Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians by Lada Ray Read Free Book Online Page A

quiet, but sonorous
and powerful.
    The young Swiss Guard was so shocked by this
unexpected change that his curiosity got the best of him. While
shutting the door, he stopped short, managing to leave a tiny crack
through which he could hear bits and pieces of the conversation and
even glean some action inside.
    “Any news?” He heard the Holy Father's respectfully
worried voice.
    “The Comet is heading to Earth,” came a quiet
response.
    “So, it is happening... Did the Keepers... reach...
their decision...?” The Pope's voice now sounded strangled.
    “We will reconvene shortly for a final meeting. But
as of now…,” Brother Ignatius shook his head, “most are for letting
the Comet do its job.”
    “So all this will perish... the beauty... art...
architecture... libraries... science... people…” With every word,
it seemed the Pope's voice was deflating, as if someone was slowly
letting the air out of a balloon. “Father Ignatius, I know there
are many sinners, far too many, but…there are good people, too.
Don't they deserve a chance?”
    “Everyone deserves a chance. That's why everything
is being weighed thoroughly. Dark times are coming to Earth, Pius.
Global wars…weapons of mass destruction that will turn to ruin
whole cities, countries. Countless millions will die. The risk of
the Earth's annihilation is more real than ever. And with it, the
planet's souls—all of them—will be lost forever.”
    “But what if it's a mistake? What if there is hope?”
whispered the Pope, clutching at his heart.
    “Yes, there is hope,” Ignatius said significantly.
“The original consensus may still change.”
    “But…how?”
    “Some of us saw the new Key being born,” replied
Ignatius enigmatically. The young guard couldn’t understand what
this meant, but for some strange reason, the mysterious phrase made
him listen even more intently than before.
    “Where? When?”
    “It is remote, almost a century from now. Still,
there is a good chance.”
    “But that means the disaster can still be averted!”
exclaimed the Pope.
    “It all depends on whether those of us who believe
can convince the rest.”
    “What can I do?” Pius's voice was hardly
audible.
    “Pray and hope…”
    “How much time?”
    “Till tomorrow.”
    “Bless me, Father!” To the Swiss Guard’s shock, the
Pope dropped to his knees in front of a simple monk!
    “Peace be with you, my son…peace be with all of the
Earth's children,” pronounced Brother Ignatius, laying his
shriveled, slightly trembling hands on top of Pius's lionesque
head. After that, leaving the overwhelmed Pope in the kneeling
position, he directed his steps toward the door, on the other side
of which the young man hastily resumed the position expected of a
dignified member of the Vatican's Swiss Guard.
    The door opened and Ignatius stepped outside, and as
he did, his huge brown eyes looked up. The unusual guest peered
straight into the guard’s soul and the monk knew: the young man had
heard the conversation. For a moment, Ignatius hesitated, but then,
apparently deciding that no harm was done, he proceeded along the
corridor toward the guest quarters. They moved in silence, and the
guard no longer led the monk; now the monk walked purposefully up
front, with the guard following meekly in his footsteps.
    “ Grazie, mi figlio ,” Ignatius murmured
distractedly, and with surprising strength tightly shut the heavy
door into his room. The guard knew he was dismissed, but something
inexplicably rooted him to the spot. Despite his best judgment, he
quickly looked around to make sure that the corridor was deserted,
then crouched down in front of the door and peered into the
keyhole.
    Inside a modest guest room, Brother Ignatius
disregarded the ascetic-looking bed and the wooden chair in the
corner, and sat with his legs folded straight on the carpet. He
placed his—no longer trembling—hands on his knees palms up and
closed his eyes. Then, to the young man’s