Eco, Umberto - Foucault's Pendulum - Notepad

Eco, Umber t o - Foucaul t ' s Pendul um
Foucal t ' s
Pendul um
Umber t o
Eco
Tr ansl at ed f r omt he I t al i an by
Wi l l i amWeaver
Onl y f or you, chi l dr en of doct r i ne and l ear ni ng, have we wr i t t en t hi s wor k. Exami ne
t hi s book, ponder t he meani ng we have di sper sed i n var i ous pl aces and gat her ed
agai n; what we have conceal ed i n one pl ace we have di scl osed i n anot her , t hat i t may
be under st ood by your wi sdom
- - Hei nr i ch Cor nel i us Agr i ppa von Net t eshei m, De occul t a phi l osophi a, 3, 65
Super st i t i on br i ngs bad l uck.
- - Raymond Smul l yan, 5000 B. C. , 1. 3. 8
KETER
1
That was when I saw t he Pendul um.
The spher e, hangi ng f r oma l ong wi r e set i nt o t he cei l i ng of t he choi r , swayed back
and f or t h wi t h i sochr onal maj est y.
I knew- but anyone coul d have sensed i t i n t he magi c of t hat ser ene br eat hi ng- t hat
t he per i od was gover ned by t he squar e r oot of t he l engt h of t he wi r e and by I T, t hat
number whi ch, however i r r at i onal t o subl unar mi nds, t hr ough a hi gher r at i onal i t y
bi nds t he ci r cumf er ence and di amet er of al l possi bl e ci r cl es. The t i me i t t ook t he
spher e t o swi ng f r omend t o end was det er mi ned by an ar cane conspi r acy bet ween t he
most t i mel ess of measur es: t he si ngul ar i t y of t he poi nt of suspensi on, t he dual i t y
of t he pl ane' s di mensi ons, t he t r i adi c begi nni ng of i r , t he secr et quadr at i c nat ur e
of t he r oot , and t he unnumber ed per f ect i on of t he ci r cl e i t sel f .
I al so knew t hat a magnet i c devi ce cent er ed i n t he f l oor beneat h i ssued i t s command
t o a cyl i nder hi dden i n t he hear t of t he spher e, t hus assur i ng cont i nual mot i on.
Thi s devi ce, f ar f r omi nt er f er i ng wi t h t he l aw of t he Pendul um, i n f act per mi t t ed
i t s mani f est at i on, f or i n a vacuumany obj ect hangi ng f r oma wei ght l ess and
unst r et chabl e wi r e f r ee of ai r r esi st ance and f r i ct i on wi l l osci l l at e f or et er ni t y.
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The copper spher e gave of f pal e, shi f t i ng gl i nt s as i t was st r uck by t he l ast r ays
of t he sun t hat came t hr ough t he gr eat st ai ned- gl ass wi ndows. Wer e i t s t i p t o gr aze,
as i t had i n t he past , a l ayer of damp sand spr ead on t he f l oor of t he choi r , each
swi ng woul d make a l i ght f ur r ow, and t he f ur r ows, changi ng di r ect i on i mper cept i bl y,
woul d wi den t o f or ma br each, a gr oove wi t h r adi al symmet r y- l i ke t he out l i ne of a
mandal a or pent acul um, a st ar , a myst i c r ose. No, mor e a t al e r ecor ded on an expanse
of deser t , i n t r acks l ef t by count l ess car avans of nomads, a st or y of sl ow,
mi l l enni al mi gr at i ons, l i ke t hose of t he peopl e of At l ant i s when t hey l ef t t he
cont i nent of Mu and r oamed, st ubbor nl y, compact l y, f r omTasmani a t o Gr eenl and, f r om
Capr i cor n t o Cancer , f r omPr i nce Edwar d I sl and t o t he Sval bar ds. The t i p r et r aced,
nar r at ed anew i n compr essed t i me what t hey had done bet ween one i ce age and anot her ,
and per haps wer e doi ng st i l l , t hose cour i er s of di e Mast er s. Per haps t he t i p gr azed
Agar t t ha, t he cent er of t he wor l d, as i t j our neyed f r omSamoa t o Novaya Zeml ya. And
I sensed t hat a si ngl e pat t er n uni t ed Aval on, beyond t he nor t h wi nd, t o t he sout her n
deser t wher e l i es t he eni gma of Ayer s Rock.
At t hat moment of f our i n t he af t er noon of J une 23, t he Pendul umwas sl owi ng at one
end of i t s swi ng, t hen f al l i ng back l azi l y t owar d t he cent er , r egai ni ng speed al ong
t he way, sl ashi ng conf i dent l y t hr ough t he hi dden par al l el ogr amof f or ces t hat wer e
i t s dest i ny.
Had I r emai ned t her e despi t e t he passage of t he hour s, t o st ar e at t hat bi r d' s head,
t hat spear ' s t i p, t hat obver se hel met , as i t t r aced i t s di agonal s i n t he voi d,
gr azi ng t he opposi ng poi nt s of i t s ast i gmat i c ci r cumf er ence, I woul d have f al l en
vi ct i mt o an i l l usi on: t hat t he Pendul um' s pl ane of osci l l at i on had gone f ul l
ci r cl e, had r et ur ned t o i t s st ar t i ng poi nt i n t hi r t y- t wo hour s, descr i bi ng an
el l i pse t hat r ot at ed ar ound i t s cent er at a speed pr opor t i onal t o t he si ne of i t s
l at i t ude. What woul d i t s r ot at i on have been had i t hung i nst ead f r omt he dome of
Sol omon' s Templ e? Per haps t he Kni ght s had t r i ed i t t her e, t oo. Per haps t he sol ut i on,
t he f i nal meani ng, woul d have been no di f f er ent . Per haps t he abbey chur ch of
Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs was t he t r ue Templ e. I n any case, t he exper i ment woul d wor k
per f ect l y onl y at t he Pol e, t he one pl ace wher e t he Pendul um, on t he ear t h' s
ext ended axi s, woul d compl et e i t s cycl e i n t went y- f our hour s.
But t hi s devi at i on f r omt he Law, whi ch t he Law t ook i nt o account , t hi s vi ol at i on of
t he r ul e' di d not make t he mar vel any l ess mar vel ous. I knew t he ear t h was r ot at i ng,
and I wi t h i t , and Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs and al l Par i s wi t h me, and t hat t oget her
we wer e r ot at i ng beneat h t he Pendul um, whose own pl ane never changed di r ect i on,
because up t her e, al ong t he i nf i ni t e ext r apol at i on of i t s wi r e beyond t he choi r
cei l i ng, up t owar d t he most di st ant gal axi es, l ay t he Onl y Fi xed Poi nt i n t he
uni ver se, et er nal l y unmovi ng.
So i t was hot so much t he ear t h t o whi ch I addr essed my gaze but t he heavens, wher e
t he myst er y of absol ut e i mmobi l i t y was cel ebr at ed. The Pendul umt ol d me t hat , as
ever yt hi ng moved- ear t h, sol ar syst em, nebul ae and bl ack hol es, al l t he chi l dr en of
t he gr eat cosmi c expansi on- one si ngl e poi nt st ood st i l l : a pi vot , bol t , or hook
ar ound whi ch t he uni ver se coul d move. And I was now t aki ng par t i n t hat supr eme
exper i ence. I , t oo, moved wi t h t he al l , but I coul d see t he One, t he Rock, t he
Guar ant ee, t he l umi nous mi st t hat i s not body, t hat has no shape, wei ght , quant i t y,
or qual i t y, t hat does not see or hear , t hat cannot be sensed, t hat i s i n no pl ace,
i n no t i me, and i s not soul , i nt el l i gence, i magi nat i on, opi ni on, number , or der , or
measur e. Nei t her dar kness nor l i ght , nei t her er r or nor t r ut h.
I was r oused by a l i st l ess exchange bet ween a boy who wor e gl asses and a gi r l who
unf or t unat el y di d not .
" I t ' s Foucaul t ' s Pendul um, " he was sayi ng. " Fi r st t r i ed out i n a cel l ar i n 1851,
t hen shown at t he Obser vat oi r e, and l at er under t he dome of t he Pant heon wi t h a wi r e
si xt y- seven met er s l ong and a spher e wei ghi ng t went y- ei ght ki l os. Si nce 1855 i t ' s
been her e, i n a smal l er ver si on, hangi ng f r omt hat hol e i n t he mi ddl e of t he r i b. "
" What does i t do? J ust hang t her e?"
" I t pr oves t he r ot at i on of t he ear t h. Si nce t he poi nt of suspensi on doesn' t move. . . "
" Why doesn' t i t move?"
" Wel l , because a poi nt . . . t he cent r al poi nt , I mean, t he one r i ght i n t he mi ddl e of
al l t he poi nt s you see. . . i t ' s a geomet r i c poi nt ; you can' t see i t because i t has no
di mensi on, and i f somet hi ng has no di mensi on, i t can' t move, not r i ght or l ef t , not
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up or down. So i t doesn' t r ot at e wi t h t he ear t h. You under st and? I t can' t even
r ot at e ar ound i t sel f . Ther e i s no ' i t sel f . ' "
" But t he ear t h t ur ns. "
" The ear t h t ur ns, but t he poi nt doesn' t . That ' s how i t i s. J ust t ake my wor d f or
i t . "
" I guess i t ' s t he Pendul um' s busi ness. "
I di ot . Above her head was t he onl y st abl e pl ace i n t he cosmos, t he onl y r ef uge f r om
t he damnat i on of t he pant a r ei , and she guessed i t was t he Pendul um' s busi ness, not
her s. A moment l at er t he coupl e went of f - he, t r ai ned on some t ext book t hat had
bl unt ed hi s capaci t y f or wonder , she, i ner t and i nsensi t i ve t o t he t hr i l l of t he
i nf i ni t e, bot h obl i vi ous of t he awesomeness of t hei r encount er - t hei r f i r st and l ast
encount er - wi t h t he One, t he Ei n- Sof , t he I nef f abl e. How coul d you f ai l t o kneel down
bef or e t hi s al t ar of cer t i t ude?
I wat ched wi t h r ever ence and f ear . I n t hat i nst ant I was convi nced t hat J acopo Bel bo
was r i ght . What he t ol d me about t he Pendul umI had at t r i but ed t o est het i c r avi ng,
t o t he shapel ess cancer t aki ng gr adual shape i n hi s soul , t r ansf or mi ng t he game i nt o
r eal i t y wi t hout hi s r eal i zi ng i t . But i f he was r i ght about t he Pendul um, per haps
al l t he r est was t r ue as wel l : t he Pl an, t he Uni ver sal Pl ot . And i n t hat case I had
been r i ght t o come her e, on t he eve of t he summer sol st i ce. J acopo Bel bo was not
cr azy; he had si mpl y, t hr ough hi s game, hi t upon t he t r ut h.
But t he f act i s t hat i t doesn' t t ake l ong f or t he exper i ence of t he Numi nous t o
unhi nge t he mi nd.
I t r i ed t hen t o shi f t my gaze. I f ol l owed t he cur ve t hat r ose f r omt he capi t al s of
t he semi ci r cl e of col umns and r an al ong t he r i bs of t he vaul t t owar d t he key,
mi r r or i ng t he myst er y of t he ogi ve, t hat supr eme st at i c hypocr i sy whi ch r est s on an
absence, maki ng t he col umns bel i eve t hat t hey ar e t hr ust i ng t he gr eat r i bs upwar d
and t he r i bs bel i eve t hat t hey ar e hol di ng t he col umns down, t he vaul t bei ng bot h
al l and not hi ng, at once cause and ef f ect . But I r eal i zed t hat t o negl ect t he
Pendul umt hat hung f r omt he vaul t whi l e admi r i ng t he vaul t i t sel f was l i ke becomi ng
dr unk at t he st r eami nst ead of dr i nki ng at t he sour ce.
The choi r of Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs exi st ed onl y so t hat , by vi r t ue of t he Law, t he
Pendul umcoul d exi st ; and t he Pendul umexi st ed so t hat t he choi r coul d exi st . You
cannot escape one i nf i ni t e, I t ol d mysel f , by f l eei ng t o anot her ; you cannot escape
t he r evel at i on of t he i dent i cal by t aki ng r ef uge i n t he i l l usi on of t he mul t i pl e.
St i l l unabl e t o t ake my eyes f r omt he key of t he vaul t , I r et r eat ed, st ep by st ep,
f or I had l ear ned t he pat h by hear t i n t he f ew mi nut es I had been t her e. Gr eat met al
t or t oi ses f i l ed past me on ei t her si de, i mposi ng enough t o si gnal t hei r pr esence at
t he cor ner of my eyes. I f el l back al ong t he nave t owar d t he f r ont ent r ance, and
agai n t hose menaci ng pr ehi st or i c bi r ds of wi r e and r ot t i ng canvas l oomed over me,
evi l dr agonf l i es t hat some secr et power had hung f r omt he cei l i ng of t he nave. I saw
t hemas sapi ent i al met aphor s, f ar mor e meani ngf ul t han t hei r di dact i c pr et ext . A
swar mof J ur assi c i nsect s and r ept i l es, al l egor y of t he l ong t er r est r i al mi gr at i ons
t he Pendul umwas t r aci ng, ai med at me l i ke angr y ar chons wi t h t hei r l ong
ar cheopt er i x- beaks; t he pl anes of Br dguet , Bl er i ot , Esnaul t , and t he hel i copt er of
Du- f aux.
* * *
To ent er t he Conser vat oi r e des Ar t s et Met i er s i n Par i s, you f i r st cr oss an
ei ght eent h- cent ur y cour t yar d and st ep i nt o an ol d abbey chur ch, now par t of a l at er
compl ex, but or i gi nal l y par t of a pr i or y. You ent er and ar e st unned by a conspi r acy
i n whi ch t he subl i me uni ver se of heavenl y ogi ves and t he cht honi an wor l d of gas
guzzl er s ar e j uxt aposed.
