Henry nodded. ‘Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia...’ He smiled to himself.
‘And Drogeo?’
Henry double-checked the content. Finally he nodded.
‘North and Central America.’
Gabrielle looked carefully at the map, seeking to determine Zichmni’s exact route in her mind. ‘If Zichmni and Antonio were searching for Estotilanda but only found Icaria, later to travel southwest, then surely they found the Caribbean.’
‘Perhaps. But southwest of St. Kilda is still a long way north. Southwest of St. Kilda may lead to Nova Scotia or even North Carolina. It really depends on their exact course.’
‘It sounds as if they hadn’t a clue.’
‘Navigating by the stars is not an exact science,’ Henry said. ‘Just one degree out could misdirect by some 600 leagues.’
Henry concentrated on the area that comprised modern day North America. Gabrielle did the same, paying particular attention to a strange feature. She had noticed it a few days earlier but was unable to study it in detail. A figure, appearing to be a knight in armour, was standing just off the coast of Nova Scotia, his sword pointing at an area of coast. A second, larger, knight was also present some seven or eight hundred miles to the south, standing over what the map referred to as Drogeo.
‘What does this mean?’
Henry concentrated on the first knight. ‘The knight is standing over what the map refers to as Trin. This would be close to modern day Nova Scotia.’
Henry’s smile widened. He paid closer attention to the second knight.
Gabrielle also looked at the second knight. An outline of what seemed to be a castle was also present.
‘It seems to be somewhere in New England,’ she said. ‘Nantucket?’
Henry left his seat and walked across the room. He examined the antique globe on his desk before moving over to a large world map crossing the far wall of the study. He examined it in detail before double-checking it against the map in the diary.
‘It appears to be Rhode Island.’
Gabrielle looked once more at the map. ‘Rhode Island,’ she repeated. ‘Newport?’
The academic removed his glasses and smiled, practically laughing.
‘Newport, Rhode Island, of course.’ His mind wandered back to the drawing of the stone church. ‘The church must be the Newport Tower. The Newport Tower is a circular structure with eight legs.’
The professor smiled peacefully. Few historians believed in the authenticity of the famous Zeno map. He had always doubted its validity. To him it was a 16th century hoax: a clever attempt at convincing the believing of a possible pre-Columbus crossing of the Atlantic in an age typified by fraudsters attempting to pass off the improbable as genuine. But now its relevance was clear. The place names were not make-believe. Only the worthy would be capable of seeing them.
Suddenly a thought came to him. ‘As luck would have it I think I know someone who may be able to help us. A colleague from Harvard.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. A fellow history professor, he’s been investigating it for years. He’s fascinated by it.’
‘Can you trust him?’
‘Certainly. His cousin is the curator of Rosslyn.’
Gabrielle smiled, her eyes again wandering across the map. As she looked once more over Drogeo she noticed something else, something she had also noticed back in the Vatican. A star marked the north.
‘What does this mean?’
Henry looked. ‘What’s what?’
She pointed at the text. There was a name included.
‘La Merika?’
‘Hmmm. Yes, I noticed. Very curious.’
A brief silence followed. To a rookie it was innocuous: a bizarre yet inconsequential collection of words.
‘What’s curious?’
Henry shook his head, still smiling. ‘Nothing,’ he said. ‘Just an old myth.’
Gabrielle looked at him, her eyebrows narrowing. ‘What kind of myth?’
‘Well, a Templar one, actually.’
‘What was it?’
‘Well, there is an old story, completely unsubstantiated, from the early days rather than the latter. But the story goes that deep within the Temple of Solomon the original Templars made a startling discovery.’
Gabrielle waited impatiently as he paused once more for coffee. ‘And?’
‘Well, according to the story, the original Templars found an ancient document hidden beneath the Temple Mount. Supposedly it described stories of ancient Phoenician knowledge, including the location of a continent called La Merika. The new world as it were. It was a land that could only be approached from the east when following the western star. Curious.’
Gabrielle nodded, not really knowing what to make of it. She monitored her uncle. It was as though a strange calm had overcome him.
‘Well I best take Mike his coffee.’
The professor nodded and smiled. He stretched, almost comically. His attention returned to the map. Double-checking it, triple-checking it, quadruple-checking it. Each time he looked it seemed more conclusive. Who would have thought it? Proof of perhaps the greatest historical enigma had resurfaced. Hidden for years beneath a rock in the earth. And no one knew.
No one remembered.
Mike adjusted his position in front of the desktop PC and double-clicked on the mouse. The waiting time, usually merely milliseconds with the rapid broadband connection, was taking longer than usual.
He had made several searches already that day but he was still to find anything of interest. In reality, he was not entirely sure what he was looking for. Ever since his conversation with Thierry regarding the murdered bankers in the 1980s his mind had continued to wander. Two murdered bankers: both alleged victims of the Rite of Larmenius but without a known motive. Bearing in mind what was known of the Banco Ambrosiano scandal he assumed they were in some way involved, but the lack of leads bothered him. Surely if the Rite of Larmenius had been involved in similar activities their actions would have left a record: even if only a vague one.
