Templars - The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud

Praise for Julia Navarro and
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD

Plenty of action and a cast of well-drawn characters will satisfy Da Vinci Code fans fans of the genre will find much to like here. Booklist

An exuberant, deeply involved thriller, woven around the history of the Shroud of Turin Spanish journalist Navarro distinguishes her fiction debut from routine suspense fodder by ending this convoluted tale with realistic ambiguity rather than wrapping up all the loose ends, Terrifically lively characterizations and the authors passion for her subject make this one stand out. Kirkus Reviews

Your chance to read the book that knocked Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code off Spains bestseller lists. Library Journal

Spanish author Julia Navarros debut novel The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud is a religious suspense thriller with an epic quest, an age-old secret conspiracy and a secretive group of people who will, naturally, stop at nothing. She writes well (and is beautifully translated by Borges recent translator, Andrew Hurley) and her characterizations are strong. Tosh of a superior quality. Observer (UK)

Navarro deserves credit for her extensive research on the legend of the Knights Templar. Entertainment Weekly

For readers who cant get enough of the religious suspense genre, heres a heaping helping. Publishers Weekly

A provocative page-turner of the highest orderone that will challenge you to believe. Bookreporter.com

[T]hrilling international intrigue Navarro mixes fact with fiction to present a colorful history of the Turin Shroud alongside a modern-day mystery surrounding a fatal fire at Turin Cathedral. Yorkshire Post (UK)

Translation copyright 2006 Random House, Inc.
Originally published as La Hermandad de la Sbana Santa.
Copyright 2004 Julia Navarro
2004 Random House Mondadori, S.A.
Travessera de Grcia, 47-49, 08021 Barcelona

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Seal Books and colophon are trademarks of Random House of Canada Limited.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD
Seal Books/published by arrangement with Doubleday Canada
Doubleday Canada edition published 2006
Seal Books edition published October 2007

eISBN: 978-0-385-67394-5

The Cavafy poem on is from Cavafy, C.P., Collected Poems. 1972
Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Reprinted by permission of

Princeton University Press.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Seal Books are published by Random House of Canada Limited.
Seal Books and the portrayal of a seal are the property of Random House of Canada Limited.

Visit Random House of Canada Limiteds website: www.randomhouse.ca

v3.1

For Fermn and Alex because
sometimes dreams do come true.

My thanks to Fernando Escribano, who revealed the tunnels of Turin to me, and who is always on duty when his friends need him.

I owe a debt of gratitude also to Gian Mara Nicastro, who has been my guide to the secrets of Turin, his city. He has been my eyes in the city and has generously and swiftly provided me with any information Ive asked for.

Carmen Fernndez de Blas and David Tras believed in the novel. Thank you.

And thanks, too, to Olga, the friendly voice at Random House Mondadori.

There are other worlds, but they are in this one.

PAUL LUARD

c. A.D. 30

Abgar, king of Edessa,
to Jesus the good Savior, who appears at Jerusalem, greetings

I have been informed concerning you and the cures you perform without the use of medicines and herbs.

For it is reported that you cause the blind to see and the lame to walk, that you cleanse lepers, cast out unclean spirits and devils, and restore to health those who have been long diseased, and, further, that you raise up the dead.

All of which, when I heard, persuaded me of one of these two: either that you are God Himself descended from heaven who does these things, or you are the Son of God.

On this account, therefore, I write to you earnestly, to beg that you take the trouble of a journey hither and cure a disease which I am under.

For I hear the Jews ridicule you and intend you mischief.

My city is indeed small, hut neat, and large enough for us both.

T he king laid down his pen and turned his eyes toward a young man of his own age, waiting motionless and respectful at the far end of the room.

You are certain, Josar? The kings gaze was direct and piercing.

My lord, believe me. The young man could barely hold himself back as he spoke. He approached the king and stopped near the table at which Abgar had been writing.

I believe you, Josar, I believe you. You are the most faithful friend I have, and so you have been since we were boys. You have never failed me, Josar, but the wonders that are told of this Jew are so passing strange that I fear your desire to aid me may have confounded your senses.

My lord, you must believe me, for only those who believe in the Jew are saved. I have seen a blind man, when Jesus brushed his fingers over the mans dead eyes, recover his sight. I have seen a lame man, whose legs would not move, touch the hem of Jesus tunic and have seen Jesus gaze sweetly upon him and bid him walk, and to the astonishment of all, the man stood and his legs bore him as your legs, sire, bear you. I have seen a poor woman suffering from leprosy watch the Nazarene as she hid in the shadows of the street, for all men fled her, and Jesus approached her and said to her, You are cured, and the woman, incredulous, cried, I am healed, I am healed! For indeed her face became that of a human once more, and her hands, which before she hid from sight, were whole.

And I have seen with my own eyes the greatest of all miracles, for when I was following Jesus and his disciples and we came upon a family mourning the death of a relative, Jesus entered the house and commanded the dead man to rise. God must be in the voice of the Nazarene, for I swear to you, my king, that the man opened his eyes, and stood, and wondered at being alive.

You are right, Josar, I must believe if I am to be healed. I want to believe in this Jesus of Nazareth, who is truly the Son of God if he can raise the dead. But will he want to heal a king who has been prey to concupiscence?

Abgar, Jesus cures not only mens bodies but also their souls. He preaches that with repentance and the desire to lead a life free thenceforth of sin, a man may merit the forgiveness of God. Sinners find solace in the Nazarene, my sire.

I do sincerely hope so, Josar, although I cannot forgive myself for my lust for Ania. The woman has brought this plight upon me; she has sickened me in body and in soul.