On t he f l oor st r et ches a l i ne of vehi cl es: bi cycl es, hor sel ess car r i ages,
aut omobi l es; f r omt he cei l i ng hang pl anes. Some of t he obj ect s ar e i nt act , t hough
peel i ng and cor r oded by t i me, and i n t he ambi guous mi x of nat ur al and el ect r i c l i ght
t hey seemcover ed by a pat i na, an ol d vi ol i n' s var ni sh. Ot her s ar e onl y skel et ons or
chassi s, r ods and cr anks t hat t hr eat en i ndescr i babl e t or t ur es. You pi ct ur e your sel f
chai ned t o a r ack, somet hi ng di ggi ng i nt o your f l esh unt i l you conf ess.
Beyond t hi s sequence of ant i que machi nes- once mobi l e, now i mmobi l e, t hei r soul s
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r ust ed, mer e speci mens of t he t echnol ogi cal pr i de t hat i s so keen t o di spl ay t hemt o
t he r ever ence of vi si t or s- st ands t he choi r , guar ded on t he l ef t by a scal e model of
t he St at ue of Li ber t y Bar t hol di desi gned f or anot her wor l d, and on t he r i ght by a
st at ue of Pascal . Her e t he swayi ng Pendul umi s f l anked by t he ni ght mar e of a
der anged ent omol ogi st - chel ae, mandi bl es, ant ennae, pr ogl ot t i des, and wi ngs- a
cemet er y of mechani cal cor pses t hat l ook as i f t hey mi ght al l st ar t wor ki ng agai n at
any moment - magnet os, monophase t r ansf or mer s, t ur bi nes, conver t er s, st eamengi nes,
dynamos. I n t he r ear , i n t he ambul at or y beyond t he Pendul um, r est Assyr i an i dol s,
and Chal dean, Car t hagi ni an, gr eat Baal s whose bel l i es, l ong ago, gl owed r ed- hot , and
Nur ember g Mai dens whose hear t s st i l l br i st l e wi t h naked nai l s: t hese wer e once
ai r pl ane engi nes. Now t hey f or ma hor r i bl e gar l and of si mul acr a t hat l i e i n
ador at i on of t he Pendul um; i t i s as i f t he pr ogeny of Reason and t he Enl i ght enment
had been condemned t o st and guar d f or ever over t he ul t i mat e symbol of Tr adi t i on and
Wi sdom.
The bor ed t our i st s who pay t hei r ni ne f r ancs at t he desk or ar e admi t t ed f r ee on
Sundays may bel i eve t hat el der l y ni net eent h- cent ur y gent l emen- bear ds yel l owed by
ni cot i ne, col l ar s r umpl ed and gr easy, bl ack cr avat s and f r ock coat s smel l i ng of
snuf f , f i nger s st ai ned wi t h aci d, t hei r mi nds aci d wi t h pr of essi onal j eal ousy,
f ar ci cal ghost s who cal l ed one anot her cher mai t r e- pl aced t hese exhi bi t s her e out of
a vi r t uous desi r e t o educat e and amuse t he bour geoi s and t he r adi cal t axpayer s, and
t o cel ebr at e t he magni f i cent mar ch of pr ogr ess. But no: Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs had
been concei ved f i r st as a pr i or y and onl y l at er as a r evol ut i onar y museumand
compendi umof ar cane knowl edge. The pl anes, t hose sel f - pr opel l ed machi nes, t hose
el ect r omagnet i c skel et ons, wer e car r yi ng on a di al og whose scr i pt st i l l escaped me.
The cat al og hypocr i t i cal l y i nf or med me t hat t hi s wor t hy under t aki ng had been
concei ved by t he gent l emen of t he Convent i on, who want ed t o of f er t he masses an
accessi bl e shr i ne of al l t he ar t s and t r ades. But how coul d I bel i eve t hat when t he
wor ds used t o descr i be t he pr oj ect wer e t he ver y same Fr anci s Bacon had used t o
descr i be t he House of Sol omon i n hi s New At l ant i s!
Was i t possi bl e t hat onl y I - al ong wi t h J acopo Bel bo and Di o- t al l evi - had guessed t he
t r ut h? Per haps I woul d have my answer t hat ni ght . I had t o f i nd a way t o r emai n i n
t he museumpast cl osi ng, and wai t her e f or mi dni ght .
How woul d They get i n? I had no i dea. Some passageway i n t he net wor k of t he Par i s
sewer s mi ght connect t he museumt o anot her poi nt i n t he ci t y, per haps near Por t e
St . - Deni s. But I was cer t ai n t hat i f I l ef t , I woul d not be abl e t o f i nd t hat r out e
back i n. I had t o hi de somewher e i n t he bui l di ng.
I t r i ed t o shake of f t he spel l of t he pl ace and l ook at t he nave wi t h col d eyes. I t
was not an epi phany now I was seeki ng, but i nf or mat i on. I i magi ned t hat i n t he ot her
hal l s i t woul d be di f f i cul t t o escape t he not i ce of t he guar ds, who made t he r ounds
at cl osi ng t i me, checki ng t o see t hat no t hi ef was l ur ki ng somewher e. The nave,
however , cr ammed wi t h vehi cl es, was t he i deal pl ace t o set t l e i n f or t he ni ght as a
passenger : a l i ve man hi di ng i nsi de a l i f el ess vehi cl e. We had pl ayed t oo many games
f or me not t o t r y t hi s one, t oo.
Take hear t , I sai d t o mysel f : don' t t hi nk of Wi sdomnow; ask t he hel p of Sci ence.
2
Wee haue di ver s cur i ous Cl ocks; And ot her l i ke Mot i ons of Ret ur n. . . Wee haue al so
Houses of Decei t s of t he Senses, wher e we r epr esent al l manner of Feat s of J uggl i ng,
Fal se Appar i t i ons, I mpost ur es, and I l l usi ons. . . These ar e ( my sonne) t he Ri ches of
Sal omon' s House.
- Fr anci s Bacon, The New At l ant i s, ed. Rawl ey, London, 1627, pp. 41- 42
I gai ned cont r ol of my ner ves, my i magi nat i on. I had t o pl ay t hi s i r oni cal l y, as I
had been pl ayi ng i t unt i l a f ew days bef or e, not l et t i ng mysel f become i nvol ved. I
was i n a museumand had t o be dr amat i cal l y cl ever and cl ear headed.
I l ooked at t he now- f ami l i ar pl anes above me: I coul d cl i mb i nt o t he f usel age of a
bi pl ane, t o awai t t he ni ght as i f I wer e f l yi ng over t he Channel , ant i ci pat i ng t he
Legi on of Honor . The names of t he aut omobi l es on t he gr ound had an af f ect i onat el y
nost al gi c r i ng. The 1932 Hi spano- Sui za was handsome, wel comi ng, but t oo cl ose t o t he
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f r ont desk. I mi ght have sl i pped past t he at t endant i f I had t ur ned up i n pl us f our s
and Nor f ol k j acket , st eppi ng asi de f or a l ady i n a cr eam- col or ed sui t , wi t h a l ong
scar f wound ar ound her sl ender neck, a cl oche pul l ed over her bobbed hai r . The 1931
Ci t r oen C6G was shown onl y i n cr oss sect i on, an excel l ent educat i onal di spl ay but a
r i di cul ous hi di ng pl ace. Cugnot ' s enor mous st eamaut omobi l e, al l boi l er , or
caul dr on, was out of t he quest i on. I l ooked t o t he r i ght , wher e vel oci pedes wi t h
huge ar t - nouveau wheel s and dr ai si ennes wi t h t hei r f l at , scoot er l i ke bar s evoked
gent l emen i n st ovepi pe hat s, kni ght s of pr ogr ess pedal i ng t hr ough t he Boi s de
Boul ogne.
Acr oss f r omt he vel oci pedes wer e car s wi t h bodi es i nt act , ampl e r ecept acl es. Per haps
not t he 1945 Panhar d Dynavi a, t oo open and nar r ow i n i t s aer odynami c sl eekness; but
t he t al l 1909 Peugeot - an at t i c, a boudoi r - was def i ni t el y wor t h consi der i ng. Once I
was i nsi de, deep i n i t s l eat her di van, no one woul d suspect a t hi ng. But t he car
woul d not be easy t o get i nt o; one of t he guar ds was si t t i ng on a bench di r ect l y
opposi t e, hi s back t o t he bi cycl es. I pi ct ur ed mysel f st eppi ng ont o t he r unni ng
boar d, cl umsy i n my f ur - col l ar ed coat , whi l e he, cal ves sheat hed i n l eat her
l eggi ngs, dof f ed hi s vi sor ed cap and obsequi ousl y opened t he door . . .
I concent r at ed f or a moment on t he t wel ve- passenger Obei s- sant e, 1872, t he f i r st
Fr ench vehi cl e wi t h gear s. I f t he Peugeot was an apar t ment , t hi s was a bui l di ng. But
t her e was no hope of boar di ng i t wi t hout at t r act i ng ever yone' s at t ent i on. Di f f i cul t
t o hi de when t he hi di ng pl aces ar e pi ct ur es at an exhi bi t i on.
I cr ossed t he hal l agai n, and t her e was t he St at ue of Li ber t y, " ecl ai r ant l e monde"
f r oma pedest al at l east t wo met er s hi gh i n t he shape of a pr ow wi t h a shar p beak.
I nsi de t he pedest al was a ki nd of sent r y box, f r omwhi ch you coul d l ook t hr ough a
por t hol e at a di or ama of New Yor k har bor . A good obser vat i on poi nt at mi dni ght ,
because t hr ough t he dar kness i t woul d be possi bl e t o see i nt o t he choi r t o t he l ef t
and t he nave t o t he r i ght , your back pr ot ect ed by a gr eat st one st at ue of Gr amme,
whi ch f aced ot her cor r i dor s f r omt he t r ansept wher e i t st ood. I n dayl i ght , however ,
you coul d l ook i nt o t he sent r y box f r omout si de, and once t he vi si t or s wer e gone, a
guar d woul d pr obabl y make a r out i ne check and peer i n, j ust t o be on t he saf e si de.
I di dn' t have much t i me: t hey cl osed at f i ve- t hi r t y. I t ook anot her qui ck l ook at
t he ambul at or y. None of t he engi nes woul d ser ve t he pur pose. Nor woul d t he gr eat
shi p machi ner y on t he r i ght , r el i cs of some Lusi t ani a engul f ed by t he waves, nor
Le- noi r ' s i mmense gas engi ne wi t h i t s var i et y of cogwheel s. I n f act , now t hat t he
l i ght was f adi ng, wat er y t hr ough t he gr ay wi ndow- panes, I f el t f ear agai n at t he
pr ospect of hi di ng among t hese ani mal s, f or I dr eaded seei ng t hemcome t o l i f e i n
t he dar kness, r ebor n i n t he shadows i n t he gl ow of my f l ashl i ght . I dr eaded t hei r
pant i ng, t hei r heavy, t el l ur i c br eat h, ski nl ess bones, vi scer a cr eaki ng and f et i d
wi t h bl ack- gr ease dr ool . How coul d I endur e i n t he mi dst of t hat f oul concat enat i on
of di esel geni t al s and t ur bi ne- dr i ven vagi nas, t he i nor gani c t hr oat s t hat once had
f l amed, st eamed, and hi ssed, and mi ght agai n t hat ver y ni ght ? Or maybe t hey woul d
buzz l i ke st ag beet l es or chi r r l i ke ci cadas ami d t hose skel et al i ncar nat i ons of
pur e, abst r act f unct i onal i t y, aut omat a abl e t o cr ush, saw, shi f t , br eak, sl i ce,
accel er at e, r am, and gul p f uel , t hei r cyl i nder s sobbi ng. Or t hey woul d j er k l i ke
si ni st er mar i onet t es, maki ng dr ums t ur n, conver t i ng f r equenci es, t r ansf or mi ng
ener gi es, spi nni ng f l ywheel s. How coul d I f i ght t hemi f t hey came af t er me,
i nst i gat ed by t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d, who used t hemas pr oof - usel ess devi ces,
i dol s onl y of t he bosses of t he l ower uni ver se- of t he er r or of cr eat i on?
I had t o l eave, get away; t hi s was madness. I was f al l i ng i nt o t he same t r ap, t he
same game t hat had dr i ven J acopo Bel bo out of hi s mi nd, I , t he doubt er . . .
I don' t know i f I di d t he r i ght t hi ng t wo ni ght s ago, hi di ng i n t hat museum. I f I
hadn' t , I woul d know t he begi nni ng of t he st or y but not t he end. Nor woul d I be her e
now, al one on t hi s hi l l , whi l e dogs bar k i n t he di st ance, i n t he val l ey bel ow, as I
wonder : Was t hat r eal l y t he end, or i s t he end yet t o come?
I deci ded t o move on. I abandoned t he chapel , t ur ned l ef t at t he st at ue of Gr amme,
and ent er ed a gal l er y. I t was t he r ai l r oad sect i on, and t he mul t i col or ed model
l ocomot i ves and car s l ooked l i ke r eassur i ng pl ayt hi ngs out of a Toyl and, Madur odam,
or Di sney Wor l d. By now I had gr own accust omed t o al t er nat i ng sur ges of anxi et y and
sel f - conf i dence, t er r or and skept i ci sm( i s t hat , per haps, how i l l ness st ar t s?) , and
I t ol d mysel f t hat t he t hi ngs seen i n t he chur ch upset me because I was t her e under
t he spel l of J acopo Bel bo' s wr i t i ngs, wr i t i ngs I had used so many t r i cks t o
Page 5
deci pher , even t hough I knew t hey wer e al l i nvent i ons.
Thi s was a museumof t echnol ogy, af t er al l . You' r e i n a museumof t echnol ogy, I t ol d
mysel f , an honest pl ace, a l i t t l e dul l per haps, but t he dead her e ar e har ml ess. You
know what museums ar e, no one' s ever been devour ed by t he Mona Li sa- an andr ogynous
Medusa onl y f or est het es- and you ar e even l ess l i kel y t o be devour ed by Wat t ' s
engi ne, a bugbear onl y f or Os- si ani c and Neo- Got hi c gent l emen, a pat het i c
compr omi se, r eal l y, bet ween f unct i on and Cor i nt hi an el egance, handl e and capi t al ,
boi l er and col umn, wheel and t ympanum. J acopo Bel bo, t hough he was f ar away, was
t r yi ng t o dr aw me i nt o t he hal l uci nat i ons t hat had undone hi m. You must behave l i ke
a sci ent i st , I t ol d mysel f . A vul canol ogi st does not bur n l i ke Empedocl es. Fr azer
di d not f l ee, hounded, i nt o t he wood of Nemi . Come, you' r e supposed t o be SamSpade.
