Page 301 - Revelation

Svetlana de Rohan-Levashova. Revelation

A mighty executioner easily lifted the cardinal, tying a heavy stone to his feet. In
the beginning I could not understand what kind of torture that was, but the answer did
not keep me waiting... The executioner pulled a lever and the cardinal’s body began to
rise... I heard a crunch. His joints and vertebrae were dislocated. My hair stood on
end! But the cardinal kept silent.

– Scream, Morone! Do me a favour! Maybe then I will let you go earlier. What
happened to you? I order you. Scream!!!
The Pope went mad... He hated when people refused to break. He hated when
people were not afraid of him... Therefore, the "disobedient" were tortured more
persistently and wickedly.

Morone became white as death. Big drops of sweat rolled down his thin face. His
self-control was awesome, but I understood that it could not last too long – every living
body has its limit... I wanted to help him, to try to anaesthetize him somehow. At once
an amusing thought came into my mind which I immediately tried to put into practice
– the stone which hung on the cardinal’s feet became weightless! Fortunately, Caraffa
did not notice it. And Morone lifted his eyes in surprise and immediately closed them
not to give it away, but I could see – he understood everything. And I continued to
"practise witchcraft” to relieve his pain as much as possible.
– Leave, Madonna! – The Pope exclaimed somewhat chafed. – You hinder me
from enjoying the show. I longed to see whether our dear friend managed to be as
proud as he was before my executioner’s work. You thwart it, Isidora!
It means that he, nevertheless, understood.

Caraffa was not a seer, but he somehow caught a lot of things with his incredibly
sharp flair. So it happened now. On feeling that something was happening and not
wishing to lose control over the situation, he ordered me to leave.
But now it was me who did not wish to leave. The unfortunate cardinal needed my
help and I sincerely wanted to grant it. I knew that, should I leave Morone alone with
Caraffa, there would be no knowing whether he would see the following day. Obviously
Caraffa did not care a straw about what I wanted... Without giving me a chance to
protest, the second executioner almost carried me out the door and urged me toward
the corridor, came back into the room where a very brave, but quite helpless good man
had to face Caraffa alone.

I stood in the corridor and tried to think of how I could help him. Regrettaby, there
was no way out of his sad situation. At least I could not find it so quickly... Frankly
speaking, my situation was probably worse... Yes, Caraffa did not torture me yet, but
the physical pain I would experience was less terrible than the tortures and death of
the people I loved... I did not know what happened to Anna and, being afraid to
interfere, helplessly waited... I understood from my sad experience too well that should
I anger the Pope with some thoughtless action, the terrible result would not keep me
waiting – Anna certainly would have to suffer.
Days passed and I did not know whether my girl was still in Meteora; whether the
Pope came after her; whether everything was all right with her?
My life was empty and strange, if not to say desperate. I could not leave Caraffa,

because I knew that if I disappeared, he would vent his malicious anger on my poor
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