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“At age sixty-six, he walked eight hundred kilometers? That’s five hundred miles”

“He was a strong , sad to say The ainst him here was le Cardinal Blanc—the White Cardinal”

“But…” I felt silly asking “Weren’t all the cardinals white in those days?”

She furrowed her brow, then laughed “Ah, non, not the skin The robe He alore the white robe of the Cistercian monks Even after he became a cardinal Even after he became the pope”

“Wait The White Cardinal became the pope? Which pope was he?”

“Benedict Twelve,” she said “Before he was pope, his naht here by Pope John Twenty-Two to be the police théologique”

“You mean to punish heretics? Like the Inquisition?”

“Exactement He adored to be the Inquisitor He protected the back of the pope And when John Twenty-Two died, voilà, le Cardinal Blanc became the new pope, Benedict Twelve He was the one who built the Palais des Papes Before, the pope was in the bishop’s house Then he tears that down and builds the fortress”

“But while he was a cardinal, he was Eckhart’s eneuard dog?” Another nod “That is a powerful enemy”

A third and final nod “You see? Eckhart conon in 1327 to ain”

“I don’t know if this Eckhart is our guy,” I whispered, “but he’s sure an intriguing guy”

Miranda nodded without glancing up fronon’s library — a spectacular library, housed in a for in the rand audience hall When I’d mentioned Elisabeth’s theory about Meister Eckhart, Miranda had taken the idea and run with it, straight to the library’s reference desk

Noas skis, which a helpful young librarian, Philippe, had found on the shelves Meanwhile Miranda was conon’s ce for any references to Eckhart’s death or grave “The date of his death is unknown,” she murmured “So is his burial site Like Elisabeth said, he caes of heresy Then, poof, he drops off the radar screen No mention of him until March 1329, when John Twenty-Two issued a papal bull, a pronounce to the bull, Eckhart took theet this—before he died”

“Sure sounds like bull,” I said

“Indeed But the point is, we knoas dead by March 1329”

I went back to my book The more I read, the more I liked this Eckhart I didn’t understand a lot of what he said, but he seeenuine, and passionate about what he believed He criticized those who asked God for personal favors, or who prayed “thy will be done” but then cos didn’t work out the way they wanted And he had a sense of huenerally associated with ians “My Lord told h has done more for me than any scripture I will ever read” He could even be a bit cheeky “Listen,” I said “He writes, ‘God is not good, or else he could do better’ No wonder the theology police put hirade”

Miranda looked thoughtful “Maybe,” she said “Or ood, better, best? God’s not ood’s only so-so? Maybe hebut best?”

I shrugged “Dunno This is why I study bones, not philosophy” The h, was how fresh, how hts sounded “Get this,” I told Miranda “He wrote, ‘If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is “thank you,” it will be enough’ I like that Then there’s, ‘The more we have, the less n’ Or how about this: ‘The price of inaction is far greater than the cost ofa mistake’?”

She flinched “Ouch Too bad they didn’t stress that one in lifeguard training — I otten off ”

I kickedjabbed her sore spot “Sorry I take it back Here, remember this one instead: ‘Do exactly what you would do if you felt ht? Be your best self? Sounds like soht say”

She snorted “What do you know about Dr Phil? Have you ever read or heard anything he’s said?”