‘During this time, the early 530s, I believe,’ Lourds said.
‘532,’ Joachim supplied, then smiled. ‘It is as you say. A lot of rote work.’
‘There were a lot of social associations called demes. They supported the different teams that competed in chariot racing and other contests.’
‘You mean like bookies?’ Cleena asked.
‘Nothing so small,’ Olympia said. ‘Think of the demes like long lines of political parties and street gangs. It wasn’t just about the sporting events. They actively pursued social issues of the times and fought against those they didn’t like. Battles often broke out in the streets between the different groups and the emperor’s soldiers.’
‘To make matters worse,’ Lourds said, ‘many of those demes were patronized by Roman aristocrats. Several of them believed they deserved the throne more than Emperor Justinian, who currently held the throne. There was a riot in 531 that resulted in murder. Members of the Blues and Greens were arrested and held accountable. Most of them were hanged. However, early in 532…’ He looked at Joachim.
‘On the tenth of January, to be exact,’ Joachim said.
‘One of the Blues and one of the Greens managed to thwart their guards and flee into the crowd that had already formed to protest against the hangings. Already stretched thin between internal strife and negotiations with Persia, Justinian elected to rescind the death sentences and give the men life sentences.’
‘I assume they didn’t take it,’ Cleena said.
‘No,’ Lourds agreed. ‘The chariot races took place at the Hippodrome next to the palace and the Church of the Holy Wisdom. During the course of the day, violence broke out and swelled into a riot that lasted five days and left the second church burned to the ground.’
‘And still the Joy Scroll remained hidden,’ Joachim said.
‘Hidden or lost?’ Lourds countered.
‘Hidden only. But, as I said, the Brotherhood decided to limit the number of people who knew the Joy Scroll’s hiding place.’
‘Why?’
‘Because the city seemed to be in chaos. There were enemies outside the gates and unrest throughout the streets. It was feared that if anyone knew the power of the scroll and its whereabouts, there would be no stopping those who came after it. The Elders locked themselves away in the underground tunnels. Those that were chosen never again saw the light of day.’
‘That’s insane,’ Cleena whispered.
Lourds didn’t disagree, but he knew that the practice wasn’t unique.
‘Ultimately that proved their undoing, didn’t it?’ Lourds asked. ‘Too few people with the knowledge, and all of them grouped in one place.’
‘They did the best they were able,’ Joachim said. ‘They thought what they were doing was the best and safest thing to do.’
‘The Brotherhood just hadn’t counted on the Fourth Crusade,’ Lourds said.
‘Maybe I’m misunderstanding here,’ Cleena said, ‘but weren’t the Crusades fought between the Muslims and the Christians?’
‘Yes,’ Lourds said, ‘and no. At the outset, the Fourth Crusade was supposed to be an invasion of Muslim Jerusalem by way of Egypt. Instead, The Roman Catholic Church chose to invade and sack Constantinople. The siege and battles lasted five years. At the end of that time, much of Constantinople lay in ruins. Thousands of citizens were dead in the street or displaced from their homes. Everything of value that the crusaders could find was taken.’
‘But they didn’t get the scroll,’ Joachim said quietly.
Lourds looked at the man. ‘You’re sure about that?’
‘The world still stands and spins in her orbit, Professor Lourds. That’s how I know. Once that scroll reaches the wrong hands, all we know will be lost. I promise you that.’
‘What happened to the Elder brothers?’
‘They stayed in the tunnels below the church. Their guards were slain, but they managed to lock themselves into a small sanctuary. They starved or thirsted to death before anyone could reach them. Much treasure was found, or I should say lost in those tunnels where the king’s soldiers tried to hide it, but the Joy Scroll remains.’
For a moment, Lourds thought about everything Joachim had revealed. Then he tapped the book in front of him with a forefinger.
‘Where’d you get this?’ he asked.
‘Most of the documents in that book were written after the Elders were known to be dead. Some of the papers were copied from notes they had managed to write and leave in a crack in the ceiling of the room where they died.’
Images of the abandoned monks filled Lourds’ mind. What must it have been like to be closed up in a tomb while thirsting and starving to death?
And all you had to do to be free was share one secret.
Lourds didn’t think he could have done it. Then again, he hadn’t thought he would be able to steal the book from Qayin and his followers either.
Yet he had.
‘I’ve been patient so far, Professor Lourds, out of respect for what you have done and gone through, and because my sister believes in you,’ Joachim said.
‘I told you if anyone can do this, Thomas would be the one,’ Olympia said in Turkish.
‘English,’ Cleena stated. ‘Speak English for the slow kids.’
Olympia repeated her comment in English, which only drew a snort from Cleena.
‘I need you to prove to me that you can help us.’ Joachim’s dark gaze held Lourds. ‘Can you do that?’
Lourds nodded. ‘I can, but first I need you to do one more thing for me.’
Joachim leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest, obviously displeased.
Ignoring the man, Lourds opened the book to the page with the rubbing. He indicated the image.
‘This. I need to know where you got this.’
Joachim shook his head. ‘There’s nothing there.’
‘You’ve found nothing there.’ Lourds leaned back in his own chair. ‘I will.’
‘What makes you so sure?’
‘This rubbing was taken from a stone in the room where the older monks gave their lives to protect the secret of the Joy Scroll.’
Olympia turned to her brother. ‘Is that true?’
Holding his gaze steadily on Lourds, Joachim didn’t answer.
‘Joachim?’
Finally, Joachim nodded. ‘That was where it was found. But you could only be guessing that.’
Lourds turned back a few pages and tapped again. ‘This is one of the pages that were also found in that room. Or am I still just guessing?’
Joachim stared at the page, then back at Lourds. ‘How do you know this?’
‘Because I can read this page now.’ Lourds couldn’t help smiling at his obvious success, especially when Joachim’s eyes widened still further. ‘Would you like to know what it says?’
18
Central Business District
King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia
19 March 2010
The hotel suite was nothing more than an overly comfortable prison cell. Webster knew that and barely tolerated the situation. He wanted to leave the room just to prove that he could. And maybe he wanted to push Prince Khalid to see how far the young man would go.
Although there were no armed guards outside Webster’s door, they were posted at all the entrances to the building. He didn’t doubt that the room was bugged as well. If he had been in charge, he would’ve had the room wired for sound and video. That was why he was using one of the CIA’s white noise generators to cover his phone call.
For the last few hours, he had plied himself with liquor to take the edge off, and consoled himself with Vicky DeAngelo’s carnal attentions. For an older woman, she was a demanding and generous lover. Webster had been surprised, but his mind had focused on the promise brewing in Saudi Arabia and the threat building in Istanbul. In the end, though, Vicky proved to be as much like him as he had believed her to be. Once the fighting had broken out in the streets, she had deserted his bed and returned to her room and her computer to take control of the reporters still loyal to her within the country. News streamed from those reporters on the ground, but Prince Khalid’s soldiers worked hurriedly to find them and shut them down. Some of them had already been killed, but Prince Khalid hadn’t approached Vicky about the matter.