The Holy Assassin

by Luís Miguel Rocha

  ‘Tea?’ he was asked from a room farther back in the illuminated area.

  He walked toward the voice and found the older man seated in a rocking chair smoking a cigar. A woman without a veil fanned herself by his side, driving away the sudden heat of the late afternoon and drying the drops of sweat forming on the old man’s head with a handkerchief. Surely his wife or one of them.

  ‘Yes, I’d like some,’ the stranger answered. ‘Thanks.’

  A slight gesture to the young woman. She left to get it, leaving her handsome husband in the possession of the hot afternoon.

  ‘And cover your head,’ he shouted loudly. ‘We have a visitor.’

  The stranger looked at him for a few seconds, worried about being an inconvenience. An aura of mystery surrounded the old Muslim that made any first move difficult.

  ‘Sit down,’ the man ordered, pointing to another rocking chair like his own.

  The stranger obeyed, almost without thinking. He left his briefcase on his lap.

  ‘You want to meet Abu Rashid?’ the old man asked.

  ‘Yes,’ he answered. ‘Do you know where he lives?’ he found himself asking, like a child asking for a candy.

  ‘He comes by here all the time,’ the old man said. ‘What do you want with him?’ he asked bluntly.

  Despite not wanting to reveal what needed to be protected, the foreigner decided not to keep his intentions secret. Besides, he was increasingly aware of a feeling that, if he lied, the old man would know it.

  ‘I’ve been sent from Rome.’ His serious tone showed his professionalism and competence. ‘I’ve come to investigate the alleged visions of Abu Rashid.’

  ‘Alleged?’ The old man leaned forward, grasping the arms of the rocker with a questioning, mistrustful expression. ‘Perhaps Rome thinks it’s a fiction.’

  ‘In Rome they don’t think anything. That’s why they’ve sent me,’ the stranger explained, sitting on the edge of his seat, trying to keep his back straight. ‘There are several stories about Abu Rashid’s visions. I’m here to evaluate the case and recommend opening an investigation, if necessary.’

  The unannounced return of the young wife, carrying a tray from which the smell of steam and mint leaves flooded the room already filled with odors of musk, imposed silence. She hadn’t forgotten her head covering. She left the tray on top of a small, round table next to the wall, and tipped the mouth of the teapot over her husband’s cup, pouring out greenish liquid and adding six spoonfuls of sugar. Devotedly, she placed the saucer with the cup into his hand. He took it without a glance at his wife, who, only then, began to prepare a cup for the visitor.

  The old man sipped a little of the tea, showing no discomfort with the hot temperature and not taking his eyes off the foreigner, who received from the wife an identical porcelain cup.

  ‘And do you consider it necessary to recommend this commission?’ the old man asked as soon as his wife left.

  ‘I don’t know yet. I just arrived, and this is the first stop I’ve made.’

  ‘I understand. But surely you’ve made your own judgment about what you’ve heard about Abu Rashid,’ the Muslim continued. ‘Do you believe it’s necessary?’

  There was a certain sly humor about the owner of the house that disquieted the stranger. His questions, his looks, seemed insolent, and as incredible as it might seem, a captivating aura of mystery surrounded the old man, invisibly, powerfully. Who is this man? the foreigner thought to himself. He decided to answer the old man.

  ‘It’s true the stories seem a little fantastic. We are talking about someone who might have the gift of curing the medically incurable. It seems he revived thirty people who drowned. He himself drowned and then resuscitated himself. There are innumerable examples in history of people with the gift of healing, some more believable than others … As far as that goes, until I see and judge, I can’t offer any evaluation.’ He took a careful sip of tea so as not to burn his tongue. It was too strong and sugary.

  ‘I know Abu Rashid very well,’ the old man began at last, searching his memory. ‘He’s a saintly man, able to cure the living … and the dead.’

  ‘The dead?’ The stranger squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. ‘That doesn’t sound likely to me,’ he dared saying.

