“Okay,” she said agreeably. She quickly ran to the kitchen and returned with her pink laptop. She put it on the desk in front of him and began to type.
She tilted her head in thought and then looked at him and asked, “Why am I looking up the Effort?”
“Because,” Banyon started, “while you were asking me all those questions, I was reading an article on one of the blogs about the capture of another old Nazi in Argentina. He was deported back to Germany, and while he was being interrogated, he said that he had been supported since he got there by the American organization called the Effort. He said it was a Nazi organization in America. The interrogators had never heard of it and went to contact Homeland Security for some answers. The next day they found the eighty-nine-year-old man hanging in his cell. It looks like a clear case of murder. Someone wanted him shut up.”
“Wait, wasn’t Homeland Security responsible for taking the book that we were after in our last case?”
“Exactly.”
Loni and Banyon had found an original copy of Mein Kampf, and the government had swept in and confiscated any information about the case, including their computers. Banyon suspected there was a hidden message written in the book sometime during the war, and someone powerful in America didn’t want anyone to find the message. They had discovered there were several old-line Nazis and some of their descendants in powerful and influential positions in America, but they didn’t know the Nazis were banded together under one cause or organization. This discovery meant the Nazis were back. History repeats itself, Banyon always said.
***
While Loni worked away on her computer, Banyon thought about the possibility of a long-range Nazi plan. He had heard rumors that Hitler believed he could never defeat America, using the military. But rumors also said that he instead intended to take over America through political means. He had secreted hundreds of millions of dollars in bank accounts all over South America to help achieve that goal. Banyon found the account numbers in Mein Kampf, but had been snatched away before he could investigate.
Was it happening now? he wondered. In the last ten years, personal rights had taken a big hit in America, under the guise of security from terrorism. Homeland Security was like the Gestapo. The Patriot Act was like the Nuremburg Laws, and there was growing concern from the media about immigration, jobs, and even military superiority. Was this propaganda another of the Nazi rule mechanisms?
His thoughts were broken when Loni suddenly squealed, “Colt, I’m so happy to be working another case with you. Let’s just you and I work this case, okay? We don’t need the Patel sisters on this one. You know I don’t like them.” She shook her head, resulting in a blizzard of black hair flying everywhere.
What Banyon knew was that Loni didn’t like the Patel sisters because they liked him. They were strong competition. But he also knew why they smothered him with sexual attention. It was a plot set up by their grandfather, Abu Patel, many years ago. They had been helpful in their past adventures. They had many skills to offer. He now wondered if it was worth it to bring them into this. He decided he didn’t need them yet, but did want to talk to them.
“I’m not calling them…yet,” he replied.
“I don’t want you to ever call them,” she demanded.
He avoided the issue and said, “I need to talk to Wolf about this case.”
Loni was disappointed that he had not responded as she wanted. She said nothing and continued to pound away on her laptop, but with a pout on her pretty Asian lips.
Banyon had one huge advantage that helped him solve mysteries. He could talk to a ghost anytime he wanted to. Wolf defined himself as a spirit who wanted to rid the world of Nazis. He could answer any question as long as it was a question. He could not volunteer information. He could not tell anything of the future, but he could locate anything and guide Banyon on his adventures. Sometimes his answers were riddles, and sometimes they were incomplete, but they always helped. At first, Banyon was scared witless to hear from Wolf, but now he saw their conversations like talking to a mentor.
“Wolf,” Banyon spoke loudly. “Are you out there?” Loni looked up for a second. She had heard him speak out to Wolf several times before.
“Of course, my boy,” Wolf replied in a deep old voice that filled the office in stereo, but only Banyon could hear it.
“Have you ever come across an organization known as the Effort?”
“It was started in the 1930s.”
“Was Hal Jones part of it?” Hal Jones was a Nazi that he and Loni had dealt with on their last caper.
“He was just on the fringe. But his brother, George Gerut, was one of the founding members in America.”
“Is the Effort active today in America?”
“It is actually the third most powerful organization in America. Many of its members control vast empires in media, industry, and arms, and several are successful politicians,” the spirit replied. It sent a chill down Banyon’s back.
“How come you have never mentioned them before?” Banyon asked.
“You have to ask a question, remember? You never asked about them before. How could I tell you about them if you never asked?”
Stunned by the reply, Banyon had to think before he asked another question. “What can you tell me about its current members?”
“I have sent information on some of the leading members to Loni’s computer. She will receive it soon. By the way, she’s mad at you.”
“Thanks for the information,” Banyon said as he glanced at Loni. She was staring at him with anger in her almond eyes. He wondered if she could suddenly hear Wolf.
“Did the information provided by the murdered Nazi from Argentina cause a change that we should know about?” Banyon inquired.
“No, not really. Many people know about the Effort, but no one has been able to penetrate the inner circle. But you do have a new mystery to solve.”
“So what and who are we hunting this time?” Banyon said casually.
“No one.”
“Then what is going on?”