Expl or i ng t he mean st r eet s- t hat ' s your j ob. The woman who cat ches you has t o di e i n
t he end, and i f possi bl e by your own hand. So l ong, Emi l y, i t was gr eat whi l e i t
l ast ed, but you wer e a r obot , you had no hear t .
The t r anspor t at i on sect i on happened t o be r i ght next t o t he Lavoi si er at r i um, f aci ng
a gr and st ai r way t hat l ed t o t he upper f l oor .
The ar r angement of gl ass cases al ong t he si des, t he al chemi cal al t ar i n t he cent er ,
t he l i t ur gy of a ci vi l i zed ei ght eent h- cent ur y macumba- t hi s was not acci dent al but
symbol i c, a st r at agem.
Fi r st , al l t hose mi r r or s. Whenever you see a mi r r or - i t ' s onl y human- you want t o l ook
at your sel f . But her e you can' t . You l ook at t he posi t i on i n space wher e t he mi r r or
wi l l say " You ar e her e, and you ar e you, " you l ook, cr ani ng, t wi st i ng, but not hi ng
wor ks, because Lavoi si er ' s mi r r or s, whet her concave or convex, di sappoi nt you, mock
you. You st ep back, f i nd your sel f f or a moment , but move a l i t t l e and you ar e l ost .
Thi s cat opt r i c t heat er was cont r i ved t o t ake away your i dent i t y and make you f eel
unsur e not onl y of your sel f but al so of t he ver y obj ect s st andi ng bet ween you and
t he mi r r or s. As i f t o say: You ar e not t he Pendul umor even near i t . And you f eel
uncer t ai n, not onl y about your sel f , but al so about t he obj ect s set t her e bet ween you
and anot her mi r r or . Gr ant ed, physi cs can expl ai n how and why a concave mi r r or
col l ect s t he l i ght f r oman obj ect - i n t hi s case, an al embi c i n a copper hol der - t hen
r et ur ns t he r ays i n such a way t hat you see t he obj ect not wi t hi n t he mi r r or but
out si de i t , ghost l i ke, upsi de down i n mi dai r , and i f you shi f t even sl i ght l y, t he
i mage, evanescent , di sappear s.
Then suddenl y I saw mysel f upsi de down i n a mi r r or .
I nt ol er abl e.
What was Lavoi si er t r yi ng t o say, and what wer e t he desi gner s of t he Conser vat oi r e
hi nt i ng at ? We' ve known about t he magi c of mi r r or s si nce t he Mi ddl e Ages, si nce
Al hazen. Was i t wor t h t he t r oubl e of goi ng t hr ough t he Encycl opedi c, t he
Enl i ght enment , and t he Revol ut i on t o be abl e t o st at e t hat mer el y cur vi ng a mi r r or ' s
sur f ace can pl unge a man i nt o an i magi ned wor l d? For t hat mat t er , a nor mal mi r r or ,
t oo, i s an i l l usi on. Consi der t he i ndi vi dual l ooki ng back at you, condemned t o
per pet ual l ef t - handedness, ever y mor ni ng when you shave. Was i t wor t h t he t r oubl e of
set t i ng up t hi s hal l j ust t o t el l us t hi s? Or i s t he message r eal l y t hat we shoul d
l ook at ever yt hi ng i n a di f f er ent way, i ncl udi ng t he gl ass cases and t he i nst r ument s
t hat supposedl y cel ebr at ed t he bi r t h of physi cs and enl i ght ened chemi st r y?
A copper mask f or pr ot ect i on i n cal ci nat i on exper i ment s. Har d t o bel i eve t hat t he
gent l eman wi t h t he candl es under t he gl ass bel l act ual l y wor e t hat t hi ng t hat l ooks
l i ke a sewer r at ' s head or a space i nvader ' s hel met , j ust t o avoi d i r r i t at i ng hi s
eyes. Quel l e del i cat esse, M. Lavoi si er ! I f you r eal l y want ed t o st udy t he ki net i c
t heor y of gases, why di d you r econst r uct so pai nst aki ngl y t he eol opi l e- a l i t t l e
spout ed spher e t hat , when heat ed, spi ns, spewi ng st eam- a devi ce f i r st bui l t by Her on
i n t he days of t he Gnost i cs t o assi st t he speaki ng st at ues and ot her wonder s of t he
Egypt i an pr i est s?
And what about t hi s cont r apt i on f or t he st udy of necr ot i c f er ment at i on, 1789? A f i ne
al l usi on, r eal l y, t o t he put r i d, r eeki ng bast ar ds of t he Demi ur ge. A ser i es of gl ass
t ubes t hat connect t wo ampul es and l ead t hr ough a bubbl e ut er us, t hr ough spher es and
condui t s per ched on f or ked pi ns, t o t r ansmi t an essence t o coi l s t hat spi l l i nt o t he
voi d. . . Bal neumMar i ae, subl i mat i on of hydr ar gyr um, myst er i umconj unct i oni s, t he
El i xi r !
Or t hi s appar at us f or t he st udy of t he f er ment at i on of wi ne. A maze of cr yst al
ar ches l eadi ng f r omat hanor t o at hanor , f r omal embi c t o al embi c. Those l i t t l e
spect acl es, t he t i ny hour gl ass, t he el ect r oscope, t he l ens. Or t he l abor at or y kni f e
Page 6
t hat l ooks l i ke a cunei f or mchar act er , t he spat ul a wi t h t he r el ease l ever , t he gl ass
bl ade, and t he t i ny, t hr ee- cent i met er cl ay cr uci bl e f or maki ng a gnome- si ze
homuncul us- i nf i ni t esi mal womb f or t he most mi nuscul e cl oni ngs. Or t he acaj ou boxes
f i l l ed wi t h l i t t l e whi t e packet s l i ke a vi l l age apot hecar y' s cachet s, wr apped i n
par chment cover ed wi t h unt r ansl at abl e ci pher s, wi t h mi ner al speci mens t hat i n
r eal i t y ar e f r agment s of t he Hol y Shr oud of Basi l i des, r el i quar i es cont ai ni ng t he
f or eski n of Her mes Tr i s- megi st us. Or t he l ong, t hi n uphol st er er ' s hammer , a gavel
f or openi ng a br i ef j udgment day, an auct i on of qui nt essences t o be hel d among t he
El f s of Aval on. Or t he del i ght f ul l i t t l e appar at us f or anal yzi ng t he combust i on of
oi l , and t he gl ass gl obul es ar r ayed l i ke quat r ef oi l pet al s, wi t h ot her quat r ef oi l s
connect ed by gol den t ubes, and quat r ef oi l s at t ached t o ot her , cr yst al , t ubes l eadi ng
f i r st t o a copper cyl i nder , t hen t o t he gol d- and- gl ass cyl i nder bel ow i t , t hen t o
ot her t ubes, l ower st i l l , pendul ous appendages, t est i cl es, gl ands, goi t er s,
cr est s. . . Thi s i s moder n chemi st r y? For t hi s t he aut hor had t o be gui l l ot i ned, t hough
t r ul y not hi ng i s cr eat ed or dest r oyed? Or was he ki l l ed t o si l ence what hi s f r aud
r eveal ed?
The Sal l e Lavoi si er i n t he Conser vat oi r e i s act ual l y a conf essi on, a conf essi on i n
code, and an embl emof t he whol e museum, f or i t mocks t he ar r ogance of t he Age of
Reason and mur mur s of ot her myst er i es. J acopo Bel bo was r easonabl y r i ght ; Reason was
wr ong.
I had t o hur r y; t i me was pr essi ng now. I wal ked past t he met er , t he ki l ogr am, t he
ot her measur es, al l f al se guar ant ees. I had l ear ned f r omAgl i e t hat t he secr et of
t he pyr ami ds i s r eveal ed i f you don' t cal cul at e i n met er s but i n anci ent cubi t s.
Then, t he count i ng machi nes t hat pr ocl ai med t he t r i umph of t he quant i t at i ve but i n
t r ut h poi nt ed t o t he occul t qual i t i es of number s, a r et ur n t o t he r oot s of t he
not ar i kon t he r abbi s car r i ed wi t h t hemas t hey f l ed t hr ough t he pl ai ns of Eur ope.
Ast r onomy and cl ocks and r obot s. Danger ous t o l i nger among t hese new r evel at i ons. I
was penet r at i ng t o t he hear t of a secr et message i n t he f or mof a r at i onal i st
t heat r um. But I had t o hur r y. Lat er , bet ween cl osi ng t i me and mi dni ght , I coul d
expl or e t hem, obj ect s t hat i n t he sl ant ed l i ght of sunset assumed t hei r t r ue
aspect - symbol s, not i nst r ument s.
I went upst ai r s, wal ked t hr ough t he hal l s of t he cr af t s, of ener gy, el ect r i ci t y. No
pl ace t o hi de her e, not i n t hese cases. I began t o guess t hei r meani ng, but suddenl y
I was gr i pped by t he f ear t hat t her e woul d not be t i me t o f i nd a pl ace f r omwhi ch I
coul d wi t ness t he noct ur nal r evel at i on of t hei r secr et pur pose. Now I moved l i ke a
man pur sued- pur sued by t he cl ock, by t he ghast l y advance of number s. The ear t h
t ur ned, i nexor abl y, t he hour was appr oachi ng. I n a l i t t l e whi l e I woul d be ki cked
out .
Cr ossi ng t he exhi bi t of el ect r i cal devi ces, I came t o t he hal l of gl ass. By what
l ogi c had t hey deci ded t hat t he most advanced and expensi ve gadget r y of t he moder n
mi nd shoul d be f ol l owed by a sect i on devot ed t o an ar t known t o t he Phoeni ci ans
t housands of year s ago? A j umbl e of a r oom, Chi nese por cel ai n al ongsi de andr ogynous
vases of Lal i que, pot er i es, maj ol i ca, f ai ence, and Mur ano, and i n an enor mous case
i n t he r ear , l i f e- si ze and t hr eedi mensi onal , a l i on at t acked by a ser pent . The
appar ent r eason f or t hi s pi ece was i t s medi um, t hat i t was made ent i r el y of gl ass;
but t her e had t o be a deeper r eason. Wher e had I seen t hi s f i gur e bef or e? Then I
r emember ed t hat t he Demi ur ge, Yal dabaot h, t he f i r st Ar chon, odi ous cr eat i on of
Sophi a, who was r esponsi bl e f or t he wor l d and i t s f at al f l aw, had t he f or mof a
ser pent and of a l i on, and t hat hi s eyes cast f i r e. Per haps t he whol e Conser vat oi r e
was an i mage of t he vi l e pr ocess by whi ch, t hr ough t he eons, t he f ul l ness of t he
f i r st pr i nci pl e, t he Pendul um, and t he spl endor of t he Pl er ome gi ve way, by whi ch
t he Ogdoades cr umbl es and Evi l r ul es i n t he cosmi c r eal m. I f so, t hen t he ser pent
and l i on wer e t el l i ng me t hat my i ni t i at or y j our ney- a r ebour s, al as- was al r eady
over , and t hat soon I woul d see t he wor l d anew, not as i t shoul d be, but as i t i s.
Near a wi ndow i n t he r i ght - hand cor ner , I not i ced t he sent r y box of t he per i scope. I
ent er ed i t and f ound mysel f f aci ng a gl ass pl at e, as on t he br i dge of a shi p, and
t hr ough i t I saw shi f t i ng i mages of a f i l m, bl ur r ed; a scene of a ci t y. What I saw
was pr oj ect ed f r oma scr een above my head, wher e ever yt hi ng was upsi de down, and
t hi s second scr een was t he eyepi ece, as i t wer e, of a pr i mi t i ve per i scope made of
t wo packi ng cases ar r anged i n an obt use angl e. The l onger case st uck out l i ke a pi pe
f r omt he cubi cl e above and behi nd me, r eachi ng a hi gher wi ndow, f r omwhi ch a set of
Page 7
wi de- angl e l enses gat her ed t he l i ght f r omout si de. Cal cul at i ng t he r out e I had
f ol l owed, comi ng up her e, I r eal i zed t hat t he per i scope gave me a vi ew of t he
out si de as i f I wer e l ooki ng t hr ough a wi ndow i n t he upper par t of t he apse of
Sai nt - Mar t i n- as i f I wer e swayi ng t her e wi t h t he Pendul um, l i ke a hanged man, t aki ng
hi s l ast l ook. Af t er my eyes adj ust ed t o t he pal e scene, I coul d make out r ue
Vaucanson, whi ch t he choi r over l ooked, and r ue Cont e, on a l i ne wi t h t he nave. Rue
Cont e spl i t i nt o r ue Mont gol f i er t o t he l ef t and r ue de 1\ i r bi go t o t he r i ght . Ther e
wer e a coupl e of bar s at t he cor ner s, Le Weekend and La Rot onde, and opposi t e t hema
f a?ade wi t h a si gn t hat I coul d j ust bar el y di scer n: LES CREATI ONS J ACSAM.
The per i scope. Ther e was no r eal r eason i t shoul d be i n t he hal l of gl ass r at her
t han i n t he hal l of opt i cal i nst r ument s, but obvi ousl y i t was i mpor t ant f or t hi s
par t i cul ar vi ew of t he out si de t o be i n t hi s par t i cul ar pl ace. But i mpor t ant how?
Why shoul d t hi s cubi cl e, so posi t i vi st - sci ent i f i c, a t hi ng out of Ver ne, st and
besi de t he embl emat i c l i on and ser pent ?
