LUNCH HAD ENDED; THE morning squall had washed the sky clean of clouds, and the sun shown brightly through the windows as the men re-gathered in the great room to hear the much-anticipated report from Father Bodien.
Abelard was just concluding his introductory remarks. “Thank you for coming,” he said. “Please accept my apologies for calling the meeting on such short notice, but certain circumstances, which will become clear as we move along, have warranted it.” Questioning glances between the men followed as to what these “circumstances” might be.
He announced that following Bodien’s report and a final bit of business, the meeting would stand adjourned and all but Bodien, Neisen and the recruits would be free to take a water taxi back to Hilton Head.
“And now, good Father Bodien.” Abelard gestured in a dismissive manner reeking of bored indulgence rather than interest, for the Priest to come forward.
Not just indifferent, Jerry thought. I think Abelard hates the man.
Bodien appeared to ignore the slight as he began his report. “For centuries,” he said “our order has believed the mark of Cain existed, that it was a stone designed by God’s own hand with power to restore lost perfection to the world.”
Engaging and oozing confidence, Bodien continued his much-awaited report.
“Our Brotherhood believes the stone was given by God to Adam; and he, after leaving Paradise, gave it to his son Cain following his murder of his brother Abel. This stone gave birth to the mark of Cain tradition referred to in Genesis. History, with the exception of several vague references in books considered unreliable by the early church fathers, tells us little about it.
“Being curator of the Vatican archives has given me access to the church’s most ancient documents including those of a Jewish mystical order called the Kabala. Like us, they too believed in the stone’s existence. According to their tradition, it later came into the possession of Melchisedec, an ancient king of Jerusalem, who presented it as a gift to Abraham at their meeting referred to in Genesis, chapter fourteen.
“The Kabala tradition relates that just before Abraham died he gave it to Isaac who then passed it on to Jacob as part of his inheritance. After Jacobs’s arrival in Egypt, tradition says the stone was entrusted to Joseph’s family. Then, shortly after the beginning of the exodus, it was given to Aaron, Israel’s High Priest, for safekeeping. “Centuries of silence followed during which nothing was known about its location. But seven hundred years ago, the silence was finally broken in a letter from the Templar to His Holiness the Pope.”
It was obvious to Jerry that Bodien relished the anticipation he saw reflected on their faces and paused, letting it build before continuing.
“I have found that letter,” he announced triumphantly. “It states that just before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the stone, along with other sacred objects, was taken from the Temple and hidden in the hills above the Dead Sea.”
A gasp erupted from the men as the significance of what he said dawned on them.
For a moment, Bodien hesitated, casting a quizzical glance at Abelard, who had been whispering to Neisen and jumped when their host’s voice boomed out.
“Get to the meat of your report!” Stiediger growled impatiently. Bodien blushed and continued.
“Until now the bits and pieces of information we had about the stone provided no clues to its location.” He paused again and nodded in deference to the German. “But since our host requests haste, the meat of my report is this: Dr. Neisen and I have recently made a discovery in Israel that leads me to believe the stone will soon be in our possession.”
Everyone, with the exception of Abelard, Stiediger, and Neisen, greeted the news with another burst of excited chatter. Jerry had been sure Abelard’s lack of excitement over the news was because he already knew about the contents of Bodien’s report, but Stiediger and Neisen’s lack of enthusiasm was puzzling.
“But how can you be so sure?” Stiediger asked impatiently.
“Herr Stiediger,” Neisen said, “please allow Bodien to get on with it and tell you what we found.”
“Dr. Abelard knows that several months ago Dr. Neisen and I made an exciting discovery while excavating a Crusader fortress in Palestine. In a sealed room, we found the personal diary of its commander, Balian of Ibelin.
“The last entry in his diary is dated twelve hundred and eightyfour and relates how a Bedouin shepherd appeared at the fortress one day and gave him a leather pouch containing a stone and an ancient Hebrew scroll. The man said he had found the objects in a cave above the Dead Sea near Qum Ran and added cryptically that strange things happened when he held the stone up to the light. Balian’s descriptions of the strange happenings that took place when the stone came into his possession, along with other facts that will shortly become clear, lead me to believe that it is in fact the storied mark of Cain.
