“Welcome, Master Ofar,” Prof. Imru roared as the old man sat down, nodding to the other members of the congregation.
“And now I have brought Mr. Purdue and his colleagues up to speed about our speculation. They know that the Magician is indeed busy weaving a terrible prophecy,” the professor announced. “I will leave it to the astronomers of Dragon Watchers of Hermopolis, men who spring from the bloodlines of Thoth’s priests, to tell you what this murderer could be trying to do.”
Penekal rose from his chair. In the bright lantern light from the containers hung from the tree branches, he unrolled the scrolls once ore as he had a day before. Purdue and his friends instantly gathered closer to peruse the codex and charts.
“This is the star chart of antiquity, covering the immediate heavens above Egypt, Tunisia…basically the entire Middle East as we know it,” Penekal explained. “In the past two weeks my colleague, Ofar, and I, have noticed several disturbing celestial occurrences.”
“Such as?” Sam asked, scrutinizing the old brown parchment and their mind-numbing information in numbers and unknown script.
“Such as stars falling,” he stopped Sam with an objective open hand before the journalist could speak, “but…not those we can afford to have falling. I would venture as far as to say that these heavenly bodies are not just gasses consuming themselves, but planets, small at a distance. When these types of stars fall, it means that they were dislodged from their orbits.” Ofar looked quite horrified at his own words. “It means that their demise could have a chain reaction effect on their surrounding constellations.”
Nina gasped. “That sounds like trouble.”
“The lady is correct,” Ofar said to Nina. “And these particular bodies are all important, so important that they have names by which they are identified.”
“Not numbers after mundane scientists’ surnames, like many of today’s notable stars,” Penekal affirmed to the audience around the table. “Their names are so important, as are their positions in the heavens above the earth, that they were known even to the men of God.”
Sam was fascinated. Although he had spent his life dealing with criminal organizations and clandestine evildoers, he had to concede to the charm the mystic reputation of the starry sky held for him. “How so, Mr. Ofar?” Sam asked with consummate interest, jotting down some notes for himself to remember the terminology and chart position names.
“In the Testament of Solomon, the wise king from the Bible,” Ofar recounted like an old bard, “it is said that King Solomon bound seventy-two demons and made them build the Temple of Jerusalem.”
His statement was naturally met with cynicism from the group, disguised as silent contemplation. Only Adjo sat motionless, looking up at the stars above. With the power out all over the immediate country and other regions not akin to Egypt, the glamor of the stars excelled in the pitch dark space that lurked perpetually over all.
“I know how this must sound,” Penekal explained, “but you have to think in terms of sicknesses and ill emotions, not horned imps, to impress the nature of ‘demons’. It will sound absurd at first, until we tell you what we have been observing, what had been happening. Only then will you begin to shed disbelief in favor of warning.”
“I did assure my acquaintances Masters Ofar and Penekal, that very few wise enough to grasp this arcane chapter, would actually have the means to do something about it,” Prof. Imru told the visitors from Scotland. “And this is why I deemed you, Mr. Purdue, and your friends, the right people to approach in this regard. I have read much of your works too, Mr. Cleave,” he told Sam. “I have learned much of your sometimes unbelievable ordeals and adventures along Dr. Gould and Mr. Purdue. This made me certain that you were not people who would blindly dismiss the strange and perplexing matter we deal with on a daily basis within our respective orders.”
‘Nicely done, Professor,’ Nina thought. ‘Good of you to butter us up with that charming, albeit patronizing, summary of exaltation.’ Perhaps it was her power as a female that allowed Nina to pick up on sweet-smearing psychology of praise, but she was not about to remark on it aloud. She had already caused tension between Purdue and one of his legal adversaries in Col. Yimenu. It would be redundant to repeat the counter-productive practice with Prof. Imru and obliterate Purdue’s reputation for good just to assert her intuition on the Master Freemason.
And so Dr. Gould held her tongue while she listened to the astronomer’s lovely narration, his voice soothing as an old wizard from a fantasy film.
