The Messiah Code (20 page)
Authors: Michael Cordy
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Thrillers, #Suspense Fiction, #Fiction - Espionage, #Thriller, #Fiction - General, #Adventure stories, #Technological, #Medical novels, #English Mystery & Suspense Fiction, #Genetic Engineering, #Christian Fiction, #Brotherhoods, #Jesus Christ - Miracles
She was horrified. "What do you mean it needn't concern me?"
Brother Bernard leaned forward then. "Nemesis, let me explain what we want you to do about Dr. Carter--what I want you to do about him. Are you listening?"
"Yes, of course."
"Good. It's very simple." She noticed the manila envelope in his hands. "I want you to do nothing. You are to leave him alone, until I tell you otherwise. You have other priorities now. Other Righteous Kills that need your expertise--here in this envelope."
Maria felt cold, then suddenly hot. "This is because of Stockholm, isn't it?"
Bernard shook his head. "No, this has nothing to do with Stockholm. We just have different plans for Dr. Carter."
"What plans? Are you going to use Gomorrah? He has no imagination. He would never have uncovered what the scientist is doing. I should have the--"
"Nemesis!" interrupted Bernard, raising his voice. "The Righteous Kill on Dr. Carter is postponed for the foreseeable future. I have given you your orders. Now carry them out."
She couldn't believe this. "Postponed? Why? I demand to speak to the Father. He would--"
It was Helix who cut her off this time, his voice firm but reasonable. "It is decided, Nemesis. Father Ezekiel sanctioned the decision himself. Please let it alone."
She saw Bernard glare at Helix, angry that his colleague was trying to calm
his
charge. Then Bernard turned to her, incensed that she had challenged his authority in front of Helix. He said, "Nemesis, you have been indulged too much already. You are an operative. You take strategic orders from the Inner Circle--
from me
. If you question me again you will be suspended, or even replaced. Gomorrah
his
charge. Then Bernard turned to her, incensed that she had challenged his authority in front of Helix. He said, "Nemesis, you have been indulged too much already. You are an operative. You take strategic orders from the Inner Circle--
from me
. If you question me again you will be suspended, or even replaced. Gomorrah
may not be as inventive as you, but he does exactly what he's told. You are
not
indispensable. Do you understand me?"
not
indispensable. Do you understand me?"
Maria ignored him and turned to Helix, who she thought looked mildly embarrassed. "Brother Helix, are you sure the Father has sanctioned this?"
"You heard what Brother Bernard said."
"Can you tell me
why
he sanctioned this?"
why
he sanctioned this?"
Helix shrugged and was about to speak when Bernard stood, red-faced, and pointed to the door. "Nemesis, this meeting is closed. You will leave your notes and photographs with us, and leave."
Maria turned then to the Champion of the Secondary Imperative and met his eye. She lowered her usual guard and allowed her full contempt for him to show in her icy glare. She stood to leave only when she saw his beady eyes flicker and look away.
She turned to Helix and nodded. "Brother Helix."
The tall Brother returned her nod. "Operative Nemesis."
Then she walked straight past Bernard and out the door.
London
Later
T
hat night Maria Benariac couldn't sleep as she lay naked on the single bed in her London apartment. She felt wounded, an animal in pain. She couldn't remember feeling so alone and isolated. Not since Corsica. As always she slept in the light, but tonight, despite the four overhead bulbs and six spotlights bleaching away the darkness, she couldn't banish the shadows in her mind.
hat night Maria Benariac couldn't sleep as she lay naked on the single bed in her London apartment. She felt wounded, an animal in pain. She couldn't remember feeling so alone and isolated. Not since Corsica. As always she slept in the light, but tonight, despite the four overhead bulbs and six spotlights bleaching away the darkness, she couldn't banish the shadows in her mind.
Before Dr. Carter had escaped her vengeance, Ezekiel had always included her, treated her with respect and love. She had been his favored one--the chosen one. But now the Father was distancing himself from her, leaving all contact to Brother Bernard, who neither understood nor valued her. It was all Dr. Carter's fault and only by destroying him could everything be made right. She was sure of it. Only then could she once again bathe in the love of the Father.
Be once again a valued, cherished member of his family.
She reached to the small table beside the bed and felt the cold steel blade with her fingers. Its touch sent a frisson of fear and excitement through her--a frisson that cut through her anxiety and promised release. Her hands closed around the handle.
She took the dagger from the table and held it up above her head. She studied the kukri's curved blade silhouetted against the bright bulb above, and with her other hand ran a thumb over its razor edge. Exerting just enough pressure she sliced into the skin of her thumb, releasing a drop of blood so it fell toward her left eye. She watched the droplet grow bigger and bigger, trying not to blink when the warm blood eventually shattered on her open eye.
