Doctor Who_ Companion Piece - Mike Tucker [31]
`Science, Grand Inquisitor. Science that you persecute because you don't understand it. Alien science.'
`Alien science, alien religion, practices so hideous, so inimical to the Gospels . . . W hen the monks began preaching to primitive species, some monstrous ideas from the backworlds began to creep into Catholic space. Some of the new bishops out here on the rimworlds began accepting beast sacrifices to the Lord! One authorised a depiction of Christ as a non-human — a crucified alien!'
`Oh, how monstrous!' sneered the Doctor.
`There was worse to come. The question of the baptism of nonhumanoid species split the Church in two. Did they or did they not have souls?'
The Doctor rolled his eyes.
`There were riots, civil wars, governments became embroiled and secular authority also fragmented. Fearing for his safety, Pope Athanasius finally left Earth for Rome.'
`I'm sorry?' the Doctor cut in. 'W here is Rome, if not on Earth?'
`Doctor, Rome is where the Pope is.'
`Meaning what, exactly?'
Del Toro approached the altar and, genuflecting, touched one of a discreet row of buttons set into its surface. A wide, thin screen floated down from the ceiling. The Inquisitor touched another button, and an image filled the screen.
It was a ship — of sorts. It looked more like a small moon, but entirely man-made, every inch covered in buildings or immense, shallow glass domes, under which the Doctor could see trees and parklands.
`This,' said del Toro proudly, 'is Rome. Is she not a marvel?'
`And this is where the Pope — one of the Popes — now rules from?'
Del Toro touched another button and the image was enlarged. Under a huge dome that appeared to consist of a single sheet of thin glass, the
Doctor could see Saint Peter's. Exactly as it was on Earth.
`Vatican City, Doctor. A stone-by-stone replica of the original:
`Very impressive.'
`And now, wherever the Holy Father wishes to go, Rome goes with
him, secure from attack.'
`And from proper scrutiny, I would imagine: said the Doctor. 'A
government on the run is no government:
`You sound like a schismatic, Doctor. Back on Earth, they refer to the
new Rome as Avignon. The new Babylonian captivity. They elected a
rival Pope, back in Old Rome. Of course, he called himself Urban IX;
and those who have succeeded him as antipope have also taken the name.
Swine!'
`And now the Pope in this new Rome is dying.'
`John Paul XXIII, yes. At a time when we desperately need leader
ship . . . A year ago, a Scarthian bandit chief called Brotak managed to
unite most of the planets in the Magellanic System under his authority. He converted to Roman Catholicism, acclaimed himself Tsar of all the
Magellanic Clouds, and, claiming direct authority from the great Con
stantine, appointed his own . . . creature . . . in mockery of the Pope:
`Creature?'
`The Abbot Brrteet'k. He calls himself Celestine VI.' Del Toro's voice
rang with disgust. 'He's from one of the new monasteries.'
`Not one of the old boy network, eh?'
`Doctor, Celestine VI is a highly evolved dolphin from beyond the
Rakash Nebula! A dolphin, elevated to the throne of Saint Peter! A
wretched fish!'
`They're mammals: said the Doctor.
`Pope John Paul has made it an article of faith that dolphins are fish:
the Inquisitor spat.
`Who knows,' said the Patriarch from the doorway, 'perhaps a pious
dolphin might serve the Lord better than an unworthy man.' Father Julian walked to a chair and settled into it, nodding at the
Doctor in greeting. 'W e have long ago learned not to confuse the shape
of the body with the shape of the soul: he continued. 'The fairest of face can be the most monstrous of spirit, as with Lucifer himself — the
brightest of God's angels before his fall.'
`Celestine's actions are far fouler than his appearance,' said