by D C Macey
‘Come on, old man; let’s get you home.’
Daylight was coming. The unseen sun, having started its rise behind the clouds, was forcing just enough light through to signal the dawn.
It took less than ten minutes to cross to the other side of the island, pass the visitor centre and climb the slope beyond. There, on the higher ground, was one of the few level spots sufficiently wide to form a helipad. Designed only for medical emergency evacuations, this morning it was hosting a black Wildcat helicopter. Sam could see Angelo inside. He guessed Bill was there too.
‘Go on, man, that’ll get you home in no time. Oh and remember the Official Secrets Act,’ said Rupert.
Sam gave him a wry look. ‘That might work on me. But I don’t think that trick will silence a priest like Angelo; he’s not British.’
‘No, of course not. But there are people in the Vatican who think like us. They’ll make sure he stays quiet.’
Rupert thrust out his hand. ‘Sam, I’m sorry, truly. One day, I hope we can work together on something that doesn’t exploit you, or Helen.’
Sam shook his hand. ‘Somehow, I don’t see that happening.’
• • •
Pete Summers opened his front door and beckoned his visitors inside. He glanced towards the two policemen who sat in their car, watchful and alert. The clerical visitors might not normally have raised much interest, but Brogan had warned them to trust nothing and that there may be a religious element involved. Two priests appearing in the early hours sporting long black winter cloaks was not normal for North Berwick. A discreet sign from Pete confirmed things were in order, and they settled back down.
‘Come in, please. You’re both most welcome,’ said Pete.
‘Any word?’ asked Francis, hurrying in and stamping his feet against the cold.
‘We’ve not heard from Sam. Anything from Angelo yet?’
‘No, Xavier has had no word either,’ said Francis.
‘Come into the living room, quietly though. Everyone’s been up all night - Grace and Elaine have just dropped off.’ Pete led the two priests through into the living room and as far from the two sleeping women as possible.
‘Where’s Helen?’ said Francis.
Pete pointed into the garden, where they could see Helen looking out across the beach towards the northern sky. There, the darkness had not quite surrendered to the rising sun.
‘My goodness, she must be cold,’ said Francis.
‘I think so, but when I went out to her, she sent me away.’
‘Look, she’s shivering.’
‘Why is she out there?’
‘I’m not sure. Watching, I think. I thought I’d persuaded her to come in a little while ago but then something odd happened.’
‘Odd?’
‘Yes, there was an explosion to the north … roughly where you would expect to find the Isle of May.’
‘Good Lord. Come on, Xavier,’ said Francis.
In silence, the two old priests stepped out through the glass doors. Pete quietly closed the doors and watched from behind the glass.
Helen sensed their presence but did not acknowledge them, continuing to maintain her vigil across the water. The wind had shifted direction and had begun to ease a little, but the high waves and strong tide were still a risk. It would be very dangerous to try to cross the Forth in a RIB under such conditions. She prayed the explosion was unrelated to Sam’s party, but how could it be?
The snow flurries rallied again into a steady fall and reduced visibility further. Now she could not see much further than the waterline at the end of the beach. She shivered and drew her jacket tight around her, but the wind cut through it, and the landing snowflakes quickly melted to soak into her skin.
Francis nudged Xavier and waved him further forwards. The two old priests stepped up, one to either side of Helen, and each raised a hand to envelop her in a sweep of their cloaks. She did not push her friends away and silently welcomed the blocking of wind and wet. They could feel her shivering as she continued to stare out into the snow.
A movement amid the falling snow caught Helen’s attention. She stiffened; the old priests felt it and saw her straining to see. They looked but could see nothing.
‘There’s something out there,’ she said.
‘I see nothing,’ said Xavier.
‘Something is coming, look.’ Helen forced a hand out from beneath the protective layers of cloak and pointed straight ahead.
‘That’s too high, Helen; that’s the sky,’ said Francis.
‘Listen, what’s that?’
A moving shadow showed blurry through the falling snow, followed by the snow-muffled thunder of engines.
‘It’s a helicopter,’ said Helen, a note of disappointment tinging her voice.
‘Yes, and it’s coming our way,’ said Francis.
The black-bodied helicopter suddenly burst clear of the snow and paused, hovering over the beach. No amount of snow could muffle the roaring power of the engines now. Grace and Elaine hurried out into the garden.
‘What’s happening? What is it?’ said Grace.
Faces appeared at the window of the hovering Wildcat’s side-panel door and hands waved.
Helen pointed up at the helicopter. ‘It’s Sam! He’s waving to us.’ She stepped clear of the protective cloaks and waved her arms enthusiastically.
‘Angelo! Xavier, I see Angelo; he’s fine.’
Then the helicopter advanced and passed overhead with a deafening roar. As it disappeared behind the house, the noise quickly faded. They all hugged and talked at once while moving back into the warmth of the house.
As Pete pressed shut the glass doors, Helen’s phone signalled receipt of a message.”
“Landing East Fortune Airfield shortly. Ready for collection. xx”
‘How long to get to East Fortune Airfield?’ said Helen.
‘Ten minutes, with a police escort,’ said Pete.
Helen smiled. ‘Time to go then.’
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you for reading The Temple Deliverance. I do hope you enjoyed the story. If so, I would be most grateful if you would take a moment to give The Temple Deliverance a rating and a sentence or two of review. Reader ratings are so important in supporting and enabling authors in today’s digital reading world. Thank you. D.C.
