The Eye of Moses - Vatican Knights Series 22 (2020), Rick Jones [learn to read books txt] 📗

necessity of creating an absolute order under one rule.’ As ‘Balance’ was the ideology of the Consortium, ‘Chaos’ was the dogmatic tenets of the Shadow Klan, whose goal was to establish a global totalitarian state.

Mr. da Vinci closed his eyes as a headache started at the back of his head and began to push forward. The Shadow Klan was a global menace to society with incredible financial backing. For them to commit to such a mission to obtain the Eye of Moses, it was most likely due to having the means to break down the powers of the particle for the use of military treatments.

A true weapon of mass destruction, Mr. da Vinci considered. That’s what they want it for. To break down the particle’s components to its finite measurement, and then wield it like the Sword of Damocles over a worldwide audience.

Da Vinci continued to stare at the monitor and at the tattoo.

This would not be a weapon created for the black market that would provide specialty items of war to the Middle East. This was going to be something grand and spectacular, something the Shadow Klan would use to promote a totalitarian rule across the globe. If they were able to harness the true power of the Eye of Moses, its power of destruction would be indescribable. And the balance of the planet would hang in jeopardy, if such a weapon could be assembled. The question was: how long would it take for the Shadow Klan to master the secrets of the dark particle for weaponized use?

Months?

Years?

Decades?

Longer?

What Mr. da Vinci needed to do was to regain the Aaron’s staff and the crystal embedded within it.

The Grand Master rose from his seat and went to the window that overlooked the small community of 5,500 people, and the river that divided the castle from the township. Things were beginning to make sense, he thought, the pieces coming together, such as the theft of the crucible once belonging to Nostradamus and the subsequent raid on the vault in Croatia. There was no doubt in Mr. da Vinci’s mind that the events were connected and that the Shadow Klan was involved in both cases.

Against a sky that was perfectly blue except for a few scudding clouds, a flock of birds flew in a V-pattern. Oddly, Mr. da Vinci wondered what species of bird they were: Geese? Swan? Then his mind gravitated to the problem at hand.

The Eye of Moses.

Seeking out treasures was a part of Consortium duties but not a primary one. Not only must they retrieve Aaron’s rod, they also had to find the crucible that once belonged to Nostradamus, which was the master key to opening many more secrets that could be exploited by the Shadow Klan.

As well-gifted as the members of the Consortium were, the order needed aid outside of its key obligations to maintain balance. And whenever certain matters were beyond his reach or control when it came to religious artifacts, he had no choice but to contact the Vatican.

After returning to his desk, he stared at the phone for an exceptionally long time. Not so much in debate but trying to determine what he was going to say. After tapping a single number on the pad, the call went through an encrypted line before there was a connection.

“It’s been awhile,” said the voice on the other end. It was also the voice of Father Auciello, a co-director of Vatican Intelligence.

“How are you?” da Vinci asked.

“Good. Yourself?”

“Well, I’m hoping you can help me with a growing problem I have.”

“And that would be?”

For the next forty minutes, Mr. da Vinci informed Father Auciello everything there was to know about the thefts of the crucible and the staff, leaving nothing out.

“I know just the man who can aid you in your search,” stated Father Auciello. “Though he may march to his own drummer from time to time. But I’ll need permission from the pontiff to mobilize him.”

“If he’s going to be an asset to my people, he can march any way he wants.”

“That’s good to know.” Mr. da Vinci could hear the shuffling of papers over the line, and then, “His name is Kimball Hayden. If there’s anyone capable of pushing their way through an elite unit, he and his team of Vatican Knights can do so.”

“We’ll need that kind of fighting fortitude against the Shadow Klan.”

“Unfortunately, since your fortress in Croatia has been compromised, the pontiff will want said artifacts bound for other unchartered locations for safe keeping. In fact, Pope Clement might want everything removed to the Vault beneath the Vatican for safekeeping.”

“There would be too many relics for the Vault to hold, given the relics it already houses. But I will agree for some of the treasures to be placed under the care and security of Vatican domain. The Ark of the Covenant, for sure, needs a new altar to rest upon. Once the staff of Aaron has been retrieved, then it will be returned to its rightful place within the Ark, and the Ark handed over to Vatican emissaries. The crucible once belonging to Nostradamus, should it be retained, will remain under the jurisdiction of the Consortium since it’s the key to several global secrets.”

“The crucible has no value to the Vatican,” stated Father Auciello, “since it’s not a religious article. That’s yours to protect. But any relic with a religious tie to it will need to be returned to the Vatican, should this be the request of the pontiff. Given the nature of the Croatian facility being compromised and considered unsafe, this will most likely be his decision.”

“Understood.”

“The bowl belonging to Nostradamus, which is something that needs to be rediscovered, is yours to keep. When you do find it, then it is up to the principals of the Consortium to keep its secrets well-guarded, since the ramifications could be globally spread.”

Mr. da Vinci felt immediate ire with this statement. Father Auciello had always been a man with filters who diplomatically suggested proposals. Here, however, Mr.