The Keeper's Cup: A Controversial Archaeological Thriller

by Ken Fry

  Her voice descended to a whisper. “What I saw vanished… but it was a cup of sorts, with a lid and seemingly made of wood. It was more felt than seen.”

  “The same for me,” Kelvin added.

  Their answers irritated him more. “What are you two on about? Why were you kneeling like you were in church and why did you prevent us from getting closer, Kelvin? More felt than seen? You must have seen something. You just never do those sorts of things, Miriam, all the time I have known you.”

  “I know, but it was the right thing to do. The story behind our mission I now know as true. Every part of it, as I’m sure Kelvin does also.” She looked hopefully in his direction.

  “It is true, Fergy.” Kelvin grasped his arm. “Believe us. There are things science can never explain. What is behind that glass is what we have come to look for. I know it with complete certainty. What I am about to tell you I have never revealed to a living soul, but it seems I must. Stories passed down to me from an ancient succession of Druid lineage, of which I am the present incumbent, talk of a cup and its Keeper. She was named Magda – the name we have seen written in that stone. They mention a chieftain, Arthwys and his woman Brianna, who was healed when she drank from a cup.”

  Fergal looked bemused. “So, you’re saying that whatever is inside that glass cage is this so-called healing cup?”

  Miriam interjected. “I’ve not heard that story before, but it seems so familiar, almost as if I have always known it.” She paused, raised her head and tears filled her eyes. “Judah and Sarah…” She was unable to finish her sentence.

  “It’s not the time, Miriam.” Across Kelvin’s face, for but a brief moment, an expression of deep and profound wisdom flickered.

  Fergal looked around uncertain of what to say or do. Events had moved away from his understanding. He felt awkward. “More wine, anybody?”

  Miriam took his cue. “Look, will you excuse me for a moment? I have to pay the local shop for the wine I brought and some groceries the other day. If I don’t pay, they could get grumpy. Won’t be long. You two have a chat while I’m gone. There are a few things I’m sure you need to sort out. See you soon. Don’t go away.” She gave a sharp turn and headed out of the door.

  There was an awkward silence between the two men. Their viewpoints were poles apart. Fergal broke the silence. “Let me start from a point I am familiar with. You mentioned a Druidic lineage. Are all these traditions passed down orally? Why weren’t they written down? It could all be a case of Chinese whispers. Over time, and from person to person, the story gets distorted far beyond the original truth.”

  Kelvin shrugged. “The Romans put paid to that. We were seen as a threat so they systematically killed off whom they could, and all our records were destroyed. The Christian elements around got blended in with pagan rites to form the religion we know today. You must know that.”

  “I know this. What about those runes and crucifixes on that altar? How do you explain that?”

  “This is not difficult, Fergy. It seems clear, based on what we have found, that Christianity appeared here long before the rest of Britain. The story of Yeshua, Mary Magdalene, their children, Judah, and Sarah, if true, which I now think it is, was clearly the prime cause. The story of Arthwys I have held dear. I don’t doubt that Miriam feels a bond with all this and the stories of Sarah. Their essence is as one, as is mine with her. Tracing her lineage back would be an interesting exercise. I sense we are both descendants of that time and people. During that time, many Celts and Druids were converted. The pantheon of Celtic Gods, the similar rituals and prayers were adopted and woven around Christ, his Mother Mary, and the Magdalene. The ideas were similar, but the old ways were never abandoned or totally absorbed. They just changed clothes. I am living proof of that. Miriam is extraordinary. She has experienced a direct link, proof positive of her connection with those times and Sarah.”

  “Whoa there, Kelvin. Are you serious?” The professor’s eyes were wide open almost as much as his jaw. “You’re actually suggesting she is a direct descendant of Mary Magdalene? No one is ever going to believe that! You’ve made a lot of wild suggestions there. Fantasies are made up of that sort of material.” Fergal took a huge intake of breath, shook his head, downed a large mouthful from his glass and stared incredulously back at Kelvin.

