Shrouded in mystery, Egyptologists were divided over the precise meaning of the Benben stone. Some claimed it symbolized the first lump of earth enlivened by the blessed rays of the sun. A few thought it was a perch for the Bennu bird, the mythological Phoenix that engendered the creative process. Then there were those who claimed the pyramidal stone symbolized a drop of semen that fell from the god Atum’s penis when he masturbated the world into existence. Indeed, the Coffin Texts intimated that the Benben stone had magical powers, although he suspected that the ancient object had more to do with technology than the occult.
A key to unlock scientific knowledge that had been lost eons ago.
Whatever it was, the Benben stone had supposedly been smuggled into Syria in the twelfth century BC during a popular uprising against the Pharaoh Merenptah. Where it promptly disappeared in the desert sands.
Could that be the reason why the Cathars referred to the pyramidal stone as the Lapis Exillis, the Stone in Exile? The same appellation used by Wolfram von Eschenbach to describe the Grail.
Overwhelmed with tantalizing questions for which he had few answers, Cædmon lifted the golden stone from the altar and deposited it in his rucksack. Unfortunately, he couldn’t take both the Isis idol and the Grail. It would be difficult enough worming his back through the tunnel with just the one relic. The Grail was the prize. He could retrieve the Isis figurine at a later date.
As he turned his back on the altar, Cædmon was guiltily put in mind of Prometheus forced to steal fire from the gods. An act for which the mighty Zeus had Prometheus tethered to a rock while an eagle dined on his liver. Day after agonizing day.
Penance for his sins.
60
Rue des Saint-Pères, Paris
0130 hours
‘Is the Taser really necessary?’
‘As soon as Uhlemann realizes that he’s been ambushed, chances are he’ll go ape shit,’ Finn replied bluntly. ‘So, yeah. Absolutely necessary.’ Taking Kate by the arm, he ushered her across Rue des Saints-Pères.
At that late hour, there were few motorists on the narrow street and even fewer pedestrians.
‘Maybe we should try to contact Cædmon,’ Kate suggested in a worried tone of voice. ‘What if he found the Grail? Uhlemann might be more amenable to turning over the Dark Angel if –’
‘I’m only gonna say this one time, Kate: I’m not going to jeopardize my mission because of a half-baked, half-ass theory concocted by your harebrained buddy.’ Finn shot her a meaningful glance, willing her compliance. Not altogether certain that he’d secured it, he checked the palm pilot. ‘Looks like the Benz is driving around the block. Which means that we have approximately forty seconds to insert.’
They dodged behind a tall topiary tree, one of a pair that framed the entrance to Ivo Uhlemann’s apartment building. Stowing the palm pilot in his Go Bag, Finn removed the Taser. Purchased under the table at a military supply store in Montparnasse, the stun gun was the most powerful weapon in his arsenal.
‘What if Doctor Uhlemann’s chauffeur is armed?’
‘Don’t worry,’ he said reassuringly, needing Kate to hang tight. ‘When Uhlemann’s chauffeur walks around the Mercedes to open the rear passenger door, I’ll neutralize the bastard before he can draw a weapon. Because of the dark tint on the Mercedes’ windows, Uhlemann will most likely be unaware of what’s happening.’ He reached into his Go Bag and removed a roll of duct tape and a pair of wire cutters. Handing both items to Kate, he said, ‘After I zap the driver, you’re to cut the wires on the Taser darts.’
Just then, a graphite grey Mercedes sedan pulled up to the kerb. Standing in the shadows, they stared at the faint puffs of diesel fumes emitted from the exhaust pipe of the idling vehicle.
The driver’s side door opened. A large man dressed in a black chauffeur’s suit got out of the Benz.
Kate gasped.
Well, what do ya know? It’s ol’ Cue Ball.
‘Stay on my six,’ Finn whispered as he stepped forward, the Taser tucked out of sight behind his leg.
‘Hey, Baldy. How’s it hanging?’
On hearing Finn’s voice, the chauffer stopped in mid-stride.
Having caught the big bastard off guard, Finn whipped his right arm into a firing position and pulled the trigger. Two darts, each connected to a metal wire, were ejected. A split-second later, the chauffeur began to convulsively twitch as 50,000 volts of electric current travelled from the stun gun to his chest. A crackling sound accompanied the graceless jive.
The instant that he released the trigger, the other man lurched forward. Like a felled tree in the forest.
Catching the heavy bastard in his arms, Finn propped him against the side of the Mercedes. Kate, wire cutters in hand, snipped the connection. Finn patted him down, smiling as he removed a Heckler & Koch Mark 23 from the other man’s waistband.
Shoving the Mark 23 into his Go Bag, he removed a second cartridge and quickly reloaded the Taser. ‘Okay, one more fish to fry.’
‘Funny,’ Kate muttered under her breath as she opened the rear passenger door.
A white-haired man stuck his head through the opening, clearly unaware that he was in any danger. Still holding the goon against the Benz with his left arm, Finn raised his right and pulled the trigger.
A frenetic pulse of electricity arced through the air.
A shocked expression on his face, Uhlemann writhed gracelessly. Completely incapacitated, he fell backward into the Mercedes.
Kate ran around to the other side of the vehicle, opened the rear door and dragged Uhlemann across the leather seat, giving Finn enough room to shove the chauffeur into the Benz.
‘Quick! Hand me the tape.’
Roll in hand, Finn ripped off a long piece with his teeth and strapped Uhlemann’s hands together. That done, he bound the older man’s ankles and finished by slapping a piece of tape over his mouth.
‘Time to boogie,’ he told Kate, relieved that the operation had gone down without a hitch.
‘Aren’t you going to truss his hands and feet?’ Kate asked, gesturing to the unconscious chauffeur.
‘Nope.’ Opening the front passenger door, Finn hopped into the Mercedes. ‘I plan on cutting the big bastard loose as soon as we get to the next stop.’
Kate, the designated driver, got behind the wheel. Noticing that he’d exchanged the Taser for the HK Mark 23, her eyes opened wide. ‘Finn, I don’t think you should be brandishing –’
‘I know what I’m doing,’ he interjected. ‘Now, let’s hit it.’
Looking none too pleased, Kate pulled away from the kerb and headed down the street, turning right at the corner and driving around the block to Boulevard St Germain. As per the mission op that Finn had earlier devised, they would cross the Seine at Pont de Sully then proceed to Place de la Bastille.
Finn popped the magazine from the pistol. Seeing twelve .45 bullets, a full mag, he smiled. Beautiful. He next pulled the slide a fraction, just far enough to glimpse the chambered bonus round. His smile widened. He always liked the heft and feel of a Mark 23, the sidearm carried by most of the Special Forces. It was a good, reliable piece. Of course, the last time he used one, it’d been blown out of his hand by a trigger-happy Syrian.
‘I think the chauffeur’s coming to,’ Kate announced anxiously a few moments later when a huge bald head suddenly appeared in the rear-view mirror.
Twisting at the waist, Finn peered over the back of his seat at the black-suited chauffeur. ‘ That is a wicked broken nose,’ he remarked smugly as he appraised his handiwork. Like any man, he took pride in a job well done.
Clearly disorientated, the chauffeur turned his head from side to side. At seeing his employer slumped against the seat, his face contorted into an ugly grimace. ‘Du verdammter arschficker! You killed Herr Doktor Uhlemann!’