I n any case, i f I had t he st r engt h and t he cour age t o st ay her e f or anot her hal f
hour or so, t he ni ght wat chman mi ght not see me.
And so I r emai ned under wat er f or what seemed a ver y l ong t i me. I hear d t he f oot st eps
of t he l ast of t he vi si t or s, t hen t he f oot st eps of t he l ast guar ds. I was t empt ed t o
cr ouch under t he br i dge t o el ude a possi bl e r andomgl ance i nsi de, but deci ded
agai nst i t . I f t hey di scover ed me st andi ng, I coul d pr et end I was an ent husi ast who
had l i nger ed t o enj oy t he mar vel .
Lat er , t he l i ght s went out , and t he hal l was shr ouded i n semi - dar kness. But t he
cubi cl e seemed l ess dar k now, i l l umi nat ed as i t was by t he scr een. I st ar ed st eadi l y
at i t , my l ast cont act wi t h t he wor l d.
The best cour se was t o st ay on my f eet - i f my f eet ached t oo much, t hen i n a cr ouch,
f or at l east t wo hour s. Cl osi ng t i me f or vi si t or s was not t he same as qui t t i ng t i me
f or t he empl oyees. I was sei zed by sudden f ear : Suppose t he cl eani ng st af f st ar t ed
goi ng t hr ough al l t he r ooms, i nch by i nch. But t hen I r emember ed: t he museumopened
l at e i n t he mor ni ng, so t he cl eaner s pr obabl y wor ked by dayl i ght and not i n t he
eveni ng. And t hat must have been t he case, at l east i n t he upper r ooms, because I
hear d no one el se pass by, onl y di st ant voi ces and an occasi onal l ouder sound,
per haps of door s cl osi ng. I st ood st i l l . Ther e woul d be pl ent y of t i me f or me t o get
back t o t he chur ch bet ween t en and el even, or even l at er . The Mast er s woul d not come
unt i l cl ose t o mi dni ght .
A gr oup of young peopl e emer ged f r omLa Rot onde. A gi r l wal ked al ong r ue Cont e and
t ur ned i nt o r ue Mont gol f i er . Not a ver y busy nei ghbor hood. Woul d I be abl e t o hol d
out , wat chi ng t he humdr umwor l d behi nd my back f or hour s on end? Shoul dn' t I t r y t o
guess t he secr et of t he per i scope' s l ocat i on her e? I f el t t he need t o ur i nat e.
I gnor e i t : a ner vous r eact i on.
So many t hi ngs r un t hr ough your mi nd when you' r e hi di ng al one i nsi de a per i scope.
Thi s must be how a st owaway f eel s, conceal ed i n a shi p' s hol d, emi gr at i ng t o some
f ar - of f l and. To t he St at ue of Li ber t y, i n f act , wi t h t he di or ama of New Yor k. I
mi ght gr ow dr owsy, doze; maybe t hat woul d be good. No, t hen I mi ght wake up t oo
l at e. . .
The wor st woul d be an anxi et y at t ack. You ar e cer t ai n t hen t hat i n a moment you wi l l
st ar t scr eami ng. Per i scope. Submar i ne. Tr apped on t he ocean f l oor . Maybe t he gr eat
bl ack f i sh of t he abyss ar e al r eady ci r cl i ng you, unseen, and al l you know i s t hat
you' r e r unni ng out of ai r . . .
I t ook sever al deep br eat hs. Concent r at e. The onl y t hi ng you can r el y on at a t i me
l i ke t hi s i s t he l aundr y l i st . St i ck t o f act s, causes, ef f ect s. I amher e f or t hi s
r eason, and al so f or t hi s r eason and t hi s. . .
Memor i es, di st i nct , pr eci se, or der l y. Of t he past t hr ee f r ant i c days, of t he past
t wo year s, and t he f or t y- year - ol d memor i es I f ound when I br oke i nt o J acopo Bel bo' s
el ect r oni c br ai n.
I amr emember i ng now ( as I r emember ed t hen) i n or der t o make sense out of t he chaos
of t hat mi sgui ded cr eat i on of our s.
Now ( as t hen, whi l e I wai t ed i n t he per i scope) I shr i nk i nt o one r emot e cor ner of my
mi nd, t o dr aw f r omi t a st or y. Such as t he Pendul um. Di ot al l evi t ol d me t hat t he
f i r st Sef i r ah i s Ket er , t he Cr own, t he begi nni ng, t he pr i mal voi d. I n t he begi nni ng
He cr eat ed a poi nt , whi ch became Thought , wher e al l t he f i gur es wer e dr awn. He was
and was not , He was encompassed i n t he name yet not encompassed i n t he name, havi ng
Page 8
as yet no name ot her t han t he desi r e t o be cal l ed by a name. . . He t r aced si gns i n t he
ai r ; a dar k l i ght l eapt f r omHi s most secr et dept h, l i ke a col or l ess mi st t hat gi ves
f or mt o f or ml essness, and as t he mi st spr ead, a bur st of f l ames t ook shape i n i t s
cent er , and t he f l ames st r eamed down t o i l l umi nat e t he l ower Sef i r ot , and down, down
t o t he Ki ngdom.
But per haps i n t hat si msun, t hat di mi ni shment , t hat l onel y separ at i on- Di ot al l evi
sai d- t her e was al r eady t he pr omi se of t he r et ur n.
HOKHMAH
3
I n hanc ut i l i t at emcl ement es angel i saepe f i gur as, char act er es, f or mas et voces
i nvener unt pr oposuer unt que nobi s mor t al i bus et i gnot as et st upendas nul l i us r ei
i uxt a consuet uml i nguae usumsi gni f i cat i vas, sed per r at i oni s nost r ae summam
admi r at i onemi n assi duami nt el l i gi bi l i umper vest i gat i onem, dei nde i n i l l or umi psor um
vener at i onemet amor emi nduct i vas.
- J ohannes Reuchl i n, De ar t e cabal i st i ca, Hagenhau, 1517, I I I
I t had been t wo days ear l i er , a Thur sday. I was l azi ng i n bed, undeci ded about
get t i ng up. I had ar r i ved t he pr evi ous af t er noon and had t el ephoned my of f i ce.
Di ot al l evi was st i l l i n t he hospi t al , and Gudr un sounded pessi mi st i c: condi t i on
unchanged; i n ot her wor ds, get t i ng wor se. I coul dn' t br i ng mysel f t o go and vi si t
hi m.
Bel bo was away. Gudr un t ol d me he t el ephoned t o say he had t o go somewher e f or
f ami l y r easons. What f ami l y? The odd t hi ng was, he t ook away t he wor d
pr ocessor - Abul af i a, he cal l ed i t - and t he pr i nt er , t oo. Gudr un al so t ol d me he had
set i t up at home i n or der t o f i ni sh some wor k. Why had he gone t o al l t hat t r oubl e?
Coul dn' t he do i t i n t he of f i ce?
I f el t l i ke a di spl aced per son. Li a and t he baby woul dn' t be back unt i l next week.
The pr evi ous eveni ng I ' d dr opped by Pi - l ade' s, but f ound no one t her e.
The phone woke me. I t was Bel bo; hi s voi ce di f f er ent , r emot e.
" Wher e t he hel l ar e you? Lost i n t he j ungl e?"
" Don' t j oke, Casaubon. Thi s i s ser i ous. I ' mi n Par i s. "
" Par i s? But I was t he one who was supposed t o go t o t he Conser vat oi r e. "
" St op j oki ng, damn i t . I ' mi n a boot h- i n a bar . I may not be abl e t o t al k much
l onger . . . "
" I f you' r e r unni ng out of change, cal l col l ect . I ' l l wai t her e. "
" Change i sn' t t he pr obl em. I ' mi n t r oubl e. " He was t al ki ng f ast , not gi vi ng me t i me
t o i nt er r upt . " The Pl an. The Pl an i s r eal . I know, don' t say i t . They' r e af t er me. "
" Who?" I st i l l coul dn' t under st and.
" The Templ ar s, Casaubon, f or God' s sake. You won' t want t o bel i eve t hi s, I know, but
i t ' s al l t r ue. They t hi nk I have t he map, t hey t r i cked me, made me come t o Par i s. At
mi dni ght Sat ur day t hey want me at t he Conser vat oi r e. Sat ur day- you under st and- Sai nt
J ohn' s Eve. . . " He was t al ki ng di sj oi nt edl y; and I coul dn' t f ol l ow hi m. " I don' t want
t o go. I ' mon t he r un Casaubon. They' l l ki l l me. Tel l De Angel i s- no, De Angel i s i s
usel ess- keep t he pol i ce out of i t . . . "
" Then what do you want me t o do?"
" I don' t know. Read t he f l oppy di sks, use Abul af i a. I put ever yt hi ng t her e t hese
l ast f ew days, i ncl udi ng al l t hat happened t hi s mont h. You wer en' t ar ound, I di dn' t
know who t o t el l i t t o, I wr ot e f or t hr ee days and t hr ee ni ght s. . . Li st en, go t o t he
of f i ce; i n my desk dr awer t her e' s an envel ope wi t h t wo keys i n i t . The l ar ge one you
don' t need: i t ' s t he key t o my house i n t he count r y. But t he smal l one' s f or t he
Mi l an apar t ment . Go t her e and r ead ever yt hi ng, t hen deci de f or your sel f , or maybe
we' l l t al k. My God, I don' t know what t o do. . . "
" Al l r i ght . But wher e can I f i nd you?"
" I don' t know. I change hot el s her e ever y ni ght . Do i t t oday and wai t at my pl ace
Page 9
t omor r ow mor ni ng. I ' l l cal l i f I can. My God, t he passwor d- "
I hear d noi ses. Bel bo' s voi ce came cl oser , moved away, as i f someone was wr est i ng
t he r ecei ver f r omhi m.
" Bel bo! What ' s goi ng on?"
" They f ound me. The wor d- "
A shar p r epor t , l i ke a shot . I t must have been t he r ecei ver f al l i ng, sl ammi ng
agai nst t he wal l or ont o t hat l i t t l e shel f t hey have under t el ephones. A scuf f l e.
Then t he cl i ck of t he r ecei ver bei ng hung up. Cer t ai nl y not by Bel bo.
I t ook a qui ck shower t o cl ear my head. I coul dn' t f i gur e out what was goi ng on. The
Pl an r eal ? Absur d. We had i nvent ed i t our sel ves. But who had capt ur ed Bel bo? The
Rosi cr uci ans? The Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n? The Okhr ana? The Kni ght s of t he Templ e?
The Assassi ns? Anyt hi ng was possi bl e, i f t he i mpossi bl e was t r ue. But Bel bo mi ght
have gone of f t he deep end. He had been ver y t ense l at el y, whet her because of
Lor enza Pel l e- gr i ni or because he was becomi ng mor e and mor e f asci nat ed by hi s
cr eat ur e. . . The Pl an, act ual l y, was our cr eat ur e, hi s, mi ne, Di ot al l evi ' s, but Bel bo
was t he one who seemed obsessed by i t now, beyond t he conf i nes of t he game. I t was
usel ess t o specul at e f ur t her .
I went t o t he of f i ce. Gudr un wel comed me wi t h t he aci d r emar k t hat she had t o keep
t he busi ness goi ng al l on her own. I f ound t he envel ope, t he keys, and r ushed t o
Bel bo' s apar t ment .
The st al e, r anci d smel l of ci gar et t e but t s, t he asht r ays al l br i mmi ng. The ki t chen
si nk pi l ed ni gh wi t h di r t y di shes, t he gar bage bi n f ul l of di sembowel ed cans. On a
shel f i n t he st udy, t hr ee empt y bot t l es of whi skey, and a l i t t l e l ef t - t wo f i nger s- i n
a f our t h bot t l e. Thi s was t he apar t ment of a man who had wor ked nonst op f or days
wi t hout budgi ng, eat i ng onl y when he had t o, wor ki ng f ur i ousl y, l i ke an addi ct .
Ther e wer e t wo r ooms i n al l , books pi l ed i n ever y cor ner , shel ves saggi ng under
t hei r wei ght . The t abl e wi t h t he comput er , pr i nt er , and boxes of di sks. A f ew
pi ct ur es i n t he space not occupi ed by shel ves. Di r ect l y opposi t e t he t abl e, a
sevent eent h- cent ur y pr i nt car ef ul l y f r amed, an al l egor y I hadn' t not i ced l ast mont h,
when I came up t o have a beer bef or e goi ng of f on my vacat i on.
On t he t abl e, a phot ogr aph of Lor enza Pel l egr i ni , wi t h an i nscr i pt i on i n a t i ny,
al most chi l di sh hand. You saw onl y her f ace, but her eyes wer e unset t l i ng, t he l ook
i n her eyes. I n a gest ur e of i nst i nct i ve del i cacy ( or j eal ousy?) I t ur ned t he
phot ogr aph f acedown, not r eadi ng t he i nscr i pt i on.
Ther e wer e f ol der s. I l ooked t hr ough t hem. Not hi ng of i nt er est , onl y account s,
publ i shi ng cost est i mat es. But i n t he mi dst of t hese paper s I f ound t he pr i nt out of
a f i l e t hat , t o j udge by i t s dat e, must have been one of Bel bo' s f i r st exper i ment s
wi t h t he wor d pr ocessor . I t was t i t l ed " Abu. " I r emember ed, when Abul af i a made i t s
appear ance i n t he of f i ce, Bel bo' s i nf ant i l e ent husi asm, Gudr un' s mut t er i ng,
Di ot al l evi ' s sar casm.
