience. “Ok, gentlemen. Have a seat and I will explain."

  The others complied, captive to their own curiosity now.

  "There is one thing your cloning technique did not ... could not ... allow for—the soul of he who was cloned."

  "Angelino, that assumes one believes in the existence of the soul. As a scientist, I can only believe that which can be demonstrated."

  Angelino lifted his eyebrow again. “Oh? And you do not think the existence of the soul can be demonstrated, Doctor Hamilton?"

  "I think it takes more than blind faith, Father Angelino."

  "Oh, you are so right, Doctor Hamilton. True faith is never blind faith. But consider this. When you say to yourself, ‘I am this', or ‘I am that,’ what is the part of you that makes that statement, distinguishing one part of you from another? Who is this ‘I’ that speaks to itself? That is a question most people spend their entire lives working hard to avoid asking themselves, for to answer it leads to the ultimate realization of what each of us is. The paradox of the human soul is that it most fears that which will liberate itself ... the understanding of the meaning of, ‘I am that I am.'

  "But I digress.

  "Let me return to Jesus ... and The Christ. Over the centuries, people have come to think of Christ as Jesus’ last name, like ‘Smith’ or ‘Jones.’ Fortunately, some disciplines which exist to this day have retained the true meaning of the word, Christ. It derives from the Greek word Kristos, and means ‘anointed.’ It is a title of attainment, and the Essenes, the sect of the Jews into which Jesus was born, built their entire religious structure around the belief that the Messiah, or Anointed One, would be born into their ranks.

  "With each birth, the elders of the church looked expectantly for a sign confirming this was the one. When Jesus was born, all the signs appeared, to the delight of the community. But that was only the beginning. Jesus’ role having been validated by Heaven itself, it fell upon the family of Jesus and the community as a whole, to groom Jesus for his role. To be born as the appointed Anointed One was not an automatic claim on the title. It would still have
to be earned by sacrifice and spiritual commitment.

  "So, Jesus was taken by Nicodemus to the greatest priests and holy men of the world, from Egypt to Tibet, so that he might learn the ways of God, and the powers that accompanied the title of which he was working so assiduously to be deserving. The road was difficult, and Jesus was tested and tempted constantly.

  "Finally, years of arduous study accomplished, Jesus was awarded the title of The Christ, having demonstrated his capacity to manifest God on earth. It was this spiritually perfected being who walked and taught along the shores of Galilee two thousand years ago. It was this spiritually perfected being who performed countless miracles of love two thousand years ago. It was this spiritually perfected being who was crucified upon a Roman cross two thousand years ago. And it was this spiritually perfected being who was resurrected from death two thousand years ago.

  "The body of the man you call Jesus today does not contain the soul of the same Jesus who walked the earth back then, even if it does contain his DNA."

  Angelino's voice seemed to resonate in an echoing boom when he said, “The man you know as Jesus has no soul at all!"

  A stunned silence hung over the conference room. Angelino allowed the impact of what he had just told them to sink in for a few moments, his eyes penetrating into the hearts of each of them. Gone was the playful twinkle, the eyebrow raised in mock surprise, the trace of a smile at the corners of his mouth. Before them stood a man of serious intensity who was letting them all know this was not a game, even if he had continuously acted as if it were.

  Before anyone else could speak, he continued. “That was the one thing you could not have known, Doctor Hamilton ... that while you may clone the body, the soul of each of us is unique."

  Steven was the first to speak. “But, he had all of Jesus’ memories, a sense of his own past. How could that be?"

  "Memories are imprinted upon the cells of the body. The soul contains the essence of those memories. Do you remember how he told us even though he could remember his emotions, he felt no attachment to them?"