part0009

Roni found Sister Claudia tending to the flower beds that lined the circle drive. After everything that had happened, Roni found it peculiar that Sister Claudia would perform such a mundane task. Then again, Roni spent most of her days working in a bookstore that had the caverns leading to other universes beneath it. She supposed living with the rift bore many of the same results — the nuns had become comfortable with their situation and learned to continue living despite the miracle beneath their church.

Roni asked about the library, and Sister Claudia wasted no time leaving behind her backbreaking work. She led the way to the colonnade and building on the opposite side of where Roni had found Gram only a short while earlier. The building appeared to have been built in the 1960s — utilitarian, mostly red brick with narrow windows, and a flat roof. In style, it reminded Roni of a public high school. Inside the library, however, she discovered a far more ancient atmosphere.

Dim lighting and old wood shrouded the aisles of books with a sense of mystery and importance. Off to her right, Roni noted long wide shelves that carried scrolls covered in dust. Rolling ladders provided access to the numerous volumes on the top shelving — must have been about twenty-feet high. In the middle of this ode to lost and forgotten thoughts, a young nun sat in the center of a donut table.

“This is Sister Ashley,” Sister Claudia said. “And this is Roni. She is one of our guests from the Parallel Society.”

Sister Ashley bowed her head. She had a pert nose and smooth skin, and Roni wondered if such features caused jealousy amongst the nuns. Perhaps being cloistered in a nun’s habit and coif actually dispensed with all that physical nonsense. Perhaps out here, these women could simply treat each other based on their intelligence, their faith, and their abilities.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sister Ashley said in a soft voice. “Is there something I can help you with?”

Roni asked for any writings the nuns had made about the rift. In particular, she wanted information on the angel. As Sister Ashley got to work, Sister Claudia gestured to two tables in the back where they could sit down to do their research.

“You want to help me?” Roni asked.

“It’s far more enjoyable than weeding. Besides, Sister Mary told me to give you aid in any way you needed. So, here I am.”

Shortly after, Sister Ashley deposited three books and one scroll on the work tables in the back. Roni had been hoping for more, but she guessed that regardless of faith, belief in conduits to Heaven or angels manifesting in physical form were still dangerous things to write down. The kinds of things that might make the Vatican no longer recognize an entire Abbey.

She grabbed one of the thick books — its dusty leather cover caused her a short coughing fit — and opened to the table of contents. The pages were thin enough to see shadows through and the print so small and tight that she considered asking Sister Ashley for a magnifying glass.

Sister Claudia chuckled. “Not what you were expecting?”

“I hadn’t given it any thought. I just want to do the research.”

“Of course. Discovering the truth is always a noble endeavor. I assume that’s what you’re after.”

Roni hesitated to answer. She thought of Gram’s warning and of the devotion Sister Claudia had displayed toward the Abbey. She might not have taken it kindly that Roni wanted to grab hold of their angel and remove it from the rift. Worse, Roni wanted to take this angel home with her.

“Something a bother?” Sister Claudia asked.

With a shake of her head, Roni started going through the book.

Sister Claudia tipped back her chair and with a nonchalant motion, swiped one of the other books. She leafed through it in a casual way as if passing over the endless advertisements in a fashion magazine. “I know you think we’re all a little nutters here. Oh look, how quaint. The young, foolish nuns in the backwoods of Ireland are talking with the angels. But I think that’s not anymore crazy then what you’re believing.”

Roni paused. “The rift is a hole between universes — that’s not a belief, that’s a fact. And I’ve been through one of them. I can guarantee you, it was no Heaven.”

“Just because your travels took you to a horrible place, does not mean our conduit does not lead to Heaven.”

“You only believe that because you saw a face in there, and you think it’s an angel.”

“And your grandmother thinks it’s her daughter. She has no proof. If anything, she has the opposite — her daughter lived, went home with her, grew to be an adult and have a child of her own. I think your grandmother can’t get her heart over the loss of her innocent daughter, the way her daughter succumbed to sin, and has projected this idea of a perfect daughter she once thought she had onto our angel. Perhaps the Lord has given the angel a similar face to ease your grandmother’s sorrowed heart. After all, despite your mother’s sinful behavior, despite your own rejection of the Church, your grandmother is still a devout believer. The Lord loves her.”

Roni gripped the edge of the table. “I think it would be best if you left me alone for a while. I can do this research on my own.”

Sister Claudia stood with a shrug. “If that’s what you are thinking’s best.”

As she walked away, Roni rose to her feet. “Sister Claudia, you’ve accidentally taken one of my books with you.”

Sister Claudia glanced down as if only discovering the book in her hands. “This? I looked through it already. It will not help you.”

“Still, if you don’t mind.”

Though Sister Claudia’s mouth lifted in a smile, pure venom dripped from her gaze. “Unfortunately, Sister Ashley made a mistake when she brought this book out. Not all of our texts are available for you to touch.” She shot a narrow glare at Sister Ashley.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Sister Ashley said with a motion somewhere between a bow and a curtsy.