  The Muslim’s voice changed. His rational, critical tone was replaced by something more introspective, dreamy, as if he were gazing into another reality, while he reclined in the rocker.

  ‘Ah, but it’s true,’ the old man insisted, gazing into space. ‘Completely true.’

  ‘I’ll have to confirm that,’ the foreigner countered evasively.

  ‘How can you consider resurrection improbable if you believe your Messiah did it for himself and Lazarus?’ The old man appeared to have recovered some power of reasoning.

  ‘That’s why. He was the Messiah. No other person has had the power since then,’ the foreigner declared firmly.

  ‘Allah said, “As for the unbelievers, whether you admonish them or not, they will not believe.” I know very well what I’m talking about, since I’ve died and he brought me back to life.’

  The foreigner felt sudden interest. ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘I’ve been dead and he brought me back to life,’ the old man repeated. ‘You’re not going to find lies here.’

  They let the conversation lapse, each one concentrating on his cup of mint tea. Enough time had passed to cool the liquid and make it easy to drink. The owner of the house had already swallowed most of his while it was burning hot, the way he liked it.

  ‘What intrigues me,’ the old man continued, speaking more frankly, ‘is why this sudden concern in Rome. To recommend an investigation or not. Why? What does this have to do with Rome?’

  ‘You know the Church always defends her faithful and her saints. It may be that Abu Rashid will merit beatification and canonization, after his death, of course. This is an opportunity to document this now. Anyway, the miracles he’s done in life are not valid. Only those after death.’

  The old Muslim gave a laugh that brought tears to his eyes.

  ‘Oh, then, so that’s it,’ said the old man, leaving his empty cup, in danger of falling, on the arm of his chair, swallowing back a guttural chuckle. ‘You can stay for dinner. You can begin your investigation with me. But it is not going to help you at all,’ he said, after he stopped laughing.

  ‘Why?’ asked the astonished foreigner.

  The old man looked at him seriously.

  ‘Since when have Christians prayed with Muslims?’

  ‘No one said he was a Muslim. The stories mention a true Christian who sees the Virgin.’ The foreigner couldn’t accept what he had heard. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Absolutely. He’s not a believing Christian. But he sees the Virgin Mary.’ The old man got up, approached the other, and extended his hand. ‘Abu Rashid. Allah be with you.’

  This man watching the city in the light of dawn through his window was very worried.

  4

  The church Dei Quattro Capi is called that because it is next to the bridge of the same name, formerly called the Fabricio Bridge and still known by that name if one decides to ask for it. It was named in honor of the master builder who laid the first stone in the year 62 before the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This makes it the most ancient bridge in Rome. Before it was given the name Four Heads – derived from two busts with the sculptured heads of Mercury situated at one of the ends – the bridge was called the Pons Judaeorum for its proximity to the Jewish ghetto.

  In the travertine of the arches that have supported the bridge for more than twenty-one centuries inscriptions are engraved on both sides that recall the builder, Fabricius, who wished to leave his mark on posterity. But the truth is, nobody remembers him; no historian is able to verify his first name with any certainty, except that it begins with F, as the inscriptions attest. People cross the Fabricio Bridge, forgetful or ignorant that it was once more than a footbridge and tourist site, a bridge for the pa
ssage of provisions, goods, valuables, and vehicles into the sublime capital of the great Roman Empire … but that was in the beginning.

  Today people only cross it to go to the church, like this priest, uninterested in bridge engineering. Like all the houses of the Lord spread around the world, the small Church of Saint Gregory of Divine Mercy, its official name, in the parish of Sant’Angelo, welcomes all the faithful who wish to hear and feel His Word, lay down the burden of life for the interval of the Eucharist, and unite themselves in faith.

