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.“Well, at least it’s night in Europe.That’ll give you Cardinals a little time to put yourselves in order.And there’s a lot to get in order.Any idea when she’ll arrive in Rome?”“None,” said Cardinal Bradeston.“That’s why I’m here.”“Right,” said President Carey.* * *It was almost four in the morning when Cardinal van Hooven placed his call to Metropolitan Gosteshenko in Moscow.He knew that the Russian rose at six for morning prayers.“Good day, old friend,” he said when Pavel Gosteshenko growled at him.“Ah, Piet.Good day to you as well,” he said, his voice sharpening as sleep left him.“What are you doing up at this hour?”“We have had word from China,” said Cardinal van Hooven.“Ah,” said Metropolitan Gosteshenko warily.“Truly,” said Cardinal van Hooven.“She has agreed.”“Ah,” said Metropolitan Gosteshenko again.“We are about to approach the Premier of China—not directly, of course—to request she be allowed to leave China for the Vatican.” He said it as if this were the most ordinary situation in the world.“And who is going to make this approach?” asked Metropolitan Gosteshenko.“I fear I will not be of any assistance to you.”“We were hoping to find a Protestant or someone who isn’t Christian at all,” said Cardinal van Hooven.“The People’s Republic of China would probably like it if we could find an atheistic diplomat from a Third World country with a degree in theology and thirty years’ experience in international relations.Since we haven’t found one of those yet, we’re doing what we can.We are going to the United Nations for assistance, at least to begin with, and the major powers.We also have contacts with those who have some ties to China and Premier Zuo.” He spoke with the serene confidence that might be nothing more than sleepiness.“Then what do you need of me?” asked Metropolitan Gosteshenko.This time Cardinal van Hooven hesitated.“I would appreciate it if you would be willing to speak with the authorities there, in Russia, to request that no action be taken that might interfere with our negotiations.I realize that this is a tremendous thing to ask of you; and I know that you do not necessarily have any say in what happens at such levels in the government, but I must do what I can.Your country could make this very difficult for us, especially if your intelligence community becomes determined to…to create obstacles for us.We may be the opiate of the masses, but sniping at us for recreation doesn’t help when we’re trying to resolve a delicate situation, such as this one.” He waited for Metropolitan Gosteshenko to speak; when no comment came, he went on.“You can appreciate why such action concerns us, I am certain.You know what it is like for those of us in the Church, attempting to reach a government that does not recognize us at all.It would take very little for that lack of recognition to become an insurmountable barrier to all our efforts.”“True enough,” said Metropolitan Gosteshenko.“Very well, Piet.I will do what I can, but that might not be very much.”“Anything will have my thanks and my prayers,” said Cardinal van Hooven.He looked out through the curtains at the darkness, imagining the bulk of Saint Peter’s.“I would provide more if I could.”“That day may come,” said Metropolitan Gosteshenko.“These are very uncertain times, my friend.”“They are,” agreed Cardinal van Hooven.“I will keep you informed of our progress, if you like.”“Do, whether I like it or not,” said Metropolitan Gosteshenko, doing his best to laugh so that Cardinal van Hooven would understand he was making a joke.“I would rather be upset than off-guard on this occasion.There are too many unknowns where your new Pope is concerned.”“There are many hazards for all of us,” said Cardinal van Hooven.“That is why we need that woman here.”Metropolitan Gosteshenko gave Cardinal van Hooven a Russian blessing before he hung up.* * *Her quarters in the guest house in Xi’an were small; Zhuang Renxin was not dismayed to find she had only two rooms, for that seemed more than reasonable, given the reason for her presence.She had been driven there from the airport almost an hour ago, then left with the assurance that she was a guest of the People.The summons that had brought her here had arrived less than an hour after her call to Dame Leonie, and she had been surprised only because it had taken so long to reach her.She stood before the mirror in her cramped little bathroom and combed her hair.There would be another twenty minutes before the car arrived to take her to her private and unofficial interview with Premier Zuo.Ordinarily she would not have been nervous, but today she was jittery; her hands would not remain still, and the slight, constant trembling embarrassed her as much as the occasion for her presence.She examined her jacket, worried that stains might have appeared on it in the last few minutes.As she chided herself for this foolishness, she peered at her face to be certain there was no blemish on her chin or cheek.Then she combed her hair again.The driver was not in uniform, but his bearing was military and the way in which he greeted her was perilously close to a salute.He made no comments about the city as he drove the short distance to the cluster of governmental buildings, confining his remarks to occasional warnings about the traffic.Only when he stopped the car did he tell her anything about her visit, though it was little enough.“It is the third door on the left.They are expecting you, Worthy Magistrate.”“You are most helpful,” said Magistrate Zhuang as she closed the door.While she was not frightened, her apprehension increased as she walked up the short flight of stairs and found the third door on the left.A guard requested her name and admitted her, escorting her along a narrow, doorless, tunnel-like hallway.He showed her into a small sitting room at the end of the corridor and told her to wait.Then he left her alone.Premier Zuo let Magistrate Zhuang sit for almost fifteen minutes before he came through the interior door, bowing slightly to her as he did.“Worthy Magistrate.”She rose at once and offered him a formal bow, proud that her parents had drilled her in the correct show of deference to all stations of persons.“Premier,” she said respectfully, a little awed that so august a person would actually be willing to speak with her.Until this moment she had not been wholly certain the meeting would truly occur.But the last few days had been filled with unanticipated events, she told herself, hoping that she would not behave improperly
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