The Knights Templar are Back

Chapter 2.1

The house was a small cottage located a few hundred meters from the road that goes from Bariloche to Lake Gutierrez passing the detour to Cerro Catedral ascending to go to the village of the same name. The exterior of the house was covered with stones and logs, but it was evidently a solid construction of concrete and bricks. Tschudin, after hearing the reason for the request for the appointment, had preferred to meet at home and not in his photography store at Bartolome Mitre Street, where he had been contacted by phone. As a good Swiss, he had requested minute details of who was going to interview him and why. Sabrina had explained that they were interested in issues related to the conference Tschudin had given in 2013 on the Templars, but had reserved the information about the discovery of the stones in the beach, for reasons she couldn´t really clarify, although she rationalized them as a protection to her son, whom Sabrina did not want to see mixed in matters not at all clear.

Tschudin had summoned them for 19:30. It was 19:25 and they were parking in front of the address given.

“ As he is Swiss he will appreciate our punctuality.” Said Marcelo who had driven his sister´s car

As soon as they rang the brass bell at the logs fence that surrounded the house, the door opened. A man in his early sixties, tall and slim, appeared immediately

“Mr. Tschudin?” Asked unnecessarily Marcelo.

“Yes, I was waiting for you.” the response was equally redundant and only evidenced a hidden anxiety. “Please come in, let´s talk inside the house.”

Since the beginning Tschudin was affable but reserved and above all very cautious. His Spanish was perfect although he spoke with a soft German accent. Sabrina, who had spoken with him by telephone, made the introductions.

“I'm Sabrina Ferrand Bertoni, I am an architect and I have been living in Bariloche with my family for seven years. This is my brother Marcelo and his wife Teresa Cifuentes Chehab. They live in Mexico City, where Teresa was born.”

“Nice to meet you. Emil Georg Tschudin.” Responded gently the man. “What can I offer to you, maybe some coffee?”

Tschudin left the living room for a moment and reappeared along with a much younger woman, black eyes and hair and brown skin.

“ My wife Raquel.” Emil softly introduced her. “Raquel is Chilean and has Mapuche ancestry, at least in part. She is my biggest find as an anthropologist.” Joked as he kissed her forehead. “ We have two children who are right now in college in Bahia Blanca.”

Raquel served coffee and joined the meeting.

“ She is aware of all of my research works and in fact directs some of them.” Justified Emil. “ Well, how can we help you?”

“ My wife is an archaeologist at home, and collaborates with the famous Anthropological Museum of Mexico, where her father is a renowned professor. Teresa has participated in numerous expeditions in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and lately in Peru. Although her primary field of expertise is the Mayan culture she is interested in American aboriginal cultures in general.”

“ I know Professor Cifuentes´ reputation although I never had the pleasure of meeting him personally.” Said the Swiss, always very formal and somewhat convoluted.

The conversation lasted half an hour on general topics of anthropological research, without addressing the reason of the visit. At one point, Emil looked at his wife in the eyes and gave a slight nod, which was however noticed by the insightful Teresa.

“ Let me state that between Ms. Sabrina´s call and your arrival at my house I made some inquiries in the city. I found out that the Bertoni are good people, so I agreed to grant the interview and invite you home. I prefer to avoid the ears that may be listening in my store in our downtown store. Tell me.” His tone of voice changed slightly and became somewhat neutral without being imperious.” What is your specific interest in the Templars? It is not only Mrs. Teresa’s profession what led you to them.”

Sabrina realized that it was necessary to discover the game, and went on explaining the discovery of the carved stones on the beach. Then, Teresa described the artifacts and her interpretation of them. Emil listened attentively without uttering a word.

When Teresa was over, the Swiss still reflected in silence for a moment and then asked.

“ Have you talked to anyone else about this topic?” As the response was negative he asked again.

“ Have you shown the carved stones to someone else?”

“No.” Answered Sabrina.

“Good, good.” Now Emil´s countenance showed a certain relief.“ Let me ask you several things and I beg you to strictly fulfill my requests.” Emil made silence for a moment to emphasize his words.

“In the first place, please do not discuss this issue with anyone else. We do not know what risks there may exist.” He looked at his interlocutors in search of assent, and then continued. “ In the second place, keep the artifacts with care, we do not know what archaeological value they may have, and even value of another nature.” He stared at his visitors, noting how their eyebrows arched in surprise. “And lastly, I ask you to show the pieces to me. Are you willing to fulfill my requests?”

“I think that before making commitments we deserve some explanations about this entire mysterious climate that you have managed to create.” Said crudely Marcelo. “What are the risks? What value other than historical can the pieces have? What people must we beware? And finally, how do we know we can trust you?”

