The 731 Legacy (34 page)

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can never be more than dear friends."

Cotten felt John's hand slip from between hers. At first she thought he was offended in some way, but then she felt his hand close around hers.

"There are many things," John said, "that would be worse than being dear friends. And you know how I feel. Everything you're saying is completely understandable, including the wanting to get away and rethink your future. We've been through a lot together. Despite our own personal feelings, we have chosen paths in life that are not destined to come together."

Reality settled into her heart and she felt profoundly sad. "How many times have we said that maybe in another time, another place, things might have been different? But not in this lifetime. There's nothing I can do to change that, nor can you. You are destined for great things, John. And what lies ahead for me is as much a mystery as ever. Even though I've been the cause of so much trouble for you, I haven't been able to let you go. That's not fair to you." Her face scrunched as she blinked back tears. "Talk about crossing that line on a daily basis and putting yourself first. I'm the poster child."

She choked up and had to wait a moment before she could get her voice back. "I have to stop. Enough is enough. And the only way I can get my head together is to take a break—a long break. I don't mean just from you, I mean from my job, my life, the rest of the world."

"If that's what you think it will take, Cotten," John said. "You've been through more than anyone I've ever known. Perhaps it will give you a chance to find yourself, but more importantly, find your relationship with God. Remember, he's always there waiting for you."

"I know that as soon as possible you'll be leaving for Rome. I wish we had a few days just to talk, to spend time together that was without a crisis and conflict. No battles to fight." Cotten rolled her tearing eyes. "There, you see, I'm doing it again. I know how important it is you get back to Rome quickly, and I'm wishing in my heart that you could stay."

"I would stay a little longer if it weren't for the funeral of the Holy Father. Will you be going to Rome to cover the story?"

"I can't imagine Ted assigning it to anyone else. But it would have to be my last assignment. I really do mean to get away for a while and get my life in order."

There was a moment of nervous silence, then Cotten cleared her throat to prevent whatever she said next from sounding strangled in tears. Cotten stood.

"John, before I go, I have something for you." She reached for her purse. Removing a small, white box, she emptied the contents into her hand. Then she took his hand, turned it palm up, and dropped his gold cross and chain into it. She folded his fingers around it.

John rose from the chair and pulled her into his arms. "I so wish that it could be different for us. I want more than anything for you to find happiness, Cotten."

They held each other for a long time before letting go. She took a step

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back and looked into his eyes. A faint smile emerged on her lips. "Maybe in another time, another place."

WHITE SMOKE

Cotten sat in the network anchor booth inside St. Peter's Square and went over her notes from a Vatican expert in canon law and consultant to SNN. Early that morning the College of Cardinals had convened to elect the new pope. In tradition, after each round of voting, their ballots were counted and then burned in a small stove. Its famous chimney was clearly visible from St. Peter's Square. Custom held that if there was a failed ballot, wet straw was added to the ballots to make the smoke black. Upon a successful ballot, white smoke swirls into the sky.

Two hours ago a dramatic and unusual event took place. As millions watched on television, listened to the radio, or stood in St. Peter's Square, white smoke had curled into the sky after the first ballot. Now those same millions waited patiently to learn the identity of their new pontiff.

SNN was running regular programming, but stood ready to cut in with any breaking news from Rome.

"I'm taking a breather," Cotten said, removing her earpiece and unhooking the lapel mic.

A few moments later, she strolled through the cordoned-off press area, turning from time to time to gaze at St. Peter's Basilica and the rooftop of the Sistine Chapel just to its right. John was in there somewhere, surrounded by his fellow cardinals, probably congratulating the newly elected pope. She could imagine him assuring the new pontiff of his loyalty and devotion. As director of the Venatori, he might even be giving the pope a summary of the latest global situations he would face in the first few days of the new papacy.

How wonderful for him, she thought. He was immersed in his element, all that he loved and cherished. But as the thought came to her, she felt a door seem to close in her heart. A deep sadness rolled gently over her. John knew she was there covering the election, and he would probably try to get in touch with her before she left. But she thought it better not to see him. It would be too hard to say goodbye again.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a firm tap on her shoulder. "Cotten, get back to the booth." It was one of the production assistants. "They're about to make the announcement," he said.

The two hustled back to the SNN booth and Cotten took her seat next to the monsignor consultant. She gave a quick sound level and confirmed she could hear the director instructing her through the earpiece. They were about to go live.

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A huge roar rose up from the throngs of people at the appearance of the Cardinal Deacon. He emerged on the balcony outside the central window of St. Peter's Basilica. Since the seventeenth century, this was the window from which the newly elected pope would appear and give his first papal blessing. The Cardinal Deacon's voice rang out through the Basilica's public address system. He spread his arms wide and said in Latin, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum."

The crowd erupted in an even louder cheer.

"This is it," the monsignor said to Cotten. "We are about to receive the formal announcement."

"It's certainly an electrifying moment, Father." She watched her monitor as the camera zoomed in on the balcony.

From the speakers came the words,"Habemus Papam!"

"We have a pope," the monsignor said, translating the Latin.

Next came, "Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum dominum. Dominum John."

Cotten turned to the monsignor, a sense of trepidation trickling through her. She'd clearly heard the Deacon sayJohn.

"The winning candidate's first name is John," said the monsignor. "Next will be the surname."