“Brothers, you may remember that in twelve hundred and eighty-four Palestine was on the verge of being lost to Christendom. Balian wrote how he expected Jerusalem to fall to the Moslems at any moment. Fearing the precious stone and scroll might fall into their hands, he describes his plan to deliver them to William of Beaujeu, the Templar commander in the port city of Acre, for safekeeping.”
He paused and looked at Neisen as if for confirmation.
“I’m sure Dr. Neisen would agree that the most exciting thing about our discovery is that for the first time we have the name of a credible and relatively late witness to the stone’s existence.”
Jerry sensed Bodien growing uncomfortable because of the obvious disinterest of Abelard, Neisen and Stiediger in what he was saying. He also noticed the Priest had begun to perspire and seemed to be forcing himself to look away from the trio and concentrate on the others in the room.
“Church history has been kind,” he said. “For several years I have mined the Vatican archives and have finally struck gold!”
When Stiediger and Neisen heard this, they sat up in their chairs.
Here is something they have not already heard, Jerry realized.
“I’ve found a letter in the archive dated 1284 to Pope Clement from William of Beaujeu and along with it a transcript of the heresy trial of Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Templar. Both are exciting finds because of what they tell us, doubly so because of what one also shows us.
“In his letter Beaujeu declares that after he received the stone and scroll he gave them to a Father Ricoldo Monte Crèche for delivery to De Molay on Cypress. Shortly after, De Molay went to France to defend The Brotherhood and there was arrested, questioned under torture, and finally, as you all know, burned at the stake. The transcript of his trial reveals he confessed to heresy but neither rack nor fire could loosen his lips to tell the stone’s location. Even at the end, when told his life would be spared if he would tell where it was, he insisted he did not know.”
“Then you’ve reached another dead end,” Stiediger blurted out impatiently.
“I think not,” Bodien replied, betraying growing irritation. “I said the letter is exciting not only because of what it tells, but also because of what it shows us. You see…” Bodien paused again and looked around the room. “Beaujeu included a small drawing of the stone in his letter to the Pope. Now, for the first time, we know its shape and most importantly, we have a drawing of the design on its face.
“I immediately gave Dr. Abelard a copy of the letter.” Again, he nervously looked at the old Oxford Don for confirmation. Abelard was not listening, but whispering to one of his bodyguards.
“I…uh.” Bodien stammered as his eyes followed the man who was circling those seated and walking toward him. “Dr. Abelard felt that with the clues furnished by the letter he was ready to use other sources for information as to the stone’s present location. This brings us to the primary reason for our meeting. Dr. Abelard has made exciting progress in his investigation and is ready to share the results with us.”
For the first time since Bodien had begun speaking, Jerry could tell he had Abelard’s full attention.
“I do indeed have good news about my findings, but unfortunately news of another sort as well,” Abelard began. “But before we move on, I would like to ask the good Father several questions.”
Bodien glanced nervously to the side, apparently aware Abelard’s bodyguard had taken up a position behind his chair.
“What do you believe to be the function of the stone,” Abelard asked.
“We can only guess.” Though obviously troubled, Bodien held himself perfectly still as he spoke. “Some recent discoveries about the universe may give us a clue. According to Einstein’s general theory of relativity, space and time curve. Because of this, some speculate that at some point the past might curve back along a path parallel with the present and—”
“And what do you think, Priest?” Abelard interrupted, his voice sharp and cutting. Neisen and Stiediger’s looks were even grimmer as they glared at Bodien.
However, Bodien faced them, only a slight quaver in his voice betraying his nervousness. “The discovery of black holes,” he said, his eyes fixed on Abelard, “has also given us a possible theory. Some scientists speculate these may be conduits connecting parallel lines of time. The stone might be the key to accessing and navigating these conduits between our time and the past.”
