The previous evening, Brother Thomas Manning had boarded American Airlines flight 64 at JFK airport. He had arrived in Zurich at 7:05 the next morning, a full nine hours before His Eminence. He had proceeded to Einsiedeln only to return to Zurich on a forty-seven-minute train ride leaving Einsiedeln for Zurich at 3 pm Swiss time, with a single change at Wädenswil.
Mr and Mrs Yamamoto arrived in Tokyo twelve hours after their departure from London. Takuya was tired and decided to soak himself in the bathtub while Swakilki dutifully unpacked for both of them. Swakilki thought about the specific instructions that she had received from His Eminence. Future activities were going to be extremely delicate. Duets were out; solo performances were required. Takuya was a liability.
She needed to calm herself. Where the hell was the marijuana? She steadied herself and walked over to the steamed-up bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. She rolled herself a joint using the cannabis stored in the innocent-looking vitamin jar. With trembling hands she lit it and inhaled long and hard. As she inhaled, she felt the easing of the tension and the onset of mild euphoria.
She was fine. She was beautiful. She didn’t need Takuya. He needed her. The enemy had to be killed. She turned around and saw that he had fallen asleep in the tub and was snoring gently.
She took out the hairdryer from her travel kit and plugged it in. She then flipped on its switch and released it casually into the tub. She then watched with a blank expression as the electric current raced through Takuya’s body. As his breath escaped him, she regained hers.
Zurich, Switzerland, 2012
The two men sat together at His Eminence’s favourite place, Sprüngli’s café on Paradeplatz. His Eminence had ordered hot chocolate for both of them. As they sipped the rich brew, they discussed the latest complication, and two decisions were taken over two rounds of hot chocolate.
Let Swakilki handle the pest, Vincent Sinclair. Let Brother Thomas Manning represent the Oedipus trust to negotiate a settlement with the Isabel Madonna trust as soon as possible.
Chapter Eleven
London, UK, 2012
The convent chapel of the Church of the Holy Ghost at 36, Nightingale Square had been dedicated in 1890. The present church building opened seven years later, in 1897.
Vincent and Martha were seated among the several students, colleagues, friends and family who had assembled inside the church to attend the special Memorial Mass for Professor Terry Acton. Vincent still found it hard to believe that someone could brutally murder a simple and harmless man for no apparent reason. The manner of his death seemed to indicate something far more sinister.
Martha was thoroughly shaken. The depth of her loss could be seen in her moist eyes that would well up every few minutes. They sat quietly listening to the sermon. ‘The faith that Jesus had in God allowed him to look at death in a detached way. Death was simply a door that led to a far better existence,’ the pastor was saying.
Memorial Mass over, Vincent and Martha stepped out of the cool, dark interiors of the church into a sunny afternoon. Vincent tried consoling a devastated Martha.
‘Why should you be sad? You are one of the most ardent believers of life after death. Terry has simply moved on. He’s probably with his wife, Susan, right now. C’mon, Nana, be brave,’ said Vincent.
Vincent continued, ‘Terry gave me a document after our regression. He specifically asked me to follow up on the regression because it might possibly prove a theory of his. Nana, I’m going to need your help.’
‘Vincent, I’m in no condition to help anyone. I can barely manage myself,’ snapped Martha.
Vincent shot back, ‘Listen, I know this is difficult for you, but if you are Terry’s friend, you will do what he wanted you to do . . . you owe it to Terry.’
Vincent and Martha took the stairs to the third floor of the SAGB, which was used for conducting healing therapies such as Reiki, spiritual healing and regression, and borrowed a room. Martha was still remembered affectionately by the administrative staff and they were happy to oblige.
‘Okay, get yourself comfortable, physically comfortable. Settle back and relax . . . that’s right . . . just . . . relax,’ started Martha. ‘Look up and observe the skylight. You can see a little green dot on the skylight . . . completely focus your concentration on that spot for a while as you continue to listen . . . a peaceful easy feeling is settling over you . . . your eyes want to close. That’s fine. You want to go deeper and relax. Your eyelids are heavy . . . your eyes will close on their own just to rest themselves . . . I will now count backwards from five down to one. You will feel yourself floating into a deeper and deeper trance with each number. Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one. Okay, Vincent, where are you?’
