Moffat's Secret

by J. C. Williams

  “Fine, I’d like to hear them,” she said folding her hands and leaning forward on the desk.

  “The first is to test the premise of European visitors to Mesoamerica before 1000 CE. I say European, but I would include Vikings, Africans, and Indians. Anyone coming from the east. You can tell me more about this but I had heard or read that some Aztecs told the Spanish explorers that the white man had been expected to return.”

  “There are stories like that. However, not just in the Aztec culture, but also, also with Maya descendants in Mexico. In addition you can find that same folklore in some North and South American coastal tribes. It is a fascinating idea to try and find archeological evidence to support that.”

  “Archeological, yes, but also I would like to tie in oral histories and of course any written accounts or references.”

  “I like that one. What is the second idea?”

  “Sacred objects. The history of Mesoamerica, and again I defer to you, seemed turbulent. Treasures surely changed hands back and forth. I don’t know if that applies to sacred objects as well, or, were they hidden or moved to more secure locations to protect them. Then, the Spanish and the Portuguese raided Mesoamerica. I would like to track what sacred items were taken to Europe.”

  “That is also an interesting proposition, Chad. It requires archeological reviews, fresh digs, and an historical review. Very deep, that one. With repercussions maybe.”

  “Could be. What do you know about sacred objects and movement between cities? To the victor go the spoils? Or did they share their deities and a respect for sacred objects?”

  “A little of both. There was a sharing of deities, to some extent. Sun gods, underworld gods, seasonal gods. Stars and planets. Also, there are the origination stories. How ancient man was created. Many are the same. The city-states also had similar gods in mountains, in streams, and in other forces of nature. So, some cities may not have felt the need to hide their sacred objects, knowing the shared culture. On the other hand, most religious rites were conducted by and kept secret by shamans and high priests. We can assume that either greed or a sense of duty may have prompted them to hide things.”

  “Would they move objects to another city that was not in a war or under attack?” Chad prompted.

  “Most likely. What are you thinking, Chad?”

  “If we find a record of an object, for example at Tikal or Calakmul. Could they move it to Palenque, which was farther away and not at war at the time? But then, when Palenque was in turn sacked by Calakmul, would they send it to Chichen Itza? Was there any method they usually used to document that movement?”

  “Good question. You have the timing about right. Palenque was sacked in 599 CE. Chichen was coming into prominence just then. I don’t know of a regular process that they followed for transfer of sacred objects, per se. However, they did have a process where a courier, or perhaps a wealthy citizen, would travel under the protection of their royal leader.”

  Gabriela rose and looked closely at the books in a bookcase the width of one wall. She pulled one out.

  “Here is what I was looking for,” she said opening the book to a page with several photos.

  “This is what they used. A plate, sometimes etched, sometimes painted. The painted ones were often on a thin slate-like piece of rock. More brittle.”

  “I have a picture of a plate like that,” Chad exclaimed opening his camera.

  He showed Gabriela the photo of the royal looking man kneeling holding two tablets.

  “That does look like one. The center figure is the royal person granting the protected travel. The figures around the sides often are the deities or symbols of the powers that protect the traveler. Your picture of the two tablets is a little unusual, but there is always some inscription that identifies the traveler. I would think that is what is written on the tablets. If you send me a copy I will look into it.”

  Chad pressed on. “Does it say from where the traveler is coming from or going to?”

  “Sometimes. Often, the identification of the royal person can provide a clue. Where did you see this one?”

  “Palenque,” Chad said.

  “That will help.”

  “Is it usually a round-trip pass?” he asked.

  “Sometimes. Often not. The bearer may stay for some length time at the destination and then get a new pass to return. Couriers would usually, return right away. There are many of these at Teotihuacan. Have you been there?”

  “Yes. Not on a dig. I took a tour during one of the summers I was in Mexico. We had a layover in Mexico City and it was close by.”

  Dr. Acosta nodded and said, “You mentioned Chichen Itza as a likely safe haven after Palenque. However, with the wars going on between Tikal, Calakmul, and Palenque, the Maya area, as it is called, may be considered unstable.”

  “The Maya area? What area is that? I thought all of Mexico, Guatemala, and the Honduras areas were of the same culture?”

  “Not exactly. The culture did extend into all those countries. Generally, we consider the Maya area as including the Yucatan peninsula from Palenque to Chichen Itza and extending south through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. There is another area we call the Gulf Coast, which includes La Venta and Veracruz.”

  “If the Maya area was unstable, was there a more stable area at that time, around 500 CE?” Chad asked Gabriela.

  “Yes. The Central Plateau, around modern day Mexico City, particularly, Teotihuacan. It was founded in 100 BCE and lasted well into the 700s. It had its ups and downs, as did all of the great cities. It was a large city. At its peak in 450 CE, it had an estimated 150,000 to 250,000 people. They became a center and power of Mesoamerican culture. They were involved with the Maya wars as well. Around 370 CE it deposed the leader of Tikal and they set up their own royal line there. You can see their reach and power.”

  Chad connected the timelines swiftly. “It sounds like they would be a better alternative than Chichen Itza. Teotihuacan was already established as a power and was farther away, safer. What happened to it?”

