The Swords of Babylon

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

“But why would a man like Alexander believe in some kind of world-ending device?” Hayden questioned, stepping forward. “Would he not question its authenticity?”

Professor Patterson smiled. “Ah well, he knew all about earth energy and the vortexes. Sacred places that hold shattering power. Truth be told,” he sighed, “the learned people of those times actually knew a lot more about them than we do today. Now it’s all classed as…”

“Bollocks?” Alicia offered.

The American blinked. “Not sure what you mean there, little lady, but I have to say the notions that earth energy exists are today seen mostly as fanciful at best. It’s never been proved you see. Not officially, though several well-funded agencies are secretly investigating the possibilities. The idea that the Earth had a deeply buried current of power running through it. No one wants to hear about it.”

“What does earth energy have to do with the end of the world?”

“Well, I will ask you this. Do you think the destructive power of the elements could destroy it?”

“Yes.” Drake remembered something. “An element overload that causes destruction, chaos, rivers of fire.”

“And what do you think is the best way to describe the four elements?”

“They’re energies,” Mai said quietly. “Provided by the Earth.”

Patterson smiled. “Sure enough. The ancient civilizations knew all about earth energy. Many of them worshiped it in some form or other. Now, the most obvious signs of earth energy appear at an earth energy vortex. Basically a place of great power. A focal point, possibly a convergence of currents. Think of sites like Uluru-Kata Tjuta — Ayers Rock — in Australia. The Great Pyramid. Glastonbury Tor. Haleakala Crater in Hawaii. If you’ve ever visited these places, you’ll understand what I mean. Have you ever stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon, lost in its silent, overwhelming vastness, and wondered as to how much latent power a sacred place like that can hold? Or Waimea Canyon on Kauai. The Meteora Rocks in Greece. The Reflecting Desert in Bolivia. Death Valley, Nevada. Crystal Caverns, Mexico. The Fairy Chimneys of Turkey. The Great Blue Hole of Belize. I could go on.”

Drake interrupted, “Do you think the three tombs were positioned purposefully at earth energy vortexes?”

Patterson nodded. “Undoubtedly.”

“Excuse me.” Kinimaka walked through from the kitchen area. “This kind of history lesson certainly has its place, but as far as we know the world ain’t in danger. Now, how does it lead to Razin abducting you and using you to find these swords?”

That seemed to snap Patterson back to the real world. He stared at Hayden. “Have you found my wife?”

“The call’s gone out. We’re waiting to hear.”

“The seven Swords of Babylon were made to Alexander’s instructions. Formed of a special material they were each inscribed with a different message which, when read whole, would allow a man to wield the unlimited power of the gods.” Patterson looked each person in the eye in turn. “They were said to be mystical, powerful, and possessed of a tremendous secret that could shake the world to its very foundations.”

“How?”

“That, I don’t know. As I said the message — the instructions, if you like — are inscribed into the swords.”

“I wonder what Cayman has to do with all this,” Drake mused, staring at the pockmarked table. “I’ll take a wild guess, Professor, and say that Razin wants the swords only to bargain with. He’s not interested in the tombs.”

Patterson shrugged. “I don’t know. He does know about the tomb at Singen, though. When they found the first sword they found what they later knew to be the layout of the tomb at Singen.”

“They’ve already found a sword?” Hayden gasped.

“Oh, they’ve found four. I’m good at my job, miss.”

“Four?” Hayden sounded like she was choking.

“The first four were buried in the pit of Babylon. That’s where Razin searched first. The safety of my wife depended on my accurate research and I could not disappoint. The remaining three swords — they were buried at the Tower of Babel. The original tower.”

“This message inscribed on them,” Hayden said. “Can you be more specific?”

“I haven’t read it. Actually, I can’t read it.”

Drake swirled his water. “Why not?”

“It’s written in this new language they’ve found.” Patterson looked depressed. “The language of the gods.”

No one moved. Drake assumed everyone else was as stunned as he. “Alexander knew the language of the gods?”

“Like I said—”

“Yeah, yeah, son of Zeus. Wisest of them all. Etcetera.” Alicia pushed away from the table.

Drake eyed Mai, then turned to Hayden. “This mission isn’t over. We need to recover those swords.”

Hayden was checking her phone. “That was Dahl. He’s on his way back. Says ‘with crucial information’. We’ll wait for him and then go to Iraq. My guess is — Razin’s already there.”