The Angel Conspiracy (The Angel Cronicles Book 2)

by Jason Chapman

Khan glared at the sight in front of him. ‘My God!’ He dropped to his knees.

  ‘God.’ The creature hissed. ‘Your kind have no idea of the concept.’

  ‘Please what is it you want, you summoned me here.’

  ‘Look at me.’ The creature ordered.

  Khan remained on his knees staring at the floor.

  ‘Look at me human or I will feast on your wretched hide.’

  Summoning all his strength Khan lifted his head starting directly at the hideous figure in front of him. ‘Please tell me what you want of me.’

  The creature stared down at Khan. ‘The prophecy is at hand you must go to England and retrieve something for us.’

  Khan looked away from the grotesque sight nodding. ‘It shall be done master.’

  The creature stepped back and started to change shape.

  Khan’s curiosity got the better of him. He looked at the creature who changed its shape. ‘Is this more satisfactory?’ The creature said.

  Khan stared in disbelief at the strikingly beautiful woman who now stood before him.

  She circled Khan in a seductive manner. ‘There will be an awakening, those who have slept for many years will rise and feast on man’s flesh.’

  Khan stood. ‘What is you want me to retrieve?’

  ‘An amulet which will help us release our spawn on this planet.’

  ‘I must consult with the Collective prepare them for the days to come.’

  ‘Do what you must to prepare those who will serve us in the new dawn.’

  Khan stared at the woman standing before him, feeling an overwhelming desire for her.

  The woman smiled. ‘You want to take this body.’

  Khan felt breathless as he stared at the woman. ‘Yes!’ He gasped.

  The woman pulled off the long shawl she wore which dropped to the floor revealing a perfect naked figure.

  Khan was unable to resist, he lunged at the woman and both of them fell to the ground.

  Chapter 141

  Whitehall – London – 10:17am

  Monday 18th June 1956

  Frederick stared out of the window deep in thought. Since his encounter with Janus a few weeks earlier he had hardly slept. He had not let go of the vial that Janus had given him. General Stacy had spent the last fifteen minutes discussing UFO reports over Germany. ‘We have had a number of reports about objects coming in from Russia. None of these radar contacts have exhibited any kind of unusual behaviour associated with UFOs. Our people in Washington believe that the Russians could be testing a new high altitude aircraft. Our U2 program is proceeding on track. Our boys have penetrated Russian airspace several times without being detected. They have flown over the region known as Tunguska and have taken some pretty impressive shots of the area.’ Stacy glanced across at Frederick who yawned. ‘Am I keeping you awake Professor?’

  Frederick looked in his direction. ‘I’m sorry, I haven’t been sleeping lately.’

  Stacy nodded. ‘Then perhaps this will keep you awake.’ Stacy pushed a file across the table towards Frederick. ‘Last week an archaeology team found something unusual at a dig in Wiltshire a few miles from Stonehenge. A stone tablet with unusual markings.’

  ‘The head of the team is a colleague of Doctor Alan Good, who is at the dig overseeing operations. We believe that there could be more buried. You and Agent Cones will be going to the area tomorrow to take a look. Your experience in Scotland a few years ago will be called upon.’

  Frederick nodded remembering the expedition to the Scottish Highlands and his encounter with Colonel Konev.

  Chapter 142

  Wiltshire – England – 2:37pm

  Tuesday 19th June 1956

  Frederick looked across at the landscape at the stone monoliths that made up the stone circle at Stonehenge. Agent Cones had protested several times about being sent out to the archaeological site.

  ‘What a complete waste of our time being sent out here to dig around in the dirt.’ Cones grumbled.

  Frederick couldn’t help agreeing with Cones. He examined a piece of stone pottery the team had excavated. Doctor Good entered the large tent they were in with another man.

  ‘Ralph thank you for coming.’ Good said smiling. ‘This is my colleague Professor George Wilcox.’

  All four men walked over to a long table which had been covered with a cloth.

