The Gods' Gambit (29 page)

“Any doubt about the double life of professor Donato is
almost gone,” said James. “What about Rodnov? I’m sure you didn’t stop there.”

“The search about him opened a Pandora’s Box. See for
yourself,” said Irina as she scrolled down to another page of the file. “People
and companies that could be associated with him have been involved in money
laundering, illegal arms trading, drugs and smuggling. Rodnov himself is an
oligarch. His business interests are in Russia, China, India and a good number
of Asian and African countries. Apart from his financial enterprises, like the
offshore fund, he’s a shareholder in companies exporting gas and petrol from
Russia and Mid-Asia. He owns mines containing minerals, precious stones and
metals in Russia and Tajikistan, and stocks in a few African mining ventures.
His first and the biggest mining investment is the Tajikistan mine. There is some
indication of his direct or indirect involvement in political and ethnic
conflicts in Asia and Africa in the Interpol database. Based on what I read, I
could say that if there was a corruption manual, Alexander Rodnov would have
been its author.” Irina fell silent to let James read the file pages.

“This is the first time I’ve heard his name. Strange how
such a man could be completely unknown to the public,” said James after a
while.

“People with his status can buy many things. Anonymity as
well.”

“They can often buy immunity against the law.”

“Here’s another strange fact.” Irina pointed to the text.
“During the last fifteen years, Rodnov has acquired several companies from
different countries under pretty favourable conditions. It looks like he’s been
periodically given billionaire’s presents.”

James experienced a sensation like ants crawling over his
skin. He often felt it when his intuition was about to show him the right
choice in a dilemma. A stream of thoughts ran through his mind.
Could it be
possible that Rodnov was the cult’s leader? That could explain their
international organisation and financial might … The cult has been
consolidating its forces. They’ve procured a global economic presence. At the
same time they’ve forged ways for the new ecumenical Gnosticism to become a
worldwide religious establishment – as Lino had predicted. Everything’s been
done by legal means, or half-legal. That’s why it was so difficult to stop
them.

“We already have a main suspect,” said Irina as though
replying to his thoughts. “I think it’s highly probable Alexander Rodnov is the
man who pulls the strings of this net of international conspiracy.”

James’ mind was feverishly creating the pros and cons for
that assumption. It seemed rather possible and it was logical.

“Let’s go back to professor Donato,” Irina continued. “I
assume he was a member of the cult. Don Federico sent him a copy of ‘Dreams
from the Old World’. The cult recognised themselves in the legend. They decided
to steal it, and maybe some other evidence we don’t know about. And to kill Don
Federico. During the burglary they stole the artefacts but the diary wasn’t
there. They never knew of its existence. Although Don Federico survived the
attack, his severe trauma cut the trail leading to professor Donato and the
cult. The police didn’t find the diary either. Or they found it but didn’t pay
attention to the note with the professor’s name. As a result of all that the
case hit a dead end.”

Rodnov is responsible for the death of Elizabeth. And for
many other evil deeds as well
, thought James. A wave of silent,
all-consuming anger rose in him. He jumped to his feet. “I’m going to freshen
up,” he said, and went to the bathroom.

He left the bathroom door half open and Irina heard the
water running. The next thing she heard was his mobile ringing. He greeted the
caller and after a short while he asked why it was really necessary for him to
come back and was everything okay with Pema and Malee? “As soon as possible,”
he said as he came out of the bathroom, and hung up. His face wore an
expression of surprise. “That was Lao – Pema’s husband,” he explained to Irina.
“That’s the second time unexpected circumstances have cut short our work in
foreign parts. I’ll go back to the UK immediately. Besides, I’ve finished my
job here.”

“Nothing bad’s happened there, I hope.”

“Not at all, no. Lao didn’t want to explain in detail over
the phone. But he insisted that it’s important I return quickly.”

