The Knights Templar are Back

Chapter 6.1

Yaroslav was impatient. He had refused to meet his informant in a hotel room in Bariloche because he did not wished to appear the radar of any security forces, given the fact that the murder of the shaman had caused quite a stir in the area and some protests of the Mapuche community. Instead of a hotel they had agreed to meet in one of the teahouses of the long Bustillo Avenue which remained open out of season, towards the Llao Llao Peninsula and about 8 kilometers from the city of Bariloche.

The Russian had arrived fifteen minutes early, had first passed in front of the place with the car, which he had parked a hundred meters further and then walked toward the confectionery surreptitiously watching in all directions. Once in the tearoom, he took a table from which he had good visual of the avenue but was in the shadows, hidden from outside eyes. Yaroslav had been instructed by the Commander on all matters relating to safety and was an expert in moving surreptitiously.

A few minutes later he saw the informant entering the store. It was a local businessman of Syrian origin, closely related to the political powers, the local businesses and the police of Bariloche, and very good contacts in southern Chile. They greeted coldly and cut directly to the chase. Yaroslav did not like the excessively neat look of the man but appreciated his information.

“Jorge, how is the local atmosphere after the shaman´s murder?”

“ There is outrage in the Mapuche community; where he was much appreciated. Police have no leads. What happened to the murderers?”

“ They will make no more errors.” Replied laconically Yaroslav; Jorge immediately understood the implications and asked no further questions nor made comments.

“ You cannot send Central American assassins to a city like Bariloche, especially out of season, when there are only locals. They are very conspicuous." As he noticed that the Russian did not understand the term he repeated “Very noticeable, visible. They spent their time in nightspots, making display of money and talking excessively. There were rumors that they were d**g dealers.”

“ Well, it was a mistake. That´s why I came. Tell me about the Swiss and the visitors.”

“We have been watching Tschudin for years. He is a well-known anthropologist in the area, where he has made surveys on Aboriginals on both sides of the border. Years ago he fell on our radar as he wrote an article about the Templars. Afterwards he devoted to other issues and we lost the trail. Of the other two I have no news, we have not been able to relate them with anyone in the city.”

“ What data did the shaman give?” Asked Yaroslav.

“ What Hernandez told me was this ....”

Jorge began to narrate the information extracted from the murdered shaman indicating that it was basically the same that he had given Tschudin and his friends.

“ .... So I think that they are probably in the area west of Lake Mascardi."

“Is it a large area?”

“ Yes, but we can narrow it. For this purpose I have some informants of my own. Tomorrow we will go to the area, and there we´ll talk with some people who possibly have seen Tschudin and the others and with whom they have probably spoken."

The two men made plans to meet the next morning in another inconspicuous place. Finally the so-called Jorge asked.

“ About Hernandez and the other ... will their bodies appear?”

“ If they ever find them, no one will be able to relate the bodies to the shaman or us. The Police will think like you said in a matter related to drugs. Ah ! I need a car, I'm using the one that Hernandez and his accomplice had rented and it may be recognized.”

“Tomorrow I will bring a "clean" car and will leave it to you until you complete your task. It is four-wheel drive.”

“ Well, I'll clean all traces of the one I have now and abandon it somewhere.”

Yaroslav and Jorge left the teahouse in different moments. The Russian had a deep dislike for his informant; his features, his belly, his oiled hair and large gold ring on his pinkie were disgusting. He wondered if he would ever have to eliminate him too, but the orders of the Commander were strict: the man was a useful contact as he had objectively proved warning Yaroslav of Hernandez’ excesses.

Jorge led the SUV to the site located south of Lake Hess. Once there he parked the car behind some trees and walked the two hundred meters that separated the place from the Gendarmerie post. Yaroslav waited for him in the car for half an hour. When as he saw Jorge coming accompanied by a gendarme in green uniforms he took his Glock in hand but did not c**k it yet. Soon the paths of the two men separated, and the policeman went to a small cottage, possibly a tools storeroom. Jorge waited until he disappeared before returning to the van.

“ They went to the Lake Roca, near here, and then they were to follow the course of the Expedicionarios Creek.” Said Jorge without waiting for the obvious question. He drew a map of the glove compartment and showed Yaroslav the way.

“ Can you get the men who spoke about?”

“ Yes, they are on their way from Chile. I do not want to use locally known people. Their lack of experience in the area will be offset by one of my men, who will act as a guide. His name is Hernan and I fully trust him.”

“ Are they people of action?”

“ Yes, I will not lie to you, Yaroslav. They are people from the underworld. You must treat them with an iron hand but I do not think that's a problem for you.”

Yaroslav smiled as if he had received a compliment. He did not like Jorge, but did not question his effectiveness.

