We have further news regarding this morning's failed terrorist attempt on the life of Pope John XXIV. There were three gunmen, and all of them were killed. One has been identified as Jack Russell, once a captain in the terrorist wing of the Irish Republican Army. Dressed as priests, and with several fully automatic pistols concealed beneath their robes, they attempted to kill the pontiff at a papal appearance in the Vatican's Piazza San Pietro. Unable to get nearer to the pope than about fifty feet, they began shooting into the crowd, apparently hoping that people would get out of their way. Seven were killed, including all three gunmen. Eighteen others were wounded. The seventy-seven-year-old pontiff was slightly injured when thrown to the ground by a Swiss guard, who then fell on him to protect him.
Headline News
Atlanta, GA,
Jan. 17
Scanning the article, Thomas Corkery's expression was wry but not distressed. Russell had fucked it up. They should have had grenades.
Corkery was not surprised. But meanwhile it left him with no major income source, and his minor sources had dried up with the Hard Times.
Fortunately the Catholic Soldiers remained, such as they were, and those who financed them. "So, Thomas," he told himself in Gaelic, "it's off to Montreal with you." He had no doubt he'd find the necessary contacts there within a day or so of arriving, and his school French would finally serve some purpose. He'd regret leaving this South Boston Irish neighborhood, but perhaps there was one like it in Montreal.