“We’ll fly back together. You’re right. Our job here is
finished.” Irina stood up and went to the phone table, where she had left her
handbag. She pulled out a lipstick and, with an experienced hand, painted her
lips. She put the lipstick’s cap back on and pressed it twice with the tip of
her thumb. Something small and transparent, like a contact lens, dropped into
the hollow of her hand. James didn’t notice this. He was already talking to
Lino on the phone.

As he finished his conversation with his friend, Irina came
close and touched his shoulder. Seemingly unintentionally, she slid her index
fingertip over the collar of his shirt and fixed the transparent object there.
“I’m going to reception to pay the bill. You could check for available flights
in the meantime,” she said.

Gatwick Airport, London, and Central London, UK

Lao waited for them in Gatwick North’s lounge. When James
offered to give Irina a lift to a hotel, she noticed a shade of discontentment
crossing Lao’s face. He looked like a person in a hurry. She also noticed his
relief when she turned down the offer; she said she preferred to take a taxi.

Irina and James agreed to see each other the next day and
bade each other farewell.

James and Lao walked towards the short-stay car park, where
Lao had left his car, while Irina set off to the airport taxi rank. As soon as
she was outside the lounge, she took a small translucent pellet and a silver
box resembling a luxury tobacco case out of her handbag. She put the pellet in
her ear and pressed a few buttons which looked like decorations on the box’s
surface. The typical noises of a packed airport lounge started buzzing in her
ear. She dropped the box into the inner pocket of her coat and walked in the
direction of the taxi rank. She passed the waiting cabs and continued towards a
black Peugeot parked about twenty metres ahead.

“I hope you finally tell me what’s going on,” she heard
James say in her ear.

“Please, accept my apology.” She could hardly hear Lao’s low
voice.

“For what, for God’s sake?”

“You’ll find out.”

Silence followed.

A young man in a black suit and sunglasses got out of the
black car. He gave an almost unnoticeable nod and walked to the terminal. Irina
crammed her suitcase onto the rear seat and got in. As she drove off she heard
Lao saying, “You must meet with someone. He’s a high-ranking Buddhist monk and
my mentor.”

“That’s the urgency? You wanted me to have a chat with a
Buddhist monk?” James sounded genuinely surprised.

“It’s very, very important.”

“I suppose it’s in relation to the recent events that have
made us come to grief.”

“It’s connected to everything. Please, allow me to say no
more on that subject. Rinpoche is waiting for us. He’ll tell you all you want
to know.”

“Rinpoche!” James was surprised again. “I didn’t know you
had a Tibetan teacher.”

“He’s not exactly my teacher.”

Irina drove almost to the highway exit but didn’t enter it.
Instead, she turned back to the airport, following the signs to the short-stay
car park. She passed the car park’s entrance and then turned off towards the
exit lanes. She stopped the car about fifty metres from the first exit lane and
switched off the engine. She then fixed the silver box onto the dashboard. The
upper part of the box lit up and turned into a digital display showing a GPS
map. A second after that, a small red dot appeared, and a few minutes later the
dot started moving.

Before driving away, Irina waited until the car in which
James and Lao sat turned round the corner of the massive concrete-built car
park. She didn’t need to see their car. The microphone she had stuck to James’
collar was emitting a signal to the silver box. The only thing she had to pay
attention to was not allowing the distance between the cars to get more than
three hundred metres. If that happened, she wouldn’t be able to hear their
conversation.

James and his companion travelled predominantly in silence.
The few words they exchanged were about Pema’s health and something about Lao’s
daughter Malee. Irina realised that the relationship between James and Lao was
much deeper than she had expected. The way James, prompted by Lao, stopped
asking questions, which were surely burning him from inside, spoke of the
influence Lao had over him. It seemed to her that their student-trainer
relationship was much more personal than the impression James had given her.

At that late hour, London’s streets were relatively quiet.
Irina steadily followed the red dot on the GPS display.

They were driving through the north-west part of Central
London when the dot stopped moving. It had entered a little side street to the
left. Irina also turned into it and stopped. James’ car was parked twenty
metres ahead. She couldn’t see them, but the red dot, which was moving again,
showed that they were in a residential house built in the George III style.
Through the micro-transmitter in her ear, Irina heard the sound of a doorbell
ringing. Sounds of a door opening and closing followed.