‘I think I’m in France.’
‘What can you see?’
‘There are public executions going on. I’m in the crowd, but in front of me is the Place de la Revolution. There is a guillotine in the centre.’
‘What sort of guillotine is it?’
‘It has two large upright posts joined by a beam at the top. It sits on top of a platform that is reached by two dozen steps. The whole machine is blood-red. There is a huge blade that has a weight on it. This blade runs in grooves that have been greased with tallow.’73
‘Are people being killed at this guillotine?’
‘The reign of terror has already killed 30,000 people. In this month alone over a thousand people have been beheaded.’
‘Are you in the middle of the French Revolution?’
‘I think so. It’s 1794.’
‘Who are you?’
‘I am Jean-Paul Pelletier. I’m watching the public spectacle. Right now they are about to execute a young woman called Charlotte Lavoisier.’
‘Why?’
‘She has been condemned by trial for stabbing and wounding me, Jean-Paul Pelletier, a great leader of the Revolution.’74
‘Is she waiting for the blade to fall?’
‘Non, elle a juste arrivé dans le tumbrel normal . . . elle demande à Sanson, le bourreau, voir la guillotine. Elle est courageuse!’
‘Stop there, Vincent. Float above the scene. I need you to repeat what you just said in English, not French.’
‘She has just arrived in the usual tumbrel . . . she has got off . . . she’s asking Sanson, the executioner, to be allowed to take a closer look at the guillotine . . . she hasn’t seen one before and is curious to see how it works . . . my word, she is brave!’
‘What’s happening now?’
‘She is being strapped to the bascule and the bascule is being hinged horizontally to bring her head into the lunette.’
‘Go on.’
‘Sanson is pulling the cord . . . the blade is released . . . the head is off! It is rolling into the bloody oil cloth in the wicker basket in front of the guillotine!’
‘Okay, Vincent, I need you to go deeper into your previous lives. I’m going to count backwards from five, and when I finish counting you will be in an even older life . . . five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . where are you now?’
‘I am in Tahuantinsuyu.’
‘Where is that?’
‘South America. I am a respected warrior under the command of Sapa Inca Pachacuti.’
‘Are you an Inca warrior?’
‘Yes. Sapa Inca Pachacuti has vastly expanded and created the Tahuantinsuyu. He is the head of four provincial govern-ments—Chinchasuyu, Antisuyu, Contisuyu and Collasuyu. These are located at the four corners of his vast empire. At the centre is Cuzco, the capital.’75
‘Are you in Cuzco?’
‘No. Sapa Inca Pachacuti has built a huge retreat in Machu Picchu. I protect his family there.’
‘What is Machu Picchu like?’
‘Oh, it is the most beautiful place on earth. It is located on a high mountain ridge, very high up in the clouds. It has a huge palace and several temples. About 750 people can stay in Machu Picchu at a given time. The mountain ranges in the backg
round of Machu Picchu resemble an Inca looking up at the sky . . . the tallest one, Huayna Picchu, is the Inca’s nose.’
‘What else can you tell me about Machu Picchu?’
‘We Incas believe that the solid foundation of the earth must never be excavated, so we have had to build this place entirely out of loose rocks and boulders! Many of our buildings have no mortar . . . it is our extreme precision in cutting that allows this to be done.’
‘What do you see around you?’
‘Temples for Apo, the god of the mountains; for Apocatequil, the god of lightning; for Chasca, the goddess of dawn; for Chasca Coyllur, the goddess of flowers; for Mama Coca, the goddess of health; for Coniraya, the moon god; for Ekkeko, the god of wealth; for Illapa, the god of thunder; for Kon, the god of rain and for many, many others . . .’
