A. I. Evolution: The Coming of Christopher

Chapter 59

Jane has spent the last two days close to Christopher's body, only managing to get in some short naps as they take their occasional rest periods, while remaining dedicated to staying close to the body. Henri is numb from all the standing and anxiously awaits the end of this stage of the process, even though he understands the need to have as many people as possible view their Saint, before he is placed in the catacombs below the Basilica.

James approaches from the back of the Podium in the Basilica, to stop behind Henri. "The Cardinals will be here right at noon tomorrow, to place him in a wooden box in preparation for the procession around the Square and then the Ceremony here in the Basilica. After that he will be interred in the Catacombs below us. Do you think Jane will be OK till then? I am amazed that she has been able to keep up the vigil for this long."

Henri shakes his head slightly as he glances at Jane in the chair, before turning back to James. "She refuses to leave his side. She even sleeps right here in that chair. She keeps talking about being connected to him, and how the people need to see her dedication to his cause," says Henri, as he again looks to her with concern written all over his face.

"Do you think she has suffered a breakdown, or mental trauma from the sudden death of her partner?" suggests James.

Henri shakes his head. "I don't think so. It is just very strange the way she sometimes smiles to herself, while at other times, she looks like she is ready to burst into tears."

James continues to watch Jane as Commander Smit moves up to them from the front of the inner Chapel. Henri steps back to speak privately with him. "Have you been able to come up with anything else that would answer who the shooter was, and why they would want Saint Christopher dead, before he could even begin to preach the word of the coming Messiah to the world?"

Smit shakes his head as he looks at the lengthy line of people slowly inching their way forward to say their private goodbyes to their new-found Saint. "No, we have the murder weapon, and we know that it was purchased by Christopher himself five years ago in America, where it was hand made for him. We contacted the manufacturer, but there was nothing special about it, other than it was made with an extra-long barrel for improved accuracy. The strangest part is still that it was installed in the support beam three years ago by Mr. Wong Fung, long before he could have known that Christopher would be in that window, and then killed himself before the shot was even fired. Unfortunately, that leaves us with the who, and the how it was fired. If we could answer even one of those questions the other would fall into place, but we don't have any idea on either one at this time."

Henri considers it. "Maybe we will never find out. It could be one of those pesky mysteries of the Church that seem to crop up every now and then and add to the mystery of the faith."

"I fear that you may be right, because I have no idea where to turn to even look for the answer now, and that is driving me crazy," confesses Smit, as he shakes his head. "Well, it will all be over tomorrow after the ceremony and the placing of the body in the Catacombs under St. Peter's Basilica."

Henri looks to Jane sympathetically. "Maybe for you, but I am afraid that my charge will take a lot longer to recover from her partners death."

"I don't envy you that, Henri. How long will you be away from your involvement in the Swiss Guards, here at the Vatican?"

Henri turns to face Smit. "I will always be in the service of the guards, just on an extended leave, but still looking out for the interest of the Church."

"But you have no idea how long that will be?"

"No, that will depend on Jane. Although I am afraid that the world will not leave her alone anytime soon, unless the Church denounces Christopher as a Saint," adds Henri.

"I don't think that will happen. This whole controversy has built an interest in the Church again, and one that they will use till it fades on its own," smiles Smit.

Henri turns back to watch Jane as James leans down to speak to her quietly. "I am afraid that you are right."

Smit turns to leave. "Well, old friend, I have to get back to the investigation, but I fear that it has already ended."

Henri nods his head to his friend and commander. "I should also get back to my charge. See you tomorrow at the ceremony."

"Oh, I will be here along with every Guard we have. There are more visiting dignitaries coming than have ever been at the Vatican in all its history, and one unexplained death is more than enough for me."

Henri smiles and walks back to Jane. James sees him returning and takes his leave of Jane and Henri, as he follows Smit out the side entrance beside the speaker's Podium in the Basilica. He checks his watch and sees that it is finally approaching time to halt the line of mourners for their supper and another brief period of sleep. He motions to the guards at the big doors and they lower their spears, crossing them in front of a couple that don't look happy that they just missed entering, and now they will have to wait another three hours before they can move forward again.

One of the two guards positioned at the body of Saint Christopher moves away to get their supper from the kitchen, because Jane refuses to leave her chair except to use the washroom and even that is very seldom.

Henri waits till the last ones in the halted line passes by before he gets the small table that folds up from the vestibule to the side of the Basilica's inner chapel. He gets it set up just as the guard returns and places the two trays on the small table. He takes the folding chair from the other guard that retrieved it for him with a nod of his head. "You two can go get your supper now, but please be back as soon as you can so I can get some sleep in the chair, as you watch over Jane and I."

"Will do," responds the two of them in unison.

Their meal is a plain one of roast beef and mashed potatoes covered in a thick gravy, accented with an assortment of vegetables on the side. Coffee is sitting in an insulated decanter on Henri's tray, as Jane's has a white mug for each of them. Jane eats without saying a word as if she was in a purely mechanical mode, till she is done. Then, after a quick run to the bathroom to the side of the inner chapel for the priests to use, she returns to her chair and places the pillow she keeps behind it against the wide armrest and lays her head down, closing her eyes.

Henri steps to a small cot set around the corner out of sight from the people moving through the Basilica for him to sleep on while Jane is resting and being watched by the two guards that have returned from their dinner. "Just another twenty hours, and then it will be all over," he thinks as sleep quickly takes him away.