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ABOUT D. C. MACEY
D. C. Macey is an author and lecturer based in the United Kingdom.
A first career in the Merchant Navy saw Macey’s early working life devoted to travelling the globe. In the process, it gave an introduction to the mad mix of beauty, kindness, cruelty and inequality that is the human experience everywhere. Between every frantic costal encounter was a trip across the ocean, which brought the contrast of tranquil moments and offered time for reading, writing and reflection. Those roving days came to a close, however, with Macey serving as a ship’s officer in the North Sea oil industry.
Several years working in business made it apparent that Macey’s greatest commercial skill was the ability to convert tenners into fivers, effortlessly and unerringly - a skill that ensured Macey had the unwelcome experience of encountering those darker aspects of life that lie beneath the veneer of our developed world and brought fleeting glimpses into the shadows where bad things lurk.
Eventually, life’s turbulence, domestic tragedy and impending poverty demanded a change of course. As a result, the past decade and more has been spent in lecturing and producing predominantly corporate media resources, so allowing Macey the opportunity to return to the written word.
Throughout it all Macey is certain that a
happy home and laughter have proven time and again to be the best protection against life’s trials.
• • •
For more information: [email protected] and visit: www.dcmacey.com
BOOKS IN THE SERIES
The Temple Legacy (The Temple - Book 1) Published August 2015
The Temple Scroll (The Temple - Book 2) Published August 2016
The Temple Covenant (The Temple - Book 3) Published April 2018
The Temple Deliverance (The Temple - Book 4) Published April 2019
Temple Legacy
(The Temple - Book 1)
Seven hundred years ago, in a time of war and betrayal, Europe’s greatest treasure disappeared amidst a frenzied and brutal grab for power. The men who guarded it vanished into history.
In Edinburgh today, former élite British Military Intelligence officer Sam Cameron has turned to the quieter world of archaeology. Together with young church minister Helen Johnson, he leads his students on a field trip. What they unearth raises exciting questions. What are the mystery objects? What is their connection to the Knights Templar?
But others are asking the same questions and the thrill of discovery is quickly clouded by the brutal killing of a retired church minister and a spreading rage of violence and death.
Now Helen and Sam must race to unravel an ancient mystery, find how it links to the murdered minister, and fend off a very modern threat. Failure will cost their lives and the lives of many more. Success will answer the greatest unresolved mystery of the medieval world.
The Temple Scroll
(The Temple - Book 2)
A lost treasure, an impenetrable puzzle and a psychopathic killer: a deadly combination.
The Temple Scroll is a rollercoaster ride of danger, mystery and murder. From New England to the islands of the Mediterranean, it follows the deadly hunt for the Templars’ lost treasure.
Archaeology lecturer Sam Cameron and church minister Helen Johnson thought their old problems were done. They were wrong. Killers are set on finding the Templars’ treasure and they believe Sam and Helen hold the key.
As the psychopathic Cassiter directs his team of killers towards their goal, the calm of summer vanishes in an explosive bout of blood and suffering.
Under pressure from every side, Sam and Helen must draw on all their instincts and professional skills to stay alive as they attempt to crack the puzzle that protects the Templars’ treasure.
As the search for the Templar hoard moves inexorably to a conclusion, Sam and Helen must risk all in a frantic bid to save their friends, the treasure, and the priceless holy relics of the early Church. Now there is no mercy and no escape - there is only win or die.
The Temple Covenant
(The Temple - Book 3)
A quiet sabbatical spent visiting archaeological sites in the Great Rift Valley offers Helen Johnson and Sam Cameron the perfect opportunity to unwind and put the violent climax to their recent adventures behind them. But where they go trouble isn’t far away. Disturbing alarm bells start to ring when Helen attracts the attentions of the mysterious Bishop Ignatius of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He is desperate to meet with her and will not take no for an answer.
Elsewhere, news breaks that senior British Intelligence Corps Colonel Bob Prentice is missing in Nairobi and security chiefs have cause for concern. Concern turns to panic when it’s realised an operational prototype of the British Army’s latest super-weapon has vanished too.
In a last gasp attempt to retrieve the situation the British Government turns to former Intelligence Corps officer Sam, hoping that his civilian status can keep him under the radar and his old skills might just be enough to turn the problem round.
Meanwhile, Helen is co-opted into a role that goes against her every belief - a role that her patriotism demands she fulfil even as she struggles to evade the determined attentions of Bishop Ignatius and his men.
Far from the cloudy skies of Edinburgh, a frightening and bloody hunt plays out beneath the burning sun of the East African bush. Racing against the clock, and with scant support, Sam and Helen must risk everything to resolve the challenge of the enigmatic Bishop Ignatius while fighting to preserve the West’s place in a dangerous world.
The Temple Deliverance
(The Temple - Book 4)
Jolted out of their holiday season calm, Helen Johnson and Sam Cameron find they must play one last hand in a deadly game.
The final hunt is on to unpick an ancient code that hides the incredible nature of the Templars’ greatest secret. From the depths of northern winter to the sun-kissed beaches of North Africa, Helen and Sam must hurry to piece together the final clues in a race against time to save themselves, their loyal friends and Christianity’s greatest heritage.
Beset by danger, they must contend with the return of old foes who are hell bent on vengeance and determined to snatch the ultimate prize they have coveted for so long. As violence and death sweep across the continents, innocence is no protection; knowledge and grit are the only currencies of survival. Calling on trusted allies, Helen and Sam struggle against the odds, knowing that this time only one side can walk away.
