Thorn recounted his first meeting with the priest, how the priest followed him, finally cornering him and soliciting the meeting in the park. It was at that meeting, the second that he had recited the poem.

"Something about . . . rising from the sea . . ." Thorn mumbled as he struggled to recall. ". . . About death . . . and armies ... the Roman Empire ..."

"You've got to do better than that."

"I was upset. I thought he was crazy! I didn't really listen."

"But you did listen. You heard. You've got the key to this, now spit it up!"

"I can't!"

"Try harder."

Thorn's face was filled with frustration and he shut his eyes, forcing his mind in a direction it refused to take.

"I remember ... he begged me to take communion. Drink the blood of Christ. That's what he said. Drink the blood of Christ..."

"What for?"

"To defeat the son of the Devil. He said drink the blood of Christ to defeat the son of the Devil."

"What else?" urged Jennings.

"An old man. Something about an old man ..."

"What old man?"

"He said I should see an old man."

"Keep going ..."

"I can't remember ... !"

"Did he give you a name?"

"M .. . Magdo. Magdo. Meggido. No, that was the town."

"What town?" pressed Jennings.

"The town he said I should go to. Meggido. I'm sure that's it. That's where he said I should go."

Jennings excitedly rummaged through his briefcase, retrieving a map.

"Meggido . . ." he mumbled, "Meggido ..."

"Have you heard of it?" asked Thorn.

"I'll just bet it's in Italy."

But it was not. Nor was it to be found listed in any country on the greater European continent. Jennings studied his map for a full half hour before closing it and shaking his head with dismay. He glanced at Thorn and saw that the Ambassador had fallen asleep. He did not wake him, turning instead to his books on the occult. As the small plane knifed through the midnight sky, he became absorbed in the prophesies of the second coming of Christ. It was linked with the coming of the Anti-Christ, the Unholy Child, the Beast, the Savage Messiah:

... and unto this earth comes the Savage Messiah, the offspring of Satan in human form, sired by the rape of a four-legged beast. As young Christ spread love and kindness, so the Anti-Christ will spread hatred and fear . .. receiving his commandments directly from Hell.

The plane touched down with a jolt. Jennings grabbed for his books as they fell in disarray around him. It was raining in Rome, the thunder rumbling ominously above them.