| <FONT size=3>The verses told of a prisoner named Silas who lay naked and beaten in his cell, singing <BR>ymns to God. When the ghost reached Verse 26, he gasped in shock. <BR>"...And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were <BR>haken, and all the doors fell open." <BR>His eyes shot up at the priest. <BR>The priest smiled warmly. "From now on, my friend, if you have no other name, I shall call <BR>ou Silas." <BR>The ghost nodded blankly. Silas. He had been given flesh. My name is Silas. <BR>"It's time for breakfast," the priest said. "You will need your strength if you are to help me <BR>uild this church." <BR> <BR>wenty thousand feet above the Mediterranean, Alitalia flight 1618 bounced in turbulence, <BR>ausing passengers to shift nervously. Bishop Aringarosa barely noticed. His thoughts were with <BR>he future of Opus Dei. Eager to know how plans in Paris were progressing, he wished he could <BR>hone Silas. But he could not. The Teacher had seen to that. <BR>"It is for your own safety," the Teacher had explained, speaking in English with a French <BR>ccent. "I am familiar enough with electronic communications to know they can be intercepted. <BR>he results could be disastrous for you." <BR>Aringarosa knew he was right. The Teacher seemed an exceptionally careful man. He had <BR>ot revealed his own identity to Aringarosa, and yet he had proven himself a man well worth <BR>beying. After all, he had somehow obtained very secret information. The names of the <BR>rotherhood's four top members! This had been one of the coups that convinced the bishop the <BR>eacher was truly capable of delivering the astonishing prize he claimed he could unearth. <BR>"Bishop," the Teacher had told him, "I have made all the arrangements. For my plan to <BR>ucceed, you must allow Silas to answer only to me for several days. The two of you will not <BR>peak. I will communicate with him through secure channels." <BR>"You will treat him with respect?" <BR>"A man of faith deserves the highest." <BR>"Excellent. Then I understand. Silas and I shall not speak until this is over." <BR>"I do this to protect your identity, Silas's identity, and my investment." <BR>"Your investment?" <BR>"Bishop, if your own eagerness to keep abreast of progress puts you in jail, then you will be <BR>nable to pay me my fee." <BR>The bishop smiled. "A fine point. Our desires are in accord. Godspeed." <BR>Twenty million euro, the bishop thought, now gazing out the plane's window. The sum was <BR>pproximately the same number of U.S. dollars. A pittance for something so powerful. <BR>He felt a renewed confidence that the Teacher and Silas would not fail. Money and faith <BR>ere powerful motivators. <BR></FONT> |
| thanks.............. |
