by M. B. Lewis
“The inscription says, For the message from Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Israel.” She paused, licking her lips. “That’s an unusual inscription to post on the outside of the vase.”
“Is this the vase?”
“It has to be. It met the description, and it does contain a message from Pilate. Or least it says it does.”
She rotated the vase, and on the other side, a Sator Square was etched into the middle of the vase. Kadie glanced at Duke and smiled.
She reached for the lid. Her fingernails dug under the edge and tried to pry it off.
It didn’t budge.
Shifting her grip, she tried again.
“It’s stuck. I can’t get it to move.”
Duke edged closer. “Here, let me try.”
Kadie backed off, and Duke pulled on the lid with no success either. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a Gerber utility knife. Duke worked the blade around the circumference of the top, gently prying at the seam of the two.
“I think it’s coming loose,” he said.
“Keep going.”
Duke continued his effort. After another circuit around the top, they noticed some movement.
“It’s working,” Kadie said.
The lid was a custom-fit within the vase. After prying the lid about two inches, it let out a loud hiss as air entered the ancient vase. Duke removed the lid and handed the vase to Kadie.
Something didn’t look right, but she couldn’t put her finger on what bothered her.
“The Scroll,” she said.
Duke stepped back. “I think you should have the honors.”
Kadie moved forward, knelt, and peered inside. She stuck her hand through the mouth of the vase and felt something hard. When she pulled out the object, both were surprised to find a small tablet.
“That doesn’t look like a scroll,” Duke said.
Kadie frowned as she studied both sides of the tablet.
“I don’t understand. This should be the Aramaic Vase. The Pilate Scroll should be inside.”
“Kadie, it’s a legend. Maybe it’s been so distorted over the years that a tablet was actually inside the Aramaic Vase and not a scroll.”
She held the chem light to the tablet to study the writing.
“Can you read it?” Duke said.
Kadie shook her head. “It looks familiar . . . Like I’ve seen it before. I just don’t . . . Wait a minute.” She flipped the tablet over in her hands. “I can’t read the writing because it’s written backward.”
“Backwards?”
“Yes. Very Da Vinci Code-ish. This was a common method to hide information back in the day.” The Dan Brown novel had been one of her favorites. “We’ll need to bring the tablet with us and figure it out at the hotel.”
“Are you sure this is the right vase?”
Kadie set the lid back on the vase and turned to Duke. “Well, we have a description of the vase. It’s very specific and very distinct. The inscription on the outside and the Sator Square confirms this is what we’re searching for.”
“But there’s a tablet instead of a scroll.”
“Yes, and if this isn’t what we’re looking for, I believe the tablet will tell us the location of the scroll. I thought something was odd when we first saw the vase. See this seam on the side?” She pointed along the length of the vase. “This vase isn’t from 30 A.D. It’s more like 300 A.D.”
“Constantine?”
“Yes. I think before Constantine died, he had the Aramaic Vase moved to a safer location and left clues for people to find it.”
49
Venice, Italy
The catacombs of Saint Mark’s Basilica
* * *
Kadie followed Duke back down the secret hallway and up the squared-off stairwell. They rushed up the stairs, and for the first time, she noticed the stale air made it difficult to breathe. Or perhaps it was just because her heart pounded rapidly. The old chem lights were fading fast, and the darkness began to swallow them. When they reached the top of the stairs, they faced a barren door.
“I can’t believe this,” Duke said. “We got in relatively easy, but there’s no handle or latch to open the door. Duke ran his hands along the edges of the narrow frame. The dissipating chem light only frustrated him as he hovered the illuminated stick near the stone wall next to the door, searching for any type of lever.
Kadie stood anxiously behind him, her eyes desperately seeking an answer.
“Here, see if this helps.” She handed him her chem light. Two fading glow sticks had to be better than one.
Duke took the stick and paired it with his. The second stick helped some, but not enough to change their situation.
Kadie watched Duke explore every area around the door, but the more he did, the more she focused on the door. There was nothing that resembled a handle. She pondered the situation for a moment. Could it really be that easy?
It was worth a shot.
“Duke, push on the door.”
“I need to find the handle to open it first.”
“A handle may not be necessary. Sometimes the answer is right in front of us.”
Duke glared back at her as if she told him to do something crazy.
He placed his hands against the door and pushed lightly, then a little harder. There was a slight click, and the door cracked open toward them. Duke turned back to her and grinned.
“You’re pretty smart, lady.”
Kadie smiled back. “Thanks, but I think it was desperation. Now, let’s get out of here.” She unbuttoned the bottom button of her shirt that tucked into her pants, slipped the tablet into her shirt, and refastened the button.
Duke pulled the door slowly, trying not to make any rapid motion. He peeked through the crack. No one was nearby. The entrance was hidden from view unless you were in the southern transept. He opened the door enough for the two of them to squeeze through. They stood in front of the same mosaic relief they had used to enter the basement. Duke peered around the corner and quickly brought his head back.
“What’s wrong?” Kadie whispered.
“There are police standing to the side. They’ll catch us if we step over the rope.”
