Free A Sacred Storm by Dominic C. James Page B

you?”
    â€œOf course,” said Ayres, and reached into his jacket. He withdrew two sheets of A4 paper and unfolded them on the desk.
    The two men went silent, suddenly overawed by the realization of what they now possessed.
    Ayres was the first to speak again. “Takes your breath away somewhat, doesn’t it?”
    â€œYes, indeed, Jonathan. I honestly never dared believe that it would happen in my lifetime. But here we are, after two millennia of frustration, finally about to learn Christ’s secrets. I just hope that we are able to tap in to the power before the Muslims start to poison the world with their false Messiah, and messages of intolerance.”
    â€œYes, let’s hope so,” said Ayres. “Have you heard any more about this ‘Hand of Allah’?”
    â€œNot a great amount. He is still containing himself in Mecca, but I’m sure it won’t be long before he announces himself to the world. And when he does we have to be ready. It is shame we had to wait so long.”
    Ayres looked across apologetically. “Yes, it is. I’m afraid that’s my fault really. Everything seemed to spiral out of control after the assassination attempt. It served its purpose in that I got assigned more men, but unfortunately they spent most of their time chasing down the assassin instead of searching for the box. It was one mistake after another. I really must get better help.”
    Vittori waved the apology away. “Do not worry Jonathan, these things happen as they say. The important thing is that we have the information we require. All we have to do now is find ourselves a Messiah.”
    â€œYes,” Ayres agreed. “Have you anyone in mind?”
    â€œIt is difficult,” said Vittori. “I have been running it through my head for days. We really need someone without a history, an unknown who we can mould into what we want. Someone who will not question us. Someone who will not get carried away with the power.”
    Ayres sipped his drink thoughtfully. “You’re right Fabio, it is difficult – extremely difficult. The problem being that we need someone who is devoted to the faith, and yet at the same time open enough to come to terms with the truth. We’ll be asking someone to defend their beliefs after blowing them to smithereens.”
    â€œTechnically, yes,” said Vittori. “But I am sure we can suggest it in a way that makes sense to the person. If we handle it correctly I do not think we will have a problem. Between us I am certain we can be most persuasive. And of course we will have the Pope himself to help us sway the argument.”
    â€œYes, I’d almost forgotten that. Is he not joining us this morning?”
    â€œHe has other engagements that were planned a long time ago I am afraid. We cannot go letting the faithful down now, can we?”
    â€œOf course not,” said Ayres. “Business as usual until we have a definite plan in place.”

Chapter 14
    Jennings lay on his bunk watching the ceiling and grinning like a madman. Majami had suggested that he have a small nap before dinner to allow the attunement to settle, but he was too pumped up to think about sleep. Every time he shut his eyes and tried to close his mind a new thought would suddenly pop into his head and send him off on another tangent of mental discovery. For the first time in his life he was beginning to see just how limitless the universe was.
    As he floated deeper in, Stella once again came to the forefront of his thoughts. He found that if he concentrated hard enough he could picture her in minute detail, her dark hair flowing like a stream of silk and her eyes glowing like amber. He began to call her name in his head, searching the vastness of space and time for a sign as to her whereabouts, letting the energy flow as he drifted further in. Her image grew sharper and brighter until he could almost see a background forming behind. But