@flashfictionfridayofficial two days late, but I got it done eventually
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The shock of the annoucements of the attacks (so many, so many dead) still ripples through the theatre, a pall of silence following the instinctive cries of horror at the toll.
But there's always one.
"Ecco" Below him in the ranks of chairs Tedesco leans forwards, eyes locked on Dean Lawrence
"Ecco vediamo il risultato della dottrina del relativismo tanto amata dai nostri fratelli liberali!" The Patriarch is speaking fast, but he can follow the gist of the italian as the older man rises to his feet and continues to rant. His heart flinches at the disparagment of another religion(and there really aren't that many, only one in Rome, he's sure.)
Those bigoted tone drives Cardinal Bellini to his feet, shouting back at Tedesco, but Tedesco throws it straightback in the man's faceas he bellows "We should all be ashamed!"
Bellini sits back down, whatever bravado he'd found now punctured -gone.
Ashamed of what? Of kindness, of tolerance? Of ackowledging that other people worship differently, we share many stories.
Tedesco goes on, louder- vicious words "Religious war..."
No, No No, you call for that, when all it would do is spill blood, everyone's blood. And you (in your eyes), would be sat here in Rome, far from the danger. Is the world not torn apart enough as it is.
"To fight these animals!!"
Finally, finally, there is uproar, shouts of horror, but also of approval.
Animals, no... humans, men and woman alike to those who sit here, frankly some of them are better, kinder, than some of you who sit here. But there is no clear rebuttal, Bellini sits head bowed, Sabbadin too.
Holy Father, you pointed me to here, through Monsignior to Cardinal. You knew these men. Will no-one say something?
He gets to his feet "My Brother Cardinal."
The Dean's eyes rise to him, and as he repeats himself as the others quiet,turning his head down to look at Tedesco, "My Brother Cardinal, with respect, what do you know of war?"