  Professor Wilcox threw back the cover. ‘We have had a few interesting finds over the last week.’ He picked up a stone tablet handing it to Frederick. ‘We found these objects all together in a grave.’ ‘Wilcox pointed at the tablet Frederick held in his hand. ‘It’s a bit of a mystery, that tablet is at least fifteen hundred years old. The newest objects in the collection date back to the fourteenth century. My best conclusion is that the fellow buried in the grave was some kind of collector.’

  Frederick examined the markings on the stone tablet. They were similar to the markings on the tablet which Doctor Pavlov had shown him a few years earlier during Frederick’s time in Scotland. The symbols on the tablet matched the symbols on the Roswell device Vannevar Bush had demonstrated. Which was now in the hands of Barnet and Atkins.

  Cones walked slowly along the table stopping to look at what appeared to be some tapestry. He picked up the fabric. ‘This is in good condition considering it’s been in the ground for hundreds of years.’

  Frederick put the tablet down and walked over to Cones. The piece of tapestry depicted a line of people on their hands and knees. At the head of the line sat a creature of some sort holding up a wooden pole on the end hung an hour glass. Underneath the scene were more symbols similar to the one on the tablet. Frederick looked down at another piece of cloth that bared a coat of arms. He stared at it intensely before recalling where he had seen it.

  ‘I know who this coat of Arms belongs to.’

  ‘Who?’ Good asked.

  ‘Sir William Ingles.’ Frederick looked at Agent Cones. ‘He owns Ripley Castle in Yorkshire.’

  A member of the archaeological team rushed into the tent looking shocked. ‘Dr Good!

  Professor Wilcox! Please come quickly.’

  Frederick and Cones followed Good towards a group of people who were stood outside another tent trying to see what was inside.

  The twisted body of a man lay on the floor. His neck had been broken.

  ‘Oh my god David!’ Wilcox called out rushing over to where the man lay. Frederick and Cones stared down at the body.

  ‘We need to contact the police.’ Good said looking at Cones and Frederick.

  Frederick looked around the tent which contained the skeletal remains of a man. He walked over to the table and examined the remains. The skull looked as if it had been displaced. ‘Was this man wearing a necklace of some sort?’

  Wilcox got to his feet. ‘Yes an amulet made of gold, it had an inscription.’ Wilcox gathered his thoughts. ‘An hour glass with symbols around the outside.’

  Frederick turned and walked away quickly. Cones and the others followed him. Frederick entered the other tent and picked up the piece of tapestry. ‘Were they anything like this?’ He asked pointing at the markings.

  Wilcox studied the piece of cloth before nodding. ‘Yes I believe so.’

  ‘You need to get to Ripley.’ Good said. ‘We need to know what these symbols mean.’

  ‘Ripley is a long way from here it will take more or less than a day by car.’ Frederick said with a sigh.

  ‘You can drive up to RAF Fairford. ‘I’ll go to the local hotel and phone ahead. They should be able to fly you up to Yorkshire.’

  Chapter 143

  RAF Yeadon – North Yorkshire – 4:32pm

  Frederick smiled as he shook Group Captain Walter Fletcher’s hand.

  ‘Professor Frederick.’ Fletcher smiled back. ‘It’s been too long sir.’ Fletcher then made eye contact with the man standing next to the Professor. ‘We received Doctor Good’s phone call a few hours ago. I’ll be driving you to Ripley.’

  Frederick n
odded. ‘Super, perhaps we can call into the pub for old times’ sake.’

  As they headed out to open countryside Frederick recalled his visit to Ripley four years earlier. So much had happened since then. Frederick couldn’t help but wishing he could turn back the clock. But something was compelling him forward. He clutched the vial Janus had given him.

  Chapter 144

  Ripley Castle – North Yorkshire – 6:22pm

  Agent Cones scrutinised his surroundings. ‘Never thought I would find myself back here.’

  Fletcher knocked loudly on the door. For a few minutes the three men waited until the door was opened by a large rounded butler.

  ‘Can I help you?’ He said staring at the three strangers.

  ‘We would like to see Sir William Ingles please.’ Frederick said politely.

  ‘Well I’m afraid Sir William is busy at the moment, I suggest you come back at a more appropriate time.’

