the capacity and political connections.
You are much more suitable than me to lead the Order from darkness into light
again, and redefine the mission of the Poor Fellow-Knights of Christ and the
Temple of Solomon . And, who knows, maybe you will be able to persuade the
Church to recruit new armies to rescue the Holy Land from the claws of the
barbaric heretics and restore its glory.”
Tears came to Gaudin’s eyes,
and he lowered his head, unwilling to expose his weakness.
“I am the Marshall, the
military commander. I am the soldier,” continued Pierre. “I will lead our men
into battle and will strive to provide us all with an honorable death, after we
send many Saracens to their graves. We will set an example for generations to
come. You should be Grand Master and do your duty.”
Thibaud raised his
head. “My place is here at your side, Pierre my brother. We shall fight this
battle together, even if it is the last.”
De Severy smiled
bitterly. “You must preserve your life. You are our hope, and you must get out
of here alive.”
“But you are mistaken,
brother. You are the stronger and better man. You are the one who should save
us.”
Pierre shook his head.
“Who is strong? What is good? Who can tell which of us is stronger or better?
It does not mean a thing. The only thing that matters now is saving the Order,
and for this specific task God awarded you with better skills than He awarded
me.”
Thibaud kept silent for
a moment, dazed, and then abruptly shook himself out of it, as if he had just
remembered something. “And… where… and where is the…” His voice quivered and
the unfinished sentence was left hanging in the air.
“It was my first
concern,” said de Severy. “I wanted to deliver it into your hands, but you were
away in the midst of battle. I did not know whether or when you were coming back,
and I did not want to take unnecessary risks. I placed it in the hands of one
of our most valiant knights, Philippe de Charney, with instructions to deliver
it to the next Grand Master. He will guard it with his life. Philippe boarded a
galley a few hours ago, and he is on his way to Cyprus. You will meet him
there. It is supposed to be a source of strength. I know you will put it to
good use.”
Gaudin shook his head
in disagreement. “My good brother, you are asking too much of me. How can I
live with the knowledge that I deserted you and my other brothers in the face
of the enemy? Who will respect me or listen to me afterwards?”
Pierre de Severy
recalled the similar argument made by de Charney a few hours before and smiled.
He felt very proud. ‘Lord’, he thought, ‘How lucky I am to live and die with such
people by my side!’ He took a few steps forward. “Thibaud, my brother, time is
short and we must not talk too much. You know I am right. Had you not returned
safe and sound from battle, I would have loaded this task upon my less fitting
shoulders. But, praise God, He extended some mercy to us and protected you. You
are the chosen one, and now I can assume the simpler task, and burden you with
the harder one. Please, save the Order, brother. Only you can do it!”
The two embraced and
then de Severy took a step back and got down on his knees. “Let us pray, my
brother.”
Thibaud Gaudin knelt by
his side.
12. Aryeh Luria - Haifa, January 21st, 2010 (Thursday)
E itan Barak was Yossi
Luria’s business partner. They met during their military service. Eitan was
Luria’s deputy in an elite commando company, and replaced him when Luria retired
from the army. After leaving the military, Eitan worked for a few years in the
state service, performing certain discreet tasks. When he got tired of being
told what to do, he decided to quit. At about the same time, Luria’s police
career was over, and he was looking for something to do, so the two friends
decided to open their own private investigations office. With their knowledge,
skill and connections, they
You are much more suitable than me to lead the Order from darkness into light
again, and redefine the mission of the Poor Fellow-Knights of Christ and the
Temple of Solomon . And, who knows, maybe you will be able to persuade the
Church to recruit new armies to rescue the Holy Land from the claws of the
barbaric heretics and restore its glory.”
Tears came to Gaudin’s eyes,
and he lowered his head, unwilling to expose his weakness.
“I am the Marshall, the
military commander. I am the soldier,” continued Pierre. “I will lead our men
into battle and will strive to provide us all with an honorable death, after we
send many Saracens to their graves. We will set an example for generations to
come. You should be Grand Master and do your duty.”
Thibaud raised his
head. “My place is here at your side, Pierre my brother. We shall fight this
battle together, even if it is the last.”
De Severy smiled
bitterly. “You must preserve your life. You are our hope, and you must get out
of here alive.”
“But you are mistaken,
brother. You are the stronger and better man. You are the one who should save
us.”
Pierre shook his head.
“Who is strong? What is good? Who can tell which of us is stronger or better?
It does not mean a thing. The only thing that matters now is saving the Order,
and for this specific task God awarded you with better skills than He awarded
me.”
Thibaud kept silent for
a moment, dazed, and then abruptly shook himself out of it, as if he had just
remembered something. “And… where… and where is the…” His voice quivered and
the unfinished sentence was left hanging in the air.
“It was my first
concern,” said de Severy. “I wanted to deliver it into your hands, but you were
away in the midst of battle. I did not know whether or when you were coming back,
and I did not want to take unnecessary risks. I placed it in the hands of one
of our most valiant knights, Philippe de Charney, with instructions to deliver
it to the next Grand Master. He will guard it with his life. Philippe boarded a
galley a few hours ago, and he is on his way to Cyprus. You will meet him
there. It is supposed to be a source of strength. I know you will put it to
good use.”
Gaudin shook his head
in disagreement. “My good brother, you are asking too much of me. How can I
live with the knowledge that I deserted you and my other brothers in the face
of the enemy? Who will respect me or listen to me afterwards?”
Pierre de Severy
recalled the similar argument made by de Charney a few hours before and smiled.
He felt very proud. ‘Lord’, he thought, ‘How lucky I am to live and die with such
people by my side!’ He took a few steps forward. “Thibaud, my brother, time is
short and we must not talk too much. You know I am right. Had you not returned
safe and sound from battle, I would have loaded this task upon my less fitting
shoulders. But, praise God, He extended some mercy to us and protected you. You
are the chosen one, and now I can assume the simpler task, and burden you with
the harder one. Please, save the Order, brother. Only you can do it!”
The two embraced and
then de Severy took a step back and got down on his knees. “Let us pray, my
brother.”
Thibaud Gaudin knelt by
his side.
12. Aryeh Luria - Haifa, January 21st, 2010 (Thursday)
E itan Barak was Yossi
Luria’s business partner. They met during their military service. Eitan was
Luria’s deputy in an elite commando company, and replaced him when Luria retired
from the army. After leaving the military, Eitan worked for a few years in the
state service, performing certain discreet tasks. When he got tired of being
told what to do, he decided to quit. At about the same time, Luria’s police
career was over, and he was looking for something to do, so the two friends
decided to open their own private investigations office. With their knowledge,
skill and connections, they
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