CHAPTER 14
HEADING TO THE VATICAN
Lucy entered the plane towards Italy, to the Vatican. The other sisters were envious but pretended to be happy for her.
Six hours later, she was descending at Italy and later, the Vatican. As soon as she arrived and gave the letter with the holy seal, someone came and took all her cases. Then she was left waiting in a huge hall with very tall windows and odd looking painting on the roof. Some were even half naked. She was alone, uncomfortable and impatient. Two sisters dressed like nurses came upon her. They brought very sophisticated gadgets. They scanned her fingerprints and Lucy Poland appeared. Then they collected her blood sample and left. One hour later, a high priest came to talk to her, “God bless you, my child. Follow me. I have very little time.” She stood up and followed him.
“I believe you have a name. What is it?”
“My name is Sister Lucy, your holiness.”
“All right, Sister Lucy. I am Primate Antonio. How is Mr. Morgo?”
“He’s fine, your holiness.”
“I see he has picked a person I would never have thought he would pick. I am not to sound sexist but Mr. Morgo had never voted for a female clergy. You must have impressed him.”
“A bit, I guess.”
They walked for about 10 minutes until they arrived at a grand hall. There were four Swiss guards but they backed up when they saw who was coming. Lucy and Father Antonio entered the 84 km filled with old manuscripts, pope’s correspondences, etc. A very debonair gentleman man went their way and kissed his holiness ring. Lucy felt very regretful for not having done it. He was Bartolommeo, the current and only official bookkeeper. He was a very smart man, witty and funny. He approached them and said, “To what I owe the visit, your holiness. Do I have a new colleague?”
“You are right as always Mr. Bartolommeo. Here is Sister Lucy, she was sent by Mr. Morgo himself.”
Bartolommeo made an incredulous face for he never thought he could hear that name again and because he knew that Mr. Morgo was not fond of the idea of women in the Church, “You must have impressed him.”
“Exactly what I said,” Father Antonio said, “I will have to leave you. I have other important matters to attend. Miss…” He stopped for a while and resumed, “What is your last name again? You certainly look familiar.”
Lucy thought about saying that she had been given one by her adoptive mother, Mother Martha but she simple said, “Lucy
Poland. My surname is Poland, your holiness.”
“Hmm, quite a strong name you have,” He raised his hand towards Lucy, “She was puzzled for 2 seconds but then she got it and kissed his ring. Mr. Bartolommeo repeated the gesture and Primate Antonio left.
“You were lost for a moment, weren’t you? Are you sure your last name is Poland? Your face somehow looks vividly familiar. I just can’t quite place it and believe me when I say I never forget a name and a face.”
Lucy stuttered, “Yeah, yes of course it is! I mean the last name, not the face. I don’t know.”
“Relax my child, let me take you to your chambers. You will be literally living here. You are going to stay at Mr. Morgo’s old room. No one has entered there for 15 years.” She made a surprise face but he remained serious. A few seconds later he resumed, “I am just kidding. You will stay, here.” He opened a door and she entered.
It was a very neat room with all furniture one would require but also very lonely. She put her things beside the door, went straight to the very tall windows where she could see the sun in a very beautiful landscape. She was excited and Mr. Bartolommeo was aware of that so he gave a brief smile and talked, “I know it’s like a 5 star hotel but we have a lot of work today. I hope you have a good memory because you will need it.”
Lucy was surprised at the way Mr. Bartolommeo talked. He was so laid back and not quite formal but most of all he was fun, something she grew up believing people at the Vatican were not. He went out and she followed him everywhere he went. He showed her every single department and what kind of documents it contained. He told her about how secret those archives were.
“You see, these archives are housed in the section of the Vatican library adjacent to the Vatican museum (Pointing it), at the northern boundary of the Vatican City. We are inside Italy borders but we are an independent state. Can you use computers?”
“Yes, Mr. Bartolommeo. A friend of mine is a genius at computing so he taught me things most people don’t even think it’s possible.”
“Good, because we have our own website, operated by the Vatican. You will have clearance to enter it. Just after you finish your training. I believe Mr. Morgo told you about the ‘examination’, He said the last word with a dramatic tone. Lucy was intimidated for a minute but then she remembered that Mr. Bartolommeo was funny and she laughed.
“Haven’t anyone forced himself here or hacked the website?”
“No, that is almost impossible. The website is monitored by the best white hackers there is. And entering here is as possible as resurrecting from the dead. Everybody talks about it but no one has ever done it.”
“What do you mean? Didn’t Jesus resuscitate?”
“My child, you and I have a lot to catch up,” He made a sarcastic face, “It is true that since 2000 the secret archives have been opened to scholars but one has to know what he’s looking for because it’s not allowed to browse through. There are 84 Km of book shelves so good luck with that, and even scholars have to enter through the “Porta Sant’Anna, pass Swiss Guards, walk through the “Cortile del Belvedere” and present credentials to me. Those credentials must be renewed every 6 months. Journalists, students and amateur historians aren’t welcome.”
“Haven’t any Bookkeeper ever disclosed files and documents from the secret archives?”
“No, never,” He said this with a very serious face as if Lucy had touched in a very personal matter, “It is late and you have got to rest. Tomorrow at dawn we continue. Put an alarm for 4 A.M. That’s when we start working. After tomorrow you will never be the same. If you are here it’s because your fate is unshakable but the truth inside these books will make you doubt everything. Even your own existence. Good night child.”
“Good night Mr. Bartolommeo,” And she went to her room eager to the next day.
He walked a few steps and then turned around and shouted, “Lucy? Make sure you change your time zone on your phone. I won’t accept the ignorance of that detail as an excuse for waking up late!” Then he left.
Lucy knew, deep inside her heart that she was close to finding the answer. That filled her with both hope and fear.