47

Dom Letizia drove slowly into New Norcia. The few West Australian towns he passed through on his two-hour journey hadn’t prepared him for the strange mix of grand buildings surrounded by trees on both sides of the highway. The Baroque, Gothic, Byzantine and Latin architecture seemed incongruous to this isolated and remote part of the world, almost as if they had been transported fully built, in different eras, and dropped into virgin bush.

He parked his vehicle and made straight for the Abbot’s office. Abbot Harrison, a tall man with red wavy hair and a close-cut beard greeted him with a curt nod and brief handshake. The Abbot introduced Dom Herbert, his personal assistant.

‘Now Dom Letizia, it is unusual to get such short notice of a formal visit from Monte Cassino,’ said the Abbot with a slightly haughty air. ‘You are of course a welcome guest, but I am some-what in the dark as to your purpose.’

Dom Letizia ignored the tone. ‘The matter is of great importance and your assistant cannot be privy to our conversation.’

The Abbot, clearly taken aback by the request, gave a surprised glance to Dom Herbert … then acquiesced with a nod of his head. Dom Letizia waited for the door to close before continuing. ‘This is about the “Oath of Perpetual Assistance”.’

Abbot Harrison gasped as he remembered the sacred oath he had made twenty years before on taking up his position at New Norcia.

‘I am sure, Abbot Harrison,’ Letizia went on, ‘I have no need to remind you of the importance of our oath first given by Abbot Primate Vittocelli in 1576 and adhered to scrupulously ever since.’

‘Of course … I see …’ spluttered the Abbot.

‘And I remind you,’ continued Dom Letizia, ‘of St Benedict’s Rule, from The Good Zeal of Monks: No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else.’

‘Yes, of course, of course … how can I help?’ said the Abbot.

‘You can help by temporarily leaving the monastery while I am here. Make some excuse to go on business to Perth.’

‘There must be some mistake, Dom Letizia. What is to be my role?’

‘I am sorry. This is the way it has to be.’

An hour later, a disgruntled Abbot Harrison had packed his late model Volvo station wagon. Dom Letizia stood silently by, watching the priest give last-minute instructions to a confused Dom Herbert, before getting into the car.

‘This arrived for you yesterday,’ he said, now sitting behind the wheel and handing over an envelope to Dom Letizia through the open window, ‘it’s from Monte Cassino.’

Dom Letizia thanked the Abbot for his understanding and in a more conciliatory tone said as an afterthought, ‘It is for the best that you are not here.’

‘When should I return?’ responded the Abbot, who clearly thought the situation a total abuse of power.

‘You will know when to return,’ responded Dom Letizia obliquely.

Abbot Harrison gave a large sigh and closed his window and without further words accelerated out of the property.

‘Maybe it was true what the Abbot Primate had said: you care little of what others may think of you,’ Dom Letizia said to himself, as he watched the Volvo disappearing into the distance.

Dom Letizia opened the envelope. He smiled as he recognised the spindly handwriting of his mentor, but his good feeling faded as he read on.

Francesco,

You will read this letter after my death. I have lived a long and fruitful life, in the service of God Almighty, and I knew when we met recently that it would be for the last time. I was blessed with having you in my life and you were as a son to me. You will recall the numerous photographs in my room, of all the famous people who have graced our monastery with their company, however, my favourite photo is kept in my left hand desk drawer. It is the one of you and me standing next to the statue of Saint Benedict, in the Bramante Cloister. I believe you were about eleven years old at the time. I have given this photo to Roberto to pass on to you on your return.

My only regret is the situation I have put you in. Dom Forte, my successor, knows of the Holy Words but not of the present, urgent predicament. He may need this ignorance to answer questions by authorities in the future, depending on the outcome of your efforts in maintaining our Perpetual Oath to protect the Holy Words.

Dom Letizia put the letter down and phoned Italy. ‘Sorry to wake you, Roberto. How are you?’ He took a deep breath as he listened to his sleepy friend recount the passing of the Abbot Primate only yesterday and how the bells had tolled all day. He told Roberto to go back to sleep and returned to the letter.

The first group were unsure of the exact location of the final resting place of the Holy Words, so the mission was initially established about 8 km north of the present site, next to a freshwater spring. From this base, Dom Salvado took the opportunity to retrace the directions indicated on the Lutherans map. He retraced Bunting’s steps, from the shores of the ocean, to the final resting place on a number of expeditions. When he was certain of the location, he argued for the mission to be moved to that position. Dom Tootell agreed with Dom Salvado’s findings but felt that the Mission should remain where it was, considering the effort that had been made to establish it. Dom Tootell felt that The Oath of Perpetual Assistance was better served by not drawing attention to the location. Dom Salvado petitioned Abbot Michelangelo Celesia, who agreed with Salvado, that the Mission should be moved. Tootell, who felt his authority had been usurped, left Western Australia, never to return. The new church was built over the site. Dom Salvado ordered that after his death, his Crypt should cover this location. The Abbot of the Mission is aware that under the Crypt is buried something of infinite importance. All Abbots of the Mission, as you know, have sworn the Oath of Perpetual Assistance and are sworn to secrecy.

I directed you to take and read the French edition of Salvado’s book, including a detailed plan of the early monastery and its surrounds. I stressed the importance of this plan for the location of the Holy Words. This information was not true. If you are reading this letter then you have reached the mission. I was concerned that if you were abducted en route and tortured, you would be forced to reveal what you knew. The French edition and plan have no significance. This letter explains all. Forgive me my son, but subterfuge is all I had to continue The Oath of Perpetual Assistance.

Francesco my son, may God protect you and assist you. I say goodbye to you. Please burn this letter now.

Dom Letizia brought the letter to his lips and kissed it softly. He lit a match and let the letter burn in his left hand before dropping it on the marble floor and crushing the ashes underfoot.