₦airaland Forum

zicoraads:
I love the effort...it's not easy to write. That being said, unlike MizMyColi and others who are piqued by your use of vocabulary, I find it irritating and annoying. Good books are not about the 'large' vocabularies of the writers. What most people don't realize is that, it's much better to converse or write in the everyday speech or language we make use of daily. You wouldn't want to send your readers to their dictionaries every time an update is made. Who would want to keep a dictionary beside them when reading a novel?

And then there is the issue of the feeling of reading a Dan Brown all over again. I think you should come up with something that has no insignia of Dan Brown all over it. I feel you are very talented and I believe you can do it. Cos for someone who has read Angels and Demons, this is like reading the book all over again. And I won't want to follow your updates for that singular fact. End!

noted

MizMyColi:
This is the first thread I will ever follow in the Lit. Section.

I am doing so because the writer's use of vocabulary piques me and I take it as an avenue to learn new words.

Please don't delay with your updates.
Make I no vex click unfollow

JigsawKillah:
If you don't complete this story, some bucket men will come looking for your head
I trust you don't want that
Following....

I hope so

updates would be later during the week due to time schedule..✘

Date: Wednesday 16.
Time: 8:30am


Chapter 2•

Cardinal Aderotimi Okogie was gunned down during his valedictory service at the St. Dominic's Catholic Church - echoed the indefatigable radio presenter on the early morning F.M news,blaring on the detective's car stereo.

The death of the Cardinal had been the recurring theme on the radio,television and had been the internet sensation for the past 3 days.

More cabalistic and inexplicable, were the findings of dismembered body parts which were later identified as those of Catholic Priests. A lass of about eleven was said to have made the gory discovery when she accidentally stumbled on an arm,while playing on her father's farm just 4 hours after the Cardinal was murdered.

The church was definitely under an astringent attack- a Portuguese Franciscan Priest had told the BBC the day before. A Lebanese nun posited to the reporters that a misguided serial killer may be on the loose. An unknown blogger opined that the much spoked about apocalypse was finally here.
The questions however, that no one could answer rconvincingly were- why was the Cardinal murdered? why were the Priests cannibalised in such a brutal manner ? .

All of these were the reason Detective Greg was on his way to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport by 8:30 in the morning. He was to usher in one of the world's most renowned symbologist and cryptographer into the country.

It was to be a clandestine task and stealth mission, so as not to arouse any form of suspicion. This would be the pinnacle of his career in the force, and he had decided to make every good use of it . He donned a well-ironed blue long-sleeved shirt , tucked in nicely into his cream Chinos.

He hopped out of the grey 2016 Cadillac Escalade, and waved at a pale-looking 5ft tall Caucasian carrying a black briefcase at the other end.
He hastened his footsteps, and when he got close enough,he extended his arm for a handshake- 'good morning Mr. Robert Langdon' , 'welcome to Nigeria'.

.

ronald4lif:
Interesting. Will be keeping tab with updates and enjoy the thriller. Flawless piece so far.

Hope Cardinal (Pope) Aderotimi didn't perish from the gun shot injuries.

DarkkRebel:
.The Cardinal's skull was left in shambles as a metal bullet found its way into his bonce.

Alright brov .updates are coming soon.. ✘

Sinizia
Laykorn
Cherlene
Misssclassy
Jigsawkillah
Creamish
Mhizkel
dechandel
nneka123
Kr0ne
ibime
tohpaz
peeparty
coogar
guykhena
mizmykoli
mznelly
lagunna1
Ishilove
MizMyColi
cherryice
Victoriabee
Tashaamania
twaci
Ronald4lif
ladyboss1
pickabeau1
marieolae... & every other person

•Genre: Fiction /Thriller

•Inspired by Dan Brown's Angels &Demons

•Note: some characters from Dan Brown's Angels & Demons would be infused into this piece.

•Kindly follow the thread in order to receive notifications when the subsequent chapters are posted.

•Updates would be made as soon as possible & please feel free to highlight my flaws.

enjoy✘










___________________________________________________



Location: St.Dominic Catholic Church Yaba, Lagos. Nigeria.

Year: 2020.

