The Trespass(2)

“It’s appropriate, Mr Dracup.”

“Well, go on, I’m listening.”

“You’ve come to Scotland to hear your aunt’s will. The solicitor gave you a diary this afternoon. It belonged to your grandfather, Theodore. Your aunt kept it a secret for many years. She had it placed under lock and key. Until her death.” Potzner produced a gold cigarette case and offered it to Dracup.

“No thanks.”

“Do you mind?”

“Carry on.”

Potzner thumbed his Zippo and inhaled deeply.

Dracup watched him suspiciously. “How do you know what I may or may not be doing in Scotland?”

Potzner sat forward. “Professor; it’s my business to know things.” The American went on. “Your name is Simon Andrew Dracup. You are forty-five years old. You were brought up in India, but relocated to Berkshire when your father was offered a consultant post at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. You wanted to follow him into medicine but your father dissuaded you. Your first girlfriend was Susan, your best friend’s sister. The relationship didn’t last because when you visited you didn’t know if you were there to see your friend or Susan and neither did they. Boy, that was a bummer. She really loved you.

You got straight As at A level and went to Bristol University to escape home, even though Reading offered a better course in Anthropology. You married Yvonne when you were twenty-eight, although you weren’t sure and your friends even less so. Your daughter Natasha was born eight years ago after your wife – sorry, ex-wife – had undergone a prolonged course of fertility treatment. Politically you swing to the left but enjoy a lifestyle that is definitely headed over to the right. Your students respect you and you’re known as a reliable guy. Professionally, you’re a hot potato. Your special interest is physical anthropology and you’ve made many field trips to many different countries. Your marriage ended because of the strain produced by successive failures of IVF, but your subsequent and unexpected love affair with one Sara Benham, a student at the University, has kept you on an even keel. You’re trying to make a go of it, but your ex and her new man are giving you a hard time. And the other side of the coin is tough too because, irrationally for a man of logic, you blame Sara for taking you away from Natasha, so you’re not sure how –”

Dracup had his hand up. “All right. All right.” Shaken, he took a long swig from his tumbler. Whoever Potzner was, he had all the facts straight. Detailed facts.

Potzner read his expression. “It’s my job, Mr Dracup. Nothing personal.”

“Nothing personal? That’s my life.”

Potzner crossed one long leg over the other and flicked ash into the wastepaper bin. “It all goes in the shredder after you give me the diary. You have my word.”

Dracup had his doubts but his curiosity was aroused. What else did Potzner know? Why was this so important? He went on the offensive. “So it’s genuine?”

Potzner raised an eyebrow.

“What the diary records about Noah’s Ark,” Dracup continued, “or at least the remains of some ancient vessel – that it was discovered in Turkey in 1920.”

“Yeah,” the American nodded thoughtfully, “the traditional Biblical location.”

Dracup shrugged. “Mount Ararat? Look, I’ve seen all sorts on the web about possible sites – blurred photos that show boat-shaped anomalies, stories about expeditions that never got off the ground – but my grandfather...” The idea was still preposterous, however he approached it. He frowned. “Theodore was actually there?”

Potzner got up and walked to the window. He moved the blind aside for a few seconds, then turned and faced Dracup. “Yeah. He was there.”

Dracup levelled his gaze directly at Potzner. “And how did you keep a discovery of this magnitude under lock and key?”

For a split second, Potzner looked uncomfortable. “Before my time, Professor. The Department took care of the details.”

“I see.” Dracup sipped his drink. A cover-up, then. A big one.

“But the fact is, Professor, your grandfather was part of another expedition – after the one that found the Ark. You might say it was inaugurated as a consequence of the success of the first.”

Dracup nodded. “Go on.”

“I’ll tell you as much as I can, Mr Dracup, but in the interest of security – and your own safety –”

“Oh, please, cut the crap.”

“Now you’re sounding more stateside than I do.” Potzner smiled briefly. “Okay. I’ll keep it simple. The Ark of Noah contained a number of –” Potzner searched for the right word, “– interesting finds. One in particular created a big stir. It pointed to another location where cargo from the Ark was apparently taken after it grounded. So, the second expedition followed this up six months later and returned with…” Potzner scratched his blue chin with a long forefinger, “… something priceless; something we have kept securely since it was first brought back to the US.”