distinguished group of elders awaited him in the sacristy. Cardinal Gaddi stood in quiet conference with two representatives from the Curial Office, toying nervously with the tassels on his biretta. There were a number of diocesan commissioners, significant deacons and divines, the priests of nineteen parishes and two senior intendents from the Church-Guild School at Westminster, including Praetor Enoch.
A catechism of greeting nods and responses ruffled through the group at the cardinal’s entry.
“Thank you all for attending,” began the cardinal. “As you know, this past night has seen most unwelcome events spoil the spiritual calm of our city.”
“And further afield,” put in a voice from the crowd.
Woolly looked up and recognised the Bishop of Reading.
“Indeed, my friend. We must, this morning, begin work to execute a policy that will at once smoke out this heresy, quash it, and maintain the security of the Church and State the while.”
“No kidding,” said the Bishop of Reading.
“I propose the initial work to be divided thus. Praetor Enoch - turn all the efforts of the Guild to ascertaining the precise nature of the Arte abused so last night, and attempt to trace from whence it could have come.”
The praetor nodded.
“I ask the curial officers and the commissioners to liaise with all aspects of the Church to keep us all informed of developments. It is more than likely that clues and evidence of this conspiracy may lie in some of the more remote parishes, where such things might be plotted away from the busy eye of the City.”
Woolly noted the assent of the blue-robed officers.
“For the rest of us,” he continued, “I urge you all to return to your dioceses and prepare for wonderment. Calm your congregations, soothe away their fears. Announce the special celebration of any minor saints to take their minds off it Praetor?”
The praetor shrugged, and said, “St Oscar and St Raquel are coming up. Traditionally we don’t do much for either. Nothing big until Occimanificaniment, which is the second Sunday coming, and then St Rufus, really, but”
“Give it a go. Oscar and Raquel. Observational knees-up, Bring and Buy, feasting and altar wine. Each of you, make your flock too preoccupied with putting up bunting and having a good time to think about what’s been going on.”
There was some nodding and a few exchanges of ideas. Then, Cardinal Gaddi’s voice rose over the murmuring.
“It seems, brother cardinal, that the source of this problem lies within our brotherhood,” he said.
Silence fell upon the group.
“Only one of the Church could have the ability to perpetrate such a crime. I am sorry to seem so bleak, but there is no other explanation.”
Woolly nodded.
“I’m afraid I concur with you, brother,” he said. “This has come from within. None of us are above suspicion. We must all be especially vigilant.”
Gaddi smoothed his collar distractedly.
“What I mean to say is, how are we going to combat a cancer within the Church?” he asked.
“We could try a guided missal,” suggested the Bishop of Reading.
“We combat it with the very body created for such a purpose,” replied Woolly. He turned to the young man standing to Praetor Enoch’s left, who had been silent since the meeting had begun. “Brother Divine?”
“Infernal Affairs has already begun its investigation,” replied Jaspers with a smile that made Woolly think of predatory fish, and sympathise with convicted heretics. “We will be merciless.”
The curial meeting broke up shortly afterwards. Everybody
A catechism of greeting nods and responses ruffled through the group at the cardinal’s entry.
“Thank you all for attending,” began the cardinal. “As you know, this past night has seen most unwelcome events spoil the spiritual calm of our city.”
“And further afield,” put in a voice from the crowd.
Woolly looked up and recognised the Bishop of Reading.
“Indeed, my friend. We must, this morning, begin work to execute a policy that will at once smoke out this heresy, quash it, and maintain the security of the Church and State the while.”
“No kidding,” said the Bishop of Reading.
“I propose the initial work to be divided thus. Praetor Enoch - turn all the efforts of the Guild to ascertaining the precise nature of the Arte abused so last night, and attempt to trace from whence it could have come.”
The praetor nodded.
“I ask the curial officers and the commissioners to liaise with all aspects of the Church to keep us all informed of developments. It is more than likely that clues and evidence of this conspiracy may lie in some of the more remote parishes, where such things might be plotted away from the busy eye of the City.”
Woolly noted the assent of the blue-robed officers.
“For the rest of us,” he continued, “I urge you all to return to your dioceses and prepare for wonderment. Calm your congregations, soothe away their fears. Announce the special celebration of any minor saints to take their minds off it Praetor?”
The praetor shrugged, and said, “St Oscar and St Raquel are coming up. Traditionally we don’t do much for either. Nothing big until Occimanificaniment, which is the second Sunday coming, and then St Rufus, really, but”
“Give it a go. Oscar and Raquel. Observational knees-up, Bring and Buy, feasting and altar wine. Each of you, make your flock too preoccupied with putting up bunting and having a good time to think about what’s been going on.”
There was some nodding and a few exchanges of ideas. Then, Cardinal Gaddi’s voice rose over the murmuring.
“It seems, brother cardinal, that the source of this problem lies within our brotherhood,” he said.
Silence fell upon the group.
“Only one of the Church could have the ability to perpetrate such a crime. I am sorry to seem so bleak, but there is no other explanation.”
Woolly nodded.
“I’m afraid I concur with you, brother,” he said. “This has come from within. None of us are above suspicion. We must all be especially vigilant.”
Gaddi smoothed his collar distractedly.
“What I mean to say is, how are we going to combat a cancer within the Church?” he asked.
“We could try a guided missal,” suggested the Bishop of Reading.
“We combat it with the very body created for such a purpose,” replied Woolly. He turned to the young man standing to Praetor Enoch’s left, who had been silent since the meeting had begun. “Brother Divine?”
“Infernal Affairs has already begun its investigation,” replied Jaspers with a smile that made Woolly think of predatory fish, and sympathise with convicted heretics. “We will be merciless.”
The curial meeting broke up shortly afterwards. Everybody
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