Mirror, Mirror at 1600 D.C.. Edward Galluzzi

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СКАЧАТЬ that’s where our dear friend Mr. Rossetti left me hanging, your Excellency” said Hannah with slight annoyance. “Ah, yes” commented Josetta with concern. He continued, “I can see why he would stop there.” “You mean my fiancé intentionally ended the story at that very point?” asked Hannah more in irritation than annoyance.

      “Perhaps…Perhaps my dear friend was trying to protect me and what I had to do that day 17 years ago.” Josetta’s voice grew hoarse and he coughed to clear his throat. He thought back 17 years ago and the images of that day flooded his mind as if the events occurred yesterday. “Forgive me,” he said humbly. Hannah smiled as if to say, ‘Never you mind.’ The holy man proceeded, “As Spia told you, two gunmen entered my church. They were rather rude men and shall we say not at all patient?” Josetta paused briefly as his statement echoed. He continued, “One of the gunmen was a lean, tall man who had a scar on the right side of his nose. The other thug was more menacing, a big fellow with murderous eyes and several tattoos on his arms. He also had two scars on his face that were larger and more visible than the other gunmen.”

      Josetta rested for a moment, cleared his throat once again and continued. “Mi scusi. I knew that if they found the doorway to the burial vault below the church where Harrison was hidden, he would not survive the confrontation. I too would be…how do you Americans say, ‘loose ends’ and expendable. It was obvious that these men were not here for negotiation. They were out for blood.”

      Josetta rested momentarily and then proceeded, “When the gunmen first entered the church, they did not have their guns drawn. However, it was clear from the bulges in their dress that they were very well armed. The gunmen did not approach me at first. They busied themselves looking around the church by opening doors and checking between the congregational pews.” The Pontiffs rendition of the events of his first meeting with Harrison was again interrupted by coughing and clearing his throat. “I am sorry” he offered. “Maybe you should rest and I can come back another time” Hannah suggested. “And leave you hanging again like our beloved Harrison?” said Josetta emphatically. “Besides, I don’t know how much time I have.” The comment saddened Hannah, but she did her best to conceal it.

      Josetta managed a slight smile and proceeded, “The gunmen were nearing the end of their search. They had scrutinized the obvious. I knew that they would soon be disgruntled by their efforts and search the less obvious. I decided to approach them in hopes of defusing the situation or at the very least steer them away from the church. I greeted the tall, less threatening gunman who simply stared at me. After introducing myself, I asked if I could be of service. Again, the gunman stared at me and uttered nothing. Our one-sided conversation, however, did not go unnoticed by the other assassin.”

      Josetta stopped to rid himself of the rasp in his voice. His cough lingered this time. Hannah asked if she could get him anything to which he nodded ‘no’. The holy man continued, “As the second gunman approached, I again introduced myself and smiled uneasily. He took out a large caliber handgun from inside his jacket and struck me hard on the side of my face. I collapsed to one knee, not a position for which I’m unfamiliar by the way, and held the side of my face which ached severely from the blow.” As the holy man spoke, Hannah noticed a scar on the left side of his face. Josetta continued, “The tall gunman did not move or react in any way. He apparently had witnessed such viciousness before from his colleague. The other gunman who struck me walked forward and aimed his gun inches from my head. At that moment, I knew I was dead. Whether or not I betrayed Spia, their brutality certainly suggested that I would be sacrificed. Theirs were not the kind of enterprise known for leaving loose ends.”

      Josetta patted his chest as he coughed once again. “Mi scusi. This persistent cough is most irritating…,” he said as he paused and waved his hand. “I was too frightened to be scared,” said the holy man in truth with a hesitant smile. Hannah listened intently and easily understood how others gathered strength from this humble man. Josetta continued, “The man holding a gun in one hand and my life in the other said tersely to me, ‘You are hiding a man, a wounded man. You will turn him over to me if you value your life!’ He then cocked his gun. I enjoyed and valued life, of course, but my soul was at peace with God and prepared always for death.”

      Josetta stopped and reached for a glass of water from the bedside table. Hannah rose immediately, picked up the glass and handed it to him. Josetta took several sips from the glass and returned it to Hannah. He contemplated for a moment what he told Hannah thus far and spoke slowly. “I asked the gunman to help me up off my knee. I knew that if I were to gain the upper advantage, it was going to be at that very moment. The other gunman still had his hands down with no weapon in view. As the mercenary with the gun reached out with his free hand to assist me, I jerked his hand quickly. He stumbled to the ground, in shock I imagine, losing his gun in the process. Whether by fate or an act of God, the gun skidded toward me. I was not a stranger to firearms as my father often took me hunting as a ‘bambino’—a little boy.”

      Josetta began coughing once more. Hannah rose from her chair and gave the Pontiff his glass of water. The holy man took several swallows of the liquid and returned the glass to Hannah. Hannah sat down as Josetta cleared his throat and continued, “I only had seconds to beg for God’s mercy and forgiveness as I grabbed the gun. The thin, tall assassin who a moment ago was unarmed had reached for his weapon. I said aloud, ‘Mother of God please forgive me.’ I fired once dropping the man to the church floor. He laid still and he appeared no longer a threat. I then turned my attention to the other gunman who was no longer on the floor. He reached under his jacket presumably for another weapon. I fired again, but the weapon did not discharge. Several more pulls of the trigger yielded nothing but my disbelief and fear. The assassin pulled out a large knife and lunged toward me. I attempted to move out of the path of the man and his weapon, but was unable to do so. The cold steel of the knife forced itself into my left upper chest. The gunman dislodged the knife and was prepared to stab me again. As I lay on my back, I knew I would not survive a second assault. I again asked for God’s forgiveness and to accept my soul in His Kingdom. The assassin smiled smugly and I remember his words to this day: ‘You should have surrendered him. Now you will die for your misplaced loyalty.’ As the gunman reached back with his knife to end my life, semiautomatic gunfire rang out. The mercenary fell backward to the ground in a hail of bullets. He lay motionless as the knife that would have ended my life dropped slowly out of his hand. I managed with some effort to turn around toward the direction of the gunfire. Our friend Harrison was moving toward me.”

      Hannah’s eyes moistened as she better understood Josetta’s friendship with her Harrison. She comprehended clearly now the bond that existed between the holy man and the sinner. They saved the lives of each other risking their own. Yet, Hannah was aware of Josetta’s guilt of serving as the reluctant instigator of violence and death. It must be intolerable for a man of God ordained to protect life, to uplift life and to celebrate life to take it away even under such extraordinary circumstances. Josetta’s personal demon was an ongoing struggle of conscience in his life.

      Hannah stood and moved toward Josetta. She reached out to him. Their hands joined and they held each other firmly. Hannah spoke, “You need your rest, Holy Father. I cannot tell you how much meeting you has meant to me. I understand why Harrison speaks so fondly and genuinely about you. Thank you for reliving a painful part of your past just for me.” Josetta waived his hand as he often did before he spoke and said, “Spia and I have shared much over the years. And now he brings me you. You are much prettier on the eyes than your fiancé—be sure to tell Harrison I said so.” Josetta and Hannah both managed a smile. Hannah spoke, “I will tell him. Meanwhile, you get your rest. I want to meet again when Harrison and I can visit together with you. Your friendship means so much to him.” “And you? You can take care of my Spia knowing what you know and don’t know about him?” said Josetta coyly. They both understood what was said and left unsaid. Hannah replied, “We will all take care of each other.” Josetta afforded a hearty laugh, one of few laughs in the past months, and countered, “You should be a diplomat!” The two growing friends managed a laugh again. Hannah СКАЧАТЬ