The Voynich Cypher (34 page)

“First, I’ll need compensation for my decryption work, which I would argue is the best in the world, given that nobody in history has accomplished what I have. For that, and for having to give up my company and uproot my life, I want fair value of the company, which I will sell to the Church. I estimate it would realize one and a half million dollars from a motivated buyer. And the trove of rare parchments I’ll have to leave behind is worth half a million. All told, two million dollars. Which, given your reaction to my joke about twenty million, is a steal, I’d say,” Steven reasoned.

“I sense there’s more.”

“There is. I also want to lead the expedition to find the Light. With the Church making all arrangements I require, including travel facilitation under yet another passport, as well as for the girl. So two passports each, for both the girl and myself. First set for the return of the Scroll, second set for travel to find the Light.”

“I think I can do that. You don’t mind if they’re Italian and from Vatican City, do you?” Luca asked.

“Not at all. Oh, and there’s one more thing. I want to have unrestricted access to the Vatican archives for the rest of my life.”

Luca smiled. “The archives?”

“I’m an amateur cryptologist. Once you pay me, I’ll be a professional. As such, I’ll want to pore over the most obscure and rare documents in the world – which are in your archives. I won’t remove anything, but I will want to satisfy my curiosity for my remaining days. One can have money, and power, but knowledge is priceless. So I want something priceless, in return for giving the Church something priceless – the Light. And I will want that in writing, with the Pope’s signature. Irrevocable. You can have him sign it when he’s signing the other document.” Steven stopped talking.

Luca rubbed his chin and took a swallow of his soda.

“I can speak for the Church. Your conditions are acceptable. How would you suggest we proceed from here?”

“Give me an e-mail address so I can send the passport photos. I can get those to you by tonight – they’re already taken. I will also get you the names to use. I know the Church can snap its fingers and make this happen, so I’m not worried about it. On the money, I will give you an account in Lichtenstein for a wire transfer. Once you have the documents from the Pope and the passports in hand, we will do an exchange, and then I will tell you what’s required for our expedition. I’m trusting the Church to behave honorably in this, as I am acting, and I hope that faith isn’t misplaced,” Steven said.

“We’re in the faith business. So no, it isn’t misplaced. You have my word on that.”

“Good. I’ve taken the liberty of recording this discussion, should anyone on your side ever decide that the world would be a better place without me, or the girl, in it. That tape will go to every media outlet for release along with the entire story if you default or renege. Call it my own way of ensuring the faith isn’t misplaced. If you keep your bargain, you have nothing to worry about. Oh, and call off the Order. I don’t want to have to worry about them anymore. The girl’s father’s business partner is enough. Which, by the way, I could also use a hand with as part of our security. But we will touch on that once we have the passports and the money taken care of. Agreed?” Steven said.

Luca realized he had just been set up, but didn’t blame Steven. He knew that their transaction might be questioned in hindsight, and an overzealous new Pope might decide to void the deal. The recording would ensure that didn’t happen.

“We have a deal, Dr. Cross,” Luca said, offering his hand.

Steven shook it. “I never doubted we would. There’s always a way when both parties want the same thing. A win-win. Have a good trip. My associate will be returning to take his seat. Don’t get up until we arrive in Milan, and when you leave the train, take a taxi directly to the airport or, alternatively, buy a ticket back to Rome on the train. Now, give me your cell phone,” Steven instructed.

Luca fished in his jacket for it. Steven removed the battery and passed it back to Luca.

“Pleasure doing business with you. Write the e-mail account on this.” Steven handed him a train timetable and a pen. Luca thought for a few moments and then neatly printed an address.

“We’ll be seeing more of each other shortly. Safe travels.”

Steven moved down the aisle to the connecting door that led to the other cars, and Moody returned from where he’d been lingering by the bathroom. Without looking at Steven as he passed, he ordered a mineral water from the server before returning to his seat next to Luca. He glanced at the cleric and nodded, removed two ear buds from his shirt pocket and put them in place, and then activated his iPod.

Luca picked up the newspaper and returned to reading it, thinking,
what a remarkable encounter
.

In Milan, he opted to take the train back to Rome. It would give him time to think. He had half an hour to kill before it left, so after buying a first class ticket with some of the cash he was carrying, he went to find a cell phone store where he could get another battery.

Natalie threw her arms around Steven’s neck when he arrived at the house in the late afternoon.

“How did it go?” she asked between kisses.

“Nothing unexpected. Start picking out names. I promised I’d send them, along with the photos, by tonight.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. They agreed to everything, and we’ll be game-on within three to four days. We’ll return the Scroll, and then we’re off to find the Light.”

“Where are we going, by the way?”

“Oh, I’d imagine we’ll need to start in Israel or Jordan. I’ll have to talk with Moody about his contacts there, as well as in Palestine. But that can wait until tomorrow,” he said.

Natalie took his hand and led him to the bedroom as he removed his jacket. She turned at the threshold and helped him with his shirt.

It was a long night.

Colonel Gabriel Synthe stood in the parking lot of the
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport
, watching the planes take off over the Roman hills while waiting for his rendezvous. He hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep over the last few days and had a throbbing headache from the tension. The girl and Cross had vaporized without a trace, and the police dragnet had yielded nothing so far. Synthe didn’t have a lot of hope on that front – the search was low priority even with the Roman police, and the other cities were probably largely ignoring it.

He idly blew smoke rings to the sky as he stood by his rental car. The lot was deserted at this time of night, so it made for a good clandestine meeting spot. A vehicle approached down his lane and pulled to a stop a few slots from where he was parked. To his considerable surprise, Luca got out of one side, accompanied by the Sentinel on the other. This was unprecedented. His despised counterpart in the Templars was now apparently rubbing shoulders with his superior.

