Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

THE KINGDOM :: 131
“Is there something else bothering you, Tom?” Van Patton
inquired.
“No. Well, maybe. The Order...the Order in
question...should have called me last night after I left a message
about what was going on here.” He took a drink of
apple cider. “I figured they should know what’s happening.
But they haven’t called back.”
“That does seem strange,” Jeffers agreed. “What do you
think it means?”
“I think it probably means they’re too busy doing God’s
work to give much weight to the blow-hard speculations of
old men in funny hats—and I do mean the men, Leslie.”
She gave him a wry smile, and Jeffers chuckled. “Knowing
what I do about that Order of yours, I wouldn’t be at all surprised
if that’s exactly on the money,” Jeffers slapped Tom
on the shoulder.
There was free time after dinner, and Tom considered his
options as they filed out of the cafeteria. Several of the bishops
were carpooling into Houston for a concert of sacred
choral works at the Episcopal cathedral, while some were
planning to gather in one of the common rooms to watch a
DVD and, no doubt, consume more port than was good for
them.
Tom was leaning towards the concert when one of the
local clergy, a deacon, approached him. Tom fumbled in his
addled brain for his name. What was it? Ah, yes, there it
was. Eldritch, of all things. “Rev. Eldritch, nice to see you
again.” He shook the man’s hand.
“Bishop Müeller, the Presiding Bishop requests a meeting
with you. It’s urgent.”
What now? Tom thought, then he wondered if he had said
it aloud. Just in case, he said it again, changing the emphasis.
“What? Now?”
“Right now, please. I’ll show you to his room.” With that