The allusion was clear: George's killers had proclaimed themselves descendants of the architect of
Tyre and the Queen of Sheba, perhaps the last guardians of knowledge intimately linked to Freemasonry and the ancient cathedral builders. This was what Monroe told his guests.
— You mustn't forget that Hiram possessed knowledge passed down from generation to generation, since the time of the pharaohs — he told them. — Where did he acquire this knowledge?
It was a secret he usually kept for those higher up the ladder, and he never allowed others to ask him about it.
— No matter how much I try to understand, everything seems more and more confusing to me... — was Greg's sincere opinion. — On the one hand, we have the cryptogram, Nostradamus's quatrain, and the chain from the Velez chapel. On the other, some columns, Solomon's Temple, the architect of Tyre, and The Widow's Sons.
— It seems somewhat anachronistic to compare both groups...— he took a deep breath.
— Don't you think there must be a connection that unites them in time?
Geovanna was about to say something, but her uncle beat her to it, once again making it easier for her to answer.
— That's right... among them are Gracchus, the Comacine Unions, the Templars, and the cathedral builders.
— Gracchus?! — her niece asked, surprised.
— I'm sorry... I think I should start at the beginning...
The architect silently acknowledged his lack of perspective.
— Let's see... how could I explain this to you? — According to Saint Isidore's — Polychronicon and the Etymologies — Tubal-Cain was the father of all metal arts. He knew the mysteries of the earth like no other and was conversant with the most obscure sciences. His sister was Naamah, who later became Noah's wife. He also had two half-brothers, Jabal and Jubal, founders of Geometry and Music, respectively. Knowing that God was going to destroy humanity, thanks to Noah's comments to Naamah, they decided to write their knowledge on stone, so that it would never be forgotten by future inhabitants of the Earth... — he cleared his throat a little, before continuing:
— Intuiting that punishment would come through fire and water, they decided to inscribe their knowledge on two enormous stone columns, so that they would survive the announced catastrophe.
One was covered in marble, which resists fire. The other was protected by pumice, the only type of rock that floats on water. And both were erected in the center of the lost city of Enoch, which...
—...Could Enoch be the region of Tubal-cain, which Jacobus points to in his manuscript as the city we should head for? — Gregory asked, interrupting the story.
— I'd bet anything you want on that — was Monroe's categorical reply.
Geovanna gestured impatiently to her companion for silence.
— Let him continue! — she exclaimed, giving him a friendly nudge.
— As I was saying... — Umbert continued with his ancient story — after the flood, the columns were buried by the mud that the waters carried. According to Masonic legend, the apex of both remains visible to human eyes, but hidden from their intellect.
— I don't understand how we can find anything in a city that no longer exists — Gregory opined again, not considering that Umbert's patience might have limits.
— If you let me finish, you'll understand — the host chided him cordially. Years after Noah and his descendants returned to repopulate the world, a king recognized some of the inscriptions engraved on the highest part of the columns. This post-diluvian monarch was Nimrod, the man who directed the construction of the Tower of Babel. After that, the art of construction reappeared with a vengeance in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Abraham received this marvelous knowledge from God, which he passed on to his disciple Euclid, an Egyptian of Greek origin. In the Polychronicon, it is said that Pythagoras found one of the columns and Hermes Trismegistus found the other, and that the two taught their students the mysteries written on the rock. Hiram was the last secret guardian of the stones, although he entrusted part of his knowledge to the master builders who participated in the construction of the Temple of Jerusalem. One of them was Gracchus, who traveled to Rome carrying with him his master's knowledge. Centuries later, the heirs of his technique would build the Colosseum and other large-scale works. From there came the mysteries of Bacchus, then the Comacine Unions... And the rest you already know.
— And what about the Templars? — Gregory asked.
— Well, they found the Ark of the Covenant in the underground vault of the Temple, where Hiram cast the golden triangle bearing the name of God. Inside the Ark were the Tablets of the Law, or, what amounts to the same thing, part of the knowledge written by Tubal-Cain and his brothers. Thanks to this knowledge, the Freemasons were able to build the Gothic cathedrals, which is the same as the house of God.
— I doubt that learning history will help us and find these criminals — Evans opined. — We need more tangible evidence to help us find Geovanna and Viana's killers.
— I know how you must feel, but I can't do anything for you.
— It's still too early to throw in the towel — Geovanna said, arching her eyebrows. — We should stick to Iacobus's manuscript and follow its instructions. Perhaps that's the way to find what we're looking for.
— It's important to remember that the secret of construction is linked to the science of the Great Architect — Monroe insisted, folding his hands. — Freemasons are subject to absolutely strict, ancient laws that protect them from the devastating curiosity of the profane. Thus, the enigmatic secret surrounding the magic of stones has always been kept safe.
— Too much mystery for a man under threat of death — After this mournful retort, Gregory thrust the body forward to refill his glass with brandy. — Obviously you're not going to die — Geovanna scolded.
— It'll be impossible for them to find us while we're at my uncle's house. And getting in here isn't so easy either... is it? — His eyes searched Monroe's.
— It's no coincidence that the alarm system cost me a fortune... — the architect tried to reassure his guest. — It's the ultimate in security.
— For us, it's even more valuable!