C.M. Palov - The Templars Quest

PENGUIN BOOKS

PENGUIN BOOKS

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First published 2011

Copyright C. M. Palov, 2011

Photography by Richard Peach / Alamy

Design by www.edwardbettison.com

All rights reserved

The moral right of the author has been asserted

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

Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

ISBN: 978-0-14-196066-1

PENGUIN BOOKS

Born in Washington DC, C. M. Palov graduated from George Mason University with a degree in art history. The authors rsum includes working as a museum guide, teaching English in Seoul, Korea and managing a bookshop. Twin interests in art and arcana inspired the author to write esoteric thrillers. C. M. Palov currently lives in West Virginia.

Death is the great equalizer, Friedrich Uhlemann silently mused.

As evidenced by the thousands of bones sandwiched between thick slabs of pitted limestone. Indeed, the catacombs of Paris morbidly flaunted the spirit of libert, egalit, fraternit, with no discernible difference between sinner and saint, prince and pauper, making him think that the French virtues of liberty, equality and brotherhood were only possible in the hereafter. One desiccated bone the same as the next.

Friedrich glanced at the bank of hollowed-out skulls. God alone knew the precise number of residents in the underground necropolis. And only God had known about the gold medallion hidden in these catacombs, safeguarded for centuries by an ossified Templar Knight.

Until the medallion had been uncovered by Friedrich and the six members of his academic team. The Seven as some in the Ahnenerbe dismissively referred to them. Founded in 1935 by Heinrich Himmler, the Ahnenerbe was the academic research division for the Nazi SS.

Well aware that the Ahnenerbe did not cultivate or encourage creative vision, Friedrich and his six colleagues took the ridicule in their stride. The fact that they were the only interdisciplinary team in the Ahnenerbe was extraordinary. Even more extraordinary, they counted among their number three Germans, two Italians, a French atheist and a Sunni Muslim from Damascus. Although given the glacial expressions of the dignitaries who were now touring the dimly lit catacombs, the Seven had not yet proven their extraordinary worth.

Tempted to run a finger under his stiff neck collar, Friedrich refrained. Theyd been issued new field-grey uniforms for the occasion, and the boiled wool was chafing his skin. In the background, somewhere in the shadows, he heard the steady plop plop plop of dripping water. Belatedly he realized that his heart beat in time with that incessant drip.

A stout fellow in the tour group raised steepled hands to his mouth and noisily blew a warm breath; the ambient air was at least thirty degrees cooler than the above-ground temperature.

Another member of the party, an Iron Cross medal prominently affixed to his uniform jacket, shuddered. My God, this place is macabre. No doubt he referred to the twinkling candles inserted into disembodied skulls. This was Friedrichs doing, though even he agreed that it created a ghoulish effect.

Just then, a lone man broke away from the group and approached the limestone niche where the medallion had been placed. Polished Prussian boots gleamed in the candlelight. As the uniformed man neared, Friedrich took a deep breath, filling his lungs with musty air.

The man stopped in front of the niche, no more than an arms length from where Friedrich stood. At that close range, he could see that the other man had pale blue eyes. An unexpected surprise. While his visage was famous the world over, in all honesty, the photographs did not do him justice.

Long moments passed as the blue-eyed man gazed at the gold medallion.

Did he comprehend the importance of the symbols? Their connection to the movement of the great star Sirius? Or that they revealed an ancient and powerful technology?

Have you translated the medallion?

Nodding his head, Friedrich read aloud the engraved inscription. He didnt bother to mention that the inscription contained a combination of the Occitan language and medieval Latin, suspecting the blue-eyed man didnt care about the medallions linguistic provenance.

And youre certain that this inscription refers to the sacred relic?

Again, Friedrich nodded, assuming he referred to the Lapis Exillis. Weve ascertained that the inscription is encrypted and that the encoded message discloses the whereabouts of the sacred relic. Although he hesitated, fearful of the other mans reaction we have not yet decoded the message.

Hearing that, the blue-eyed man glowered. Which, in turn, caused Friedrichs stomach muscles to painfully cramp.

Like a hapless Christian in the Roman Colosseum, he nervously awaited his fate.

Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Find the relic, the blue-eyed man ordered brusquely. Its ancient power will decide the destiny of the Reich.

Friedrich released a pent-up breath. Yes!The blue-eyed man understood!

Unable to contain his euphoria, Friedrich clicked his boot heels while he ardently raised and extended his right hand.

Heil, mein Fhrer!

Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith Proverbs 15:16

What the ?

Stunned by what hed just discovered hidden inside the thirteenth-century chapel, Master Sergeant Finn McGuire reached for the Maglite secured to the front of his battle cammies. Shining the flashlight, he examined the gold medallion nestled inside a velvet-lined box. It looked like something that might have been worn by an Arabian sultan. Or maybe an iced-out rapper. Unbelievably ornate, it was engraved with images of a sun, a moon and a big-ass star.