Inside the small farm house on the outskirts of Washington, one of the three safe houses of FBI in the area, Shelton looked at Brown. They were sitting in the only two chairs of an otherwise empty room in the basement. Shelton didn’t face any objections from the President when he asked to be the first to see Brown. Of course he didn’t have any doubt that the discussion would be recorded.

Cosmi had informed him about the explosion. 16 residents were dead. The news had traveled fast and the TV channels were already sending reports from the castle. The morning would be difficult for Cosmi and the government to explain the situation. The rest of the castle’s employees, in and out of the castle, were interrogated. Cosmi took Pollock’s advice and threw the blame on terrorists.

The short fat director of the Brown Institute was an unlucky person. He “died” conveniently from a heart attack during the explosion. He was the only outsider, except for Brown, who knew the real purpose of the FBI’s raid.

Shelton saw the small green light on the top of the door, a sign that he could start and shook his head.

“Do you remember me, Mr. Brown?”

“Of course, Mr. Shelton.”

Shelton touched the gold cross that he wore on his dark blue cassock.

“We know about the discoveries in Ithaca. Simmons confessed. I asked to be the first to see you. I believe you understand the situation. You know, you will tell the truth anyway. They have their methods. But I think we can be more polite. A person like you knows when he has lost the game.”

“Of course, Mr. Shelton. Is Simmons yet alive?”

“Unfortunately, no. Mossant. »

« Mossant? »

“Yes. They had information that you possessed the Arc of the Covenant.”

“The Arc? They are fools. Anyway they made a terrible mistake. Simmons was our passport. He was the best, far ahead of all the others. He even knew what was under the grass from the way it grew.”

“Explain to me, Mr. Brown.”

“The discoveries from Ithaca. I am sure that he was right.”

“Do you mean that the discoveries Simmons reported to Mossant exist?”

“Existed. I destroyed everything. Thermonuclear bomb of very low power. I was always prepared. I learnt of the hotel’s destruction in Ithaca. We extended the time and we failed. But I had to take my chances. The reward was worth it; even if I have to pay with my life.”

“Thermonuclear bomb? Reward?” Shelton repeated. He had to inform Cosmi as soon as possible. Innocent people were in danger.

“Yes.”

“So you indeed possessed Ithaca’s discoveries.”

“In fact in a secret room connected with my bedroom.”

“What was the reason for their destruction, Mr. Brown? They were valuable treasures from world history.”

Brown crossed his hands on his chest. “You know the reason, Mr. Shelton. Discoveries from 9,000 BC wouldn’t be acceptable. They change the whole history, and the world establishment, including your church, would have to destroy them. Besides it isn’t the first time. Whenever something disturbs the establishment, it is destroyed. And believe me, Ithaca hides Ulysses-Homer’s secrets. Archaeologists have been searching there for more than 100 years. Do you think that they are wasting their time? So, I did you a favor by destroying them. Anyway, if I can’t have them, nobody can.”

Simmons stayed thoughtful for a moment. ‘The Israelis at least told us the truth,” he thought. “When they reported the chronology of the discoveries, nobody believed them.” He personally thought that they found a way to convince them that the situation was urgent. The President, following the Pope’s advice, denied Mossant’s agents had taken part in the castle mission. It was the FBI’s job. Of course Mossant was capable of learning everything, but they would be a step behind this time.

“What was the reason, Mr. Brown, that Simmons was so important? Why didn’t he mention a discovery like that? What else are you looking for? What is that reward?”

Brown looked at him with surprise. “You said that Simmons confessed everything.”

“Not to us. To Mossant. Are they hiding something?”

“Hermes’ Herald stick.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“Simmons was looking for the Herald stick.”

“Why is that so important?”

Brown looked at him with dismay. “Hermes had it. Orpheus had it. Moses had it. Ulysses had it. Simmons believed that the Herald stick leads to immortality.”

Brown stood with his mouth open. “Of course, as I suspected. Mossant didn’t reveal the whole story,” he thought.

:And do you believe all that?” he said after some moments. “I mean, about immortality?”

“If Simmons believed it, I also believe. Simmons believed that Jesus also possessed the stick. It was given to him after his baptism by Hermes. You must be at least 30 years old to take the high priesthood, the authority. He went to Hades and returned.” He paused and looked at Shelton with a sad face.

“He is insane,” Shelton thought.

“After Jesus was chosen and won lordship with his baptism, then he was filled with the Godhead. As Mathew said, ‘All authority is given to Me, in heaven and on earth,’” Brown continued. “You believe that I am insane, am I right?”

Shelton shrugged. “So, Simmons was searching for the stick. Was he close?”

“No, I don’t think so. But he was sure that the Herald’s stick was in the first Jerusalem. The stick always returned there. Simmons believed that the last person that possessed it was your Theophilus.”

Shelton got up from his chair, opened his mouth and then he sat again. “First Jerusalem? Theophilus? Theophilus of the Pure? Which first Jerusalem?” Shelton was asking questions and looked confused.