‘Is the king a just person? Does he treat you well?’
‘No ladrón, no mentiroso, no ocioso. Tal como estimes a otro, otros también te estimarán.’
‘What language is that, Vincent? Sounds like Spanish.’
‘Quechua. It is the language we speak here.’
‘So what did you just say?’
‘The king is a just man. His motto is, “Do not steal, do not lie, don’t be lazy.” He also believes that just as you love others, they will love you.’
‘What is your role?’
‘I am the bodyguard for Mama Anawarkhi.’
‘Who is that?’
‘She is the wife of Sapa Inca Pachacuti.’
‘What do you have to do?’
‘I am supposed to protect her. Instead, I am going to kill her because she is plotting against the Sapa Inca.’
‘Vincent, I need you to go even deeper . . . I’m once again going to count backwards five
. . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . where are you now?’
‘I take it that you’re somewhere in Asia?’
‘Vincent, I need you to distance yourself from the scene. Can you pull away slightly so that you can tell me in English?’
‘I am in China . . . inside a palace. I have a lot of pain. I am in agony. The pain is terrible.’
‘What has happened to you?’
‘The empress, Wu Zhao, is the evil power on the throne. She had my limbs shattered and then had me placed in a large wine urn to die a slow death in agony!’
‘Why would someone be so cruel?’
‘I was an advisor to Emperor Gaozong while he lived. I advised him to be wary of Wu Zhao, who was the emperor’s chief concubine. After the death of Emperor Gaozong, Wu Zhao has seized the throne and wants to eliminate me.’76
‘Has she succeeded?’
‘Sorry?’
‘I do not think so. Even though I am a cripple for life, I was saved by one of the other concubines, Xiao. I am lucky.’
‘Can you tell the time period—which year is this?’
‘I think it is A.D. 689.’
‘So where are you? Why are you still in the palace?’
‘The kind concubine Xiao has arranged for me to be transported to my ancestral village. Hopefully, I will be able to live the rest of my life there without being detected by Wu Zhao’s spies.’
‘Vincent, much deeper now . . . I’m once again going to count backwards—five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . where are you now?’
‘I am in Yerushalem. I’m outside the tomb into which Joseph and Nicodemus have taken Jesus.’
‘Who else is there?’
‘Mary Magdalene and his mother followed. I was behind them. But it’s close to sundown and the women have returned home for the Sabbath.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘I am now waiting outside the tomb. Temple guards have been sent here to secure the tomb. The Pharisees are worried that the followers of Jesus may try to steal Jesus’s body and then claim that he has risen from the dead. They are placing their own guards.’
‘Now what?’
‘I am hiding behind some bushes. I don’t know why I am unable to tear myself away from here. Night has fallen. In the middle of the night, there was a visitor. He looked like an angel because of his white robes . . . I think he was an Essene monk. He rolled away the stone. The guards collapsed with terror.’
‘And?’
‘The Sabbath is over, and the two Marys have come here to roll away the stone to the tomb, but they are rather surprised to see it open. They are going inside. I’m following at a discreet distance.’
‘What do you see?’
‘There are two men in white robes. They look like Essenes. They are saying that Jesus is alive, not dead! They are asking the women to go and tell the disciples this news.’
‘And do they?’
‘They are running out. I’m waiting here to see what happens.’
‘Anyone there?’
‘The two Essenes are still there. The third person is not recognisable; he has come out of the bushes. Someone’s coming . . .’
‘Who?’
‘Jesus’s disciples—Peter and John. Both are looking around inside . . . no, wait, they are coming out. They seem bewildered. They are returning to the city. Ah. Here comes Mary.’
‘Which Mary?’
‘Mary Magdalene.’
‘What is she doing?’
‘She’s looking inside the tomb. She seems very nervous. She’s staring at the two Essenes inside the tomb. She now sees the third man in the bushes. Is it the gardener? No. It’s Jesus! Mary is talking to him.’
‘Can you hear what they are saying to each other?’
