Chapter 12 Summary

Msgr. Marcus Apollo, Papal nuncio to the Court of Hannegan, is certain war is near, overhearing Hannegan's third wife gossiping about a favorite courier returning intact from a mission to Mad Bear's clan. Had the Plains tribes and the civilized states accepted the "Agreement of the Holy Scourge," Mad Bear would not have slain him in fury. Hannegan's emissary must, therefore, have gone on another, undisclosed, mission. The tall black-clad cleric makes his way to his assistant, Brother Claret, but says only, "Sarkal came back alive." They will talk more after the wedding reception. The bride's half-brother, an elegantly attired academic Thon Taddeo Pfardentrott, approaches, irritated being outside his secular cloister in the collegium. Taddeo hopes to learn more from Apollo about the Leibowitzian documents at the abbey. Apollo assures him they are authentic and encourages him to accept the abbey's invitation to...