Roni tapped the desk. “I certainly understand how precious some rare books can be. I also understand that because I’m not part of your faith, you don’t want me looking through certain texts. But Sister Ashley is also a nun here. Perhaps she can help.”

“I doubt that our young librarian knows —”

“Or maybe we can call upon Sister Mary for advice in this matter. I’m sure she’s hanging out with Gram right now.”

Sister Claudia bristled. “Sister Mary doesn’t need to be bothered with this kind of nonsense. She trusts me to be in charge, and so you’ll have to take my word for this decision. You don’t need this book.”

She started to walk off again, but Roni said, “It sucks, doesn’t it? Sister Mary tells you that you’re going to be head of this place one day, but she doesn’t really give you the trust you deserve.”

“Do not try to equate your petty little problems with those that I face,” Sister Claudia said, stopping but not turning back.

“They might be petty, but if you don’t allow me to look at that book, I’ll have no choice. I’ve got a job to do. So, if I must, I’ll go to Sister Mary myself. Now, maybe you’re right. Maybe she’ll agree that you made the correct decision, and she’ll throw me out of here. Perhaps her decades-long relationship with my grandmother means nothing to her. Then again, and I’m only posing the possibilities, but perhaps she’ll tell you that you’re wrong. That Gram and I are here to ensure this rift doesn’t destroy everything. From that standpoint, it’s important that we have all the information available.”

Huffing, Sister Claudia slammed the book on Sister Ashley’s desk. Pointing a strong finger at Sister Ashley, she said, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. It was no mistake that this book was in her pile. If any harm comes of this, I will hold you responsible.”

Before Sister Ashley could mumble her apologies, Sister Claudia stomped out of the library. Roni stepped forward to glimpse at the book cover — an ornate illustration of two priests putting a body to rest. The cover’s border had an intricate design of thorns and stems ending in roses. The title of the book — The Abbey Tombs .

“I’m sorry if I caused you any trouble,” Roni said, trying to look closer.

Sister Ashley picked up the book and returned to the worktable. “Not at all.” She peeked toward the exit, apparently looking for Sister Claudia. With no sign of the woman returning, Sister Ashley said, “In fact, Sister Claudia is right. I did put this book on your pile on purpose. I’ve always had an interest in the angel and the conduit, but more than that, what really fascinates me are the Abbey tombs. And I’m certain that there are answers to your questions down there.”

A jolt of excitement electrified Roni’s fingers. “The tombs? What exactly —”

“Let me show you.” Sister Ashley opened the book and rifled through the pages with none of the care a librarian should have for such a delicate artifact. When she reached the desired page, she slapped her hand to the top of it and said, “There. Look at that.”

Roni leaned over the volume — the rich aroma of old, molding paper rose around her. The text was difficult to read — the handwritten script showed little care for legibility. Plus, Roni figured it was written in Gaelic or Celtic or some other variant, none of which she knew. But there was no mistaking the illustration — a single figure, a nun, flat on her back like an Egyptian Pharaoh, with an oversized book clutched in her arms.

“What’s it say?” Roni asked, the catch in her throat unmistakable.

Whispering, Sister Ashley said, “This was Sister Agnes. And the book she was buried with is called History of Secrets . She couldn’t have been more on the nose with that.” Sister Ashley’s face broadened like a hungry wolf. “I’ve always wanted to see it, but we aren’t allowed in the tombs. Sister Mary goes down there once or twice a year, but otherwise, I’ve never seen a single nun go there.”

Roni nodded. She understood the game they were about to play. “So, if I understand this, the rule is that you are not to go down there?”

“That’s correct.”

“But Sister Claudia told you to help me.”

“That is also correct.”

“Sister Claudia is working under orders from Sister Mary — the nun who runs this place.”

“And in order for you to help me, I need to see that book — History of Secrets .”

Sister Ashley tapped her chin in a studious manner. “Why then, I suppose the only way to do that would be to take you down there.”

“It seems like the only logical action you have available. I hate to ask you to break a rule, but you have a choice to make — you can break the one rule about the tombs, or you can break Sister Claudia’s rule about helping me which also breaks Sister Mary’s rule.”

Sister Ashley nodded so fast and with such a wide smile, Roni wondered if her teeth might crash together. “It seems I’d best break one rule rather than two.”

“If you think that’s best. Then, please, lead the way. We would be better off taking care of this as fast as possible.”

“Oh, indeed. If Sister Claudia were to return, then she would not let us go down there.”

“Which means she would be breaking Sister Mary’s order to help me and the Parallel Society. We don’t want to put her in that position. ”

Sister Ashley gathered the books together and set them on her desk. Neither woman said another word. Roni followed Sister Ashley’s lead and they headed for the tombs.