“Go gather the box and its contents,” Braun said to Rolf. “And then let’s leave. I have an appointment to keep in Rome.”

Holding George Stratton’s Colt .45 in his right hand, Morgen crept through the kitchen toward the gathering, staying out of sight behind the counters. He looked up just in time to see Braun spit on Seth’s face. Rolf had turned toward the kitchen to fetch the shroud and the Sophia Passion.

Morgen took in the scene instantly. In front of him was Rolf. The rest of them were to his left, near the door that led into the corridor. Seth was pinned to the floor by three men, Braun still standing over him; Zoe was on her knees, struggling with two other men on top of her, trying to wrestle her down.

Morgen stood there in the open door, a stinking tide of gas pouring past him. His eyes locked with Zoe’s for just a moment. Rolf raised his weapon and pointed it at Morgen. Morgen raised the .45, smelled the gas again, but instead of shooting, he dropped to the floor just as Rolf pulled the trigger.

There was the roar from Rolf’s gun and then a larger, bright flaming whump! Rolf Engels’ last view of this world was how the fire from his gun seemed to continue on back and behind Morgen. As the kitchen ignited, Rolf knew they should never have installed gas anywhere in the chalet

The fireball ricocheted through the kitchen, setting it aflame in a thousand places. Pinned to the floor, Ridgeway felt the weight on him vanish. Instants later, he sat up and viewed a scene from the Inferno. Rolf and two of Braun’s other men were burning like torches. Their mouths were open as if they were screaming, but Seth heard nothing over the roar of the flames. The dried wood and furnishings of the old, old building burned eagerly.

Seth got to his feet and rushed to Zoe. Braun crouched nearby, frozen like marble. Kitchen counters had shielded both of them from the initial ignition. Seconds later the surviving security men rushed back into the kitchen. Seth was prepared for a struggle, but the men were dragging a fire hose from a corridor box and paid no attention to anything but the fire.

“Zoe, get up.” He slipped his hands under her armpits. “We’ve got to get out” She stood up shakily. Moments later, Morgen reached their side.

Then suddenly, like a statue coming to life, Braun was all over them.

“The shroud, you must help me get the shroud.” His eyes glinted from fires that burned within. He pulled and tugged at Seth, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Seth lashed out and caught the cardinal with the back of his fist Braun fell to his knees.

“Get your own fucking shroud,” Seth screamed over the roar of the flames.

Morgen looked at the Cardinal equivocally. “Come with us, son,” he yelled.

“Go to hell old man!” Braun yelled as he scrambled toward the scattered relics.