A. I. Evolution: The Coming of Christopher

Chapter 50

Smit and the others remain in the hallway as I step quietly into the darkened quarters. I can tell right away that there is another person in the room, but one that is supposed to be here. I remove my shoes just inside the doorway and stand up slowly. "I assume you have made it easy for her to get some sleep," I call out to the dark corner of the room, where Henri is sitting perfectly still.

"They told me you had an uncanny sense for people, and that sneaking up on you would be impossible. I now see that they are right," smiles Henri, as he sits forward in the chair, so his face is highlighted by the low light coming from the doorway to the bedroom.

I move to the chair across the small table from him and look out the window to St. Peters Square below. The lights on every other pillar around the Square have been turned on, and I can see that there is not a bare spot of smoothed stone anywhere. News crews have positioned their vehicles in an arch around the center area, ready to record the news as it unfolds the next day, as it is simultaneously broadcasted around the world. I continue to stare at the vast sea of people, and shake my head slightly, as I reflect out loud on my thoughts, "Interesting, isn't it? In Jesus Christs time, he was able to change the world from a little corner of this vast land through his teachings; just imagine what we can do now with our mass communication. The entire world will know what has happened before I stop talking tomorrow."

Henri snickers to himself. "You do know that as a trained security person, there is no way I should be allowing you to stand in that window tomorrow. I have petitioned to have the Pope's speeches from that window banned for most of my career to no avail, so I suspect that it will be no different for you."

I smile as I continue to look down, sweeping the crowd, judging their mood. "I don't suspect any problem from the people out there. They are all more interested in what I have to say, than preventing me from saying it."

"I suppose you are right, but it does not make me sleep any sounder," responds Henri.

I turn to him and nod my head. "Yes, speaking of sleep, I should go get some before the sun comes up on the horizon and I need to do what I was meant to do, something with which I have been preparing for, for so long now."

"I will be right here all night, and there are guards positioned all over the access points to this wing of the Palace, so don't worry about anything as you sleep," says Henri, softly.

I slip into the bedroom to see Jane snuggled down in the huge bed under a large fluffy comforter. I smile and remove my robes, leaving only my under clothes to sleep in as I slip under the covers on the opposite side of the spacious bed. I meditate for a moment, which calms my thoughts, so sleep comes easily.

The next thing I know the light from the rising sun is coming through the window, driving the darkness from the room. I slip from the bed, not wanting to wake Jane. I know she needs her sleep, but it is also from a need of self-preservation. If I wake her and she gets a chance to drill me again on what it is I am doing, I might not get to breakfast and off to the fitting rooms and the special robes that are being hurriedly prepared for me.

Henri sits up straighter as I enter the main room of the quarters. "Do you want to freshen up before I call the Guards to take you down to breakfast?"

"Yes, I slept soundly, and it is still trying to pull me back to the soft bed. It will only take a moment in the cold shower to remedy that, though."

Henri smiles as he nods his head. "I will have a guard run down to the kitchen, so they can prepare for your arrival. Is there anything special you want?"

"Yes, lots of bacon and eggs, with chopped potatoes fried to a crispy outer surface. I am going to need all the energy I can gather for today's activities," I respond, before heading to the bathroom through the door from the main room. I enter and close the door at the other end that opens into the bedroom, before turning on the water and climbing into the tiled shower stall.

I clean up and finish combing my hair, before stepping back into the room to see Henri standing by the door. "James is already waiting for you outside in the hall. He seems nervous that there will not be enough time to get everything done before your scheduled speech."

"There never is," I smile. "The last nine years have taught me that." I move towards the door, dressed in the same robes from the day before, and stop before pulling on the door knob. "Can you see to it that Jane gets something to eat and is in Pope Pius's private quarters before I get there. She will want to see me before I speak to the crowd."

Henri nods his head in acknowledgement. "Will do. You do know she is going to be upset that you came back and left again while she slept."

I turn back one more time. "Yes, and it may not be a clever idea to let her know that you slipped something into her drink to put her to sleep."

"Don't worry, even with all my combat training, I am not foolish enough to engage a woman who is riled up."

I chuckle at his good nature comment. "Smart man."

I turn, open the door and step through. The door barely has a chance to close before James is beside me. "There you are. We don't have much time, I need to get you down to the fitting room before breakfast, because the seamstress needs to make some last-minute adjustments to your formal robes. Then, after breakfast, the rest of the Cardinals that arrived last night and early this morning wants to meet briefly with you before you return to the seamstress rooms and the final fitting of your robes. The camera crews and photographers also want you in the study at least thirty minutes before you step to the window, so they can go over with you how you will move around Pius after he introduces you. This is likely to be one of the greatest moments in history for them, and they don't want anything left to chance."

I smile at his anxious mood. "Don't worry, we have lots of time. Besides, if we are a few minutes late, it will just add to the anticipation of the people outside."

"Easy for you to say, I have been up all night getting everything ready," replies James with a shake of his head.