‘Yes, well, I’m sure we can think of something. Follow me.’
Brulet gently closed the door behind them and calmly made his way down the adjacent passageway, heading deeper into the chapel’s basement, until they arrived at a bronze door adorned with many different symbols, most of which Harker recognised, but some he did not. They included the Christian cross, the Jewish Star of David, and the Islamic crescent moon, the eight-spoked wheel symbolising Buddhism, the yin and yang of Chinese Taoism – in fact, symbols representing almost every major religion in the world. In the very centre, surrounded by the other religious icons, sat two larger symbols: the Maltese cross of the Knights Hospitaller and the iconic emblem of the Knights Templars.
‘What is this place?’ Harker asked.
Brulet reached out and rested his hand on the time-darkened metal handle. ‘This, friend, is a sacred place. One of only four existing in the world: this one here, one in London, one in Jerusalem, and one in the United States.’ An odd look flickered through Brulet’s eyes, a conflicting mixture of peacefulness, confidence, and sheer aggression. It was such a strange expression that Harker felt his stomach frisson with excitement.
‘It is here that Knights of the Order are initiated under the watchful eyes of God, and it is here you will find your destiny.’ Brulet pushed open the door to reveal a modest domed chapel half as big as the one above. The walls were covered with images of Christian saints, Jewish prophets, running along both sides of the room, whilst at the far end stood a magnificent white marble altar bearing a variety of religious statues. But what really caught Harker’s attention was not the artistic riches but the eight men equipped with shiny silver breastplates and swords who lined the aisle – each one staring at him without emotion.
Brulet took Harker by the arm and guided him towards the altar, the Knights saying nothing, only following the new arrival with their eyes. They were of all different ethnicities – Asian, Chinese, Arab, European, African, and Japanese – all stood there and watched him silently.
Brulet stopped before the altar, situated directly below a mosaic unlike any Harker had seen before. It looked like a Roman design but instead of being composed of ceramic tiles, they were made of gold, silver, and bronze. Together they made up a map of the world with the countries in bronze, the seas in silver, and all the capital cities indicated by thick decorative golden wedges. It was one of the most impressive pieces of craftsmanship he had ever seen and was still admiring it as Brulet finally began to speak. ‘Leaders of the Templar Nation, you have been summoned here on this day to witness the induction of a new member to our Order. So say I.’
‘And so say we,’ the other Templars replied in unison.
‘The man who stands before us has shown himself to be worthy of the code that binds us, showing namely courage, respect, honesty, and integrity. But more than that, he has revealed himself to possess one of the most important traits of all – a protector of the needy. And it is these values that have guided the Knights Templars for almost a thousand years, and it is these same qualities that will safeguard the people of the world during the next thousand. And so now I ask that you, the high council of the Knights Templars, do bestow upon this worthy candidate the right to join with us and defend the faith that reveres one God above all men.’
Harker heard the unsheathing of swords behind him, and the eight Templars then surrounded him, resting the tips of their silver sword blades upon his shoulder in turn.
‘Now kneel.’ Brulet gently pushed Harker down on to one knee before drawing his own sword and tapping him lightly on each shoulder and finally on the top of his head.
‘Do you, Alex Harker, swear to protect the weak and defend, by your actions, the incorruptible word of God and all it stands for?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Harker was surprised at how easily the words emerged from his mouth, but it felt right to him, and he spoke it without hesitation, much to the satisfaction of Brulet.
‘Then let it be known throughout the Order that from this day onwards, you shall be known as Knight Alexander, defender of the faith and protector of the weak. Now rise, Sir Alexander, and greet your new brothers.’
The Templars sheathed their swords and waited for their newest member to rise to his feet. Harker could feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead, even though the room was noticeably cold, and he was finding it difficult to focus on any thoughts at all. Once back on his feet, the high council of Templars began to embrace him in turn, each with broad smiles on their faces. Once that was done, they silently made their way out of the chapel, leaving Harker and Brulet alone.
‘Well, good knight, welcome to the Order.’
The mental fog that had overcome him just minutes earlier cleared and Harker’s mind was suddenly screaming with questions.
‘Don’t you think you should have warned me first?’
‘I’m sorry, Alex, but no potential member is ever told beforehand. It must be decided upon in the moment. It is like falling in love – you know it’s right or not right, but either way in your heart, your gut, you just know. It has been done like this for centuries, I hope you were not too taken aback.’
‘Taken aback? Yes, you could say that. I just wish you’d given me time to think about it. I’m an ex-Catholic priest, and I’m not sure how this will sit with my conscience.’ Harker was starting to feel like he just got mugged.