Both men approached Synthe, and neither offered their hand in greeting.

Luca cleared his throat. “We are going to call off the hunt for the professor’s daughter and the Cross fellow, effective immediately,” Luca said dryly.

“Call it off? Are you delusional?” Synthe spat, dropping his cigarette to the ground and grinding it beneath his foot.

“No. I’ve solved our problem. We will have the Scroll back within a few days, and this entire episode will be over.” Luca held back a victorious smile.

“You mean you
think
you’ll have it back. You don’t yet, do you?” Synthe sneered.

The Sentinel took a step closer. “Colonel Synthe. While I – we – appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment, the problem has been solved and the Scroll will be in our hands shortly. I’m satisfied that is the case, and I have no reason to doubt that it will happen,” he said, ending the matter.

Synthe digested the information and decided to try a different approach.

“That’s wonderful news, then. Congratulations. It appears your instinct was the right one, Luca. As the protector of the Scroll for the Order, let me be the first to offer my praise and my support. Anything I can do to help, just say the word. That’s the whole point of cooperation between our two groups, right? To get the job done. It’s the end result that counts, not our egos,” Synthe enthused.

It didn’t look as though Luca was buying it, but the Sentinel seemed to be, and that was who he was playing to.

“I share that sentiment, Colonel Synthe,” the Sentinel said. “And I want to say that even though the Scroll will be back in our care before long, I want to make some changes to the security precautions – the most important being that I think the tradition of housing it in the Abbey needs to come to an end. It was originally stored there to keep it away from any politically-motivated squabbles within the Holy See, but times have changed and the benefits of keeping it hidden in a remote location are outweighed by the security we can arrange within the Vatican. I am going to ask you to work with me on crafting a foolproof system to house it here in Rome.”

“I would be delighted to lend my expertise.” Synthe almost bowed.

“There will also be another task for you. Besides security for the Scroll, we will need your assistance with a field operation to recover another enormously important item in the coming days. I will ask you to work with Luca on selecting an appropriate contractor to devise a vault to house the Scroll and this other item, with access limited exclusively to the Pope,” the Sentinel continued.

Synthe’s respiration increased. “Of course. Whatever is required. But, if you don’t mind me asking, what is this other item? It will help to know what I’m to create a plan to protect when designing the system,
no
?” Synthe asked.

Luca and the Sentinel exchanged furtive glances.

“We haven’t got a complete description quite yet. But when we do, you’ll be told everything you need to do your job,” the Sentinel assured him.

“I see. And the field operation? Where will it take place? Here, in Rome?” Synthe inquired.

Luca rubbed his hands together. “Again, when we have more information you will be brought into the loop. For now, all we need you to do is stand down, recall any men you have deployed in the search for the Scroll, and await further instructions. We should know more in a few days, so you should remain in Rome,” Luca said dismissively.

Synthe restrained his natural instinct to punch the pompous ass in the throat.

“Does this few days in any way involve the girl and the cryptologist’s return of the Scroll?” he asked.

“Infer whatever you like. You’ll be briefed when we have relevant details,” Luca said curtly.

The Sentinel eyed Luca, then returned his attention to Synthe. “Colonel, I can appreciate your curiosity, however I am going to ask you to consider Diego Luca your superior in this matter. This is temporary, however, it is necessary for reasons that extend beyond your need to know. Luca will require your cooperation in both the security matter and the recovery matter, and it must be unconditional and unhesitating. Do I make myself crystal clear?” the Sentinel asked him.

Synthe managed a faint smile. “Of course. I shall do as you say and call off the dogs, and await a call when you can tell me more. In the meantime, perhaps you can arrange for me to see the areas you’re considering for storage of the Scroll, as well as any blueprints? If I am to create a security scenario that will be more secure than the one at the Abbey, which clearly was not up to modern challenges, I’ll need as much time and information as possible.”

“That’s reasonable. I’ll contact you tomorrow with a time for you to be shown the spots.” Luca paused. “It goes without saying that everything you’ve been told is confidential and cannot go beyond our ears.”

“Yes. As always.” Synthe couldn’t think of anything further to add and decided to cut his losses. “I’ll await your contact. Let me get going, so I can recall my team.”

Synthe saw no reason to drag the meeting out any longer. He needed time to think through a strategy that was tickling the periphery of his awareness.

“Thank you for your efforts, Colonel Synthe. I trust this new arrangement will work well for us all. Remember that it is temporary, and you will report directly to me again once this regrettable affair is concluded,” the Sentinel advised.

“I would completely understand if you wished to end our arrangement once this is done, given the loss of the Scroll,” Synthe offered. It was virtually mandatory for him to offer his resignation in light of the circumstances.

“We’ve discussed that, and agreed that, for the time being, we would be better served with you remaining in your position,” Luca said. The message was unmistakable. Luca had been discussing Synthe’s future with the Sentinel, had participated in deciding his destiny.

“Ah. Just so, then. Whatever best meets your needs, then. I shall await your instructions.”

“We’re going to Jordan?” Natalie asked.

“Yes. The Scroll doesn’t exactly give GPS coordinates, but as near as I can tell, it does the best you could expect for the 1200s. Bacon was a genius, that’s for sure. Part of the instructions say to cut several of the drawings here, and here, and here.” Steven pointed to the seemingly random blue lines running through four of the illustrations. “Now compare the new composite to this satellite image.” Steven had cut and pasted four of the illustrations together to fit, like a puzzle, into one coherent drawing. There was an oblong body of water with several markers surrounding it – a crescent moon, a star, a sideways Y, and finally, the labyrinth crest.