Book of JUDAS

Chapter Four-2

“I’ve devoted my life to researching this theory and that’s what it was, just a theory with plenty of circumstantial evidence until I met your grandfather and heard the remarkable truth of what he’d discovered in Qumran. As I learnt more about his findings all the pieces began to fall into place. Throughout the ages and the centuries since the crucifixion itself, the Book of Judas has been shrouded in mystery. The first written records of it dated from around the fifth century but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vatican archives hold documents that go back even earlier. The book of Judas has always been inextricably linked to the Roman Catholic Church and I think you need to appreciate how the Vatican has played its part…”

He took another sip of his coffee and observed that the brothers were fascinated, hanging on to his every word.

“In the beginning, those that were possessed by demons were taken to see the Head of Exorcism at the Vatican and he’d try and cast the demons out. The bodies and minds of these hapless souls would not be their own. They’d writhe on the floor in a grotesque fashion, screaming obscenities and incoherent gibberish in a multitude of different or unknown languages. On one occasion, His Holiness Pope Sixtus heard the screaming and visited the chamber where the exorcism was being carried out. The story says that when he entered the room the demon inside the victim’s soul suddenly went quiet. Then, as the Pope moved towards the possessed spirit, his voice changed to a deep, resonating snarl as he kept repeating the words, ‘Liber Liborum Loudas’ − ‘Judas, the Book of Books’.

“Listening to the words, the Pope stepped forward and placed his hand on the wretched soul, the demon left his body but the words have lived on. After this incident there came many more similar cases over the centuries that followed. The demons possessing their bodies would repeat the same phrase and others such as ‘Loudas Satanica’, − ‘Judas, the Black Lord of Satan’. In medieval times, the number of exorcisms reached their peak. The number reached epidemic proportions and the Vatican in its apparently less than infinite wisdom didn’t know what to do to stop or stem the flow. They were in a quandary and took the fateful decision to try and hold a dialogue with one of the possessed souls. The Head of Exorcism at the time was Monsignor Angelo Montella and it was his idea to probe and interrogate the possessed spirit. Pope Gregory was the Supreme Pontiff at the time and when he entered the room, as before, the tormented soul went quiet for a few moments before starting to repeat ‘Liber Liborum Loudas’ over and over again. This time, Monsignor Montella spoke back to the demon, asking him where the Book of Judas came from and what did it mean? The demon’s rage flared up and through his ranting and snarling they could make out the words that translated as ‘the Bible of Satan’. Pope Gregory, kissing his crucifix, went forward and placed it on his disfigured head of the possessed soul… That single event is said to have given birth to the macabre sect of devil worshippers known as the ‘Satanica’.”

Professor Palanski paused to gauge the reaction he was getting from his audience. He smiled as he saw the brothers sitting riveted to his every word. They wanted to interrupt and ask questions but both understood it made sense to wait until the end.

“History says that when the Pope’s cross touched the victim’s face, the beast flew from his body into that of Monsignor Montella who in turn became possessed by the same evil spirit. The Vatican did what it could for their Head of Exorcism but it was hopeless. They were forced to imprison him as every day he began acting more and more like a wild animal, striking out at anything that came near him. In between these bouts of savagery, Montella could have lucid moments that could last days and give hope of revival but they’d always come to an abrupt end. The last straw came when he killed one of his guards by biting out his throat − the General Ecumenical Council didn’t know what to do and took the simple option of casting him out from the walls of the Vatican. From there, it is said, Monsignor Montella disappeared − the reality is that the origins of evil sect known as the ‘Satanica’ grew around Montella and it exists and lives amongst us today.”

“What do you mean?” interrupted Simon curtly.

“I mean you can debate how they arrived but believe me they are here…” he glared back at Simon.

“I don’t understand,” said Philip, “who exactly are they?”

Professor Palanski slowly nodded his head, registering the question.

“After your grandfather shared his findings with me I’ve made a life’s study of the Book of Judas… During the course of my work I have found substantial evidence to support my theory that the Satanica have created a highly motivated and clandestine underground organisation that has its tentacles in all the major centres of the globe. It’s a highly secretive movement, obsessed by the imminent coming of the devil and whose members include prominent politicians, diplomats, businessmen and high-ranking members of the military establishment. They’ve pledged their allegiance to their controllers − the ruthless High Council of the Zoroastrian Priests who are the ultimate, all-powerful rulers of the Satanica.”

“What do they want?” asked Simon curiously.

“They’re united by their Church…” replied the Professor. “The Church of Satan − they believe that when the Book of Judas is found the ‘Black Lord’ − ‘Satan’ – will be unlocked from his resting place and that he will return to rule the world and when he does, they’ll be his chosen ones.”

“Incredible,” said Philip, amazed by what he was hearing. “What do we know about these priests – what did you call them, Zoroastrian priests?” he asked uncertainly.

“The High Priests of Zorastri are the leaders of the Satanica and they mastermind their eternal quest to find the Book of Judas. They represent pure evil; I can’t tell you who they are or where they reside but whenever they appear they’re associated with death – I’ve found examples of brutal mutilations and obscene atrocities that have been put down to their dark and ritualistic practices. In their ceremonies they praise and invoke the name of Satan through incantations and human sacrifice… They believe in a grotesque form of ‘animism’ − worshipping the souls of the dead.”

Professor Palanski suddenly stood up and walked towards the window and, pulling back the curtain, he peered outside into the street.

