"No. Yes. I'm not sure."
"You don't need to analyze it," Adam said. "In time, it will work its way into your life."
"I'm not religious," Nick said.
"You don't have to be religious to experience what just happened. The intensity will fade, but you will never forget. That is what is important."
"I feel different," Nick said.
"I told you things would change if you saw the Grail."
The drawer in the compartment divider slid open.
"Please," Adam said.
Nick put the box in the drawer. It slid closed and in a moment opened again. The box was still there.
"You don't want to take it?" Nick asked.
"That is not the same box," Adam said. "It appears to be identical and if it is scanned, it will look the same. But if someone attempts to open it by force it will break into pieces, along with the cup inside it. Give it back to Director Hood. There's no need to tell him it's not the one you brought back from Syria."
Nick held it up. "It looks exactly the same."
"Yes it does, doesn't it? With that you will avoid a lot of unanswerable questions and satisfy the needs of your president to know that the Grail has been recovered."
Nick thought for a moment. "I don't know what to tell Selena."
"You'll know what to say when the time comes."
The car came to a halt. In a moment the passenger door opened.
"Goodbye, Nick."
He was back in front of his building. Everything seemed bathed in light, brighter, clearer to him. He got out of the car. The chauffeur closed the door and got back in.
Nick stood on the sidewalk and watched the Cadillac disappear in the distance.
NOTES
Many of the places described in these pages are real. Sumela monastery is now a tourist attraction. Mor Gabriel is still a functioning Syriac monastery and is under immense pressure from the Turkish government to give up most of its property.
Darraya is under siege at the time of this writing and may have fallen by the time this book reaches your hands. The hidden library is real and was created by students as a place of refuge and learning with materials salvaged from the ruins of what was once a beautiful city. As far as I know, the library is not located under the ruins of a Syriac church, nor is there a hidden crypt containing a mysterious box at that location.
The legend of the Grail is woven into the collective fabric of the Christian West. Whether the cup exists or not, it is an enduring symbol of the power of something greater than ourselves that exists beyond our limited perception. The Grail can point the way to healing of mind and spirit, regardless of our individual religious beliefs.
The story of King Arthur, his Knights, and their quest for the Grail emerged in the Middle Ages. It was a dark time in history. Life expectancy was short. Violence and death were always waiting, whether you were rich or poor. Nothing was certain, nothing was secure.
The tale of King Arthur and the Grail is a spiritual teaching, encouraging us to seek the nurturing source of spirit. It was also darn good entertainment back then, sitting around the fire and listening to the minstrel. The story has it all. Love, hate, courageous deeds, fearsome enemies, burdensome duties, incest, betrayal and lust; all can be found in the legend. All of it centered around the quest for redemption and healing.
I hope you have enjoyed this book.
Alex Lukeman
August, 2016
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My wife, Gayle, as always.
Thanks to Neil Jackson for another excellent cover.
Finally, thanks to you, the reader.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Lukeman writes action/adventure thrillers featuring a covert intelligence unit called the PROJECT. Alex is a former Marine and psychotherapist and uses his experience of the military and human nature to inform his work. He likes riding old, fast motorcycles and playing guitar, usually not at the same time. You can email him at alex@alexlukeman.com. He loves hearing from readers and promises he will get back to you.
http://www.alexlukeman.com