  This Tuesday morning was no exception. Several people were entering the small church, most hardly bothering to admire the facade, perhaps accustomed to it, as if it were only one more familiar fortification, like the city itself where they live. Perhaps the Mass, which had already started, made them hurry. The few who looked at the facade were undoubtedly tourists, admiring the painting of Christ Crucified, wept over by Mary and Mary Magdalene, the common scene reproduced from diverse angles and artistic and subjective interpretations of the mother and alleged spouse who weep for their dead son and alleged husband who will rise again on the third day. Above the portico is a plaque that reads: Indulgencia plenaria quotidiana perpetua pro vivis et defunctis – a priestly and papal pronouncement of daily privilege for the living and dead within this sacred temple. The priest, who had just crossed the bridge, entered the church. Its interior reflected something of its exterior simplicity, though it possessed priceless relics, although fewer in number compared with those in other Roman churches.

  This is not the first time Father Rafael Santini has celebrated Mass here, although it’s not the parish assigned to him. That lies to the north of Rome in a small village he barely knows – for reasons that don’t concern us.

  This cool morning they were celebrating the silver anniversary of Father Carrara’s appointment as parish priest. He was Rafael’s friend of many years and colleague in service as priest and in other matters we won’t mention now. Rafael, though a priest, liked people, especially women, as has been common since the High Middle Ages. Men like Rafael look as old as they wish. We could be specific and say thirty-eight years, completed on the sixteenth day of April, but who can know with certainty his age and birthday? Anyone seeing him celebrating the Eucharist now at the altar of Saint Gregory of Divine Mercy could not fail to notice a certain indifference, unusual in a priest. The speed with which he read the missal bordered on a senseless mumble. He read the sermon without emotion, like a public official reading a traffic code or a student reciting the multiplication tables in front of the teacher.

  What might seem to the common believer a lack of vocation was not really so. Let the man who has just entered and seated himself in the last row speak. His black cassock and clerical collar identify him as an ordinary priest. Notice his elderly appearance. He could say much about Rafael Santini’s vocation in the zealous service of the Holy Mother Church, although he has never made his acquaintance before entering this church. Everything that guarantees the loyalty and competence of Father Rafael is based on trustworthy, eyewitness accounts that, in his opinion, leave no room for doubt.

  Let the celebration of the Eucharist hurry to the conclusion when Rafael utters the phrase desired by some and not by others, ‘May you go in peace,’ sometimes ‘Go in the peace of the Lord,’ or simply ‘Good-bye.’

  ‘Amen,’ said the chorus of faithful present, making the sign of the cross. Morning Mass was over. Everyone got up to leave. The priest, who had entered during the reading of the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, followed Father Rafael to the sacristy. Once inside, he was surprised by the emptiness. Not the lack of decoration, since this is perfectly within the Roman parameters, but the human absence. Rafael, whom he had seen a few minutes ago heading in this direction, was not there …

  ‘To what do I owe the honor?’ he heard a voice from behind him.

  ‘Ah, Father Rafael. How are you?’ he greeted him after turning around. ‘You frightened me.’

  ‘I didn’t mean to.’

  ‘I know. They warned me you were unpredictable.’

  ‘What brings you here?’ he asked directly. One of Rafael’s peculiarities, without categorizing it as a defect or virtue, was to waste no words on banalities. This visit could only mean one thing. They could dispense with formalities, though that didn’t mean he’d be impolite.

  ‘Father Carrara’s not here?’ the visitor asked.

  ‘He’ll come to afternoon Mass.’

  ‘Good. My name is Phelps. I am an English priest assigned to the Vatican. James Phelps. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’ He held out his hand and received Rafael’s strong, firm grip in return.

  ‘Rafael Santini.’

  Father Phelps couldn’t hide his embarrassment. He was not accustomed to these affairs.

  ‘Relax, Father Phelps,’ Rafael reassured him in a serious tone. ‘It’s all very simple. Just give me the information they gave you or where to find it, and your work is over. The rest is my problem.’

  ‘Yes. I wish it were so simple. We have a serious problem.’

  ‘They all are.’

