the boy. Not now. It’s too early. Be patient. A knock at the door slapped Father Tolbert lucid. He sprang from his chair and grabbed the glove and bat.
“We’ll keep these in my closet,” he whispered. “Just a second,” he called out, putting the toys away. He smoothed out his hair, and opened the door. Cardinal Polletto, Father Ortega, Armanno, and another little boy stared back at him. Father Tolbert fell back against a table, knocking the lamp to the ground. “Cardinal Polletto, I didn’t know you were coming,” gushed Father Tolbert. He bent over, effusive, sweating, and kissed the cardinal’s hand.
“Hello, F ather. I wanted my visit to be a surprise,” said Cardinal Polletto.
Father Tolbert stepped back, startled. He scanned the faces looking back at him. Nobody smiled. He took a closer look at the little boy. His mouth fell open. He was the spitting image of Samuel too. He looked back at Eduardo, then at Cardinal Polletto.
“Please,” said the cardinal, walking into the room, “may we come inside?”
“Papa,” cried Eduardo. He jumped off the bed, ran to Armanno and jumped into his arms.
Father Tolbert continued to examine the two children who looked like Samuel’s twins. Cardinal Polletto smiled. “Look familiar?” he asked.
“They look like Samuel,” Father Tolbert stammered. “What’s going on?
“All in due time,” answered the cardinal. “But please,” Cardinal Polletto motioned for the two children to come over, “this is Felipe, you’ve already met Eduardo. Children, I’d like you to meet your father, Charles Tolbert.”
34
C ardinal Polletto watched Father Tolbert’s eyes dance, as his words sank in deep.
“Their father?” the stunned priest mumbled. “What are you talking about?”
Cardinal Polletto sat down on the bed. “Leave us alone,” he told Armanno and Father Ortega. “And take the children.” The two children stood motionless, their eyes fixed tight on Father Tolbert, their little faces etched with confusion. Armanno took both by the hand, smiling as Father Tolbert continued to sway off kilter, his eyes darting around the room in wonder.
“We’ll wait for you in the car,” said Father Ortega, looking over at Father Tolbert, meanness swelling in his eyes.
“That’ll be fine,” said the cardinal. “I won’t be very long.” Everyone herded out of the room, the children still staring at Father Tolbert, then at each other, mouths open. The door shut, the sound reverberating with a bang off the walls. Cardinal Polletto and Father Tolbert stared at each other, silent.
“Please, have a seat,” the cardinal finally said, motioning the distraught priest toward the bed.
Father Tolbert bumped into a lamp stand on his way over to the bed, and plopped down. Cardinal Polletto gave him the once over. You fool.
You very necessary fool. “So, how have you been holding up? Are the urges as strong as ever, or have you managed to keep control?”
“Don’t toy with me,” cried Father Tolbert, shaking. “Why did you tell those children I’m their father?”
Cardinal Polletto smiled. “Because you are,” he said.
“But, I don’t understand. That’s impossible,” said Father Tolbert, confused.
Cardinal Polletto watched Father Tolbert’s confusion grow. “How much of your childhood do you remember?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
Father Tolbert had grown up alone, teased and made fun of as a boy, ignored most of his adult life. Cardinal Polletto had tried to place him with good families, but nobody would agree to keep him permanently.
So, the weak man sitting before him had developed into a pedophile.
“I try not to remember,” said Father Tolbert. “As you know, my childhood wasn’t pleasant.”
“I know,” said the cardinal. “After your mother died, I tried to make things normal. Please forgive me for my failure.”
“Oh no,” said Father Tolbert. “You did the best you could, protecting me all these years. It’s more than I deserve. But I still don’t understand about the children.”
Cardinal Polletto sat forward. “Father Tolbert, I’ve waited a long time for the right time to tell you this, but you and I are more than colleagues. You’re my sister’s first and only child. We’re family.” Father Tolbert’s eyes widened. Gasps of air puffed out of his lips.
“All these years,” he stammered, “you told me I had no relatives, no family.”
“It was for the best at the time,” said Cardinal Polletto. “The circumstances surrounding my sister’s death were tenuous at best. I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to keep you safe.”
“But, you’ve lied to me all these years.”
“For the greater good, Father, a good you’ll soon witness for yourself.”
“How could you look at me all these years, knowing what I’ve gone through, what I’ve become, and not say anything?”
“And where do you think you’d be right now? Certainly not here, a priest working at the Vatican,” said Cardinal Polletto.
“I’d have a family! A life, a normal childhood!” screamed Father Tolbert.
“Calm yourself,” the cardinal said, forcefully. “There would’ve been no normal childhood for you.”
Father Tolbert broke down and cried. “I don’t understand.” He wiped the tears from his eyes. “What about my father?” Cardinal Polletto stared at Father Tolbert, angry, seething, remembering the betrayal. “Your father’s dead.” Father Tolbert adjusted himself on the bed and leered at the cardinal with meanness and smoldering hate in his eyes. Something Cardinal Polletto had never seen in him.
“Who was he?” demanded Father Tolbert.
“A member of the Church hierarchy. A cardinal here in Rome.” Cardinal Polletto watched Father Tolbert’s surge of strength cave.
“How did he die?”
“Cancer,” the cardinal lied, with little emotion. “While you were an infant.”
Father Tolbert’s head dropped. “Did he know about me?”
“Yes, but he denied you were his. That’s why your mother, my sister, killed herself.” Father Tolbert’s head snapped up. “Yes,” the cardinal continued. “I tried to get him to take responsibility but he refused, so I stepped in and took care of you myself.” Father Tolbert slowly stood, confusion draping his already weathered face. “Why did you say those children are mine?” Cardinal Polletto stroked his chin, and considered just how much he should reveal. He decided to tell it all. “Because eleven years ago, during your back surgery, I gave the order to have your DNA harvested.” Father Tolbert collapsed back down to the bed and sat frozen in a shroud of disbelief. “The Order commissioned scientists from Germany, Japan and South Africa, to engineer the first cloned human being. We believe the process has yielded our leader, the true savior of the world.” Father Tolbert’s eyes watered. “And those children are the result?”
“Yes,” said the cardinal, standing. “They’re triplets.”
“But they’re only two of them.”
As soon as he uttered the words, Cardinal Polletto saw illumination crush down on Father Tolbert. He walked over, sat down next to the priest and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Samuel is the third,” he said.
Father Tolbert sprang to his feet. “No, that can’t be true!”
“Please sit down,” Cardinal Polletto ordered.
Father Tolbert, frothing at the mouth, crashed backwards against a chest-of-drawers, knocking everything on it to the floor.
“Father, calm yourself and sit down,” Cardinal Polletto ordered.
“Now!”
Father Tolbert, eyes glassed over with confusion and horror, looked down, opened the top drawer and removed a revolver. He pointed it at Cardinal Polletto, who stood and slowly backed away. “It’s your fault!” he bellowed. “You did this!”
