Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: The President's Endorsement

"I've never encountered a situation quite like this before, where I find myself at a loss for words when attempting to describe a person. He's a peculiar man, a fascinating man, though I've never spoken to him directly. As you know, I typically find a writer's essence within their work. But this is an exception. I've read his book multiple times, yet I struggle to reconcile the work with its creator.I imagine most of you reading this have already purchased and devoured your own copies of 'The Da Vinci Code.' And you've finished this exceptionally… I struggle to define its genre. Detective? Suspense? Thriller? Perhaps religious fiction?Before we discuss the author, Milo, let's revisit the novel itself. Within its pages, Milo references a wealth of art history, religious knowledge, historical anecdotes, and even apocryphal tales. But these aren't mere citations; he reworks them, infusing them with new life. This unconventional approach, originating with modernist writers, was inherited and developed by postmodern novelists.Most intriguing is Milo's 'subversive' interpretation of Da Vinci's artwork—works like the 'Mona Lisa,' the 'Self-Portrait,' and 'The Last Supper.' He first uses his characters to question the gender of the figure in the 'Mona Lisa,' suggesting that Mona Lisa is, in fact, Da Vinci himself. The artist's likeness in the 'Self-Portrait' is also presented as androgynous. In Milo's view, these two paintings are not simply independent works but interconnected pieces with reciprocal symbolic meaning.The most interesting part is… [865 words omitted].Alright, let's leave the novel's content there. For a mere $12.99 at your local bookstore, you can discover its wonders for yourself.Let us return to the genesis of it all, its creator—Milo Blackburn.It's difficult to believe that just a few months ago, he was a dissolute playboy, a man lost in a haze of constant intoxication. Yes, you heard that correctly. Milo Blackburn's father, Joseph, was once the CEO of a major corporation. Born into immense wealth, Milo spent his days indulging in the pleasures of wine, women, and song, trapped in his self-made dreamworld.Then, four months ago, he abruptly awoke. This awakening was triggered by the passing of his older brother, a man described as a saint. Four months ago, this saintly figure was called home. Milo grieved deeply, to the point of collapse, of unconsciousness. By the time he awoke, his brother was already buried.From that moment, Milo put down the glass and picked up the pen. He began writing, achieving astonishing, undeniable success. It's truly remarkable—a man who, four months prior, was a clueless wastrel, now, four months later, is the author of a book selling 1.2 million copies a month, a 'New York Times' bestseller that has held the number one spot for five consecutive weeks.I was perplexed, even suspicious… But then, I spoke with the Lord's shepherd, the esteemed Bishop Benjamin Butcher. The Bishop told me that Milo had received the Lord's blessing. He was divinely inspired, a chosen one!It all became clear. There could be no other explanation. Milo Blackburn is undoubtedly blessed, touched by divine grace. How else could the man he was have possibly written 'The Da Vinci Code'?If possible, I would be honored to conduct an interview with him."—Eddie McGoodrick, The New York Times."Fuck! Holy shit!"In a mansion outside Boston, Massachusetts, Craig Bayard threw the latest edition of The New York Times to the floor. As if that wasn't enough, he stomped on it a few times for good measure."Did Eddie McGoodrick lose his goddamn mind? Writing an article like this? 'The Lord's blessing,' 'divinely inspired'…?""That's what Milo gets?""Fuck!"Craig Bayard paced the living room, a palpable tension radiating from him."If they were talking about Paladin, I could maybe, maybe choke it down. But this is Milo. This is Milo Blackburn! Shit, if he can be divinely inspired, then I'm a goddamn angel!"His advisor, Pete, watching Craig's escalating outburst, intervened as his words grew increasingly reckless."Careful, Craig," Pete cautioned. "This isn't just Eddie McGoodrick's opinion." He gestured to the newspaper. "They mention Bishop Benjamin Butcher."Pete's reminder seemed to have an effect. Craig Bayard took several deep breaths, composing himself over the course of a minute."Huff…" A sardonic smile twisted Craig's lips. "Oh, Bishop Benjamin Butcher… Other people might not know, but we know perfectly well he's John Blackburn's brother! Fuck!"Seeing Craig teetering on the edge again, Pete rose and checked the hallway, ensuring no one could overhear his client's words. Such comments were fine in private, but if they were to leak…"Alright. No need for that. I'm calm now." Craig's expression turned cold. "Let them play their games. What does it have to do with me?"Pete offered a reassuring smile. "That's the spirit. That's exactly the right attitude. Craig, his path is destined never to cross yours again."Craig nodded. "Get David and the others. Let's continue yesterday's meeting."Pete nodded and left to summon the others, but Craig glanced back down at the discarded newspaper, muttering under his breath, "Fuck."So, why was our esteemed Boston District Attorney, Craig Bayard, in such a rage?It all began on September 1st.On that day, Harvard University Press released a novel called "The Da Vinci Code."The first three days after its release were relatively quiet. Harvard Press's marketing campaign had been moderate. Yet, the book performed well, selling over thirty thousand copies in just three days—an impressive feat for a debut author.But what catapulted it to national prominence overnight—causing daily sales to skyrocket by twenty thousand copies on the fourth day, thirty thousand on the fifth, and fifty thousand on the sixth—was an event that occurred on September 4th.On that day, the current President of the United States, Bill Clinton, was on a visit to Massachusetts. That evening, he gave a highly anticipated interview on WGBH-TV, a prominent PBS affiliate in the Boston area.Midway through the interview, the host asked President Clinton what he'd been reading lately.Clinton smiled. "Oh, on the flight here today, my dear Hillary recommended a rather compelling novel. I must confess, I became quite engrossed. Upon arriving in Boston, I was almost reluctant to leave the plane, as I was determined to finish the last three lines of the fourth chapter. It simply captivated me."The host, sensing an opportunity, inquired, "Oh? What book is this that held your attention so thoroughly?""Well," Clinton replied, a hint of amusement in his voice, "it's called 'The Da Vinci Code.'"