Mikael is on his way back to the laboratory from attending Misa de Gallo. One of the nine pre-dawn masses leading up to Christmas, at the university chapel.
A few stragglers are hanging around and chatting cheerfully outside, most of them were students or faculty.
They call out to him and wish him a merry Christmas.
He smiled at them and then greeted them back before he waved them goodbye.
After that, he turns up his collar against the yuletide chill and prepares to cross the road.
On the other side of the road, standing in the shadow of a tree was Monsignor Geloso.
Mikael is startled and stops where he stands. For several moments, the two men stand on opposite sides of the road, staring wordlessly at each other.
A few vehicles whiz past them from either direction.
'What is he doing here? What does he want from me?'
