Christopher Nuttall - Second Chance 01 by Second Chance

Author:Second Chance [Chance, Second]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Holy Cities

SS Rottenstall

Mediterranean Sea

1st September 1940

Darkness cloaked the small convoy as it slipped through the inland sea, hidden from prowling German aircraft and Italian submarines. In theory, the two frigates escorting the force would be able to fend off any attack directed at the small fleet, but in practice – if the Germans continued to swarm the modern ships – they would be quickly sunk and lost.

“I imagine that you’re excited,” Father O’Reilly remarked, as Shahan McLachlan paced the deck. The freighter hadn’t been designed for passenger travel; many of the troops were travelling in unpleasant conditions. For the Catholic Priest, travelling to meet Pope Pius in Rome, the trip was proving fascinating.

“You have no idea,” Shahan said, examining the map. The Germans had established bases in Italy and were working on establishing them in Greece. The convoy had to reach Egypt in a day, before the Germans noticed them and tried to sink them. The remains of the Italian Navy had refused to fight for the Germans, but the German Air Force was proving a bitter foe.

“All my life, I’ve dreamed of an opportunity to snuff out Wahhabism in its lair before it could ever arise,” he continued, smiling. “Now I have it; the chance to establish a modern Muslim democracy in the Middle East and change the course of history.” He grinned. “What about you?”

“The Holy Father has not replied to our messages, or to messages from the Irish clergy,” Father O’Reilly replied grimly. “You know how some religions are taking the news of the future; not even De Valera could hide the truth about all the trials Catholicism will face in the future. The Holy Father could change all of them, if he bothered to see us.”

“I suppose being told that your power is on the verge of extinction is not good for anyone,” Shahan said. “You do realise that they might just burn you at the stake?”

“It’s been a while since that happened,” Father O’Reilly said, with a confidence that Shahan suspected he didn’t feel. “You know; in the original time line the Church refused to condemn the Holocaust, and I always felt that all the troubles we had stemmed from God as God’s punishment to us. So many people condemned the Church that we lost so much; in the 1960’s thousands of Americans used contraceptives without a care for the Vatican ruling in 1968. Your own growth might be because we had surrendered our moral authority and…”

“Without that ruling, you might have saved millions of lives in Africa,” Shahan said, without condemnation. “Has your council worked out what the Transition means for you yet?”

Father O’Reilly grinned. “No more than the Muslim Council of Britain has,” he said wryly. “Apart from you, of course; they were scared to oppose you. Finally, a cause that’s popular with the young, the converts and the government…and the only cost is the loss of some of their power.

“We’re still arguing,” he said. “I wish that the troublesome woman priest hadn’t given the Irish a list of known paedophiles among the Irish clergy.

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