novel there are mostly groups of characters. They are the SP’s, the regular police, the corrupt priests, the faithful members of the church and the exploited citizens.The inciting force is when an assassination plot back fires and the Cardinal is put into ‘protective custody’ otherwise known as kidnapped. He must avoid everyone and must communicate only with those whom he knows he can trust.The climax is when the mass at Rywald is planned and Bem must attend it at all cost if he does not want his country to crumble in economic and social chaos. He is met with many obstacles on the way and in order to attend the mass he must fight, hide and flea. Will he make it, and if so, what will happen ?The end of the story is a very shocking and quite unexpected one. It is a mixed feeling of irony, sadness and contempt. After all the Cardinal’s efforts to save his country, be a proper member of the Church and a good Christian, he is shot by a little girl while giving her communion. The contrast between the vividness and the tautness of the situations prior to the abrupt end of the story is a shock and a blast to the reader who is left dumfounded. The world is harsh, relentless and brutal. There is no room for illusion in the world of politics, it’s merciless. There is a clinging eerie silence in the air as you read the last few sentences. ‘ He saw her finger tighten on the trigger. And heard that terrible noise.’ You can’t help but ask yourself if it’s really over.... Sources :O’Donoghue, Jo. Brian Moore : A Critical Study / Jo O’Donoghue. Dublin : Gill and MacMillan, c1990...