Kadie nodded, aware that the most challenging part of their adventure now lay in getting out of Saint Mark’s. Duke peeked back around the corner to watch the police. Seeing the secret doorway still open, she reached behind her to gently close the door.
It shut with a loud, reverberating click.
Duke jerked his head back. Kadie’s eyes went wide, and she bit her lower lip, the corners of her mouth drooping. No need to say anything—the problem was obvious.
“They heard it,” Duke said. “They’re coming this way.”
“Oh, no.”
Duke held her upper arms and gazed into her eyes. “Do you trust me?”
Kadie nodded. “Yes.”
“Then follow my lead, okay?”
She nodded again, and before she knew it, he drew her in closer. It wasn’t dark, but he became a blur as his arms wrapped around her, His hands roamed across her back, not aggressive but affectionate. Then she gasped.
He was kissing her.
She started to pull away, then realized what he was doing. And she also realized she liked it. A passionate kiss in an ancient, magnificent chapel in one of the most romantic cities in the world was the way every first kiss should be.
She closed her eyes and kissed him back.
“Che cosa stai facendo?”
Duke broke off the kiss, and the two of them turned to the Italian police officer who rattled off a variety of angry statements. She understood some of what he said because she knew Latin, but she got lost in the translation due to the speed and emotion of his voice.
“Is something wrong, officer?” Duke said. He played the role perfectly, Kadie thought.
“What are you doing? You must step away from the artwork,” the policeman said in broken English. “You are not allowed inside the rope.” Duke glanced do
wn at the thick velvet rope draped from post to post as if he’d never seen it before.
“I’m sorry, officer. I didn’t notice that.”
“How can you not see this is roped off?” The officer waved his hands as Duke took Kadie’s hand and stepped over the rope. He turned and helped her over, and they started to leave.
“Where are you going?” the officer said a little too loudly.
Kadie noticed a few people looking in their direction.
“What were you doing over there?” the officer said.
Duke tugged Kadie closer, placed his arm around her waist, and tilted his head at the cop.
“Do you really have to ask? I’m in the city of love with a beautiful girl. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Duke smiled at the policeman, and Kadie blushed. Her embarrassment helped sell the deception.
The officer’s disposition changed, and he formed a brief smile as he stared at her, his eyes selling him out as they checked her up and down.
Whatever it takes, she thought. We need to get out of here.
The policeman nodded and motioned toward the front door. “I must ask you to leave. You have violated the rules of the cathedral.”
“Yes, sir,” Duke said. “We’re sorry.” He grabbed her by the hand again and led her toward the center aisle.
Her cheeks flushed again as he squeezed her hand.
“Nice work back there,” he said with a smile.
Kadie shook her head. “You’re smooth.”
Duke feigned surprise. “What? Me? Always better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.”
They spotted Armando and the tour group near the entrance to the cathedral. Duke pulled the earpiece from his pocket and handed his radio to Armando as they passed, who looked puzzled, then terrified, that two members of his group were being escorted out by the police. Kadie did the same.
“Great job,” Duke said to the tour guide.
Kadie’s free hand pressed the tablet against her stomach, her eyes searching the cathedral. “Where’s Curt?”
Duke’s head swiveled. “I don’t see him. Shucks, he would have really gotten mad if he saw you kissing me.”
“Kissing you? You kissed me.”
He smiled at her again. “I did. But you kissed back.”
“I’m just glad you weren’t dipping Skoal beforehand.”
Duke grinned and raised his eyebrows.
“And I didn’t kiss back,” Kadie said.
“It sure seemed like you kissed back.”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“I’ve kissed a few girls in my day, and I’m pretty sure you kissed back.”
She started to respond, but when they walked out the front door, Curt stood outside, waiting for them. At first, he was expressionless, then his eyes locked on their hands. His teeth clenched, and his eyes tensed. Duke was right. The kiss would have sent him over the edge. He might have shot them right there in the cathedral.
They hopped down the steps to where Curt stood and kept a steady pace.
“Did you get the Scroll?” Curt said, rushing to keep up with them.
“No,” Kadie replied. “But I think we got a clue to where we might find it.”
“Clue? What kind of clue?”
Her eyes darted from side to side. “Can you please be quiet and let’s get out of here? We don’t want to attract any more attention.”
Curt struggled to contain his anger and frustration. He grabbed her upper arm and led them across la Piazza toward the hotel. Pigeons scurried into the air as they passed before settling back to the earth
Kadie realized she still held Duke’s hand and let go. Duke appeared disappointed but understood. He didn’t say anything; he only gave a subtle nod.
She swapped hands that held the tablet against her stomach. Her thoughts returned to her brother and the hope that this tablet held the answers they sought.
50
Venice, Italy
The Hotel Papadopoli
* * *
Kadie and Duke waited in their hotel room while Curt went to get the others. One of the goons stood outside the door, always on guard. Kadie took the opportunity to find a pencil and a blank piece of paper.
“What are you doing?” Duke said.
“Deciphering a code.”
Duke nodded and pulled out his round can of tobacco. He took a pinch and set the can of Skoal on the end table.
