ThislatteritemresembledtheoneusedbyPasiphae,thewifeofKingMinos,to matewiththeCretanbull,madebyDaedalusontheordersofZeus.
Thisone,theLordHighAdmiralbraggedtous,hadbeenmadeforthesetofa Spanishfilm,1978’s TheComingofSin(thoughyoumightknowitunder alternativetitleslike TheViolationoftheBitchor Sodomia).
Theterracewasdesignedalongagridoflinesformedbystoneandcement, arrangeddiagonallyagainstthesidesoftheroofsoastoformapatternof rhombi.Withinthisgridwereplacedpatchesofgrass,trees,andhedges enclosinglargerrhombus‐shapedpavedareas,whichweremeanttobeusedas
“outdoormeetingrooms.”Insidethelargestofthese,inthesoutheastcornerof theterrace,thebrazenhorsewassetup.Itwasputinthenortheasterncornerof thehedge,whichwasclosedallaroundexceptforitsnorthwestcorner.
Threeorfouryardsapartfromthis,inthecenterofthehedge,threevelvet-coveredthrone‐likewoodenchairs—oneyellow,onepurple,andoneblack—
wereassembledintheeasterncornerinasemi‐circlefacingthebackendofthe horse.TheDukeofRothesaywasseatedontheleftside,inthepurplechair.The
Baronwasensconcedinayellowthroneinthemiddle,lookingdownathis crotch,
pettingitgentlywithhisthumb.Rosenbergsatontheright,intheblackchair.
Likeeveryoneelsepresent,theystillworetheirrobesandmasks.
Behindthethrones,threestandards,eachaboutthreefootbytwofoot,hung downfromahorizontalpoleheldupbytwoothers.Eachflaghadafield matchinginhuetothecolorofthethroneitflewbehind.Thepurpleonebehind theDukeshowedanoldmaninatogavomitingupsixplanetarysigilsandared polygon:theSupermanlogoagain.OntheblackflagbehindRosenbergthere wasasimilarfigureeatingahumanbaby.
ButonthegoldenflagbehindtheBaron,therewasanimageoftheSuninverted, withapainedexpressiononitsface,surroundedbywhatappearedtobeapool ofredblood.ItremindedmeoftheSunandtheMoonontheMetecoffer.
“Ithinkmyflag’supside‐down”saidBaronCarrickfergustoRosenberg.
“Itcertainlyisnot,”Rosenbergreplied.
Thetorcheswerelit,heldnowbytheLionsstandingatthethreeclosedcorners ofthehedge,andtheelectriclightsatthetopoftheNewCourtbuildingswere switchedoff.AlloftheButchersandRavensgatheredinthesouthwestern corner,totheleftofme,facingthethreeseatsandthebrazenhorse.Tomyright inthesoutheast,alignedwithSt.Swithin’sLane,beneaththelow‐hangingMoon withitsjuicyredcenter,anotheraltarhadbeensetup.ItwastheCybelealtar—
theonethathadbeenusedinthecastrationritualin1956.Behinditstood Consivia,mutteringprayerswithhereyesclosed.Oneithersideofherweretwo Nymphi,withtheonestageleftholdingaviolin.
Aboveandtotheleftofthehedge,hangingfrombeneaththeSkyBox,wasa greenplasticconstructionchute,abouttwelveinchesindiameter.Normallyused forremovingdebrisfromroovesandupperfloorsduringconstructionprojects,it hadbeenhastilyassembledbyRosenberg’sservantsandconnectedthroughthe bottomoftheSkyBox,aspermyorders.OntopoftheSkyBox,inthecenterof itseasternedge,RosenberghadthemerectnothinglessthantheLondonStone itself.
TheStonehadapparentlycomerecentlyintohispossession,beingheldin safekeepingfortheCityofLondonforashortterm.Itwassupposedtobe installedforpublicdisplaythefollowingweekclosetoitsoriginallocationon CannonStreet,rightinfrontoftheWalbrookBuildingnextdoortobothNew CourtandRosenbergPlaza.