“There has been a theft. The object stolen could change the history of Earth. And yes, it is connected to the Nazis. You must find it and return it as quickly as possible, or the world will be changed forever.”
Suddenly sitting up in his chair, Banyon asked, “What can you tell me about the object that was stolen?”
“Colt, I’m going to do better than that. I’m going to tell you the whole story of the Black Diamond.”
“What Black Diamond?” This statement brought Loni’s concerned eyes above her computer screen.
“I will narrate the complete story for you. Just sit back and absorb it. You will need to know this information in the near future. Tell Loni that you are taking a nap. Then close your eyes. I will take care of the rest.”
“Loni, I’m taking a nap,” he said to the surprised woman.
“Okay,” she said with a shrug of her tiny shoulders.
He then closed his eyes and was immediately immersed in a movie.
Part One
Ancient History
Chapter One
As soon as Colton Banyon closed his eyes, Wolf began to tell him a story like he was reading it from a book.
***
The date was 330 BC, and the known world was in turmoil. The Greek Empire was cutting through civilizations like soft butter. The army was currently camped in the desert-like area that eventually became Northwestern India.
The two men who stood at attention didn’t look like most Greeks. Their leader didn’t want them to appear as if they were from the invading army. Both had high cheekbones, smaller noses, and brown skin from the many months of marching. They had been chosen for the task ahead because both had mastered the bewildering language of the local tribes.
It was raining, but the soldiers stood steadfast as their leader appraised them. The rare deluge came as a surprise to everyone and was taken as a sign of future military success. There had been many mil
itary successes in the last few years.
A white cape surrounded their officer’s slender, but toned body. Water collected in his near-blond curly hair and ran down his face in small streams. The two foot soldiers wore loin clothes with no protection from the cold rain. The three men stood outside of camp on a small hill where they could see anyone approaching. This was a private meeting.
“You understand that this mission is to be conducted in complete secrecy, do you not?” The leader spoke in a strong but concerned voice which both thrilled the men and made them uneasy at the same time.
The fact that the leader spoke directly to them meant there was danger and many unknowns. In unison they replied, “Yes, sir.”
“We have come a great distance and have had many adventures together,” the leader reasoned. “You, Markus, and you, Tibes, are the best of my loyal fighting men. The honor to be praised at the completion of this small task will be all for you.” The gesture of the leader’s arms spreading told the men he would open the kingdom for his heroes. His benevolent smile sent a surge of pride through their chests. They knew this man was a leader who lived up to his claims. The two soldiers had fought many wars with him over many years.
“What can you tell us about the mission my lord? We have been given peasant clothes and none of our weapons except a knife for food. Are we to assassinate the local leader?” Markus had been raised in Macedonia and was a friend of the leader. He was not afraid to speak his mind.
Suddenly serious, the leader said, “It is not so simple. You have been trained to kill, but to complete this quest, you must remain passive. The culture of the people you will be meeting makes no room for war. They believe that all living things are sacred. They do, however, have a secret. I want that secret. You must find it and bring it to me.” The leader clinched his strong fist and raised it to demonstrate his desire.
“What is it that we seek? Is it a treasure?” Markus asked as he wondered what prize would motivate his leader like this.
“Your search is for a large statue. It is larger than a man. The statue is called ‘Buddha.’” The statement came out as a sheepish reply. Both men shuddered, as the leader seldom lacked confidence in their presence.
“Is he a god?” Markus was already having bad feelings about their goal. Greek soldiers did not offend gods.
“Are we to steal this statue? How big is it?” Tibes was already thinking about how they would carry the burden.
After looking around to make sure there was no one else around, the leader replied in a low whisper. “Only the third eye,” he said. “It is a large, black bauble and contains powers not of this world. I need to have those powers.”
Horror and despair filled the unlit faces of the soldiers. Greek men were steeped in religion. It was a religion that was both myth and history. There were many powerful Greek gods, especially Zeus, the “King of Gods.” The gods guided all things, including war. They were untouchable, undeniable, and no one ever spoke against or defaced a Greek god. It was unthinkable. And yet now the leader wanted his men to destroy a god.
“You ask us to deface the god of these people? You ask us to steal from a god?” Markus was now filled with terror and foreboding. He was sure the gods would annihilate them for such a breach of sanity.
“Am I not your king?” thundered the youthful leader as he beat the armor on his chest with his closed fist. Both men cowered on shaky legs.
“You are our king, and you are Alexander the Great.” Both men bowed and spoke in unison.
“Am I not a god as well?” Alexander attempted to use logic on his men. “Did I not solve the mystery of the ‘Knot of Gordian’? Do I not speak for the gods?”
Alexander knew that part of his legend came from solving the mystery of the oracle known as the Knot of Gordian, which was a rope tied in a knot to a cart. There was no ending to untie the knot. No one knew how long the oracle had existed, but myth said that Zeus had put it there. Legend said that anyone who untied the knot would rule Asia. Alexander had hacked it with a sword and found the ends to untie the knot.
