Book of JUDAS

Chapter Eighteen-2

“You’ve ordered well,” said Simon, smiling at Anna and staring at the assortment of dishes before them.

“Thanks − you know we need to discuss the book at some point… Is this a good time?” said Anna, helping herself to some chicken curry and sticky rice.

Philip looked up.

“What did you make of the scrolls? Can you translate the language?” asked Philip.

“Yes I can. It talks about how to find the entrance to the labyrinth and then once inside, when you navigate the passages and find the Book of Judas, it literally tells you how you can summon the dark forces of the Devil who’ll come to take over mankind!”

“What do you mean?” inquired Philip curiously, also helping himself to the dishes in front of him.

“If you like, it says the book’s a tool, an instrument, through which the Devil can be conjured up into his human form… just as Jesus was the human incarnation of God – that’s why the Satanica are so desperate to get it at any cost. It’s their calling, it’s the ritual they’ve been waiting to perform throughout the centuries since the time of Judas himself.”

The brothers listened, absorbed by what she had to say. They both knew in the back of their minds that the book had the power to challenge the religious beliefs of Christianity but actually to re-incarnate the Devil himself was frightening and almost beyond belief.

“What does it say about the Devil?” asked Simon.

“It says that if the satanic ritual as instructed in the book is followed to the letter the birth of Lucifer will come forth among them – it’s fairly macabre. The sacrifice of pure and virtuous human life is accompanied by the ancient ceremonial chanting of incantations to the Dark Lord.”

“Does that mean he just appears?” Simon continued.

“Maybe… It’s not clear − it could be that he takes over the soul of someone carrying out the ritual or someone else present at the ceremony,” she replied nonchalantly as she saw their probing expressions.

“Wait a minute, I’ll show you,” she said and stood up to enter her room, returning with an A4 envelope.

“Look – see this writing?” said Anna, pulling out two enlarged photographs, twelve by eight, one of the Judas Scroll and the other the scroll of the map displaying the biblical lands.

“I didn’t know you’d taken those,” said Philip curiously.

“I managed it yesterday, when I was studying them,” she replied matter-of-factly.

“You see these markings here,” she said hurriedly pointing to the ancient script as she handed over one of the photographs to Philip.

“That tells how the Devil once he appears will devour all before him − that evil will reign in the heavens and darkness will control the souls of men.”

“What shall we do, if and when we find this book?” uttered Simon. “Do we have any options?”

“Yes we do − we have to destroy it,” said Anna who stopped eating and stared coldly across the table at the brothers.

Simon stared back at Anna seriousness. She is really is beautiful, he thought as he wondered if she had any feelings for him. Her black shoulder-length hair was tied at the back and her pretty features glowed after the sun of the day. She sensed him watching her and smiled back at him. There was a boyish charm that surrounded Simon and she couldn’t help feeling aroused by his concerned and protective attention to her well-being. He was also physically attractive with his athletic and physically powerful build but there was much more underneath that she wanted to understand and get to know. She liked his sense of humour and watched as his eyes lit up with excitement as he smiled towards her.

“I want to get this whole affair finished as soon as possible,” said Philip. “We’re in intense danger – we’re going to have to use all our ingenuity and combined resources to get to this Book of Judas before Satanica or the Vatican and they won’t be far behind us by now. I must agree, I don’t see how we can take the manuscript and give it to any authorities − I mean which authorities would we give it to? You’re right, Anna – our best bet’s to destroy it and let everyone following us know we’ve destroyed it!”

Simon reached out for the bottle of white wine chilling in the ice bucket and refilled their glasses.

“Do you think that’s what Grandfather would have wanted?” he inquired, raising his eyebrows.

“I don’t know − it was his life’s quest − probably he’d have liked to have seen it and studied it but that’s not a luxury we can afford. We have to put an end to it!”

“Anna?” quizzed Simon. He knew in his heart that his brother was right.

“I agree with Philip totally. Believe me I’d like nothing more than to have the chance of discovering the book and learning more about it but we can’t afford it; we can’t risk the possibilities − in the wrong hands it spells disaster and we just can’t take the chance that it’s anything other than what the Scrolls says it is. We’d be putting life and the Christian religion as we know it in mortal danger if there’s any truth in it!”

Simon rubbed his hand against his forehead, he felt really tired after so much travelling and the exertions of the day.

“That’s agreed then − we find it and we destroy it.”

