Shrouded In Silence

43





Klaus Burchel picked up the Il Messaggero newspaper and glanced at the headlines. After a second look, he hurried to Dr. Albert Stein's apartment behind the Pantheon. Clamoring up the stairs, he knocked on the door and waited to be summoned.

"Enter," Stein's growl echoed from a distance. "Make it snappy."

Burchel entered quickly, made a slight bow, and extended the paper to his boss.

"So?" Stein glanced at the Il Messaggero but didn't take it. "What?"

"Another bombing last night," Burchel said. "The story says that this Scorpion group struck at the Ciampino airport and damaged an American airplane as well as leaving a message sprayed on the concrete. Shot a couple of guards. Those guys really hate Americans."

"Good for them," Stein grumbled.

"Yes, and the police don't have any clues about their identity yet."

"The police are morons," Stein said. "Absolute pack of fools."

"I thought you'd want to know what's happened."

"Let's see." Stein snatched the newspaper. For several moments, he glanced at the article. Finally, he said, "If they hate Americans so much, maybe they'll go after the Townsends."

"I wonder if they have not already struck," Klaus answered. "The explosion at the house might have blown away some message they left behind. Who else would have hit the Townsends' office after I went to the trouble of wiring the whole building for communication?"

"It fits," Stein said. "The police certainly ran me off before I got to take a good look through the wreckage. Yes, it makes good sense even if these Scorpion boys are rank amateurs." He pointed his finger at Klaus. "And that's what they are! Real pros would have blown that American airplane into a million pieces, not just damaged it."

"Agreed."

"You've done better since you returned." Stein leaned back in his chair and eyed his lackey cynically. "Any explanations? Have you learned anything?"

"I was surprised you sent a man to bring me back. Even though the guy frightened me, your allowing my restoration has inspired me to work harder."

Stein snorted. "You've had your problems, Burchel, but you also have promise and that grabs my attention. Of course, I never knew your grandfather, but Richard Baer was a great man who performed an expeditious job in running Auschwitz. I am sure he passed on significant heredity that still resides in you somewhere. You've got to release it! Let it grow! Even though you have wallowed in decadence, I am depending on that hereditary dimension from your past to arise to the occasion. Is that possible?"

"I am doing my best."

"About time." Stein crossed his arms over his large chest. "We will anticipate results."

Klaus shrugged. "I'm trying."

Stein turned back to his desk. "We have learned two important matters from the Townsends so far. They are still searching for the lost ending of Mark's Gospel, which is hidden somewhere in Rome. Along the way, they stumbled on to a second gem. This so-called Brown Book, The Prologue of James, could be the jackpot. Since we are the only ones who know the full truth about their two objectives, we are positioned to steal either or both documents before the Townsends make another smash publishing hit with a breakthrough discovery."

"You've heard of this Prologue of James?" Klaus asked.

"Never! And I've studied everything in the library. It's either a total fraud or the breakthrough of the century." Stein pulled at his shagging chin. "The Nag Hammadi Library unearthed in Egypt by some local numskull peasant was a collection of twelve leather-bound papyrus books and an individual tractate. At first, everyone thought it was nonsense or a fraud. Quickly, they concluded it was three cherries on a million-dollar slot machine. Takes a while but once the truth is out, the archaeologist discovering the find goes right up to the top of the ladder."

"So, this Prologue might be nothing?"

"Wouldn't say nothing, but it might be a dead-end street."

Klaus scratched his head. "What would you bet on, Dr. Stein?"

"With the Roman Catholic Church trying to hide it? I'd bet it's bigger than Piazza San Pietro. We could be talking blowing the lid off the church."

"That would be some accomplishment," Klaus said.

"Absolutely."

"Unfortunately, the Townsends' windows have been shut since it turned cold, and I haven't been able to pick up much of anything with my eavesdropping device. It's hard to say where they are in their search at this point."

"This only means we must keep on their trail with constancy," Stein said. "Townsend's wife has been working more than I expected. So far, we've been able to stay on top of where they're going. Following them through Rome's heavy traffic wasn't easy, but they didn't lose us. That's an important sign that we can keep up with them."

Klaus scowled. "We know for sure they're carrying weapons now. I wouldn't have expected either of them to be shooting back. Of course, this raises the ante. It's going to be much more difficult to stop them when they're running around armed to the teeth."

"And what does that mean to you, Burchel?" Stein asked with more than a touch of cynicism in his voice. "Makes you run for the cellar?"

Burchel shook his head. "I swear I'm going to kill that worthless dog yet."

"OK. Next time do it."