Then with a steady hand she moved the blade down her body, to that part where the still-fresh scars had barely healed. Without looking down, she laid the crook of the curved blade, sharp edge down, on her right thigh. Slowly she began to rock the blade until the exquisite pain came, the skin broke, and the blood began to flow.
I
t is on the day before her fifteenth birthday that Maria is
summoned by Mother Clemenza, the Mother Superior who runs
the Corsican orphanage near Calvi. The stern matriarch doesn't
even bother to hide her dislike for Maria when she shuffles
nervously into her study and stands in front of the imposing desk.
Mother Clemenza is a fat woman with large pointed glasses that
seem to rest on her round puffed-out cheeks. The spectacles give
her heavy-lidded eyes an unfortunate, evil slant. To Maria she
looks like a huge toad in her voluminous habit, squatting behind
her desk waiting for flies to pass by. And when the toad fixes her
with a baleful glare and speaks, her pointed pink tongue looks as
if it might dart out at any moment and strike her.
t is on the day before her fifteenth birthday that Maria is
summoned by Mother Clemenza, the Mother Superior who runs
the Corsican orphanage near Calvi. The stern matriarch doesn't
even bother to hide her dislike for Maria when she shuffles
nervously into her study and stands in front of the imposing desk.
Mother Clemenza is a fat woman with large pointed glasses that
seem to rest on her round puffed-out cheeks. The spectacles give
her heavy-lidded eyes an unfortunate, evil slant. To Maria she
looks like a huge toad in her voluminous habit, squatting behind
her desk waiting for flies to pass by. And when the toad fixes her
with a baleful glare and speaks, her pointed pink tongue looks as
if it might dart out at any moment and strike her.
"
Maria, as you know, Father Angelo is here on one of his visits.
After doing his rounds he has asked to hear one of the girls read
to him in the tower library. Frankly there are many more appro
priate girls whom I would prefer to represent us to him. But for
some reason he expressly asked
Maria, as you know, Father Angelo is here on one of his visits.
After doing his rounds he has asked to hear one of the girls read
to him in the tower library. Frankly there are many more appro
priate girls whom I would prefer to represent us to him. But for
some reason he expressly asked
for you. Now, Maria, this is an honor and it is very important
you make a good impression on Father Angelo, so behave. If you
don't, then I will hear of it--and you know what will happen
."
you make a good impression on Father Angelo, so behave. If you
don't, then I will hear of it--and you know what will happen
."
Maria nods. She is only too aware of the punishments the toad
can mete out; she has received most of them in the years since she
was abandoned here as a three-day-old baby.
can mete out; she has received most of them in the years since she
was abandoned here as a three-day-old baby.
The toad's thin lips curl in an attempt at a smile, but her eyes
don't even bother to try. "Good. Now run along; he is waiting for
you."
don't even bother to try. "Good. Now run along; he is waiting for
you."
As Maria walks up the stone stairs of the central tower that
dominates the old orphanage she wonders why Father Angelo has
asked for her. She obviously knows who Father Angelo is, since
he is one of the most senior members of the order, but he has seen
her only once before, on his last visit. And that was only because
he spied her working in the laundry room when he was snooping
around--or "doing his rounds" as Mother Clemenza calls it. So it
was only by accident that he even noticed her. Unlike the other
girls she's usually kept far too busy to be introduced to important
visitors.
dominates the old orphanage she wonders why Father Angelo has
asked for her. She obviously knows who Father Angelo is, since
he is one of the most senior members of the order, but he has seen
her only once before, on his last visit. And that was only because
he spied her working in the laundry room when he was snooping
around--or "doing his rounds" as Mother Clemenza calls it. So it
was only by accident that he even noticed her. Unlike the other
girls she's usually kept far too busy to be introduced to important
visitors.
Maria's long since given up trying to understand why the nuns
hate her, but she knows they do. They are forever singling her
out and finding reasons to punish her. She knows it has something
to do with the way she looks. Some of the nuns call her the "devil's
daughter" because of her eyes, and they cut her chestnut hair so
short the scalp shows through. "Don't think being beautiful means
you're special," they've told her ever since she can remember.
Maria doesn't bother to try to understand anymore. All she knows
is that she hates the way she looks and wishes she was plainer,
more anonymous. Then she wouldn't be an embarrassment to the
orphanage and she'd have friends.
hate her, but she knows they do. They are forever singling her
out and finding reasons to punish her. She knows it has something
to do with the way she looks. Some of the nuns call her the "devil's
daughter" because of her eyes, and they cut her chestnut hair so
short the scalp shows through. "Don't think being beautiful means
you're special," they've told her ever since she can remember.
