The Vatican Code

ROB JONES THE VATICAN CODE Contents Dedication Foreword Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 About the Author Also by Rob Jones Copyright Dedication To all of my readers – wherever you are in the world Foreword This novel marks the return of my character Jed Mason, whose origin story can be read in the 2017 standalone novel, The Raiders: A Jed Mason Adventure. In that novel, Mason, a former army boxing champion, must track down the world’s oldest secret society after they raid the Vatican in search of the ancient Book of Spells. Mason’s Raiders origin story has similar themes to The Vatican Code but is not required reading to enjoy this novel. Chapter 1 I am the darkness and I am the light. I am the creator and the destroyer of worlds. I am the iconoclast. Zimudar had repeated the sacred mantra for at least an hour, his old dry eyes settling the entire time like those of a falcon on the almost sheer snow-capped mountains in the distance, far beyond his mountain home. The dark December nights were drawing into the shortest day and this year, the snows were heavier than usual. His meditative state was gently interrupted by an inbound call notification on his computer. He peered down at the screen to see the familiar face of one of his most loyal followers waiting patiently at the other end of a Zoom call. “You have something for me, cardinal?” Zimudar said. “Yes, Master. Just a few hours ago, I received confidential information concerning the recent discovery in the Jordanian desert. As you know, this discovery concerns something that belongs to the Circle. Something that has belonged to us since the very beginning of time but was stolen from us several thousand years ago.” “Is it what we thought it would be?” “It is.” Leaning back in his plush leather wing chair, Zimudar surveyed the face of the man on the Zoom call. The man looked back at him with an expression of nervous anticipation. This pleased him. If this was the reaction of a member of the highest council of the world’s oldest secret society, he could barely imagine the reaction of the average man or woman in the street. “Good. We must use the discovery to find our possession and bring it home. Then we can destroy the world’s main religions and direct the future of mankind as we please. This pleases me greatly. This will satisfy the wider Circle.” The Circle. Zimudar contemplated his position as the Circle’s Chairman, now no doubt further secured by this latest development. It was a position he relished and respected in equal measure. To lead such an ancient organisation was an honour beyond words. History had used many words to describe the Circle. The Sumerians had called them Zisurru, and the ancient Romans had called them Occulta Man or the Hidden Hand. Zimudar preferred the original name, Zisurru. The Circle. Whatever word was used, the mission was always the same. His thoughts were interrupted. The cardinal was speaking. “But what is our next step, Master?” Zimudar considered the problem. “Where is it?” “Naturally, the Vatican authorities have been guarding it with their lives since its discovery by their team of archaeologists. As you can imagine, it’s being kept in the most secure section of the Vatican secret archives available.” “I am sure our people can break in and retrieve it.” The cardinal shook his head. “I assure you, no one can break into the Vatican secret archives. It was done only once before, by a team of extraction and rescue specialists called the Raiders, several years ago. It created a great scandal in the Vatican and steps were taken to ensure it could never happen again. Believe me when I tell you there is not a harder place on earth to try and break into. It is no exaggeration to say but today it would be far easier for your men to gain entry into Fort Knox or a level 4 biohazard facility than the Vatican Apostolic Archive.” “Then what do you suggest?” The cardinal hesitated, looking down into his lap as he wrung his hands and chewed his lip. When he looked back up to the camera something had changed about his appearance. His countenance had grown ashen and there was a haunted look slowly appearing in his eyes. “There may be another way. In a few months, His Holiness, the Pope may authorise a public announcement on the subject of the discovery, depending on the progress of the deciphering work. If this is the case, the artefact in question will almost certainly be removed from the secret archives to present it to the world as proof.” “Can you be more specific about when this will happen?” Zimudar realised he was drumming his fingers on the desktop. Recognising this as a sign of nerves, he ceased doing it at once. “Promises have been made. The Circle grows impatient.” “Not immediately,” the cardinal said. “I am not privy to that sort of information.” “Then who is?” “I can speak to someone. I know someone here at the Vatican who should know this date.” “What is