  ‘My orders are to take you immediately to the Holy See.’

  ‘Seriously? What an honor. It’ll be charming to see the Vatican. Who are we going to see?’

  The Englishman wasn’t pleased with the sarcasm, but his respect and admiration for Rafael, picked up through stories told by people in the know, were too much to allow him the luxury of feeling irritated.

  ‘His Holiness Pope Benedict the Sixteenth.’

  5

  The Meeting

  February 1981

  There are some who say that the meeting between the two men did not occur in 1981, but earlier, in 1979 or 1980, or even in March 1982. Others confirm a meeting in 1981, but disagree about the month, saying August, September, or November, with no evidence to support that claim. Some of the defenders of the month of February disagree over the exact date of the meeting, and scarcely two voices are in accord about the content and tone of the conversation. As far as the location, the majority claim it took place in the office of one or the other. Another point of historical discord is the discussion itself. One faction defends a calm, cordial conversation, while another precisely the contrary. There are even those who reject all these theories and claim that such an encounter never took place. With history it’s all a question of point of view and imagination.

  In fact the supposed meeting between the two men occurred in the office of the first, at eleven o’clock on the morning of Tuesday, February 3. The second man showed up very early at the door of the office, not knowing that the American slept very late. He should have known his habits, since the man whom he waited for was not exactly a novitiate. At that time he had exercised his duties for more than ten years. No meeting was officially recorded.

  Thus, after two and a half hours of waiting, the American finally appeared at the office.

  ‘Good morning, Your Eminence,’ said the assistant who opened the door promptly so the American wouldn’t dirty his chaste hand on the doorknob.

  ‘Good morning.’ The harsh voice of someone who has risen too early. The best time in bed for this man was during the morning, the warmth of the sheets, the sound of daily movements, no guilty conscience …

  Someone was sitting inside his office.

  ‘The cardinal has been waiting for you a long time,’ the secretary told him quickly, nervously. The American had temper tantrums, especially in the morning. This time, though, he restrained himself from throwing any accusing look at the unlucky functionary. What could he do? Refuse a cardinal of the Holy Mother Church?

  The other was seated in front of the desk, his face expressionless, absorbed in the documents he’d brought with him. The American went to his desk without looking at him once.

  ‘Good morning, Your Eminence,’ the recently arrived one said in a neutral tone. ‘I don’t recall that we had an appointment this morning.’

  ‘We didn’t,’ replied the other with
out raising his head.

  Two dogs sniffing out each other’s fear – if you will pardon the metaphor. Take the canine allusion as merely a metaphor to help understand the scene, not a gratuitous insult to either of those present.

  ‘Then I’m going to have to ask you to leave and make an official appointment,’ the American said coldly, sitting down and taking a Cuban cigar from a gold box on top of the mahogany desk.

  ‘Has Bishop Marcinkus forgotten how to behave with his superiors?’ the cardinal asked, lifting his eyes for the first time.

  ‘Not at all, Your Eminence. I am only doing what my duties demand. All meetings should be previously scheduled. Besides, in this department my superior is His Holiness.’

  ‘I know, I know,’ the cardinal said without taking his eyes off Marcinkus. ‘And how far do you think you are going to get?’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Do you believe His Holiness is going to help you when the Italian and American authorities start applying pressure? Do you believe that he, in good faith, is going to stand by you?’ The cardinal got up and leaned on the desk, looking intently at the bishop.

  ‘I don’t understand, Your Eminence.’

  ‘Come on, drop the act. You don’t have to play dumb with me. I already know everything.’

  ‘What, Your Eminence?’

  ‘Everything. Everything. The financial machinations, the money laundering, the losses at the Ambrosiano. I know what’s behind it all.’

  It was Marcinkus’s turn to stand up and look at the cardinal from his imposing height of six feet.

  ‘I’ll have to ask you to schedule this meeting for another time. Do me the favor of leaving.’ His deep sigh failed to disguise the fury he wanted to show.