Read Online Doruntine by Ismaíl Kadaré - Free Book Online

suspend their songs in mid-verse and rumor will change of itself.”
    â€œI have sought to do just that, Monsignor,” Stressaid. “I have done my utmost.”
    â€œWith no result?”
    â€œVery nearly. Of course there are people who do not believe in this resurrection, but they are a minority. Most believe it.”
    â€œThen you must see to it that this minority becomes the majority.”
    â€œI have done all I can, Monsignor.”
    â€œYou must do even more, Captain. And there is only one way to manage it: you must find the man who brought the young woman back. Find the imposter, the lover, the adventurer, whatever he is. Track him down relentlessly, wherever he may be. Move heaven and earth until you find him. And if you do not find him, then you will have to create him.”
    â€œCreate him?”
    A flash of cold lightning seemed to pass between them.
    â€œIn other words,” said the archbishop, the first to avert his eyes, “it would be advisable to bear witness to his existence. Many things seem impossible at first that are crowned with success in the end.”
    The archbishop’s voice had lost its ring of confidence.
    â€œI shall do my best, Monsignor,” said Stres.
    A silence of the most uncomfortable kind settled over the room. The archbishop, head lowered, sat deep in thought. When he next spoke, his voice had changed so completely that Stres looked up sharply,intrigued. His tone, as polite, gentle, and persuasive as the man himself—now matched his physical appearance perfectly.
    â€œListen, Captain,” said the archbishop. “Let us speak frankly.”
    He took a deep breath.
    â€œYes, let us speak plainly. I think you are aware of the importance attached to these matters at the Center. Many things are forgiven in Constantinople, but there is no indulgence whatever for any question touching on the basic principles of the Holy Church. I have seen emperors massacred, dragged through the hippodromes, eyes put out, tongues cut out, simply because they dared think they could amend this or that thesis of the Church. Perhaps you remember that two years ago, after the heated controversy about the sex of angels, the capital came close to being the arena of a civil war that might have led to wholesale carnage.”
    Stres did recall some disturbances, but he had never paid much attention to the sort of collective hysteria which erupted periodically in the Empire’s capital.
    â€œToday more than ever,” the archbishop went on, “when relations between our Church and the Catholic Church have worsened. . . . Nowadays your life is at stake in matters like these. Do I make myself clear, Captain?”
    â€œYes,” said Stres uncertainly. “But I would like to know what all this has to do with the incident wewere discussing.”
    â€œJust so,” said the archbishop, his voice growing stronger now, recovering its deep resonance, “yes, just so.”
    Stres kept his eyes fixed upon him.
    â€œHere we have an alleged return from the grave,” the prelate continued. “And therefore a resurrection. Do you see what that means, Captain?”
    â€œA return from the grave,” Stres repeated. “An idiotic rumor.”
    â€œIt’s not that simple,” interrupted the archbishop. “It is a ghastly heresy. An arch-heresy.”
    â€œYes,” said Stres, “in one sense it is indeed.”
    â€œNot in one sense. Absolutely,” the archbishop said, nearly shouting. His voice had recovered its first heavy tones. His head was now so close that Stres had all he could do to keep from leaning back.
    â€œUntil now Jesus Christ alone has risen from his tomb! Do you follow me, Captain?”
    â€œI understand, Monsignor,” Stres said.
    â€œWell then, He returned from the dead to accomplish a great mission. But this dead man of yours, this Constantine—that is his name, is it