South of France
The high, stone wall was topped with glass shards, embedded in the mortar.
“What? They do not want guests?” Claude whispered to Bernard, who was boosting him from below. “Throw me your jacket.”
Claude placed the jacket over the glass and, in an instant, landed in the soft grass on the other side. Bernard scaled the wall and joined him. Confidently, with darkness providing their cover, the two hulking men trotted to the trees rimming the side lawn.
“This should be a good spot to wait,” Claude said. He pointed to the huge tent near the house.
“They are having a party? We can be the guests,” Bernard chuckled.
They sat, settling against a tree. “Where is Luc?” Claude asked.
“He is here somewhere, making sure we do the job.”
“This will be an easy job, just like the professor,” Claude said.
“What happened in the US, brother?”
Claude folded his arms across his chest and belly laughed. “I will tell you about the professor, how he died, begging, oh, please, please, please, for his life.”
“I knew he was a coward. In Bhutan, when he met with us he wanted to pretend he was beat up. I was so happy to help him with his wish,” Bernard said. “Details?”
“The details are so enjoyable.” Claude paused and sneered. “First, I say to him, you must find out what the boy does. The professor says to me, I don't want to be a part of this anymore. Oh, you have enough money now? I say. You took our money before. Now you must take part. The little rabbit..he is scared so he say, okay, I will do as you say. But it is too late. Claude is angry”
Claude stopped to crack his knuckles while Bernard looked at him with outright admiration.
“I say to him, you will die,” Claude continued, “then please, please, please.” Claude feigned crying. “I hurt the professor just a little bit until he is on his knees to me. Then I say to him, how do you wish to die? The insect says to me, please do not make it look like I kill myself. I have six children. If it looks like I kill myself, they do not get insurance money. Hah! Maybe he should not have so many kids. Because, that is what I do. I make him hang himself.” Claude bent his neck, stuck out his tongue, and pretended to pull a rope above his head. Then he guffawed.
Bernard took a silver flask from his jacket, took a deep swig, then handed it to Claude. “Tomorrow, brother.”
“Yes, tomorrow. We will have another story to tell,” Claude said, laughing.
****
When the team arrived the next day, Ashi, Ty and Jean-Henri rowed them over to the little island chapel. Ty was thrilled to show it to them. Excitement about a possible discovery was growing among the news media too. On all the news channels, the anchors and newspeople were conjecturing about what was going to be revealed.
Jean-Henri enjoyed playing host to the team and directing how the news conference was to be set up. Everyone was in a joking mood, happy and excited. Jean-Henri gave them plenty of information about the de Charney family. He talked about the original Templars, Rex Deus who went to Jerusalem to find the things the high priests left behind, hidden. They came back laden with their treasure and had to find a perfect place to create their New Jerusalem, complete with a rebuilt temple.
He was very interested in hearing about how they were able to glean information about Phillipe by going back in time. Jean-Henri was well versed in his family’s history and was able to supply some missing details. He confirmed that Phillipe was sent on a mission to find a suitable place for the New Jerusalem that was far from existing civilization.
“How about Phillipe’s brother? We don’t know much about him,” Ty said.
“He was my direct ancestor. When Phillipe did not return, Gerard was the next oldest son. He inherited the ring, so to speak. He learned of the secrets and was instructed about passing them on.”
“The New Jerusalem?” Cheryl asked.
“Ah, well, that never happened. Phillipe’s death was very difficult for Charles. When Phillipe did not return from his trip to the East, Charles was an old, broken man. He never left this spot to pursue his dream of a New Jerusalem in a faraway place. He created it right here.”
“And do you have any clues as to what might be in the crypt?” Therese asked.
“This chapel is the New Temple, constructed to house the treasures they brought back from Jerusalem. The crypt is placed directly under what would be termed the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple.”
“That’s where they kept the Ark of the Covenant, right?” Therese asked.