  There was a long silence between them and neither attempted to speak. Fergal was first to break the impasse.

  “Kelvin, what I’m going to say next may surprise you.”

  “What’s that?” Kelvin looked wary.

  “I’m keeping an open mind about all this. Something about it all doesn’t make scientific sense. Part of me rejects what you are saying as wishful and fanciful thinking – emotional hogwash. It’s a hope that you and Miriam want desperately to be true. Yet part of me won’t reject it entirely. There are clearly too many inexplicable occurrences, discoveries – or as you would say, synchronicity. The changes in Miriam are profound. Believe me, I’ve known her all my life and have never seen her like this, ever. She would have been the first to reject such theories as nonsense. She never does things lightly. In my own way, I trust and love her. For her to behave so, is I think, significant.”

  Kelvin visibly softened. He held out his hand and shook it with Fergal’s. “Thank you, Fergy. I am surprised and moved that you can admit the possibility. No more need be said. I respect you so much for your admission.”

  He looked at his watch. “Where’s she got to?”

  Kelvin leant back and relaxed. “She is probably giving us time to talk, don’t you think?”

  The professor took another drink. “She’s a clever lady. I’ll give her another ten minutes. If she hasn’t arrived, I’ll give her a call. Tell me, Kelvin… if we find more startling evidence, what do you think the Catholic Church, the Pope and etcetera are going to make of it all?”

  “They’ll panic, I guess. It will all be locked away in deep secret vaults.”

  “Exactly what I was thinking. I do really need to examine that altar and the glass structure and whatever may be inside it.”

  Kelvin shook his head. “I think only Miriam can agree to that. Let’s ask when she gets back.”

  The professor accepted Kelvins strange statement without dissent. They sat back and waited.

  60

  Inspector Rizzo awoke with a start. A shooting pain across his operation scar put paid to any further sleep. It was something he was told he would experience for the rest of his life. But it was a small price to pay for living.

  For a moment, he felt confused. His surroundings were different. Then he recalled he had changed hotels. He was now at the Crossways Hotel in Shepton Mallet. He had to change hotels fast to avoid Cracker and Vincenzo. His life would not have been safe, so he had checked out and was certain he hadn’t been noticed. It took a few moments to clear his head and decide what to do.

  He had to pressure his UK counterparts to speed up proceedings and report the attack on himself by an unidentified person – he had a suspect and an accomplice. The need to contact the professor was almost as paramount.

  He checked his Beretta. It was loaded and he had an extra three full magazines. “Ciò dovrebbe tenere a bada la feccia.” This should keep the scum at bay. The thought was reassuring.

  His mobile started to ring. He recognised his police phone number on the screen. Sostituto Commissario Romano was calling him. Romano was the Senior Inspector of the Polizia di Stato and in charge of all events. His voice was slow and calm.

  “Leonardo, I have news for you. Applying the latest DNA techniques from the US, forensics have discovered things which will concern you. We may need you back here. Your reports are extremely thorough. One of the three people you’re observing is back here in Rome – Cardinal Nicholas. A full imprint of DNA has now been translated, found on the chest of the dead Bishop Fisher. It matched Cardinal Nicholas’s DNA exactly. Alongside it, we have confirmed the other DNA from our old records. It was identified as Father Vincenzo’
s, his aide. You need to see these findings and I will email them over to you promptly. Be prepared to be called back from England. The whereabouts of the Cardinal is unknown right now, as his phone is not being used. We suspect he has a burner phone or two, but he can’t hide forever. He has a large following in his Order of the Holy Cross and Sword. That might prove a problem and he could use it as a hiding place. We don’t want to act immediately. We need your full input first before we do. We have also placed him on every airport passport control list. Diplomatic immunity will be waived. This was authorised by the Vatican, by Pope Adrian himself.”

  Rizzo punched the air with delight! Breakthrough! With their DNA confirmed, the charges could now be bundled and thrown at the suspects.