Finally the page came up. The search engine provided 34,084 results, none of which were relevant. He tried a slightly different search, this time 54,867 results, none of them relevant.
In reality he could have deemed the society’s past unnecessary. Criminal investigation was not his responsibility. Yet by now he was hooked. He was in too deep not to be affected. For the first time he considered the possibility that the events of the past were connected to those of the present, even though the people involved might be different.
As best he could tell from the Internet, the Rite of Larmenius was just one of a number of secret societies whose reality was officially vastly different from its alleged activities. He found some of the legends, notably the possibility that they had once been in league with the Communist Bloc, but there was little evidence to prove it. He found little evidence to validate any of the murder stories, although references to the Banco Ambrosiano scandal were numerous. The more he seemed to discover about the murdered bankers the more similarities he saw to the current situation. Could history be repeating itself?
Devére was no banker, but the Rite of Larmenius, possibly Ludovic Gullet, may have killed him. Based on Devére’s revelations to Mark the Rite of Larmenius must have been directing whoever was responsible. Was there a connection between them and the Templars? Do these Templars even exist? If so what was the significance? Was there a connection with what Gabrielle had found? There were so many questions he wanted answering.
He entered a new query into the search engine and clicked twice on the mouse. The search was useful. The first result was an old newspaper article dated 17th May 1982. Then there was another: this time 21st May. Another click of the mouse followed. On the second page there was another, dated the following day. At the bottom of the page he found a fourth article. 23rd September 1989.
Seven years and four months after the event, the trial for the double murders of Italian bankers Alexei
Nesta and Gianluigi Calveccio has ended with the defendant being found not guilty.
Despite ongoing criticism of the snail-like progress that the case has seen since the discovery of the bodies in Rome within a week of one another in May 1982, the jury yesterday unanimously agreed not to convict the 35-year-old Ludovic Gullet for the double murder of both bankers due to insufficient evidence.
Regarded in the city as two of the most talented bankers in Italy, it was an Italian newspaper reporter on his way to work who spotted the deceased body of Nesta in close proximity to the Castel Sant’Angelo, merely one hundred yards from where Calveccio was later found in similar circumstances. Calveccio himself had been wearing an expensive suit and was carrying over nine hundred pounds, dollars and lira that had been untouched by his murderer.
While it is still unclear as to why they were murdered, strong suspicions connecting the manner of the killings with similar terrorism acts attributed to the controversial Masonic fraternity, the Rite of Larmenius with whom Gullet himself is known to have had involvement in the past, refuse to go away. While no spokesman for the Rite of Larmenius has commented since the murders, heightening rumours that the group has ceased to exist, both the Grand Lodges of Freemasonry and the Grand Orient have spoken out strongly against the group with both claiming that the Rite of Larmenius is in no way affiliated with either branch, and does not represent the order. According to some commentators the Rite of Larmenius may be responsible for over two thousand deaths worldwide since 1945 and were rumoured to have been involved in the possible murder of Pope John Paul I and the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.
An honoured soldier and former captain in the Swiss Army, Gullet’s fall from grace is still viewed with sadness in his home country. Famed for his patriotism and loyalty, Gullet became a Swiss Guard in 1973 and remained so until 1981. After rapidly rising through the ranks since beginning his career as a private, a staunch Catholic throughout his life, Gullet had enjoyed a colourful career with the Swiss Guard before being expelled by the order for an alleged breach of discipline.
Despite the trial finishing yesterday, the exact reason for the murders and the extent of any connections Gullet may have had with the Italian bankers remains uncertain. Throughout the trial Gullet repeatedly denied any responsibility for the murders or that his actions were taken under orders, but continued rumours of connections with the Rite of Larmenius has convinced many that the murders were part of a wider conspiracy involving the failings of Banco Ambrosiano.
Aged 42 and 44, respectively, no evidence has yet come to light regarding the activities of Nesta and Calveccio and what they were doing in Rome at the time. Both individuals worked as analysts for several banks throughout Europe, including Banco Ambrosiano. In 1973 Calveccio was accused of currency law violation, which, if guilty, would have resulted in a suspended four-year prison sentence, but of this he was acquitted. Nesta achieved fame in 1977 in his role as a columnist for the Italian Newspaper, Verità, and frequently appeared on television as a financial commentator.
‘What are you doing?’ Gabrielle asked, leaning over Mike.
Mike turned instinctively, unaware that Gabrielle had entered the room. Coffee dripped down the mug onto the carpet.
He looked at her, exhaling. ‘Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.’
‘Obviously,’ she returned, putting down the mug before wiping her hands on her jeans. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I made you a coffee.’
Feeling like a fool, he smiled and thanked her. He took the moderately warm cup of coffee and sipped it gratefully. The temperature felt ideal on his dry mouth.
Gabrielle gazed with interest at the monitor. ‘What are you doing in here anyway?’
‘Sorry,’ Mike said, placing his coffee on a coaster. ‘I should’ve asked.’
‘Don’t apologise. What are you looking up?’
‘Nothing really: just something oberst said to me.’
‘Oh yeah. What was that?’ she asked. She sat down gently on the armrest and placed her right arm just behind his neck on the comfy chair.