Maria doesn't bother to try to understand anymore. All she knows
is that she hates the way she looks and wishes she was plainer,
more anonymous. Then she wouldn't be an embarrassment to the
orphanage and she'd have friends.
As Maria approaches the closed wooden door of the small lib
rary she again asks herself why Father Angelo has asked for her,
and not one of the "better" girls. But far from feeling honored she
feels her stomach contract with nerves. After all, Father Angelo
is so important in the Church he must speak to God person
ally--even the toad,
rary she again asks herself why Father Angelo has asked for her,
and not one of the "better" girls. But far from feeling honored she
feels her stomach contract with nerves. After all, Father Angelo
is so important in the Church he must speak to God person
ally--even the toad,
Mother Clemenza, acts nervous when he's around.
At the library door she raises her hand to knock but hesitates
for a moment, wondering what would happen if she just turned
around and walked back to the laundry. But she knows she'll be
punished, probably put in the dreaded lock-away, so she takes a
deep breath and gives the door three timid knocks.
for a moment, wondering what would happen if she just turned
around and walked back to the laundry. But she knows she'll be
punished, probably put in the dreaded lock-away, so she takes a
deep breath and gives the door three timid knocks.
"Enter!" booms a voice from inside.
Her hand trembles a little as she turns the metal catch and
opens the heavy door. Father Angelo is alone in the room. He sits
on the couch by the window that overlooks the driveway. A large
book is perched on his lap. On either side of the couch the walls
are lined with shelves, crammed with leather-bound books. She
has been in this room countless times before, but standing here
alone with him now makes it seem strange and alien.
opens the heavy door. Father Angelo is alone in the room. He sits
on the couch by the window that overlooks the driveway. A large
book is perched on his lap. On either side of the couch the walls
are lined with shelves, crammed with leather-bound books. She
has been in this room countless times before, but standing here
alone with him now makes it seem strange and alien.
Father Angelo is a thin man and even when he's sitting down,
his robes seem to hang on his gaunt frame. His face is long with
a misshapen nose and his eyes are too close together. But to Maria
his worst feature is his skin: heavily pockmarked and sallow, it
gives him the appearance of being ill. When he smiles at her his
teeth are yellow. Maria is frozen to the spot wanting desperately
to turn and run out of there, but then he pats the space next to
him on the couch. "Come, my child. Come and sit next to me. It's
Maria, isn't it?"
his robes seem to hang on his gaunt frame. His face is long with
a misshapen nose and his eyes are too close together. But to Maria
his worst feature is his skin: heavily pockmarked and sallow, it
gives him the appearance of being ill. When he smiles at her his
teeth are yellow. Maria is frozen to the spot wanting desperately
to turn and run out of there, but then he pats the space next to
him on the couch. "Come, my child. Come and sit next to me. It's
Maria, isn't it?"
Clenching her fists so hard she can feel her nails digging into
the palms of her hand she forces herself to walk over to him. "Yes,
Father Angelo."
the palms of her hand she forces herself to walk over to him. "Yes,
Father Angelo."
She takes her seat as far away from him on the couch as she
can, but even from this distance she can smell his breath--it re
minds her of the rotten cabbage she empties out of the kitchen
bins. He passes the book to her: the Bible. Then he stands up and
walks back to the door. She feels herself relax when he moves
away from her--just his presence makes her skin crawl. But she
tenses again when she sees him throw the bolt on the inside of the
door.
can, but even from this distance she can smell his breath--it re
minds her of the rotten cabbage she empties out of the kitchen
bins. He passes the book to her: the Bible. Then he stands up and
walks back to the door. She feels herself relax when he moves
away from her--just his presence makes her skin crawl. But she
tenses again when she sees him throw the bolt on the inside of the
door.
"Good," he says with his yellow-toothed smile. "Now we won't
be disturbed. And I can listen to you read in peace."
be disturbed. And I can listen to you read in peace."
He walks back to the couch and sits next to her again, but this
time he sits so close his thigh touches hers. She tries to squeeze
away from him, but because she is already at the end of the couch
she can't move any farther. "What would you like me to read?"
she asks, trying to keep her voice steady.
time he sits so close his thigh touches hers. She tries to squeeze
away from him, but because she is already at the end of the couch
she can't move any farther. "What would you like me to read?"
she asks, trying to keep her voice steady.