  “Commissario, this is what I have been waiting for. The two men here are highly dangerous and one, Daniel Cracker, used me as target practice. But as you can hear, I have survived. The paperwork should be ready in the next few days. I will have allocated UK escorts and when that is done, the two can be arrested and brought back to Italy and from there, we can find and arrest the cardinal. Wonderful news!”

  No sooner had he switched off when his phone rang again. It was a no number call.

  Who could it be? He picked up the call.

  It was Professor Christie.

  “I was about to call you, Professor. What can I do for you?”

  The professor sounded panicked. He spoke rapidly. “Inspector, where are you? I need you here urgently. There’s been a nasty development.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s Dr Miriam. She’s been kidnapped!”

  “What!”

  “Yes! You heard right. She managed to get a message to me before she was cut off. She sounded terrified. We need your help urgently. Where are you?”

  Rizzo paused briefly. Kidnappings were not new to him. He had been part of the team investigating the abduction of seventy-four-year-old Anna Maria Valdata, the wife of a construction billionaire. Kidnappings had long been part of Italy’s crime network. Such cases had to be carefully handled. Nervous kidnappers could easily snap and kill their victim. “Take it easy, Professor. I’ve changed hotels. I’m at the Crossways Hotel and Inn in Shepton Mallet. Give me thirty minutes to get to you. Say nothing to anybody and do nothing. I’m on my way.” He shut down the phone.

  Rizzo’s brain whirled. There were only two suspects on his list.

  Twenty minutes later, he screeched his car into the nearest and nearby Cathedral car park alongside The Green, a short walk to the hotel as it did not have its own. Ignoring the receptionist and her attempts to address him, he strode swiftly into the lounge area and spotted both men in a far corner. They had seen him approaching and both stood up and greeted him with very white and serious faces.

  Rizzo wasted no time. “Tell me everything you know and why haven’t you contacted your police?”

  “We don’t know where she is. We haven’t called the police as yet but wanted your advice and opinion first. Miriam is the key to our latest find. Without her, we cannot even open the door.”

  Rizzo looked baffled.” What are you on about, Professor? You will have to do better than that. Explain please.”

  Fergal looked over to Kelvin. “Tell him all, Kelvin. You’ll do better than me.”

  “Sit down, Inspector. This may take a while and try not to interrupt.”

  Kelvin began and started from the first day he had met both of them. He related everything he knew – the discoveries, the mystical events, the altercations with Vincenzo, the wolf sounds and not least of all, the Templar emblem on the doors that only she and himself were able to open. He moved on to the mysterious glass case and told the Inspector what it might be, and the effect it had on them all. “That’s about it, Inspector. Any thoughts?”

  Rizzo ran his hand through his dark hair. His blue eyes appeared dilated and there was an intense expression on his face. “Tutto sta inizando adare unsenso adesso!” he muttered with his head bent low. He looked up at them both. “It’s all beginning to make sense now. Let me explain. Pope Adrian, SOTA, Bishop Vincent and you and your team, are being used as tools by Cardinal Nicholas. His quest is to topple the Vatican with the help of his reactionary order of followers. If the miraculous cup you say you’ve found is truly authentic, Nicholas wouldn’t hesitate to use it to overthrow the entire Catholic Church, and as holder of the cup, proclaim his own doctrine as the one true faith. He’s now employing Father Vincenzo and the murderer, Daniel Cracker, to make sure what you find goes to him. There is little doubt from the latest DNA findings I have just received that both he and Vincenzo were part of the murder plot to dispose of the bishop. The pope, I fear, is also in his sights. Now, you must show me the place you found the doors. Undoubtedly, she will be taken there to get hold of the discovery. Somehow, Vincenzo and Cracker heard of your find and what happened when the doors and the altar were discovered. Somebody could have been watching. Is there any other reason why she would be kidnapped, and do you have any idea where she might be?”

  “None at all to both questions. My bet is one of the numerous caves around here.”

  “No time to lose. I hope we are not too late. Let’s go to tunnel where you found those doors.” Rizzo, followed by the two men, turned and headed for the exit.