‘Not really. I think he is asking her to go and tell his disciples that he is alive. She is walking away. Whenever I see Mary Magdalene, I see three blurred images that seem to fuse together. Jesus is also walking away, but not with her.’
‘What are you doing?’
‘I am following Jesus.’
‘Where is he going?’
‘He is following two of his disciples who are on their way to Emmaus. He is catching up with them. He is now walking alongside them and is talking to them. They do not realise that it’s him.’
‘What is he saying?’
‘He is telling them that prophets must necessarily go through pain and suffering. Ah! They have reached Emmaus. They have entered the house and are having dinner. Jesus is picking up a piece of bread, giving thanks and breaking it into pieces before giving it to them. Finally! They have finally realised that it’s Jesus!’
‘Okay. What are they doing now?’
‘The two disciples are heading back to Yerushalem and are meeting the apostles and some others in a secret place. They are telling the others of their experience. Ah! Jesus has arrived here also.’
‘They must be happy, right?’
‘They are scared. They think he’s a ghost. Jesus is telling them not to doubt him. He’s pulling his robe to one side to show them his wounds. They seem reassured but not quite certain. He’s asking them for food. They’ve given him some broiled fish. He’s eating it. Now they seem to understand that he’s real.’77
‘Go on.’
‘Jesus is leaving. I’m still here with the apostles. Oh, it seems that Thomas wasn’t here. Here he comes now.’
‘What are they saying?’
‘The apostles are telling Thomas about Jesus being alive. He doesn’t believe them. He’s telling them that unless he sees and feels the scars for himself, he cannot believe.’
‘Has Jesus returned?’
‘Ah, today both Thomas and Jesus are here. Jesus is calling out to Thomas and asking him to touch his wounds. Now Thomas seems to believe that this is indeed Jesus in the flesh. Jesus is calling him “doubting Thomas” because he seems to believe something only when he has actually observed it for himself.’
‘Now what’s happening?’
‘I’m following Jesus to Lake Galilee. Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John are here. They are fishing through the night with no luck. Jesus is waiting for them on the beach. He’s asking
them whether they have any fish. They’re telling him they have not caught anything at all. Jesus is telling them to cast their nets to the right because he knows there are some fish there. They are trying. They catch a huge load of fish! Jesus has started a charcoal fire and is making breakfast for them. He’s asking Peter some questions.’
‘And?’
‘He’s walking away with Peter. John’s following. I’m behind them.’
‘Where are they going?’
‘To a mountain in Galilee. Jesus has arranged a meeting there with all his apostles.’
‘What is happening at this meeting?’
‘Jesus is telling them to go to different parts of the world in order to recruit disciples in every nation. They are kneeling down as he speaks. They are now getting up and he’s leading them to the outskirts of Bethany. He’s blessing them. He’s walking away towards Bethany . . . the town of Martha, Lazarus and Mary Magdalene.’
Chapter Twelve
Osaka, Japan, 2012
The term Shinto is simply a combination of two words: Shin, meaning God, and Tao, meaning path. Shinto is thus the path to God. Shin is the Chinese symbol for God and was rendered into Kami by the Japanese.78 Kami were generally seen as divine spirits that were still caught in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
The Meiji restoration had resulted in Shinto becoming the state religion of Japan. State Shinto, however, had ended with the Second World War. To many it appeared that the divine spirits, or Kami, had been unsuccessful in creating a kamikaze, a divine wind, to repel the foreign attacks! Shortly after the end of the war, the emperor renounced his status as a living god. In modern Japan, however, Shinto continued to flourish even with the passing of the divine status of the royal family. Shinto shrines continued to assist ordinary people in maintaining their relationships with the spirits of their ancestors and with Kami.
When Swakilki was born, her mother, Aki Herai, had Swakilki’s name added to the list kept at the Sumiyoshi Jinja, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Osaka, and had her declared ujiko, a named child. It was a way of making sure that the divine Kami protected Swakilki during this lifetime and beyond.
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