Aboutanhourearlierthatevening,whilethingswerebeingsetupthereonthe terrace,andWetzel’sbodywasbeingrenderedintovariousproducts,Rosenberg hadshowedmetheLondonStone,whichhehadhiddeninsidethecolumnthat washoldingupthealtarinthe mithraeum.Hewasshowingitmainlytobragto methathehadit,andalsotoaskmeifIthoughtitshouldbeusedasaritual implementinthenextportionoftheceremonies.Iinstantlysawinmymind’s eyethatitcontainedthesameredlightIhadseenattheendofthebullentrailsI hadbeenforcedtoexamine.Ithenheardthatsamementalvoicetellmethatthe LondonStoneheldtheanswertothatotherriddlewhichRosenbergwas demandingasolutionfor.
ThisRockistheEggthatcontainstheKeystone,itsaid.
ItseemedtomethatmysurvivaldependedongivingRosenbergtheinformation hewantedtomakehisritualsuccessfulfromhisperspective,whateverthat meant.Soonmyinstruction(actingontheinspirationthatcametomefrommy psychicinformant),RosenberghadtheRavensposttheLondonStoneontopof theverypylonthatitwasduetolaterbedisplayedon.Ihadhimplaceitsitting onitsside,tallerthanitwaswide,unlikethewayitwasnormallyseen.
Consiviaceasedherprivateprayersanditbecamedeathlyquiet.Theonlysound wascomingfromthefourlivehorses,outsidethehedgeandbeyondourfieldof vision.Theycouldbeheardcloppingaroundandsnorting,astheLordHigh AdmiralandtwoofhispersonalservantspreparedthemforGodknowswhat.
TheDukeofRothesayreachedintohisjacketunderneathhisrobeandpulledout acigarettewrappedinbrownpaper.Hepusheduphismaskpart‐wayandwas abouttolightitwithaZippo.Rosenberglookedoverathimandcoughed.He threwitontheground,puthismaskdownagaindisapprovingly,andslumped backintohischair.
OneoftheNymphistartedchantinginLatinverseonceagain,forjustafew lines.Thelastwasperfectlytimed.ItendedjustasthebellsofSt.Paul’s
Cathedral
struckout,ringingeleventimes.Cloudsbegantoclusteraroundthestarsandthe pregnantMoon.Acoldbreezestirredtheairforjustamoment,whichhadthe effectofintensifyingratherthandispersingthetension.
Next,havingbeentoldbymethattheproperArchontoinvokenextwasZeus (a.k.a.Jupiter),ConsiviatoldtheDukeofRothesaytostandbeforethealtar.
“WilltheroyalLiononthepurplethronecomeforthplease?”shesaid,holding outherrighthandinabeckoninggesture.
ThenamaninaRavenmaskapproachedtheDukefromhisrightwithametal bowlcontainingapieceofcookedmeat.Itsmelledlikethesamestuffservedto usatdinnerthatnight.Inanotherhand,heheldametalgobletfilledwithwine.
“Eat,dearprince,thesweetliversofthebirdswhoguardedthykingdom.
Anddrinktheambrosialwinemadefromthebloodofthineenemies.”
Hecockedhisheadtotheside,asifconfused.Thenhesighedandpushedhis maskupafewinches,exposinghismouth.Hegrabbedthemeatwithhishand, quicklyshovingitintohisgobwhole.Ithinkitwasjustthebird’sliver
“Mmmph,”hegagged.
ANymphusbeganplayingaraucous,violenttuneontheviolin.Iwatchedthe Duke’smandiblesmasticatingasheforcedhimselftoeatitdespiteitsawful taste.Thenhetookthewineandswallowedthewholemessinonegulp.His throatbulgedasitwentdown.Sweatbegantopourdownhisneck.Thenhe emittedagrowlandbrokeintoloud,heavybreathingashehandedbackthe dishestotheRavens.
