Excerpt: Giorigio’s Miracle
Chapter 6: Two Thieves
As they crept through the city of Exilles in search of their opportunity, they came across a beautiful church. Vincente spoke first, saying to Martino, “Why not begin here? Surely there is plenty of gold and expensive cloth to be had! Maybe silver and some gems as well,” he added as he tried the side entrance. “Hey, this door’s open. We can easily go in.”
Martino was not so readily convinced. As he stood looking at the stalwart church building, he remembered a special day in his childhood. A picture presented itself in his mind. It was of the little church that he and his father went to when he was a young boy, many long years before he had joined the war. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Martino shook himself from the vision. “Vincente,” he began, “God’s house? Are you sure it is wise?”
“Wise nothing! It’s not as if God is here, as if God is watching us. Besides, when was the last time you’ve even given God a thought — as if you’re above thieving. You’re the one carrying stolen goods,” Vincente pointed out, bristling at Martino’s delay…
Martino did his own share of the robbing. He grabbed the gilded candlesticks and the silver patens. The shiny altar bells made a tinkling sound as he tossed them on the growing heap. The eager thieves even stole the silver chalice itself. They came to the tabernacle and noticed that it was built into the high altar, so it was impossible to take. Vincente took one look at the exquisite jewels of its richly embedded framework. With dagger in hand, he gouged at the rubies and sapphires.
“Not enough time to dig these all out. Too bad,” Vincente mumbled to himself, grudgingly putting his knife back in its sheath. “The tabernacle … is it locked?” Vincente instantly knew the purpose of the little key.
“Hustle up, Martino! Fetch that little key or I’ll bust this open. No doubt it holds the most valuable treasure.”