Abu had been Bel bo' s pr i vat e r epl y t o hi s cr i t i cs, a ki nd of sophomor i c j oke, but i t
sai d a l ot about t he combi nat or y passi on wi t h whi ch he had used t he machi ne. Her e
was a man who had sai d, wi t h hi s wan smi l e, t hat once he r eal i zed t hat he woul d
never be a pr ot agoni st , he deci ded t o become, i nst ead, an i nt el l i gent spect at or , f or
t her e was no poi nt i n wr i t i ng wi t hout ser i ous mot i vat i on. Bet t er t o r ewr i t e t he
books of ot her s, whi ch i s what a good edi t or does. But Bel bo f ound i n t he machi ne a
ki nd of LSD and r an hi s f i nger s over t he keyboar d as i f i nvent i ng var i at i ons on " The
Happy Far mer " on t he ol d pi ano at home, wi t hout f ear of bei ng j udged. Not t hat he
t hought he was bei ng cr eat i ve: t er r i f i ed as he was by wr i t i ng, he knew t hat t hi s was
not wr i t i ng but onl y t he t est i ng of an el ect r oni c ski l l . A gymnast i c exer ci se. But ,
f or get t i ng di e usual ghost s t hat haunt ed hi m, he di scover ed t hat pl ayi ng wi t h t he
wor d pr ocessor was a way of gi vi ng vent t o a f i f t y- year - ol d' s second adol escence.
Hi s nat ur al pessi mi sm, hi s r el uct ant accept ance of hi s own past wer e somehow
di ssol ved i n t hi s di al og wi t h a memor y t hat was i nor gani c, obj ect i ve, obedi ent ,
nonmor al , t r ansi st or i zed, and so humanl y i nhuman t hat i t enabl ed hi mt o f or get hi s
chr oni c ner vousness about l i f e.
FI LENAME: Abu
O what a beaut i f ul mor ni ng at t he end of November , i n t he begi nni ng was t he wor d,
si ng t o me, goddess, t he son of Pel eus, Achi l l es, now i s t he wi nt er of our
Page 10
di scont ent . Per i od, new par agr aph. Test i ng t est i ng par akal o, par akal o, wi t h t he
r i ght pr ogr amyou can even make anagr ams, i f you' ve wr i t t en a novel wi t h a
Conf eder at e her o named Rhet t But l er and a f i ckl e gi r l named Scar l et t and t hen change
your mi nd, al l you have t o do i s punch a key and Abu wi l l gl obal r epl ace t he Rhet t
But l er s t o Pr i nce Andr ei s, t he Scar l et t s t o Nat ashas, At l ant a t o Moscow, and l o!
you' ve wr i t t en war and peace.
Abu, do anot her t hi ng now: Bel bo or der s Abu t o change al l wor ds, make each " a"
become " akka" and each " o" become " ul l a, " f or a par agr aph t o l ook al most Fi nni sh.
Akkabu, dul l a akkanul l at her t hi ng nul l aw: Bel bul l a ul l ar der s Ak- kabu t ul l a chakkange
akkal l wul l ar ds, makkake eakkach " akka" becul l ame " akkakkakka" akkand eakkach
" ul l a" becul l ame " ul l akka, " f ul l ar akka pakkar akkagr akkaph t ul l a l ul l aul l ak
akkal mul l ast Fi nni sh.
O j oy, O new ver t i go of di f f er ence, O my pl at oni c r eader - wr i t er r acked by a most
pl at oni c i nsomni a, O wake of f i nnegan, O ani mal char mi ng and beni gn. He doesn' t hel p
you t hi nk but he hel ps you because you have t o t hi nk f or hi m. A t ot al l y spi r i t ual
machi ne. I f you wr i t e wi t h a goose qui l l you scr at ch t he sweat y pages and keep
st oppi ng t o di p f or i nk. Your t hought s go t oo f ast f or your achi ng wr i st . I f you
t ype, t he l et t er s cl ust er t oget her , and agai n you must go at t he poky pace of t he
mechani sm, not t he speed of your synapses. But wi t h hi m( i t ? her ?) your f i nger s
dr eam, your mi nd br ushes t he keyboar d, you ar e bor ne on gol den pi ni ons, at l ast you
conf r ont t he l i ght of cr i t i cal r eason wi t h t he happi ness of a f i r st encount er .
An l oo what I doo now, I t ak t hi s pac of spel i ng monnst r ost i es an I or der r t he
macchi n t o coppy t heman f i l e t hemi n t emr ar y memr y an t hen br r i ng t hembak f r omt ha
l i mbo ont o t he scr en, f ol owi ng i t sel .
Ther e, I was t ypi ng bl i ndl y, but now I have t aken t hat pack of spel l i ng
monst r osi t i es and or der ed t he machi ne t o copy t he mess, and on t he copy I made al l
t he cor r ect i ons, so i t comes out per f ect on t he page. Fr omshi t , t hus, I ext r act
pur e Shi nol a. Repent i ng, I coul d have del et ed t he f i r st dr af t . I l ef t i t t o show how
t he " i s" and t he " ought , " acci dent and necessi t y, can coexi st on t hi s scr een. I f I
want ed, I coul d r emove t he of f endi ng passage f r omt he scr een but not f r omt he
memor y, t her eby cr eat i ng an ar chi ve of my r epr essi ons whi l e denyi ng omni vor ous
Fr eudi ans and vi r t uosi of var i ant t ext s t he pl easur e of conj ect ur e, t he exer ci se of
t hei r occupat i on, t hei r academi c gl or y.
Thi s i s bet t er t han r eal memor y, because r eal memor y, at t he cost of much ef f or t ,
l ear ns t o r emember but not t o f or get . Di ot al l evi goes Sephar di cal l y mad over t hose
pal aces wi t h gr and st ai r cases, t hat st at ue of a war r i or doi ng somet hi ng unspeakabl e
t o a def ensel ess woman, t he cor r i dor s wi t h hundr eds of r ooms, each wi t h t he
depi ct i on of a por t ent , and t he sudden appar i t i ons, di st ur bi ng i nci dent s, wal ki ng
mummi es. To each memor abl e i mage you at t ach a t hought , a l abel , a cat egor y, a pi ece
of t he cosmi c f ur ni t ur e, syl l ogi sms, an enor mous sor i t es, chai ns of apot hegms,
st r i ngs of hypal l ages, r ost er s of zeugmas, dances of hyst er on pr ot er on, apophant i c
l ogoi , hi er ar chi c st oi chea, pr ocessi ons of equi noxes and par al l axes, her bar i a,
geneal ogi es of gymnosophi st s- and so on, t o i nf i ni t y. O Rai mundo, O Cami l l o, you had
onl y t o cast your mi nd back t o your vi si ons and i mmedi at el y you coul d r econst r uct
t he gr eat chai n of bei ng, i n l ove and j oy, because al l t hat was di sj oi nt ed i n t he
uni ver se was j oi ned i n a si ngl e vol ume i n your mi nd, and Pr oust woul d have made you
smi l e. But when Di ot al l evi and I t r i ed t o const r uct an ar s obl i vi onal i s t hat day, we
coul dn' t come up wi t h r ul es f or f or get t i ng. I t ' s i mpossi bl e. I t ' s one t hi ng t o go i n
sear ch of a l ost t i me, chasi ng l abi l e cl ues, l i ke Hop- o' - My- Thumb i n t he woods, and
qui t e anot her del i ber at el y t o mi spl ace t i me r ef ound. Hop- o' - My- Thumb al ways comes
home, l i ke an obsessi on. Ther e i s no di sci pl i ne of f or get t i ng; we ar e at t he mer cy
of r andomnat ur al pr ocesses, l i ke st r oke and amnesi a, and such sel f - i nt er vent i ons as
dr ugs, al cohol , or sui ci de.
Abu, however , can per f or mon hi msel f pr eci se l ocal sui ci des, t empor ar y amnesi as,
pai nl ess aphasi as.
Wher e wer e you l ast ni ght , L
Ther e, i ndi scr eet r eader : you wi l l never know i t , but t hat hal f - l i ne hangi ng i n
space was act ual l y t he begi nni ng of a l ong sent ence t hat I wr ot e but t hen wi shed I
Page 11
hadn' t , wi shed I hadn' t even t hought l et al one wr i t t en i t , wi shed t hat i t had never
happened. So I pr essed a key, and a mi l ky f i l mspr ead over t he f at al and i noppor t une
l i nes, and I pr essed DELETE and, whoosh, al l gone.
But t hat ' s not al l . The pr obl emwi t h sui ci de i s t hat somet i mes you j ump out t he
wi ndow and t hen change your mi nd bet ween t he ei ght h f l oor and t he sevent h. " Oh, i f
onl y I coul d go back! " Sor r y, you can' t , t oo bad. Spl at . Abu, on t he ot her hand, i s
mer ci f ul , he gr ant s you t he r i ght t o change your mi nd: you can r ecover your del et ed
t ext by pr essi ng RETRI EVE. What a r el i ef ! Once I know t hat I can r emember whenever I
l i ke, I f or get .
Never agai n wi l l I go f r omone bar t o anot her , di si nt egr at i ng al i en spacecr af t wi t h
t r acer bul l et s, unt i l t he i nvader monst er di si nt egr at es me. Thi s i s f ar mor e
beaut i f ul : her e you di si nt egr at e t hought s i nst ead of al i ens. The scr een i s a gal axy
of t housands and t housands of ast er oi ds, al l i n a r ow, whi t e or gr een, and you have
cr eat ed t hemyour sel f . Fi at Lux, Bi g Bang, seven days, seven mi nut es, seven seconds,
and a uni ver se i s bor n bef or e your eyes, a uni ver se i n const ant f l ux, wher e shar p
l i nes i n space and t i me do not exi st . No numer us Cl ausi us her e, no const r ai ni ng l aw
of t her modynami cs. The l et t er s bubbl e i ndol ent l y t o t he sur f ace, t hey emer ge f r om
not hi ngness and obedi ent l y r et ur n t o not hi ngness, di ssol vi ng l i ke ect opl asm. I t ' s an
under wat er symphony of sof t l i nki ngs and unl i nki ngs, a gel at i nous dance of
sel f - devour i ng moons, l i ke t he bi g f i sh i n t he Yel l ow Submar i ne. At a t ouch of your
f i nger t i p t he i r r epar abl e sl i des backwar d t owar d a hungr y wor d and di sappear s i nt o
i t s maw wi t h a sl ump, t hen dar kness. I f you don' t st op, t he wor d swal l ows i t sel f as
wel l , f at t eni ng on i t s own absence l i ke a Cheshi r e- cat bl ack hol e.
And i f you happen t o wr i t e what modest y f or bi ds, i t al l goes ont o a f l oppy di sk, and
you can gi ve t he di sk a passwor d, and no one wi l l be abl e t o r ead you. Excel l ent f or
secr et agent s. You wr i t e t he message, save i t , t hen put t he di sk i n your pocket and
wal k of f . Not even Tor - quemada coul d f i nd out what you' ve wr i t t en: I t ' s bet ween you
and i t ( I t ?) . And i f t hey t or t ur e you, you pr et end t o conf ess; you st ar t ent er i ng
t he passwor d, t hen pr ess a secr et key, and t he message di sappear s f or ever . Oh, I ' m
so sor r y, you say, my hand sl i pped, an acci dent , and now i t ' s gone. What was i t ? I
don' t r emember . I t wasn' t i mpor t ant . I have no Message t o r eveal . But l at er on- who
knows?- I mi ght .
4
He who at t empt s t o penet r at e i nt o t he Rose Gar den of t he Phi l osopher s wi t hout t he
key r esembl es a man who woul d wal k wi t hout f eet .
- Mi chael Mai er , At al ant a Fugi ens, Oppenhei m, De Br y, 1618, embl emXXVI I
That was t he onl y f i l e t hat had been pr i nt ed out . I woul d have t o go t hr ough t he
di sks on t he comput er . They wer e ar r anged by number , and I t hought I mi ght as wel l
st ar t wi t h t he f i r st . But Bel bo had ment i oned a passwor d. He had al ways been
possessi ve wi t h Abul af i a' s secr et s.
When I l oaded t he machi ne, a message pr ompt l y appear ed: " Do you have t he passwor d?"
Not i n t he i mper at i ve. Bel bo was a pol i t e man.
The machi ne doesn' t vol unt eer i t s hel p. I t must be gi ven t he wor d; wi t hout t he wor d,
i t won' t t al k. As t hough i t wer e sayi ng: " Yes, what you want t o know i s r i ght her e
hi my gut s. Go ahead and di g, di g, ol d mol e; you' l l never f i nd i t . " We' l l see about
t hat , I sai d t o mysel f ; you got such a ki ck out of pl ayi ng wi t h Di ot al l evi ' s
per mut at i ons and combi nat i ons, and you wer e t he SamSpade of publ i shi ng. As J acopo
Bel bo woul d have sai d: Fi nd t he f al con.
* * *
The passwor d t o get i nt o Abul af i a had t o be seven l et t er s or f ewer . Let t er s or
number s. How many gr oups of seven coul d be made f r omal l t he l et t er s of t he
al phabet , i ncl udi ng t he possi bi l i t y of r epet i t i on, si nce t her e was no r eason t he
wor d coul dn' t be " cadabr a" ? I knew t he f or mul a. The number was si x bi l l i on and
somet hi ng. A gi ant cal cul at or capabl e of r unni ng t hr ough al l si x bi l l i on at t he r at e
of a mi l l i on per second woul d st i l l have t o f eed t hemt o Abul af i a one at a t i me. And
i t t ook Abul af i a about t en seconds t o ask f or t he passwor d and ver i f y i t . That made
si xt y bi l l i on seconds. Ther e wer e over t hi r t y- one mi l l i on seconds i n a year . Say
t hi r t y, t o have a r ound f i gur e. I t woul d t ake, t her ef or e, t wo t housand year s t o go
Page 12
t hr ough al l t he possi bi l i t i es. Ni ce wor k.
I woul d have t o pr oceed, i nst ead, by i nduct i ve guesswor k. What wor d woul d Bel bo have
chosen? Was i t a wor d he had deci ded on at t he st ar t , when he began usi ng t he
machi ne, or was i t one he had come up wi t h onl y r ecent l y, when he r eal i zed t hat
t hese di sks wer e danger ous and t hat , f or hi mat l east , t he game was no l onger a
game? Thi s woul d make a bi g di f f er ence.
Bet t er assume t he l at t er , I t hought . Bel bo f eel s he i s bei ng hunt ed by t he Pl an,
whi ch he now t akes ser i ousl y ( as he t ol d me on t he phone) . For a passwor d, t hen, he
woul d use some t er mconnect ed wi t h our st or y.