Kadie ignored his nasty habit and set the paper over the top of the tablet, rubbing the pencil back and forth, lightly at first, then stronger. The writing on the tablet began to show through. No sooner had she finished, then Curt showed up with Patricia and Brian. Her brother looked scared until he saw her and Duke. Kadie dropped the paper, leaped from the couch, and hugged her brother. The smile on his face said everything.
“Kadie!” Brian said. “I was scared for you. I knew D-Duke would protect you.”
She ran her fingers through his hair. “We’re fine.”
Patricia moved over and placed a hand between the two. “I think we’ve seen enough of this sappy reunion. How about you solve our puzzle?” The look she gave was less than confident.
Kadie returned to the couch and retrieved the paper.
“We found a hidden passageway that had several rooms on either side. Eventually, we found the vase. Or, at least what we thought was the vase.”
“What made you think that?” Patricia said.
“This vase appeared to be made from Constantine’s era instead of the time of Jesus,” Duke said. Kadie smiled at him, happy he injected himself in this process. It made her feel less alone, and he seemed to sense that.
“Yes,” Kadie said. “The construction of the vase is definitely from a later era. Around 300 A.D., from what I can tell.”
“Well, that’s convenient,” Curt sniped.
Kadie ignored his comment and continued. “Inside the vase, we found this tablet with Latin inscription. I couldn’t decipher the tablet on the spot because I realized it was written backward. So, we brought it here, and I used this paper to overlay and copy the surface.”
“What does it say?” Patricia asked.
Curt snatched the piece of paper. “It still looks like the same gobbledygook crap if you ask me.”
He was right—sort of. Kadie took the paper from him and walked to the lamp-stand next to the couch. “I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet. As soon as I transferred the writing to this paper, you all arrived.” Kadie turned on the lamp and held the paper with the pencil side toward the lamp. The darker impressions showed through the paper, making the text easy to read.
“Clever girl,” Duke said.
Kadie appreciated the comment but said nothing. Her eyes shifted left to right, then down the page. The more she tried to interpret the writing, the more she felt her enthusiasm wain. Her feelings must have manifested themselves physically.
“What’s wrong?” Patricia said. So much for having a poker face.
“I-I don’t know,” Kadie said. “It’s Latin, but the words don’t seem to make sense. There’s no complete sentence. Not even a complete phrase. The words don’t go together.” She began to get worried. They were so close. How could they have a stumbling block like this? She glanced at Brian and wished there was a way for them to run out of the room, complete with a SWAT team that would roll in between them and Curt and his GDI thugs.
Curt picked up the tablet from the table and jostled it back and forth between his hands as if he weighed it somehow. Suddenly, he turned and hurled the tablet against the marble fireplace, the rectangular stone twirling like a frisbee. The tablet impacted the marble with a loud crack and shattered the large stone into several pieces.
“No!” Kadie screamed. She wasn’t done with the stone. Maybe she didn’t press hard enough. Or maybe she pressed too much. The tablet still needed to be examined. Destroying it was the last thing on her mind. She cast Curt a hateful stare. “I still need that.”
“Maybe you brought ba
ck the wrong thing,” Curt said. “Clearly, you found the wrong vase. And whatever crap you found inside, was designed to send you on a wild goose chase.”
“Curt,” Patricia said, “You will restrain yourself in the future. I know you’re frustrated. We all are frustrated. But your little outbursts aren’t getting us any closer to the Pilate Scroll.”
The room was quiet. Brian moved to the end table and grabbed Duke’s can of tobacco. “I found the pilot’s Skoal,” he said with a chortle. Kadie smiled and laughed softly, and Duke joined in the laughter as well. Brian was trying to break the tension. His joke was funny before—no reason in his mind it wouldn’t be funny again.
Curt was not impressed. “Shut up, retard.”
Kadie whirled to face him, and Duke reached forward and pulled her back. She shook herself free and glared at Duke, then stuck her finger in Curt’s face. “Leave my brother alone.”
Curt’s face contorted into a self-righteous smirk.
Brian had wandered toward the fireplace and focused on the pieces of the shattered tablet. He shuffled over and picked up the largest piece. He turned and looked at her.
“There is a message—inside,” he said, as he raised the piece and offered it to her.
She moved toward him quickly, before Curt or Patricia could intervene. Partly because she feared for Brian’s safety, partly because she wanted to keep this discovery out of their reach. At least at first. Brian handed her the broken tablet, and the first thing she saw was the paper— parchment actually—wedged into the small gap inside the tablet. She tugged at it. The parchment was encased tight within the space. With another significant tug, the parchment broke free, and she slid it from its home for the last eighteen hundred years. She gave the broken tablet back to Brian, who seemed fascinated with his discovery, examining the tight space the parchment had occupied.
Kadie handled the parchment gingerly. Hers were the first human hands to touch it in almost two millennia. The parchment was legitimate; she could tell right away. It was folded into thirds, and she was less than enthusiastic. Nothing they’d found had helped them up to this point. This was going to be another dead end. At least, that’s what she thought until she turned the parchment over.