A. I. Evolution: The Coming of Christopher

Chapter 62

The crowd parts just like the Red Sea did for Moses when he left Egypt centuries before, as Henri leads Jane with an arm around her shoulders to her quarters in the Popes Apostolic Palace, as most of the people cry uncontrollably, not just for their Saint, but the ones he left behind.

The guards slip back into St. Peter's Basilica and guard the body of their fallen Saint till the church workers can prepare the body for the ceremony and burial that afternoon.

When Saint Christopher has been laid in the wooden box that he will be sealed in for all time below the very spot where he had risen from the dead to deliver his message to the faithful, Pope Pius and the Cardinals entered. They kneel and pray for his spirit as the people slowly walk in and behind the lines of kneeling Church Leaders. The Swiss Guard stand with extra solemnness, adding to the mood of the moment.

Henri allows Jane to cry till she has gotten past her grief somewhat before going down to get something from the kitchen for them to eat, because they had not received their breakfast that eventful morning. The whole kitchen staff is at St. Peter's Basilica, so he must help himself to some soup that is being kept warm over the large stove and some of the pie that Jane seemed to enjoy so much.

He gets back to the Royal Suite to see Jane standing with her bags all packed and ready to leave. He stops at the doorway, still holding the two plates. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes, right after the ceremony, we will disappear from the Chapel in St. Peter's Basilica to go into hiding till the time is right, for us to return," states Jane flatly.

Henri places the food on the table and smiles. "OK, how are we supposed to do that in front of thousands of people and cameras watching our every move?"

Jane taps her head and smiles. "There are ways."

Henri shakes his head. "I don't think it is going to be boring, being your body guard on behalf of the Church, but please go easy on me at first."

Jane smiles as she approaches the food on the table. "I can't make any promises at this time, all I can suggest is that you try and keep up."

"Well, I shall endeavor to do just that. But right now, we should eat something. It could be a long day."

They sit down and quickly eat before heading back to St. Peter's Basilica for the funeral service for Christopher's body.

They get there just as the final preparations have been made. The pews are full of dignitaries from all over the world. Most of them are just now being told the latest happenings of the last couple of hours. The excitement in the room is contagious as everybody talks about the implications to their own countries.

Jane and Henri have two chairs set to the side of the Chapel in St. Peter's Basilica, just to the right of the open wooden casket that Saint Christopher's body lays in.

The procession to carry the body of Saint Christopher had made the rounds of St. Peter's Square, and now the wooden casket has been returned to the Basilica where Pope Pius steps to the pulpit and addresses the assembled dignitaries and honored guests. Pius uses English to give the benediction, because that was their Saints language.

Jane listens to the words and understands them but does not pay them to much attention as she accesses the memories of Christopher's life that are now free for her to recall at will. The reason for all the secrecy and the long-term planning makes sense now, and she looks forward to the day when her son will be born into the world of man.

Henri has been watching her and sees the sometime smiles and then tears as Jane recalls the details of Christopher's actions. He leans in close to whisper in Jane's ear. "Are you OK? You look like you are having a rough time of it."

Jane smiles and lays her hand on Henri's arm. "I have all of Christopher's memories now, and he was a great man. Pius is only touching the surface of his deep love for life and the people he met as he moved through his time on Earth."

Henri nods his head and returns his attention to Pope Pius, who is just finishing up his long and inspiring speech, praising the good fortune that the Church was Granted a Messenger from God himself in these troubled times. He confirmed the Church's desire to welcome the coming Messiah and do everything possible to herald him into the world.

Pius leads the gathered witnesses in rousing prayer, and when everybody responds with a loud "Amen", there comes a loud clap of thunder from out in the Square. The whole crowd turns around in their chairs as the guards step to the open doorway to protect the people, if it turns out to be something dangerous.

Jane jumps up, grabbing Henri's arm as she does. "That is our cue, let's go." Jane rushes to the pillar at the corner of the inner Chapel and slips behind it to a narrow passage hidden at a ninety-degree corner right behind the massive marble pillar. Jane pulls Henri along a twisted passage to another pillar along the side passageway to the back of the Basilica. At the end of the corridor, they come to the entrance of the Passetto de Borgo, or Passetto as it is normally called. The Popes in the past had used the secret passageway to escape to the Castel Sant'Angelo, where the Pope could be protected with ease by the Swiss Guard.

Henri looks both ways down the empty hallway. "We have to hurry, because somebody had to have seen us leave the Chapel."

Jane smiles at him. "Nobody saw us, because they were distracted at the time and any who did look our way would not have seen us, because I removed our presence from their minds."

Henri wants to protest but thinks better of it and follows Jane into the narrow archway instead.

Jane rushes down the long-raised corridor with Henri right behind her through the thick stone walls, to the Castel, which is now a Museum. The museum is empty with the security doors in place to protect the rare artifacts, because the workers and all the visitors are crammed into St. Peters Basilica, or standing outside listening to the speakers mounted around the Square. They rush down the marble staircase and exit the main doors of the museum to see a long black limousine waiting for them and the chauffeur standing with the door open for them to enter.

Jane jumps in to the back and slides along the seat, so Henri can enter beside her. Henri is already to protect Jane from whoever might be in the back of the long black vehicle, but Jane smiles at him, and points to the lone occupant sitting backward to the driver's area. "Henri, may I introduce you to Will Struss, a personal friend and long-time member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood California."

Will smiles at her, before responding. "You do know, Jane, that we have never met before today."

"Well, that is not necessarily true. I now have all of Christopher and Wong's thoughts. So, all their memories are now mine," smiles Jane. "Maybe we should have a few hands of poker to see if I am telling the truth."

Will puts up his hands. "No, that's OK, I will take your word for it," he adds, before turning to Henri. "So, you are the sworn protector of the coming Messiah and his mother."

Henri smiles in return. "Henri de Salis at your service. I have pledged my life to protecting Jane and the Baby."

Will nods his head. "Jane, you are a lucky lady, to have such a protector ready to die for you if need be."

"Yes, I am, but now I think we should make our escape, back to America, so we can disappear into the safety of obscurity."

"Right," says Will, as he reaches up and hits the button beside the small speaker. "Sam, can you please take us to the plane. I think it is time to go home."

"Right away, Mr. Struss."