‘Professor, your induction into the Order was decided upon by me personally, and as such your membership will be treated as a special case. I am not expecting you to become involved in any actions undertaken by the Templars. Not unless you want to. Your task is to do one thing and one thing only – to protect the truths you have learnt during these past few days. Outside of that, you may be as involved or as uninvolved as you want, but there’s something you must know. You will always have a friend in the Templars, and if you ever need our help, then all you need do is ask.’
Brulet pulled out a business card from his trouser pocket and passed it over. It was blank except for a single telephone number. ‘Simply call this number, leave a message, and after that just wait. We will find you.’
The unsettling feeling in Harker’s stomach began to subside, and he let out a tight-lipped laugh. ‘If anyone had ever told me I would become a Templar, I’d have had them committed.’
‘And if you do ever tell anyone, I’ll have you committed,’ Brulet replied jokingly but meaning it. The Grand Templar gestured towards the exit, and the two Knights made their way out of the chapel, stopping briefly at the doorway.
‘I had no idea how far and wide the Templars organisation extended.’ Harker pointed to the door itself, covered with symbols.
‘Religions are devised by man and for man, but there is one constant running throughout that binds all faiths – one god, the same God. It is only how we pray to him that distinguishes us from each other, and that is the Lord God we Templars serve, nothing more, nothing less.’
The point was simple but struck a chord with Harker. After all, he had lost faith in men, some men, but never in God – and he could live with that.
‘So what now?’
‘There’s a car already waiting to take you back to the hospital. As for me, I have a certain matter to attend to.’ As usual with Brulet, the answer was cryptic, but there were still a few things Harker needed to know before they parted ways because there was no telling how long it might be before Brulet would make another appearance.
‘What are you going to do to Lusic?’
Brulet laughed out loud. ‘I’m afraid some things are above your right to know, Alex, but if it troubles your conscience that much, then I will let you know when we do finally catch up with him.’
Harker nodded uncertainly. ‘And what about Maria and the child?’
Brulet smiled knowingly as if he had been waiting for that question to arise. ‘As I said, they will both get a chance to live a normal life. We will relocate them somewhere safe and then keep a watchful eye on them.’
/> Harker still felt concerned by the answer as Brulet could tell. If anyone ever learnt the truth, then every crazy under the sun would be after her.
‘Professor, relax. Believe me when I say she will be totally safe. Now go back to the hospital and rest and then get yourself back to the UK and your students ASAP.’
Harker gave his most confident smile and nodded. His gut told him that this whole thing was too important to be over, but, so far, Brulet had been on the money about everything. Damn, he thought, is this man ever wrong?
Chapter 53
Harker dropped his leather satchel on to the thick Persian floor rug before falling face down on to the bed with a heavy groan. What a day! He’d taught four lessons, had to reprimand six students for shoddy work, and supervised an examination as a favour to a flu-ridden professor. All in all, he was absolutely shattered. To make matters worse, he was being forced into attending a black-tie exhibition on Neolithic artefacts later that evening, which Doggie had sprung on him just minutes before packing up for the day.
‘Come on, Alex, my date’s backed out, and you know this Neolithic stuff isn’t my thing. C’mon, do me a favour,’ his friend had begged. ‘I’m sure there will be a few attractive fillies for you to engage with.’
Harker had burst into laughter. Attractive women at a Neolithic artefacts exhibition? That was a joke. It was far more likely to be full of bearded old men in tweed jackets, all smoking pipes. Of course, he had agreed eventually, though reluctantly.
‘Having good friends is overrated,’ he now grumbled into the duvet. ‘Bloody overrated.’
Since getting back from Italy a week ago, he was struggling to get himself back into the swing of things. So much had happened in such a short time, and now everything seemed … well, a bit mundane. He didn’t miss fighting off attacks on his life; that was for sure, but he just felt left out of the loop, and it was frustrating. Several times, he had to stop himself from calling the number Brulet had given him. Common sense had prevailed in the end because after all, what message could he have left anyway? ‘Oh, hi there. I’ve just called to see what your secretive organisation has been up to lately. Discovered any fresh plots for world domination?’
That would have gone down like a lead balloon with his new Templar brothers.
He hauled himself off the bed and stepped over to the large picture window overlooking Midsummer Common and the enticing skyline of Cambridge beyond it. Down below, bathed in the yellow hue of street lights, the road was still full of life. A city never sleeps – people walking dogs, a couple arguing, and a cyclist cursing the white van that had nearly clipped him. If only these people knew of the shadow world that operated around them without their knowledge and if they did get to know, would they be protesting in the streets or would it be just another headline that simply faded from people’s minds within a few months as newer, more exciting news stories filled their short-term memories? Harker shook his head at the thought. No, it was too big for that, and it would have created an outcry if not mayhem in the Western world whilst here he was with full knowledge and no one he could tell.