Bodien was obviously feeling the pressure of trying to answer the unanswerable and tried to shift attention back to Abelard. “Dr. Abelard,” he said weakly, “you remember the discovery made years ago by one of our order. You said it might hint at this very possibility.”
“Do you refer to the Gilgamesh Epic?”
“Yes,” Bodien answered, “specifically the piece of the tablet that was broken off.”
“Ah yes, the piece our brother broke off after discovering part of it referred to ‘time rolling round again.’ He agreed with your hypothesis that the mysterious phrase might mean at some point the distant past might actually parallel the present and that black holes might connect the present with—”
“Paradise,” Bodien interrupted, whispering the word almost reverently. “‘Time rolling round again’ might have been the ancients’ way of expressing just that possibility.” The nervous quaver in his voice was getting more noticeable to everyone in the room. “Perhaps some believed that possessing the stone would give them power to cross the gulf of time and space to Paradise.”
“Some? Exactly who are these ‘some’?” Abelard snarled.
The image of a black robed inquisitor, glowing poker in hand, materialized in Jerry’s mind.
“Well, we…that is, I believe…”
“Exactly.” Abelard cut him off before he could finish. “You alone, Priest, believe its purpose is merely to regain the Biblical Paradise!”
“Well, I thought you…that is, all of us…” Bodien, gestured helplessly to the others as if pleading for support. “I thought we all wanted to get back to Paradise.”
“That is where you betray yourself, Bodien. We do not! We do not want merely to regain Paradise. We intend to remake it! Your naive religious outlook has perverted your mind, and you have forgotten what else the Gilgamesh fragment said.”
“I’m not sure I—” Bodien began.
Abelard would have none of it. “You don’t remember its promise, do you? Let me refresh your memory.
“‘By it the vaults of knowledge are opened, vaults hidden by Him who cast you forth…’
“Or this prediction— ‘By YOUR POWER…’” He pounded his fist on the arm of his chair. “‘BY YOUR POWER, you will return and claim what is yours by right. ’”
“Another theory concerning the purpose of the stone might be…” Bodien was gasping like a drowning man struggling for air, “one based on a multidimensional view of the universe.”
“Spare us any more of your theories, Bodien,” Abelard hissed. “We don’t want to return to Paradise, to simply relive history…never!” Abelard’s eyes flashed pure hate. “No! It will be as the fragment promised—by our power we will return, claim, and remake what is ours!”
Abelard’s voice suddenly softened. “My poor, poor Bodien,” he cooed as one would to a baby.
Sensing danger, Bodien rose but was quickly pushed back into his seat by Abelard’s bodyguard.
“Haven’t you guessed by now? You are the last unpleasant and unfinished bit of business. You poor deluded man. Hearing your report was not the primary reason you were brought here. I could just as easily have given it myself since I had read most of it already.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Obviously afraid and confused, Bodien tried to stand again.
“I mean I baited you,” Abelard snarled, “with the promise of the last bit of information you and your ‘godly’ friends needed to find the stone for yourselves.”
Something passing for sorrow replaced Abelard’s snarl. “How I pity you,” he said. “To have betrayed your brothers for a fantasy.” Mockingly, he made the sign of the cross and pointed a bony finger upward.
“Dr. Abelard, Neisen can tell you I”…Bodien reacted like a convict searching for a stream to hide his scent from tracking bloodhounds.
Another bodyguard joined the first behind the Priest and with a nod from Abelard, they gripped the Priest’s shoulders and lifted him from his chair.
“Neisen already has,” Abelard replied. “Neisen saw you take the pictures of Balian’s diary at St. Jean. When you failed to tell him, he became suspicious and told me. We have eyes everywhere. You are not the only one who serves us in the Vatican. When our man searched your office, we learned of the Pope’s little group and its intrigues with various intelligence agencies. He also found these.”
