The Ophir

by Irene Patino

  Word would also be taken back to foreign lands of the riches sequestered on the island. Those riches would change hands many times during the exchange of services between the Ophir and original inhabitants of Cilicia, although few in number. The exchange was lucrative, and recognized by all rulers, until John of Lusignan, titular Prince of Antioch, was crowned king.

  Internal strife within the walls of Cilicia created dissension. Its political structure collapsed leaving it prey for the Egyptian Mamelukes. The relationship was at an end. Captain Antonio pulled anchor and laid a course to northern waters.

  Where was I, one might ask? I’ll tell you. I stayed sequestered in my cabin during these heated times. As a joke, Captain Antonio had the pickle barrel delivered to my quarters. Humorous as he might have believed it to be, it saved me more than once and would again before my life would take an inevitable turn.

  Chapter Nine

  From the time that the Ophir left the waters of the Greek island of Cilicia Trachea, the world picked up pace. Politics changed direction as often as a tornado meandered. Warrior countries battled warrior countries. The seas increased in traffic. News came through the blood coursing the veins of strong and weak sailors alike.

  The One travelled the world in search of Kadar Nazim to deliver his promised revenge. He avoided the long arm of The Old Man of the Mountain by accomplishing a feat that Nazim didn’t foresee in time to block the escape to foreign lands. Even if given a chance by Jehovah himself, The One would never consider truce.

  Nazim, called to God’s side to answer for his transgressions, followed the bloody trail my master left behind but kept his distance. In his heart, Nazim wanted to follow God’s edict, but he struggled with the shards of man’s ego that festered within.

  * * * *

  Circa 632 A.D., Nazim ascended. His most devoted followers would be at his side to witness the ascension. He repeated his vow to return to the Islamic faithful, just as he’d vowed to exact final retribution from The One two short years before.

  In our determination to escape assassination, The One never lingered in any one spot long enough for the news of Nazim’s death to reach us. Had it done so, it might have afforded us some small reprieve and changed the course of history.

  Nazim’s detractors whispered rumors that he had died at the hands of his “most favored wife.”

  “I heard she was a Hashasheen.”

  “Ironic. A trained Hashasheen no less.”

  “Why is that ironic?”

  “Any fool would know that if she had been Hashasheen, Nazim would have known. Was it not his cousin that gave birth to their existence in Alamut? Was he not one of the original trainers in the art of assassination?” The controversial discussion continued around campfires late into the night.

  Some laughed when it was said that he died of natural causes, for they knew that there was nothing natural about Nazim, last prophet of God. In that year the Sunnis and Shi’ites split loyalties but continued rebellion.

  Reborn into a Christian family, which provided support and honest morals, he became a man of importance and earned respect among the members of his community. Following in the steps of Mohammed, his prophetic teachings brought change through politics. They taught religious principles and would have a lasting effect on the history of the world. He corrected his many failings from his time on earth as the prophet Nazim. Even so, he was less than innocent, and he would pay for his transgressions

  There would be a last judgment for both Nazim and the Lamia Master.

  Chapter Ten

  In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God. And The Word was God. And The Word resonated within the heart of Nazim the Prophet. The Word became physical and manifested itself in the physical form of Nazim the Ascended reborn in Hadim Khadhulu.

  God took Nazim so that he might learn from Him. Nazim was changed. He now spoke truth. Where there was avarice, there now was generosity. But the hate lived on, denied and undetected, like a hidden infection. Evil resurfaced like a cancer to overpower the humanity that had taken root there.

  Where once was conceit, now lay humility. Water of Life flowed through him and around him, holding negativity at bay and replacing it with the knowledge of light. Even so, Nazim’s need for retribution grew in Hakim, but God retained the right to punish and reward.

  “But, Father, I obeyed your command. Why do you sit in judgment now?”

  “You dare question me?”

  “I wish only to learn that I may be more like you and follow your path.”

  “You, Nazim, brought into being the abomination named ‘The One’. It was you who spoke the words that created death that walks the face of the Earth.

  It is you who will do battle to make things right again in the world. I made man and love him greatly. I will not suffer the unnatural creation of another to continue in the world I so love.

  Nazim, leader of men, come to me. Kneel before me so that you will hear my words.” Nazim did as his creator bade him do.

  “Yes, Lord?”

  “Go forth into the world. Seek that which you created. It is unclean through your bidding and must be cleansed in pure waters. It has gained strength and cunning, but it will not be above you, nor will it be below you.

  You will meet in a time and place of my choosing to begin battle, that I might be vindicated in the creation of the man reborn as Hakim Khadhulu. Live your life as I would mine. Take care, do not meander from the light ... fore if you do, you will not escape Hades a second time.

  Go. Fight not for me. Fight not for yourself. Fight for the world, the existence of man and your entrance to paradise.”

  “I ask in humbleness, Lord, how am I to bring this creature to a place of your choosing, if I know not where it lays? How can I establish rule, if my strength does not surpass his? How will I find him? I do not understand.”

