Once they reached the surface, Sister Ashley rushed off to the dorms to prepare for dinner. Roni headed straight for the rental car, going over every step of the path she would have to repeat in order to get to the book. She popped the trunk and went about preparing her “tomb bag.”
The trunk did not have much for her to choose from — neither she nor Gram had expected to be in this situation. She could use her phone has a flashlight, provided the battery lasted long enough, but she did not have any good shoes for the job — only a serviceable pair of sneakers. She did have her journal and a pen to record all the important details. That was good enough. She figured the tomb bag would be mostly empty going in, and probably full on her return.
The idea of stealing the book did not sit easily in her stomach, but clearly the nuns had taken the book when they should not have. It belonged to the Parallel Society, and while the Society had let the Abbey use those books necessary to contain the rift, the rest were meant to be returned to the caverns.
“Oh, there you are,” Gram said, shuffling out of the front of the church.
Roni hastened to meet Gram at the stairs. She purposely left the trunk open — less suspicious than if she slammed it shut with a guilty look on her face.
Nonetheless, Gram asked, “What are you doing out here?”
“Looking for a warmer shirt.” The lie came effortlessly.
“Don’t bother getting it yet. I spoke with Sully. He’s asked that we stay for the night to make sure the rift is secure. After what happened to Sisters Susan and Rachel, we don’t want to leave with just a cursory inspection. So, you might as well pull everything out. The nuns will provide us each with a room in the dorms.”
“Is that normal? To stay overnight?”
Trying to remain neutral but unable to hide true feelings from her tone, Gram said, “I’ve done this job many times. Either the rift is contained or it’s not. There is no middle ground. I told Sully he was being overcautious, that we’ve taken care of the situation, but he is the leader now. We do what he wants.”
“I–I’m sorry.” Roni had no idea why the words left her mouth. Perhaps a little guilt nestled under her skin because of her plans for that evening.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. It’s Sully. He’s too much of a novice to know the right procedure here, yet too old and set in his ways to simply ask me how I would have done it. Or perhaps he’s trying to stamp his own way of doing things on this now. Who knows? Just please get our things and deliver them to the rooms.”
“I only meant that —”
But Gram was already walking away. Over her shoulder, the old woman said, “Oh, by the way, Sully and Elliot are already in London. They’re on their way over here.”
Roni did not say another word. She knew her Gram too well — Sully and Elliot flying out to London before anything had necessitated their trip would be interpreted as a great insult. But Roni knew Sully well, too. The more she thought about it, the more she felt certain that he had assigned her to this trip not only to learn of the rift and what would be required in the future, but also because he knew the serious nature of Gram’s daughter being trapped in the rift. He knew that this particular trip — especially having Roni along — would be hard on Gram. After all, every year Gram traveled here and visited Maria had to be thought of as potentially the last year she would ever see her daughter. As Gram was fond of reminding everyone — she wasn’t getting any younger.
Still, Sully and Elliot should not have flown out as further back up. It only irritated Gram more, and Roni had no desire to spend more time with an irritated Gram. Certainly not for the rest of the trip.
On the positive side, Roni had all night ahead of her to get to that book. Grabbing the luggage and the tomb bag, she closed the trunk and headed to the dorms.
Trudging toward the one-story building, Roni kept catching movement out of her peripheral vision. She stopped and stared at the church, the dorm, even turned to face the lake. She saw no one. The wind rustled through the trees, the water rippled on the lake, but she saw no one. Still, she could not shake the sense that somebody watched her.
Sister Claudia most likely — glowering from some distant hiding place, ready to assert her superiority whenever she had the advantage. Good luck with that, Roni thought. Sister Claudia would soon find out that Roni did not cower easily.
