Chapter Seven; Eccliastical Principalities

Niccolo stared at Jules, "The Jules Winnfield? Marsellus Wallace's top hitman who retired?"

Jules grinned, "Yeah, it sounds unbelievable. But I got my own reasons that I decided to walk the earth."

Niccolo frowned, "Walk the earth? What are you a born-again Christian?"

Jules nodded solemnly.

Niccolo felt a bit spooked. This guy was so pious, so calm and neutral, so unlike the Jules Winnfield he'd heard about before.

Butch looked at Jules in surprise, "Was your partner Vincent Vega?"

Jules nodded, "You killed him, I know. But don't get excited, I'm not here because of Vincent. That motherfucker was an okay dude but way too sensitive. Excuse my language there, Mrs. Coolidge." He added the last when he noticed Fabienne with the baby in her arms.

Fabienne shrugged, "It's alright. We actually owe you a thank-you. You saved us."

Jules smiled politely, "Like I said, I believe that you guys are the next people I have to help."

Niccolo frowned, "Help? You're a saviour now?"

Jules nodded, "You heard about why I've done that now?"

Niccolo shrugged, "Something about you not dying from a hail of bullets and you determined it was God's work."

Jules nodded again, "That's right. I saw the light and realized what God wanted me to do. I'm the shepherd now, trying to keep good men from the tyranny of evil."

Niccolo wondered suddenly why Jules had picked him.

Jules looked at Niccolo, "I know who you are. I don't know what alias you're going under now, but I know that you work for Carlo Jimmenez and you used to work for Joe Cabot. I also heard that you had the alias of Mr. Pink."

Niccolo shuddered. Retired or not, Jules was well informed.

Jules continued, "The way I see it, I'm meant to lead good men away from evil. I'm like that Catcher in the Rye crap an' all. I've been led to you three for a specific reason, I can tell."

Butch was confused, "How?"

Jules gave a reminiscent smile, "Every time that I've had that feeling, I've seen people do crazy things that would normally get them killed. But you guys are all still alive. I could have helped the cops but I didn't. I helped you, because something inside me told me that you needed help."

Niccolo grinned nervously, "Well we don't need help anymore thanks to you."

Jules's smile didn't falter, but he was no longer sounding so good-natured when he said, "Listen now Mr. Pink. I ain't gonna take forever to get you to understand. I was sent to you because you and Butch here are both good men that might be off the righteous path."

Butch's face faltered, and looked at Fabienne uncertainly. Niccolo felt annoyed at this guy's patronizing attitude, "You want us to be baptized or something?"

"I don't give a fuck about your religion. The righteous path applies to all people, no matter what their faith or colour." Jules answered.

Niccolo sighed at that truth.

Jules looked out the window of the train, "Now then, you three are probably gonna be met with an escort when you get into Phoenix. Y'all made bit of a ruckus back there. You can accept my offer of help, or you can turn it down."

Niccolo looked Jules in the eye, "Aside from our souls, what else is at stake?"

Jules looked back at him, "I've seen men hear that their souls are in danger and they fall flat on their knees."

Niccolo frowned, "Yeah, well my soul would take up a lot of time."

Butch spoke up, "What do you want to know?"

Niccolo could tell that Butch didn't buy it either, but Jules answered, "I want to know what you three are planning and I want to help you be able to get out of this whole shit storm and redeem yourselves."

Niccolo sighed and picked up his book.

"Is that The Prince by that Italian guy- whats-his-name- Machiavelli?" Jules asked.

Niccolo looked at Jules in surprise, "You know this book?"

Jules grinned, "Shit, you read the Bible, you read everything. Now here's something for you, Mr. Pink..."

"...Man would you stop calling me that? That was a terrible name anyway..."

"Well then what should I call you?"

"Niccolo. Nick for short."

Jules shook his head ruefully, "Well at least I know where you got that from. But here's something for you. Put your finger in the middle of the book and open it. I guarantee you will land on the advice on what to do in this situation."

Niccolo paused, and slowly opened it randomly down the middle, "What if I don't get the part?"

Jules raised his eyebrows, "Remember who you're talkin' to, Niccolo."

Niccolo looked at the page, and there it read "Ecclesiastical Principalities."

Jules' voice broke in, "So prince Niccolo, read about the kingdom of God."

Niccolo obeyed.

It now remains to discuss ecclesiastical principalities; and here, the difficulties which have to be faced occur before the ruler is established, in that such principalities are won by prowess or by fortune but are kept without the help of either. They are maintained, in fact, by religious institutions, so powerfully mature that, no matter how the ruler acts and lives, they safeguard his government. Ecclesiastical princes alone possess states, and do not defend them; subjects and do not govern them. And though their states are not defended they are not taken away from them; and their subjects, being without government, do not worry about it and neither can hope to overthrow it in favour of another. So these principalities alone are secure and happy. But as they are sustained by higher powers whch the human mind cannot comprehend, I shall not argue about them; they are exalted and maintained by God, and so only a rash and presumptuous man would take it on himself to discuss them.

Niccolo felt shaken. Was this actually some kind of spiritual message in the form of an ex-criminal named Jules Winnfield?

Butch was already talking about his plan to get his money back, and Jules was in the middle of a response.

"...don't doubt at all that you earned that money, and while you broke a promise to Marsellus, you did at the least maintain your integrity as a boxer and a sportsman, for selfish reasons or not."

Butch was still very unsure that this guy was speaking the truth, Niccolo saw. Jules hadn't talked at all to Fabienne; she was sleeping, still cradling the infant.

Butch spoke up, "Listen, that money was earned by bets, but I'm entitled to it, am I not?"

Jules shrugs, "Your conscience has got to be clear when you set down the righteous path."

Niccolo looked at Jules, "Listen, what if we turn it down?"

Jules looked directly at him, "Well then it's your ass that's gotta look up at God and tell him of your sins."

Niccolo nodded, and suddenly looked at the chapter again. It gave examples of historical people he'd never heard of before, and he wondered suddenly if this was just a chance meeting or a sign of God.

Then he read the passage again and he realized that Jules was right. The answer had indeed been in the passage.

He looked up, "Jules, I ain't meant for this. And neither is Butch."

Butch and Jules gave him questioning looks, "Why's that?"

Niccolo read part of the passage out loud, "Ecclesiastical princes alone possess states, and do not defend them; subjects and do not govern them. And though their states are not defended they are not taken away from them; and their subjects, being without government, do not worry about it and neither can hope to overthrow it in favour of another. So these principalities alone are secure and happy."

Jules raised an eyebrow again, "So?"

Niccolo spoke up, "Ecclesiastical kingdoms cannot be taken. Your surrendering the kingdom to the prince, but I can't take it."

Jules frowned, "Who the hell says you're a prince?"

Niccolo smiled, "I'm Niccolo. I'm the original prince."

Jules shrugged, "Fine. I ain't gonna waste more time on you three. But let this be the last warning you can receive."

He got up to leave the compartment, but he turned back to say one last thing, "Oh, and we'll be arriving in Phoenix in about five minutes."

He closed the door behind him, never to be seen by Niccolo, Butch, or Fabienne again.