“Yes, exactly. So, apparently, Charles and Gerard constructed the crypt, not so much as a burial place, but as a place to keep a treasure. I was told that it was extremely important for humanity and must be kept hidden and kept as a treasure until the day occurred when the prophecy was fulfilled. But, exactly what the treasure is?” Jean-Henri shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Ty studied his face carefully, wondering if he knew more than he was intimating.
“The prophecy?” Cheryl asked. “You believe there needs to be a physical key to reveal the treasure?”
Jean-Henri nodded. “That is the idea.”
“An enormous treasure—its hiding place will not be revealed until some day when a lady from the ancient house of de Charney awakens from a lengthy slumber,” Ty said. It was the prophecy Mansfield had found in Bhutan.
Jean-Henri gazed at Ashi.
“A lady awakens…” Thoughts about the prophecy roiled around in Ty’s head for a moment until they were replaced with utter astonishment. “I always thought the de Charney lady would wake up herself, but no, it could also mean that she awakens others…like you once told me Ashi. You see so many people sleeping and you wanted to awaken them…”
As all the pieces fell into place, Ashi’s head fell back with a look of anguish. She was very quiet as the conversation swirled around her. When everyone had gone to bed, Ty and Ashi went outside, the bright moon lighting the way to the lake. They walked slowly, Ashi's head hanging. The rowboat that Jean-Henri had originally used was missing but there were other rowboats, added in anticipation of bringing the team and equipment over, plus revealing the Third Temple to the media the next day. Their feet squished in the mud as they climbed into the rowboat. The splashing of the oars mingled with the sound of tree frogs.
When they arrived at the chapel, the moonlight made long shadows, creating an even more striking image. The heavy doors to the chapel creaked open and they entered, shining their flashlights. Ty pulled a small DVD camera out of his jacket and trained it on Ashi.
“Tomorrow’s the day,” Ashi said, dejectedly.
“You seem sad about it. What’s the matter? So Phillipe had a child in Bhutan. So you are a de Charney. What does it matter?”
Ashi shook her head and smiled. “Don’t you see? I am descended from a high priest who can trace his lineage straight back to ancient Egypt.”
“I never thought you would care about something like that,” Ty said.
“What do I care? It is my body, very useful, but nothing more. No, if I am a high priest, by virtue of my DNA, people will venerate me.”
“Hah! So? A little veneration could be nice.”
“No, be serious, Ty. There are ways that people can tell from my DNA that I came from the high priests.”
Ty thought about the Cohen Project and nodded.
“I came from Bhutan with a message. Each time someone came to humanity with a message that would better mankind, he was worshipped. People pretty much ignored the message and adored the messenger. That is exactly what I hope will never happen with me.”
They sat in a pew, silently thinking about the possibilities.
“What do you say? It is what it is. Whatever. I will deal with it if it happens,” Ashi said finally. She arose wearily and began to walk toward the door. Ty stood too and followed her.
“Ashi, this is the first time I've seen you down. I can't stand the thought of your being unhappy. I won't let it happen. I won't let people worship the messenger.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Do you promise?”
“I'll do my very best,” Ty said sincerely. “I'll do anything for you. I love you.”
There was dead silence as Ty realized what he said. Ashi faced him and regarded him for a long moment.
“I love you too, Ty, so very much.”
Ty was agonized. “Like you love everyone, right?”
“No, just you.”
“Since when?”
“Since always. When I first see you I know. We are so alike, together before we ever met.”
“You mean we were together before? In another lifetime?”
“I mean our two souls were together before this lifetime, they are together now, and after, even though we do not witness it happen yet. There is no time for us. We belong with each other forever.” Her dark eyes looked into his.
He leaned forward and kissed her. Ashi took a step closer and put her arms around him.
“I love you so much sometimes I think my heart will break,” Ty whispered, before kissing her again, holding her close.
