The Lincoln Myth (44 page)

“None of that gold was lost,” one of the apostles said. “Not one ounce. All of it was reintroduced into our economy, after the threat of war from the federal government waned. Prophet Brigham made sure that happened. There is no mystery there.”

“Interesting you would say that,” Nixon said. “I had that researched. Brigham Young sent the gold away to California. But according to your own written records, those wagons were attacked and men were killed, the gold stolen and lost. Are you saying your prophet was involved with that theft?”

“We’re not saying anything,” another of the apostles said, “except that no gold was lost.”

“Does not the White Horse Prophecy mean anything to you? Were you not to be the saviors of our Constitution?”

A few of the apostles chuckled
.

“That’s a fable,” one of them said. “A story made up by the early church fathers as a way to bolster our new religion. Just hearsay and misinterpretation that spread, like rumors do. Every theology has such stories. But it’s not real. We disavowed its language long ago.”

Nixon grinned. “Gentlemen, I’ve played many a hand of poker, and I’ve played against the best. I’m not fooled here by your bluff. Brigham Young made a deal with Abraham Lincoln, and both sides, to their credit, kept it. I’ve read a note that survived from Lincoln’s time. A handwritten message from James Buchanan, sent to Lincoln, that provided him with a document. More papers I’ve seen indicate that the document was ultimately sent here, as Lincoln’s part of the bargain. But thanks to Lincoln’s sudden, untimely death you still have that document.”

“For sake of argument,” Smith said. “If such a document were returned, what would you do with it?”

“That depends on what it says. My guess is that it concerns the Founding Fathers and what they may, or may not, have done in Philadelphia.”

“The Constitution is, to us, a glorious standard, one founded in the wisdom of God,” the prophet said. “It is a heavenly banner. To all those who are privileged with the blessings of liberty, it is like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land.”

“Wonderful analogies,” Nixon said. “But you have yet to answer my question.”

Smith faced the apostles around the table. “You see here an example of what we’ve faced since the beginning. The arrogance of a federal government, come here, to our home, demanding that we obey its commands.”

A few heads bobbed in agreement
.

“I indulged this request for a private audience hoping that this president would be different.” Smith’s gaze locked on George Romney and David Kennedy. “Two of our own serve in this administration, which we took as a good sign.” The prophet paused, as if gathering himself. Smith had served for many years as church Historian and Recorder. If anyone would know what the records held, he would
.

Finally, Smith faced Nixon
.

“We are indeed the custodians of something given to us long ago. But Brigham Young made the decision to keep what he’d been given, and every prophet since has likewise done the same. That decision is, therefore, mine. So I decline your request.”

“You’re refusing a direct demand from the president of the United States?”

“In our Doctrine and Covenants, 109:54, it is said
Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.
That is what I obey … Mr. President. Not you.”

Rowan stared at Charles Snow and Danny Daniels.

He’d listened as Snow told him what happened over four decades ago.

“I was there,” Snow said. “Sitting around that table. A relatively new apostle, but I watched as Joseph Fielding Smith dealt with Richard Nixon. That was the first time I became aware of our great secret.”

“And the others knew?”

Snow nodded. “Some of the most senior were aware.”

“Charles,” Rowan said. “You sent me to find it. You told me to look.”

“No, Thaddeus. I showed you what came from the record stone simply as way to provide you with enough rope to hang yourself. President Daniels and I have been speaking on this for many months now.”

He could not believe what he was hearing. The prophet himself a spy? A traitor? Placing the interests of gentiles above those of Saints?

“Joseph Fielding Smith,” Snow said, “was a brilliant man. He
served this church for three-quarters of the 20th century. After Nixon left that day, we were all briefed on some of what happened in 1863. But it was only when I became prophet that I learned the rest. Each prophet since has passed that information on to his successor. All of the men there that day with Nixon are now dead. Only I remain. But the duty of passing on ends here and now. I will tell you nothing.”

“We can do this, Charles,” Rowan said. “We can leave this godforsaken country, with all of its laws and rules and taxes and problems. We don’t need it any longer. We’ve done polls. The people are solidly behind secession. Utahans will approve any resolution calling for it.”

“Do you realize what will happen,” Daniels asked, “if you go through with this? The United States is a world power.”

“And losing Utah will change that?” he asked. “You’re being ludicrous.”

“Unfortunately, it won’t stop with Utah. Which is your plan. Other states will follow. You’re right, our problems run deep. People are ready to flee. They think there’s something better. But I’m here to tell you there’s not. For all its faults this is the best damn political system man has ever conceived. It does work. But only as a unit of fifty states. I can’t allow you to destroy that.”

“Even if the founders themselves said it was okay?”

Snow sighed. “Thaddeus, our own founders said a lot of things, too. Some of it was wise, some nonsense. It’s our duty, our responsibility, to ignore the bad and keep the good. Times have changed. What may have worked in 1787 no longer works today.”

“That’s not for us to decide.” His voice rose. “It’s for the people to choose. They have a right to know everything.”