“Very logical questions.” Admitted Emil. “I will try to clear some of your doubts although I do not have all the answers. What do you want to know?”

“In the first place let me ask….” Now Teresa called the tune. “…what degree of reality do you assign to the alleged arrival of Knights Templar to the Argentine coast, although they disappeared a century and a half before the discovery of America? We read on the Internet theories about the arrival of Templar ships long before Columbus, but they do not appear to be well founded.”

“Although I do not wish to debate with other researchers, whether serious or not, my thesis does not imply the arrival of Templars to America before 1492.” Responded Emil in a formal tone. “The fact that the Order of the Temple was dismantled in Paris and elsewhere in France, their leaders arrested and burned alive, and their property confiscated did not make them disappear from the face of the Earth overnight. The Knights Templar located in Portugal, in Germanic areas, in England and in Sicily survived, changed their identity entering other military orders created in various countries, this time under the strict control of the respective kings and lords, who did not wish to allow the creation of potential rivals in their territories. Many Templars escaped from France to Scotland and it is believed that much of the treasure of the Order eluded its pursuers sent by King Henry of France who sought it hard. This treasure was allegedly shipped in La Rochelle with an unknown destination.” Emil paused , looking at his interlocutors who were following him with great interest.

“Certain studies I have lead in monasteries in Europe let me assume that property that had belonged to the Order were stored in them, and that those goods were sent to sites less exposed to the ambitions of European monarchs, allegedly in America, logically at a later date to 1492. The time inconsistency is saved in this way. What is your next question?”

“ I have a young son I want to protect from all evil.” This time Sabrina raised the question. “What are the risks of which you spoke about?”

“As you and I have put ourselves on the track of a possible arrival of the successors of the Knights Templar and possibly part of their treasures to Argentine territory, other hostile forces may have tracked it as well. After the publication of my article that you have read, I was sure of being watched and followed. Believe me, I'm not paranoid, and this had never happened to me before. But Bariloche outside the tourist season is still a small world and my friends and protectors detected movements and I was put on alert.”

“Have you been persecuted? By whom?” Sabrina asked alarmed.

“ I have no names, but they are rascals linked to the theft of archaeological and historical treasures. Maybe you do not believe it, but there are some utterly ruthless and dangerous characters connected with this issue.”

Teresa and Marcelo looked significantly at each other. The episodes occurred the previous year in Peru had marked their lives forever.

“ We are aware of the dangers firsthand. We have been about to be killed by that kind of people.” Said Marcelo in a bitter tone.

Emil was really surprised, for the first time his somewhat ceremonious composure resulted in more everyday emotions.

“ I need to know! How was that?”

Teresa took the initiative and began describing her a*******n in Yucatan in the middle of an exploration of a network of Mayan cenotes for relics, and months later during Professor McPherson´s expedition in the Huayhuash Mountain Range in Peru, which ended in a b****y g*n battle between the criminals and elite troops of the Peruvian Army. (1)

(1) See Golden Legend, by the author.

Teresa concluded her explanation saying:

“ Actually I owe to that set of circumstances to have met my husband; it was he who found me wandering disoriented and exhausted in the Yucatan jungle after my abduction.”

Tschudin had resumed his usual pose, but Sabrina was now the one alarmed by the story just heard.

“I… I had no idea of what had happened to you. Marcelo, you never told me anything.”

“It was pointless to scare you with something we thought was over. In addition, for me it ended well because actually there I met Teresa.”

“But I'm not willing to expose my son and my family to such danger.” Sabrina was really disturbed and had trouble to speak. Emil took over the situation and addressing Teresa and Marcelo proposed.

“ Our absolute priority is to keep Mrs. Sabrina and her family away from danger. If you two are willing to take some risks to continue your search you should take certain precautions.”

“Like what?” Asked Marcelo.

“First, you should move to a hotel in town instead of staying at your sister´s.”

“That was already decided.” Teresa replied.

“Second, we can agree to meet in the future in a small cottage owned by a close friend who lives in Europe, so that no one can connect the dots seeing us together. I might still be under surveillance.”

“ Sounds sensible.”

“ Finally, answering one of your questions you must decide whether to fully trust me or not.”

One look to Teresa, Sabrina and Marcelo was enough to show that there was consensus.

“Well.” Said the Swiss. “We will then schedule a meeting in the cabin I was telling you about. I ask you to carry the carved stones for analysis. Are you motorized?”

“ We have come in my sister´s car, but we will now rent a car.” Replied Marcelo.

Tschudin spread a map of the Nahuel Huapi National Park and surrounding areas, and showed the location of the cabin.