“You make my heart beat so fast. My knees do not hold me up.” Ashi kissed Ty, tightening her arms around his shoulders.
“You'll stay with me,” Ty said. “After we make our big discovery, we'll have a normal life together, travel the world, maybe go to Bhutan if you want...”
Ashi gazed into his eyes without commenting.
“You've made me the happiest...”
There was the sound of scraping from the other end of the chapel.
“Who’s there?” Ty demanded. “Rishi? Cheryl? Who is it?
A brawny man stepped out of the darkness and into a beam of light, cast from the moonlight streaming into a window. It was the man he first saw in his London hotel room, the man who resembled a hawk.
“I remember you,” Ty said, the tension in his shoulders dropping. His eyes flicked to the ring on Hawkman’s finger and he felt safe knowing the man was Rex Deus.
Hawkman nodded. “I heard there was to be a press conference tomorrow—a big announcement discovering a treasure?” He nodded again, his whole demeanor exuding power. “I am here to make sure there will be no announcement of a discovery.”
“But Jean-Henri...” Ty was confused. He looked at the ring again and saw Hawkman was holding a gun. He pushed Ashi behind him and murmured, “Get out, Ashi, run.”
Hawkman’s voice was loud and harsh. “You should have never continued the search. It should have ended the day your father went over the balcony.”
A realization imprinted on Ty’s mind. “It was you. You killed my father.” His heart raced. He wanted to rush the man, rip the gun out of his hand, and pound at his face. He held back.
Hawkman smirked. “It was so easy. He backed up, backed up, one more step and a little push,” He laughed, enjoying inflicting pain on Ty. “Now, I got in here, past your security. You and your security can’t stop me from going wherever I like. Tomorrow will be your last day on this planet if there is any big announcement,” he sneered.
“I’m not afraid.”
“How about your little girlfriend? Are you willing to risk her?”
“Ty, Ty. Are you in here?” It was Cheryl’s voice echoing from the front door.
“The boats are missing—we know you’re here.” Therese’s voice sing songed.
Hawkman faded back into the shadows.
“You can’t stop us,” Ty shouted.
“We will see,” Hawkman replied, his voice already fading with distance.
Ty and Ashi sank onto a pew bench as Cheryl, Therese and Rishi joined them. Ty and Ashi quickly filled the others in about Hawkman as they made their way back to the mansion. Ty felt a bit safer once he was inside but wondered if the feeling of safety was an illusion. They checked with security and viewed their tapes. Finally, they found one where Hawkman slipped in through the front gate. They never found any that showed him leaving the grounds though. Long after the other team members went to bed, Ty and Ashi continued to discuss what happened.
“I don’t get it,” Ty said. “The time is right. You fulfilled the prophecy. Jean-Henri and the Rex Deus are behind the revealing of the secret.”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Ashi said.
“Maybe they aren’t all behind revealing the secret. Are we being set up?” Ty asked.
“And Rex Deus killed my father. Do we dare trust Jean-Henri?”
“I will help you figure this out,” she said.
“Ashi, I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said, putting his arms around her.
“Please, do not worry about me.”
They went over and over all their information until early in the morning. They decided they would not mention anything about Hawkman to Jean-Henri, being uncertain of if he was truly helping them or getting ready to betray them.
“Are you tired, Ashi?” Ty asked.
She merely laughed at the question. “Are you?” She was nestled under his arm.
“I'm too excited to sleep. Tomorrow is the day I've been waiting for. It’s been such a long time. But...” He gazed down at her. “I'm too happy to sleep.” Ty kissed her again.
****
Early in the morning, the air was crackling with excitement. The news reporters were there early to set up. There were workers, setting up a huge tent on the lawn next to the house, where the press conference would take place, along with caterers and gardeners. The servants bustled through the house, helping them.