  “They faced a severe drought in the mid 500s. But they bounced back. It appears that there was an internal uprising between 700 and 800 CE. The central area populated by the ruling class was burned and sacked. An important fact as it pertains to what you are looking into, is that it was often considered a safe haven by other cities. The royalty from other cities would often take refuge there. That was because, as you suggested, they are located so far north and away from the tight triangle of Palenque, Tikal, and Calakmul. Over nine hundred kilometers.”

  Chad did the conversion. Teotihuacan was five hundred fifty miles from Palenque. Chichen Itza was closer by a hundred fifty miles. Teotihuacan could be considered safer.

  Dr. Acosta continued, “There are thousands of artifacts and pieces of art in Teotihuacan. I can take a couple days and search with you. We won’t see them all, but we may get some evidence for your grant request.”

  “I’m in,” Chad said with a renewed excitement. The idea he was using as an excuse for his research may actually have some merit, one that he could actually pursue for a grant and an excavation.

  Chapter 81

  Two days later, Archer was on the red-eye from Mexico City to London. This is the way to travel, he thought to himself. First class compliments of Mr. Boyer and Mr. Haskin. They were very accommodating. He called Boyer and filled him in on the highlights of the find at Tikal, the lead on the practice of moving sacred objects to safety and the involvement of a historian. He didn’t mention her name or the attack at Calakmul.

  He tried calling Sandy from the hotel. No answer. He left a message. Chad also used his new electronic bug detector each day. He found nothing new. He was relieved, and actually allowed himself to relax.

  Chad did connect with Mac and Adrien Tellier. So far all they had on Biskell was circumstantial. Chad suggested they try to bluff Biskell by setting up an undercover cop to blackmail Biskell claiming Patti Bertram passed on information. Biskell
, in his arrogance, may react in such a way to admit to theft and perhaps murder.

  The person next to him slept most of the way and there was little conversation other than a hello. Chad remembered the earlier trip to England to meet Doc. His seat companion on that trip was the warm and friendly woman who lived outside of Cambridge. He wondered how she was doing. Perhaps, one of these trips to England, he could look her up.

  He closed his eyes and reviewed the last four days. It had been a blur, but Chad had the ability to register continuous input. Input in the form of conversations, observations, reading, and his other senses. Including a sixth sense, instinct. He admitted to himself that his ability to assimilate facts into a forensic history was aided by a sixth sense directional force.

  The blur of input included two days with Gabriela at Teotihuacan and a review of hundreds of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts. His time with Gabriela Acosta had two significant results for Chad. The first was that the travel pass Chad saw in Palenque was unique because of the tablets. The tablets must mean something, Gabriela had concluded. Chad knew or hoped he knew, but kept it to himself.

  The second result was that Gabriela spotted several other travel passes and one story mural. The story mentioned sponsored trips that went north from Teotihuacan. However, none of them mentioned tablets or had pictures of tablets. Chad did notice the symbolic pictorial of a man seated on a box - similar to the bearded man at Tikal. Even Gabriela felt the symbolism was of a treasured secret.

  He asked what lay north of Mexico City in 600 CE. It seemed that safe havens were leading in that direction. Gabriela reminded him northern Mexico at that time included what is now the American Southwest. The culture was of individual settlements, small tribes, often nomadic. There was no powerful central center of culture.

  Would one choose to move the tablets there? Did they give up on large cities because of an inevitable decline or demise? Who was moving the tablets? Why couldn’t the message just be re-created if it were from alien visitors? Or, if they were from a monotheistic all-powerful God, why not hold another Mt. Sinai for this millennium? He didn’t have answers to either question.

  He had two destinations in England. Both were visited by Doc. One was in his log – the Maritime museum. The other was Ipswich. Chad discovered it when he reviewed Doc’s credit card charges against the log. That was an example of instinct leading his investigation. It was not reported to Boyer in the log or in expense reports. Did Doc get to the point of trusting no one? Was he pursued like Chad had been?

  He didn’t have answers to these questions, either. Chad eased his seat back and slept.

  Part 3

  The Secret

  Chapter 82

  Archer’s roller board rattled behind him. His backpack sat comfortably on his left shoulder. His eyes looked ahead toward the area where relatives, friends, and car service drivers waited. Heathrow was crowded. Sandy wasn’t there. He didn’t expect her to be there. Chad still had not talked with her. He was reluctant to send an email or leave a message giving her the flight details. Even if his phone was clean, hers might have been compromised. Still, he wished she were here.

  Chad cleared customs and stepped to the to the side to get his phone. He hadn’t made a hotel reservation, hoping to stay with Sandy. He unzipped the right pocket where he kept his cell phone. Empty. When did that happen? Did it fall out? Did someone take it?

  He’d have to report it, stop unnecessary charges. He put those thoughts behind him. Glancing at his watch he thought he had enough time. He joined the taxi queue. He made it to the London Maritime Museum an hour before closing.

  He asked for their expert on the history of longitude or mapping.

  A man came to the reception desk. “I’m Atwood. How can I help you?”