Philip and Anna nodded their heads.

Silent for a moment, Simon spoke again.

“We’ve still got to get to it first and that means we’re going to have to pick up the remaining two arkheynia as quickly as possible!”

“Well we have the first one and all we need to do now is devise a plan to secure the second − we’ll work it out on our way to America,” said Anna optimistically.

“We’re going to have to become international art burglars to secure the second,” chipped in Simon.

“Have you read the report Bairstow put together on the location of the second arkheynia? − it sounds like it’s housed in Fort Knox. What’s the name of the owner again?”

“Theodore Grainger,” said Philip, “an eccentric multi-millionaire with generous philanthropic tendencies towards museums and archaeologists that help reveal the secrets behind events in ancient history. It’s just as well that our grandfather came to know him so well otherwise we’d never know he held the second key − he became one of his few friends, in fact only those that were allowed into the eccentric millionaire’s inner circle ever gets to see his personal private collection − it must have been quite something when he realised his friend owned one of the three lost arkheynia!”

“What’s this Theodore Grainger like? Do we know whereabouts he keeps the arkheynia?” Simon asked Philip.

“He’s reclusive, shuns public attention − he’s made his money in holding and trading silver reserves – the brief Bairstow put together also said that he has a very short temper. On the odd occasion when he does step out into the public domain his rage normally hits the inside pages of the tabloids!”

“Sounds like a real head case,” said Simon grinning.

Anna stretched over and picked up the pot of coffee.

“Would anybody else like a cup?” she offered before offering a new and unexpected perspective on the conversation.

“You know there’s actually something very sinister about him as well!” she added in a tone that implied she knew him personally.

“What?” the brothers were both taken aback.

“You know him?” questioned Simon.

She remained tight-lipped until she had filled both their cups with the fresh coffee.

“I’ve met him on two occasions,” she answered with a wry, bemused smile as she registered the look of surprise spreading across their faces. “I was lucky − at the time I was going through University in America when he agreed with the course governors of our faculty to sponsor a one-off prize for the best thesis on the ‘Life and Times of the Essenes’ − I put hours of dedicated research into my thesis and to my amazement and surprise… I won the first prize!”

“What was it?” interrogated Simon.

“The prize was a personal tour around his private collection in his mansion based in Westchester just north of New York City.”

“Does that mean that you’ve already seen the second arkheynia?” inquired Philip frowning. This revelation was unexpected.

“No, or at least I have no recollection of ever seeing it − the importance and value of the fragment was unknown to me then, and I think it was unknown to Theodore Grainger as well, he treasured it simply because of its uniqueness and age.”

“You said you met him twice?” Philip queried, as he stretched over and ladled himself a second helping from the bowl of mixed fruit.

“Yes, funny really − he must have been in his sixties when he first showed me around his collection but for some reason he took a real liking to me − whilst he accompanied me around the artefacts he would ask me as many questions as I would ask him − he wanted to know about my background, my family, how I’d developed such a depth of knowledge in the biblical lands and of course on the Essenes. The questions just kept coming; it was almost as if he knew me or knew something about me and was testing me to see if he was giving him the right answers − I was so awestruck by his collection of ancient relics and the imposing mansion that I was roaming around that the full impact of his questioning didn’t really sink in until much later. He was always very polite and made me feel welcome, offering me the chance to wander around his house and its treasures as freely as I wished. Anyway he caught a nervous young girl by surprise when he asked me later on if I would like to join him in a few days’ time for a trip on his luxury boat.”

“And you said yes?” answered Simon anxiously.

“I said no,” replied Anna sharply.

“I was much younger at the time with no family in America and frankly the prospect of meeting him again just seemed to be too overwhelming − and anyway why me? Why should he, a multi-millionaire with access to anything he wanted, wish to take me on board his boat? The questions he had asked when he escorted me around his collection began to play over and over in my mind and I gradually began to worry that his interest in me was more than just platonic.”

Simon’s face looked horrified and she felt an urge to reach out and reassure him that all was Ok now.

“So what happened? Where did you meet him again?” he asked inquisitively.

“By chance – supposedly, only I don’t believe it was by chance,” replied Anna.

