The building housing the offices of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See astounded Antonio, who was also astounded that he was called "Father" consistently in the Republic. His astonishment grew as he realized that the building in Houston was an exact replica of the original building in Washington D. C. Did someone bring the entire building here, or was this a public statement of pride, and well as a poke in the eye to the false, schismatic church which took over the Massachusetts Avenue address as soon as it was vacated? Texans were proud and had a sense of humor, so Antonio assumed both ideas were correct.
Antonio was also surprised by another visitor whom he met in the waiting room of the Nuncio. Edward Sczepanska, Bishop of Tehama, was sitting on a large red chair in the rather interesting room. Behind the Bishop, on the wall, were two modern paintings. One was of the infamous Manna Berry Bush, complete with berries. The other was a painting of the vinum mustum green grape used by the priests everywhere in what was America except for the Republic. Antonio mentally approved of the glorification of the staples of the missionary priests outside this wonderland of a republic.
"I remember you at the meeting in Louisiana, Father Antonio. How are you? I am sorry about the death of Bishop James, of course."
Antonio nodded and quietly answered, "Yes, thank you I am fine, Your Excellency. Those who go before us are with us, I believe."
The handsome bishop smiled. "Yes, I agree. By the way, I am no longer in Tehama. The glaciation has forced the terrified population out with the cryoseisms and fierce winds. The town is a ghost town soon to be covered in ice. I have been called back here to serve some where else. I am getting new orders."
Antonio had heard no news of the changes in the north. He expected, however, the cold to continue and get worse. Reports from the International Glaciological Society, before the end of the grid in Britain, had indicated that the glaciation would not end until it hit roughly the 37°47′N latitude, on the level with San Francisco. Tehama was farther north, at about 40 degrees latitude. So, the studies would indicate that Tehama would be covered. The surprise for all the glaciologists working in the Republic was how fast the new glacier was moving.
The moving ice, also, now had a name. The Kim Glacier, as it was caused directly by the nuclear blast. This name seemed too nasty a name for some, and to others, most appropriate. Some scientists wanted to call it the Colorado Springs Glacier, in honor of those who perished at the epicenter of the bomb. But, The Kim stuck. Some quipped that it was too bad he never knew of the honor he was given by the community of glaciologists.
Bishop Edward seemed preoccupied with his thoughts. And, that was proven when the Nuncio's secretary called him and he did not at first respond. Antonio said quietly, "Your Excellency...."
"Ah, yes, sorry. I was thinking of all those Catholic streaming out of the cold to what, I wonder?"
After he disappeared into the next room, Antonio got up to look at the paintings more closely. He noticed the name of the artist written in a scraggly hand-Philip Scott. Antonio has no idea the congenial bishop was an artist. The young priest wondered if that bishop had time, or the means to paint in Ventura. Things were happening so fast Antonio pondered as to the likelihood of painting and art in general being things of the past.
Could art survive in a country divided into four sections?
Who would have the leisure to paint? Who would have the supplies? No one was in The Wilderness; the GATS insured a utilitarian lifestyle of martial law and propaganda in the East; the areas controlled by the Chinese were either under the tyrannies of the generals, or in civil war; therefore, this magnificent mini-nation, the Republic of Texas, was supposedly where Bishop Philip painted these two works.
Interesting, thought Antonio, even in chaos, the urge and the need to create stay with humans, as a comfort, as an expression of who we are....made in the Image and Likeness of God...
To be continued....