Mindgames

Following Doc's previous instructions, the Vikings stay back with the horses, out of sight but not unwary.

Doc summons Mark and Brother Broderick forward. Brother Broderick takes off the goat skull and holds it somewhat behind his robe. He dons his wooden crucifix.

Doc turns his attention to the Abbot. "Ah, Father Nathan! It is a strange omen that brings me to your door."

There is a brief moment of intensity between the two. The old man stares him down, hard. For a moment, the outside world disintegrates and the universe is between the two mens' eyes. The old Abbot tries to tear Doc down emotionally with the force of the wisdom of his years, but Doc's not so easily overcome. He knows full well that wisdom does not come with age, but age with wisdom.

The old man seems frustrated that his silent attempt to dominate the young stranger has failed. Doc grasps that hole in his psychic wall and turns the tables right around. The man is old, his health is failing, he knows it, and perhaps his wits and strength is not what it once was. The events of today have shaken his understanding of the universe. There it is, Doc thinks. That shining beacon that lies behind every psyche, a pure human weakness; the fear of the unknown.

Doc grasps on to this key. He can start by building trust via familiarity. He turns to the monk behind him "Brother Broderick, I'm sure you know, has guided us here."

"Yes, I remember this young lad," replies the Abbot.

Doc turns to Mark. "This is Sir Mark, Captain of the Duke's own guard. If we could just have a private word with you for a few moments, I'm certain I can explain everything."

Doc can tell immediately that he's not buying that one.

The abbot looks them over. "What Duke?"

"The Duke of Bologna." Doc pushes it.

The old man looks them up and down. He looks at Mark carefully. "What are those things you carry? Weapons? Leave them behind."

Doc turns to Mark and nods. He unslings the rocket launcher and assault rifle from his back and places them gently on the ground.

"And your sword," Father Nathan insists.

Mark complies. He's still got a side arm stashed, as does Doc.

Father Nathan turns to the monk with the hoe and instructs him to open the gate. The monk goes to one of a set of cranks and begins the laborious process of rotating the lever. The portcullis rises.

"Your slaves will stay behind, for now. Follow me."

The Abbot leads Doc, Mark, and Broderick into the foyer and up the stairs. The portcullis cranks down behind them.

Doc opens a video link to Thunderhorse. Doc's sunglasses send what he sees to Thunderhorse's glasses. Doc sends him an eye-typed text message. "Tell me if you see the girls."

"Yerdsw, I wiklmj," replies Thunderhorse via eye-typed text, much later.

The Abbot takes them up several flights of stairs to his personal parlor. The "armed" monks escort them, but stay behind as they climb the final flight, past the beautiful stained glass window which depicts the sun and what is presumably Venus amongst a battle of angels and demons.

The parlor is very ornately decorated with golden trinkets and precious gems. The Abbot is a wealthy man.

He asks them to sit at the wooden bench, and he pours them all a glass of wine.

"There is no Duke of Bologna," he says to Doc as he hands him the goblet. "Now, tell me," he demands, "who are you really?"