24
The Accord
Soon after, they were served by Prof. Imru’s housekeepers. Trays carrying a feast of Baladi breads and ta’meya (falafel), were followed by two more, bearing spicy Hawawshi. The ground beef and spice filled their nostrils with intoxicating odors. The trays were set on the large table and the professor’s people left as suddenly and quietly as they appeared.
The visitors eagerly accepted the Freemason’s feast and dished up with a chorus of approval that pleased their host greatly. When they had all had some nourishment it was time for more information, as the Purdue party did not have much time to spare.
“Please, Master Ofar, continue,” Prof. Imru invited.
“We, my order, have in our possession a set of parchments entitled Solomon’s Codex,” Ofar elucidated. “Within these texts it is told that King Solomon and his magicians – what we might see as alchemists today – had somehow contained each of the bound demons within the confined of the seeing stone - diamonds.” His dark eyes shimmered with mystery as he lowered his voice to address each of those listening. “And for every diamond, a specific star was baptized to mark the fallen spirits.”
“The star map,” Purdue remarked, pointing at the mad celestial scribblings on the one sheet pf parchment. Both Ofar and Penekal nodded mysteriously, both men appearing much more serene for having relayed the predicament to modern ears.
“Now, as Prof. Imru may have explained to you in our absence, we have reason to believe that the sage is walking among us once more,” Ofar said. “And every star that has fallen thus far has been significant on Solomon’s map.”
Penekal added, “And so has the specific power of each dawned in some form only recognizable by those who know what to look for, you see?”
“The housekeeper of the late Madame Chantal, hung by a rope of hemp in the mansion in Nice a few days ago?” Ofar announced, waiting for his colleague to fill in the blanks.
“The demon Onoskelis, in the Codex, is said to have spun ropes of hemp to serve in building the Temple of Jerusalem,” Penekal revealed.
Ofar continued, “The seventh star in the constellation of Leo had also fallen, one dubbed Rabdos.”
“The lamp lighter of the Temple during its construction,” Penekal explained in turn. He lifted his open hands up and looked about into the darkness draped over the city. “The lamps had gone out everywhere in the immediate lands. Only fire will make light, as you have seen. Lamps, lights of electricity, will not.”
Nina and Sam exchanged glances, looking spooked, but hopeful. Purdue and Adjo both shared a reaction of interest and mild excitement for the strange dealings. Purdue nodded slowly, grasping the patterns presented by the watchers. “Masters Penekal and Ofar, what do you need us to do, in effect? I understand what you say is happening. However, I need some clarification on what my colleagues and I were called in for, exactly.”
“I have heard something unsettling about the latest fallen star, sir, in the taxi on my way here before. Apparently, the seas are rising, but against any natural reason. According to the star on the map that my friend pointed out to me last, it is a terrible fate,” Penekal bemoaned the development. “Mr. Purdue, we need your help in obtaining the remaining diamonds of King Solomon. The Magician is collecting them, and as he does, another star falls; another plague is due.”
“Well, where are these diamonds, then? I am sure I can try to help you excavate them before the Wizard—,” he said.
; “Magician, sir,” Ofar’s voice shivered.
“Sorry. Magician,” Purdue corrected his fault swiftly, “finds them.”
Prof. Imru stood up, motioning for his stargazing allies to take a moment. “You see, Mr. Purdue, that is the problem. Many of King Solomon’s diamonds had been scattered among the well-to-do – the kings, heads of state and collectors of rare jewels throughout the centuries – and thus the Magician had resorted to cons and murder to obtain them one by one.”
“Oh my God,” Nina muttered. “That is like a needle in a haystack. How will we ever find them all? Do you have records of the diamonds we are looking for?”
“Regrettably not, Dr. Gould,” Prof. Imru lamented. He uttered a silly chuckle, feeling foolish to even bring it up. “As a matter of fact, the watchers and I were humorously teasing that Mr. Purdue was rich enough to buy the respective diamonds out, just to save us all the trouble and the time.”
