“That’s the main sanctuary,” Sean said. “But it’s worth a look.”
The four made their way across the lush grass and onto the walkway that led to the crumbling ruins of the old basilica. Time, it seemed, had been far crueler to it than the Lady Chapel. The walls were completely gone in some places, collapsed or torn down long ago.
The group wandered around the interior where the nave used to be. Sean imagined what it must have looked like long ago with dramatic flying buttresses, high ceilings, stained glass windows, and gold adornments sparkling in the rays of sunlight streaking throughout. Now it was a shadow of its former glory.
After wandering around for several minutes, they still didn’t see any symbols that were out of the ordinary.
Sean wandered out the side of the structure and looked to a building a few hundred feet away. It had an odd shape, much like a six-sided pyramid atop a square base.
A man with white hair and a wrinkled face approached. He wore a green sweater and tanned corduroy pants. A name tag on his sweater claimed his name was Robert.
He smiled politely at Sean and waved as he drew near. “Enjoying your visit to Glastonbury?” Robert asked in a smooth accent.
“Yes, sir,” Sean answered. “Just having a look around the abbey. Fascinating history here.”
“Oh, to be sure. Lots of interesting stories about this place.”
“So we’ve heard.”
Robert followed Sean’s gaze to the odd building across the way. “That there is the abbey kitchen,” he said. “It’s the only building on the grounds that remains undamaged.”
“You work here?” Sean asked.
“Yes, going on about ten years now.”
“Maybe you could answer a question.”
“I’ll do my best. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who knows more about this place than me. Lived here in Somerset my whole life, mostly in Glastonbury.”
Tommy and the two women walked around the corner to find Sean talking to the older man. They stopped short and listened in to the conversation.
“I’m wondering if there are any ancient symbols on some of these structures. I’m not talking about the usual ones you’d find in a church. We’re trying to link the history of the abbey to pre-Christian times. Might there be some sort of Celtic runes or something of that nature?”
Robert thought hard for a moment, staring off into the little forest on the edge of the property. Intermittent drops of rain splattered on his sweater, seemingly having no effect on the man’s disposition.
“I don’t recall seeing anything like that in this abbey. Although it was a Catholic monastery for a long time. Most of the symbols in here were Christian in nature.”
“Well, I appreciate your help nonetheless,” Sean said. “You probably want to get in out of the rain. Nobody likes to walk around soaking wet.”
“Ah, this is nothing. Been through far rainier days than this. I’m sure I will in the future, too. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. That’s an interesting project you’re working on. You from the States?”
“Yes, sir,” Sean said. “My friends and I came over just this morning. We’ve been working on this for a while, but it looks like maybe we’ve reached a dead end. I don’t suppose there’s anything worth looking at in the abbey kitchen?”
Robert’s wrinkled face scrunched as he considered. “Maybe. But I doubt it. Only interesting thing over there is a well…wait a minute.”
The four visitors’ curiosity rose a notch.
“The well. Oh, goodness me. I can’t believe I forgot about that. Had a few too many pints last night, I suppose.”
“Well?” Sean asked. “What well?”
“The well over by Glastonbury Tor. It’s between that and Chalice Hill. There’s a cover on it with all kinds of interesting symbols. Originally, it was the well that was supposedly used by Queen Guinevere when she would take long walks around the area. When she needed a drink, she’d walk over to the well and help herself. According to the story, that was one of the places Lancelot first noticed her.”
Tommy stepped forward. “Sorry, Robert, is it? My name is Tommy Schultz. I’m a friend of Sean’s. You said there are symbols on the well’s cover?”
“Sure. Lots of ’em. Although the original well cover has been replaced by a replica. The old one was made of wrought iron and wood. It rotted away long ago. The new one isn’t an exact match, though.”
“Would you mind showing us?” Sean asked.
Robert’s face brightened. “I’d be happy to. Don’t get many Americans asking unique questions. Except that it’s not on this property. It’s not far away, though. You could walk there in no time.”
Robert proceeded to tell the group how to get to Chalice Well. When he was done with the directions, he asked if they had any other questions.
“Just one,” Tommy spoke up. “You said some of the symbols from the original well cover were no longer there.”
“Yep. That thing has been gone for a while now.”
“Do you happen to remember what they were?”
“The symbols? Hmm. Seems like I saw pictures of it at one point. I never actually saw it in person. They took it away before I got here. I do remember a few of the symbols, though. There were some stars and lions. Other than that, I don’t really recall anything else.”
“Stars and lions,” Adriana said, contemplating the answer. She turned to Sean. “England is usually symbolized as the lion.”
“Three lions, actually,” Robert chimed in.
Adriana smiled at him. “Right. Three lions.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “That would make sense, especially if it’s a reference to the early kingdom, maybe even the Arthur story.”
“But what about the stars?” June asked. “How do those figure in?”
No one answered immediately.
“Maybe that’s one we need to ask the kids,” Sean said.
Robert drew his head back. “Kids?”
“We have some younger folks who do a bit of online research for us,” Tommy said.