Rishi and Cheryl calmly ate buttered rolls and coffee but Therese declared herself too nervous to eat. Ashi and Ty went their separate ways to get ready. When she appeared, wearing her white, fur-trimmed sweater he couldn't breathe for a moment. What did I do to deserve her? He couldn't believe his good fortune as she went straight to him, smiling, linking her arm in his.
Jean-Henri hurried here and there, overseeing the conference set up and making sure the equipment was ferried over to the chapel island. Before they all headed to the island to begin the scanning, Jean-Henri filled them in a little more.
“My group, as you know, is the Rex Deus. We knew the time was right so we contacted Mansfield and Cooper and led them to the answers. But, they did not have the physical key. Perhaps the time was not right. After Mansfield was killed, Garrett Cooper protected Ashi because he put it all together with what you call the Bhutan paper, the letter that led him to believe Phillipe stayed in Ashi's monastery. He surmised she was a de Charney. He knew she was the physical key and whoever killed Mansfield would kill her too.”
“We tried again with Vincent, leading him, helping him. Members of our group were in contact with him. It was a cause for celebration when he contacted the group and said he had a major breakthrough and was close to finding the secret. When the news of his death hit the media I did not dare believe he was truly gone. When my contact with him continued through e-mails, my faith was restored.”
“But he was gone,” Ty said morosely.
“And you took his place,” Jean-Henri said with a smile.
The sub--surface radar technician knocked at the door and announced, “We're all set at the chapel.”
Jean-Henri pulled himself up. “Well then, we should get down there.”
“One more thing, first,” Ty said. “Do you know who RRD is? My father's journal said, 'Watch out for the RRD.’”
Jean-Henri's face darkened and he sighed deeply. “It is another story. Can it wait until later?”
“Of course,” Ty said reluctantly.
The team, along with Jean-Henri headed past the tent, to the rowboats. It was a cool day but when they were outside in the sun, it felt warm. Once they entered the darkness of the chapel, Ty began to shiver, partly from the cold, but also from the excitement.
The ground penetrating radar equipment looked like a fancy lawnmower. There were two technicians who were making last minute adjustments before they started.
“Almost ready. The tricky thing is the software,” one of them stated.
“Maybe you can explain a little until you're ready to start,” Ty suggested.
“Sure. You just run the equipment over the area you want to check out. We want to know what's in the crypt so we pass the instrument on the surface up here. The transmitter sends out a certain frequency of radio waves. It bounces off whatever, is down there, any subsurface structures, and back to the receiver. The software interprets it. Simple.”
“Is it like a metal detector? Can it detect wooden objects?” Therese asked.
“It is measuring the difference in the dielectric constant. Everything has a dielectric constant. Dirt will have a different constant than a wooden structure. So when it hits a piece of wood, concrete, metal, whatever, it will detect a different dielectric constant. The signal comes up here and is interpreted into a 3D tomographic image.” He pointed at the computer screen.
“And the frequency?” Ty asked. “How do you know what frequency to transmit?”
“That's something tricky too. Small frequencies will detect small objects but the tradeoff is that it does not penetrate very deeply. Larger frequencies, larger and deeper objects.”
There was a whirring sound as the GPR instrument started. Everybody was silent. Jean-Henri sank down onto a pew, watching intently. Ty stared at the computer screen as the GPR began to travel across the floor of the chapel.
He sucked in his breath as the outlines of magnificent objects appeared on the computer screen.
“It looks like a movie,” Therese whispered. “Every time they discover a huge room full of treasure in the movies, it looks just like this.”
Cheryl pointed. “That has to be gold. I feel like I'm going to faint.”
“Could that be the Ark...?” Rishi's eyes grew huge.
“It's a big box with statues on top, but it's hard to tell,” Ty said.
“That is how the bible describes it,” Ashi contributed.
“Anything that looks like scrolls?” Ty asked.
“Scrolls could be in any one of these large containers,” Jean-Henri said. “We won't know for sure until we excavate.”
