The Last Day

places, in the image of Michelangelo's Last Judgment. Extending from the feet of the triumphant Savior in the sky down to the earth where the souls of the resurrected dead are being judged. With no other visible fractures elsewhere in the mural.

“And then the High Altar of the basilica, foot-thick marble, splitting cleanly and precisely in the middle. With far more delicate objects nearby completely unaffected!”

Deliberating over the totality of these seeming miracles, Litti's voice softened to a faint, reverent whisper. “Holiness, I believe the Church must examine these circumstances seriously and with great care. With every assumption that most, perhaps all, of these extraordinary events are true signs from God!”

Litti fell silent and the pope allowed a considerable interlude, displaying no reaction to the cardinal's position, but continuing his unblinking introspection.

At length, and without altering his gaze, the pope asked his prefect, “And your analysis, Antonio?”

Di Concerci rose slowly from his chair, took several steps toward the large leaded-glass window near him, and looked out over the broad expanse of St. Peter's Square at the multitude of millenarians below. He spoke without turning. “While I can fully appreciate Cardinal Litti's impulses, and I'll grant you, these events are certainly peculiar, I must take a more pragmatic posture, Papa.”

Litti could feel his face reddening. This was precisely why he had wished to defer his comments until after the prefect's. Litti had never understood the pontiff's regard for this man.

Di Concerci turned and moved around to Nicholas's side, to the subtle exclusion of Litti. “I agree that these events are worthy of examination,” he continued, “but not with the assumption that they are signs from God. Throughout the past century, Holy Mother Church has correctly approached all such alleged miracles and signs with deserved skepticism. And that approach has served us well. In this particular instance, there are any number of alternative explanations that do not invoke divine intervention.”

This last statement finally reengaged the pope. He examined the prefect's stolid face.

Di Concerci continued his argument. “That a quake could occur here coincident with one in Bethlehem is not so implausible. The entire Mediterranean, after all, is one giant tectonic basin. Perhaps one quake triggered the other.

“It's also a well-documented, scientific fact that electrical storms can be generated by, and often accompany, such geological disturbances as volcanoes and earthquakes.

“Then, there is also the feasibility that these quakes, both here and in Bethlehem, were the result of a deliberate well-orchestrated scheme. An elaborate plot involving underground explosions detonated by certain millenarians desperate to preserve their cults and insure themselves against embarrassment.”

Litti could not contain a short derisive laugh. Di Concerci paid him a forgiving, tolerant look and posed a question. “Cardinal Litti, can you demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that the damages to the chapel and basilica were not man-made?”

The cardinal would have liked nothing better than to muzzle his rival, but he had no effective defense to this challenge. Instead, Litti countered with a pointed question of his own. “How then, di Concerci, do you explain the transformation of the invalid boy at the Well of David? The fissure that opened at his feet along his path to the temple? The many miraculous cures experienced by hundreds of afflicted bystanders at the very stroke of the millennium? Surely you cannot so easily dismiss these phenomena!”

Di Concerci was ever composed. “I must confess, Alphonse, I found the dramatic television newscasts of the so-called Messiah quite impressive, too. But then I had to let reason take hold. Much of what was reported must be discounted as speculation and hearsay, greatly magnified by impressionable witnesses and an opportunistic media. What substance remains is still vulnerable to scrutiny.

“For example, the question of the boy Messiah: given the great emotions and expectations these millenarians have invested in a Second Coming, would it not be inevitable that at least one of them might succumb to some sort of messianic manifestation? This is a common psychological disorder even in the most normal of times.

“Or, more likely, could all of this have been simply a grand, elaborate hoax? Perhaps the boy was never afflicted at all. A well-coached impostor. What better mechanism than a new Messiah to guarantee extended life for an otherwise doomed religious fringe element?”

Di Concerci's supreme self-assurance was gnawing at Litti, who saw through the prefect's conscious efforts to appear reasonable and wise in front of Nicholas. “But the fissure?’ Litti objected. “The many people cured of substantiated ills? You cannot rationalize away everything, di Concerci!”

“I'm sorry, Cardinal Litti, but did you not notice that the alleged fissure at the well was undetectable in the night video? It was only visible in daylight, in video taken many hours later. Plenty of time for the Samaritans to trench an artificial opening. Or perhaps the fissure was constructed prior to the boy's presumed transformation, with everything simply a cleverly executed special effect.

“And insofar as the miraculous cures that occurred, again, it could all quite feasibly be part of an elaborate fraud. Nevertheless, let us assume for the moment that some of the claims are valid. That some of these individuals were truly disabled and truly cured.

“Psychosomatic illnesses aside, you'll note that many of the alleged cures seem to center around motor and neurological difficulties. Medical history is replete with incidents involving victims of accidental high-voltage charges-including lightning strikes-instantly and inexplicably cured of afflictions such as these.

“However, Cardinal Litti,” the prefect allowed, “I'll admit to you that there is one aspect in all of this for which I find a logical explanation elusive. My quandary lies with the timing and location of the earthquake in Bethlehem. Although I wouldn't rule out the possibilities of a hoax, I frankly don't believe such an occurrence could have been man-made.”

Litti lightened somewhat, wondering if di Concerci might actually be opening his mind for once. But his hopes were immediately dashed.

“Nevertheless,” di Concerci redressed himself, “granting that the timing and location of the quake would be an amazing coincidence, it is not out of the realm of natural possibilities. In any given year, there are more than one million separate, measurable seismic occurrences that take place across this planet. One million! And the Holy Land is squarely within one of the more active fault zones in the world.”

“Your knowledge of science is remarkable,” Litti interjected sarcastically.

“I confess, Alphonse,” di Concerci offered a soothing tone that smacked of condescension, “I, too, have been troubled by the implications of recent events. And as a consequence, I've devoted considerable time to researching the circumstances. As I first stated, there are viable alternative considerations which should be explored before we risk further alarming the faithful and propelling more of our followers into the ranks of these irrational millennialists.”

This last point registered visibly with Nicholas.

Di Concerci again addressed the pope directly. “Papa, if there's a sign in any of this, it's certainly not a clear one. We must be extraordinarily careful in how we respond or we could find ourselves overreacting to one of the most embarrassing, albeit well-crafted hoaxes ever perpetrated upon the Church. I fervently believe that we must take a strong stand, and I highly recommend that we issue immediate reassurances to the public elaborating upon the contentions I've just made. To delay further is highly dangerous and threatens the solidarity of our congregation.”

Litti sensed the influence di Concerci's arguments were having. In desperation he rose to his feet and appealed to his pope. “Papa, surely after two thousand years of anticipation and preparation for an event of this nature, the Catholic Church, above all others, must recognize the signs of God! This young boy could well be a John the Baptist, come to prepare the way for-”

The pope froze him with an outstretched hand, leaned back in his heavy chair, closed tightly his eyes. At length, he turned to di Concerci.” You are right, Antonio. I, too, have allowed my emotions to overwhelm my reason. Please, move quickly on this. I ask that you prepare a papal letter to be submitted to me for release by tomorrow afternoon.

“Alphonse, I'd like you to initiate repairs immediately on the fresco and altar. Supervise the work personally and have if completed as quickly as possible.”

Litti was appalled. “But Holiness, what if the damage is truly a sign from God? Should it not be preserved, at least temporarily-”

“Efinito, Alphonse!”

Nicholas's look and tone of suppressed anger were manifestations Litti had never witnessed in his pontiff