Project Pope

'Yet had it come to a pinch, said Ecuyer, 'he would have ruled against us.

'He would have done anything to hold Vatican together. And so, I think, would have all the rest of us.

'There's still one thing that worries me, said Ecuyer. 'The Bubblies, so-called, did survey this planet. Some centuries ago.

'There is little need to worry about it, said Te

'But there are your recreations, Jill II and Jason II. They could tell them the record is in their files. They could tell them where we are.

'It is a danger surely, said Theodosius. 'It is a wonder that someone has not nosed us out before. It is a situation that we must accept. We are not entirely defenseless. We don't talk about it or flaunt it, but you saw what His Holiness did to quell the Plopper. A damping effect. A rather humane weapon, as a matter of fact. It simply squelches everything in its path. We have others…

'I was not aware of this, said Ecuyer.

'Few are, said Theodosius. 'We would use them only under the greatest provocation. From what Decker tell us, the Bubblies must be a vicious race. Each one of them a little island to itself, waiting for the chance to move up a rung or two.

'Smoky had plans to take over the galaxy and then take aim at the universe, said Te

'Only he used it too soon, said Jill. 'Jason, you goaded him into it. Did you have an inkling of what was going on?

'No, I was just smarting off. I was determined he'd get no information from us. I guess I carried it too far.

'A good thing for us you did, said Ecuyer.

'A little god, you say, said Theodosius. 'There are no little gods. There is only one God, or one Principle, whatever you may call it. I am sure of that. One must beware of little gods. There are no such things.

'The thing we don't understand, said Jill, 'is that finding, or thinking he had found, a god of any sort would have loomed very large to Smoky. He ascribed it much greater power than he would have otherwise because the Center had become convinced, through its studies, that no spiritual values existed — that all religion and all faith had no basis whatsoever.

'How true, said Theodosius. 'How true. Always there are those who think that. They stand naked before the universe and glory in their nakedness. Even when we find the true faith that we seek — if we find it — there'll still be those who will deny it. They will be those who ca

'How about Decker II? asked Ecuyer. 'What will happen to him?

'He and Haystack; said Theodosius, 'are being held in house arrest. They seem harmless enough, but we have to be sure. The only one we need to worry about is Smoky and, where we have him, he'll not be going anywhere.

'He wouldn't be going anywhere anyhow, said Te

'It worked out well for us, said Ecuyer, 'that the equation people brought the other three to us. Why do you think they did it?

'Who can say? said Jill. 'The equation folk are faster on their feet than we ever dreamed they were. I have a feeling — well, I have a feeling….

'Go ahead and say it, said Ecuyer. 'We won't hold you to it.

'Well, I have a feeling they can look a ways ahead. Into time, I mean.

'I wouldn't doubt it for a moment, said Te

'No, they left, said Jill. 'I don't know where they went. I'm sure that if we ever need them, Whisperer can sniff them out again.

'It seems to me, said Theodosius, 'that once again we are back to the Vatican of old. We can take up our work and carry on again. I wonder, Jason if you'd pour me a glass of your booze so we might drink a toast.

'But your Eminence….

'I'll pour it on my chin, said Theodosius, 'and pretend I am drinking it.

Te

Theodosius took the glass and rose. He held the glass on high.

'To those of us, he said, 'who really kept the faith.

The others drank the toast.

Theodosius tipped back his head and solemnly poured the liquor on his chin.