Cotten's eyes raced down the list of cardinal's names on her desk. Three were named John. There was John Tyler, of course... As she stared at his name, the loud speakers came alive with the Deacon's next words.

HEAVEN ON EARTH

Ted Casselman propped his glass of Stoli and cranberry juice on his thigh and leaned back in his living room recliner. The image of an unfurled ancient scroll rotated on his flat screen plasma while music that reminded him of

"Chariots of Fire" pounded through his Bose surround-sound speakers. With a solid black backdrop and spotlights focused on the scroll, the inscribed gazelle skin appeared incredibly intact, considering it was at least 5,000 years old. The title of theRelic's segment appeared: Heaven on Earth.

Ted took another sip.

The camera panned across rugged, mountainous terrain, until a figure could be seen in the distance. Zooming in, the image revealed Cotten as she stood beside the entrance to a cave opening at the base of a cliff. She looked better than Ted had seen her in a long time, a glowing happiness that, even on the screen, appeared to permeate her every cell.

"Just a year ago," Cotten said, "here in the rocky, inhospitable terrain, not far from where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered more than half a century ago, famed archaeologist John Tyler unearthed an ancient Essene repository of historical and religious documents, one of which is the fascinating scroll you just saw on your screen. The Essenes were a Jewish religious sect that flourished

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from the second century BC to the first century AD. This document however, unlike others found in the region, was not inscribed by the Essenes, but was protected and handed down by them through generations. And why would that be? Why would the Essenes believe this scroll to be so valuable that they guarded and preserved it along with their own most precious documents? That's what we'll try to answer as we follow the journey of the Essene Scroll and reveal its secret, coming up right after this."

During the commercial break, Ted smiled at how Cotten had introduced John—famed archaeologist John Tyler—not former priest John Tyler. He was sure that many viewers recognized John from the news accounts of the former Roman Catholic cardinal who gave up the priesthood to pursue his calling in the secular world. But what had never been made public was that as a cardinal, John had come to the threshold of the papacy. Just a year and a half ago, he stood before the College of Cardinals inside the secrecy of the Sistine Chapel conclave and declined to be considered a candidate. He stated that at last he understood God's plan for him, and the restrictions of the papacy were not part of it.

As the commercial ended andRelics returned, Ted's attention was drawn back to the rotating scroll.

Wide angle of Cotten with mountainous desert landscape behind.

"The inscription on the leather scroll appeared to be in pro-Elamite," she said, "the oldest known writing system of Iran. It was used briefly around three thousand years ago, and previous samples have never been deciphered. Dr. Tyler has been conservative regarding this discovery, not publicizing it or making speculations on the information in the text. That is until now. With the aid and cooperation of the National Security Agency and their highly sophisticated decryption tools, the script of this amazing artifact has finally been translated. And what it says may change all of us forever.

"Dr. Tyler tells us that even at first glance he thought he had something fantastic. And after a closer look, he was sure of it. So, what is it about this particular scroll, besides its age, that makes it such a treasure?"

Close-up on John coming to stand beside Cotten.

"Let's begin with the prophet Enoch," John said, "who lived around three thousand BC. Enoch is mentioned several times in Genesis, and his genealogy can also be found in the Old Testament. Enoch was the son of Jared, father of Methuselah, and great-grandfather of Noah. In the Qur'an, Enoch is called Idris, to the Greeks he is the same as Mercury, or Hermes Trismegistus who wrote the Emerald Tablets of Thoth. The Talmud tells of how when people on Earth went astray, Enoch lived a pious life, and by his sermons and speeches made the people give up idolatry and obey God's commands.

"Amazingly, Enoch is said to have lived for 365 years, a relatively short time compared to other patriarchs of the period before the Great Flood. But even that is not what makes Enoch so extraordinary. You see, God was so pleased with Enoch that he was taken up by God to Heaven, not once, but twice. The first time Enoch ascended to Heaven, he spent sixty days there and was shown

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all the secrets of Paradise. Before returning to Earth, it is said he wrote 366

books that he passed on to his sons. He was also made the guardian of the treasures of Heaven. A year later, God took him up again. Enoch never experienced death. Genesis five, verse twenty-four:And Enoch walked with God: and he was not seen again, for God took him."

Close-up of the scroll with Cotten's voiceover.

"So again, we are asking what is so exceptional about this scroll, and what does it have to do with the prophet Enoch? Realizing the possible importance of this ancient document, Dr. Tyler worked with the NSA to have it deciphered. Though previous pro-Elamite texts had failed to be decoded, miraculously, this time there was success and the script was interpreted. Everyone was stunned by its staggering contents. You are now looking at a document scribed by Enoch on his return to Earth after his first ascension to Paradise."

Two-shot of John and Cotten.

John said, "The prophet Enoch writes that God permitted him to take three unique treasures of Heaven back to Earth. Once here, he hid the treasures away, and this scroll, scribed in Enoch's hand, tells the secret location of those treasures."

Close-up of John.

"Could it be that in the very near future we will be looking at undeniable proof of Heaven?"

Close-up of Cotten.

"Reporting for Satellite News Network from the remote banks of the Dead Sea, this is Cotten Stone Tyler."

THE END

Joe Moore
(Florida) spent twenty-five years in the television post-production industry where he received two regional Emmy® awards for individual achievement in audio mixing. As a freelance writer, Joe reviewed fiction for theFort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, theTampa Tribune, and

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