On the side table behind him, his iPhone pinged to signal the arrival of a new message, and he reluctantly picked it up. It was probably Doggie expecting a lift to his crappy exhibition. Harker pressed the messages button, and a PDF file attached to a short note popped up with no details of the sender. It read simply: ‘Translated for you. Enjoy and then destroy. SB.’
He double-tapped the file, and the first of fifty pages appeared on the small LCD screen, bearing a single title: ‘The Testament of Jesus of Nazareth’.
Harker almost dropped the phone in surprise, and he immediately reached for the landline.
‘Doggie, it’s Alex. I’m sorry but something much more important has come up. I’m going to have to take a rain check. Sorry, mate, I owe you one.’
‘Oh, great, thanks a lot, you bastard.’ Harker hung up before his friend had time to finish. The resentful dean would be a total pain in the arse tomorrow, but he’d survive, and this text his mobile was now displaying was far too intriguing to leave for even a second.
Harker sank back into his brown leather armchair and began to devour every word appearing on the screen.
‘Yeah baby,’ he shouted at the top of his voice. ‘I’m back in the loop.’
Chapter 54
Maria Genova tossed back her thick curly black hair and let the cool breeze sweep over her. It felt good to finally be outside after so many months being stuck indoors even if she didn’t remember much of it. What had Mr Brulet called it? Retrograde amnesia? It was something to do with being under the anaesthetic for too long during the birth of her son. The fact was she couldn’t even remember who the father was, let alone the occasion of getting pregnant. If it had not been for that Catholic care organisation headed by Mr Brulet himself, she dreaded to think what her situation would now be. She had never encountered an albino before, and the sight of him had initially struck fear into her, but she had eventually come to recognise that he had only her best interests at heart. The Christian organisation had provided her with a lifeline, and, until her memory came back fully, she was happy to stay in its care.
Maria gazed lovingly down at the sleeping baby in her arms, snugly wrapped in a thick woollen blanket. Oddly, for the moment anyway, all her troubles seemed irrelevant. Her newborn was healthy, and the bond of love she felt for him was growing stronger day by day, so for the time being any questions could wait. She gazed out across the still waters of Lake Okeechobee and sighed happily. ‘What a beautiful view!’
She had arrived in Florida just a few months earlier, but her grasp of English was already impressive, and she now found herself conversing regularly with her escorts in their native tongue. On her arrival, she had been escorted immediately to a somewhat isolated log cabin in Belle Glade, less than half a mile from this wonderfully scenic spot overlooking the lake which, according to the brochure, was the largest freshwater lake in the state.
The shoreline was dotted with keen fishermen and couples enjoying a leisurely afternoon stroll. Maria could not imagine a more peaceful place on earth. Of course, she could not really remember anywhere else, due to the amnesia, but she bet that if she could, this view would remain amongst her favourites. Overhead, the blue sky was starting to turn grey, and she felt a speck of rain on her arm. Within seconds, it would be pouring, which was typical of the Florida weather as she had discovered.
The escort provided by Mr Brulet had gone to pick up some groceries from the local shop and would be back in a few minutes, so she hurried over to the tree line, covering the child as best she could. There she found herself huddling next to another woman seeking refuge under the same tree.
‘Weather here’s like nothing I’ve come across before,’ the woman remarked. ‘Not like back home, that’s for sure.’
Maria nodded courteously before returning her attention to the child and wiping a few droplets from his forehead. The other woman peered curiously at the child. ‘Oh, isn’t that sweet? How old is he?’
‘Two months.’ Maria said proudly.
The woman’s lips curled in delight. ‘They’re so cute at that age. You really need to treasure these early days because they’ll be gone so quickly.’
Maria finished mopping the baby’s brow and held him up for the woman to get a better look.
‘Oh, he’s just so precious. May I hold him?’
Maria hesitated for just a moment before reconsidering. ‘Of course.’
The woman took the child in her arms and gently rocked him back and forth. ‘What a special little man he is, and so beautiful! Oh, how rude! Let me introduce myself.’ She offered her hand. ‘My name’s Claire … Claire Dwyer.’
Acknowledgments
I would like to give a special thanks to my editor, Peter Lavery, for the generosity of his time and taking a shot on an unknown. I will always be grateful.
My thanks to Mandy O’Reilly for her keen grammar skills and conti
nuing support throughout the writing of this book.
First published in the United Kingdom in 2013 by Urban Fox Press
This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2017 by
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
57 Shepherds Lane
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2DU
United Kingdom
Copyright © R.D. Shah, 2013
The moral right of R.D. Shah to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781911591672
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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