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Sebastian trembled but said nothing. He couldn’t believe this was happening. The Swiss Guard owed their allegiance to the pope, not to anyone else. Yet they followed Murani like he was the pope.

“Where’s the Book?” Murani demanded.

Sebastian shook his head. “I don’t know. If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

A nervous tic flared to life under Murani’s right eye. “Careful. I’m not going to suffer rebellion quietly. I’ll bury you here if I need to.”

“So you’re going to add murder to your list of atrocities?”

“Too late. It’s already been added long ago,” Murani said coldly. “All I can do at this point is compound my work. And it’s not murder when I take a life pursuing God’s purposes.”

“This isn’t God’s work.”

“You don’t recognize it as God’s work,” Murani said. “I do.”

“I won’t help you.”

Murani smiled. “I don’t need your help,” he snarled. He raised his voice. “Professor Lourds.”

Lourds stumbled forward across the stone floor when one of the Swiss Guards shoved him forward. He noticed then how worn the stone was between the large carved murals. Thousands of years ago, he realized, people had spent a lot of time walking between these images.

“Come here,” Murani ordered.

Reluctantly, Lourds approached the cardinal. He’d seen the conversation between Murani and Father Sebastian, but he hadn’t been able to hear it over the throbbing generators in the next room. But he could tell from the expressions on both men’s faces that neither of them was happy with anything that had been said.

Murani gestured at the image carved in stone before him. “Do you know what this is?”

Lourds looked at the stone and thought that maybe the cardinal was trying to trick him. The image was stark. There was no mistaking what it was.

“This is Atlantis.” Lourds gestured with both hands, since they were bound together, at the ziggurat. “That’s the Tower of Babel. They were building it to ascend to Heaven and be with God.”

“Yes,” Murani said. He directed Lourds’s attention to the sections of stone that were covered with the same language that was on all the instruments. The picture, though, was different. Two men and a woman were shown in the forest with animals around them. “Can you read this?”

Lourds studied the writing for a moment. He was aware of Father Sebastian’s intense gaze on him.

“Don’t help him do this,” the old priest said softly. “You don’t know what he intends to—”

Uncoiling like a striking snake, Murani struck Sebastian in the face with the back of his hand. Sebastian cried out, staggered, and dropped to one knee. Blood streamed from his nose and split lips.

Some of the Swiss Guards started to come forward, including a young man with a scar on his face who looked particularly upset. Only the barked commands from men who were evidently their superiors held them in place. Obviously whatever agreement existed within the group meant different things to different members. The Swiss Guards weren’t all of the same mind.

Lourds didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. One thing he did know—all the Swiss Guards were armed. A rebellion amongst them could have massive casualties, and bystanders weren’t likely to be spared. He decided that setting them against each other wasn’t a sound plan right now. Maybe later, if he got desperate.

“Can you read this?” Murani asked.

Lourds examined the text. “I don’t know. I just learned how to translate this language last night.”

“What does this say?”

Glancing at the man, Lourds wondered if Murani could read the inscription.

A smile curved Murani’s thin lips. “Let me paraphrase this section for you. After God created the Heaven and the Earth, after the oceans and the skies, when He finally created man, and woman from his rib shortly thereafter, He sent down His son to walk with Adam and Eve.”

“That can’t be right,” Lourds said. During the whole recital Murani hadn’t looked at the inscription.

“It’s right,” Murani replied.

Lourds turned his attention from Murani to the story written in the stone. Even allowing for mistakes and misinterpretation, that was what the stone recorded.

“But that’s wrong,” Lourds said. “The Bible states that Jesus was born to Mary thousands of years later, and that He was God’s only Son.”

“That’s what the Church would have you believe,” Murani agreed. “That’s just one of the secrets they’ve protected all these years. God had two Sons. Two. God sent both His Sons to earth. Mankind killed them both.”

Lourds looked at Father Sebastian.

Sebastian’s silence was eloquent.

“If you can read this, why do you need me?” Lourds asked Murani.

“Because I can’t read it,” the cardinal answered. “I only know what the story deals with. I know only part of the secret. I need you to tell me the rest. God’s first Son came to earth, to the Garden of Eden, and He brought a wondrous gift: the Book of Knowledge.” Murani smiled. “It wasn’t a tree or a fruit at all. That was another thing the Church hid. It was a Book. That Book is God’s Word and it has the power to reshape our reality.” He paused. “It was that Book that destroyed Atlantis.”

