Chapter 16
Monte Sisto
The present
"COME AND READ this sign on the wall." Laura's voice made a welcome interruption.
Shutting the terror of the past from his mind, Marco walked over to join her. "What does it say?"
"The bodies from the massacre were removed in nineteen forty-six." She flapped some large flies away. "I know where they took the Jews for burial. There's a memorial for them in Rome. It's solid concrete. No one could get inside to look. I don't know what happened to the Christian monks. If the relic isn't here, maybe Canon Levi hid it where the monks are buried."
Marco nodded. "I can get Father Josef looking into what happened to the bodies. There must be church records."
Laura sounded furious. "You're not still keeping in touch with that old priest! Does he ... have you ... told him about us?"
"I don't know what you mean," said Marco. "What's my work for Father Josef got to do with you?"
"You don't understand," protested Laura. "It's obvious the tragedy at Monte Sisto hasn't affected you."
Marco put his arm on her shoulder. "I've no first hand experience of what the Nazis did. Have you?"
Laura stood with her head resting in her hands. She pushed his arm away. Suddenly she wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and her eyes seemed to blaze with anger. "Eight thousand Jews died in Italy in the war. Six million Jews died all over Europe -- killed by madmen in the Third Reich. How would you feel, Marco, if they'd killed your family?"
Marco shook his head. "You sound as though you lost yours."
"Do I?" Laura sat down heavily on the dry grass, choking on her tears. "You know nothing about me, Marco. Nothing at all. I'll tell you why I want to be here. My family died at this monastery. Aunts, uncles -- I never knew any of them. It was my grandfather who took the relic back to Rome. Canon Angelo was my father!"