James Acton 04 - The Templar's Relic (3 page)

Sabatino nodded. “Of course. The good news is that the Roma side of things won’t need to change, so no new permits. We can reroute the new pipes around the discovery, depending on how big it is.”

“What about sealing the old pipe?”

Sabatino shrugged. “No change there. We can still tear up the half we were going to do regardless. Cap the Vatican side, fill in the rest with stone as requested. Why you don’t just use dirt is beyond me, but hey, it’s your project.”

Dirt is too easy to dig through. Concrete can be bored through. Stone, when removed, collapses.

But of course Giasson couldn’t tell him the real reason. In fact, if he could do the job himself, he’d be out there right now. There were only a handful of people who knew about this ancient, secret passageway, and he could trust them. He chuckled to himself. Maybe I’ll call Hugh, James and Laura and have them come out and help me.

He snapped his fingers.

“I’ve got just the two archaeologists who’d be perfect for the job!”

Father Brandis leaned forward. “Who?”

“World renowned.”

“Who?”

“Well respected, one’s even been in numerous magazines.”

“Who?” Brandis was getting frustrated.

“And, we can trust them implicitly.”

“Who!”

Giasson smiled.

“Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer.”

Outside Acre, Dominion of Saladin

1191 AD

Malik drew his knife, and held it out in front.

The boy’s eyes bulged and he held up his hands, waving them at Malik. He pointed at his chest. “John.”

Malik assumed it was a name. He slowly lowered the knife. Obviously this boy had been kidnapped by the slavers. And if he was a boy, he wasn’t a soldier.
He’s just a kid like me.
And he knew if they were to get out of this alive, they would have to work together.

Malik pointed at his own chest. “Malik.”

“Mahh-lick.”

Malik nodded, then pointed at the boy. “Jan?”

“Jaawn.”

“Jaawn.”

John nodded, then pointed at the boys Malik had rescued. He clasped his hands together and bowed. “Thank you.”

Malik had no idea what the words meant, but the sentiment was clear. He just smiled and nodded, then reached into one of the bags over his shoulder, pulling out a skin of water, and some food. The boys eagerly drank and ate, it clear they hadn’t done so in quite some time.

After a few minutes of rest, Malik rose and surveyed their surroundings again. There was dust on the horizon, possibly from horses, but the sun was almost set. He was sure the slavers wouldn’t try to pursue them in the dark. It would be dangerous, and they’d have no trail to follow.

But it was clear they couldn’t stay here. Malik surveyed their surroundings, and spotted a depression nearby. He tapped John on the shoulder and pointed. John nodded, and gathered the three young boys.

“Keep quiet, and follow us,” said Malik.

The boys nodded.
So they’re not infidels.

He stepped out from behind the rocks and began to run toward the depression, his hands gripping two of the boys, John and the third boy taking up the rear. Within minutes they were in the depression, and out of sight of any possible pursuers. The sun was a mere sliver now, the stones casting long shadows, the sand kicked up by the hooves of horses now settled. It appeared their pursuers had given up.

For now.

Now was the time they would have to put more distance between them and the slavers, and pray the winds covered their tracks.

“Let’s go,” Malik whispered, then pressed on. They walked for hours until finally the young ones could go no more. Then they each took turns carrying one, then two, until at last both John and Malik collapsed in exhaustion. Malik had no idea how far they had travelled. But what was clear to him was that his mission, his mission for Allah, was not being accomplished. He pressed his hand against his precious charge tucked under his robes.

He lay, staring at the stars, praying for guidance, when fatigue finally overcame him. But his dreams were restless, tormented, filled with nightmares of pursuit, of the siege, of the collapse of the outer wall, the infidel hordes pouring through.

He awoke with a start, John leaning over him, shaking him.

“What, what is it?” asked Malik as he pushed himself up with his elbows.

John said something in the infidel tongue, then pointed. The snort of a horse caused Malik to spin toward the sound. His heart leapt into his throat.

