“The murder you’re investigating Chief Inspector is far from being the first murder in the long, long history of The Holy Grail and The Ark of The Covenant. The causalities in a war that has lasted since Moses stood upon Mount Sinai are counted in hundreds of thousands. City walls have been reduced to rubble by the power of the Ark, armies have fled from it, stories of plagues of boils and haemorrhoids have been recounted, and whole tribes have disappeared. Many times the victor in a small war has returned the Ark to what they believed to be the rightful guardians to avoid the dark things that have befallen them as a result of their acquisition of it. The Ark of the Covenant is different to any other thing upon the Earth. It belongs to God.”
He reached into his clothing and took out a postcard. It had a picture on it of what was obviously the Ark of the Covenant. He gave it to me. “That's a copy of a famous artist’s picture of the Ark.Moses and Joshua bowing before the Ark, a painting by James Jacques Joseph Tissot, c. 1900. It is painted using the description you will find of the Ark in the Book of Exodus.”
I passed the postcard on to Juliet and they passed it around as he went on talking quietly.
“Upon the Ark a hospitality seat was instructed to be constructed by God so that he could communicate with whosoever was seated upon it. Many believe that it was God's intention to seat himself upon it whilst he communicated with his servants but that is a misunderstanding. The Ark was a way to open the doors to the realm that contains both Heaven and Hell and allow the seated person to communicate with that realm.”
Leon passed the card back to him. He had our complete attention now. “The Ark is empowered to open the divide between the world of Men and the Realm of God. There are those, such as the man you seek, that believe that it can also be used to open the way to Hell instead of to Heaven, Heaven and Hell being the two parts of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
I was really impressed. He hadn't wasted a single word. He had clarified many of the questions in my mind about the strange nature of the case and also he had indicated to us that the Abbey, and therefore probably Torre Abbey too was involved with the protection of the Ark of the Covenant.
“Those who follow the Left Hand Path will never stop looking for the Ark and those whose duty it is to prevent them from finding it will never stop protecting it. The battle between Light and Darkness is as real today as it was when David built his Temple.” Again his head did that strange leaning to one side. “It is not a battle of months or years Chief Inspector. It is a battle of the hours. There has never been a night since God gave Moses the Tablets upon which were written The Ten Commandments that the powers of Darkness have not sought to destroy them. The Tablets are said to be contained within The Ark. They represent civilisation; the basic Laws that separate the behaviour of Man from the behaviour of the beasts, or if you wish to be specific, The Beast.”
He looked at his watch. “It's Easter Saturday Chief Inspector, and a busy day for us here at Buckfast Abbey. We have many guests from far and wide. I am going to let you go in the company of one whose duties are those duties to which I have made reference. Not all of us have devoted out lives to that part of our responsibilities but Father Jacob has. I doubt that in all the world you could now find his equal. However before I take my leave of you I wanted to tell you that your search is not one you will make alone and that as the darkness comes tonight you will not be alone in your fight to save this gentleman's niece.” He indicated Leon.
“I also want before I go to address myself to you madam.” He looked at Juliet. “There is within the gardens of this Abbey a sculpture. You will I think be aware of that of which I now speak.”
Juliet nodded affirmatively. Her voice was not much above a whisper. “Yes I am.”
He reached out both of his hands and gently took Juliet's hands in his own. “Yesterday you prayed for the safety of someone other than yourself despite the terrible danger which faced your own soul. The soul for whose protection you prayed is a very special one. Before this is finished you will have to pray for that soul again. It is important that when you do you remember the sculpture.”
I watched their eyes meet. I watched his will reach out to her. “You must remember the sign you were given.” He held her gaze until he was sure his message had been assimilated. “The sign that you were shown bound the two of you together in this thing, before the end you will have to repay the help that you received. You understand?”
Juliet was ashen faced. “Yes I understand.”
He smiled at her; a gentle smile.
“Do not let the dark things that have threatened you turn your face from the light. God is good. He knows and He will protect you. If you go to the sculpture before you leave you will see that despite it being only Easter all the roses around it have bloomed in the past twenty four hours. Our visitors today will make much note of that I'm sure.”
He released her hands and turned to the rest of us.
“Forgive me Inspector but I really do have to go. Father Jacob will try to be of further assistance to you. When time allows perhaps you would be kind enough to return. I would like to listen to your side of this. Nothing happens regarding the long vigil of which we have spoken that is not carefully recorded here; your assistance with that record would be a kindness.
I assured him that I would and he nodded to everyone, stood up and quietly blessed us. “The Lord be with you in your time of trial.”
He walked away down the Ambulatory. I watched him go and wondered why I'd lived a whole lifetime without knowing anything of what goes on in places like this? Of the huge responsibilities that were hidden from most of us. I'd no idea.