"You choose, my child. But don't sit so far away." He taps his
thigh with his bony right hand. She notices how his nails are
beautifully manicured. "Sit on my lap."
thigh with his bony right hand. She notices how his nails are
beautifully manicured. "Sit on my lap."
Her heart's beating so fast now she can hardly breathe. "Thank
you, Father. But I'm comfortable here."
you, Father. But I'm comfortable here."
His hand taps his thigh more insistently. "Nonsense. Come and
sit here."
sit here."
She turns and sees his eyes staring at her. There's a hunger in
them which scares her. It's more animal than human. His forehead
and the area just above his upper lip are shiny, covered with a
sheen of perspiration.
them which scares her. It's more animal than human. His forehead
and the area just above his upper lip are shiny, covered with a
sheen of perspiration.
Then he smiles at her, and it's the most terrifying thing she's
ever seen. With trembling hands she opens the Bible and reads
the first thing she sees. "'And then the angel said unto...'"
ever seen. With trembling hands she opens the Bible and reads
the first thing she sees. "'And then the angel said unto...'"
His hand rests on the mound of her left breast and squeezes it
so hard it hurts. Maria can't believe that Father Angelo is doing
this to her. She tries to ignore him, hoping he'll stop. She carries
on reading, focusing on the words swimming on the page in front
of her.
so hard it hurts. Maria can't believe that Father Angelo is doing
this to her. She tries to ignore him, hoping he'll stop. She carries
on reading, focusing on the words swimming on the page in front
of her.
His other hand is now undoing the buttons of her blouse and
burrowing under her bra to touch her other breast. His breathing
is ragged, as if he's been running hard. She can no longer pretend
this isn't happening so she puts the Bible down and tries to pull
his hands away. "Please don't, Father Angelo. Please leave me
alone."
burrowing under her bra to touch her other breast. His breathing
is ragged, as if he's been running hard. She can no longer pretend
this isn't happening so she puts the Bible down and tries to pull
his hands away. "Please don't, Father Angelo. Please leave me
alone."
"But it's not my fault, my child. You are so beautiful. You are
the temptress, not me." His dark eyes have a fevered look in them
now. "Be still and you won't be punished."
the temptress, not me." His dark eyes have a fevered look in them
now. "Be still and you won't be punished."
She struggles but he suddenly pushes himself on top of her.
Despite his slender build he is strong and easily holds her down.
She starts to cry out but he pushes his foul-smelling mouth over
hers. She almost gags when she feels
Despite his slender build he is strong and easily holds her down.
She starts to cry out but he pushes his foul-smelling mouth over
hers. She almost gags when she feels
his tongue on hers. His face is so close she can see every blemish
on his pockmarked skin, every blackhead on his deformed nose.
Then she feels his right hand rummage under her skirt, pulling
down her panties--bony fingers pinching her, probing her. She
struggles harder but his full weight is now on her, and with his
mouth over hers she finds it difficult to breathe. His fingers are
hurting her and then for a merciful second he pulls away. He re
arranges his robes and she feels something else pushing insistently
between her legs--bigger and more painful. He starts to groan
like an animal. She panics but can't move or scream as tears
stream down her cheeks.
on his pockmarked skin, every blackhead on his deformed nose.
Then she feels his right hand rummage under her skirt, pulling
down her panties--bony fingers pinching her, probing her. She
struggles harder but his full weight is now on her, and with his
mouth over hers she finds it difficult to breathe. His fingers are
hurting her and then for a merciful second he pulls away. He re
arranges his robes and she feels something else pushing insistently
between her legs--bigger and more painful. He starts to groan
like an animal. She panics but can't move or scream as tears
stream down her cheeks.
Then he thrusts into her and white hot pain rips through her
whole body. She never knew such pain could exist. It feels as if
she is being torn in two. Again she wants to cry out, to scream,
but she can't even move. She thinks the pain will make her go
mad, until gradually her mind retreats in on itself, tries to pretend
this isn't happening to her, that she is merely a spectator to this
unspeakable act, not the victim.
whole body. She never knew such pain could exist. It feels as if
she is being torn in two. Again she wants to cry out, to scream,
but she can't even move. She thinks the pain will make her go
mad, until gradually her mind retreats in on itself, tries to pretend
this isn't happening to her, that she is merely a spectator to this
unspeakable act, not the victim.
Other books
New Girl by Titania Woods
Three Houses by Angela Thirkell
The Miraculous Makeover of Lizard Flanagan by Carol Gorman
The Widow's War by Mary Mackey
Dark Star by Lara Morgan
Heart of Oak by Alexander Kent
The Enchanter by Vladimir Nabokov
Deadly Coast by McDermott, R. E.
A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer
