Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno 4)

“What kind of knowledge are you transferring? Gravitational waves? Theology? The price of cheese and international trade?”

“Dante Alighieri.” Gabriel drank his espresso.

The woman put down her drink. “Really?”

Gabriel smothered a smile. “Yes, really.”

“Dante is interesting but he spent an inordinate amount of time talking about Hell.”

“And traveling through it.”

The woman laughed. “Yes, but no one believes in Hell anymore. Isn’t it difficult to interest people in Dante? To make him relevant?”

Gabriel turned in his chair. “Dante addresses love, sex, redemption, and loss. Those subjects are of ultimate concern to all human beings. If you skip Inferno, you miss the best parts.”

“But it’s all about sin, isn’t it? Punishment. Torture. Very badly dressed people.”

“Think of it as a redemptive exploration of human behavior. Each deadly sin represents a singular obsession, and Dante shows us their consequences. It’s a cautionary tale, more than anything. Since he labels his work a comedy, he’s telling us he thinks the story of humanity has a happy ending.”

“Not sure the souls in Hell are happy, but I take your point.” The woman removed her olive from her martini and ate it. “What are the deadly sins again?”

“Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and lust.”

“Ah.” The woman shivered. “Now my Catholic upbringing is coming back to me. Although you could say that in the news business, we tend to be acquainted with sin in all of its various forms. So you’re presenting your lecture tomorrow?”

Gabriel froze. His status as Sage Lecturer was not to be known by the public until the announcement tomorrow. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you’re a professor of literature?” The woman turned her head and gave Gabriel an expectant look.

Gabriel forced a smile. “Just a Dante enthusiast from America, happy to meet some of his Edinburgh colleagues.”

At that moment, a rather rowdy group of men and women entered the bar and walked straight toward the woman. She cursed them, but with a smile on her face.

Gabriel abandoned his second espresso and quickly charged his refreshment to his suite.

The television crew ordered drinks, talking boisterously among themselves.

Gabriel retrieved his coat, hat, and umbrella. As he turned to go, the woman approached him.

She extended a business

card. “Eleanor Michaels, BBC News. We’ll be covering the Sage Lectures announcement tomorrow.”

Gabriel adopted a stoic expression. It would be rude—and undoubtedly suspicious—to refuse the card.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Michaels.” He accepted the card and shook her hand. “What are the Sage Lectures?”

“You tell me. And it’s Eleanor.” She leaned forward. “I know it’s shrouded in secrecy, and no one is supposed to know anything before the announcement, but I hope you’ll give us an interview tomorrow.”

He lowered his chin patiently. “Enjoy your evening.”

“See you tomorrow. Hope the rain ends.” The woman smiled before returning to her colleagues.

Gabriel pocketed the card and went upstairs to the suite.

Stercus, he thought.

Chapter Twenty-Four