Portis nodded. ‘I will your Holiness
Chapter 73
The Brotherhood
St James’ Park – London – 1:23pm
Tuesday 17th August 1953
Rothschild shook hands with Frederick and smiled. ‘Professor, good to see you, I’m intrigued as to why you’ve requested a meeting.’ Both men started to walk.
‘I need to know anything you can tell me about Vatican interest in flying saucers.’
‘I take it this is because of a recent experience.’
Frederick nodded. ‘A woman who we believe had contact with a UFO was taken by two Vatican Cardinals.’
‘Back to Rome no doubt.’ Rothschild added.
‘What do they want with her?’
‘The Vatican is well known for taking pregnant woman who they believe have had contact with extraterrestrials. She will spend the rest of her life in the care of the Holy See. They have many convents scattered throughout Europe where these women are housed.’
‘What will happen to her when her baby is born?’
‘They baby will be taken away. There are rumours that immediately after the children are born they are killed. However we are talking about centuries old rumours. Last year the Order received information regarding a heavily fortified villa on an island of the coast of Italy called Isola Del Giglio. It is said that there are children there who are supposed to be decedents of God’s angels. The men you encountered are known as the Brotherhood of the Holy See. Their organisation is centuries old.’
‘I take it the Order of Galileo have encountered this Brotherhood.’
Rothschild nodded. ‘We have been rivals for centuries. They are the opposite of what the order stands for. The Brotherhood is determined to keep any information regarding flying saucers out of the public domain.’
‘How did they know the woman in London had an encounter with creatures from another world?’
‘The Americans aren’t the only ones who have access to alien technology. There have been encounters with beings from other planets for centuries. The Brotherhood is the Vatican’s version of The Angel Committee only their organisation has been operating throughout the civilized world for hundreds of years, collecting information relating to extraterrestrials. Think about it Professor, the bible is packed with stories about heavenly beings interacting with men. The woman you recently encountered is not unlike the virgin birth. Mary gave birth to a child after an encounter with a heavenly being.’
‘Are you saying the bible in an account of encounters with extraterrestrials?’
‘The bible is many things Professor.’ Rothschild answered. ‘It is one of many religious text which has been altered over the centuries to suit the purposes of those who wish to conceal the truth. The Vatican is well aware that we are not alone in the universe. Dozens of crashes have occurred over the centuries and have been covered up by the Brotherhood. Witnesses silenced or worse and any physical evidence taken away for study.’
‘And what about the woman’s other children?’
‘Probably rotting away in an orphanage by now.’ Rothschild replied
Frederick glanced at his watch. ‘I wish I could learn more, but I’m afraid duty calls.’
Rothschild smiled at Frederick. ‘Until next time Professor.’
Chapter 74
Project Orion
Bletchley Park – 10:09am
Thursday 19th September 1953
‘I’ve been looking through the documents you brought with you from Russia Mr Kirov and they mention something called Project Orion. Why don’t you enlighten us as to what this is?’ Frederick asked.
Morris Stanford and Professor Richard Wilks were also present in the interview room.
Dmitri Kirov took a long drag on his cigarette and stared at Frederick. ‘With all due respect Professor Frederick I have been a prisoner here for weeks and now you just march in here demanding answers.’
‘Mr Kirov you must be aware that your comrades will be very eager to get their hands on you at this moment. Preparations are being made for you to be moved, but for now you will remain here. If you choose not to cooperate with our investigation then you will be here for a long time.’ Stanford explained.
Kirov took another drag. ‘Orion is an extension of a secret research project started by the Nazis during the war. Hitler was obsessed with obtaining artefacts which he believed contained mythical properties which would help him win the war.’
‘Artefacts?’ Wilks questioned.
‘He believed that there was knowledge which had been lost for thousands of years, but is buried somewhere. Knowledge relating to technology not of this world.’
‘Not of this world?’
‘The Nazis believed that we had been visited in the past by creatures from another world and that the ancient civilisations that built great monuments acquired this knowledge off these beings. When the tides of war started to turn against Hitler he sent teams all over the globe looking for this lost knowledge. In the last days of the war, Russian troops gained access to a vault which contained documents relating to all kind of Nazi projects.’ Kirov smiled.
‘Something amusing you Mr Kirov?’ Wilks asked.
‘The Americans believe that they had the upper hand capturing rocket research facilities. But what we found was far more valuable. Hundreds of locations all over the world where the Nazis had been including America and Great Britain.’
‘I assure you Mr Kirov there were no Nazis in this country during the war.’ Stanford said with confidence.
‘Are you sure, just because you won the battle of Britain doesn’t mean you kept the Nazis at bay. The Nazis had teams of archaeologists all over the UK mainland digging for what they hoped would win them the war. They also had teams in North America.’
‘So comrade Stalin decided to carry on the research.’ Frederick added.
Kirov nodded, taking a deep breath. ‘Until his paranoia started to dominate him.’ Kirov stared at the wall in front of him. ‘Two colleagues of mine were ruthlessly murdered earlier this year because of infighting over Project Orion. A scientist called Igor Lakatos is the man behind their murders, he believed in Orion but he wanted it for himself and has been head of the Project since March. I started to fear for my life.’