CHAPTER

23

ATLANTIS DIG SITE

CÁDIZ, SPAIN

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009

C

arefully making her way through the shadows, Natasha crept up to the side of the hill where the hurricane fence butted up against the rock. The cave’s throat blossomed light only a few feet away.

Gary followed her. She was thankful for lax security. If anyone had been truly listening, she was certain they would have heard Gary as he stumbled through the dark. He stayed behind her and sucked in air.

Hunkered down against the hillside, Natasha took out the sat-phone she’d gotten in Cádiz after she’d landed. She’d arranged it through the same black market dealer from whom she procured the two 9 mm pistols she carried in the pockets of her trench coat.

“This next part is going to get dangerous,” Natasha told Gary as she punched buttons on the sat-phone. “You might want to reconsider coming along.”

Gary looked tense. He swallowed hard and shook his head. “I can’t let you go on alone.”

Natasha stared at him for a moment and saw his resolve reflected in his eyes. She nodded as she pressed the TALK button. She stared out at the coastline where the retaining wall held back the thunderous surf. The noise of the breakers striking the wall rolled continuously over the area.

It took a moment for the call to go through the international operator.

Ivan Chernovsky answered on the first ring, however. “Chernovsky.”

“It’s Natasha.”

“So, then. You are still alive.”

“For the moment,” Natasha admitted.

“I had been wondering,” Chernovsky told her. “It appears that Professor Lourds and other members of your entourage have been busy.”

“Somewhat.”

“Running gun battles in Odessa, Germany, and West Africa. You’ve had quite the itinerary.”

“I knew you would know about Odessa, but how did you know about the others?”

Chernovsky sighed. “I have been answering many calls from other countries about my partner. Our supervisor feels that I should know everything about you. He put those people directly in touch with me. After telling me to deny everything and that my job hangs in the balance, of course.”

“I apologize. I never intended for this to cause you problems.”

“Eh.”

Natasha could imagine Chernovsky shrugging in his office.

“We’ll get through this, Natasha. We always do. So where are you? The reporters in London seem to think you’re not there anymore. Many people have wanted to speak to Lourds, and the corporation that employs Miss Crane has announced that she’s gone missing.”

“Cádiz,” Natasha answered. “We’re in Cádiz.”

Chernovsky was silent for a moment. “So it was true? Atlantis was there?”

“I don’t know. Lourds was abducted in London. I escaped before they could catch me. I knew they would bring him here, and they did.”

“Why?”

“Because of the instruments.”

“The musical instruments Miss Crane alluded to in her interview.”

“Yes.”

“Is there any truth in that?”

Natasha hesitated for a time. She thought again of Yuliya and how interested she’d been in the ancient cymbal she’d been working on.

“I hope so,” she finally answered.

“But you called about something else,” Chernovsky said.

“Things have gotten more complicated here. Evidently the Roman Catholic Church has been hiding more than they’ve been showing. Lourds and the woman have been taken into the dig site by the people who captured them.”

“What are they after?”

“I don’t know.”

“Does Lourds?”

“Possibly.”

Chernovsky paused, and Natasha heard the rasp of his hand across his beard stubble. She knew that if he hadn’t been shaving, he had been under tremendous stress.

“He must know, Natasha. There’s no other reason for these men to kidnap him and bring him here.”

“That makes sense. But I do not know what he knows.”

“What do you need me to do?”

Natasha smiled a little. “At this point, I’m wanted for questioning, yes?”

“Yes.” Chernovsky’s reply was cautious. “In several places. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking,” Natasha said, “that you should notify the local authorities and let them know that a potential terrorist threat is in the area.”

“You?”

“Me.”

Chernovsky was silent.

“Ivan,” Natasha said, “we don’t have a lot of time.”

“What you’re suggesting is very dangerous. Especially for you.”

“I know.” Natasha watched the front of the cave. So far she hadn’t seen any guards at the cave entrance. Trucks and mobile buildings sat outside the cave mouth. No one appeared to be guarding those, either. “But I need to save Lourds, and I need to do it right now. I’m out of choices. I need help. And I think things already are dangerous. If what Lourds believes is right, whatever destroyed Atlantis is still here.”

“After thousands of years underwater?”

