I am a Spiritual man<+><

              The Vatican had taken some hard hits in the press.
      Money laundering mafia money and gangsters turning up mummified
      in monastery crypts. Farther Eugen Hersey tried to maneuver through
      the politics quietly. He was a Vatican investigator and a man of faith.
      "Job was a simple man, who feared God." Fr. Hersey remarked as he
      examined the mummified remains. "Yes, Father, do you need the
      autopsy by tomorrow?" An Italian detective stood beside the Priest.
      He did not have jurisdiction on the Vatican territory. It was clearly a murder
      and Farther Hersey was conducting the investigation.

              "That will be fine. I need time to speak with Bishop Healey.
      We are all anxious to know who this man was." The Priest put his hand
      on the detectives shoulder and stepped back as the body was removed.
      "To bad you can not bring him back from the dead." The Italian officer smirked.
      "God does not will evil, but merely permits it." Father Hersey smiled back
      and blessed himself.

            Bishop Healey was a portly man and very loud. "I hope you understand
      the importance of discretion. The Church is under fire by God I will not have
      another scandal!" The Bishop pounded his mahogany desk.
      "It is not something that can be kept quite. This is international news.
      From what I can surmise the body was crucified and then placed in the crypt.
      Perhaps a ritual killing." The Priest tapped out his small pipe in an ash tray
      and scooped up more tobacco into the pipe from his pouch.
      "Jesus. A devil cult?! WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER CULT IN THE VATICAN!"
      The Bishop bellowed. Father Hersey lit up his pipe, "Well let's say a prayer
      the victim does not resurrect." The Bishop poured some liquor into two crystal
      square glasses and handed the Priest a glass.

              "Amen." Bishop Healey replied and clicked his glass with the Priest's.

       
        + ^
        V

              Reflections: The human heart is driven by fear. The fear of death and
                                love of lust for blood disguised in civilization.
                                The planet spins blindly through eternal darkness. But in
                                God's Heaven we can have faith in justice.

                                                    Chapter II


                                          *A Message In a Bottle*


        "You worry me. Why are you a Priest?" Rachael lit up a cigarette and
        adjusted her blue and white habit. Farther Eugen sat up in his bed and
        admired the slender line of her naked spine. "I suppose I'm looking for truth.
        But, then again the food and service here is immaculate." the Priest lit up
        his pipe. He was in excellent physical condition; a discipline from his
        military service as an Air Born Ranger.

        "So, Rachael why are you a nun? Clearly you still lust for worldly pleasures."
        Rachael gave a gentle smirk and slipped on her white tights and white bra
        the blue and white vestment followed like a curtain. "We are after all only
        human." she answered and kissed the Priest. "Hmm. That is a damnable
        answer. We could be excommunicated." He kissed her throat and then puffed
        his pipe. Rachael left the door ajar,  "Then will get married by a Buddhist."
        The Priest rushed to shut the door with a pillow over his privates.

        The phone rang. "Farther Hersey the victim had a small piece of paper
        inserted in his left ear. It had a message written on it: "Let all who have
        sinned rise up in Christ." "Thank you inspector. It sounds like a serial killer.
        I hope you are looking for any prints or trace of DNA.." Fr. Hersey stumbled
        into his pants. It was time for another look at the crime scene.
        The sun was rising as he reached the crypt.
        The Priest blessed himself and cut the tape on the heavy door.
        The body had been found in side a sarcophagus. It had been there long
        enough to mummify. Farther Eugene studied the base on the stone box
        where the body had rested. There was a small wooden figurine;
        like a chess piece but not representing any rank.
        It had horns and several rings in its garment. Perhaps a talisman.

      The Priest put the figurine in an evidence bag and was careful to wear
      latex gloves.
      "I know I've seen that symbol before." he thought and put the small bag
      in his right jacket pocket. "Now, how to narrow this cult down?" This
      was not easily done. There are hundreds of covens in Rome and some
      are active in the Vatican. How many Priests and Bishops have fallen under
      their spell?
      He sought out a friend and expert in the occult.

      Gail had her own Tarot shop just outside the Vatican.
      "Oh, that is precious." She looked at the figurine through the evidence bag.
      "I believe this is Mourisca: the demon of blood lust and is at war with
        Mimi the vegetarian." Farther Hersey sat down in the bean bag  in Gail's
        backroom. "Are you telling me this man was killed by a vegetarian?"
        His question gave him a headache. Gail offered some aspirin with a glass
        of water.
        "Well, there are many covens in Rome and they have old grudges against
        the Papal Seed. Mourisca is a Portuguese version of Santeria.
        Maybe, your victim was involved with a Spanish Mafia?"
        "Thank you for the aspirin. Do you still do blessings?" Farther Hersey
        smiled at the Wiccan Lady.
        She danced the seven veils and let her dress slip to the floor.
        The bean bag made the coupling awkward, but still fulfilling.
        "You are a horney Priest." Gail laughed.
        "Be fruitful and multiply." Farther Hersey retorted and smacked Gail's
        butt.

        This would not be an easy murder case and the Bishop wanted to
        keep it simple.

        Reflections: Numbers can be a powerful symbol and means to predict
                          events. In the Tarot the number 3 is especially important to
                          pentacles, wands and cups. It is the Divine number of the
                          Trinity and foretell historic events in God's plan.

        =^+^=