The Sistine Chapel

Chapter 21 or the thriller "An Irrertrievable Step."

An Irretrievable Step

Chapter 21

His plane landed at Fiumnicino airport at ten thirty five am, and at eleven forty five Jeremy was already at the Central Room boarding house. All he had to do was to write down his personal details and he was shown to his room. He left his suitcase and his handbag on the floor next to his bed, and despite the pleasant weather he wore on his jacket with his passport and went down to the reception.

'Excuse me where is the nearest restaurant please?' He asked politely in Italian the clerk on duty.

'Oh there's the Piacere Molise at Via Canadia 60, you'll like the place. As a Catholic senior Magdi, you surely wish to visit San Pietro Cathedral and the Vatican Museum that's why you've chosen our place, isn't it?' The clerk added excitedly so typical to an Italian.

'Of course and thank you, can I visit the Cathedral this afternoon?'

'Sure here you have all the information you need, visiting hours and tickets, take it please.'

As Jeremy spoke Italian quite well already, he had no problem to reach the restaurant, the two passers-by that he asked on his way guided him to it, and it was quite close to his rented room just as the clerk on duty told him.

It was a small place but cozy and pleasant, the food was excellent; thus he decided to have his daily meals over there. He visited the famous Cathedral of San Pietro, which is the most important cathedral of the Christian world and spent most of the afternoon awestruck by its magnificence, its frescoes, and opposite La Pieta Michel Angelo's sculpture he stood amazed for an hour almost.

Well as an art student I'd better give it some thought and appreciate its fabulous merits. He thought amused and awed at the same time.

He managed to rest several hours before he left Central Room boarding house on his way to his meeting with Joe.

'Let's talk in Italian, and you'll order, check the bill and pay.' Joe said smiling. 'Don't worry I'll cover our expanses…'

They were sitting near to a corner table at the hall of the "I Due Leoni" restaurant, away from the few guests that remained there at that late hour.

A waiter arrived and Jeremy ordered while Joe listened attentively, Joe had no comments when Jeremy finished ordering to Jeremy's relief.

I wonder what he would have said if he knew that I've learned culinary terms by heart to impress Kasumi. Jeremy thought fighting an urge to laugh aloud.

'What's so funny?' Joe asked with a quizzical stare.

'Oh nothing I'm glad I was referred to as a Catholic and advised to visit the cathedral, by the way have I passed the test?'

'Yes and with merit. You need just a few more touches to talk like a born and bred local, and the religious terms according to your faith plus slang terms too.'

'It means then that I need more studies, but what about my drawing lessons?'

'The drawing lessons you'd in Milan are supposed to serve you as a basis to your future occupation. You're not supposed to be a painter, if you think that it was a waste of time you're wrong. You've learned still life and portraits right?'

'That's right but how is it going serve me in the future in what context? I'm not good at it…'

'Yes we know it, but it's irrelevant. It's your basis for photography and while studying photography you'll realize what you've gained through your drawing lessons.'

'Well I've gained a blissful love affair through my drawing lessons, and I'll have to grind my teeth to stop that yearning of mine to fly to Milan again, and that's what I'm really aware to… Jeremy thought seeing Kasumi's smile in his mind's eye.

'You'll study a three months summer course of photography; it starts at the end of this month at the Florence University of arts.'

'So how long am I going to stay in Rome?'

'Your stay at the boarding room was paid a week in advance, up to next Monday. You got your passport with you?'

'Yes of course but why?' He asked Joe while pulling out his passport.

'Be careful and hand it to me under the table, I've got a new American passport for you.' Joe said and handed it to him.

'It's the same identity just the first name has been changed,'

'I see but is it safe at all, what if I'll meet a Milanese student or a lecturer?'

'Yes Ray, dear Raymond Magdi, your twin brother Jeremy left Milan and flew to the U.S. on a family visit; he'll die there in a car accident; an obituary article will appear in the daily papers in two weeks time, while you Ray will go on studying in Florence.

'I don't like it it's too hazardous, there're students that studied with me in Milan, and they might visit Florence during the vacation while I'll be studying there…'

'But they'll meet Ray Magdi that will mourn the death of his twin brother, if they'll meet you at all.'

'I don't know how to express my feelings, but it seems like a bad hoax.'

'Jeremy's destination of departure from Malpensa air port appears at the emigration authorities' lists and will appear in the U.S. emigration lists too, and tomorrow Jeremy will virtually land in Newark airport in New York., and as I've already mentioned it will appear in the lists of the American emigration authorities too, capish?'

'Vabene I'll do my best.' Ray Magdi had no other choice but to adapt himself to his new identity as instructed.

'Well then it's getting late, summon the waiter and pay the bill, and meet me tomorrow at ten thirty am in the Capela Sistina at the Vatican Museum, we'll meet as visiting strangers.'

After a late breakfast in the small dining room of the Central Room boarding house, where he is supposed to stay up to next Monday, according to his last instructions, Ray Magdi sat pondering in the small dining room thinking of Kasumi, and realizing that even if he would have wished to see her, he will never see her again.

In Milan I stayed at Room Central it reminds me the change of my first name and sweet Kasumi. But anyway Ray is a much easier name to use and remember, I wonder why they did not change my last name… I don't think that the reason is the need to make life easier to me, but someone in the States was born under these first and last names and perished as a child I guess. He thought a bit perturbed still, while emptying the last drops of coffee left in his cup.

He walked on foot to the Vatican Museum, which was not as near as that clerk on duty told him; but he had enough time up to the meeting with Jo. The weather was very pleasant and he enjoyed the walk along the Vatican tall wall on the broad pavement, among the passers-by tourists most of them, and the many chestnut vendors up to the museum entrance. He bought a ticket ascended the circular staircase up to the top floor, and walked along the corridor crossing numerous halls abounded with the Vatican treasures, up to the Capela Sistina.

@ Haim Kadman 2017 �" all rights reserved.