“We are humble in your presence,” replied Tibes, who was completely shaken and confused, but he bent to the ground.
“The gods have spoken,” Alexander spoke with finality. “I have been entrusted with this mission. Now I pass it to you. What you must do will better mankind. How could you not serve your gods as requested?”
Alexander understood logic and how to use it on his subjects. The inventor of logic, the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, had tutored him. Aristotle had spent many years educating Alexander on how to use logic to bend people to his needs. He had learned well. He knew his men would do as requested.
“You need only to tell us what is required. We will do your bidding.” Tibes spoke with faith in his voice.
“Good,” answered Alexander smoothly. “The statue is two days’ walk to the northeast. The trail is well worn. The town is called Tomg, and the statue is near the center. No one will stop you. They want to be rid of it.”
“Why is it important?” Fear no longer inspired the question from Markus.
Alexander appeared to be in a trance as he recalled the visit. “A few days ago, a man entered my tent despite the guards that surrounded it. He wore a blue robe and had a cleanly shaved head. He said his name was unimportant, but he came on a mission of great concern for all mankind. The story he told me has not left me since.”
“Was he a god?” asked Tibes.
“He called himself a monk, a disciple of Buddha. The god, Buddha, lived near here about a hundred years ago. The only statue of the god is in Tomg. It was put there to protect the bauble. The monk told me that it came from the sky many years ago. The locals found it and were enchanted by its beauty. It is the hardest rock that anyone has ever seen. And it has many unworldly powers.”
“It’s from Zeus,” exclaimed Tibes. “Only Zeus could have made it and sent it to show his power. Maybe it’s one of his thunderbolts?”
“That is why we need to secure it. The monk said it had special powers and made men of peace fight with great strength. There is much war in the area, so the villagers built a statue and placed the bauble in the middle of the statue’s forehead. It has been hidden in plain sight for many years from those that would use it for evil.”
“But why tell us, the invading Greeks?”
Alexander quickly replied, “Others, our enemies, are aware of the bauble—the Mongols and the Persians, to be specific. In their hands, it would be a destructive, unstoppable force. The monk is aware of our enlightened beliefs and believes that only a god like me can control and hide its power. This is why we must have it.”
“Then we take our leave immediately,” the now motivated Markus replied. They thumped their chests in Greek salute and were gone before Alexander could tell them the rest of the story.
Chapter Two
The two men crested a long hill and took in the valley below. Their journey was accomplished with ease. The trail was clearly marked. They encountered only birds along the route. For the first time in many weeks, they saw trees surrounded by dark green grass, and a forest filled the horizon. The heat from the desert suddenly was laden with humidity. There were birds, rabbits, and trails of other animals at every turn of the path. Bushes held berries and flowers. The running of a brook could be heard in the distance.
“Where are we?” asked Tibes to no one in particular. “We haven’t seen so much vegetation and food since we left our home in Macedonia. We should kill a rabbit, cook it, and stuff ourselves. We deserve it.”
“There’s something about this valley that’s different,” replied Markus. “We must stay aware at all times. There may be many traps and unknowns ahead on the path. I sense there is danger ahead.”
“Surely we can take some food. Who would even know?”
Suddenly a shadow appeared from behind them. They turned to take up a defensive position and remembered that they had no weapons except for hunting knives. They would have to f
ight using only their fists and knives. After all, they were accomplished fighters. But to their surprise, what they saw was only a young, pretty girl.
“Who are you?” a surprised Markus asked.
“I am but a villager in this valley.”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Giri,” she immediately replied with an innocent smile.
“How can we help you, Giri?”
“Please don’t kill anything in the valley,” she spoke in a small, sweet voice. “It is our home, and all living things are sacred here,” she pleaded.
“But we need to eat. It has been a long journey for us,” Markus reasoned.
“Food will have to wait,” she insisted.
“We are merely hungry travelers,” answered Markus quickly. “You see we have no weapons except hunting knives.” He spread his arms to show that nothing was hidden. “We seek the town of Tomg. We have business there.”
“I know who you are,” the girl answered politely as she nodded her head. “My brother and I have been following you since you left your camp. It is important that you reach our village. We are here to help you and show you the way.”
“We don’t need your help. We’re soldiers of Alexander the Great. We need no help from children,” he roared.
“There isn’t much time, as the hordes are coming. They are near. They search for the same bauble as you do. You must follow us and hurry.” With that, the girl began running, a younger boy was suddenly running behind her. He seemed to appear from nowhere. The stunned men picked up the pace and followed the girl to their destiny.
“I didn’t see anyone following us,” Tibes said to his companion as they jogged behind the girl. They were trained in many techniques and were shocked that children could track them in the open desert.
“There may be more to this bauble quest then has been told to us,” announced Markus. “Keep a sharp eye out. If the villagers want to rid themselves of this treasure so badly, then they must have a good reason. We must protect Alexander from any unknowns.”
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