Chapter 7. [ Madonna Santa! ]
Before proceeding to present-day occurrences, I am positive you all have concerns about how things played out for me and Antonio at the cathedral; the Cattedrale di Monreale(Monreale Cathedral), Sicily, Palermo. So, let's dig in! Shall we?
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Three of us dismounted the automobile.
PS. Don't implore me to tell you why Gustavo's ghost didn't teleport instead. I am no ghost. I don't know how they run their affairs. Wink*
I stroked Antonio on his shoulder to get his attention, "Hey man! Er... Just let me do all the talking alright!"
He dismissed my utterances by shrugging off me, "Whatever Santo! Let's just get this over with and leave."
I loathed having to haul Antonio into this, but it wasn't a problem that I could handle on my own.
His presence gave me some degree of counterbalance. "But, I would rather not have him know this yet," So I reckoned in my heart.
I watched so many nuns stroll past us but, I lacked the bravery to chat with any. Maybe I just needed a minute to process my thoughts.
Gustavo's ghost growled at me, "Signal one of them already, Santo! Stop being a chicken! We are running out of time. Darn it!"
"Tsk-tsk!!" I booed at the dead man's ghost for sounding so selfish.
In a couple of minutes, I mustered enough courage to approach one of them, "Excuse me, Sister. Please, can you guide us in the direction of Father Ernesto?"
She eyed me with a threatening gaze; though indirect, it was obvious enough for me to discern it as a buzzer.
I soon became aware of my hand encircled on her shoulder in a side embrace.
Madonna Santa! Wrong move Santo! Even Gustavo's ghost was wriggling his head amazed at what I had just done.
[Madonna Santa! — Good God!]
I abruptly let her go and bowed my head subtly to ask forgiveness while holding my hands in the posture of prayer, "I am sorry, Sister. Excuse my ignorance."
Meanwhile, Antonio was battling hard to stifle his sniggering from spilling out.
"Bless you, brother! You are forgiven!" She motioned her hand in the sign of the cross before speaking again, "Well, at around this time of day, the Father will most likely be in the study."
She repented from speaking and tilted her pretty head sideways, to call at another sister like herself.
The sisters were rich-skinned attractive Italian women. It behove me to understand why anyone would want to miss out on something as pleasurable and pure as sex!
Don't look at me, haha! I am partly pagan.
**
"Sister Lucia here will take you to him; you both actually since you came together. Please excuse me, brothers."
My mind roamed a bit in the desire for Sister Lucia. Just from looking at her oval face and kitty brown eyes, I could detect that she was going to be even more beautiful beneath her habit. In just a romantic night alone with her, I could enlighten her about...
"This way please!" Her sweet feminine voice yapped me from my lustful thinking.
"Yeah right!" I responded sharply.
Antonio walked lazily behind me while I was directly behind sister Lucia, as we walked into the Cathedral.
**
A dignified piece of art on one of the walls in the interior prompted me to interrogate the Sister.
"Sister Lucia, please tell me. Who is in this colourful mosaic I see on the wall?" I interviewed her.
It was just too stunning for me to ignore.
The Sister smiled before speaking, "The mosaic is depicting William The Second (William II) offering this cathedral to our beloved Virgin Mary. You see, the cathedral was established sometime between 1174 and 1185—"
"Alright Lucia, save the history for someone who is interested," I mumbled to myself but Gustavo's ghost was laughing because he could hear me.
**
•In Father Ernesto's study•
Sister Lucia began the introduction, "Father Ernesto! These brothers are..."
"Thank you, Sister Lucia. You may excuse us please." The Father's words cut short her clause, abruptly.
She bowed slightly and exited the study.
Father Ernesto kept looking at me as if peering into my very soul.
After some seconds, he chose to speak, "Mm! You are not Gustavo," He then gestured to Antonio and me, "Please my brothers, do have your seats."
Antonio was a bit sceptical but I signalled him to loosen up and count on me.
At the instructions of Gustavo's ghost, I began to narrate everything to Father Ernesto as much as I could remember.
The Father's expression was calm and co-ordinated. He looked around the age of fifty but still retaining his handsomeness.
After thoroughly processing the information I had just passed across, the Father felt inclined to speak, "Gustavo came to me a while ago worried and harbouring a premonition about his life being taken from him. I didn't think that things would take a turn so suddenly. You have said that he needs you to act like him for a while. Am I correct?"
"Yes, Father." My answer was swift as I turned to witness Gustavo's ghost masking his hurt about his sudden demise.
Poor Gustavo! I will not rest until I find the bastards who did this to him! I concluded in my head.
"With that being said, please take me to the car I'd like to see things for myself." I nodded at the Father's words but said nothing.
**
The Father was in shock from seeing late Gustavo's body, lifeless in the rear of the car. He sighed before speaking, "Thank you Santo and ..."
"Antonio." I chipped in to spare him from joggling his memory too much.
"Yes, that's right! Thanks to you both. I'd have some trusted brothers come to get the body. But they will first show you a secluded part of the Cathedral to drive the body to first. I will take it from there. Is that okay?"
"Yes, Father. Thank you too." I answered back.
**
•Before departing from the Cathedral•
"Santo! How sure are we that the Father can be trusted? Also when you leave, what message do I take back to my cousin, Guillermo?" Antonio inquired eagerly.
"Gustavo is saying the Father can be trusted. But for Guillermo, I haven't thought of what to tell him yet," I responded.
"Be fast about your thoughts because I won't be heading back with you. I will find my way back to Guillermo from here."
"Why not let me drop you off at a place you can easily fare yourself from?"
"Thank you, Santo! But, I can manage on my own."
Now, why was he playing the guilty card on me?
Fine! I'd let him have his way.
"Tell Guillermo I'm headed back home, to Parco Saraceno." My final words as I drove off leaving him behind.
**
Thirty minutes later, Antonio was wiping sweat from off his forehead while anticipating a bus or something to fare him far away from the Cathedral.
With none forthcoming, he began to think that his decision was probably a bad one.