‘Why?’ Wilks asked.
‘Because I was former head of Project Orion.’
Frederick sat back in his chair thinking about what Kirov was telling them. ‘So I take it there are teams of Russians all over looking for this lost knowledge?’ He suggested.
Kirov nodded.
‘What about the British Mainland, are any Russians on the loose looking for artefacts?’ Stanford asked.
‘If I tell you.’ Kirov said. ‘I want better accommodation.’
Stanford glared at the Russian for several seconds before eventually nodding. ‘Very well Mr Kirov.’
‘I believe there is a team in Scotland.’ Kirov revealed.
Frederick could barely stop himself from laughing. ‘Scotland, don’t be absurd man, what could possibly be there which is of interest to the Soviet Union. Not to mention the fact that you’ve been with us for a good several weeks. So any information provided by you will be useless.’
‘Mjölnir.’ Kirov replied.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘It’s a Viking word Professor Frederick,’ Kirov said. ‘Translated it mean The Hammer of Thor. As we speak there is a team of archaeologists looking for this artefact. They have been in Scotland since June and have been given orders to stay there until they found something. The Nazis believed it to be some kind of weapon capable of levelling entire cities. That’s why the Soviet Union is so interested. It’s highly possible the team is still there.’
Chapter 75
The Expedition
Portuairk - Ardnamurchan Peninsula - Western Scotland – 11:56am
Friday 25th September 1953
A gust of wind howled in from the North Sea and although the sky was crystal clear
and the sun blazed down Frederick wrapped his army issue coat tightly around him. Stood next to him was Professor Norman Canning who was dressed identically. As he was the only member of the committee who mastered in geology and history he volunteered to go with Frederick. At sixty six years old Frederick had to admit he was very agile.
‘I still say Kirov has sent us on a wild goose chase, for all we know they could have left weeks ago.’ Frederick protested.
‘Well at least we’re out in the fresh air.’ Canning cheerfully commented, surveying the landscape beyond the beach.
Accompanying both men were six soldiers attached to the Special Air Service led by Captain Rodney Crewe, a world war two veteran. The group had been dropped off by HMS Sheffield which admiral Berkshire had ordered to the area Kirov had claimed the Russian archaeological team were. The Sheffield had been ordered to sail further up the coast and return in two days to pick the men up.
Frederick looked across from the beach towards the landscape beyond which consisted of a rugged terrain with mountains off into the distance.
Professor Canning studied a geological survey map he had with him. ‘If memory serves me correct this area is one big extinct volcano.’
An old ruin of a stone cottage stood where the beach met grassland. ‘Not exactly the ideal holiday home.’ Frederick remarked.
‘Probably abandoned during the highland clearances.’ Canning speculated.
‘Ok then chaps.’ Captain Crewe trudged past with the five other men close behind. ‘We’ve got a bit of a walk ahead of us so I suggest we get going.’
The group of eight men walked off the beach and followed what appeared to be nothing more than a goat trail. After about two hours the team reached the foot of a mountain which marked the outer rim of the extinct volcano Canning had mentioned. The spot on which they had stopped was a flat piece of grassland on which stood an ancient stone circle consisting of thirteen monoliths, twelve of which were rectangular, approximately nine feet in height by three foot in width. Frederick noted that the space between each stone was not equal like other stone circles he had seen. The thirteenth stone towered above the rest at twelve feet in height by four foot across. Each stone was approximately a foot in thickness.
Crewe and his men squatted in the centre and broke out some army rations while Frederick and Canning examined the standing stones. Both men could easily make out all kinds of strange symbols etched into the stones.
Frederick glanced at the stones one by one. ‘There is a similar standing stone on Sir William Ingles estate in Ripley. He told me his cattle refuse to graze anywhere near the stone.’
‘Looks like someone’s been here before us.’ Canning remarked pointing at the stone in front of him. ‘The stone has been cleaned, these markings stand out more.’
Frederick stood in front of the largest stone staring at a series of circular symbols. ‘Take a look at this.’ He beckoned Canning over who looked at the symbols etched on the stone. ‘What do you see?’
Canning stared at the nine circles on the stone which were marked out in a straight line and consisted of several different sizes. In between the fourth and fifth circle there was another group of smaller circles over lapping each other varying in size. The sixth circle had a diagonal line through it. Scattered above and below the main circle line were more circles, again varying in size. Canning took a deep breath shaking his head. ‘From what I know some of these stones date back to the first century and before that. No one has been able to decipher them. I know someone at Oxford who has spent a good deal of his life studying stones like these.’ Canning removed his rucksack and took out a camera.
Frederick pointed at the sixth circle with the diagonal line through it. ‘Saturn.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Canning said.
Frederick then pointed at the first circle in line. ‘Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.’
Canning shook his head looking doubtful. ‘Impossible, these were highland tribesmen they had no social structure like the Romans. No detailed knowledge of the planets or stars.’ He pointed at the other circles on the stone. ‘What about these other circles just randomly scattered about and the group of circles in between where you say Mars and Jupiter are.’
