We went down from one end of the stone bridge, which happened to connect to the eighth embankment. Malebolge immediately lay before us.
I saw a great heap of snakes within, so horrifying that even now, whenever I recall them, my blood still seems unable to circulate. Their forms and species were countless.
—Dante, The Divine Comedy: Inferno
With a bang, a thick file caked in dust was placed before Joseph. He could not help taking a step back, waving his hands to brush away the dust billowing into his face.
"This is what you wanted, Father Gordon's investigation records." The Vatican Secret Archives librarian said to Joseph, "You know the rules."
"Yes. May I find a table and sit down?"
The librarian gestured for Joseph to help himself, so he carried the thick stack of files to the reading area across from the service desk. Several scholars were already gathered there, reading the materials they had borrowed.
Nothing was allowed into the archives, including water and food, and nothing could be taken out. The body searches were deeply unpleasant, and going an entire day without food or water was not something just anyone could manage.
All of this was thanks to the previous director. A copied papyrus had claimed that Egypt had discovered UFOs in 1480 BC. What a magnificent achievement that had been.
The general public had enjoyed their brief excitement, but life had become much harder for those borrowing materials. Even with certain privileges, Joseph could not take these documents away. He was merely permitted to consult secret materials he had previously lacked the qualifications to see.
Father Gordon's "Miracle Investigation Report" had been restricted to bishops and above thirty years ago. Even now, it was not something an ordinary priest could read.
Joseph took a deep