  Frederick stepped forward jamming his foot before the butler could close it. ‘Tell Sir William that Professor Ralph Frederick is here to see him.’

  The butler glared at Frederick’s foot then nodded.

  A few minutes later Frederick and his two companions were led through to the drawing room. Frederick reminisced his first meeting with Sir William a few years earlier regarding the disappearance of Edith Jones.

  ‘Professor Frederick!’ Ingles glided into the room. ‘I knew you would return at some point, I told you this village would call you back.’ Ingles made eye contact with Cones and Fletcher.

  Frederick produced the cloth and handed it to Ingles. ‘We have just come from a dig in Wiltshire near Stonehenge and came across these items.’ Frederick held up the piece of cloth with the Ingles family coat of arms. He pointed to a large portrait on the wall suddenly noticing the amulet the man was wearing. Frederick walked up to the portrait and stared up at it.

  Ingles walked over to Frederick. ‘That’s Sir Thomas Ingles the man I told you about a few years back.’

  The man in the portrait sat staring straight ahead. He was clasping the amulet which Doctor Wilcox had described. The man wore a white vest on which was a distinctive red cross.

  ‘If you will recall our last encounter Professor you will remember that I told you he was part of the Knights Templar The right hand of King Richard when he fought in the crusades.’

  ‘We found an amulet like this on the remains of a man buried at an archaeological dig.’

  Ingles took a deep breath. ‘Where did you say the body was buried?’

  ‘In Wiltshire near Stonehenge.’

  Ingles nodded and for a few moments studied the cloth he had been handed. ‘Follow me.’ He ordered.

  Ingles led Frederick and the others through to the kitchen. He produced an old iron key and opened a cellar door. Ingles turned on a light at the top of a stairway before descending into the cellar. When they had reached the bottom of the stairs Ingles grabbed a torch which hung on a wine rack. He walked towards a smaller door and turned on the torch. Ingles then produced another key which hung around his neck. ‘Hold this will you, the lock can be a bit difficult.’ Ingles said handing the torch to Frederick.

  All four men entered another room. Ingles pulled a cord and a light bulb flickered on.

  The room Frederick was standing in was piled high with old books and scrolls and other artefacts.

  Ingles picked up a book which had a leather cover. He opened the book and flicked through it. ‘The chap you saw on the wall was originally from France. He had a bit of a falling out with his family and fled to England. He swore allegiance to King Richard who was just about to leave for the Holy Land for the second crusade. When they arrived Richard and his knights encountered a terrible sickness that ravaged the city.’

  ‘This maddening death you told me about’ Frederick interrupted.

  Ingles nodded. ‘Yes and just as deadly as the black death. King Richard led a small contingency of men into the city under the cover of darkness. All but Richard and four of his trusted knights including my ancestor were spared. Richard managed to rally his forces and take Jerusalem. He then encountered a strange man who told him of his future and warned him that the gods had released the maddening death on the inhabitants of the city as punishment. This man also warned Richard that the gods would release another plague to wipe out man completely. He gave the King and the four knights five amulets which he said would protect mankind. But they must return to Jerusalem in order to see through the task.’

  ‘Jerusalem!’ Cones remarked. ‘Where in Jerusalem?’

  ‘Legend speaks of a cavern beneath the Temple Mount. Once there the amulets have to be placed around a stone monolith.’ Ingles stared at the book.

  Frederick looked over his shoulder and pointed at a picture. ‘Is that the stone beneath the Temple mount?’

  ‘It says here that the amulets must be positioned around the stone in order to vanquish the plague, however you also need a key.’

  ‘A key.’ Cones said. ‘What kind of key?’

  Ingles shook his head. ‘I do not know, but without the key the amulets will not work.’

  Frederick thought for a moment. ‘One of the amulets was stolen.’

  ‘Then you must go after the other amulets.’ Ingles said. ‘It says here that you only need one amulet to release the maddening death but you need all five and the key to prevent it.’

  ‘But where are the other four amulets?’

  One lies in the tomb of King Richard.’

  ‘In France.’ Frederick said.