But maybe not : a t er massoci at ed wi t h t he Tr adi t i on mi ght al so occur t o Them. Then I
t hought : What i f They had al r eady br oken i nt o t he apar t ment and made copi es of t he
di sks, and wer e now, at t hi s ver y moment , t r yi ng al l t he combi nat i ons of l et t er s i n
some r emot e pl ace? Usi ng t he supr eme comput er , i n a cast l e i n t he Car pat hi ans.
Nonsense, I t ol d mysel f . They wer en' t comput er peopl e. They woul d use t he not ar i kon,
t he gemat r i a, t he t emur ah, t r eat i ng t he di sks l i ke t he Tor ah, and t her ef or e woul d
r equi r e as much t i me as had passed si nce t he wr i t i ng of t he Sef er Yesi r ah. No, i f
They exi st ed, They woul d pr oceed cabal i st i cal l y, and i f Bel bo bel i eved t hat They
exi st ed, he woul d f ol l ow t he same pat h.
J ust t o be on t he saf e si de, I t r i ed t he t en Sef i r ot : Ket er , Hokh- mah, Bi nah, Hesed,
Gevur ah, Ti f er et , Nezah, Hod, Yesod, Mal khut . They di dn' t wor k, of cour se: i t was
t he f i r st t hi ng t hat woul d have occur r ed t o anyone.
St i l l , t he wor d had t o be somet hi ng obvi ous, somet hi ng t hat woul d come t o mi nd at
once, because when you wor k on a t ext as obsessi vel y as Bel bo must have dur i ng t he
past f ew days, you can' t t hi nk of anyt hi ng el se, of any ot her subj ect . I t woul d not
be human f or hi mt o dr i ve hi msel f cr azy over t he Pl an and at t he same t i me pi ck
Li ncol n or Mombasa f or t he passwor d. The passwor d had t o be connect ed wi t h t he Pl an.
But what ?
I t r i ed t o put mysel f i nsi de Bel bo' s head. He had been chai nsmoki ng as he wr ot e, and
dr i nki ng. I went t o t he ki t chen f or a cl ean gl ass, f ound onl y one, pour ed mysel f t he
l ast of t he whi skey, sat down at t he keyboar d agai n, l eaned back i n t he chai r , and
pr opped my f eet on t he t abl e. I si pped my dr i nk ( wasn' t t hat how SamSpade di d i t ?
Or was i t Phi l i p Mar l owe?) and l ooked ar ound. The books wer e t oo f ar away; I
coul dn' t r ead t he t i t l es on t hei r spi nes.
I f i ni shed t he whi skey, shut my eyes, opened t hemagai n. Faci ng me was t he
sevent eent h- cent ur y engr avi ng, a t ypi cal Rosi - cr uci an al l egor y of t he per i od, r i ch
i n coded messages addr essed t o t he member s of t he Fr at er ni t y. Obvi ousl y i t depi ct ed
t he Templ e of t he Rosy- Cr oss, a t ower sur mount ed by a dome i n accor dance wi t h t he
Renai ssance i conogr aphi c model , bot h Chr i st i an and J ewi sh, of t he Templ e of
J er usal em, r econst r uct ed on t he pat t er n of t he Mosque of Omar .
The l andscape ar ound t he t ower was i ncongr uous, and i nhabi t ed i ncongr uousl y, l i ke
one of t hose r ebuses wher e you see a pal ace, a f r og i n t he f or egr ound, a mul e wi t h
i t s pack, and a ki ng r ecei vi ng a gi f t f r oma page. I n t he l ower l ef t was a gent l eman
emer gi ng f r oma wel l , cl i ngi ng t o a pul l ey t hat was at t ached, t hr ough r i di cul ous
wi nches, t o some poi nt i nsi de t he t ower , t he r ope passi ng t hr ough a ci r cul ar wi ndow.
I n t he cent er wer e a hor seman and a wayf ar er . On t he r i ght , a kneel i ng pi l gr i mhel d
a heavy anchor as t hough i t wer e hi s st af f . Al ong t he r i ght mar gi n, al most opposi t e
t he t ower , was a pr eci pi ce f r omwhi ch a char act er wi t h a swor d was f al l i ng, and on
t he ot her si de, f or eshor t ened, st ood Mount Ar ar at , t he Ar k agr ound on i t s summi t . I n
each of t he upper cor ner s was a cl oud i l l umi nat ed by a st ar t hat cast obl i que r ays
al ong whi ch t wo f i gur es f l oat ed, a nude man i n t he coi l s of a ser pent , and a swan.
At t he t op cent er , a ni mbus was sur mount ed by t he wor d " Or i ens" and bor e Hebr ew
l et t er s f r omwhi ch t he hand of God emer ged t o hol d t he t ower by a st r i ng.
The t ower moved on wheel s. I t s mai n par t was squar e, wi t h wi ndows, a door , and a
dr awbr i dge on t he r i ght . Hi gher up, t her e was a ki nd of gal l er y wi t h f our
obser vat i on t ur r et s, each t ur r et occupi ed by an ar med man who waved a pal mbr anch
and car r i ed a shi el d decor at ed wi t h Hebr ew l et t er s. Onl y t hr ee of t hese men wer e
vi si bl e; t he f our t h had t o be i magi ned, si nce he was behi nd t he oct agonal dome, f r om
whi ch r ose a l ant er n, al so oct agonal , wi t h a pai r of gr eat wi ngs af f i xed. Above t he
wi nged l ant er n was anot her , smal l er , cupol a, wi t h a quadr angul ar t ur r et whose open
ar ches, suppor t ed by sl ender col umns, r eveal ed a bel l i nsi de. To t he f i nal smal l
f our - vaul t ed dome at t he t op was t i ed t he t hr ead hel d by t he hand of God. The wor d
" Fa/ ma" appear ed her e, and above t hat , a scr ol l t hat r ead " Col l egi umFr at er ni t at i s. "
Ther e wer e ot her oddi t i es. An enor mous ar m, out of al l pr opor t i on t o t he f i gur es,
Page 13
j ut t ed f r oma r ound wi ndow i n t he t ower on t he l ef t . I t hel d a swor d, and bel onged
per haps t o t he wi nged cr eat ur e shut up i n t he t ower . Fr oma si mi l ar wi ndow on t he
r i ght j ut t ed a gr eat t r umpet . Once agai n, t he t r umpet .
The number of openi ngs i n t he t ower dr ew my at t ent i on. Ther e wer e t oo many of t hem,
and t he ones i n t he dome wer e t oo r egul ar , wher eas t he ones i n t he base seemed
r andom. Si nce onl y hal f t he t ower was shown i n t hi s or t hogonal per spect i ve, you
coul d assume t hat symmet r y was pr eser ved and t he door s, wi ndows, and por t hol es on
t hi s si de wer e r epeat ed i n t he same or der on t he ot her si de. That woul d mean,
al t oget her , f our ar ches i n t he dome of t he bel l t ower , ei ght wi ndows i n t he l ower
dome, f our t ur r et s, si x openi ngs i n t he east and west f acades, and f our t een i n t he
nor t h and sout h f acades. I added i t up.
Thi r t y- si x. For mor e t han t en year s t hat number had haunt ed me. The Rosi cr uci ans.
One hundr ed and t went y di vi ded by t hi r t y- si x came t o 3. 333333, goi ng t o seven
di gi t s. Al most t oo per f ect , but i t was wor t h a t r y. I t r i ed. And f ai l ed.
I t occur r ed t o me t hen t hat t he same number , mul t i pl i ed by t wo, yi el ded t he number
of t he Beast : 666. That guess al so pr oved t oo f ar f et ched.
Suddenl y I was st r uck by t he ni mbus i n t he mi ddl e, t he di vi ne t hr one. The Hebr ew
l et t er s wer e l ar ge; I coul d see t hemeven f r ommy chai r . But Bel bo coul dn' t wr i t e
Hebr ew on Abul af i a. I t ook a cl oser l ook: I knew t hem, of cour se, f r omr i ght t o
l ef t , yod, he, vav, he. The Tet r agr ammat on, Yahweh, t he name of God.
5
And begi n by combi ni ng t hi s name, YHWH, at t he begi nni ng al one, and exami ne al l i t s
combi nat i ons and move i t and t ur n i t about l i ke a wheel , f r ont and back, l i ke a
scr ol l , and do not l et i t r est , but when you see i t s mat t er st r engt hened because of
t he gr eat mot i on, because of t he f ear of conf usi on of your i magi nat i on and t he
r ol l i ng about of your t hought s, and when you l et i t r est , r et ur n t o i t and ask i t ,
unt i l t her e shal l come t o your hand a wor d of wi sdomf r omi t , do not abandon i t .
- Abul af i a, Hayye ha- Nef es, MS Munchen 408, f ol s. 65a- 65b
The name of God. . . Of cour se! I r emember ed t he f i r st conver sat i on bet ween Bel bo and
Di ot al l evi , t he day Abul af i a was set up i n t he of f i ce.
Di ot al l evi was at t he door of hi s r oom, poi nt edl y t ol er ant . Di ot al l evi ' s t ol er ance
was al ways exasper at i ng, but Bel bo di dn' t seemt o mi nd i t . He t ol er at ed i t .
" I t won' t be of any use t o you, you know. You' r e not pl anni ng, sur el y, t o r ewr i t e
t he manuscr i pt s you don' t r ead anyway. "
" I t ' s f or r i l i ng, maki ng schedul es, updat i ng l i st s. I f I wr i t e a book wi t h i t , i t ' l l
be my own, not someone el se' s. "
" You swor e t hat you' d never wr i t e anyt hi ng of your own. "
" That I woul dn' t i nf l i ct a manuscr i pt on t he wor l d, t r ue. When I concl uded I wasn' t
cut out t o be a pr ot agoni st - "
" You deci ded you' d be an i nt el l i gent spect at or . I know al l t hat . And so?"
" I f an i nt el l i gent spect at or hums t he second movement on hi s way home f r omt he
concer t , t hat doesn' t mean he want s t o conduct i t i n Car negi e Hal l . "
" So you' l l t r y hummi ng l i t er at ur e t o make sur e you don' t wr i t e any. ' '
" I t woul d be an honest choi ce. "
" You t hi nk so?"
Di ot al l evi and Bel bo, bot h f r omPi edmont , of t en cl ai med t hat any good Pi edmont ese
had t he abi l i t y t o l i st en pol i t el y, l ook you i n t he eye, and say " You t hi nk so?" i n
a t one of such appar ent si ncer i t y t hat you i mmedi at el y f el t hi s pr of ound
di sappr oval . I was a bar bar i an, t hey used t o say: such subt l et i es woul d al ways be
l ost on me.
" Bar bar i an?" I woul d pr ot est . " I may have been bor n i n Mi l an, but my f ami l y came
f r omVal d' Aost a. "
" Nonsense, " t hey sai d. " You can al ways t el l a genui ne Pi edmont ese i mmedi at el y by hi s
skept i ci sm. "
" I ' ma skept i c. "
" No, you' r e onl y i ncr edul ous, a doubt er , and t hat ' s di f f er ent . "
I knew why Di ot al l evi di st r ust ed Abul af i a. He had hear d t hat wor d pr ocessor s coul d
change t he or der of l et t er s. A t est , t hus, mi ght gener at e i t s opposi t e and r esul t i n
obscur e pr opheci es. " I t ' s a game of per mut at i on, " Bel bo sai d, t r yi ng t o expl ai n.
" Temur ah? I sn' t t hat t he name f or i t ? I sn' t t hat what t he devout r abbi does t o
Page 14
ascend t o t he Gat es of Spl endor ?' '
" My dear f r i end, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " you' l l never under st and anyt hi ng. I t ' s t r ue t hat
t he Tor ah- t he vi si bl e J br ah, t hat i s- i s onl y one of t he possi bl e per mut at i ons of t he
l et t er s of t he et er nal Tor ah, as God cr eat ed i t and del i ver ed i t t o t he angel s. By
r ear r angi ng t he l et t er s of t he book over t he cent ur i es, we may someday ar r i ve agai n
at t he or i gi nal Tor ah. But t he i mpor t ant t hi ng i s not t he f i ndi ng, i t i s t he
seeki ng, i t i s t he devot i on wi t h whi ch one spi ns t he wheel of pr ayer and scr i pt ur e,
di scover i ng t he t r ut h l i t t l e by l i t t l e. I f t hi s machi ne gave you t he t r ut h
i mmedi at el y, you woul d not r ecogni ze i t , because your hear t woul d not have been
pur i f i ed by t he l ong quest . And i n an of f i ce! No, t he Book must be mur mur ed day
af t er day i n a l i t t l e ghet t o hovel wher e you l ear n t o l ean f or war d and keep your
ar ms t i ght agai nst your hi ps so t her e wi l l be as l i t t l e space as possi bl e bet ween
t he hand t hat hol ds t he Book and t he hand t hat t ur ns t he pages. And i f you moi st en
your f i nger s, you must r ai se t hemver t i cal l y t o your l i ps, as i f ni bbl i ng unl eavened
br ead, and dr op no cr umb. The wor d must be eat en ver y sl owl y. I t must mel t on t he
t ongue bef or e you can di ssol ve i t and r eor der i t . And t ake car e not t o sl obber i t
ont o your caf t an. I f even a si ngl e l et t er i s l ost , t he t hr ead t hat i s about t o l i nk
you wi t h t he hi gher sef i r ot i s br oken. To t hi s Abr ahamAbul af i a dedi cat ed hi s l i f e,
whi l e your Sai nt Thomas was t oi l i ng t o f i nd God wi t h hi s f i ve pat hs.
