Sixth Seal

by Thornbrugh, Josh

  Hannah nodded and took a seat. A single file folder was open on the table. Henryk sat in the chair opposite her and began leafing through the papers inside, occasionally pausing to review the contents of a particular sheet. His brows would furrow then slacken as his eyes flitted from page to page.

  Hannah cleared her throat and the officer looked up at her. She tightened under his gaze.

  “This shouldn’t take long Miss Klein, it is Miss Klein is it not?”

  “It is. I’m afraid the university left me no time for matters of the heart.” Hannah made a nervous chortle.

  “Indeed.” He obviously didn’t share her amusement. He looked back down at the file. “It says here that you are originally from Berlin, but that your family moved to Sweden before you graduated from university?”

  “Yes, my father accepted a position with an engineering firm in Sweden.” Henryk made a note in the file.

  “Do you have any siblings?”

  “My file should say as much, Lieutenant.” Hannah met the officer’s gaze.

  “Ms. Klein, I’m sure that all of this seems like a nuisance to you, but I assure you that my thoroughness here is vital to the security of this project. Our enemies would do anything to hamper our efforts.” He folded his hands over the top of the file and stared into her eyes. She swallowed hard, her throat becoming drier by the minute.

  “I apologize Lieutenant, it’s just that I’ve already had a very long day. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

  “So…”

  “I beg your pardon?” she said. He looked at her expectantly. “Oh, I’m sorry, yes I have a brother, Andrew. His name is Andrew.”

  “Just a brother?”

  “Yes.” She wished he would move on to questions about her time at the university. There wasn’t any reason for her to tell lies about her years there. She spent most of them studying and researching. Of course some of her research involved tracing the whereabouts of the book, but that was easily concealed by her major in antiquities.

  “Have you seen your family since they left for Sweden?”

  “No, but we have exchanged letters and the occasional phone call.” Hannah shifted in her chair.

  “That must be rather difficult. Don’t you feel like you’re all alone?”

  “It is difficult, but I’ve made a few friends and my work keeps me busy.” Hannah rubbed her palms together.

  “Why didn’t you go to Sweden with the rest of your family?”

  “I was already in the middle of my studies and my father felt that it would be foolish to leave.”

  “That’s sensible.” Henryk sat back in his chair and tapped the table absently. “Then why didn’t you join your family in Sweden after graduation?”

  Hannah’s throat was drier than ever. She hoped she didn’t appear as nervous as she was.

  “That was my initial intention before I became involved with the antiquities program. Once I was accepted as a research assistant it became apparent that my place was in Germany.”

  “And now in France?”

  “Yes, and now in France.” Had he seen the tension in her features?

  “Very good.” Henryk nodded. “That is all of the questions I have for you for the time being. I just have some guidelines and regulations that I must go over with you before you are dismissed.”

  Hannah felt the tension leave her body. She had prepared herself for much more intensive questioning, but this had been relatively easy. Maybe a little too easy.

  “In accordance with security directives, all personnel are to be housed in dormitories on the premises. Since there are none available in this building, you will be assigned to an apartment nearby.” He looked up at her as if waiting for affirmation. She nodded.

  “Also, you have been assigned a security ID. You will need to present it to any security officer that asks you for it. Failure to do so will not be taken lightly.” Again he paused.

  “I understand.”

  “Very good. Lastly, no one is allowed to leave the facility for any reason without an escort.”

  “I thought the Vichy secured this region before the occupation.”

  “It is as secure as possible, but remember we are still at war and therefore we must take all necessary precautions.”

  Hannah nodded. There certainly wasn’t any point in arguing the matter with an SS officer. She would just have to find a way to circumvent their rules.

  “Here is your security badge, Miss Klein. Please wear it at all times while you’re here.” He handed her the badge, his hands were rougher than she imagined an officer’s would be. “You are dismissed. I believe Doctor Altman is waiting for you.”

  She pushed her chair back from the table and stood. She paused, looking down at Henryk who was busy making notes in her file.

  “Is there something else?” asked Henryk, looking up at her.

  “Oh, no sir. I’ll just be leaving now.”

  “Very good,” he said and went back to his writing.

  Most of these bastards insisted on throwing out a ‘Heil Hitler’ or some other such ridiculous adulation for the Fuhrer, which she would always be obliged to affirm. This little rat must’ve been too preoccupied she thought.

  ***

  Once on the other side of the door, Hannah let out a deep breath. She stared up at the beautiful frescoes on the arched ceilings of the Capitole de Toulouse. The idyllic figures seemed caught up in their own concerns and paid no heed to the violation of their tranquil home by the Nazis. Hannah was at least relieved to see that the bastards hadn’t seen fit to cover the walls with swastikas atop massive swaths of garish red paint. As it was, they had placed their insidious banners and flags at the end of every hall. To Hannah it was an unspeakable abomination.

