Chapter Three

"Doctor Raymond Banial, the Pope would like to see you now"

Doctor Banial entered the Pope's chamber, trembling with anticipation; he could hardly believe he was actually there in the Vatican. When Father Santos opened the door, the Doctor’s heart sank and he actually gasped when he saw the Pope laid out on the bed. He looked very ill indeed, in fact, if Doctor Banial had not known better he would have sworn he was there to do a post mortem.

Father Santos placed his hand on the Doctor's arm.

"You must tell nobody how ill he is. The Media has been informed that he has undergone an operation and he will be well again after a week or so, after a complete rest". He tightened his grip.

“Only four people know the truth, and one of them is the Holy Father"

"Don't worry, it is in my own interest that I agreed to do this“, the doctor stammered “do you think I am going to go to the press with this?"

"You understand we have to be extremely careful. You came highly recommended for your discretion". Father Santos released his grip a little, "I just hope you live up to your reputation"

He turned to the pope and made the sign of the cross and sighed,  he left the room, leaving the Doctor alone with the Holy Father.

The Pope lay in the bed motionless; it was a frightening scenario. In an induced coma and connected up to a life support system, he was basically dead. Only modern technology was keeping him alive, if that was what you could call, 'being alive'. His lungs crackled and wheezed. Doctor Banial couldn't believe how they had managed to keep it so secret. How had this not got out? This Pope had only been elected just over a year ago and now he was in this state, he had seemed so healthy.

They should get younger Popes he thought.

The Doctor had to concentrate on the job at hand and the first task was to examine the Pope. The examination wouldn't take too long, just a few blood tests and skin tissue samples should be enough. He could do all the tests he needed there and then, thanks to technology. He opened up his case and set up his mobile laboratory. It was basically a computer with lots of interesting extras, a digital microscope and tissue growth simulator. Wasn’t technology amazing these days?
The Pope had a good colour considering his condition. The extra oxygen had paid off, we didn't want any dead skin tissue.

The Doctor scraped a skin sample from the forehead and another two from each cheek. He placed them carefully onto a glass slide and slid them into the respective compartment in his digital microscope. He typed in a few details and received the results instantly.

“Such healthy skin for a man in his 80s” he said out loud as if talking to the Pope himself, “a lot to say for a saintly life!"

The skin sample was perfect. He carefully wrapped placed them on slides for another test he would prefer to do at his laboratory, and packed them into his case. 

"Now for the blood," he said, talking himself through whole the operation.
He took out a 30ml syringe and a rubber band, he placed the rubber band around the Popes flaccid arm and tightened it as much as he could. The veins could hardly be seen. 

This may not be as easy as I thought!

He didn't want to have to dig about for a vein; this would cause too much bruising. He had to go somewhere less conspicuous, but then again nobody was allowed to see him, so he thought he may as well, what difference would it make? After a struggle he managed to get the amount he needed and tested it. The blood type was also compatible. 

This was the final step, the information they had been waiting for, finally it was possible! 
He tidied up his equipment, washed his hands and walked over to the door. He turned the handle but couldn't open it.

It was locked.

He thought he heard the Pope utter something, he turned around reluctantly to face him but the Pope hadn't moved and just lay there as before, his mouth covered. How could he make any utterances? He was in a coma! He turned and tried the door again. It continued locked. 
He heard the sound again, like a faint whisper. He tried to figure out from which direction it as coming from. It wasn't coming from the bed, it seemed to be coming from above.

He looked up to the ceiling, and the door jerked open

 "Father Santos," Panted the Doctor, "you frightened the life out of me!"

"Why should you be scared? This is the holiest place on the planet". Father Santos smiled his lips narrowed into a rather strange smile, unlike the one before. It made the Doctor feel quite cold.

"So when can we start?" The Father asked him, lips still narrowed and eyes squinted.

"As soon as you get things in order" said Doctor Banial rather vaguely.

"What about today?" asked Father Santos

Doctor Banial had not counted on that at all.  Today! Wouldn't that be too soon? He thought. Then again...the sooner the better, no time like the present, today it would have to be.

The Doctor felt clammy and needed some fresh air, he found it difficult to breath, the air had suddenly become so dense and stale.

"Let's go and have something to eat and we can discuss the other matters surrounding this intervention", said Father Santos as he lead him in a different direction from the one they had came from before. "I also have someone I want you to meet".

He opened the door of a large ornately decorated room, it was almost like they had gone back in time. The furniture was antique and the carpets were like non he had ever seen before, it almost looked as if they were made of gold. A large round oak table was in the centre surrounded by four chairs. The table was set for three.

A man sat near the window, Dr. Banial couldn't see his face, he was silhouetted by the light from outside. 

"This is Father Adriano" said Father Santos introducing them to each other.

They shook hands and sat down at the table. Father Santos rang a small bell and a young man entered pulling a trolley full of covered silver trays behind him. They all sat in silence as he placed the food on the table. Father Santos said something to him in Italian and he left as quickly as he had entered.

"Now we can get down to business “Father Santos’ eyes gleamed, "but first we eat".

The two Father's laughed together, as Father Santos poured three glasses of red wine. 
Doctor Banial only laughed because he felt he had to, he wasn't sure that he should be there at all now, he was having second thoughts. Although now it seemed it was a little late for that, he was in too deep. It had all been fine, right up until the moment he had wanted to leave the popes chambers. He hadn't had any bad feelings about it at all, until then.

The three of them held up their glasses and made a toast.

"Science is long and life is short", said Father Santos. "To the future!"

"To the future" said Father Adriano and Doctor Banial both at the same time. As the glasses clinked together, Doctor Banial swore he heard the same whisper that he had heard earlier in the Pope's chamber.