Three infidel knights on horseback stared down at them.

Acton Residence

Stowe, Vermont

Present Day

I can’t believe I’m about to do this!

Professor James Acton swung his parents’ SUV into their driveway and came to a stop under the carport. With a quick check of his teeth in the mirror, then his hair, and a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and said a silent prayer. Turning off the engine, he climbed out and looked about the neighborhood he had grown up in. The neighborhood, when as a kid, he had dreamed of this day. What would it be like? What would they be like? Who would it be? He smiled and shook his head as he opened the door.

“I’m home!”

He heard footsteps as the love of his life, Professor Laura Palmer, came out of the kitchen. “Hello, Dear,” said Laura, her face and an apron she was sporting covered in flour. “Your mother is just showing me how to make tea biscuits.”

Acton chuckled. “I think the flour goes in the bowl, Babe.”

His mother poked her head out, clucking at him. “Leave the poor girl alone.”

Acton felt his chest tighten and tears filled his eyes. “But I don’t want to.” His voice was dead serious.

Laura smiled, then gasped, her hand darting to cover her mouth as Acton dropped to one knee.

“Ellsworth!” screamed his mother. “Shut off the game and get in here!”

Acton stretched his hand out and pulled Laura closer. “Two years ago I thought I was happy. I had a great job, great friends, travelled the world, and was intellectually satisfied. But when I met you, I realized I had a hole in my life, a gap that had gone unfilled for so long, an emotional hole that I didn’t know I had. These past two years with you have been the best of my life.” He grinned. “Despite almost getting killed on several occasions.”

“Oh, James,” whispered Laura, tears streaming down her face. He quickly glanced at his parents as his father walked into the room. His mother was biting her finger, tears streaking her cheeks.

“I guess what I’m trying to say, is that I love you, and that I always want to be with you, so”—he choked up—“I’m sorry, I rehearsed this a thousand times, but I’ve gone blank.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small velvet case, and flipped it open, revealing a diamond solitaire engagement ring. “Laura Angela Palmer, will you marry me?”

Laura extended the fingers on her left hand and nodded. “Yes!” she whispered.

Acton slipped the ring on her finger, his mother jumped up and down, his father turned to hide a tear that had escaped, and Acton rose, taking Laura in his arms. He kissed her gently, then whispered in her ear, “Thank you.”

She hugged him harder. “No, thank you. You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.”

Acton glanced at his mother who had stopped jumping, but now was clapping her hands together. “I’m not sure about that, have you seen my mother?”

Laura let go and looked at Dorothy who immediately stepped forward and grabbed Laura in her arms. “Congratulations, my dear.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Acton.”

Dorothy pushed her back, holding her shoulders. “Call me ‘Mom’. I’d really love it if you would.” More tears burst from both women, who hugged each other again.

Acton looked at his dad and shrugged his shoulders. “Women.”

Ellsworth tilted his head slightly and, palms facing upward, said, “Whatcha gonna do?” He extended his hand and Acton grasped it. He felt his father squeeze it then pull him, giving a rare hug. “I’m proud of you, son.”

Acton felt his chest tighten and didn’t trust himself to say anything. He took a deep breath then stepped back.

“Now let’s see that rock!” said his mother, and Laura obliged by extending her hand.

“It’s not much, I’m sorry, but I’m only a professor.”

Laura smiled, never taking her eyes off the diamond. “It’s perfect, James, absolutely brilliant.” She looked at him then buried her head in his chest, hugging him hard. He returned the hug, and they just stood there.

“Let’s give them some space,” whispered his dad.

Acton opened his eyes slightly to see his dad physically pull his mother away from the room, the smile on her face as large as any he recalled seeing.

“I love you,” he whispered in Laura’s ear.

She looked up at him and smiled. “I love you too.”

The phone rang, but Acton pushed it out of his mind. This was their moment, and he didn’t want anyone to ruin in. The last time they had visited his parents, he had wanted to propose, but the timing had been definitely bad. It had been three months, and nobody had tried to kill them lately, so he felt now was the time. With the way their life had been these past couple of years, death could come knocking at any minute.