Abelard reached inside his coat pocket and took out a packet of pictures. “Your little gang has been quite busy, Bodien.” He flung the pictures into the air and watched as they fluttered down around the startled men. “Brothers, all of you will find yourself in at least one of the pictures,” he said.
“Take Father Bodien to the room our host has prepared,” he ordered his bodyguards, as casually as asking a waiter for the check. “We will finish our business and then tonight deal with him in a fitting manner.” He watched as they led the Priest away and shook his head in mock sadness. “What a waste,” he said.
“Mr. Spencer.”
Jerry was startled when Abelard suddenly turned his attention to him. “You and the other recruits take a long look at the Priest. Locked away and left alone he will wonder how his treachery will be repaid, I am sure he will pray fanatically to his God for deliverance. And thereby make the same mistake that the Templar made. Have you decided what that was Mr. Spencer?”
Jerry sat frozen in fear that he, like Bodien, had been discovered.
Abelard shook his head in a show of mock disappointment. “No answer yet, Mr. Spencer? Perhaps it will come to you tonight.”
His face erupted in a display of yellowed teeth, his closest imitation of a smile.
After Bodien was led away, Abelard addressed the group again.
“We could have eliminated Bodien without going to the trouble of bringing him here. Some poison in the warm milk the Sister brings him each evening would have done quite nicely.” His lips curled back again in just the flicker of a smile.
“I had two reasons for not choosing the simpler solution: First, to make him an example to any others who might entertain the idea of betraying us, and second, to answer the question I have asked several times already today.”
For a moment, his eyes sought out Jerry again.
“Let me share with you the information Father Bodien and his friends in the Vatican were so anxious to have.” Abelard’s triumphant gaze swept around the room, leaving Jerry limp with relief.
“After he discovered the letter to Pope Clement, I personally started searching Templar records in London. In a notation by the keeper of the Priory House dated January 1306, I found a report that one Ricoldo Monte Crèche had arrived from Cypress and lodged there for several weeks before going on to Paris.
“I sent one of our men to Paris with instructions to search their National Archives for any records concerning this Priest. There, a member of our order directed him to a high public official who found the complete list of those Templar remanded to the secular arm by the church for execution. Ricoldo Monte Crèche’s name was among them. It recorded he was burned a month to the day after the Grand Master’s execution.
“Our operative believed he had reached a dead end until on impulse he asked if a record existed of the prison where Ricoldo was held. To his surprise, one did and more, Ricoldo’s exact cell number.
“The ancient building has been preserved and converted to a museum containing a large collection of medieval artifacts. Our agent went immediately to the building and inspected Ricoldo’s cell, and this is what he found.”
At Abelard’s nod, his bodyguards unrolled a large banner and held it up before the group.
“Behold the sign of the stone!” he said, pointing to the banner.
On it was drawn a large circle. Within the circle were eight oblong boxes arranged in groups of four lying to either side of twelve o’clock on the circle. At that position, a single box separated the quartets of boxes. Above the box was a drawing of the engraving on the stone depicted in Beaujeu’s letter to Clement. And just outside the circle, at twelve o’clock, were the letters RMC.
“This,” Abelard said, “is an exact reproduction of the drawing our man found amongst the graffiti scratched on the wall of Ricoldo’s cell.
“As we leave…” Everyone rose as Abelard’s bodyguards rolled up the banner and helped the ancient man to his feet. “Be encouraged by this, yet another confirmation of the stone’s existence. I feel certain Ricoldo’s drawing is a crude map and, in time, will lead us to the stone’s location. In the meantime, be patient.” He nodded to Neisen, who managed a slight smile. “And one last thing.”
Jerry felt the power of Abelard’s presence as he, with a slight gesture, drew him and the other recruits forward, his great bulk looming over them, as they formed a semicircle around him.
“Will you join us in our service to The Brotherhood without any reservations?” he asked as he searched each man’s face.
“I will,” each answered in turn.
“And you?” Jerry realized Abelard was looking at him and waiting for him to make the pledge.
“I will,” he said softly.
God help me, he thought.