Buckingham Palace.
United States President William straightened his collar, then turned to face an image of the Virgin Mary.
He gazed at the painting for quite a while, then murmured a few prayers.
William was a Southern Baptist Convention believer and knew all the rhetoric of the Bible and Christian theology well, but in the past he had not been a devout believer, and he knew that himself. His understanding of religion had ultimately been only a tool that served his political career.
But all of that had changed more than half a month ago.
At the time, he had been praying with his mother at her request, but suddenly, he saw a miracle manifest.
Radiance, hymns, and revelation—he had clearly felt that power, as if it had lifted his spirit to another plane and let him see truths that did not belong to this world.
The solemn sanctity he had felt in church as a child was, before a true miracle, like an ugly farce performed by clay dolls.
That was a miracle revealed to him alone, and so he knew that he truly had a mission to complete, an extraordinary mission far more important than worldly status, power, or the pleasures of the mortal world.
That was to bring glory to his God.
"Mr. President." An attendant opened the door. "Prime Minister John is waiting for you outside."
"All right." William buttoned his suit jacket. "Don't keep our friend waiting too long. We have a pile of things to discuss today."
The day after the leaders of the two countries met, Boris received a message from 10 Downing Street, requesting that Murphys Anon attend a hearing.
That afternoon, Boris arrived at the Palace of Westminster, where Parliament was located.
In one room, more than a dozen solemn