Inside the dorm, her footsteps made dull thuds on the wooden floor. The place reminded her of a sleepaway camp cabin — only with a heavily religious theme. The main room held eight beds, each sticking straight out from the longer walls. Above each bed’s headboard, a crucifix had been affixed and, beneath that, a wooden plaque with the Sister’s name. Next to each bed was a low dresser. Bathrooms were off the main entrance, and at the far end, on either side, were two narrow rooms for Gram and Roni. Not much bigger than jail cells.
As she clumped down the middle of the dorm, Roni noticed that every dresser top remained bare and clean. No books, no knickknacks, nothing to distinguish one person from the other. Not even dust. In fact, only the name plaques provided any sense of individuality. She wondered if she had used the wrong word when thinking about them earlier. Instead of zealot, perhaps she should have used cult.
After resting Gram’s bag on the edge of one bed, Roni went to her own jail cell and dropped her main bag on the floor. She did not want to leave her tomb bag in the open, but there was little in the way of hiding places. She glanced up, hoping to find a drop ceiling that she could stash her belongings in. Unfortunately, she saw only simple, open rafters. Really, the only viable places were under the bed or in the low dresser — and neither of those seemed particularly safe.
After a moment, she decided to roll up the small bag and stick it at the bottom of her main bag. While these nuns had clearly broken away from the Church — at least, according to Gram — it seemed a good bet that they would not go rooting through her personal things — at least, if those things were not left in the open.
“It’s not much,” Sister Ashley said, giving Roni a fright, “but it serves its purpose for a single night.”
Roni stared at Sister Ashley, watching as the nun’s eyes roved around the room. Nothing would be safe in here. “Did you want something?”
“I came to fetch you for dinner. Sister Mary, your Gram, and the rest of the nuns have already sat down to eat.”
Until dinner had been mentioned this time, Roni had not taken note of the rich aroma rising through the floorboards — meaty and filling. Her stomach grumbled. She stepped toward the door. “Okay, let’s go.”
But Sister Ashley did not move. She glanced down — perhaps at Roni’s bag — and pulled her lips in tight.
Roni motioned toward the door. “I’m ready.”
“One thing first. Please, I do not wish to burden you with my troubles, but I hope you’ll understand the seriousness of where we went today. I mean, Sister Mary has made the rules quite clear. Sister Claudia, too. And if you should happen to let slip —”
“I won’t say anything. As far as I’m concerned, we never went down to the tomb at all. I don’t even know that a tomb exists. Okay?”
Sister Ashley’s tensions deflated. “Thank you. Bless you.”
“You can thank me by taking me to dinner. I’m hungrier than I realized.”
With a giggle, Sister Ashley backed out of the narrow room and into the main part of the dorm. As Roni closed the door, she wanted to slide a hair in the jamb or some other simple trick to ensure that the door was not opened during her absence, but she did not have the time to do it. Not with Sister Ashley standing right there.
Together they walked to the main entranceway. Sister Ashley opened a door across from the bathrooms that Roni had missed her first time through. The door led to a narrow staircase that led to a dining area underneath the dorms.
All the nuns and Gram lifted their heads when Roni and Sister Ashley entered. Sister Mary sat at the head of the long table. Sister Claudia sat at her right and Gram at her left. Sisters Susan and Rachel took the next two spots leaving the rest of the table for Sister Ashley and Roni. With choreographed care, Sister Susan stood the moment Roni sat. She hastened to a corner of the room and ladled out a bowl of stew and potatoes from a heavy, deep pot. After placing the bowl before Roni and repeating the dance for Sister Ashley, she returned to her seat.
“Let us pray,” Sister Mary said.
The nuns bowed their heads and Gram did as well. Roni lowered her chin a little, but spent most of the next quiet minute watching the rigorous concentration of the nuns. They bobbed their heads as they mouthed their words, the soft swishing of their wimples like a breeze through a field of grass.
Gram’s praying lacked all of that vigor and made up for it with serene contemplation. Growing up, Roni had been taught that the prayer before a meal should be used to appreciate the gifts the Lord had provided — particularly, the gift of having a hot meal on the table to eat. She wondered which form of prayer worked best.
