Rain was falling from a night sky as lightning flashed beyond distant hilltops. The hour was late and the Vatican City grounds were desolate, as Saint Peter's Basilica Plaza was void of faithful tourists. Bright lights illuminated the historic balconies as the rumbling thunder resonated throughout the grand halls and passageways of the famous structure.
Several cardinals dressed in their fine, red robes rushed to the security office of the Vatican Guard. In their dire emergency, they accidentally knocked over a pedestal containing Holy Water, sending it crashing to the marble floor.
"You must hurry," they said as they gasped for a breath of air. "Father Raymie has escaped from the infirmary."
"What is wrong with him?" questioned the puzzled guards.
"Father Raymie has had a mental breakdown; he is confused and may cause harm to himself or others."
"We will search for him at once," replied the captain of the Vatican Swiss Guards.
"I must also speak to Captain Athenos of the Vatican Secret Police," insisted one of the cardinals.
"This is not serious enough to involve the Secret Police, Cardinal; we can find Father Raymie without their help. Besides, Captain Athenos is probably asleep and I do not wish to disturb him."
"We must contact Captain Athenos immediately," screamed the car-dinal as he pointed a finger of condemnation at the Vatican Captain.
"Why is it so urgent that we involve the Secret Police?" asked the captain.
"Father Raymie has stolen something of great importance to the pontiff. He is a thief and we are afraid that he may sell it on the black market," the other cardinal advised.
"Then that's a horse of a different color, Cardinal; I will phone Cap-tain Athenos at once."
The captain of the Vatican Guard went to his desk and called the captain of the Vatican Secret Police, while scores of Vatican guards ran through the hallways and corridors of St Peter's Basilica, frantically searching for the deranged priest.
"I have Captain Athenos on the phone, Cardinal. I was right; he was in bed," said the Captain as he handed the phone to the cardinal.
"Captain Athenos, this is Cardinal Verona. I am sorry to wake you up at this hour, but we have an extremely delicate situation happening at this moment and we need your help."
"The captain advised me of the petty theft charge; this does not sound like a national emergency, Cardinal Verona. I will come in the morning and we will quickly apprehend Father Raymie."
"This is not just any petty theft, Captain Athenos; this item cannot be exposed to the outside world. We must find it tonight, and we must apprehend Father Raymie; we must silence him."
"Exactly what are you saying to me?" asked the captain.
"I am saying, Athenos, Father Raymie must be stopped at any cost; he has taken something from the Chronovisor," whispered the cardinal over the phone.
"I will leave at once, Cardinal Verona." Athenos said as he jumped from his bed and quickly put on his pants, while calling his peers.
A lone figure scurried in the shadows outside of St Peter's Cathedral, watching as Vatican guards ran in pairs, searching the grounds with their flashlights. Several police cars with obnoxious sirens and flashing blue lights squealed to a stop in the Plaza, as the occupants also joined the search.
Father Raymie saw in his moment of isolation a chance to escape from the Vatican guards. He ran from some shrubbery next to the basilica across the roadway of Foundation toward the northwest of the basilica. A small manicured lawn with trees gave him some protection from view. The frightened priest brushed the rain from his brow and took refuge behind the trunk of a large sugar maple.
