The Invisible Assassin(18)

‘In 1498, plague returned to Britain and wiped out a huge percentage of the population, including many of the monks who had hidden the scientific texts. With them went the knowledge of where they’d hidden them. The only evidence that these “lost sciences” actually existed and had been hidden were in the Journal of the Order of Malichea, which was a history of the Order handed down through the ages since AD 780, and The Index, the supposed list of where the scientific books were hidden.

‘In 1536, Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Although many monasteries and abbeys capitulated to the king’s forces, the Abbot of Glastonbury, Richard Whiting, refused to allow the king’s troops to enter the abbey when they arrived to take possession in 1539. As a result of Whiting’s defiance he was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor at Glastonbury Tor on 15 November 1539. Henry VIII’s forces then sacked the abbey, and the books in the priory’s library, including the Journal of the Order of Malichea, came into the hands of the king, and so into the possession of the State. But it’s not known what happened to The Index. It may have been destroyed during the attack by the king’s men on Glastonbury. The Journal of the Order of Malichea has also since “disappeared”, though whether it is still in the archives of the State is a matter of conjecture.’



Jake passed the laptop back to Lauren, who turned it off and closed it down.

‘If what was dug up is the hidden text by El Izmir, then this is the first proof that the secret library of forbidden books existed and was hidden,’ said Lauren.

‘As far as we know,’ added Parsons thoughtfully. ‘Others may have been found before that, and put in storage somewhere.’

‘But why would anyone want to keep this information hidden?’ asked Jake. ‘Like you say, this fungus stuff could end world hunger.’

‘It could also be used as a biological weapon,’ said Parsons. ‘You saw that yourself. Imagine those same fungal spores, but a million of them, used as a weapon.’

‘Yes, but everything is a potential weapon!’ exploded Jake. ‘A pencil in the wrong hands can be used to stab someone! You can’t do nothing just because something could be dangerous.’

‘Jake’s right,’ said Lauren, giving Jake a smile. Both the smile and the words sent a thrill through him. ‘This is our opportunity to expose the truth. Not just about this book, but the proof that the secret library existed, and is hidden out there. And the secrets the books hold could bring untold wonders to the world. End famine. Cure diseases.’

‘And also be used as weapons in the wrong hands,’ repeated Parsons.

‘Then we have to make sure the information gets into the right hands,’ insisted Lauren.

‘How?’ asked Parsons. ‘The book by El Izmir will be under lock and key by now, you can be sure of that.’

‘So, we find another one,’ said Lauren.

‘How?’ asked Jake, puzzled.

‘We explore the sites I listed, the possible hiding places where the books were hidden, until we find one of the books. We only need to find one to prove that the secret library existed and was hidden. And then we can launch a search for the rest.’

Jake looked from her to Parsons, and then back to Lauren again.

‘It’s a bit of a long shot,’ he said. ‘According to everything you’ve found out, they’ve been hidden for hundreds of years, but this is the first time one’s actually been found. Trying to find another one could take . . . well . . . years.’

‘And there is the problem that most of them will be buried on land that is protected,’ said Parsons thoughtfully.

Lauren looked affronted.

‘You’re agreeing with Jake?’ she demanded.

‘In this case, yes.’ Parsons nodded.

Great, thought Jake delightedly. They’re splitting up, and over me! OK, not in the way I’d hoped, but it’s a start.

‘I think we need to concentrate on getting the El Izmir book back,’ said Parsons.

‘And how do you propose we do that?’ asked Lauren.

‘We use Jake,’ said Parsons. ‘After all, it’s his department that’s got it.’

As Parsons’s words sunk in, Jake felt a sense of panic creeping over him. No! he thought. The last time I tried nosing around within my department about this, someone tried to kill me!

‘No, I think Lauren’s right,’ he said. ‘I take back what I said. I think we ought to start again, just as Lauren said. There will be more books out there, hidden. I’m sure we can find one.’

Parsons didn’t seem convinced.