Leon was looking at me. I could see that he was as off balance as myself. We deal in harsh reality, stock in trade for Policeman. “You can write the report on this case Mike.” he said and I laughed.
Graeme Dee looked at me too. “There were several things there that he couldn't possibly have known about.”
“Don't ask me.” I said. “I'm as lost as you are.”
Father Jacob was a whole new perspective. This time I really had expected someone old and wise but he was not a day over fifty, a youngster as far as I was concerned. He also looked incredibly fit. No stranger to the gym I thought.
“There was mischief in his eyes and I wondered if he knew what I was thinking. His good morning Inspector routine was accompanied by a firm handshake and a laugh.
“Am I supposed to be ninety five and geriatric?”
I laughed. “Something like that, eighty five at the very least.”
I've arranged coffee for you all in the book shop. The place I want to show you is very close to there. Do please follow me.”
“I'll follow anyone who is headed for the coffee.” Leon said, and they shook hands.
He led us through the Church, across the courtyard and then through the fine Bookshop to a rear room where coffee and croissants were laid upon a table.
“This is a restored part of the original twelfth century Abbey buildings,” he said.
He leaned across and helped himself to two croissants. As he did so a Crucifix he was wearing on a gold chain fell forward from his hassock. It was the fivefold Cross of the Crusaders. He noted my interest.
“My Order is a very ancient one Chief Inspector. It was formed in Jerusalem at the time of the Crusades.” He held the Cross up for us to see. “This particular Cross is very old. It has been worn by the person in my position within the Order for a very long time.”
“I've seen some of them that are the same age I think.” Juliet said. “Statues of Monks that were wearing them and carrying them too, there were Crusader Knights there as well, all in their own alcoves.”
Jacob looked at her intently. “Would you be able to find them again?” He asked.
“If you could remove a couple of hundred thousand tonnes of rock I could.” Juliet answered.
“They were founder members of an order called the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.” Jacob
said. “They undertook a very important task and sacrificed themselves in order to secure the safety of a very Holy thing.”
“You’re one of them aren't you?” Juliet said quietly.
“Yes I am.” Jacob answered. “I belong to the same order.”
This was a strangely private conversation taking place in front of us. We weren't included. Leon looked at me and Graeme too. I shrugged. I didn't know where it was going either.
“Are you going to help her?”
Leon's head snapped up and he looked intently at Jacob awaiting his reply.
“I think the truth is that I am praying that she is going to help me.” Jacob said.”
He put down his empty plate and looked at me. “We're getting ahead of ourselves Chief Inspector. If you'll follow me I will try to explain but you might wish that I had not. The Father Abbot wants you to have a chance to understand. Personally I think it would be better if you remained in the dark; a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”
He turned and we left the Book Shop by a back door, crossed a small walkway and entered another building. It looked like some sort of accommodation block. Inside he proceeded to a door which led us to a stairway and down into the cellars.
“The building above is a restoration but these cellars are original.” Jacob told us. “They date from around 1213.”
He opened another door and we descended again. We entered a very large room and I was taken completely aback at what I saw there. It was like something from a Hammer Horror film. On the floor a large Pentagram was drawn, a five pointed star with two circles, one touching the points of the star and the other internal one touching the valleys. On closer inspection I realised that it was not drawn, it was a mosaic and I guessed it was very old.
Inside the points were small silver dishes that appeared to have water in them and behind them stood tall candles in candle holders of silver. Within each valley a small dish was set with something like ash in them, something that had been burnt. The scent of it lingered in the room and I realised that it was incense.
Father Jacob did not say anything. He led us along the room and into what must have been a part of his own living quarters. A quite large room in which were a sofa and couple of armchairs, there was also a table and four chairs. It was very neat and orderly. On the walls were a lot of charts and prints, I could see that they were astrological. He bade us sit down and as we did I could sense that everyone was as surprised as myself.
On one wall was a large bookcase and I would have bet good money that the contents of it were worth a fortune. Heavy leather bound books, some of which were amongst the largest books I'd ever seen.
Jacob took up a position leaning against the bookcase and surveyed us.
“The Father Abbot has told you some part the history of what you’ve become involved with but my job is to tell you the part that you will struggle with. You do not have to believe what I am going to tell you, you must each decide for yourself what you believe. I am going to tell you anyway because you cannot now complete your duties without coming face to face with your own scepticism, being confronted by your own disbelief - your own prejudices. It is even possible that you will come face to face with the actual power of the Dark Forces. As one who has done that from time to time I can tell you that you will not find that moment an easy one. It is our wish, the Father Abbot and I, to protect you as best we are able.”
He looked across at Juliet. “You know the power and the evil of which I speak at first hand as I do. I hope that as someone known to the others present your experience will be enough to help protect them. To make them listen with an open mind.”