HestaredatthePriestesswithhisarmsathissides,balledintofists.Shepushed hismaskbackdownandthenlaidherlefthanduponhishead.Sheusedherright todousehimwithheraspergillumassheintonedthefollowingincantation.
JupiterFeretrius,
Onthisrooftopcometous,
Useyourthunderboltstofree Thetrophyofyourdestiny
Letyourflamingswordcomefly
Downfromyourthroneinthesky
Thenthestonyeggshallyield
TothycrownthetrueRedShield.
Sothatfromthineenemy
Whomwekilledsovaliantly
Spoilsofwaryounowshallreap
Preciousjewelthat’syourstokeep
Ididn’ttellherthattheRockwasanEgg,Ithought. Howdidsheknow?
Behindher,oneofthefourstarshoveringn
exttotheMooninthesouthernsky unmistakablybegan—Iswear—todroopdownandcomecloser.Itgrewsolarge thatitnolongerlookedlikeastar,butratheragiantpurpleballoflight.
ThisterrifiedmemorethananythingIhadwitnessedsofar.AllmylifeIhad sufferedfromarecurringapocalypticnightmareaboutseeingsomethingjustlike thisinthesky.Inowrealizedthatthesewereallpremonitorydreamspreparing meforthisexactmoment.
Everybodyelsegazedupatthepurpleballinwonder,evenRosenbergand Consivia.TheDukeseemedalmostlikehehadbeenelectrocutedinplaceashe stoodlikeastatuestaringatit,withConsivia’shandstillonhishead.Baron CarrickfergusturnedtoRosenbergandspoke,awkwardly.
“Ohyes,wesawsomethinglikethisonthewayoverherethisevening.
LookedliketherewasastarliterallyhoveringoveryourPlaza,Blake.They werealmostlikeguidinglightsdirectingustoyourdoorstep.”
“Shh!”saidRosenberg,annoyed.
Cloudscoveredtherestoftheskyallaroundus,likebeingsmotheredbyapile offreshly‐shearedGotlandwool.Theyobscuredeverythingbutthepurple sphere.ConsiviahandedtheDukea sistrum,asIhadtoldherto.(Thiswasa rattleusedinancientRometomakeanoiselikethunderinrituals.)
“JuppiterTonans!Shakeyourthunder‐stick!”shecommandedtheDuke.He obeyed.The sistrum rattled,heldhighabovehishead.Thenweheardaclapof thunder,andaboltoflightningshotdown—notfromtheclouds,butdirectly fromthepurpleorb.IthittheLondonStoneontopoftheSkyBox.Themusic stoppedandeverybodygasped.
TheStoneimmediatelydisintegrated,andchunksraineddownonus.Oneof themhittheviolinistintheshoulder,nickinghim.Anotheroneclobbered Philippineintheback,bruisingherbadlyandcausinghertocrumplebackdown tothegroundwithmoresobs.
ButinsidetheooliteoftheLondonStonewasahiddensurprise,revealedwhen itdisintegrated:agiganticshimmeringclearcrystal.Itlookedtobewellovera footwideandalmostafoottall,whichmeantthatithadbeentakingupthe majorityofthespacewithinitscasing.aboutItlandedwithitstippointing downwardonthehedgerightbehindthealtar,shiningbrightlyeveninthedim lightasitfell.Fromtheside,itlookedexactlyliketheSupermanlogo.
Fromsubsequentresearch,Ihavelearnedthatthisisactuallytheshapeofthe side‐profileofadiamondthathasbeencutinthestylecalledthe“modernround brilliant.”Thisiscurrentlythemostpopulardiamondcut,designedtorefractthe maximumamountoflight.What’soddisthat,asyoumighthaveguessedfrom thename,thiscutisatwentiethcenturyinvention,createdbyMarcelTolkowsky ofBelgiumin1919.Yetthisgiantbrilliantcutdiamondhadclearlybeenhiding insidetheLondonStoneforhundredsofyearsatleast.