Everyone scoffed and giggled at the hilarious absurdity, but Nina watched the mannerism of the Master Mason, knowing full well that he was putting forth the suggestion with no expectation, save for Purdue’s extravagant risk taking innately prodding. Again, she kept the supreme manipulation to herself and smiled. She looked at Purdue, trying to caution him with a glance, but Nina could see that he was laughing a bit too hard.
‘No fucking way,’ she thought. ‘He is actually considering it!’
“Sam,” she said, in the din of the merriment.
“Aye, I know. He is going to bite at that bait and we cannot stop him,” Sam replied without looking at her, maintaining his laughter to look oblivious.
“Sam,” she repeated, unable to formulate a retort.
“He can afford it,” Sam smiled.
But Nina could not keep this to herself anymore. Promising herself to state her opinion in the most amicable and respectful way, she rose from her seat. Her petite frame challenged the giant shadow of Prof. Imru against the wall of the Masonic Temple in the blaze of firelight between them.
“With respect, Professor, I think not,” she argued. “It is not feasible to resort to common financial trade where the items are of such value. Dare I say, it is preposterous to imagine such a thing. And I can almost assure you, from experience, that the ignorant, wealthy or not, do not easily part with their treasures and we certainly do not have the time to locate them all and engage in tedious bartering before your Magician finds them.”
Nina made sure to keep her tone to the side of suggestion, her voice light to imply that she was merely proposing a faster method, while in fact she opposed the idea completely. The Egyptian men, not men accustomed to even entertaining a woman’s presence, let alone allowing her to join in the discussion, sat mute for a long moment while Purdue and Sam held their breath.
To her utter surprise, Prof. Imru replied, “I do agree, Dr. Gould. It is quite absurd to expect, let alone to execute in time.”
“Look,” Purdue started in on the joust, adjusting himself to sit on the edge of his seat, “I appreciate your concern, my dear Nina, and I do agree that it seems far-fetched to do such a thing. However, one thing I can attest to, is that nothing is ever cut and dried. We can employ various methods to attain what we want. In this case, I am sure I could approach some of the owners and make them an offer.”
“You are shitting me,” Sam exclaimed casually from the other side of the table. “What is the catch? There ahs to be one or you have lost your marbles, old man.”
“No, Sam, I am quite sincere,” Purdue assured him. “Hear me out, people.” The billionaire turned to face his host. “If you, Professor, could gather information on those few parties who possess the stones we need, I could get my brokers and legal people to procure those diamonds for a fair price without bankrupting me. They will draw up certificates of ownership after an appointed expert verifies their authenticity.” He gave the professor a steely look, dripping with confidence the likes of which Sam and Nina had not seen in their friend in a long while. “That is the catch, Professor.”
Nina smiled in her little corner of shadow and fire, nibbling on a piece of flatbread while Purdue made his deal with his former opposition. “The catch is that after we have foiled the Magician’s errand, King Solomon’s diamonds are legally mine.”
“That’s my boy,” Nina whispered.
At first shocked, Prof. Imru gradually realized that it was a fair proposition. After all, he had not even heard of diamonds before the stargazers discovered the chicanery of the sage. He was well aware that King Solomon possessed gold and silver in exuberant volumes, but he was unaware of the king holding diamonds, per se. Apart from diamond mines discovered in Tanis, in the northeastern region of the Nile delta and some accounts of more sites possibly accountable to the king, Prof. Imru had to concede that it was new to him.
“Do we have a deal, Professor?” Purdue pressed, looking at his watch to urge the answer.
Wisely, the professor agreed, however he had some conditions of his own. “I think that is very reasonable, Mr., Purdue, as well as helpful,” he said. “But I have a counter-proposal, of sorts. After all, I too, am only assisting the Dragon Watchers in what is their pursuit to avert a terrible celestial catastrophe.”
“I understand. What do you suggest?” Purdue asked.
