Free The Secret of Fatima by Peter J; Tanous Page A

Porter’s comments about a world conflict popped into his head.
    â€œWell, maybe you should dig a little deeper. We tracked a top Israeli official on his way to Beirut today. Don’t know what he’s doing there. Nobody in Israel is volunteering any intel. That Vatican satellite I just told you about was directed to a new route over Iran, Syria, and Israel.”
    â€œThanks, Toby. I’ll work on putting this all together.”
    â€œOkay, buddy. But you’d better work fast.”

Chapter Eight
    Seville, Spain
    Although there was a specific, Opus Mundi-related reason that Carlos Alameda, also known as Columbo, resided in Seville, he wanted to be there. In all of Spain, Seville was Alameda’s ideal choice for residence.
    At the cultural and religious center of the city was Seville’s Cathedral, ranked as either the largest in the world, according to the Guinness World Records , or the third largest, depending on how you measured it. It was the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, but its ranking in size was not of importance to Columbo. There was simply not a more expansive and majestic place of worship in the world.
    It was no coincidence that Kevin felt equally partial to this Spanish city and its church. He looked forward to visiting the cathedral, and the sights and aura of the magnificent structure took his breath away. The original was a mosque, built in the twelfth century when the Moors controlled Spain. When Ferdinand II of Castile reconquered Seville in 1248, Christianity was reestablished and the Aljama Mosque was converted to a cathedral. Both men knew all this, but Alameda likely knew the history even better than Kevin did. Indeed, Alameda’s knowledge was deep enough to qualify as a tour guide. But there were other reasons for his expertise.
    In the fourteenth century, following two earthquakes, the church as it is known today came into being. The Giralda Tower dominating the skyline originally was built as the mosque’s minaret. In the sixteenth century, the bell tower crowning the Giralda Tower was added, bringing in a much needed harmony to the Islamic and Renaissance elements of this magnificent structure. Every visit Alameda made to this cathedral was a fresh experience. Every visit he enjoyed watching first-time visitors entranced by its towering structure and beauty.
    Alameda, dressed like a Franciscan monk in a long brown tunic and hood, kneeled before the Capilla Major, the highest and most breathtaking altarpiece in the Christian world. Measuring twenty meters high, it was protected by a bronze grill, itself a work of art. The altarpiece behind the main altar featured massive gold covered carvings of lifelike saints. It was all so unusual and majestic, it took his breath away. He wasn’t the only one who experienced such sublime feelings in this holy place. Pope John Paul II had visited the cathedral in 1982 and as his eyes took in the altarpiece for the first time, he was said to have wept.
    His prayers completed, Alameda looked about for the man he knew as Visitor. Soon enough, Visitor, similarly attired like a Franciscan monk, joined him and knelt before the altar. “God bless you,” Alameda whispered in Spanish.
    Visitor knelt, his eyes fixed straight on the altar. “The Vatican has summoned an investigator from America,” he said. “He must be dealt with. He is not our usual ecclesiastic enemy.”
    â€œI know what happened to the agents who followed him from the airport,” Alameda commented while shaking his head. “I believe I must go to Rome and personally assume command of the mission.” For a moment, Alameda hesitated before asking the next question.
    â€œExcellency, does the American know about the Secret?”
    Visitor continued to stare ahead at the altar. “We do not know what his superiors have told him. Perhaps the Vatican leaders will want to observe him for some time before discussing the