Free A Deafening Silence In Heaven by Thomas E. Sniegoski Page B

It’s incomplete. Tell your bloodhounds if they want to find a better version they need to keep searching where the home once stood. If my memory serves me there are all sorts of goodies buried there.”
    Adolfi took the book as it was shoved into his arms.
    “Thank you, Simeon,” the old man said, not really sure how to respond. “I’ll be sure to pass the information on.”
    “You do that,” the man said, continuing to peruse the shelves.
    “I didn’t expect to find you here,” the priest said, looking for a place to set the flesh-bound volume down.
    “I needed to distract myself from some recent news, and thought I’d lose myself in rows of forbidden knowledge,” the man said, his dark eyes scanning the titles before him.
    Adolfi carefully placed the book upon a wheeled cart with other books waiting to be returned to their shelves.
    There was a loud and sudden laugh from somewhere close by, and the old priest turned to see the familiar face of one of his Keeper agents, Constantin Malatesta, who walked toward him, reading a text on the rites of exorcism. The former agent looked up from the book, and a shiver ran down the Patriarch’s spine. This was not the Malatesta he had once commanded on so many Keeper assignments.
    “Have you read this, Priest?” the thing wearing Malatesta’s body asked. “It’s hysterical what they believe works.”
    Adolfi reached into the pocket of his cassock for the blessed talisman he always carried as protection against evil.
    Malatesta was cackling wildly as he flipped through the yellowed pages.
    “Simeon,” Adolfi called out. “Stand beside me,” he ordered as he withdrew the talisman that was said to have been blessed with the blood of the first Pope, the founder of the Keepers.
    Simeon walked to the end of the aisle, unaware of the danger.
    “Excuse me?” he asked.
    “Step to my side, please,” the old priest commanded.
    The thing wearing Malatesta’s skin was paying attention now, and Adolfi was no longer sure that he could guarantee Simeon’s safety.
    “And why would I be doing that?” Simeon asked.
    The dark-haired man turned his gaze to look at Malatesta. The possessed Keeper just smiled.
    “Should he come, too?” Simeon asked in reference to the possessed man.
    “Come away from him at once, or I cannot guarantee your safety,” the Patriarch proclaimed, raising the talisman so that all could see and feel its power.
    “Guarantee my safety?” Simeon questioned. “From him?” He pointed to Malatesta.
    “I will attempt to suppress the demonic forces possessing my agent, but I am afraid that—”
    “You’ll do no such thing,” Simeon stated. “That so-called demonic entity is working for me.”
    Malatesta grinned a grin that seemed far too wide for his human mouth.
    “It works for you?” the holy man asked, shocked.
    “The demon as well as the man it possesses,” Simeon explained. “They work in tandem most of the time.”
    “Have you read this?” Malatesta held out the book of exorcism.
    “Complete rubbish,” Simeon commented. “Not worth the parchment it’s inscribed upon.”
    Malatesta let the book drop to the floor, then opened his mouth, spewing a stream of green steaming bile upon the priceless text. The book began to smolder and burn. “It offends me,” he said with a shrug, wiping the corner of his mouth.
    Adolfi stood stunned, unsure of what his reaction should be as Simeon stepped from the aisle of books, careful not to tread upon the smoking text.
    “I told you that I recently learned something . . . something of a divine nature.” The pale man began to pace. “I came here seeking solace,” Simeon said. “Or at least some consolation from ancient scholars who have come before.” He paused as he gazed around the subterranean library. “But I’ve found no relief.”
    Adolfi could not help but ask, “What is it, my son? What troubles you so? Perhaps there is something that . . .”
    “They’re going to forgive