DATE WITH THE GODS

234 DATE WITH THE GODS

much more consuming passion than his desire to discern
the voice of the future speaking."
"I have nothing to go on but what you tell me."
"Be patient. You'll be able to read the signs now. You11
stumble onto a magazine containing an article about a
Pope, named Clement XV, who has his own church
somewhere in France."
And who pray tell is Clement XV?"
"According to him, he should be the one sitting at the
head of the church."
"Question: Will this be written, or has it been writ­
ten?"
"It has. It's in one of the major magazines of the United
States, and is serious journalistic information."
"Really? Now you can even predict what magazines I'll
be reading. I can hardly wait."
"I don't want to say any more about the church. We've
covered enough to keep you busy for a few months in
your search for the truth."
"Just one more question, please?"
"Okay. Just one."
"How is the believing church population going to take
it when they find that their church is in the hands of
Satan?"
"The Fatima message says the world will be sub­
merged in terror," Rama said, pointing to the copy of it.
"I can imagine the impact it would have. For some
people, the church is their whole life, their heart and
soul. I can only relate to it in terms of something like
seeing my favorite television celebrity, someone whom I
respect enormously, telling lies on the air. All my faith in
humanity would be shattered overnight."
"Who is your favorite television star?"
"Mary Tyler Moore, Telly Savalas, Walter Cronkite,
Johnny Carson, others ."
"You're right. It would make you sick to see such a
thing."