" Abr ahamAbul af i a' s Hokhmat h ha- Zer uf vt as at once t he sci ence of t he combi nat i on of
l et t er and t he sci ence of t he pur i f i cat i on of t he hear t . Myst i c l ogi c, l et t er s
whi r l i ng i n i nf i ni t e change, i s t he wor l d of bl i ss, i t i s t he musi c of t hought , but
see t hat you pr oceed sl owl y, and wi t h caut i on, because your machi ne may br i ng you
del i r i umi nst ead of ecst asy. Many of Abul af i a' s di sci pl es wer e unabl e t o wal k t he
f i ne l i ne bet ween cont empl at i on of t he names of God and t he pr act i ce of magi c. They
mani pul at ed t he names i n an ef f or t t o t ur n t hemi nt o a t al i sman, an i nst r ument of
domi ni on over nat ur e, unawar e- as you ar e unawar e, wi t h your machi ne- t hat ever y
l et t er i s bound t o a par t of t he body, and shi f t i ng a consonant wi t hout t he
knowl edge of i t s power may af f ect a l i mb, i t s posi t i on or nat ur e, and t hen you f i nd
your sel f def or med, a monst er . Physi cal l y, f or l i f e; spi r i t ual l y, f or et er ni t y. "
" Li st en, " Bel bo sai d t o hi mt hen. " You haven' t di scour aged me, you know. On t he
cont r ar y. I have Abul af i a- t hat ' s what I ' mcal l i ng hi m- at my command, t he way our
f r i ends used t o have t he gol em. Onl y, my Abul af i a wi l l be mor e caut i ous and
r espect f ul . Mor e modest . The pr obl emi s t o f i nd al l t he per mut at i ons of t he name of
God, i sn' t i t ? Wel l , t hi s manual has a neat l i t t l e pr ogr ami n Basi c f or l i st i ng al l
possi bl e sequences of f our l et t er s. I t seems t ai l or - made f or YHVH. Shoul d I gi ve i t
a whi r l ?" And he showed Di ot al l evi t he pr ogr am; Di ot al l evi had t o agr ee i t l ooked
cabal i st i c:
10 REM anagr ams
20 I NPUT L$( 1) , L$( 2) , L$( 3) , L$( 4)
30 PRI NT
40 FOR I 1 = 1 TO 4
50 FOR I 2 = 1 TO 4
60 I F I 2 = I 1 THEN 130
70 FOR I 3 = 1 TO 4
80 I F I 3 = I 1 THEN 120
90 I F I 3 = I 1 THEN 120
100 LET I 4 = 10- ( I 1+I 2+I 3)
110 LPRI NT L$( I 1) ; L$( I 2) ; L$( I 3) ; L$( I 4)
120 NEXT I 3
130 NEXT I 2
140 NEXT I 1
150 END
" Tr y i t your sel f . When i t asks f or i nput , t ype i n Y, H, V, H, and pr ess t he ENTER
key. But you may be di sappoi nt ed. Ther e ar e onl y t went y- f our possi bl e per mut at i ons. "
" Hol y Ser aphi m! What can you do wi t h t went y- f our names of God? You t hi nk our wi se
men hadn' t made t hat cal cul at i on? Read t he Sef er Yesi r ah, Chapt er Four , Sect i on
Si xt een. And t hey di dn' t have comput er s. ' Two St ones make t wo Houses. Thr ee St ones
make si x Houses. Four St ones make t went y- f our Houses. Fi ve St ones make one hundr ed
and t went y Houses. Si x St ones make seven hundr ed and t went y Houses. Seven St ones
make f i ve t housand and f or t y Houses. Beyond t hi s poi nt , t hi nk of what t he mout h
cannot say and t he ear cannot hear . ' You know what t hi s i s cal l ed t oday? Fact or
anal ysi s. And you know why t he Tr adi t i on war ns t hat beyond t hi s poi nt a man shoul d
Page 15
qui t ? Because i f t her e wer e ei ght l et t er s i n t he name of God, t her e woul d be f or t y
t housand t hr ee hundr ed and t went y per mut at i ons, and i f t en, t her e woul d be t hr ee
mi l l i on si x hundr ed t went y- ei ght t housand ei ght hundr ed, and t he per mut at i ons of
your own wr et ched l i t t l e name, f i r st name and l ast , woul d come t o al most f or t y
mi l l i on. Thank God you don' t have a mi ddl e i ni t i al , l i ke so many Amer i cans, because
t hen t her e woul d be mor e t han f our hundr ed mi l l i on. And i f t he names of God
cont ai ned t went y- seven l et t er s - i n t he Hebr ew al phabet t her e ar e no vowel s, but
t went y - t wo consonant s pl us f i ve var i ant s- t hen t he number of Hi s possi bl e names
woul d have t went y- ni ne di gi t s. Except t hat you have t o al l ow f or r epet i t i ons,
because t he name of God coul d be al eph r epeat ed t went y- seven t i mes, i n whi ch case
f act or anal ysi s i s of no use: wi t h r epet i t i ons you' d have t o t ake t went y- seven t o
t he t went y- sevent h power , whi ch i s, I bel i eve, somet hi ng l i ke f our hundr ed
f or t y- f our bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on. Four t i mes t en wi t h t hi r t y- ni ne zer os
af t er i t . "
" You' r e cheat i ng, t r yi ng t o scar e me. I ' ve r ead your Sef er Yesi r ah, t oo. Ther e ar e
t went y- t wo f undament al l et t er s, and wi t h t hemwi t h t hemal one- God f or med al l
cr eat i on. "
" Let ' s not spl i t hai r s. Fi ve, at t hi s or der of magni t ude, won' t hel p. I f you say
t went y- t wo t o t he t went y- second power i nst ead of t went y- seven t o t he t went y- sevent h,
you st i l l come up wi t h somet hi ng l i ke t hr ee hundr ed and f or t y bi l l i on bi l l i on
bi l l i on. On t he human scal e, i t doesn' t make much di f f er ence. I f I count ed one, t wo,
t hr ee, and so on, one number ever y second, i t woul d t ake me al most t hi r t y- t wo year s
t o get t o one l ousy l i t t l e bi l l i on. And i t ' s mor e compl i cat ed t han t hat , because
cabal a can' t be r educed t o t he Sef er Yesi r ah al one. Besi des whi ch, t her e' s a good
r eason why any r eal per mut at i on of t he Tor ah must i ncl ude al l t went y- seven l et t er s.
I t ' s t r ue t hat i f t he l ast f i ve l et t er s f al l i n t he mi ddl e of a wor d, t hey ar e
t r ansf or med i nt o t hei r nor mal var i ant . But not al ways. I n I sai ah 9: 2, f or i nst ance,
t her e' s t he wor d " LMRBH, " l emar bah- whi ch, not e t he coi nci dence, means t o
mul t i pl y- but t he memi n t he mi ddl e i s wr i t t en as a f i nal mem. "
" Why i s t hat ?"
" Ever y l et t er cor r esponds t o a number . The nor mal memi s f or t y, but t he f i nal memi s
si x hundr ed. Thi s has not hi ng t o do wi t h t emur ah, whi ch t eaches per mut at i on; i t
i nvol ves, r at her , gemat r i a, whi ch seeks subl i me af f i ni t i es bet ween wor ds and t hei r
numer i c val ues. Wi t h t he f i nal memt he wor d " LMRBH" t ot al s not t wo hundr ed and
sevent y- seven but ei ght hundr ed and t hi r t y- seven, and t hus i s equi val ent t o ThThZL,
or t hat h zal , whi ch means ' he who gi ves pr of usel y. ' So you can see why al l
t went y- seven l et t er s have t o be consi der ed: i t i sn' t j ust t he sound t hat mat t er s,
but t he number t oo. Whi ch br i ngs us t o my cal cul at i on. Ther e ar e mor e t han f our
hundr ed bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on possi bi l i t i es. Have you any i dea how l ong i t
woul d t ake t o t r y t hemal l out , usi ng a machi ne? And I ' mnot t al ki ng about your
mi ser abl e l i t t l e comput er . At t he r at e of one per mut at i on per second, you woul d need
seven bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on mi nut es, or one hundr ed and t went y- t hr ee
mi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on hour s, whi ch i s a l i t t l e mor e t han f i ve mi l l i on
bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on days, or f our t een t housand bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on year s,
whi ch comes t o a hundr ed and f or t y bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on cent ur i es, or f our t een
bi l l i on bi l l i on bi l l i on mi l l enni a. But suppose you had a machi ne capabl e of
gener at i ng a mi l l i on per mut at i ons per second. J ust t hi nk of t he t i me you' d save wi t h
your el ect r oni c wheel : you' d need onl y f our t een t housand bi l l i on bi l l i on mi l l enni a!
" The r eal and t r ue name of God, t he secr et name, i s as l ong as t he ent i r e Tor ah, and
t her e i s no machi ne i n t he wor l d capabl e of exhaust i ng al l i t s per mut at i ons, because
t he Tor ah i t sel f i s a per mut at i on wi t h r epet i t i ons, and t he ar t of t emur ah t el l s us
t o change not t he t went y- seven l et t er s of t he al phabet but each and ever y char act er
i n t he Tor ah, f or each char act er i s a l et t er unt o i t sel f , no mat t er how of t en i t
appear s on ot her pages. The t wo hes i n t he name YHVH t her ef or e count as t wo
di f f er ent l et t er s. And i f you want t o Cal cul at e al l t he per mut at i ons of al l t he
char act er s i n t he ent i r e Tor ah, t hen al l t he zer os i n t he wor l d wi l l not be enough
f or you. But go ahead, do what you can wi t h your pat het i c l i t t l e account ant ' s
machi ne. A machi ne does exi st , t o be sur e, but i t wasn' t manuf act ur ed i n your
Si l i con Val l ey: i t i s t he hol y cabal a, or Tr adi t i on, and f or cent ur i es t he r abbi s
have been doi ng what no comput er can do and, l et us hope, wi l l never be abl e t o do.
Because on t he day al l t he combi nat i ons ar e exhaust ed, t he r esul t shoul d r emai n
secr et , and i n any case t he uni ver se wi l l have compl et ed i t s cycl e- and we wi l l al l
be consumed i n t he dazzl i ng gl or y of t he gr eat Met acycl osynchr o- t r on. "
Page 16
" Amen, " J acopo Bel bo sai d.
Di ot al l evi was al r eady dr i vi ng hi mt owar d t hese excesses, and I shoul d have kept
t hat i n mi nd. How of t en had I seen Bel bo, af t er of f i ce hour s, r unni ng pr ogr ams t o
check Di ot al l evi ' s cal cul at i ons, t r yi ng t o show hi mt hat at l east Abu coul d gi ve
r esul t s i n a f ew seconds, not havi ng t o wor k by hand on yel l owi ng par chment or use
ant edi l uvi an number syst ems t hat di d not even i ncl ude zer o? But Abu gave hi s answer s
i n exponent i al not at i on, so Bel bo was unabl e t o daunt Di ot al l evi wi t h a scr een f ul l
of endl ess zer os: a pal e vi sual i mi t at i on of t he mul t i pl i cat i on of combi nat or i al
uni ver ses, of t he expl odi ng swar mof al l possi bl e wor l ds.
Af t er ever yt hi ng t hat had happened, i t seemed i mpossi bl e t o me, I t hought as I
st ar ed at t he Rosi cr uci an engr avi ng, t hat Bel bo woul d not have r et ur ned t o t hose
exer ci ses on t he name of God i n sel ect i ng a passwor d. And i f , as I guessed, he was
al so pr eoccupi ed wi t h number s l i ke t hi r t y- si x and one hundr ed and t went y, t hey woul d
ent er i nt o i t , t oo. He woul d not have si mpl y combi ned t he f our Hebr ew l et t er s,
knowi ng t hat f our St ones made onl y t went y- f our Houses.
But he mi ght have pl ayed wi t h t he I t al i an t r anscr i pt i on, whi ch cont ai ned t wo vowel s.
Wi t h si x l et t er s- l ahveh- he had seven hundr ed and t went y per mut at i ons at hi s
di sposal . The r epet i t i ons di dn' t count , because Di ot al l evi had sai d t hat t he t wo hes
must be t aken as t wo di f f er ent l et t er s. Bel bo coul d have chosen, say, t he
t hi r t y- si xt h or t he hundr ed and t went i et h.
I had ar r i ved at Bel bo' s at about el even; i t was now one. I woul d have t o wr i t e a
pr ogr amf or anagr ams of si x l et t er s, and t he best way t o do t hat was t o modi f y t he
pr ogr amI al r eady had wr i t t en f or f our .
I needed some f r esh ai r . I went out , bought mysel f some f ood, anot her bot t l e of
whi skey.
