First Daughter - Eric van Lustbader [69]
"Shall I go on? Okay, how about 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.' The commandment doesn't say don't screw another man's wife, that would be doable. Instead, it gives you an impossible task: It forbids you even to think about screwing another man's wife!
"You see what's happened here? Religion was invented by men in order to create sin. Because without sin there can be no fear, without fear how do you control large numbers of human beings? Add to that an elite theocracy that periodically issues edicts as it sees fit, in order to keep itself in power, and the definition of totalitarianism is complete."
Alli took a moment to absorb what Kray said before replying: "What about the totalitarianism of Hitler and Stalin?"
A knowing smile spread across Kray's face. "The Vatican acquiesced to Hitler. In fact, it rushed to knuckle under in 1933, signing a treaty with Hitler forbidding German Catholics to participate in any form of political activity that criticized the regime. After the war, it provided documents, false passports and the like, enabling Nazis to flee to South America, and no German was ever excommunicated for war crimes. The historical connection of the Christian churches with fascism is undeniable and a matter of public record. Hardly surprising, when you think about it. Totalitarianism attracts totalitarianism. Its members are absolutists—by definition, they cannot apologize for their transgressions. Think about it for a moment. Totalitarianism whether it be religious in nature like the Christian church or political in nature like history's fascist states is all faith-based. Absolute faith in one's infallible leaders.
"At least we secularists have the freedom—and the duty—to admit our mistakes, and to correct them."
Alli, eyes turned inward, was lost in thought. She was absorbing everything, like a sponge. "It's true. I see things that frighten me," she said at length. "A group of people with tremendous power and inflexible views, everyone else afraid to speak up, more limits put on personal freedoms." She pursed her lips. "What does it mean? It's unthinkable, but could it be that we're inching away from democracy?"
"The very fact that you're asking the question is cause for celebration." Kray pushed his plate to one side. "Now you tell me. Your opinion is as important as mine."
Her lips curled in an ironic smile. "Even though I've lived a life of privilege?"
"Precisely because you've lived a life of privilege," Kray said seriously.
She rose, gathered the plates and cutlery.
"You don't have to do that," he said.
"I'm stronger now." Her hands full, Alli walked over to the sink with decidedly less difficulty. Her back to him, she began to wash the dishes.
Kray stood. "Alli?"
"Yes?"
"You're free to go any time you want."
Alli scrubbed a plate free of yolk and grease, placed it with great deliberation on the drainboard rack. "If I go home," she said without turning around, "I'll stop learning."
TWENTY - THREE
STOP 'N' shop," Armitage said, "what's that?" He was even more jittery now. His face was as white as the sleet bouncing off the car's windshield.
Jack turned down Kirby Road about five miles from Claiborne. "It's when you intercept a perp—a suspect—grill him about where he's going, why he's in the area, what he's got in his vehicle."
"Where's your probable cause?"
Jack pulled out his gun. "Here's my probable cause."
"You can't just—"
"What are you, an ex-priest and an ex-lawyer?"
Armitage fell silent. While he tried to gather himself, Jack said, "Give me the BMW's tag number."
Armitage showed him the pad, but Jack's emotions were running too high, he was under too much stress for him to be able to get to the mental place where he could concentrate enough to make sense of what Armitage had jotted down.
"Read it to me."
Armitage looked at him quizzically.
"I can't take my eyes off the road," Jack lied. He'd never get over