She then heard the voice of a young woman: “Welcome. Come
in. Lama Tenzin is waiting for you upstairs.”

James and Lao returned the greeting, and then Irina heard
the sound of squeaking stairs and knocking. A calm, warm, slightly croaky voice
with a strong Asian accent said, “I am lama Tenzin.” From the timbre of his
voice, Irina concluded that he was an elderly man.

“James Whiteway.”

“Welcome,” said lama Tenzin. “Thank you for accepting my
invitation.”

“Lao told me it was something very important.”

There was a brief moment of silence.

“Over the years I have wanted many times to meet with you.
And here I am, talking to you,” said lama Tenzin.

James was puzzled by that statement. “I don’t understand,”
he said.

The Tibetan monk sighed. Next, Irina heard undistinguishable
noise and James’ voice loaded with astonishment: “Please … Rinpoche, Lao. Why
these bows?”

Irina heard the breathing of the old monk. She linked this
with James’ words and understood that the old lama and Lao were prostrating
themselves. She was acquainted with the Tibetan traditional type of bowing. One
lies flat on the ground, slides the arms forward, and then rises back to the
feet. In combination with visualisations and mantra recitations, the
prostrations are used as spiritual and energising exercises. Three prostrations
in front of somebody serve to demonstrate respect to that person. Irina assumed
that this was the case now. The strange thing was that the Tibetan lama and Lao
were prostrating in front of James.

Lama Tenzin’s next words confirmed her assumption. “I know
you’re a professor of religion and understand our customs. You know that I
wouldn’t bow to you if I didn’t have a reason. Neither would Lao. Unlike me, he
has had many opportunities to do it. Yet he didn’t.”

“To say I’m surprised would be an understatement,” said
James.

“Let’s take a seat,” said lama Tenzin. There was a low
creaking noise before he continued. “Please, be indulgent towards us for what
I’m about to say … You’re a descendent of the royal family Shakya from which
Buddha Gautama originated. You are the only heir of the holy blood that ran in
the veins of the last Buddha – the defender of the light on earth. I, Lao and
Pema belong to the Shield. That is an order formed two and a half thousand
years ago to protect the heirs of the holy Shakya bloodline. It was founded by
King Sudodana, the father of Buddha Gautama. Since then, the order has served the
heirs.”

After a short pause, Lao said, “That’s true, James. I and
Pema vowed to serve you and protect you. We have followed the order’s policy
not to disclose anything to you for your own good. Until now. The order’s
council, chaired by lama Tenzin, took the decision that the secret should be
disclosed to you …”

“Due to my recent misfortunes?” said James.

“Yes. Allow me to continue. About three hundred years ago,
our council and the parents of the newborn heir decided to keep him in the dark
about his origin. It was done for his own good. All heirs before him knew who
they were. They had been raised in line with the requirements of their noble
birth. The father of your ancestor, Noel, was a formidable spiritual teacher in
India. His popularity made him enemies, although nobody, except the order, knew
who he really was. Hit men were sent to kill him. He narrowly escaped with his
life on several assassination attempts. Then the council decided to transfer
his newborn son to foreign land and help him establish himself there. It was
decided that he and the next heirs would not be told about their origin. The
council thought that was the best way to protect them. Of course, the order’s
protectors have always lived close to the heirs. I and my wife are your personal
protectors. The Nepalese Tampa family, who owned the Two Swans inn not far from
your estate, were your father’s personal protectors.”

Irina was astonished by what she had heard. She imagined how
James would feel. Surely, he would feel even greater shock. However, James’
next words and tone refuted her assumption. He sounded calm and balanced.

“That makes sense, even though it sounds like fantasy. It
could explain what has happened to me.”

“Lao kept me posted with the recent tragic events. I know
you lost your fiancée. My condolences,” said lama Tenzin.