platform and lectern at one end, elliptically encircled by steeply rising stadium seating and fronted by a special celebrity section on the main floor. Just below the speaker's stage was a row of tables. Seated at the tables would be the VIP religious dignitaries who would be paneling a question and answer session after the address.
From his Mormon aide, Feldman learned that the expected attendance would include 64,891 clerics, priests, ministers, pastors, imams, rabbis and assorted other clergypersons of every stripe. Left unmentioned was the fact that there would also be many not-of-the-cloth VIPs, as well as invalids, the terminally ill and others who had bought, conned or cajoled their way into this celebrated appearance. A good number of attendees were decked out in formal wear and lavish jewelry, attired as if this were some great social event. The excitement virtually crackled in the air, like the anticipation before the entrance of a nominee at a national political convention.
Feldman's guide interrupted his sightseeing to inform him that it was time to return to Jeza's suite in preparation for her imminent introduction.
On the floor of the hall, there was some grumbling regarding the nature of the selection process for the VIP panel. Many attendees resented the fact that the Mormons were occupying three of the precious twelve seat. There was also considerable irritation that a Catholic cardinal, His Eminence Antonio di Concerci, who was not even in attendance at the first convocation, had also been seated on the panel.
The only Catholic cardinal who was present previously, Alphonse Litti, enjoyed a preferred position in the front row directly behind the VIP table, right next to another curial cardinal, Silvio Santorini. Many voiced their suspicions about some sort of Vatican intrigue.
In truth, Vatican influence had played both a direct and indirect role in the seating arrangements. Directly for di Concerci and Santorini, for whom the Vatican had applied considerable pressure and funding. Indirectly for Litti, whom the lower-echelon Mormon organizers had mistakenly included in the prime seating, assuming he was part of the Vatican package. Neither di Concerci nor Santorini was aware of the confusion until Litti had already been issued his seat.
The makeup of the final, controversial panel ultimately comprised three Mormons, an evangelical, two millenarians-including a representative of the Messianic Guardians of God-a Hindu, a Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist, a Muslim, a Presbyterian and Cardinal di Concerci.
As the appointed hour drew near, however, all differences were put aside and the attention of the audience focused entirely upon the staging area.
The main lights of the massive hall dimmed and two lone, concentrated, bluish white spotlights arose from different locations on the high rafters. One illuminated the podium, the other fixed on a solitary tunnel behind the stage.
From the giant bells of the clock tower atop the hall, the sounds of high noon came tolling down. As the final reverberations died out, the crowd began an enthusiastic allegro of excitement. Two figures, one tall, one slight, emerged from the tunnel and, together, began ascending the ramp at the rear of the stage.
The one spotlight followed them with its beam as the audience rose to its feet. When the two figures arrived on the stage, they paused. The audience gathered a collective breath, and then there was a discharge of thunderous applause, loud praise and cheering.
Feldman remained behind in the dark while the Messiah and spotlight broke away together to advance to the podium. As Jeza reached her position at the lectern, the volume of the crowd increased and the two spotlights converged to concentrate an intense, white aura of light about her. She stood there, alone and silent. Her alabaster hands were clasped relaxedly in front of her; her face cast downward, in shadow.
The waves of adulation rolled over her, uninterrupted, for a full five minutes. But not all shared the enthusiasm. Two somber-faced cardinals remained seated and silent through the entire welcoming.
The roar continued. In the dark periphery, Feldman took his place on the right side of the stage in a chair placed there for his use.
Immobile throughout this enthusiastic reception, Jeza waited patiently until an absolute silence had at last been attained. Finally satisfied, she lifted her head to take in the assembly. She studied it, solemnly, carefully for a time. Then, drawing in her breath as if gathering her resolve, she called out over the masses in a clear, ringing, angelic voice:
She paused and the audience inched forward in its seats.
Having quoted this scripture, Jeza dropped her head again and deliberated for another long moment. Then her small white hands tightly gripped the edge of the lectern, she stood upright, leveled her magnificent gaze once more at the audience, and her voice assumed a more portentous tone.
The words echoed out across the sea of intent faces.
Jeza had undergone an amazing physical transformation. Her face was seared with emotion. The jaw muscles were taut, the noble brow furrowed, the eyes damning. Her voice was a piercing cry, unsettling in its self- righteous anger. With each stabbing slash of her accusatory finger, the unfortunate, randomly targeted section of audience recoiled and cowered.