“About two weeks later, I was in the campus library working when I had the strange sensation that I was being watched, I kept looking around but I didn’t see anything unusual… Later on when I’d finished it was early evening and I set off walking back to my student apartment a couple of blocks away (I shared it at that time with some girlfriends I’d made on my course). As I was walked through the dimming evening light I had the surprise of my life when he literally came around a corner and bumped straight into me. He offered his sincere apologies, helped pick up my books and remarked at what a remarkable coincidence it was that we should meet again like this so soon − I was scared and I think he sensed it, he tried to calm me and told me that he was visiting the university to make a donation for an archaeological expedition to Egypt organised by my faculty but there was something suspicious about him. I panicked and ran off swearing that if I ever saw him again I would tell the police.”

“Sounds like he was stalking you,” muttered Philip.

“A few days later I received a card – an apology for having caused me such distress and a promise that there was nothing threatening behind his interest. He said he could understand why I reacted as I did and that if I ever wanted help or needed to see him for any reason that I was welcome to call − he wrote some private numbers on the card where he could be contacted in an emergency.”

“Maybe you were overly cautious; maybe he was genuinely interested in helping you,” suggested Simon.

“Maybe,” she said in a resigned fashion shrugging her shoulders. “Who knows… When you’re alone and fending for yourself everything takes on a much bigger meaning!”

“There could be an opportunity here,” recommended Philip. “According to Bairstow’s notes, Theodore Grainger will be holding his annual black tie soirée in a couple of days’ time for all the authors, historians, lecturers and eminent archaeologists he has befriended over the years − why can’t you call him and ask for an invitation?”

“After all these years?” she sounded unconvinced. “I never got in touch with him since that meeting you know?”

“Yes, I think that’s a great idea,” added Simon quickly. “We’ve to got into his mansion somehow and this could be our best chance − from what you’ve said I’m sure he’ll remember you.”

“I can understand your reticence, Anna,” said Philip, “but when you do call him you can tell him you’re married now and Simon can go along with you as your husband.”

“I think I’ll be able to manage that,” said Simon, grinning and Anna smiled knowingly at him. I think I’d like that, she thought to herself as she imagined entering the ball room in his enormous mansion dressed in her party gown with the handsome, debonair Simon on her arm.

Philip noticed her look of contemplation and prodded her playfully. Her serious expression quickly returned as she woke up from her fanciful daydream.

“Ok, I’ll call him when we get to America and let’s see if we can get a last minute invitation.”

“Great,” said Philip, pulling back his cuff and looking at the time. It had just gone past ten. “I’ve had it,” he said standing up and stretching. “I’ll see you for breakfast in the morning,” he called as he departed in the direction of the bedroom he was sharing with his younger brother.

“I feel exhausted as well,” said Anna as she started to gather and stack a few of the empty plates.

“Don’t worry, just leave it; they’ll sort it out in the morning,” said Simon.

He felt exhausted himself as he stood up and walked round the table offering his hand to help her up.

“C’mon, let’s call it a day,” and she nodded allowing herself to be pulled up from her seat. Comfortingly, he put his arm around her shoulder and led her in the direction of her bedroom.

“You know I never did thank you properly for saving me today,” she said, looking up at him with a glint in her eye.

“What do you mean?” he asked, squeezing her shoulder.

“I mean I’d never have forgiven myself if I’d sent the arkheynia to the bottom of the sea.”

Reaching the bedroom door, they paused for a moment before she turned towards him and slipped her arms around his waist. She’s so beautiful, thought Simon as he looked down into her beautiful, smiling face, her eyes sparkling with tired happiness. She looked up with her back close to her bedroom door.

“I’m prepared to collect a small reward,” he said, squeezing her again and pulling her closer to him. Impulsively he leaned down and kissed her and felt the passion tremble through her soft lips. Lingering for a moment, she pushed him back gently.

“Bedtime,” she smiled. He leant down and kissed her one more time on the cheek before letting go and turning in the direction of his own room. She stood enticingly with her back against the bedroom door as she watched him step down the hall.

“I doubt you’ll be able to get rid of your husband so easily in New York,” he laughingly quipped over his shoulder.

She smiled broadly and disappeared into her room.

The next morning they woke early and organised breakfast in the suite. Their minds were on packing and getting ready for the long flight ahead. Their tiredness was not satisfied by one good night’s sleep and they passed most of the journey from the hotel to the airport in silence. Walking down the white marble concourse again, they checked in for their flight and moved through to the departure lounge. The take-off was on schedule at ten o’clock as they bid farewell to Thailand as their plane took off on the first leg of its journey to America via Tokyo.