  Ingles loosened his collar and pulled out a chain on which was attached an amulet. ‘I have one.’ He handed it to Frederick. ‘It has been handed down from generation to generation.’

  Frederick held the amulet in his hand. ‘It has no weight.’ He remarked.

  ‘Yes, which makes you wonder who made it.’

  ‘What about the other two?’ Fletcher asked.

  Ingles turned back towards the book flicking through the dusty pages. ‘There is a church in the Welsh mountains, several miles from the market town of Abergavenny.’

  Frederick and Cones exchanged glances.

  ‘It states that death resides in the church watching. He holds a scythe in one hand and an hourglass in the other. The amulet is just above the altar.’

  ‘That’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, there has to be a dozen churches in Abergavenny.’ Frederick said. ‘If you say that only one amulet is needed to release this disease then whoever stole the amulet at Stonehenge will be on their way to Jerusalem as we speak. There is no way we’ll be able to retrieve the remaining amulets and get to Jerusalem.’

  ‘You are wrong Professor.’ ‘Ingles said. ‘According to the legend when four of the amulets are united they will transport you to the Temple Mount. The church near Abergavenny is known as St Issui Church.’

  ‘That’s three down but where is the fourth?’ Cones asked.

  ‘Glastonbury abbey.’ Ingles replied. ‘One of the knights is buried there.’

  ‘Great so we have to do a little grave robbing.’ Cones said.

  ‘If you are to stop the maddening death yes.’ Ingles remarked dryly.

  ‘We’ll head for Glastonbury then Abergavenny before setting out for France.’

  Ingles shook his head. ‘No you have to go to Wales first then head for King Richard’s tomb in France. According to legend there is a mystical pathway which stretches from Glastonbury to the spot in Jerusalem where you have to be in order to stop the disease.’

  Frederick took a deep breath. ‘Mystical pathway, really Sir Ingles.’

  Ingles looked at Frederick. ‘I would have thought Professor Frederick with all you have seen over the last few years your mind would be open to most things.’

  Frederick remained silent.

  ‘The local Druids call them ley lines.’

  ‘What the hell is a ley line?’ Cones asked.

  ‘Ley lines are lines of energy that crisscross our planet. There
are those who believe that they are pathways, or shortcuts between continents.’ Ingles looked at Frederick. ‘I won’t keep you any longer Professor. If you are to stop whoever it is that wants to release this maddening death then you must hurry.’

  Frederick nodded. ‘Thank you sir Ingles.

  Chapter 145

  St Issui Church – Powys – Wales – 10:36am

  Wednesday 20th June 1956

  Agent Cones took in the surrounding countryside. ‘Nice place.’

  ‘A little too remote for my liking.’ Frederick remarked looking over at the church which dated back to the 11th Century.

  Frederick and Cones had arrived in Abergavenny courtesy of Group Captain Fletcher who had flown them to RAF Hereford. He promised to remain there until they returned. Frederick was able to acquire a car and drove to Abergavenny. After a quick visit to the town hall Frederick managed to find the location of the church.

  ‘Well looks like no one is home so we’ll just pick up the other amulet and be on our way.’ Cones said heading through the gate and marching down the path.

  For some reason Frederick felt a sense of foreboding. He found himself clutching the vial Janus had given him.

  ‘Hey Professor are you coming!’

  Frederick nodded and headed through the gate.

  The entrance to the church was a typical 14th century style porch with a holy water stoup. Just above the door was an old stone plaque with an inscription.

  ‘Enter friend and know many truths.’ Frederick translated.

  ‘You speak Latin?’ Cones said.

  Frederick nodded. ‘Required learning at Grammar school Agent Cones.’

  Both men walked through the porch and entered the church.

  Cones looked to his left and pointed at the back wall of the church. ‘Look!’

  Frederick slowly walked towards the mural on the wall. A hideous figure holding a scythe and an hour glass was scrawled on the back wall. ‘It looks like the figure on the tapestry they found near Stonehenge.’ Frederick said looking up at a second stone plaque which was just above the figure. ‘Death will come from the heavens and man shall be punished for his sins.’ He translated.