  “And once again I tell you, faith. You will know the place when you come to it. Wait there. He will come to you. My son, do you doubt Me yet? Have you not seen with your own eyes that which I can do? Doubt not, Hakim. If you have not trust, you have not faith.

  Faith in Me, faith in the God within you, is the way. It is the only way. Let no corrupting words come out of your mouth.”

  “But what of retribution?”

  “I tell you, be quick to hear, slow to anger, slow to speak, for only a fool gives full vent to his spirit. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. But, above all, Hakim, remember vengeance is mine.”

  “Lord, I am but a simple man, with the weaknesses, desires and needs of a man. How can I keep your commandments?”

  “If you love me, you will. I will teach you, and you will remember. You will be observed in your duties. You have been given a second chance to right your wrongs. Should you fail in the smallest of these, your portion will be in the lake of fire and sulfur, a second death from which there is no saving. Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves, for I will hear your words and thoughts; I know what is in your heart.”

  Tears fell from Nazim’s eyes in gratitude and love for his Maker. He wept also in fear that a common man such as he should be trusted with the life of the entire race of man. What if he failed again?

  Bearing in mind the words of the true maker of men, Nazim now known as Hakim, went about reconstituting his own soul, preparing it for a new birth and preordained life in the body of Hakim Khadhulu, 8th and last child of Nu Satagut, teacher of true light. Using spiritual guidance from the Father of Man, Hakim Khadhulu attained a multidimensional state. In this state, he could see, hear and communicate with others in a higher dimension. He was, in a sense, tethered loosely to the Maker but would be allowed to make his own decisions. In the end, his decisions would dictate his fate. The angel of death rode his shoulders.

  It was a game of tag with several players taking roles right up to the end. No one on earth knew the outcome. Captain Antonio, try as he might, could outrun neither
time nor progress. He and the men of his pirate flotilla found themselves trapped in a surrealistic world that brought reality to the fore.

  The Knights Templar was disbanded, in the Year of Our Lord 1307, while under the rule of King Edward II. Catholicism held immense power and controlled riches beyond imagination, as well as the lives of the common man. They had their greedy fingers in all the pies. The Knights spread to different parts of the world to avoid persecution by the Church, benefactor and procurer of The Old Man of the Mountain and other secret sects.

  The Knights, a secret society of nobles sworn to protect the religious antiquities of the Catholic Church, were now being hunted, tortured and killed. The passionate members of both Church and State sought to regain the very treasure they’d given to the Knights to protect.

  With history in their possession, the Knights managed to build a huge treasure trove, but trove was a misnomer. The ancient treasures existed of more than just mere jewels, coins and plates. It held treasure with a value beyond that of any man known before, or after, the advent of Christianity.

  “Monsieur Molay, while the Catholic Church acknowledges your service, it must insist that you cease and desist your activities. The Church requests that you return all properties immediately. The political pressure is such that our authority is being questioned. Fringe factions issue threats daily against the Pope. We believe it would be best that all our property be housed in the sacred catacombs beneath the city streets of Rome. Here at the Vatican, they can be guarded day and night for safety and control.”

  “Are you sure it would be in the best interest of the Church to maintain all property here, Monsignor? Would it not be more prudent to leave it dispersed? It would be more difficult to acquire by any one person.”

  “While that is true, Monsieur, it is also true that any one part of the property could be dangerous to us all, if it were to fall into the wrong hands.

  “The King, Monsieur De Molay, has been indiscreet in his desire and goal to gather greater wealth at our expense. We cannot allow that to happen. These treasures could be dangerous in the hands of others. Have no doubt, you have been targeted and are in danger.” The Pope used all possible diplomacy to persuade the noble organization to return the riches to the church. “After all, the treasure belongs to the people. We only wish to safeguard it for them.” Ownership of these precious items made the Templars the most powerful organization in history. More powerful than the church itself. And the church knew it.

  The long arm of the Templar members reached into many pockets. King Philip le Belle of France, during the last few years that the Knights existed as a sovereign entity, knew it well. He, like so many other members of the ruling society at that time, was indebted to the Knights, first bankers of the world.

  The King resented the Templar’s power. He resented the wealth that they possessed and hated being at their mercy.

  “I owe them nothing. I am the King, and as King the right to exact payment is mine in whatever amount I see fit.”

  “My King, might it not be a mistake to eliminate the Templars? They protect the realm. Without their protection you would be at the mercy of any invading country. Your enemies would have a clear path.

  The treasures were taken in the name of the church. We can share the wealth but request the Orders be left intact and demand continued fealty. There are many heathens to be tamed and future riches to be claimed.”

  “My dear Monsignor, perhaps you should be the one to take greater caution. After all, these treasures you claim to protect for the people were taken from the very people you claim as your flock, your children. As King, I have more right to them than you do. They live on my property. They are fed from crops I allow them to harvest. You would do well to remember this.”

  “Oh, Your Lordship, I have not forgotten who owns what. Neither have I forgotten how they came into ownership. Nor have I forgotten how certain holdings and wealth were squandered leaving the owners at the mercy of both the Church and the Order of Templars.”