Amalric came to the cabin where Heribert lived. Since the members of the Order clashed with the need to perpetuate their families in their new American habitat they had shelved celibacy many generations ago, and even the Comendador had numerous children of various ages, some of which were around the house. One alerted Heribert who went out to meet the young man with open arms. There was between them a certain kinship due to the partial unavoidable inbreeding practiced inside the Brotherhood. The children also received the youth with joy.

“ How are you dear boy?” Heribert asked, and without giving him a chance to answer added. “Come, we will drink something hot in the house.”

Rosaura, the Comendador ´s wife welcomed equally warmly the newcomer; the reception ceremony, sober and Spartan, was however emotional for the affections put into play.

In the spacious living of the Comendador's house, only closed place in the whole community apt for a meeting, group of people were gathered including Heribert, his two elder sons who held the degree of squires, the Chevalier Sant Just, and the Sergeants Arnaldo, Bernard and Lodovico. They formed a kind of committee taking day by day resolutions when a crisis arose. Major decisions were taken however by the assembly, which met only in open spaces, the last one a few days before and for the same purpose of the issue that was now summoning them.

Amalric had made his detailed statement and now Heribert was making a summary.

“ Ultimately travelers seem to be what they claim to be, scientists and not looters. They are educated and skilled in ethnological themes. Besides they do not appear to carry weapons, and received Amalric with no major precautions. There do not appear to be an imminent danger to us, but there may be things they have not told us. This Tschudin years ago wrote an article about the Templars in Patagonia ...” Thereupon Heribert pulled out a crumpled newspaper clipping from a Rio n***o.

“... and we think that he is still interested in the subject. Besides, it is puzzling that Tschudin bid farewell using our motto Dieu le veut. No doubt there was an implicit message in it.”

“ What attitude do you recommend then? “ Asked Sant Just.

“ Follow in their footsteps, and to interview them when they approach, it is best to let them meet the purpose that brought them here and then leave without problems.”

“ Listen .... there is a horse galloping…” interrupted one of Heribert´s children. “… and it is approaching.”

Then a little boy came and told Heribert.

“ Dad, Sergeant Hughes is coming.”

They received the newcomer and offered him to drink and let him sit since he looked exhausted. When he had regularized his breath, he said without preliminaries.

“ As you know, my cousin Ramón is sergeant of the Gendarmerie. He is one of us, and although because of his job he remains outside of our activities his heart is in the right side. He just came today to my house to warn me, that two days after the Swiss and the young couple were in the outpost arrived a certain Saiegh, a merchant from Bariloche known to be in dirty businesses, and met the head of the detachment alone. Ramón could hear part of what they talked about the travelers. It seems that Bernardez, the detachment head, had sent one of his trusted men to follow the travelers and gave this information to Saiegh. Not only that, my cousin could glimpse that the trader had left his car away from the outpost, and there was another unknown man inside it.”

A silence that followed lasted several minutes; everyone expected Heribert to resume and guide the conversation.

“ This confronts us with a new situation.” Said the Comendador. “ And one far more complicated. We know from our own experience that the head of the outpost is an unreliable man. I'll get in touch with our people in town to find out who this Saiegh is , and if there are foreign people in Bariloche. Based on that information we´ll take a decision regarding the travelers. We must not forget that the Knights Templar Order was created especially for protection of pilgrims to the Holy Land. The protection of innocent travelers is precisely the raison d'être of our Holy Confraternity."

“ Wise words, Friar Heribert ...”Said Sant- Just.“... but we must reconcile the general function of the Templars with the specific mission of our local Commandry, which has the sacred duty of preserving the most precious relics of hostile hands.”

“ What do you propose, Friar Sant Just.” Heribert said.

“ At the same time that we protect the travelers from potential or real snares, we must keep them away from sensitive sites of our own Holy Land.”

“ Good proposal.” Admitted the old man. “We will try to carry it out when we meet with them. I hope they will attend the appointment made with Amalric.”

Heribert observed at the audience; the consensus was evident.

“ Well, brothers ...”He said "... for the moment we close the session. I´ll summon you again when necessary, perhaps at short notice, so I request you to be available.”

Teresa, Marcelo and Emil continued their march, ignorant of the subtle plot that destiny was weaving around them. Although they knew that unscrupulous adventurers and murderers could be on their trail, they did not suspect that their itinerary was known by them and that as a consequence a group of thugs was hastily gathering to pursue them. Nor were they aware of the organization of Templar descendants that besides trying to protect them while they were in their territory, was seeking to divert their way to prevent them from finding objects and places of sacred nature for the Confraternity.

Powerful forces were plotting an inexorable path of uncertain and worrying future, while the threads of destiny were woven by anonymous and feverish hands. A leaden sky, with threats of rain and snow loomed over our travelers, negatively influencing their psyche as a warning of the weft hanging over them.