“The Satanica want the Book of Judas and believe me they’ll stop at nothing − nothing,” he repeated coldly, “to achieve this aim.”

“Do they know about our grandfather’s discovery?” asked Philip suddenly contemplating their own position. If they do, surely our lives are in grave danger now, he thought ominously.

“I don’t know. I can’t answer that − you know from what I’ve told you that the ‘Satanica’ used to have strong links with the Vatican. Well, it’s believed that this unholy union has persisted through the ages and still exists now. If it does then it’s only a matter of time until they find out. Your grandfather’s death will have shaken up a hornet’s nest amongst the powerbrokers inside the upper echelons of the Vatican.”

“These cuttings,” said Simon pointing towards the table and the floor. “Are they all to do with the Satanica and the Book of Judas?”

“Nearly all of them, and I should also mention,” said the Professor, remembering another detail, “that there’s one common trait that identifies the horrendous acts carried out by the Satanica.”

“And what is that?” asked Philip.

“They like to brand their acts of atrocity but usually you have to look very closely to find it − they use a symbol, it’s two M’s, one written over the top of the other. It was taken, I believe, from the initials of Monsignor Montella.”

That explains the initials ‘MM’ written in black marker pen next to the article on the death of God’s banker in the scrapbook, recalled Philip.

“What about the book itself? Do you believe it exists?” asked Philip.

“You’ve heard what your grandfather discovered at Qumran– what do you think?” replied Professor Palanski impatiently.

“Yes, but how did the Book of Judas get to Qumran in the first place?” contested Philip, “I mean do we know who wrote it?”

Professor Palanski paused as he realised what Philip was driving at. He wants a better understanding of the history behind the actual book itself.

“You must understand that my theory’s been compiled by piecing together fragments of ancient texts,” Palanski continued. “Just as there’s doubt about events that happened in the Bible you should also remember that what I’m saying can’t be proven to our total satisfaction…”

Both Simon and Philip concurred by nodding their understanding. The professor walked back from the bay window and paced back and forth in front of the mantelpiece as he elaborated on the book’s origins.

“As the Acts of the Apostles were written by the disciples of Jesus, so the Book of Judas was written by his followers and disciples. If you like they were disciples of Satan because as Jesus represented the human form of God, so Judas Iscariot was the living incarnation of the Devil. Having betrayed Jesus and after watching his crucifixion, he instructed his own disciples, six of them, to write the ‘Satanic Torah’, the testament of evil and immorality according to the Devil. Judas told his disciples that the time would come when people would worship the Black Lord above all else. With his work completed in the human body of a mortal soul, and in front of all his six disciples, he killed himself in a ceremony known as the ‘Fields of Blood’. After that, the disciples carried out his final instructions. Three of them went to supervise the building of a labyrinth that would become a tomb for their finished work while the rest went undercover to complete the scriptures that would become the ‘Satanic Torah’… And that is where Qumran offered sanctuary. It was the perfect place for them to carry out the wishes of Judas. Qumran was inhabited by an extraordinary Jewish sect called the Essenes. They were smaller than other Jewish sects like the Pharisees and the Sadducees but far more extreme in their beliefs and behaviour. They were reclusive and obsessed by secrecy, believing in a kind of Gnosticism; a covert knowledge only known to privileged insiders. Only males were tolerated in the sect, which loathed the presence of women and children, and they were totally fanatical about their ideas of cleanliness and fidelity. Many theologians and historians recognise today that it was this Jewish sect that was responsible for the Isaiah Scroll, the Temple Scroll, the Copper Scroll and other notable manuscripts that collectively make up the Dead Sea Scrolls. The three disciples of Judas infiltrated this sect and worked day and night as scribes to put down all the teachings and practices that Judas had taught them.”

“So that explains why the map and Judas Scroll were discovered in an antechamber to the main cave built by the Essenes,” remarked Simon.

“That’s right,” said Professor Palanski. “It’s also said that the bone necklace – the key to the ‘Book’s’ whereabouts – was crafted according to precise instructions from the bones of Judas himself.”

“It’s an incredible story, Professor,” said Philip shaking his head.

Standing in front of the mantelpiece, the professor smiled back and added, “I am afraid the real story is just beginning, Philip − your story. Yours and Simon’s story.”

“What do you mean?” asked Simon.

“I mean, with the death of your grandfather and the apparent whereabouts of the final bone fragment… at last the truth can finally be established,” said the professor, who sounded excited at the prospect.

“You’re right,” enthused Simon. “I can’t explain why but it does feel like it’s our destiny find the book.”

Philip didn’t share the emotion. He sat stony-faced, looking sideways through the net curtains into the street beyond. Lost in thought he sat with his hands clasped in front of him. Professor Palanski read the signs and chose that moment to articulate Philip’s thoughts.

“Simon, you must stop to think; you must have your wits about you − your lives will be in grave danger from the start. On the one hand, you’ll face the threat from the agents of the Vatican who’ll stop at nothing to suppress or destroy the Book of Judas − on the other hand, you’ll have to face the dark, evil forces of the ‘Satanica’. Once they learn of the discovery they’ll most likely search you out and kill you regardless of whether you decide to answer your grandfather’s legacy or not. The Book of Judas is their golden prize, it’s what they have been waiting centuries to claim, they will…”

“But what does it mean…” Philip interrupted him abruptly in midflow. “What happens when the Book is found?”

The room fell silent for a few seconds before the Professor spoke. His voice was slow and deliberate.

“That’s the question only you can answer, Philip.”