Ty was overwhelmed, so emotional he felt like laughing and crying. This was it! He finished his father’s work! He hoped his parents were watching from up above and sharing in the discovery.
****
The tent was packed but Ty spotted Sam standing near the back. He waved him up toward the platform where they were going to make their announcement.
“Glad you could make it, Sam,” Ty said, shaking his hand heartily.
“You're smiling. I can only interpret that as good news,” Sam replied.
“You'll have to wait and hear just like everyone else,” Ty said teasingly, “but I'll say that this is the day we've waited for, for a long, long time.”
“Are you okay to talk, Ty? The whole world will be watching,” Sam said.
“You had to bring that up? I feel sick to my stomach and couldn't eat one bit of lunch–a first–but I'll be okay once I get up there. I'm more excited than scared.”
Ashi, standing next to him, smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “You can do this.”
“Yeah, and I want the whole team up there, but you...you stand right next to me. We wouldn't be here today without you.”
“But no mention of who I am, right? You won't mention my ancestor, will you?” Ashi asked.
“That's private information that has nothing to do with what we found today,” Ty said.
“Ancestor, huh? It sounds intriguing,” Sam said, but did not question any further.
The din in the room stopped as Jean-Henri mounted the platform and stood in front of a bank of microphones.
Rishi said, “You guys, I haven't been part of the team for a long time. I don't need to stand up there with you, coming in at the last minute for the glory. I'll be in the back with the reporters.”
“No, that's crazy, Rishi. Come on up with us,” Ty said. But at that moment, Jean-Henri was introducing him and he couldn't continue to convince him.
Rishi smiled and edged through the crowd to the back of the tent. Ty took Ashi's hand and together they climbed up the few steps to the platform. Ty began his speech by introducing the team. He recounted his father's journey to find answers and paid tribute to his father's legacy. He chronicled his own investigations, briefly telling the reporters what led them to this estate in France but said, jokingly, “You'll have to read the sequel to his book to get the details.”
“Finally,” Ty announced, “we get to our results of today's ground penetrating radar.”
There was a commotion in the back and Ty saw the barrel raised toward him at the same time he heard a “pop, pop” sound. People in the back screamed and chaos broke loose. Ty saw Rishi leap onto the huge gunman, bringing him to the ground. Others immediately piled on top of them. There was another huge man who lunged for the stage but the hired security and some of the reporters brought him down as well. Ty turned toward Ashi, who was still smiling at him for another moment more. A few inches below her collar bone, there were two round red circles on her white, zipped sweater, growing from dimes to quarters, to merging with each other.
“No, Ashi, no.” Ty said, holding her arms. She leaned toward him and he caught her, lowering her to the ground. “It can't be, Ashi. No.”
“It okay, Ty.”
“Somebody get an ambulance,” he yelled.
“Ty, you know I always with you.”
Ty, distraught, couldn't answer.
The ambulance racing over the lawn, bouncing over the bumps, pulled up to within a few feet of them in the tent. Ty was barely aware of the cameras, lights flashing, nothing but Ashi. Hands appeared, working on Ashi, lifting her onto a stretcher.
“Ty, Ty,” she called, as they lifted the stretcher into the ambulance.
“I'm here.” He wouldn't let go of her hand.
“I love you, Ty.”
“I..I...” His chest hurt. He couldn't catch his breath. He was crying too hard to reply.
****
The next few days were a blur as Ty stayed by her bedside at the hospital. He held her hand constantly, hoping to impart some of his energy to her. Not usually a praying person, he prayed, made deals, begged and pleaded with any higher power to help her. Cheryl and Therese visited, bringing him fresh clothes and food from the cafeteria. They recounted how Rishi was the hero, tackling the shooter before he could harm anyone else.
“Rishi? I can't imagine it. I'd think he wouldn't want to get his hands dirty,” Ty said.
“Oh, you should have seen him. He pummeled him and ground his face in the dirt,” Cheryl said.
“Do the police have the gunmen?”