Furthermore,thenumberoffacets,andtheirdistributiononthisenormous gemstoneinfrontofmeturnedout,asIsoondiscovered,tomatchthemodern standardforamodernroundbrilliantcut.Thisconsistsof33onthecrown,and 25onthepavilion,foratotalof58.Itwasdesignedthiswaytorefractthe maximumamountoflight.
Whatevertheexplanationforthis,Iknewitwasobviouslygoingtobe somethingveryunusual.Consideringthestrangethingsthathadalready happened,Iwasabletoacceptthepresenceofamodernly‐designedgemstone concealedinsideofasupposedlyancientandnaturalrockasanotherexampleof themutabilityofreality.
Afterthediamondlandedontopofthehedge,ConsivialookedattheDukeand gesturedatitasiftosay“Goahead.”Inresponse,theDukenoddedtoherand walkedbehindthealtar.Hereacheduptotaketheshininggemstonefromthetop ofthehedge.Whenhegothiselderly,shakinghandsuponit,healmostdropped it.Hepulledhismaskupabovehiseyebrowsandgazedatitwithawe.
Itslustroussparklesreflectedinhiseyes.
“What isthis?”heshoutedtoRosenberg.“ThishasbeeninsidetheLondon Stonethewholetime?What’sitmadeof?What’sitfor?MyGod,howmuchis itworth?”
Rosenbergexhaledinexasperation.“Itisworthmorethanyourmother’sentire kingdom—notjustbecauseofwhatitsmadeof,butalsobecauseofwhatitcan do.Andyes,theLordsoftheCityhavehaditkeisteredonCannonStreetthis tiretime.It’spartofthereasonwhytheCityhasalwaysbeenmorepowerful thanthemonarchy,thoughalmosteveryonehasforgottenthatbynow.Eventhe Rothschilds,theyoungerones,don’tknowaboutit.Theydon’tevenknowwhat theirfamilybucklersymbolizes,orwhythisplaceisnamedBucklersbury.”
“Itlookslikeanactualdiamond!”theDukegasped,stillfawningoverit.
“Butit’sgottobetentimesbiggerthananydiamondI’veeverseen!”Rosenberg nodded,smiling.
“Ifmyprojectionsarecorrect,”hesaid,“itshouldbe15.5inchesacrossthe
girdle,and10.625inchesfromthetipofitsculettotopofitscrown.That’sfour timesbiggerthanthelargest uncutdiamondeverseen,”answeredRosenberg.
“ThatwastheCullinan,whichEdwardVIIhadchoppedupintooverahundred pieces,nowallownedbyyourmother.ButIreckonshe’sneverseenonecut quitelikethis,orwiththesameproperties.”
TheDuketurneditaroundinhishands,allowingmeaglimpseoftheoctagonal
“table”atthetopofthecrown.Irealizedthatthegeometryonthetopofthe diamondmatchedwhatIhadseenfoundinthedesignofthesunrooffor Rosenberg’smainbuildingnextdoor.
“Yes,whowouldhavedonethecutting,ifthisthinghasbeenaroundfor hundredsofyears?”askedtheDuke.“Imean,it’sabrilliantcut,right?58
facets?IthoughtthisdesignwasinventedbythatTolkowskyfellowin1919.”
“Inmyexperience,”Rosenbergreplied,“mostmodernscientificdiscoveriesare eitherrediscoveriesorreworkingsofancientalchemicaltechniques.
Sometimestheinventorsareignorantofthis,butsometimestheyhidethetruth too,justsotheycanfileapatent.Takesilicononsapphire,forinstance…”The Dukeinterrupted,toRosenberg’sannoyance.
“Theworkmanshipisfantastic!I’llbetthefireitputsoutisamazing.ShallIcall upmymaninGhenttohaveitevaluated?”
Rosenbergrolledhiseyes.“Youarespeakingasamortal!”hesaidtotheDuke.
