“Mind-blowing?” offered Angeli. “I’ve added that one to my list, along with ‘minor-league’ and ‘boonies.’”

Peretti nodded somewhat distractedly, then turned back to Pearse. “Your visit to Blaney was the confirmation we needed.”

“But I didn’t know Blaney was connected until I got there,” said Pearse. “I went to him for help, and I didn’t take the scroll in order to protect him.”

“We took the chance that you wouldn’t have left yourself that vulnerable coming back to Rome.”

“That was quite a chance.”

Peretti looked at Angeli. “The professor can be quite persuasive.”

Pearse seemed ready to accept the answer. Instead, he began to shake his head. “That still doesn’t explain how Blaney knew it would land in my lap?”

“How what would land in your lap?” asked Angeli.

“The ‘Perfect Light.’ None of this happens unless I get hold of that first scroll.”

Angeli slowly looked over at Peretti. The two of them shared a glance before she spoke: “He might talk to Ian, help us understand the scope of this thing.”

Peretti said nothing.

“Who might talk to me?” Pearse asked.

Peretti continued to look at her; he then turned to Pearse. “There was … an inconsistency in everything the professor told us.”

“I don’t understand,” said Pearse.

Again, Peretti looked at Angeli. “It’s worth a shot, I suppose.” He nodded, then stood. “Why don’t you come with me.” Before Pearse could ask, Peretti was out from behind the desk and headed for the door. Pearse had no choice but to follow, Angeli at once behind him.

They made their way along the corridor and up a short flight of steps at its end. A single door awaited them at the top. Peretti removed a key, unlocked the door, and opened it. He led the way in.

There, by the window, sat Dante Cesare. He continued to stare out as they stepped inside.

“The one inconsistency,” said Peretti.

Pearse stood dumbfounded. “I … don’t understand. You saved him?”

“Hardly,” said Peretti. “We were equally surprised that the ‘Perfect Light’ scroll had conveniently fallen into your hands, so we decided to check on that. The professor said that you had told her that the men from Vatican security had visited Cesare, and that they had spoken with his abbot. Imagine our surprise when we found out that the time sequencing you had described wasn’t quite right. According to the abbot, the Vatican men had visited Cesare, but only after Ruini’s funeral, not before.”

Pearse stared at Cesare. “After?”

“Which meant,” said Angeli, “that everything he’d told you was pure fabrication.”

Pearse needed a moment to respond. He moved closer to the monk. “He wasn’t in any kind of danger?”

“Not in the least,” said Peretti. “We found him digging away at San Clemente. He’s refused to say anything.”

Pearse turned to the cardinal. “But I thought von Neurath’s men-”

Cesare quietly laughed to himself as he gazed out the window.

Pearse stared at the monk, then turned again to Peretti. “I want to talk to him. Alone.”

Peretti waited. “All right, but I’m not sure you’ll get any response. My men will be outside.” He took one last look at Cesare, then followed Angeli out into the corridor.

Pearse waited for the door to close before moving to the bed. He sat. It was only then that he saw the handcuffs attached to a rail on the wall.

“Don’t worry,” said Cesare, rattling the metal, “they’ve taken every precaution.”

“I thought you weren’t speaking to anyone.”

“None of them have read the ‘Hodoporia.’ I’m assuming you have. I envy you that. Which means you understand what we’re trying to do.”

Pearse continued to stare. “You were with Blaney all along.”

“Very good.”

“No chance meeting in the park.”

“No.”

Pearse nodded slowly. “Amazing performance.”

“You missed a better one that last night for von Neurath’s men.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t kill you.”

Another smile. “The Father took care of that. You became far more interesting to the cardinal rather quickly. Blaney saw to that, as well.”

“He told me he was trying to protect me.”

“Oh, he was. But he also knew a little fire under your feet would get you to the ‘Hodoporia’ all the faster. As long as von Neurath’s men were always a few steps behind, no need to worry.”

Pearse waited. “If Blaney knew how to find the ‘Perfect Light’ scroll, why use me at all? Why not send you?”

“Knowing how to find it was far different from actually finding it.”

Pearse needed a moment. “Ruini.”

“Funny little man.” Cesare’s gaze dipped for just a moment. “Boniface had him off looking for something entirely different, and he stumbles across the ‘Perfect Light.’” Again, he laughed to himself. “Talk about bad luck. For everyone.” He waited. “Once Ruini had the scroll, we knew von Neurath would do whatever was necessary to get it from him. And we knew the cardinal was going to be the next Pope.” Cesare finally looked at Pearse, eyes devoid of all emotion. “Now do you understand?” When Pearse didn’t answer, Cesare turned back to the window. He let out a long breath. “Allowing von Neurath to get his hands on the ‘Hodoporia’ would have made him uncontrollable. Who knows what he would have done with it? He’s never trusted the Word. He doesn’t understand its power. So Blaney needed someone who wasn’t part of this, someone von Neurath wouldn’t know, someone to find it for him first. Keep the balance. It’s what Mani had prepared you for.” Again he turned. “Any clearer?”

“So Ruini found the scroll, and you killed him.”

“Von Neurath’s people did that. We knew they would. It’s why I was sent. To bring you in.” Another long breath. “I suppose, for a time, he thought I might be able to handle it on my own. But then I didn’t have the training for the scrolls that you did. Plus, there was always the outside chance von Neurath might be able to link me with Blaney. Your connection was far more remote. We knew it would take them at least a week to discover it. By then, you’d be back. Or dead.” He turned back to the window. “At least now I never have to hear about baseball again.”

“The sacrifices we make,” said Pearse.

“Yes.”

Unable to look at the smirk any longer, he stood. “So Blaney went through all of this just to keep von Neurath in line?”

“He did it to make sure that the power of Mani’s Word would remain pure.”

“Purity at its finest.”

Cesare waited. “I’m surprised. I’d have thought after reading the ‘Hodoporia,’ you’d be less hostile. You really think we’re some group of fanatics, don’t you? I find that very … odd.”

“Why should I think that?” he said, turning to Cesare, his tone now matching the monk’s apparent indifference. “The church bombings, the Vatican, the bank, the hysteria over Islamic fundamentalism. Am I missing anything? Oh, and of course the one true and holy church for the initiated. Do we all get to be Manichaeans now, guided by those of you with the gnosis? No, that doesn’t sound like fanaticism at all, does it, Dante?”

“Ten million Manichaeans is more than enough.”

“Impressive.”

“We’ve no interest in converting the masses.”

“Just leading them around by their noses.”

Something seemed to change in Cesare. He turned to Pearse, a decided contempt in his eyes. “Unlike the Catholic church, Father?” He didn’t wait for a response. “What if I told you we’ve got child-welfare initiatives, drug-abuse programs, planned-parenting centers, all set up by the hundreds, both here in Europe and in the States? Would you think differently? We’re simply removing the darkness to free the light. In the abstract, I suppose it does sound like fanaticism. But not when it has a practical face to it. We’ve pumped millions of dollars into those areas and others so as to establish the base we need to put our cells to proper use. The Catholic church isn’t capable of making that kind of difference now. You’re an outdated and impotent monolith. You won’t even go near half those areas because of ancient doctrine. Well, we’re going into them and doing something about it. Fifteen hundred years ago, we wanted to destroy you because of the corruption of certain theological truths. Now, we simply want to put you out of your misery, turn the church into something that has real power, and that can make the world whole again.”