“So he says. The Catholic Church is here. In force, I might add. And some of them have been pursuing us all along.” Natasha studied the fence. “I have to go. Tell me that you’ll make the call.”

“I will.”

“And wish me good luck.”

“Good luck, Natasha.”

Natasha thanked him and closed the phone. Then she stood.

“I didn’t understand a word you were saying,” Gary said.

“I called my partner. He’s going to call the Spanish authorities and get them to intercede.”

“Cool. Then we just stay out here and keep watch?” Gary seemed happy with that.

“No. We go inside. Now. The men he is sending, they’re going to be looking for us. We could still be killed, possibly by friendly fire.”

Gary frowned.

“I told you this wouldn’t be easy. Or safe.” Natasha looked at him. “You should stay behind.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m in.”

“Then follow me.”

Natasha turned back to the fence and climbed over it.

Lourds read the inscriptions aloud as he walked. He held a powerful flashlight to scan the language. Even though he was operating at gunpoint, lecturing to an audience headed by a madman, part of him still felt proud of his ability to decipher the long-dead language.

He hadn’t had a large section of the language to work with on the instruments’ inscriptions, but the translations had proved fairly simple and straightforward after he’d broken it. He didn’t recognize all the words in front of him now, but he was able to make educated guesses to fill in the gaps in his knowledge. His voice sounded loud in the walkway between the pictographs.

“ ‘Adam and Eve and their children grew to be selfish even in the Garden of Eden. With the world laid at their feet, they wanted more. The First Son walked with them and tried to teach them the ways of God, but He didn’t teach them all of God’s holy knowledge, and they faulted Him for it. In the end, they decided to take the knowledge for themselves.’ ”

The next image was disturbing. It showed a man in a deep stream beneath a waterfall. Men on both banks held him from the shore with long poles.

“ ‘Adam’s sons with the darkest hearts took the First Son to the stream that fed Eden and drowned Him. This is what caused God to drive them from Eden and to later drown the wickedness in the world.’ ”

On the next stone, men held the Book of Knowledge high in obvious exultation.

“ ‘Adam’s children took the Book of Knowledge. They celebrated their triumph, but they did not admit their ignorance. Though they studied the Book, they could not understand it. Three days after His death, the First Son rose again.’ ”

The next scene showed the First Son dressed in robes and a glow around his head as he walked through the forest filled with cowering men and women. Around them, animals poised to attack.

“ ‘When the First Son returned, He carried His Father’s wrath. No weapon made by Adam’s children pierced him. No stone bruised Him. Adam’s children lay in fear before Him. He—’ ” Lourds hesitated as he tried to decipher the word.

“ ‘He alienated the animals from Adam’s children,’ ” Father Sebastian said.

Lourds glanced at the priest. “You can read this?”

Sebastian nodded.

“Where did you learn the language?”

The old man shook his head. “I’ve never seen it before I came here.”

“You’re a linguist?”

“No. I’m a historian. Languages have never been my strength. I can barely manage Latin.”

“But you can read this?”

Sebastian nodded.

“How do you explain your ability to read it?”

“I can’t.”

Lourds regarded the old man curiously. There’s no way I’m going to start believing in divine intervention at this point. But how else could he explain what the old priest claimed? Lourds doubted Sebastian was lying.

Turning back to the last image in the series, Lourds said, “ ‘Adam, Eve, and all their children were driven from the Garden of Eden.’ ”

The image on the stone looked a lot like the interpretation in several illustrated Bibles Lourds had seen. A winged angel with a flaming sword blocked the way back. But this time the First Son was with the angel.

“ ‘In his righteous anger, God left the Book of Knowledge among men,’ ” Lourds went on. “ ‘He gave warning that if it was found, it was to be kept—unread—until He took it back from this world.’ ”

“But the Book of Knowledge wasn’t lost,” Sebastian said. “One of Adam’s descendants hid it for generations. He brought his family out here, to found Atlantis and begin the civilization that would draw God’s greatest wrath.”

“How do you know that?” Lourds asked. At that moment, he was so lost in the excitement of deciphering the story that he hardly noticed Murani and the armed warriors surrounding him.

“Because that story is here.” Sebastian led the way through the stones. His flashlight whipped over other stones with more writing.

Lourds followed, and Murani and the Swiss Guard trailed behind.

Gary’s heart banged inside his chest as he followed Natasha.

Mate, you’re going to get yourself killed. You should drag your bleeding arse right on out of here.