“Amonarch‐in‐waiting,yes,andintoxicatedwithdivinesubstance,butyou still speakasa man.LettheLordofOlympustakecontrolofyourmindandbody completely.Lethimexperiencethepleasuresofbeingamaninthefleshthrough yourownmortalflesh.Thenyouwillrememberwhatitisyouholdinyour hands.”
Ashesaidthatlastsentence,Rosenberglookedupatthepurpleorb,noweven largerandlowerintheskythanbefore.HestoodupandgesturedtotheDuke’s emptychair.
“Returntoyourthronehere,”heinstructed.“SoontheRavenswillbringyou somethingthatJovehimselfcouldnotresist.”
TheDukesatdownwiththeenormousjewelinhislap,pointingupward.
Theviolinstruckupagain,andthePriestesscalledBaronCarrickfergustothe altar.
“WillthemajesticSun‐Runneronthegoldenthronecomeforthplease?”
Hegotupandwalkedtoherwithanarrogantswagger.Shegavehimthesame preliminariesastheDukehadbeengiven.Hechokeddownhisravenliverwith disgustequaltothatofhispredecessor,butnogreatercomprehensionofwhathe waseating.However,hereallyseemedtosavortheintoxicatingeffectsofthe foodanddrink,whichtookholdimmediately,withthecharacteristicsweating andheavybreathing.
Afterdraininghisglassofblood‐ambrosia,heaskedforasecond,whichhewas given.Whenhehadswallowedthelastofit,heutteredaloudlaughof voluptuousexultation.Thenhepusheddownhismaskagain,pointedtothe singingNymphinfrontofhimbesidethealtar,andpointedtothegroundin frontofhimself.Theboyimmediatelyceasedhissongandcompliedwiththe unspokenorder.
ConsiviaintonedanotherstanzaofherinvocationtoJupiter.
Now’st
hetimeforlittleWhore‐Hey
Tocomeinhereandjointhesoiree
PlayingpreciousGanymede
TothePrinceofPrideandGreed
Sheheldherrighthandpointedoutinfrontofhertowardstheopeninginthe hedge.InwalkedMiles,holdingthehandofalittleboy,whitewithblondhair, whocouldn’thavebeenmorethanfiveyearsold.Hesuckedhisthumband lookedfrightened,rightfully,bythespectacleinfrontofhim.
“Ohnononononono,wecan’tdo this!”theDukewhisperedtoRosenberg, audibleenoughformetohear,butnottheBaron,whostoodoblivious,getting suckedbyaNymphusatthealtarandutteringobscenitiesathim.
“I’vegonetogreatlengthstoneverbealonewithhimsothatthissortofthing neverhappens,”theDukecontinued,hisvoicetrembling.ButRosenbergonly beckonedMilestocomecloserwiththeboy.
“MydearLionPrince,youknowquitewellthatincestandpederastyisinyour nature,notonlybecauseofyourgeneticpredisposition,butbecauseofthe planetaryarchonthatrulesoveryou.He’stherulerofadyingaeonwhodoesn’t seemtohavenoticedthathisthroneisslippingoutfromunderneathhim.You do remember, don’tyou?”
TheDuke’sbodybegantoquiverastheboycamecloser.Totherightofus,over thesoundoftheBaron’secstaticmoaningandtheridiculousviolinsolo,the distantcrashofthundercouldbeheard,andthecloudsabovegreweventhicker.
Rosenbergturnedhisattentiontothelightballinthesky.
“Wouldn’tyoulovetositinthethroneofpoweragain,theonewhichyourown sonsupplantedyoufrom,andbeservicedbyhissonasaslave,turninghisroyal heirintoyourownroyalcupbearer?”
TheselastlinesweredirectedmoreatthespiritofZeusthanthemanwhowas becomingpossessedbyhim.RosenbergwasremindingthelordofOlympushow hehadobtainedvictoryoverhisfatherChronosbypretendingtobehis
“cupbearer.”Thiswasaeuphemismusedintheancientworldforacatamite—a youngmalesexslave.
Genuflect Page 26