Frederick thought for a few seconds. ‘Dwarf planets.’
Canning took a deep breath. ‘Dwarf planets, that’s a bit of a stretch Ralph.’ He said with doubt in his tone. He held up his camera and snapped a picture.
‘But we know there are dwarf planets within the solar system.’ Frederick remarked.
‘Ralph the people who made these markings were simple tribesmen, hunter gatherers not stargazers like the Greeks or the Romans.’ Canning said. ‘And even the Romans and Greeks didn’t have knowledge of dwarf planets. They didn’t start showing up until the invention of the telescope, not to mention planets such as Pluto haven’t long been discovered.’
Frederick stepped up to the stone for a closer look. ‘Were they hunter gatherers?’ He said, rubbing at one of the etched circles. ‘This circle is perfect, and doesn’t look like it’s been carved out by any stone tool.’
Canning stared at the markings raising his eyebrows nodding. ‘Yes they are quite intricate.’ He remarked.
‘We still know very little about our past and the people who inhabited this planet before modern man. Science itself is partly built on knowledge handed down to us through the ages. We still use basic mathematical principles that the Greeks came up with. For some of us everything we learn as we go through life is either based on what we’ve been told in school or through self discovery. But for most people all their accumulated knowledge has been handed to them.’
‘Ok Ralph, what’s your point?’ Canning asked.
‘My point is Norman how do we know we are right about half the things we teach.’
‘We don’t.’ Canning replied. ‘But it’s all we have to guide us.’
‘Exactly.’ Frederick looked at the upper half of the next stone and noted that there were several indentations marked out in a pattern all connected by intersecting lines. A smile appeared on his face as he realised what he was staring at.
‘What’s the matter?’ Canning asked.
Frederick just pointed. ‘Orion.’
Canning studied the markings ‘You’re right that is the constellation of Orion.’ He sounded genuinely surprised.
Frederick moved on to the next stone and stared at the markings on the top. ‘Andromeda.’ He moved to the next stone. ‘Aries.’ And the next. ‘Canis Major... Cancer... Draco... Cassiopeia... Libra... Leo... Pegasus... Sagittarius... Virgo.’ By the time he had named all the constellations he had returned to the Orion stone. He looked at the constellation and noted the middle star which made up part of Orion’s belt had a perfectly straight line pointing down to a line of four circles. He quickly glanced at the tallest stone with the representation of our solar system. The third planet along had a vertical line leading to an indentation which was part of a group. Frederick then focused on the Orion stone staring at the line of four circles. ‘This can’t be.’ He said.
‘What?’
‘If I’m not mistaken this is another planetary system.’
‘Impossible.’ Canning stated.
Frederick quickly scanned the other stones which all had a line of circles on them and each stone had one circle with a line pointing toward a star in each constellation.’
Canning pointed at the tallest stone. ‘But what about this stone here? Where you say is our solar system is.’
Frederick stared at the group of indentations. ‘I have no idea, I’m not familiar with this constellation.’ He stepped back and stared. ‘Oh my god, this could be a constellation our own sun could be part of.’
‘I’m impressed Professor Frederick, we’ve been studying these stones for weeks but have not been able to come up with answers!’ A voice shouted from behind clapping his hands.
Chapter 76
The Scave
nger
3:06pm
Frederick, Professor Canning and the six soldiers sat with their hands tied in the middle of the stone circle. The twelve Russian soldiers had appeared out of nowhere surprising the group.
Norman Canning glared at the ground. ‘So much for the SAS.’ He scoffed.
Captain Crewe glared back at Canning. ‘And your point being Professor?’ He growled.
Canning looked up at him. ‘You should have had a man on watch otherwise we wouldn’t be in this predicament.’
‘With all due respect Professor Canning, all my men and I were ordered to do was escort you and Professor Frederick on some jolly highland jaunt. We weren’t expecting to bump into a small contingency of Russian soldiers. Now would one of you boffins please tell me what the bloody hell’s going on?’
Frederick ignored the argument which was brewing between the two men. He stared over at Colonel Yuri Konev whom he had encountered the previous year during the Operation Mainbrace incident. Konev was stood next to another man who was taking rubbings of the symbols on the stone. The colonel looked back at Frederick and smiled; he said something to another soldier and indicated at Frederick. The soldier walked over and hauled him to his feet.
‘I’m impressed with your ingenuity regarding the meaning of these stones Professor. My team had all but given up, we assumed these stones were unimportant.’
Frederick remained silent.
‘Don’t be bashful Professor you were more than happy to team up last year during the incident with the Americans.’
‘What exactly do you intend to do with us colonel?’ Frederick asked.
‘For now Professor I would like you to assist my colleague and answer some questions he has.’
A soldier walked up to the colonel saying something in Russian before leading him away outside the stone circle.
The man taking the rubbings watched Colonel Konev until he was out of sight. ‘Professor Frederick, it is an honour sir.’
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