“The remaining diamonds, those not in the possession of opulent families throughout Europe and Asia, those will become the possession of the Egyptian Archaeological Society,” the professor insisted. “Those your brokers manage to intercept are yours. What say you?”
Sam frowned, tempted to whip out his notebook. “In which country will we find these other diamonds?”
The proud professor smiled at Sam, folding his arms happily. “Conveniently, Mr. Cleave, we believe that they are interred in a cemetery not far from where you and your colleagues will be conducting that awful official business of yours,” he bragged.
“In Ethiopia?” Adjo spoke for the first time since he started stuffing his mouth with the delectable foods in front of him. “They are not in Aksum, sir. I can assure you. I spent years working on dig sites with various international archaeological teams in that region.”
“I know, Mr. Kira,” Prof. Imru said firmly.
“According to our ancient texts,” Penekal revealed with great ceremony, “the diamonds we seek are reputedly buried within the monastery on the holy island in Lake Tana.”
“In Ethiopia?” Sam asked. At the solemn frowns he received, he shrugged and explained, “I’m Scottish. I don’t know anything about Africa that was not in a Tarzan movie.”
Nina smiled. “Lake Tana is said to have an island where the Virgin Mary allegedly took rest on her way from Egypt, Sam,” she elucidated. “It was also reputed to have been the home of the real Ark of the Covenant before it was brought to Aksum in AD 400.”
“I am impressed by your historian’s knowledge, Mr. Purdue. Maybe Dr. Gould could work for the People’s Movement for the Protection of Heritage Sites sometime?” Prof. Imru grinned. “Or even for the Egyptian Archaeological Society or the Cairo University, perhaps?”
“Perhaps as temporary advisor, Professor,” she gracefully declined. “But my love is for modern history, specifically German history of the Second World War.”
“Ah,” he replied. “Pity. It is such a gloom riddled, cruel era to give one’s heart to. Dare I wonder what it betrays about your heart?”
Nina raised an eyebrow, delivering a quick reply. “It betrays only that I am wary of historical events repeating themselves where I am concerned.”
The tall, dark-skinned professor leered down on the contrasting marble-skinned, small doctorate, his eyes filled with true admiration and geniality. Purdue was afraid of another cultural ball-busting from his beloved Nina, so he interrupted the minor bonding experience between her and Prof. Imru.
“Right then,” Purdue clapped his hands together and smiled, “let us get started first thing in the morning.”
“Aye,” Nina agreed. “I am dog tired
and the flight lag has not done me any favors either.”
“Yes, the climate change is quite aggressive from your native Scotland,” the host agreed.
They took leave of the meeting in high spirits, leaving the old astronomers relieved for the help and Prof. Imru elated for the ensuing treasure hunt. Adjo stepped aside for Nina to lead the way to the taxi, while Sam caught up to Purdue.
“Did you get all that on tape?” Purdue asked.
“Aye, the whole deal,” Sam confirmed. “So, now we are stealing from Ethiopia again?” he asked innocently, finding it all ironic and humorous.
“Yes,” Purdue smiled deviously, his answer confusing all in his company. “But this time, we are stealing for the Black Sun.”
25
Alchemy of the Gods
Antwerp, Belgium
Abdul Raya came walking down the busy street in Berchem, a quaint neighborhood in the Flemish region of Antwerp. He was on his way to the home business of an antique dealer named Hannes Wetter, a Flemish connoisseur obsessed with precious stones. His collection included various ancient pieces from Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and Russia, all adorned in rubies, emeralds, diamonds and sapphires. But Raya cared little for the age or rarity of Wetter’s collection. There was but one piece he was interested in, and of that piece, he needed only a fifth of.
Wetter had spoke to Raya on the phone three days prior, before the floods began in earnest. They had arranged an eccentric amount for the impish effigy of Indian origin that Wetter had in his collection. Although he insisted that this particular piece was not for sale, he could not refuse Raya’s bizarre offer. The customer had discovered Wetter on eBay, but from what Wetter learned from speaking with Raya, the Egyptian knew much of ancient art and nothing about technology.
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