“Yes, they're not going anywhere,” Therese said.
“Twins,” Cheryl said. “The same ugly men who followed us in Bhutan...”
“...And killed Oliver,” Therese added angrily.
“I'm sure that one of them attacked us in Rhode Island,” Ty said.
“Poor Richard,” Therese said quietly.
“Do you feel sorry for him?” Cheryl asked. “He told those brutes about the team going to Israel, England and Bhutan.”
“And, he has Garrett's blood on his hands,” Ty added. “He told them Dad got his info from Garrett. When we disappeared into Ashi's dzong, they went back to Garrett to get his map. Garrett wouldn't give it to them and...”
“And he was killed,” Cheryl supplied. “And Richard did all this for money. No, I certainly don't feel sorry for Richard.”
Ty shook his head. “He was the professor Dad didn't trust.”
Ty fixated on Ashi’s unconscious face. “There’s so much I still don’t understand.”
“Who were these twins?” Cheryl asked.
“And why did they hunt us, following us all over the world?” Therese added. “Did they want the treasure? Why would they try to kill you at the press conference?”
“It did seem more like they were trying to keep you from announcing the treasure,” Cheryl said.
“And my father…why did the Rex Deus want to kill my father? There is too much that is unexplained.” He continued to gaze at Ashi. “But does it matter anymore?”
One afternoon, Jean-Henri entered the hospital room. He looked much older, weary, and was using a cane. He sat heavily in a chair and contemplated Ashi.
“She's my distant cousin,” he said.
Ty said nothing.
“I am sorry. This was not supposed to happen.”
“It wasn't your fault,” Ty said simply.
“No, but I knew there was danger.” He paused. “I do owe you more of an explanation.”
Still holding Ashi's hand, Ty waited.
“RRD – It’s an abbreviation for the Rogue Rex Deus.”
“My father wrote RRD in his notebook. He knew about them.”
“Yes he did. We warned him about them. It is what my group has dubbed the other branch of my family. You see, I am Gerard's descendent. Gerard was the second son. He inherited the secret when Phillipe did not return, and Gerard passed the secret to his son, and so on, until it has reached me...the end of the line, so to speak. But Phillipe had a son too. At the time Phillipe went on his last journey, to Bhutan, his son was a small boy.”
Ty remembered the little boy from the team's mediations.
“Phillipe's son never received the whole secret. He only knew it must never, ever be revealed. That is what he passed to not just his son, but his three sons. Those sons passed it on to their sons. Now they are quite a group, all fiercely dedicated to never letting the secret be revealed. The two groups had no contact. We knew about them but they were never an issue until this generation. The time is right for whatever is down there to be brought out into the light but the Rogue Rex Deus do not see it that way. The groups were fighting a ferocious battle. I thought...well I thought...we were going to prevail.”
“So Hawkman was not part of your group. He was part of the rogue group.”
“Yes, my distant cousin, Luc.”
Ty stared at him, beyond caring. “They killed Mansfield, Garrett Cooper, Oliver, Richard, Dad…all of them?” He shook his head. “Oh, my God! They must have killed my mother too! She was a hit and run victim just like Mansfield.”
“They caught Bernard and Claude. I'm sure the police will trace their activities back to my distant cousins.”
“It’s meaningless now, isn’t it?” Ty said, shifting his attention back to Ashi. “The enormous treasure- the important discoveries- it all means nothing to me now. It was always my father's dream, not mine. Everything I care about is here in this hospital room.”
Jean-Henri stood, put his hand on Ty's shoulder, and left without another word.
Hour after hour, Ty stayed in the hospital, watching, praying, talking to the doctors and nurses. At last Ashi opened her eyes. Ty was sitting, resting his head on her bed, still holding her hand, unaware that she was awake. She squeezed his hand weakly. He lifted his head and was astounded when he saw her. He laughed and shook and cried.
Ashi smiled. “T