Chapter 5 Summary

The colonel says he has arranged for Bem to place a phone call to the Ministry of Religious Affairs but he must speak to the Deputy Minister, as the Minister is out of town. After testing the Deputy Minister to assure his identity, Bem learns that the Ministry also believes that Catholic fanatics have attempted to kill him in order to spark the religious riots they desire.

Cardinal Bem reasserts that they must release him so that he can dissuade the people from rebelling and prevent the bloodshed. The Deputy Minster hangs up the phone, ending the call abruptly.

Chapter 5 Analysis

The conspiracy becomes more and more serious as source after source confirms that Catholic fanatics tried to kill Cardinal Bem. The cardinal has become slightly more suspicious and cautious as evidenced by his testing of the Deputy Minster, but he continues to...