  61

  Cardinal Nicholas answered his phone. It was Father Vincenzo who spoke rapidly and was in an excitable mood.

  “My Cardinal, I have important news. Cracker has the woman and she is being held in a cave nearby, where I saw the archaeologists. She does not know I am involved, and she will lead Cracker to what she was praying to, which is I think, the cup. We shall take it and when we have it in our possession, I shall tell you so you can return here. As for Inspector Rizzo, our little episode has scared him off and he appears to have vanished, hopefully back to Rome. Good news, eh Cardinal?”

  “It’s getting better,” the cardinal approved. “It would have been more so if Rizzo had been dealt with. I don’t fancy having him back here poking his nose into what I’m doing. Let’s hope you can achieve this task. A whole new faith hangs on your success. God will bless your endeavours, I swear it.”

  * * *

  The thick, plastic, cable handcuff ties held her wrists securely in front of her body, while her legs were tied together with rope. She found it difficult to wake up and move. There was a strange taste lingering in her mouth. Miriam struggled to recall events that led her to be where she was. It was hazy. She remembered paying the shopkeeper, stepping outside, and then a heavy arm from behind her, without warning, went around her neck and a large sweet-smelling cloth covered her mouth. She hadn’t seen the attacker nor had time to scream out. She now felt confused. Doing a quick mental search of her body, everything seemed to be intact. She had not been violated. Looking around her, she could see filtered light above her head, coming through a gap in the roof structure. She realised she was in a cave. She had no idea which one but was convinced it had to be close to where they had discovered the doors.

  Cognition crept in.

  It has to be the discovery. News has somehow got out… it must have! I’m being held like this because of it.

  Oddly, she realised she was experiencing neither fear nor panic. All would be resolved. She had no idea how, but she sensed an unusual assurance around her like she had never felt before. She didn’t have to question it, nor did she have any idea of how it would unfold. It just would.

  The approaching sound of footsteps broke her thoughts. She knew at once who it was… Cracker. He had made no attempt to conceal his face, which wore a triumphant smirk.

  “‘Allo darling! So you’re awake. That makes things easier. We need to talk, don’t we?” He crouched low in front of her, clutching a pistol with a large silencer attached to the barrel. He tapped it on her forehead. “You’re not going to be a silly girl, are you? I think you know what we want, don’t you?”

  “We? Who’s we? That priest and the cardinal, I’m guessing.”


  He gave a sneer. “I’m not here to discuss. I’m here to get results. I’m going to untie your legs. If you attempt to run, I’ll put a bullet into them. I rarely miss. Understood?”

  “Understood.” Her reply had a defiant contempt to it.

  “Good. When I’m done, I’ll lead you out of here and you will then take me to your dig and show me what you found and hand it over to me. If any of your friends turn up and attempt to interfere, bullets will fly, and people could die. I might also just smash your little trophy. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

  “They have no idea where I am. But if you have to harm anybody, make it me and nobody else.”

  “Very noble. I can’t promise anything. We will have to wait and see, won’t we?” He pulled roughly on the rope knots and freed her legs. The handcuffs remained. Hauling her to her feet, he turned her around towards the opening and pushed her forward

  “Any noise from you and I’ll end up gagging you. Now get going.”

  His car was parked outside. Opening the boot, he shoved her hard inside and onto a soft rubber mat. She made no sound but closed her eyes.

  “Don’t worry. It’s a short ride. I know where you were working, and I guess that’s the place. Yes?”

  Miriam managed a short nod

  “Good.” He slammed down the lid and started the engine. Fifteen minutes later, Miriam felt the car slow and come to a halt.

  Within minutes, Cracker hauled her out and the sudden influx of light dazzled her. She could make out that there were no other vehicles about. It was deserted.

  “In we go, sweetheart.” Still carrying the gun, he propelled her to the steps into the tunnel and immediately spotted the lights and generators. “Now look at those… just what I need!”

  He fired up the generator and the whole place was flooded with light. His gaze scanned the entire chamber. Miriam stood motionless and made no sound.