Clandestine Operation

Mishika Rider's death was celebrated with Elbert's flesh and blood.

' Baptism Ceremony ' is what they call it.

The word Baptism originally means ' immersion' and a promise of cleansing the sins. In the mafia realms it means to cast off one's old self and reborn as the soul member of the gang. However ironically this alleged rebirth could often find you in a prison for long years and sometimes even lifetime.

Nevertheless, that hardly effected the Mafioso. The underworld is surrounded with solemn oaths and codes of silence.

The purpose of getting baptized was very well known to Elbert from his childhood and yet he never got a chance to be a part of it. They were seldom allowed to attend parties and gatherings.

The initiation ritual took place in a secret meeting named ' the Clandestine operation ' at a farmhouse on the countryside. 

El's foster father Dr. Chyle Heartwood accompanied him to the meeting. Heartwood was lean and gave an impression of a stick. He had to crawl down while getting off the car. He was so tall that he crouched while walking. His brown hair although thick but perpetually messy fell over his forehead almost covering his eyebrows. He wore a watch of some bygone era that too on his right wrist and spoke the least that he could. His eyes although droopy had a vision of an eagle and while he always looked blank he was aware of every neat details of his surrounding.

Elbert got down from the Mercedes and followed Chyle towards the farmhouse. He was all dressed up in suit and tie; Neat and smart. The leather was expensive and it shined under the sun.

They reached the farmhouse at 10 am in the morning. There was heavy security. Al Calphonso was careful in planing the gathering. He didn't want to risk anyone's life in a baptism ceremony.

As soon as they reached the front gates; Chyle's assistant asked everyone to gathered together. At once Elbert was surrounded with a crowd but it wasn't suffocating him.

The farm house was wooden; A modern design with a deliberate antique appearance. The walls were covered with varnished wooden planks that were burned at places. The door was small; beautifully carved and carefully designed.

Inside a large room with a big round table the members sat in order. A few men stood close to the wall. All of them had gun in their hands. In the center of the table there was a burning candle, a human skull, a small but sharp knife and a paper that had a picture of La Pecada's family saint.

Elbert stood there dumbfounded lurking around trying to gasp over the situation.

They called for him. Without further delay they began with the initiation ritual.

" Elbert. ... You were baptized when you were a baby, your parents did it, but now this time we're going to baptize you" Chyle Heartwood said in a formal tone so deep that the room even echoed with a slightest sound that he produced.

Elbert was then struck by the formal declaration of the rules. Mr Chyle narrated a couple of sentences that he had previously comprehended in a piece of paper.

El's hand was pricked with a needle. The blood that flowed was dropped on the impression of the saint. Tortora, a bald man with a hangdog face, then cupped the flaming holy card bearing the impression of the saint in his hands.

Elbert knew he had to vow : ″As burns this saint, so will burn my soul. I enter alive into this organization and leave it dead." Tortora handed the paper to a member and he was required to pass it on to others so that they prevented themselves from burning and while all of that continued Elbert had to complete his oath.

He recited his previously learned script, "I ... want to enter into this organization to protect my family and to protect all my friends. I swear not to divulge this secret and to obey, with love and Omerta"

Omerta refers to the code of silence, which was explained to each new member: ″We get in alive in this organization and the only way we gonna get out is dead." There is no hope, no Jesus, no Madonna, nobody can help the members if they ever give up this secret to anybody. This thing cannot be exposed

' This thing ' refers to La Cosa Nostra, which in English means ' this thing of ours. '

Then he was required to parrot a set of rules and he knew he was never to forget them until he dies.

Chyle narrated so did Elbert after him  " I shall never introduce myself as a member of the mafia to another associate, never desire the woman of another member, never kill another member unless authorized to do so by the head of the family and never speak to the police. "

El soon learnt other rules. They weren't allowed to have relatives in the police or have any contact with them. If someone crossed them, justice was to be meted out by the mafia. And they had to keep their mouth shut. They were never to discuss details of a murder with other members, they could only talk to the boss who commissioned it. Each mafioso had to serve their mafia family, always, even if their wife was about to give birth. And they were to keep emotions and personal issues out of work.  

Chyle Hearthood then presented a brilliant gun to Elbert. The gun was gifted from Al calphonso. He was careful in choosing the one of the best gun for him. There was note from Al caphonso beside the gun in the tray. He took gun as well as the note. 

The note said " Welcome to Cosa Nostra. La Pecada is your family now. You must never betray your family. Serve your family well and it will repay you twice. I wish you give you this gun. Live bravely, and die proudly. "

Elbert then took the gun and all the members raised their guns in the air as a symbol to welcome the new member. 

' viva La Pecada !! '