“It’s for you, Jim!”

It was his mother. He gave Laura a squeeze and pushed away, smiling. “Well, at least it’s not a military chopper this time!”

She laughed and took his hand, following him into the kitchen. Acton grabbed the phone. “Jim here.”

“Professor Acton, it is Mario Giasson, how are you today?”

“Hi, Mario, I’m fine. In fact, I just proposed to Laura.”

“And did she accept?”

“What, you thought she wouldn’t?”

Giasson laughed. “My friend, when I proposed to my wife, I wasn’t certain if I would ever see her again.”

Acton chuckled. “She said ‘yes’.”

“Then congratulations, my friend.” He paused. “Perhaps the timing is bad, but I would like to offer you and your fiancée a job.”

“Huh?”

The room turned to look at Acton.

“We have made a discovery here. Quite interesting. And with the security breaches, I don’t trust bringing in outsiders that I’m not personally familiar with.”

“Are you sure you want us? Every time we go to the Vatican, all hell breaks loose.”

Giasson cleared his throat, and Acton made a mental note to watch his language, even the mild expletives.

“There is no danger; this is an archaeological find, discovered while construction was underway. We need some experts to examine what we’ve found.”

“And what is it you’ve found?”

“Something I think you both will find very thrilling.”

Outside Acre, Dominion of Saladin

1191 AD

They had travelled for days. Perhaps even weeks. Malik wasn’t sure anymore. The knights had taken them with them, but seemed to be going in circles, for what purpose, he didn’t know. And apparently neither did John. These infidels apparently spoke a tongue different than John. Which was something Malik found interesting. He had always assumed that the infidels all spoke one language, like his people did. At least however these knights seemed to be treating them okay, simply urging them to follow their horses, but providing them with food and water when Malik’s supply ran out.

But what was their purpose? Were they going to deliver them to someone else when they came upon a town? And what about
his
mission? Malik had to get to Jaffa, but couldn’t just head out on his own. These were the infidels, and would most likely kill him should he try to leave. Besides, he felt some sort of obligation to the boys he had rescued.

Malik wasn’t sure what day it was when they came across another group of infidels on horseback, but this group of at least a dozen riders, had several score of what appeared to be prisoners with them, all roped together at the ankles.

John immediately tried to communicate again, and this time appeared to have great success, conversing with one of the knights. At one point John collapsed against the horse, hugging the knight’s leg, the man patting the boy on the head. John looked at Malik and smiled wide, it clear they had been saved.

They travelled with the now large group, Malik, John and the other three free of the ropes binding the others. Malik dared not talk to those who were bound, terrified that if the infidels knew he was Muslim, he too, and the other boys, would be taken prisoner.

He had to figure a way out. He had to complete his mission, and he knew it would only be a matter of time before his secret would be discovered. All it would take would be for one of the little ones to say something in his native tongue.

Then they’d all be doomed.

And he couldn’t have the safety of one of Mohammed’s greatest treasures resting on the mouths of babes. He needed to escape.

One of the infidels yelled, pointing ahead.

Malik looked, and his chest tightened in dismay.

On the horizon were thousands of souls, prisoners and infidel soldiers, all amassed at the foot of the Al 'Ayadiyeh hill, a hill he knew well since childhood.

It appeared there would be no escape.

Allah forgive me.

Ciampino Airport

Rome, Italy

Present Day

Both Acton and Laura looked at the limousine with Vatican markings. The last time this had happened, it hadn’t turned out good. Acton led the way down the stairs from Laura’s leased Gulfstream V. The ridiculous amount of money she had inherited from her brother when he died allowed them to live a life of luxury if they chose to, but they didn’t. They lived a normal life, except for the fact they travelled when they wanted to, in the style they wanted to. And they sponsored their own digs when funding from other sources wasn’t available.