“Amen,” Sister Mary said, and the nuns responded in kind. Gram crossed herself and kissed her crucifix pendant before lifting her head.
Smartass thoughts aside, Roni found this display to feel like everything else in the Abbey — strict and slightly off. On the surface, several nuns gave thanks for their meal. Nothing particularly odd about that. But it did not sit right. Not only because of the fervent manner in which they prayed, which Roni could dismiss as simply being a different way of doing things, but because of they way it felt like a performance.
Perhaps the rift had warped the nun’s minds in ways that Gram and Roni could not fathom. Perhaps always knowing that rift existed nearby felt too much like being watched continuously. Especially considering that the nuns thought of Maria as an angel. Even now, as Roni ate the surprisingly tasty meal, she could feel judgmental eyes upon her — though the nuns never looked her way. She imagined feeling those kinds of looks all the time might drive some of the strange behaviors she had witnessed.
Five minutes into the meal, Roni accepted the idea that the entire dinner would be taken in silence. But in the next moment, Sister Claudia disabused her of that idea.
“So, Roni, were you able to find everything you needed in the library?” she asked with a nasty grin.
Gram perked up. “What were you looking for?”
Startled, Roni coughed on her stew, allowing Sister Claudia to continue. “Oh, your granddaughter has taken a great interest in our angel.”
This got Sister Rachel’s attention. Like an eager teenager, though one with head wounds wrapped from earlier failures, she looked over at Roni. “Do you think she’s real? I was too startled by what happened to see her clearly. I never have.”
“Don’t bombard our guest,” Sister Claudia said — harsh enough that Sister Rachel instantly grew silent and lowered her head.
“Now, now,” Sister Mary said. “We must always encourage inquisitive minds. Sister Rachel is excited and that’s a good thing.”
Gazing down at her meal, Sister Claudia said, “I only wanted to look out for our guest’s comfort. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. We all get overeager sometimes. Sister Ashley, what books did you recommend to our guest?”
Sister Ashley squirmed in her seat. Roni could not tell whether her discomfort came from being addressed by the head nun or if she feared she might get in trouble if she said too much of the truth. Probably both.
“Sister Ashley, you’ve been asked a question,” Sister Claudia said, clearly trying to reestablish her position.
Dabbing at her mouth with a napkin, Sister Ashley said, “Well, I chose two books and one scroll. The Abbey Historical (1800-1900), The Abbey Historical (1900-2000), and of course, the scroll of Sister Margaret’s views on the subject.”
Sister Mary appeared pleased. “I’ve always liked Sister Margaret’s views on practically anything. I must say, I’m a bit surprised they’re still sitting around as scrolls. Why have we not bound them together into a book?”
“I intend to do so. And now that I know she’s a favorite of yours, I’ll make it a priority.”
“That’s a kind thought.”
“It would’ve been done sooner, but there’s only one of me in the library.”
Sister Mary gazed at the empty spots making up the second half of the table. “It is much more difficult these days to entice women into making their vows. A vow is for life. Quite a commitment.” She winked at Gram. “You wouldn’t happen to know any women who could use a good education and don’t mind devoting their lives to the Lord, do you?”
Gram chuckled. “If I ever come across one, I’ll most certainly send her your way.”
As the two elder women beamed at each other, Roni wondered if Sister Mary’s eyes threw the same daggers that Gram’s could throw. With a snap, Sister Mary wagged her finger by her head. Roni could not tell if this was from the woman’s genuine excitement over an idea or if she put on a show, but the presentation pulled everyone’s attention.
“While Sister Margaret’s work is wonderful,” Sister Mary said, “did you consider offering anything from Sister Petra?” As a loud aside to Gram — loud enough for all to hear — Sister Mary went on, “She was a nun visiting from Brazil. Lovely woman. A bit too inquisitive about matters that had long ago been settled, but she did take an interest in our unique situation. Of course, what nun wouldn’t? This was before our trouble with the Vatican. But when given the choice between following the Lord or the Church, well, that choice is easy. It’s a shame they behave as they do. We have so much to offer the nuns and priests. Think of all the wonder that could fill them if they had a chance to see a real angel. Still, it’s difficult for some to understand and accept. Sister Petra, for one, never did quite fit with us.”