  Hannah felt a wave of nausea wash over her. Her first thought was that her nerves were getting the better of her, but something deeper inside told her otherwise. She straightened herself up and dabbed at her forehead with a laced handkerchief, and prepared herself to see the doctor. Her shoulder length auburn hair was a stark contrast to the gray wool suit that was just a step away from being a uniform. The only sound, her heels clicking and echoing on the ornate marble tiles.

  There it was again, the familiar tug at her gut. She knew the book was close, but she hadn’t felt its pull in quite some time. This bothered her considerably, because if her estimates were correct, the book should be nearby, at least within fifty miles or so. Of course, the last time she had seen it, she was going by the name of Joan d’Arc and everyone insisted on calling her the Maid of Orleans, at least until they burned her at the stake. She had the last laugh though. She buried the book underneath a sanctuary on her way to Patay, and to her knowledge, it hadn’t been found until recently. Unfortunately, all of her investigation and research led her to believe the Nazis now had it in their possession, but where?

  Again a faint tug. She paused, pushed out with her mind, seeking, reciting. Was that a faint response? There was no time to try again. The doctor would be waiting for her. He had some top secret project which he required her knowledge of ancient languages for. He had barely given her time to pack. In fact, the SS officer he sent to collect her had largely done her packing for her.

  Hannah regained her composure and rounded the corner. There at the entrance to the great hall, she recalled it had once been used for marriage ceremonies, stood two more of the SS’s finest. Originally there had been no door here, but apparently someone had seen fit to place a corrugated metal wall and secure door into the space. She hoped they had been careful not to destroy much of the delicate structure of the ceiling when they set it in place. But knowing these bastards as she did, she didn’t have very high hopes.

  One of the men stepped forward, but Hannah displayed her badge before he could say anything. Without a word, he opened the door and held it for her, uttering a ‘Heil Hitler’ as she passed. She nodded, but offered no reply.

  The room was immense. Al
l of the original furnishings had been removed, replaced by a wall of equipment surrounding a laboratory table in the center of the room. There was a metal box on the table and it appeared as if four large loudspeakers on stands were pointed directly at it, one at each corner. Hannah felt a slight vibration in the room and her ears began to ring. After a moment she realized the doctor was waving at her from across the room near one of the loudspeakers. As she closed the distance between them, a stabbing pain pierced her stomach and sent her doubling over to the floor.

  “Hannah, are you alright, my dear?” Doctor Altman rushed to her side. He knelt down and placed her arm over his shoulder. Despite his age, he was still fairly strong and had little trouble pulling her up off the floor. He helped her to a metal folding chair at the edge of the room.

  “I’m fine, Doctor.” Hannah slumped forward in the chair, placing her hands on the back of her neck. “Just a little nauseous.”

  “I’m sorry, dear. I should have turned off the electromagnetic transmitters before you came in. I’m used to them myself, but they may be affecting you.”

  She watched the doctor cross the room to the devices, shutting off each in turn. The humming and vibration receded until finally it stopped completely. Hannah’s ears were still ringing when she felt another tug at her stomach; only this one was unmistakable. It was the book. The damn bastards had found it and it was in this very room, but how had she not felt a stronger presence. It must be the electromagnetic devices she thought.

  Another wave hit her hard as though the book was making up for lost time or sending out distress signals. She could hear its call now. It rose from the faintest note to a bellowing crescendo inside her skull. ‘Claim me protector. Fulfill your birthright and gather the seven unto me.’ Its presence was formidable, she would forsake all others for it despite that at every utterance the mighty book nearly unmade her, nearly ripped her soul in two. ‘Take up arms against the seekers.’

  Hannah’s head was on fire and the pressure on her skull was unbearable. Her vision blurred and she began to rock back and forth. She was vaguely aware of the doctor by her side and his attempts to rouse her out of her delirium. She looked up at him, seeing his mouth move through a stream of tears, but unable to make sense of his words.

  Again the book sent a wave of energy through her being. The commands washed over her, wave after wave until she could take it no longer. She felt the doctor trying to grab hold of her arm right before she slipped off the chair and landed on the cold, smooth marble. The French sure know how to make beautiful buildings she thought, right before she blacked out.

  Lee

  Ana heard a voice, distant, hollow. It was as if she sat at the bottom of a well and someone called down to her from above. There was a sense of urgency in their tone, but she wouldn’t respond just yet. There was something she needed to remember first, something just for her. What was it the book had said to her all of those years ago? It was her wasn’t it? Why couldn’t she recall her name? She could picture herself as the woman doubled over on the floor. She could feel what the woman felt and hear what the woman heard, what she was commanded to do by the book. ‘Take up arms against the seekers.’ But who were the seekers and how was she supposed to stop them?