“He looked directly at me. “You’re all aware that we have a spirit, a soul, according to Christian beliefs, something that survives our earthly existence and is resurrected to Heaven after our death. According to some other religions this soul can be reborn many times in different reincarnations.”
He was watching us and saw that we were all familiar with what he was saying.
The part of you that departs your conscious when you sleep is thought to be that inner self, that soul or spirit. Some people, who train themselves to do so can control that spirit just as you now control your waking body. I am one such person.”
He paused to see if anyone wanted to challenge that claim and when no one did he went on.
“We would call that ability the ability to control our astral selves, our spirits or Ka or soul. There is very little that you can do in the physical realm which you cannot also do in the Astral Plane if you are adept at so doing.”
A telephone started to ring somewhere in a room off to our left. I guessed a kitchen but he made no move to answer it.
“You know that you are pursuing a man who you believe to be a Satanist. You know that he has invaded this lady's life in the most dreadful of manners. She would tell you that the powers this man claims to have are actually very real.” He indicated Juliet and gave her a smile.
“She knows that he can do things that most ordinary people would refuse to believe. He like I have has given his entire life to the pursuit of astral powers. He gave his in pursuit of the power to control other people. To do evil and I have given mine to ensure that he does not! It is important that you understand that he has done this many times through many incarnations. He was chosen for his task by Lucifer himself.”
Again he waited but no one challenged him. We were all on a vertical learning curve but we weren't arguing back yet.
The Dark Powers and the Powers of Light have been conducting an astral war since time immemorial. Both sides have their Adepts, their warlords, their generals and lieutenants. People who rise to different degrees of learning and according to that degree their powers are decided. The man you seek is very nearly as high as it is possible to get in the service of the Dark Powers. He has real power! But he wants more!”
He was looking at me again and making sure I was taking his words seriously. I was, I had listened to Juliet before we slept and I didn't have any reason left to doubt his words.
“To serve the Dark Powers and advance it is necessary to perform acts of evil, the more evil the act the more the power that is obtained. Your quarry has performed a great many evil acts to get to where he now stands as an adept Satanist. He is utterly ruthless and utterly cruel. The murder you’re investigating is far from being the first he has been involved with.”
“A question if I may.” It was Graeme Dee. “If you knew this man was a murderer why didn't you tell us?”
“And you would have believed me when I told you I saw him do so on the Astral Plane. That I had no evidence on the physical plane whatsoever.”
Graeme looked at me. “There's no answer to that is there?”
Jacob smiled. “It's an old dilemma, tell and be ridiculed, or hold your counsel and be blamed.”
He adjusted his stance against the bookcase and went on.
“Some incarnations or spirits have progressed so far along the Path to Enlightenment that they have a special place upon the Astral Plane. To these chosen few is given the ability to exist over great periods of time. Some part of that time is spent in the physical world and some part in the astral world but wherever they are they are involved in the battle between Light and Darkness. They are the warriors who man the front line, you would call them Angels or Demons or such like. They have great power!”
The phone was ringing again and he waited until it stopped.
“There are some very special objects that have great astral power invested in them too. The Holy Grail you would guess at once, The Ark of The Covenant too perhaps. The Body of Christ, The Ten Commandments; over these are fought the fiercest of battles. Battles that are old beyond understanding, battles that have spawned great wars on the physical plane as well as the astral. You have inadvertently become involved in the fiercest of those battles.”
We all looked at each other but no one wanted to make a comment.
“Tonight your man will try to ta
ke control of the Ark of the Covenant; the most powerful astral force of them all. If he succeeds he will pass beyond your ability to affect him. He will have such immense astral power that nothing would be able to oppose him. We here will not be able to oppose him either. He would strike us down without a second thought.”
He walked across and sat on the arm of a chair close to Juliet. “You asked if I would help Cherie. I said I hoped that she would help me. I will now tell you why although I cannot tell you anything about how the things she is now involved with came about.”
He looked at me and I nodded for him to go on.
The pentacle you all observed on the floor of the room outside is used to keep me safe whilst I travel on the Astral Plane. To protect me from Adepts of the Darkness who would like very much to stop me from travelling at all!” He smiled. If he was worried about that it didn't show.
“Whilst on the Astral Plane I have been observing Hainsley-Sihl for a very long time. It is not the same as in the physical world and for a very long time I did not know how close to me he was. I thought he was in America. He was an Adept too and able to cover himself very effectively. He was also very quickly aware that I was beginning to guess at his purpose with the Ark and began to protect himself even more. He is surrounded by other leading Satanists and together they have led me quite a dance, but a year ago I realised that they were beneath Torre Abbey! Right on our own doorstep.”
Lucifer's Abbey Page 27