“If that’s the case,” Daniels said, “then why do we classify information? Why do we meet in secret to make national security decisions? Because it’s up to us, as the people’s representatives, to make smart decisions. They elect and trust us to get it right. And every few years they have chance to tell us how we’re doing. Senator, we’re
asking you to stop this, both your president and your prophet are asking you to stop.”

His first thought was about what was happening in Iowa. Did the Lincoln watch hold the final piece of the puzzle? He also wondered about Stephanie Nelle and her complicity. She’d offered him vital information. But what had Snow just said about his own offered cooperation?

Enough rope to hang yourself
.

“You sent Stephanie Nelle to me, didn’t you?” he asked Daniels.

“I sent no one. She’s a thief and a traitor. I’m going to fire her, then put her sorry ass in jail. That’s where you’re going, too, if you don’t stop.”

He faced Snow. “We have a right to live free, as we please, according to the prophets. We’ve earned that.
Our
founders envisioned that.”

“We
are
free, Thaddeus.”

“How can you say that? It’s our duty to fulfill the White Horse Prophecy.”

“That’s a fantasy. It always has been.”

“No, it’s not. We were told to
stand by the Constitution of the United States as it was given by the inspiration of God
. That means
in its entirety
. And that’s what I’m doing. The founders themselves said a state could leave, if it wanted to. I’m prepared to see if Utah wants that.”

Then something occurred to him.

“You lied to Nixon about the prophecy, didn’t you?”

Snow stared back.

“That’s exactly what you did,” he said again. “You told him it was fantasy.”

“We simply reiterated what the church has publicly said of that pronouncement,” Snow made clear.

“Which was a lie. You just said every prophet since Brigham Young was aware of the truth. What we held for the United States.”

“Which has nothing to do with that prophecy,” Snow said. “It has everything to do, though, with the future of this nation. We
simply chose not to destroy this country. The Constitution would, indeed, hang by a thread if you’re allowed to proceed.”

“Where is it, Charles?” His body shook with intensity. “Where is that document hidden? Tell me.”

Snow shook his head. “That will not be passed from this prophet to the next. And I assure you, I’m the only one who knows.”

“Then you have betrayed your faith, and all that it stands for.”

“I’m prepared to answer to Heavenly Father. Are you?”

“Absolutely. I know Lincoln fought a war that never should have been fought. The South had a right to leave, and he knew that. He made a personal choice to wage that war. Hundreds of thousands died. What do you think the American people will say when that’s revealed?”

“That he chose the Union,” Daniels said. “He chose this country. I would have done the same.”

“Then you’re a traitor, too.”

“Lincoln decided that the
United
States was more important than the individual states,” Daniels said. “Granted, times have changed. The same pressures he faced we don’t. But we have pressures that are just as immediate. Worldwide concerns. It’s important that this nation survive.”

He leveled his gaze at the president of the United States. “It. Will. Fall.”

“I’m releasing you from your calling,” Snow said. “I want your resignation as an apostle.”

“And I want you out of the Senate,” the president said.

“You can both go to hell.”

Never before had he uttered such derogatory words. Swearing was contrary to all that he believed. But he was angry. And he had to hope that Salazar was successful. Everything now depended on that.

He turned for the door, but could not resist a parting shot.

“This Lincoln myth will end. The nation will see him for what he was. A man who fought a war for nothing, who hid away the truth for his own purposes. Unlike either of you, I trust the judgment of the people. They’ll decide if this Union is forever.”

FIFTY-EIGHT

M
ALONE KEPT WATCH ON THE DARK OUTLINE OF
S
ALISBURY
House. The electricity had been down about fifteen minutes, and he finally spotted flashlights streaking through the cottage where Cassiopeia had done her damage. A couple of minutes later the lights inside and out came back on. Surely it was clear now that someone had intentionally tripped the breaker. It would not be long before police would be everywhere.

“She’s coming your way, Pappy,” Luke said in his ear.

He fled his post and headed back through the trees to where he’d parked the rental car. It sat on the shoulder of a tree-lined street, the houses around all set back from the road a hundred-plus feet. One of those older neighborhoods built when people craved privacy and land was cheap.

There was no telling what had happened inside Salisbury House. Frat Boy had kept the details to himself. The fact that Cassiopeia now possessed the watch meant Luke had underestimated her.

Big mistake.

L
UKE HASTENED HIS PACE, HIS GROIN STILL ACHING.
H
E OWED
her one for that. He found the edge of the house and turned the corner. Trees, shrubs, and woods nestled close to the side wall. A rustling noise up ahead confirmed that Vitt was still on the move. The lights had returned inside, the ground-floor windows now illuminating this side of the building.

He pushed his way through the foliage.

Malone should be somewhere behind the rear garden, Vitt heading straight toward him.

C
ASSIOPEIA STAYED IN THE TREES AND PASSED THE EDGE OF THE
rear garden. Her car was waiting fifty meters away on a street labeled Greenwood Drive. She had the watch. Josepe would be pleased. Maybe once she handed it over she could learn its significance. All Josepe had mentioned was that it might be the final piece of a much larger puzzle. Would she tell Stephanie Nelle?