pressed down on the plunger.
With a look of utter disbelief, the cardinal tore away, collapsed into his chair, and grabbed the site of the injection. Before he could yell for Father Martin, the Tubarine had clamped down on his heart, bringing it to a grinding halt. Buckling over in agony, Santelli’s hands clawed for the pain, trying to tear it from his chest.
Patrick Donovan watched the body give a last convulsive shake. “God’s will,” he said quietly. He wasn’t sure what the syringe had contained, but was fairly certain it had been Conte’s method for killing the docent found at the Torlonia catacomb’s front desk. Within these walls, there weren’t many options for a lethal weapon. So Donovan had taken a lucky chance on the needle.
Murder violated everything he held sacred, breaking his vow to God that he had cast aside his horrible past. But unless Santelli was taken down, Charlotte Hennessy would surely die, and he too. The Israelis would never know the truth and an innocent archaeologist would shoulder the blame for a crime he hadn’t committed.
Carefully gathering up the duffel bag, Donovan exited into the antechamber, advising Father Martin that the cardinal wished not to be disturbed and to hold all calls.
Father Martin nodded and eyed Donovan curiously as he hurriedly made his way past the Swiss Guards and out into the main corridor. Once Donovan was out of sight, he quickly made his way into Santelli’s office. There he saw the purple skullcap poking above the chair facing the window. Calling out the cardinal’s name twice, he slowly rounded the desk.
67
******
Jerusalem
Razak waited for Farouq to put on his reading glasses, all the while staring at the ancient scroll intently.
Clearing his throat, the Keeper began to read out loud.
12 December Anno Dominae 1133
It was Saint Helena who first discovered the true origins of Jesus Christ. She came to the Holy Land in search of historical evidence proving Christ was not a figment of legend or lore. During her pilgrimage, she found what she believed was Christ’s empty tomb, and discovered the wooden cross upon which Jesus suffered and died, buried deep beneath the Holy Sepulchre. Today, we carry the true cross in battle to defend our faith and God. Many similar relics have we been rumored to possess. But what I have discovered on this day is the most wondrous yet.
But first I must explain how this came to be.
In Jerusalem, there has existed for centuries Christians who follow not the words of our Holy Bible. They are a peaceful group who have survived many centuries in isolation, calling themselves the “Order of Qumran.” I have met them and learned much about their faith. At first, their beliefs shocked me, for their ancient scrolls say many things to contradict God’s word. The Order believed that Christ died a mortal death and that only his spirit rose from the tomb to appear to his disciples. They even claimed Christ’s body still lay in a hidden place awaiting resurrection to usher in the Day of Judgment and that his bones would once again be reclaimed by God’s spirit.
I questioned the origins of their writings. They insisted the teachings and scripture existed long before the “The book of the Romans.”
Hearing these words, I was inclined to lash out. But, intrigued, I was compelled to learn more. Over time, these people, kind and generous, had become our friends. Through careful study, I began to understand that their beliefs, though untraditional, were rooted in true faith and reverence. Their God was our God. Their Christ was our Christ. Interpretation was all that seemed to divide us.
On the 11th day of October, 1133, Jerusalem was attacked by a band of Muslim warriors. Though we were able to drive them back, it wasn’t before our Christian brothers of Qumran had fallen, for they tried to defend their holy city. Their leader, an old man named Zachariah, was wounded severely, and dying when I found him. In his possession was an old book. Knowing that none of his brothers had survived the attack, he gave it to me. He whispered that the book contained many things, including an ancient secret long protected by his people— the location of the chamber where Christ’s body had been interred. Then God claimed the old man’s spirit.
I employed trusted local scribes to translate the book’s writings, most of which were in Greek. It was then that I discovered that the text was a journal written by a scholarly man named Joseph of Arimathea. In the book, I also found a map drawn by Joseph, marking the location of Christ’s body. It was then that I realized the tomb was buried beneath our very feet, under the site of Solomon’s Temple.
I ordered my men to find Joseph’s tomb. After weeks of digging and breaching three ancient walls, we reached solid earth. Here my hopes would have easily been lost, for nothing would imply man had touched this spot. But Joseph of Arimathea’s precise measurements suggested further digging was required. Continuing, we first cleared soft debris, realizing what we had thought to be the face of the mountain was actually a massive circular stone. It took four men to roll it back. Behind it was a hidden chamber, precisely where Joseph had indicated.
Inside I found nine stone boxes inscribed with the names of Joseph and his family. To my amazement, a tenth box bore the sacred symbol of Jesus Christ, and in it were human bones and relics that could only have come from the cross.
To uphold my sworn oath to protect God and his son Jesus Christ, I have secured these wondrous relics beneath Solomon’s Temple. For if the old man taught truth, these bones may one day be brought back to life so that the souls of all men might be saved.
I have named Joseph of Arimathea’s book Ephemeris Conlusio. In it are the secrets to our salvation.
May God forgive me for my deeds.
His faithful servant,
Hugues de Payen
Farouq carefully rolled up the yellowed parchment and returned it to the casket. He removed his glasses and sat back, waiting for Razak’s response.
Finally Razak spoke up. “Tell me if I’ve got this right. In the twelfth century, the Knights Templar befriended a group of radical Jews—or perhaps Christians—who gave them the Ephemeris Conlusio, which led them to Jesus’s body, buried in a secret room beneath this very platform. Almost nine hundred years ago the Templars secured the crypt and secreted that casket together with the Ephemeris Conlusio beneath the floor. You yourself found the casket during excavations here in 1997.”
“That is all correct.”
