Magnificat by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Read Free Book Online Page B

afterthought.
    “I’m not certain we want to be so…visible,” said Mendosa. He devoured the rest of his cheese-spread roll.
    “Curiouser and curiouser,” said Willie, and had another sip of wine. “How very mysterious you are.”
    “I’m sorry it has to be this way,” said Mendosa with an expression of distaste. “Despite the reputation of the Church, I dislike having to use these methods.”
    Willie shrugged. “Well, if you’re convinced that it does need to be this way, then what am I to do?” He cocked his head to the side, taking stock of the Cardinal from Houston. “I respect you, Eminence. I assume that your problem is not trivial and that you are under pressure. Am I correct thus far?”
    “Pretty much,” said Mendosa, his drawl on full.
    “Fine.” He leaned back in his chair and glanced around the restaurant, noting that the party three tables away was dawdling over cordials. “Locate a Zhuang Renxin near Hongya in the middle of China. Right you are. Is that all, or do you want something more.”
    Mendosa caught a sliver of melon on the tines of his fork. “Finding Zhuang Renxin is more than enough, Willie. If you can succeed in locating him and making it possible for someone from the Vatican to…contact him, I will remember you in my prayers from now until the day I die, and always with gratitude.”
    “Gracious,” said Willie in mock astonishment. “I’ll get right on it, Eminence. I can probably use all the prayers I can get.” He helped himself to wine and refilled the Cardinal’s glass. “When do you want this information?”
    “Immediately,” said Mendosa. “But I’ll call you tomorrow evening, and every evening thereafter until you have some news for me.”
    Willie nodded. “And if one of the other Cardinals turns up this fellow for you, what then?”
    “Then I will give you the interview as promised and remember you in my prayers no matter what.” He signaled the waiter and ordered a double espresso, indicating that Willie would order for himself. “I’m counting on your discretion, Willie. I don’t want this leaking to half the press in Europe by tomorrow night. Or next week. Or any time before we authorize it.”
    “I can’t guarantee what any of the rest will do. You say I’m not the only one being contacted about this Chinese guy; well, who’s to say if they’ll keep their mouths shut? A secret is something only one man knows. Otherwise.…” He was not enjoying himself as much as he thought he would, for the prospect of trying to locate an unknown person in central China weighed on him.
    “They may not. But you're the only newsman, and if the others leak the story we’ll be able to trace them.” He took another bit of wine but did not finish the glass. “Prudence, Willie. Prudence.”
    “Sounds worse and worse,” said Willie, then nodded twice. “I’ll keep it quiet as long as possible, but once the story breaks, I’ve got to get on top of it.”
    “I’m not asking you to compromise your professionalism, only to recognize mine,” said Mendosa.
    “Aren’t you?” Willie countered. “Well, you might not be at that, not by your lights, old son.”
    “Thank you,” said Mendosa gravely.
    Willie saw the waiter approaching. “Here comes your coffee.”
    * * *
    Cardinal van Hooven strolled beside the formidable bulk of the Metropolitan Pavel Gosteshenko, pointing out Castel’ Sant’ Angelo on the far side of the bridge. It was warm though the sun was hanging low in the west, and the two men did not press their pace, for heat as much as fatigue and age. Cardinal van Hooven had met the Metropolitan’s plane three hours earlier and had promised his guest a lavish Italian dinner in an hour or so; they were killing time.
    “A fine statue,” said Metropolitan Gosteshenko in Russian.
    He was answered in the same tongue. “They repaired it a few years ago. There was metal fatigue involved. Some local engineers were afraid it was no longer securely