Leonardo’s Return

By Andrew J. Scoma Jr. M.D.

Leonardo makes a deal with God to get out of purgatory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728312460

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Who are you, sir? asked the pope, startled to see a dignified and bearded elderly gentleman appear unannounced in his office.

Leonardo da Vinci, Your Holiness.

I have a sense of humor, the short round pontiff replied, but this is too much. How did you get into my private rooms?

At this point in time, travel and matter are not as important as why, Leonardo replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

All right, why are you here?

I have been assigned to use the same inventive skills that built machines of war to build machines of peace.

Why do you want to do that?

Two reasons, said Leonardo. First, it’s the right thing to do, after all the machines of destruction I invented and built.

And second? asked the pope.

Second: It’s the only way I can get out of purgatory in the next millennia.

How do I know that it is you, the pope asked, and not some trick?

May I use a pencil and paper? What can I draw for you that you will believe me?

"Start with the Mona Lisa," said the pope.

Very well. As you know, this is my favorite painting, and I worked on it for years; even now, I’d like to make a few slight improvements. Will this do?

"Not bad. Now, the Vitruvian man."

Another favorite. Here we go. Stroke here, shade here, torso, head, arms, and fingers. Done. It would have been better with a compass. How do you like it?

Impressive.

More? asked Leonardo.

"Of course. Now, The Last Supper."

With pleasure, Leonardo said. This will take a few minutes. Perhaps we could sample a taste of your fine wine while I work.

Later.

You’re a hard man.

I’m the pope.

In ten minutes, the sketch was completed.

Satisfied?

Not quite. The feet of Jesus don’t look right, said the pope.

That’s because you’ve never seen them, Leonardo answered, since the Dominican monks decided to cut them out of the mural so they could have a door to the kitchen.

True, the pope replied. I’ve always wondered what they looked like, and your drawing makes them look very natural. I believe you might be Leonardo now. God certainly has his own reasons. Wow. What do you need from me?

I need a powerful computer network with 3D printer capabilities.

We have that. What else?

I need a huge prayer network to give me strength, ideas, and support.

That seems strange.

You don’t linger in purgatory for five hundred years without learning what’s important, Leonardo explained.

I see your point. May I ask another ‘why’ question?

Certainly. It’s your room we’re in.

Why did you decide to find me on Friday at supper time and not during the night, or when I was walking alone in the garden?

I knew that on Friday, you usually have supper alone so that you can meditate on the Lord’s great sacrifice for our sins. Also, Leonardo said, smiling, you eat simply but well, and I was hoping for a taste of some excellent pasta and wine. It’s been over five hundred years, which is a long time for any Italian to be without those two.

Laughing, the pope said, You are too much.

They continued their discussion over supper. If I may question you more, what is the purpose for this equipment? asked the pope.

I asked God to give me a chance to use twenty-first century technology to bring peace into the world, Leonardo replied, instead of using it to make war machines, like I did in my own time. In return, my purgatory time would be shortened.

You made a bargain with God? the pope said, incredulously.

As you know, I am not the first. Let me see, Moses, Lot, Ezekiel, and Gideon, among others.

All Old Testament, said the pope.

What about the tax collector or the centurion with the sick servant?

True. I should know better than to question someone with five hundred years’ experience, the pope said, laughing.

I need your technology to get my wings, as your schoolkids would say. I worked on war machines and vehicles of killing for political reasons; although I never actually killed anyone, my methods had far-reaching effects. Our God is still holding me in purgatory for my sins. He has given me the option of using twenty-first-century technology to create peace in your century. If successful, my soul will be allowed into Dante’s Paradiso sooner instead of another five hundred years.

Wow. A thousand years in purgatory? You really pissed God off, the pope exclaimed. Sorry, that slipped out.

That’s all right. I’m happy to have this chance. With what I’ve done, Lucifer and I could have been together for eternity.

All this is very interesting, but how can I be absolutely certain that you are Leonardo and not from the devil? asked the pope.

Point well taken, Holiness, Leonardo said. "Two things. First, I am not reincarnated but am the original, just older and more purified. Here is my DNA report. You can see the confusion regarding older genes, but the sources are clearly Italian. You can see that they are identified as heirloom genes, certainly not from anyone alive. Second, I would ask you to have your physician redraw the blood to verify the