  “Ana? Can you hear me, Ana? I want you to come back to me.” There was that voice again.

  Ana struggled to open her eyes, vaguely aware of the figure kneeling beside her. Her hand stirred against his warm palm. It was moist with sweat and their fingers interlocked.

  “Ana, can you hear me? You’ve gone deeper than I intended.” Again the urgency. Ana turned her head. It took her a moment to focus on his face.

  “Doc, is that you?” She could see the worry on his face begin to dissipate, a barely perceptible smile forming. There was more to it than just relief though, but Ana couldn’t figure out what it was.

  “Yes it’s me, Ana.” He dabbed at her forehead with a damp cloth, and for the first time she realized how hot she was.

  “I’m a little warm, Doc.”

  “I know.” He dabbed her forehead again with the cloth, squeezing the tiniest amount of water onto her skin. “You had me a little worried I’m afraid. I’ve never seen anyone go quite so deep before.”

  “But I don’t remember the name. I don’t know the woman’s last name.”

  Doctor Gabriel narrowed his eyes and looked down at her.

  “But you told me her name already, Ana. You really don’t remember?”

  “No. I remember the pain, the uncontrollable pain, and the book. I remember the book.”

  “I’m sorry, Ana. I didn’t think you would go so far under on our first session.” The doctor stood and went to a sideboard against the wall and poured a glass of water. “Here, try to sit up and have a glass of water.”

  Ana sat up, her body ached as though she had run a marathon. She was exhausted. The doctor handed her the glass and pulled up a chair next to her.

  “Thanks, Doc. I think I’m starting to feel better now.”

  “Just rest for a minute, and then I’ll call Joe and have him take you back to your room so you can get some sleep.”

  Ana handed the glass to him and sat back in the inviting cushions of the couch. “I’ll be okay. What was the name anyway, Doc?”

  He gave her a quizzical look. “Oh, the name, of course. Her name is Hannah Klein.”

  An electric charge ran through her opening up a long dormant pathway. It was so obvious and familiar that she wondered why she hadn’t remembered it before. The name just sounded right, sounded real, sounded tangible.

  “I knew it was a short last name.” She smiled. “So what do we do now, Doc?”

  “We don’t do anything. You’ll get some rest, and I’ll see what I can dig up regarding the name.”

  Ana leaned forward. “Did I happen to say where she was from?” The doctor’s eyes darted to the side for a moment.

  “No. At least not specifically that I recall. However, you mentioned the Nazis, so I’ll see what I can pull up from around that time. It’s not much to go on, but it’s a start.” He returned the glass to the sideboard and sat behind his desk.

  “Maybe we can do another session tomorrow—“

  “Absolutely not, you’re exhausted.” She started to protest, but he held up a hand. “Besides, I need to examine my notes and do some research. Think of it as a little break. I’ll even arrange for some time for you in the lounge. How does that sound?”

  Ana hung her head. “I’d really rather try again, but I guess a day or so won’t hurt.”

  “Precisely. Now I’ll just call Joe and you can go rest.” The doctor picked up the phone and dialed Joe’s extension.

  Ana got up and started for the door. “Doc?” He looked up at her.

  “Yes?”

  “Did I mention the seekers?”

  “No. Who are the seekers?”

  She shrugged. “I was hoping you could tell me.” The doctor shook his head and returned to his call.

  ***

  “Are you alright, Ana?” Joe’s face was painted with concern.

  Ana nodded. “Just an intense session.”

  Hans held the door open this time. She passed through first with Joe close behind. Ana turned her head to say something more to Joe, but she stopped when she saw the confused look in his eyes. He looked right past her.

  “Hey, Lee. What’s up?”

  Ana turned quickly to see Lee standing only inches away from her. She took in a quick breath and laughed nervously.

  “Hello,” was all she could manage.

  “Do you remember that night on the Yangtze river?” His eyes were so dark, so familiar. “Do you remember when I pulled you from the water after you fled the Eastern Palace?”

  “I don’t—“ She stepped back.

  Joe moved past Ana, pushing her behind him. “Lee, I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you need to step aside.”

  Hans took up a pos
ition opposite Joe. The two men seemed to be flanking Lee, preparing to take him down. Ana didn’t know how she knew that, she just knew. Why was that her first thought?

  “You do remember me, don’t you, Ana?” He stood unmoving, unflinching. His mop was still in his hands. She could see the grip he had on the pole. She recognized it. She recognized his stance.

  “How can it be—“

  “Lee, I’m going to tell you one more time. You need to step aside, or Hans and I will be forced to take you down.” Ana could hear the nervous edge in Joe’s voice. She knew that despite his size advantage, he wasn’t sure of his abilities. There was something about Lee that exuded strength and confidence.