A. I. Evolution: The Coming of Christopher

Chapter 46

James steps aside to let the two women in so they can place the trays on the table by the window. He follows them and watches closely as they perform their duty and then escorts them back to the door, closing it as they enter the hallway. He turns back to face me, as I move towards the table and the trays of food. "There are some things you should know before we meet with the Cardinals at three. Do you mind if we talk while you eat? I am afraid that time is short, and we need to proceed quietly, so there is not a rush in the Square tomorrow?" adds James.

I hold up my hand to stop him as I look towards the bedroom and Jane. "Can you give me just a moment. I need to talk briefly with Jane. This is a hard moment for her."

James holds his hands clasped before him and nods his head slowly. "Certainly, I will wait here for you."

I enter the bedroom and leave the door open, because I don't have the time to get involved in a lengthy explanation with Jane. "Are you OK? I am sorry it happened this way, but Pius was ready, and I had to act. Can you forgive me?"

Jane wipes the tears from her eyes and looks up at me from the heavily cushioned chair in front of the mirrored table in the corner. "I thought we were finally going to be a proper couple after that night at your home in Vegas. You had achieved your fame and fortune, so I assumed that you were ready to settle back and enjoy the rest of your life. It is something I have dreamed of for far too many years, but now you have ruined everything."

"We will still have that and so much more. I just need you to stick with me no matter what happens over the next few days. That night in Vegas meant more to me than anything else in the world. All I need to do now is finish what I started. Can you do that for me?"

Jane sniffles and wipes at her eyes again. "But why could you not have told me beforehand what you were planning? How could you do such a thing?"

I move towards her and kneel on the floor at her feet and look up into her tear stained eyes. "I was not sure what would happen when I arrived here yesterday. I had some ideas, but nothing concrete. All I could do was react to the situation as it unfolded." I reach up and cup her face in my hand and rise just enough to kiss her passionately on the cheek, before pulling back and staring into her eyes. "Please don't ever lose faith in me, no matter what happens. Can you do that for me?"

Jane's cheeks quiver slightly as she fights back the tears that are threatening to flow again. "I will try, but please, no more surprises."

I pull back and lower my head slightly. "I don't know if I can promise you that, Jane." I stand quickly before she can respond. "I have to get back to James and the things I need to know before tomorrow."

Jane nods her head defeated. "OK, I will wait here, if that is OK."

I smile at her new-found resolve, as I stand. "That is fine, take all the time you need. I will talk to James about assigning you one of the Swiss Guard to keep you safe."

Jane looks up to me. "Keep me safe? Why would I be in any danger?"

I smile and reach down to place my hand on her shoulder, as I stare in to her eyes forcefully. "You are the most important person in all this, your life is more important than mine."

I stand and walk back to the main room and my lunch that is sitting on the table getting cold, as Jane sits in the bedroom and thinks about everything I had just said.

James had been waiting patiently for my return and speaks up as I cross the main room to the table and sit down. "Most of the Cardinals will be there at three, and the ones that aren't will be contacted by the ones attending. I will draw up a task sheet so each one in attendance will know who they are to contact."

I sit at the table in front of my food. I look down on it, almost not hungry, but know that I will need all the energy I can stuff into me for the next twenty-four hours. All the extra Nanos put an even greater strain on my energy levels, so I dig into the lunch of potatoes cubed and fried, seasoned in a spicy coating, and the large steak covered in mushrooms beside the mixed vegetables on the side. "Jane will need a constant guard to protect her. I think you can understand the need for her safety."

James nods his head. "I already have that covered. Mr. Henri de Salis will be her personal guard for life, if need be. He is one of our highest-ranking officers."

"Good, it is paramount that she remains safe."

James checks his watch. "We only have about thirty minutes before meeting the Cardinals. I suggest you eat up, so we are not late."

I resist the urge to reprimand him for his tone but realize that he is under a lot of stress to make so much happen in a relatively brief time frame. "Understood. I can imagine that the meeting with the Cardinals will go on for some time as they question me about my validity, and what it will mean for the future of the Church. Will Henri be here shortly to take care of Jane?"

"He should be here any minute. He was on an extended leave as he studied for the position of the thirty sixth Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Right now, he is the second highest ranking officer here at the Vatican. She will be in very good hands."

I chew on the remains of a big piece of steak and nod my head till I can swallow the delicious morsel. "That will be satisfactory."

I continue stuffing in everything I can in the time I have left when a knock comes on the door. James gets up and moves to answer it. "That will probably be him now."

James opens the door, and a tall well-built man enters. I can tell that he is about thirty-five and at the peak of his career. He is wearing a normal black suit as if he was a secret agent for the C.I.A. or some other agency. James smiles and lets him into the room, as he follows close behind him. "Saint Christopher. May I introduce Mr. Henri de Salis, the guard that will protect Jane with his life if need be."

The sharply dressed man steps up to the table, and I start to rise, but he motions for me to stay seated. "I have been briefed on what has happened so far, and I know that you have less than twenty minutes to get to your meeting with the Cardinals. Please don't take offense, but you are of secondary concern to me. Jane is my primary obligation."

I want to be upset at his brash statement, but it is exactly what I want him to do. "None taken. I think you understand the implications of our situation."

"Yes, all the details have been looked after. No harm will come to Jane under my watch."

"Good. She is in the bedroom, please introduce yourself. Although I feel that I should warn you; she is a very independent woman," I add, before turning back to James, who is looking from one to the other of us.

"Where were we, James?"