  King Philip IV of France devised a way to free himself from the Templar hold. Greed spurred him on. He found a way to bring charges of heresy against the Knights Templar. He knew that if he succeeded, he would eliminate his debt to them. He would be able then to confiscate the entire Templar treasure for his own personal use.

  On Friday the thirteenth, in the month of October, 1314, Grand Master Molay was arrested. King Philip of France never learned any of the secrets held so dear by the Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Jacques de Molay sacrificed his life rather than give up the precious cargo or deny his God.

  Records of the time stated that King Philip never saw even one piece of the treasure,. When he went to claim his prize, the treasure was no longer there; all antiquities had been moved by the nobles in charge to the Templar fleet. Using the tomes of sacred rites, they stayed at sea in calm waters until the time and events were aligned for their final resting place.

  Jacques de Molay, grand master of the Knights Templar, was roasted alive. Even after being tortured without ruth, he remained faithful to his passion; he never divulged any of the places that sheltered the Templar treasures. The story of the Templar orders became part of legend, but little known is that the cunning Philip le Belle made Molay Godfather to his son. He requested his attendance as pall bearer at the funeral of Philip’s sister-in-law just one day before giving orders to have Jacques de Molay arrested and leveling several criminal charges against the Grand Master. For the next seven years, Molay and other Knights would suffer tortures while confessions were extracted that would destroy the once highly held Templars. At his death, he was given the opportunity to confess before the people his greatest sins. Just before being burned at the stake he recanted, stating thus:

  “To say that which is untrue is a crime both in the sight of God and man. Not one of us has betrayed his God or his country. I do confess my guilt, which consists in having, to my shame and dishonor, suffered myself, through the pain of torture and the fear of death, to give utterance to falsehoods imputing scandalous sins and iniquities to an illustrious Order, which hath nobly served the cause of Christianity. I disdain to seek a wretched and disgraceful existence by engrafting another lie upon the original falsehood.” and then added theses solemn words:

  “With God as my witness, guilty of heresy is King Philip of France. Greed clouds his judgment. As to the false accusations by Pope Clemente and the Holy Catholic Church, I say our strivings were not to teach any religious creed, or bring doubt on our God. The Knights Templar believe that as God’s children we have the right of choice; any religious opinions are yours alone to own. We have always enjoined upon man the sacredness of faith, the beauty of a humble reliance on the goodness of God. Even now, in our darkest hour, we beg you to be true to this. Delight in the companionship of the devout, not only to frequent the holy places of worship, but to carry the teachings into your daily lives.

  The day will come when the Church will fall charged with collusion and sodomy, charges you tried to lie at my feet, and which I die denying. You, my liege, nor you Monsignor, will witness this final renunciation. And so it shall be.”

  As he gazed into the royal crowd of spectators and guests of honor called to witness his execution, he made one final statement from his funeral pyre. He denounced King Philip and Pope Clemente, shouting it that all might hear. Showing no sign of fear, he roared that God would take revenge on the lives of those Templars taken unjustly. The shouted curse, “From your lips to God’s ear” sealed the curse and obliged the Church to answer for criminal transgressions before God. It is rumored that Philip’s death came as retribution. Fruit from the vine, one might say. Witnesses to Clemente’s death claim that his last act of contrition was to beg forgiveness for three great crimes in which he had a hand: the poisoning of Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor and the ruin of the Templars and Beguines.

  At one time, mystical knowledge denied by the Church was in the hands of the twelve known Imam’s of Hashashe
em traditions. But, now it was protected by the noble assassins. The Compilation of The Thirteen Treasures and The Owl, the first cataloged Grimoire, along with additional information from the Druids, the Magick of the Egyptians, Mithraic astrological mysteries, Faerie traditions from the Pietish ancestors and even more mystic knowledge from the Etruscans and the Ordre de Seon, were under the tenacious hold of the secret sect. It was no wonder the Church pursued the Knights as vigorously as the Templar federation fled their persecutors. A political war was at hand; the Knights Templar was caught in the web.

  The treasures were said to also include the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus, the Holy Grail, a recorded document said to be the connection between heaven and earth and the shroud Jesus was buried in. But these historical relics carried less monetary or spiritual value than the mystical knowledge of the many cultures involved. In those tomes, both desecrate and hallowed, the warrior monks possessed a secret so great that the knowledge, if exposed, could destroy basic concepts of Christianity as presented to the world by the faiths of our time.

  Within the year, both King Philip and Pope Clemente were dead just as Jacques de Molay had predicted. Justice had been served. The noble Knights scattered, never to be heard from again except in whispers. They started in obscurity and left little but conjecture.

  With no Grand Master to rule, steps were taken as soon as word of his arrest was announced. New associations formed and plans were laid for saving the sacred treasures held by the Templars.

  To some, the Knights still exist. Others believe them to be extinct. And still others, such as Captain Juan Antonio Patiño, know not only that they exist, but also will learn where one of the most precious pieces of the Templar treasures will be found. He knows, because he will be the one to place it there.