Sister Ashley said, “I’ll be sure to find her book and give it to Roni.”
Returning to her food, Sister Mary said, “It doesn’t really matter. Just a thought. Besides, it’s obvious that Roni hopes to find some secret information about our angel. Perhaps, like her grandmother, she thinks the angel is some part of their late Maria. Isn’t that right, Lillian? You think the angel is actually your daughter.”
Gram stiffened even as she forced a grin. “Part of my daughter. Yes.”
Setting her spoon down, Sister Mary addressed the rest of the table. “I’ve tried. Over all the years we’ve known each other, I’ve tried hard to convince Lillian that our conduit to Heaven is not a private grave for her mourning. But the mind thinks what it wants to. Regardless, we know that the faces inside the conduit are messengers from the Lord — angels. Frankly, I have not seen one in years. They don’t come as often. Perhaps the result of something the Parallel Society has done in trying to control matters. Of course, there is no real need to control it. We should let the Lord’s glory spread over all of the world.”
Gram cleared her throat. “Need I remind you —”
“Yes, yes. I was merely stating my opinion. I am fully aware of the deal made with the Irish government.” She paused, her eyes meeting with the intense focus from many of the nuns. “I suppose you all deserve to hear this. Sister Claudia already knows, but seeing how few of us there are currently, I suppose the rest of you need to understand — we allow the imposition of the Parallel Society, giving them access to the conduit, letting them contain it and such, because in return we gain our privacy out here. Governments can be very difficult — especially when you are forging an honest path that might differ from the more traditional paths. Gaining this privacy is gaining our freedom. Without it, the Church would come in here and destroy everything we protect. They would not do it out of malice but ignorance.”
Sister Claudia said, “We gain more than that. We’ve become the most important Abbey in the world. We’re the only ones that can talk directly to Heaven.”
“True, true. But we don’t want to get big headed about it. We have to watch our pride.”
“Of course.”
Gram pushed her chair out. “I’m afraid I’m no longer feeling well. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
As she made a rapid exit, Roni jumped to her feet. Gram waved her back, and in the next instant, she was gone. Roni returned to the table with the nuns. She had to remain. If not for decorum’s sake — something she cared little about — then for the benefit of the Parallel Society. If the nuns made any decisions or shared any thoughts with each other, somebody from the Society needed to hear it. Not that she expected anything important to happen, but if it did and she missed it while Gram was out — she would never hear the end of it.
Sister Claudia snapped her fingers and Sister Rachel went about clearing Gram’s dishes. “I’m sorry if we upset your grandmother.”
“She’s a tough woman,” Roni said. “I doubt anything you said could bother her.”
Sister Claudia arched an eyebrow. “It’s a pity you don’t seem as strong as her. I don’t mean no offense by that. I’m merely pointing out an observation. Having Sister Mary as my mentor, I’ve learned a lot about leadership and the world in which we live. I’m sure you’ve been learning much the same under your grandmother’s mentorship. I’m simply trying to say that it appears you’ve got plenty more to learn from her.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m plenty strong.”
“Oh dear, I have offended you. It was just that I’ve seen the way you defer to your grandmother since being here, and quite frankly, it did not feel like a teacher-student relationship or even a parent-child one. It looked more like a boss and an employee. I feared you may not be getting the proper education you deserved.”
Sister Mary let out a soft laugh. “That’s enough now. No need to keep teasing the young gal.”
Roni did not believe for a second that Sister Mary thought this was playful teasing. But instead of pushing matters, she allowed herself an awkward grin and returned to her food. Soon, she thought, just a few hours and I’ll have that book in my possession. Then we’ll see who’s strong.