As usual, he considered his actions. It was potentially classified information. Then he remembered the article was public knowledge anyway.
‘There’s an article here. It’s on the Rite of Larmenius.’
‘Lemme see.’
She sat down on Mike’s knee and leaned in to read the article. Mike inhaled slowly, attempting not to be affected by the gentle presence on his leg. It was a nice presence, accompanied by a swift and soothing fragrance of lavender. As she leaned back slightly he felt her naked shoulder against his arm.
‘Ludovic Gullet,’ she said, turning to face him.
For the briefest of moments their faces came into close contact. Gabrielle broke eye contact immediately, making the excuse to clear her throat. She rose to her feet.
‘You think Ludovic Gullet is involved?’
Mike eyed her with interest. ‘You’ve heard of him?’
Gabrielle looked back awkwardly. ‘As a matter of fact I have. We’ve met once or twice.’
Mike looked at Gabrielle curiously.
‘Don’t look at me like that; I never said I liked him,’ she said putting her hands through her hair. ‘He knew some of my dad’s friends.’
Mike nodded slowly, his mind examining the possibilities. Gullet may have known the victims.
‘He owns a chain of casinos. My dad used to go on the odd occasion.’
Mike nodded, grimacing slightly. ‘Sorry.’
‘What’s it say?’
‘Not much, just that he was a Swiss Guard turned bad.’
A Swiss Guard turned bad, Mike thought to himself. Thierry never mentioned he was a Swiss Guard.
‘Sounds like the guy who tried to kill me.’
‘I doubt that,’ he said shaking his head. ‘Like you said, he owns a series of casinos now. However, it looks as if you were right. This has happened before.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Perhaps I was wrong. If Gullet went bad, then…’
‘You think it was a Swiss Guard, not an impostor?’
Mike shrugged. ‘I guess I don’t know.’
Gabrielle nodded, turning back towards the monitor. She spent several seconds reading the remainder of the article.
‘You think Ludovic Gullet murdered these bankers on behalf of the Rite of Larmenius?’
‘Well, it looks like one of their guys did. And apparently Gullet was in the correct location for the murders of Snow, Walls, Llewellyn and von Sonnerberg.’
‘You never mentioned this before.’
‘I didn’t know. Oberst only told me the other day. He also showed me photographs of Gullet speaking with a US Senator named Danny D’Amato and a former British politician named Lord Parker.’
‘Never heard of them.’
‘Oberst thought it was potentially of connection. He also said the Vatican Police have someone working undercover at Gullet’s casino trying to sniff out any evidence. Oberst wouldn’t have told me this if he wasn’t worried. Commissario Pessotto, Mark and the Vatican Police are working flat out.’
‘Of course he’s worried, Mike. Everyone is.’
Mike nodded. ‘He was prepared to admit that he thought that the murders might have a genuine connection to the Rite of Larmenius. But he feels that the Rite of Larmenius are different from other organisations or terrorist groups.’
‘In what way?’
‘Apparently they have no definitive cause, nor is it obvious even who their members are. They don’t use violence as a tool to get any political objective achieved, or at least not as far as we know. As far as the world knows they’re just an appendant body of the Masons who are very select when it comes to taking on new members. According to this article they don’t even have any direct connection with the Masons themselves.’
‘So he thinks that this organisation which consists of some of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet are just a rabble.’
‘He didn’t say that, he just said the organisation is too diverse to have one specific aim.’
Gabrielle nodded. That made sense.
Mike frowned. ‘However, if the Rite of Larmenius are responsible for recent events then there must be some purpose. If Gullet is killing on behalf of the Rite of Larmenius then these murders must be connected. As, most probably, were any others that occurred in the past, including those two bankers in the 1980s. Why would he kill two bankers for no reason?’
‘So you think the murders of these bankers are connected to my father? And Llewellyn…’
‘Probably not, at least not directly, but if Gullet was responsible then their deaths must have benefited someone. And this article confirms public suspicion that they killed in connection with the Vatican in the past. And possibly at least one former Pope.’
Gabrielle was confused. ‘You maybe wanna explain?’
‘If Gullet is responsible for the recent murders then why is he doing it? As far as we know Ludovic Gullet is only an assassin, therefore someone or some people with a substantial amount of money must be calling the shots. The Rite of Larmenius have the money and the influence, as do their individual members.’
‘So you think this has nothing to do with the Templars?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe they’re connected.’
‘You think the Templars formed the Rite of Larmenius?’
Mike shrugged. ‘They have the same logo…and your uncle said the first leader was a man named Jean-Marc Larmenius. Kinda coincidental.’
‘Hardly conclusive proof. Maybe the Rite of Larmenius is just inspired by the legends.’
Mike shrugged again. ‘Well, if the Templars have survived for whatever reason, perhaps they evolved into something bigger than we know. If they do exist, they are undoubtedly capable of pulling off several murders. Who they are exactly, well that’s another matter.’
A brief silence fell.
‘Anyway, you’ll be pleased to know we won’t be staying here much longer. Next week we’ll be returning to my place in Boston.’
The Templar Agenda Page 34