Date: April, Sunday the 13th [5th Sunday in ordinary time][Catholic liturgical calendar]

Time: 8:48am.

___________________________________________________

Chapter One• [dedicated to Luxanne & sharonnnn]


Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis!

the canorous and strident voices of the choristers beneath the clerestory clothed in their green ceremonious vestments shook the prodigious edifice to its very foundations.

Their ecclesiastical habiliments were prettified by ornamental silvery girdles, and they swayed in harmonious synchronization, while they cantillated the popular Lamb of God prayer in Latin- the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Lamb of God prayer had been introduced into the Roman Rite Mass by Pope Sergius I, who had reigned from 687 to 701, and as ever since been one of the most powerful prayers of the Catholic Church universally.


The unusual blitheness and ebullience of the choir was adequately complimented by the vivacious eccentricity in which the board of Lectors,the Altar servers,and the church wardens had discharged their duties during the course of the Mass.

It was indeed a jubilant and joyous Sunday for every citizen of the country. A son of the soil- Cardinal Aderotimi Okoye had just been declared three days ago by the conclave as the new Holy See of Rome, and the successor of Jorge Mario Bergoglio- Pope Francis.

Pope Emeritus Francis had tendered his resignation letter on the 18th of March 2020 during a meeting with the Vatican Cardinals. The official release of his resignation letter via the media had thrown the entire Catholic faithful aback, and had come as a shocking spine-chiller to the World in general.
The first paragraph of his letter still oscillates obstreperously in the Eidetic memories of many Catholics and non-Catholics worldwide.

"After having repeatedly examined my conscience
before God, I have come to the certainty that my
strengths due to an advanced age are no longer
suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine
ministry. It is with great honour that I tender my resignation............."

Although Pope Emeritus Francis had claimed his untimely resignation was because of his deteriorating health, some people posited however, that he was merely seeking for cover cowardly from the recent Vatican murders and the engulfing religious wars.

The declaration of the next Pope and Vicar of Rome was the most talked about topic on social media, television ,radio etcetera.
It also eclipsed the Martin Trayvon incident of 2012,and went ahead to be the most tweeted event of the century.

The forbearing Cardinals spent three seemly unending weeks in the Conclave before the long awaited announcement of the successor of St.Peter.
The entire World was thrown into a tsunami of unquantifiable delectation and bliss, when the legendary white smoke was seen emerging from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel- white smoke in the Vatican city signifies that a new Pope had been selected by the Conclave.

The world was also left bewildered and consternated when the new Pope was said to be from Africa, a Nigerian...The first black Pope in the Church's history.

Cardinal Aderotimi Okoye reminisced deeply as he sat sedately on the elaborately adorned 4ft tall Cathedra positioned in front of the giant gold crucifix on the altar, and in line with the portable credence table.

He had been a young, promising and rhapsodic seminarian in St.Dominic Catholic Church 53 years ago. He had taught catechism every Sunday evening, socialised freely with the CYON[Catholic Youth Organisation], and had even played street soccer colloquially known as Monkey Post with some of the Church's workers on the tarred streets of Akoka, Yaba.

He has returned to his roots- not as a neophyte inexperienced seminarian, but as a mellowed Cardinal newly appointed by the almighty Conclave to be the Episcopal Barque of St.Peter.
This would be his last Eucharistic celebration in the country before his departure to the Vatican. And what better place would be in celebrating his last supper on Nigerian soil than with the Parish, and people of God who had helped profoundly in making him the man that he is today.

Tears of Joy dripped brazenly from his eyes while the voice of the Church's announcer resonated through the ever-listening pinnas of the sanguine congregation.

It was finally time for Cardinal Aderotimi Okoye to make his farewell and valedictory speech. The entire church bursted into a volcanic eruption of deafening round of applauses. The type that could deafen a deaf man!.
He was accompanied to the lectern on the other side of the altar by two acolytes. They processed choreographically, and bowed in unison at the colossal crucifix that hung at the centre of the Altar.

Cardinal Aderotimi Okoye mounted the rostrum and began his speech in earnest-
'In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy'.....

He hadn't finished making the sign of the cross when two cracking sounds quaked the Church building. The Cardinal's skull was left in shambles as a metal bullet found its way into his bonce. ✘