folded one knee over the other. “Script and symbol studies were the Ahnenerbe’s main interest—looking for ancient Aryan messages. But in late 1935 Grandfather actually found something.” She motioned at her coat, which lay on the bed beside him. “In the pocket.”
He reached inside and removed a book sheathed in a plastic bag. In size, shape, and condition it looked like the one from earlier, except no symbol was embossed on its cover.
“Do you know about Einhard?” she asked.
“I’ve read his Life of Charlemagne. ”
“Einhard was from the eastern part of the Frankish kingdom, the portion that was distinctly German. He was educated at Fulda, which was one of the most impressive centers of learning in the Frankish land. He was accepted into the court of Charlemagne around 791. Charlemagne was unique for his time. Builder, political governor, religious propagandist, reformer, patron of the arts and science. He liked to surround himself with scholarly men, and Einhard became his most trusted adviser. When Charlemagne died in 814, his son Louis the Pious made Einhard his private secretary, too. But sixteen years later, Einhard retired from court when Louis and his sons started fighting. He died in 840 and was buried at Seligenstadt.”
“You’re just a wealth of information.”
“I hold three degrees in medieval history.”
“None of which explains what the hell you’re doing here.”
“The Ahnenerbe searched many places for those Aryans. Tombs were opened throughout Germany.” She pointed. “Inside Einhard’s grave, Grandfather found that book you’re holding.”
“I thought this came from Charlemagne’s tomb?”
She smiled. “I see Dorothea showed you her volume. That one did come from Charlemagne’s tomb. This one’s different.”
He couldn’t resist. He slipped the ancient volume from the bag and carefully opened it. Latin filled the pages, along with examples of the same strange writing and odd art and symbols he’d seen earlier.
“In the 1930s Grandfather found that book, along with Einhard’s last will and testament. By Charlemagne’s time, men of means were leaving written wills. In Einhard’s will, Grandfather discovered a mystery.”
“And how do you know that it’s not more fantasy? Your sister didn’t speak too kindly of your grandfather.”
“Which is another reason why she and I detest each other.”
“And why are you so fond of him?”
“Because he also found proof.”
D OROTHEA KISSED W ILKERSON GENTLY ON THE LIPS. S HE NOTICED that he was still shaking. They stood in the ruins of the lodge and watched the car burn.
“We’re in this together now,” she said.
He surely realized that. And something else. No admiralty for him. She’d told him Ramsey was a snake, but he’d refused to believe her.
Now he knew better.
“A life of luxury and privilege can be a good substitute,” she told him.
“You have a husband.”
“In name only.” She saw he needed reassuring. Most men did. “You handled yourself well in the house.”
He wiped sweat from his forehead. “I even managed to kill one of them. Shot him in the chest.”
“Which shows you can handle things, when necessary. I saw them approaching the lodge when I was driving up. I parked in the woods and approached carefully while they made their initial assault. I was hoping you could hold them off until I found one of the shotguns.”
The valley, stretching for kilometers in all directions, belonged to her family. No neighbors anywhere close.
“And those cigarettes you gave me worked,” she said. “You were right about that woman. Trouble that needed eliminating.”
Compliments were working. He was calming down.
“I’m glad you found that gun,” he said.
Heat from the car fire warmed the freezing air. She still held the shotgun, reloaded and ready, but she doubted there’d be any more visitors tonight.
“We need those boxes I brought,” he said. “They were in the kitchen
He reached inside and removed a book sheathed in a plastic bag. In size, shape, and condition it looked like the one from earlier, except no symbol was embossed on its cover.
“Do you know about Einhard?” she asked.
“I’ve read his Life of Charlemagne. ”
“Einhard was from the eastern part of the Frankish kingdom, the portion that was distinctly German. He was educated at Fulda, which was one of the most impressive centers of learning in the Frankish land. He was accepted into the court of Charlemagne around 791. Charlemagne was unique for his time. Builder, political governor, religious propagandist, reformer, patron of the arts and science. He liked to surround himself with scholarly men, and Einhard became his most trusted adviser. When Charlemagne died in 814, his son Louis the Pious made Einhard his private secretary, too. But sixteen years later, Einhard retired from court when Louis and his sons started fighting. He died in 840 and was buried at Seligenstadt.”
“You’re just a wealth of information.”
“I hold three degrees in medieval history.”
“None of which explains what the hell you’re doing here.”
“The Ahnenerbe searched many places for those Aryans. Tombs were opened throughout Germany.” She pointed. “Inside Einhard’s grave, Grandfather found that book you’re holding.”
“I thought this came from Charlemagne’s tomb?”
She smiled. “I see Dorothea showed you her volume. That one did come from Charlemagne’s tomb. This one’s different.”
He couldn’t resist. He slipped the ancient volume from the bag and carefully opened it. Latin filled the pages, along with examples of the same strange writing and odd art and symbols he’d seen earlier.
“In the 1930s Grandfather found that book, along with Einhard’s last will and testament. By Charlemagne’s time, men of means were leaving written wills. In Einhard’s will, Grandfather discovered a mystery.”
“And how do you know that it’s not more fantasy? Your sister didn’t speak too kindly of your grandfather.”
“Which is another reason why she and I detest each other.”
“And why are you so fond of him?”
“Because he also found proof.”
D OROTHEA KISSED W ILKERSON GENTLY ON THE LIPS. S HE NOTICED that he was still shaking. They stood in the ruins of the lodge and watched the car burn.
“We’re in this together now,” she said.
He surely realized that. And something else. No admiralty for him. She’d told him Ramsey was a snake, but he’d refused to believe her.
Now he knew better.
“A life of luxury and privilege can be a good substitute,” she told him.
“You have a husband.”
“In name only.” She saw he needed reassuring. Most men did. “You handled yourself well in the house.”
He wiped sweat from his forehead. “I even managed to kill one of them. Shot him in the chest.”
“Which shows you can handle things, when necessary. I saw them approaching the lodge when I was driving up. I parked in the woods and approached carefully while they made their initial assault. I was hoping you could hold them off until I found one of the shotguns.”
The valley, stretching for kilometers in all directions, belonged to her family. No neighbors anywhere close.
“And those cigarettes you gave me worked,” she said. “You were right about that woman. Trouble that needed eliminating.”
Compliments were working. He was calming down.
“I’m glad you found that gun,” he said.
Heat from the car fire warmed the freezing air. She still held the shotgun, reloaded and ready, but she doubted there’d be any more visitors tonight.
“We need those boxes I brought,” he said. “They were in the kitchen
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