  “Hi. My name is Chad Archer. I am doing research on mapping in the Middle Ages. I had a friend who was doing similar research and I know he came to this museum for some help. I was hoping I could get some help as well.”

  “What was your mate’s name?”

  “Doctor Clark.”

  “Ah the Doc. I met him. Helped him I think. How is he?”

  “I’m sorry to say that he died a few weeks ago.”

  “Oh. I am sorry. Were you close?”

  “Thank you. We were close. He was my teacher and friend. We worked together for nearly ten years.”

  “Again. I’m sorry. You are a doctor, too?”

  “In archeology.”

  “Not much archeology in the oceans. That’s the same as I told the Doc.”

  “You’re right. What else did you discuss?”

  “Longitude. The history of longitude. He had a particular era he was asking about.”

  “I do as well. Between 1150 and 1250 CE.” Chad picked the time of the crusades, the time of the Templars.

  “That’s the same time as the Doc was interested in. He wanted to know what was the reference point used in mapping or sailing at that time.”

  “Exactly what I want to know.”

  “Well then, here’s the story. Sometime in the first century after Christ was born, the Greek mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy determined that time equaled longitude. He might not have been the first to determine that, but he was the first to map it so completely.”

  “How did he do it?” Chad asked.

  “It becomes a little complex to relate time, distance, degrees of a circle. He used the time of the lunar eclipse at two different points.”

  “I see. Then what did he use as the zero point, the prime meridian?” Chad inquired.

  “He referenced the Fortunate Isles. But they don’t exist today, at least by that name. Some think they are the present day Canary Islands. However, others think they might be Cape Verde or the Azores. The ambiguity and differences are significant. The difference between Cape Verde and the Canary Islands is seven to eight degrees. At London’s latitude that is a distance of three hundred fifty to four hundred miles.”

  “Wow that’s a lot,” Chad remarked.

  “True,” Atwood agreed. “It is the width of England.”

  “That hardly narrows my search,” Chad said.

  “What are you searching for, mate?”

  Chad realized his slip. Quickly he recovered. “The Holy Grail?”

  There was a brief silence. Then laughter. “That’s exactly what your friend said. Is this another King Arthur quest?”

  “Something like that,” Chad countered, adding his laughter and hoping Atwood did not detect the falsehood.

  “It’s Cape Verde,” the historian hobbyist said with decisiveness.

  “How do you know?”

  “Two reasons. The first is that there are several records of historical exploration by the Phoenicians in the BC centuries. They left from Egypt, the city of Suez, through the Red Sea, then the Arabian Sea, then the Indian Ocean, and finally up the West Coast of Africa. Both the Canary Islands and Cape Verde are off the west coast. The Canary Islands are closer to the coast than Cape Verde. At Ptolemy’s time, the Cape Verde islands were the farthest known land mass. I believe those were the Fortunate Isles.”

  “Why was it important to use the furthest point west?” Chad asked.

  “The farthest point west had to be zero. No negative numbers were used.”

  “Ah. So if say the Canary Islands would be zero, or the Prime Meridian, then Cape Verde would be negative. Why not use west of zero or east of zero like we do today.”

  “That’s on my list of Questions for the Afterlife,” Atwood chuckled.

  “Your what?”

  “Questions I have for people in history. Assuming me and they end up in the same place.”

  “How many questions do you have?”

  “Several. How about you?”

  Chad thought about recent conversations about religion and the afterlife and the Promised Land. “Hadn’t thought about it. Guess that I should start a list. So it’s Cape Verde. You said there were two reasons?”

  “This is t
he more definitive reason. We have a map from Ptolemy’s time, with the Great Pyramid, in fact all the pyramids of Egypt, on it. I’ve measured its longitude and then figured out zero was Cape Verde.”

  “Excellent. You could have led with that, you know.”

  “Sure. But I like the stories. Twenty-three point six two.”

  “What is that?”

  “The prime meridian adjustment for Ptolemy’s maps. Do you have such a map Dr. Archer?”

  “No, I don’t. I have a single set of coordinates from that time period. Tell me, Mr. Atwood….”

  “Just Atwood, Archer.”

  “Okay, Atwood, tell me how did you get to know all of this?”

  “I served twenty in Her Majesty’s Service, taught history, and I was a passionate sailor.”

  “I hope we can meet again sometime. I’ll buy you a pint as thanks.”

  “The price will be two, mate.”

  “Done and done. Thanks again.”

  -----

  Chad couldn’t find a hotel soon enough and boot up his computer.

  Excitedly, he did the calculations of the Arabic coordinates from the bottom of the marker stone. He was convinced these coordinates were for the locator stone, the one missing from the King David Palace art room. He eased back from the desk looking at the location mapped by the computer.

  Stonehenge.

  Chapter 83

  Archer thought he could risk using the room phone. No one could have known where he was staying. He didn’t know until thirty minutes ago. Nonetheless, he had a new toy, so he used his scanner. No detection of bugs.

  “Sandy. Hi. It’s me Chad,” he responded to her hello.

  “Chad who?” she said dead serious.

  He was speechless.

  She saved him, “Had you there didn’t I? Where have you been?”

  “I’m in London. Where are you? I’ve been trying to get hold of you. Seems like for days.”