Steve Berry - The Charlemagne Pursuit

Thank goodness for guidebooks and smart women.

He stared at Christl. "There's a pulpit, right?"

She nodded. "In the choir. The ambo. Quite old. Eleventh century." He smiled. "Always a history lesson."

She shrugged. "It's what I know."

He circled the upper gallery, passed the throne, and headed back down the circular staircase. Interestingly, the iron gate was left open at night. At ground level he traversed the octagon and reentered the choir. A gilded copper pulpit dotted with unique ornamentations perched against the south wall, above an entrance to another of the side chapels. A short staircase led up. He hopped a velvet rope and climbed wooden runners. Luckily what he was looking for was there. A Bible.

He laid the book on the gilded lectern and opened to Revelation. chapter 21.

Christl stood below and gazed up at him as he read out loud.

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, which had a wall great and high, and twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth, and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with twelve precious stones. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls.

"Revelation is critical to this place. The chandelier Emperor Bar-barossa donated quotes from it. The mosaic in the dome is based on it. Charlemagne specifically called this his 'new Jerusalem.' And this connection is no secret-I read about it in all the guidebooks. One Carolingian foot equaled about one-third of a meter, which is just a bit more than today's foot. The outer sixteen-sided polygon is thirty-six Carolingian feet in length. That translates to one hundred forty-four of today's feet. The octagon's outer perimeter is the same, thirty-six Carolingian feet, which is a hundred forty of today's feet. The height is also precise. Originally eighty-four of today's feet, without the helmet dome, which came centuries later. The entire chapel is a factor of seven and twelve, its breadth and height equal." He pointed to the Bible. "They simply transposed the dimensions of the celestial city from Revelation, the 'new Jerusalem,' into this edifice."

"That's been studied for centuries," she said. "How does it relate to what we're doing?"

"Remember what Einhard wrote. Revelations there will be clear once the secret of that wondrous place is deciphered. He used that word cleverly. Not only is Revelation clear."

He pointed to the Bible.

"But other revelations are clear, too."

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS DOROTHEA FELT OUT OF CONTROL. She'd seen none of this coming. And now, standing back inside the church, facing her mother and husband, Ulrich Henn obedient and off to the side, she fought to keep her usual composure.

"Don't mourn the loss of that American," Isabel said. "He was an opportunist."

She faced Werner. "And you're not?"

"I'm your husband."

"In name only."

"That's by your choosing," Isabel said, voice rising, then paused. "I understand about Georg." The old woman's gaze drifted toward the side chapel. "I miss him, too. But he's gone and there's nothing any of us can do about it."

Dorothea had always despised the way her mother dismissed grief. She never recalled a tear shed when her father disappeared. Nothing seemed to faze her. Yet Dorothea could not shake Wilkerson's lifeless gaze. True, he was an opportunist. But she'd thought their relationship might actually have developed into something more substantial.

"Why did you kill him?" she asked her mother.

"He would have brought immeasurable trouble to this family. And the Americans would have killed him eventually, anyway."

"You're the one who involved the Americans. You wanted that file on the submarine. You had me arrange that through Wilkerson. You wanted me to get the file, make contact with Malone, and discourage him away. You wanted me to steal Father's papers and the stones from the monastery. I did exactly as you requested."

"And did I tell you to kill the woman? No. That was your lover's idea. Poisoned cigarettes. Ridiculous. And what of our lodge? Now in ruin. Two men dead inside. Men whom the Americans dispatched. Which one did you kill, Dorothea?"

"It had to be done."

Her mother paced the marble floor. "Always so practical. It had to be done. That's right, because of your American. If he'd continued to be involved there would have been devastating consequences. This did not concern him, so I ended his participation." Her mother stepped close, a few inches away. "They sent him to spy on us. I simply encouraged you to play off his weaknesses. But you went too far. I must say, though, I underestimated their interest in our family."

Dorothea pointed at Werner. "Why did you involve him?"

"You need assistance. He'll provide it."

"I need nothing from him." She paused. "Or from you, old woman."

Her mother's arm swept up and slapped Dorothea's face. "You will not address me in such a manner. Not now. Not ever."

She did not move, knowing that though she might be able to overcome her aged mother, Ulrich Henn would be another matter. She caressed her cheek from the inside with her tongue.

Her temple pulsed.

"I came here tonight," Isabel said, "to make things clear. Werner is now part of this. I have involved him. This quest is of my choosing. If you do not want to accept these rules, then it can end now and your sister will be given control of everything."

Rapier eyes appraised her. She saw that her mother had not tossed an idle threat.

"You want this, Dorothea. I know you do. You're much more like me. I've watched. You've worked hard in the family businesses, you're good at what you do. You shot that man at the lodge. You have courage, which your sister sometimes lacks. She has vision, which you sometimes ignore. A shame that the best of you both couldn't be merged into one person. Somehow, inside me long ago, everything was scrambled and, sadly, each of you has suffered."

Dorothea stared at Werner.

She might not love him any longer but, dammit, sometimes she needed him in ways that only those who'd outlived their children could understand. Theirs was a kinship bound by grief. The numbing agony of Georg's death had erected barriers they both had learned to respect. And yet, while her marriage faltered, her life outside of it prospered. Her mother was right. Business was her passion. Ambition is a powerful drug, dulling everything, including caring.

Werner clasped his arms behind him and stood straight, like a warrior. "Perhaps, before we die, we should enjoy what life we have left."

"I've never known you to have a death wish. You're quite healthy and could live many years."

"No, Dorothea. I can breathe for many years. Living is an entirely different matter."

"What is it you want, Werner?"

He lowered his head and stepped close to one of the darkened windows. "Dorothea, we're at a crossroads. The culmination of your entire life could perhaps occur in the next few days."

"Could? Such confidence."

The corners of his lips turned down. "I meant no disrespect. Though we disagree on many matters, I'm not your enemy."

"Who is, Werner?"