“Oh.” Robert nodded his head but clearly didn’t understand.
“Thanks for your help,” Sean said. “We should get going.”
He shook Robert’s hand, as did Tommy and the other two before they turned and started walking back toward the parking area.
“He was nice,” June said as they strolled down the narrow path leading to the Lady Chapel.
“Lucky that we bumped into him,” Tommy said. “Guy just saved us a ton of time we would have wasted looking around.”
“Maybe,” Adriana said.
“Maybe? You heard him. He saw the symbols.”
“Yes, but we still don’t know what they mean for certain. And he said there were more that he couldn’t remember.”
“There’s something else, too,” Sean said. “The clue says that the symbols were hidden on high. How is a well cover on high?”
No one answered right away as they turned into the chapel and walked out the other side.
“I guess it’s a matter of perspective,” June said after realizing no one else had an answer. “If you’re down in a hole—surrounded by darkness and cold—getting to the light would be high.”
Tommy stared at her, full of admiration. “I have to say, I would have never thought about that. I think you might be right.”
“It’s a good explanation,” Sean agreed. “We’ll see what the kids have to say about those symbols. That is, if they can find any information on the original well cover.”
He looked up from the path and down toward the parking area. He froze and put his arm out to stop the others. “Wait,” he said.
“What?” June asked.
Tommy saw the look of concern on Sean’s face and instantly knew there was trouble.
“Get back in the chapel,” Tommy said. “Now.” He grabbed June by the shoulder and spun her around, ushering her back inside the stone building.
Sean and Adriana were right beh
ind them. Once all four were back in the chapel, June searched the other three faces for an answer.
“What is going on?”
“He’s like Lassie with a sense for trouble,” Tommy said. “Whenever he gets that look on his face, I know I should have probably stayed at home.”
Sean ignored the comment. “We have trouble. Two black sedans in the parking lot.”
“Brotherhood?”
“Probably. Remember, that was part of the plan. They’re not who I’m worried about.”
Tommy peeked around the corner of the building at the cars. One of the North Koreans exited a silver SUV, which had also just pulled up. He was followed closely by another member of his gang.
Tommy retreated into the chapel. “Looks like a party. Brotherhood, the North Koreans.”
“Should make for an interesting dance,” Sean said.
“Yeah, but I don’t like this song.”
“Me, either. Which is why we’re going to sit this one out and let them dance alone.” He looked toward the back of the chapel at the ruins of the main sanctuary. “Time to run.”
24
Glastonbury
Tommy panted as he and the others sprinted down the path toward the opening in the ruins of the main sanctuary. Sean looked back to make sure no one was behind them. Surprisingly, the only people he saw were a few early-bird tourists who’d decided to come out and see the sights before the crowds arrived.
They cut in around the wall to the right and took shelter for the moment, trying to stay out of sight.
Tommy leaned against the wall and looked up to the sky as if that would somehow ease his breathing.
Sean poked his head around the corner but didn’t see anyone chasing them.
He darted across the aisle to the far wall and moved over to one of the window openings.
For a second, Tommy forgot about his need for air. “Sean,” he hissed, “what are you doing?”
Sean waved a dismissive hand at his friend. It was an impolite but effective way to get him to shut up.
Sean leaned out the window just enough to see beyond the chapel. From that vantage point he could see the North Koreans stalking their way to where the Americans had been just moments before. They stopped suddenly and turned around. Sean frowned at the odd behavior.
Then he saw what halted them. Seven men—plus Baldwin—sauntered toward the group of North Koreans. The faces of the Brotherhood were full of righteous anger, probably at having previously lost one of their own.
Sean looked over at his companions. “Cavalry is here.”
“Cavalry?” Tommy asked. “I know you don’t mean—”
“Yes, the Brotherhood.”
He dashed back to the other side of the nave and nodded his head to the left. “Come on, we’re going to double back.”
“Double back?” June asked. “No offense, but I don’t feel like getting shot at again.”
“You won’t,” Sean said. “They’re going to have their hands full with each other.”
“Clever,” she said, realizing the plan was working exactly as Sean hoped.
He motioned for them to run toward the back of the sanctuary ruins and then out to the right. “Go around that last corner, turn right, and head for the abbey kitchen,” he said.
“Won’t they see us?” Adriana asked. “We’ll be out in the open.”
“No,” Tommy said. “He’s right. The angle should put the Lady Chapel right between us and the two groups. Let’s just hope they’re too busy fighting each other to notice us.”
June didn’t wait for more instructions. She took off at a dead sprint, running through the grass to the other end of the structure in remarkably quick time. Even in blue jeans and boots, she moved fast. Adriana followed close behind her.
Sean’s eyebrows pressed together as he looked at his friend. “I think she’s faster than you.”
Tommy sighed and took a deep breath. “Who isn’t?”
He gave Sean no time to respond, instead lumbering across the grass, careful to keep close to the wall in case any of their foes might have an opportunity to see in. Sean ran right behind him, bringing up the rear to cover the other three.
