The Quest: A Novel

anything about Mr. Selassie, as he is now called?”
    “I have heard a rumor that they are gently grilling him about his assets here and abroad, and that he’s giving them a little at a time in exchange for the lives of some of his family.”
    “And what happens when he’s given them everything?”
    He informed Purcell, “They’ve smothered a few old royals with pillows and announced a natural death. That will be his fate. Or something similar.”
    Purcell nodded. He asked, “Do you think the emperor knows the location of the black monastery?”
    “That is a good question. The royal court used to travel throughout the kingdom to dispense justice, give pardons, give money to churches, and so forth. They would always visit the Ark of the Covenant at Axum. So it is possible that the emperor has visited the black monastery, but my instincts say he has not. And even if he had, he could not give his captors the grid coordinates.”
    “Right. I’m sure he wasn’t driving the tour bus.”
    “More likely the Grail was brought to him at some location away from the monastery.”
    “Like the village of Shoan.”
    “Possible.” Mercado informed him, “The royal court has been shrouded in secrecy for three thousand years. They make the emperor of Japan’s court seem like an open house party.”
    “And the Vatican makes every other closed institution look like a public information office.”
    “Your anti-papist views are annoying, Frank.” He reminded him, “You work for the Vatican newspaper.”
    “God help me.”
    “In any case, the imperial court of Ethiopia is no more.”
    “Unless Gann gets his way.”
    “That will not happen. There is no going back.”
    “I think you’re right, Henry. And on that subject, where is Sir Edmund?”
    “I’m beginning to wonder myself.”
    “He said he’d arrive on the twenty-fourth, which was yesterday. But we were to wait four days before we gave up on him.”
    “Then we will wait. But if he doesn’t show, we will press on. Without him.”
    “We need those maps.”
    “We have an aircraft.”
    “Aerial recon is not a substitute for terrain maps. One complements the other. Also, Colonel Gann has skills we don’t have.”
    “I believe we can do this without him. But I can’t do this without you and Vivian.”
    Purcell looked at Mercado and asked, “Why are we actually doing this? Tell me again.”
    “My reasons, like yours, Frank, change every day. There are days I think of my immortal soul, and other days I think how nice it would be to become rich and famous on a world Grail tour. The only thing I’m sure of is that we—all three of us—were chosen to do this, and I believe we will not know why until we are in the presence of the Holy Grail and the Holy Spirit.”
    Purcell nodded. “All right. If Gann doesn’t show up, I’m still in. I’ll ask Vivian.”
    “You don’t have to ask.” Mercado looked toward the lobby. “But if you’d like to, here she is.”
    Vivian came into the room carrying a tote bag and wearing khaki trousers, a shapeless pullover, and walking shoes. She spotted them and came toward the table, smiling.
    Mercado rose, smiled at her, and pulled out a chair.
    Vivian gave them both a peck on the cheek, then sat and said, “I thought I might find you both in the bar as usual.”
    Mercado replied, “It is now the breakfast room. But I can get you a Bloody Mary.”
    “No thank you.” She asked, “What have you two been talking about?”
    Purcell replied, “Aerial recon.”
    She took his hand. “Frank, you were absolutely magnificent. What other skills do you have that you haven’t told us about?”
    “I can tie a bow tie.”
    She laughed, then took Purcell’s toast. “I’m famished.”
    Mercado said to her, “I was telling Frank that we were impressed with his flyby.”
    Vivian glanced at Purcell, who was trying to get a waiter’s attention, then she looked at Mercado and their eyes met. He smiled. She gave him a look of mock annoyance.
    The waiter came and Vivian ordered tea and fruit, then ate one of Purcell’s sausages. Mercado told her, “We were feeling guilty about the famine.”
    “Did you cause it, Henry?”
    “I’m having only a cornetto.”
    “Well, you should keep up your strength. You’re going to need it.”
    “Excellent point.” Mercado was not getting the full satisfaction from this moment, so he suggested, “Perhaps we should clear the air about this morning.”
    Vivian responded a second too