When he reached the back corner, the other three were crouching behind the column, looking around it to make certain the coast was clear. Nothing was there except wide swaths of green grass all the way to the chapel and over to the kitchen.
“No time like the present,” Sean said. “We all go at once. I’ll cover the rear. Okay?”
The other three nodded.
“Good. Go!”
The four took off, running as fast as they could while keeping an eye toward the Lady Chapel. The huge stone building blocked their view to the parking area, just as Sean had predicted.
A sudden pop startled them, nearly causing June to stop in her tracks.
“That wasn’t aimed at us,” Sean said. “Keep going. We’re almost there.”
More muffled pops sounded from beyond the front of the chapel.
Thirty more feet, and the Americans would be temporarily safe behind the abbey kitchen. They heard yelling now but still didn’t see anyone.
With ten feet to go before they reached the abbey kitchen, Baldwin and his men came into view around the front left corner of the chapel.
“Cut to the left,” Sean said as they made it to the kitchen’s closest corner. “Stay close to the wall to keep out of sight.”
The other three scurried around to the left, making their way to the backside of the kitchen. Sean stayed at the front corner, just beyond the line of sight with the men involved in the firefight. He poked his head around and watched the battle play out.
Baldwin’s men had gotten the drop on the North Koreans, but they blew the element of surprise by getting out of their cars too soon. Approaching the North Koreans in the open presented a ton of problems. They had no cover, so unless they were planning on taking the men out right away, the North Koreans would have a chance to fend them off.
That’s exactly what happened.
Sean didn’t see the beginning of the firefight. He only heard the first gunshot. Since shooting someone in the back didn’t seem like Baldwin’s style, Sean figured it was the North Koreans who shot first.
Now Baldwin’s men were scrambling to protect themselves. One was lying on the ground, not moving. Sean shook his head. The guy was probably shot down before he could defend himself.
Baldwin stood his ground—out in the open—firing on the four Koreans as they retreated toward the entrance to the chapel. The first man made it to the doorway, then the second. The Brotherhood poured a barrage of rounds at the running targets. Pieces of the chapel wall exploded into hundreds of tiny fragments and clouds of dust over and over again. One bullet struck the third man in the back of the leg just before he made it around the entrance corner to safety.
Sean saw his head rock back as he screamed in pain, immediately grabbing his hamstring before falling into the chapel and disappearing from view. Their leader was the last into the building, narrowly missing dozens of bullets by mere inches.
With the North Koreans in the chapel, they now had the advantage of shooting from cover.
To counter that problem, Baldwin motioned to his men to fan out and flank both sides of the building. Two went around to the right, and the other two disappeared around the left side. He stayed and one other remained in the middle, approaching the chapel head on. It was by far the more dangerous option of the three. Sean admired the move by the leader of the Brotherhood even though it seemed a foolhardy move.
Shots fired from inside the chapel as the North Koreans defended their position. The two men on the left were just outside of Sean’s view, but he could see the men on the right pushing fast toward the outer wall. He assumed the men on the other side were doing the same thing.
Baldwin squeezed off his last round, firing on the entrance to the chapel. He deftly slid the empty magazine out of the pistol, grabbed a full one from his cargo p
ants, and slammed it into place. He took three quick steps forward, sliding at an angle to the right as he moved toward the building.
Sean had seen enough. He hurried around to the back of the kitchen where his companions waited. Tommy was peeking around the corner when Sean arrived.
“What’s going on?” he whispered.
“Just what I hoped. They’re shooting at each other. One of Baldwin’s men is down, and I think one of the North Koreans took a round to the leg.”
“That should slow them down.”
“Yeah.”
“What now?” Tommy asked.
Sean faltered for a second. “Um, I actually hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.”
Tommy’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Adriana cut in. “Hey, boys. If we go through the woods over here, we should be able to circle around and get back to the car.” She pointed at the small forest next to the kitchen building.
“See?” Sean said. “Everything works out.”
Tommy’s head went back and forth. “You’re lucky you’ve got her around to bail you out.”
“Boys, do you mind?” June said. “We should probably get moving. You two can start celebrating when we’re on our way back to London.”
Sean and Tommy twisted their heads to look at her then back to each other. They both shrugged and shared a knowing glance.
“Lead the way,” Sean said to Adriana.
She was already crouching at the kitchen’s back corner next to a large oval-shaped stone.
“What’s that thing?” Sean asked as he crept up behind her and readied himself for a sprint into the woods.
“Omphalos stone,” she answered. “They used to put them in the naves of churches. Stones like this were considered the navel of a sanctuary. Seems like I read that it was originally a Greek tradition.”
She abruptly stopped talking and darted into the woods, jumping over a small tree like a hurdler as she swiped limbs out of the way.
Sean watched her for a second, looked down at the odd stone, and then waved Tommy and June ahead.
As soon as they were into the forest, he crept back to the other corner and took one more look over at the chapel.
The Sean Wyatt Series Box Set 4 Page 44