I came back, l ef t t he sandwi ches i n a cor ner , and st ar t ed on t he whi skey as I
i nser t ed t he Basi c di sk and went t o wor k. I made t he usual mi st akes, and t he
debuggi ng t ook me a good hal f hour , but by t wo- t hi r t y t he pr ogr amwas f unct i onal and
t he seven hundr ed and t went y names of God wer e r unni ng down t he scr een.
i ahueh
i ahuhe
i aht uh
i ahehu
i ahhve
i ahhev
i auheh
i auhhe
i auehh
i auehh
i auhhe
i auhi h
i aehuh
i aehhv
i aeuhh
i aeuhh
Page 17
i aehhu
i aehuh
i ahhu*
i ahhev
l ahuhe
i ahueh
i ahehv
i aheuh
i haueh
i hauhe
i haeuh
i haehu
i hahue
i hahcu
i hwaeh
i huahe
i hueah
i hueha
i huhae
i huhea
i heauh
i heahv
i heuah
i heuha
I hehau
i hehva
i hhaue
i hhaev
i hhuae
i hhuea
i hheau
i hheua
Page 18
i uaheh
i uahhe
i uaehh
i uaehh
i uahhe
i uaht h
i uhaeh
i uhahe
i uehah
i uehha
i uhahe
i uhaeh
i uhhae
i uhhea
i uheah
i uheha
i t ahuh
i eahhu
i eavhh
i eauhh
i eahhv
i eahuh
i ehauh
i ehahu
i ehuah
i ehuha
i ehhau
i ehhua
i t vahh
i euahh
i evhah
Page 19
i euhha
i i uhah
i euhha
i ehahu
i ehauh
i ehhau
i ehhva
i ehwah
i ehMha
l hahue
i haheu
i hauhe
i haueh
i haehv
i haeuh
i hhaue
i hhaeu
i hhuae
i hhuea
i hheau
i hheua
i huahe
i huaeh
i huhae
i huhea
i hueah
i hueha
i heahu
i heauh
i hehau
i hehua
i heuah
Page 20
i heuha
ai hueh
ai huhe
ai heuh
ai hi hu
ai hhue
ai hheu
ai uheh
ai uhhe
ai uehh
ai uehh
ai uhhe
ai uh" h
ai ehuh
ai ehhv
ai euhh
ai euhh
ai ehhu
ai ehuh
ai hhue
ai hheu
ai h- uhe
ai hueh
ai hehu
ai heuh
ahi ueh
ahi uhe
ahi euh
ahi ehu
ahi hue
ah i hew
Page 21
ahui eh
ahu i he
ahuei h
ahuehi
ahuh i e
ahvhei
ahe i uh
ahei hu
ahe u i h
aheuhi
aheh i u
ahehui
ahhi i / B
ahhi eu
ahhui e
ahhye i
ahhei v
ahheu i
aui heh
aui hhe
aui ehh
aui ehh
au i hhe
aui heh
auh i eh
auhi he
auhei h
auhehi
auhhi e
auhhei
auei hh
auei hh
Page 22
aueh i h
auehh i
auehi h
auehhi
auhi he
avhi eh
auhhi e
aMhhei
auhe i h
auhehi
aei huh
aei hhu
aei uhh
aei uhh
aei hhu
aei huh
aehi uh
aeh i hu
aehui h
aehuhi
aehhi u
avhhu i
aeu i hh
aeui hh
aeuh i h
aeuhhi
aeuhi h
a>uhhi
aehi hu
aehi uh
aehhi u
Page 23
aehhui
aehui h
aehuh i
ahi hue
ahi heu
ahi uhe
ahi ueh
ahi ehu
ah i ewh
ahhi ue
ahhi eu
ahhui e
ahhuei
ahhei u
ahheu i
ahu i he
ahy i eh
ahuhi e
ahuhe i
ahue i h
ahuehi
ahe i hu
ahei uh
aheh i u
ahehui
ahevi h
aheuhi
I t ook t he pages f r omt he pr i nt er wi t hout separ at i ng t hem, as i f I wer e consul t i ng
t he scr ol l of t he Tor ah. I t r i ed name number t hi r t y- si x. And dr ew a bl ank. A l ast
si p of whi skey, t hen wi t h hesi t ant f i nger s I t r i ed name number one hundr ed and
t went y. Not hi ng.
I want ed t o di e. Yet I f el t t hat by now I was J acopo Bel bo, t hat he had sur el y
t hought as I was t hi nki ng. So I must have made some mi st ake, a st upi d, t r i vi al
mi st ake. I was get t i ng cl oser . Had Bel bo, f or some r eason t hat escaped me, per haps
count ed f r omt he end of t he l i st ?
Page 24
Casaubon, you f ool , I sai d t o mysel f . Of cour se he st ar t ed f r omt he end. That i s, he
count ed f r omr i ght t o l ef t . Bel bo had f ed t he comput er t he name of God
t r ansl i t er at ed i nt o Lat i n l et t er s, i ncl udi ng t he vowel s, but t he wor d was Hebr ew, so
he had wr i t t en i t f r omr i ght t o l ef t . The i nput hadn' t been I AHVEH, but HEVHAI . The
or der of t he per mut at i ons had t o be i nver t ed.
I count ed f r omt he end and t r i ed bot h names agai n.
Not hi ng.
Thi s was al l wr ong. I was cl i ngi ng st ubbor nl y t o an el egant but f al se hypot hesi s. I t
happens t o t he best sci ent i st s.
No, not t he best sci ent i st s. To ever yone. Onl y a mont h ago we had r emar ked t hat i n
t hr ee r ecent novel s, at l east t hr ee, t her e was a pr ot agoni st t r yi ng t o f i nd t he name
of God i n a comput er .
Bel bo woul d have been mor e or i gi nal . Besi des whi ch, when you choose a passwor d, you
pi ck somet hi ng easy t o r emember , somet hi ng t hat comes t o mi nd aut omat i cal l y. I hvhea,
i ndeed! I n t hat case he woul d have had t o appl y t he not ar i kon t o t he t emur ah, t o
i nvent an acr ost i c t o r emember t he wor d. Somet hi ng l i ke I mel da Has Vi ndi cat ed
Hi r am' s Evi l Assassi nat i on.
But why shoul d Bel bo have t hought i n Di ot al l evFs cabal i st i c t er ms? Bel bo was
obsessed by t he Pl an, and i nt o t he Pl an we had put al l sor t s of ot her i ngr edi ent s:
Rosi cr uci ans, Synar chy, Homuncul i , t he Pendul um, t he Tower , t he Dr ui ds, t he
Ennoi a. . .
Ennoi a. I t hought of Lor enza Pel l egr i ni . I r eached out , pi cked up her censor ed
phot ogr aph, l ooked at i t , and an i noppor t une t hought sur f aced, t he memor y of t hat
eveni ng i n Pi edmont . . . I r ead t he i nscr i pt i on on t he pi ct ur e: " For I amt he f i r st and
t he l ast , t he honor ed and t he hat ed, t he sai nt and t he pr ost i t ut e. Sophi a. "
She must have wr i t t en t hat af t er Ri ccar do' s par t y. Sophi a. Si x l et t er s. And why
woul d t hey need t o be scr ambl ed? I was t he one wi t h t he devi ous mi nd. Bel bo l oves
Lor enza, l oves her pr eci sel y because she i s t he way she i s, and she i s Sophi a. And
at t hat ver y moment she mi ght be. . . No, no good. Bel bo was devi ous, t oo. I r ecal l ed
Di ot al l evi ' s wor ds: " I n t he second se- f i r ah t he dar k al eph changes i nt o t he l umi nous
al eph. Fr omt he Dar k Poi nt spr i ng t he l et t er s of t he Tor ah. The consonant s ar e t he
body, t he vowel s t he br eat h, and t oget her t hey accompany t he wor shi per as he chant s.
When t he chant moves, t he consonant s and vowel s move wi t h i t , and f r omt hemr i ses
Hokhmah- wi sdom, knowl edge, t he pr i mor di al t hought t hat cont ai ns, as i n a box,
ever yt hi ng, al l t hat wi l l unf ol d i n cr eat i on. Hokhmah hol ds t he essence of al l t hat
wi l l emanat e f r omi t . "
And what was Abul af i a, wi t h i t s secr et f i l es? The box t hat hel d ever yt hi ng Bel bo
knew, or t hought he knew. Hi s Sophi a. Wi t h her secr et name he woul d ent er Abul af i a,
t he t hi ng- t he onl y t hi ng- he made l ove t o. But , maki ng l ove t o Abul af i a, he t hi nks of
Lor enza. So he needs a wor d t hat wi l l gi ve hi mpossessi on of Abul af i a but al so ser ve
as a t al i sman t o gi ve hi mpossessi on of Lor enza, t o penet r at e Lor enza' s hear t as he
penet r at es Abul af i a' s. But Abul af i a shoul d be i mpenet r abl e t o ot her s, as Lor enza i s
i mpenet r abl e t o hi m. I t i s Bel bo' s hope t hat he can ent er , know, and conquer
Lor enza' s secr et i n t he same way t hat he possesses Abul af i a.
But I was maki ng t hi s up. My expl anat i on was j ust l i ke t he Pl an: subst i t ut i ng wi shes
f or r eal i t y.
Dr unk, I sat down at t he keyboar d agai n and t apped out SOPHI A. Agai n, not hi ng, and
agai n t he machi ne asked me pol i t el y: " Do you have t he passwor d?" You st upi d machi ne,
you f eel no emot i on at t he t hought of Lor enza.
6
J uda Leon se di o a per mut aci ones
De l et r as y a compl ej as var i aci ones
Y al f i n pr onunci o el Nombr e que es l a Cl ave,
La Puer t a, el Eco, el Hue' sped y el Pal aci o. . .
- J or ge Lui s Bor ges, El Gol em
And t hen, i n a f i t of hat e, as I wor ked agai n at Abul af i a' s obt use quest i on " Do you
have t he passwor d?" I t yped: NO.
The scr een began t o f i l l wi t h wor ds, l i nes, codes, a f l ood of communi cat i on.
I had br oken i nt o Abul af i a.
Page 25
Thr i l l ed by my t r i umph, I di dn' t ask mysel f why Bel bo had chosen t hat , of al l wor ds.
Now I know, and I know, t oo, t hat i n a moment of l uci di t y he under st ood what I have
come t o under st and onl y now. But l ast Thur sday, my onl y t hought was t hat I had won.
I danced, cl apped my hands, sang an ol d ar my song. Then I went t o t he bat hr oomand
washed my f ace. When I came back, I began pr i nt i ng out t he f i l es, l ast f i l es f i r st ,
what Bel bo had wr i t t en j ust bef or e hi s f l i ght t o Par i s. As t he pr i nt er chat t er ed
i mpl acabl y, I devour ed some f ood and dr ank some mor e whi skey.
When t he pr i nt er st opped and I r ead what Bel bo had wr i t t en, I was aghast , unabl e t o
deci de whet her t hi s was an ext r aor di nar y r evel at i on or t he wi l d r avi ng of a madman.
What di d I r eal l y know about J acopo Bel bo? What had I l ear ned about hi mi n t he t wo
year s I wor ked at hi s si de, al most ever y day? How much f ai t h coul d I put i n t he wor d
of a man who, by hi s own admi ssi on, was wr i t i ng under except i onal ci r cumst ances, i n
a f og of al cohol , t obacco, and t er r or , compl et el y cut of f f r omt he wor l d f or t hr ee
days?
I t was al r eady ni ght , Thur sday, J une 21. My eyes wer e wat er i ng. I had been st ar i ng
at t he scr een and t hen at t he pr i nt er ' s poi nt i l l i st ant hi l l si nce mor ni ng. What I
had r ead mi ght be t r ue or i t mi ght be f al se, but Bel bo sai d he woul d cal l i n t he
mor ni ng. I woul d have t o wai t her e. My head swam.
I st agger ed i nt o t he bedr oomand f el l , st i l l dr essed, ont o t he unmade bed.
* * *
At ar ound ei ght I awoke f r oma deep, st i cky sl eep, not r eal i zi ng at f i r st wher e I
was. Lucki l y I f ound a can of cof f ee and was abl e t o make mysel f a f ew cups. The
phone di dn' t r i ng. I di dn' t dar e go out t o buy anyt hi ng, because Bel bo mi ght cal l
whi l e I was gone.
I went back t o t he machi ne and began pr i nt i ng out t he ot her di sks i n chr onol ogi cal
or der . I f ound games, exer ci ses, and account s of event s I knew about , but t ol d f r om
Bel bo' s pr i vat e poi nt of vi ew, so t hat t hey wer e r eshaped and appear ed t o me now i n
a di f f er ent l i ght . I f ound di ar y f r agment s, conf essi ons, out l i nes f or wor ks of
f i ct i on made wi t h t he bi t t er obst i nacy of a man who knows t hat hi s ef f or t s ar e
doomed t o f ai l ur e. I f ound descr i pt i ons of peopl e I r emember ed, but now I saw t hem
wi t h di f f er ent f aces- si ni st er f aces, unl ess t hi s was because I was seei ng t hemas
par t of a hor r i bl e f i nal mosai c.
And I f ound a f i l e devot ed ent i r el y t o quot at i ons t aken f r omBel bo' s most r ecent
r eadi ng. I r ecogni zed t hemi mmedi at el y. Toget her we had por ed over so many t ext s
dur i ng t hose mont hs. . . The quot at i ons wer e number ed: one hundr ed and t went y i n al l .
The number was pr obabl y a del i ber at e choi ce; i f not , t he coi nci dence was di st ur bi ng.
But why t hose passages and not ot her s?
Today I r ei nt er pr et Bel bo' s f i l es, t he whol e st or y t hey t el l , i n t he l i ght of t hat
quot at i on f i l e. I t el l t he passages l i ke t he beads of a her et i cal r osar y. For Bel bo
some of t hemmay have been an al ar m, a hope of r escue. Or amI , t oo, no l onger abl e
t o di st i ngui sh common sense f r omunmoor ed meani ng? I t r y t o convi nce mysel f t hat my
r ei nt er pr et at i on i s cor r ect , but as r ecent l y as t hi s mor ni ng, someone t ol d meme,
not Bel bo- t hat I was mad.
On t he hor i zon, beyond t he Br i cco, t he moon i s sl owl y r i si ng. Thi s bi g house i s
f i l l ed wi t h st r ange r ust l i ng sounds, t er mi t es per haps, mi ce, or t he ghost of Adel i no
Canepa. . . I dar e not wal k al ong t he hal l . I st ay i n Uncl e Car l o' s st udy and l ook out
t he wi ndow. Fr omt i me t o t i me I st ep ont o t he t er r ace, t o see i f anyone i s comi ng up
t he hi l l . I f eel t hat I ' mi n a movi e. How pat het i c! " Her e come t he bad guys. . . "
Yet t he hi l l i s so cal mt oni ght , a summer ni ght now.
Advent ur ous, dubi ous, and dement ed wer e t he event s I r econst r uct ed t o pass t he t i me,
and t o keep up my spi r i t s, as I st ood wai t i ng i n t he per i scope t wo ni ght s ago,
bet ween f i ve and t en o' cl ock, movi ng my l egs as i f t o some Af r o- Br azi l i an beat t o
hel p t he bl ood ci r cul at e.
I t hought back over t he l ast f ew year s, abandoni ng mysel f t o t he magi c r ol l i ng of
t he at abaques, accept i ng t he r evel at i on t hat our f ant asi es, begun as a mechani cal
bal l et , wer e about t o be t r ansf or med, i n t hi s t empl e of t hi ngs mechani cal , i nt o
Page 26
r i t e, possessi on, appar i t i on, and t he domi ni on of Exu.
I n t he per i scope I had no pr oof t hat what I had l ear ned f r omt he pr i nt out was t r ue.
I coul d st i l l t ake r ef uge i n doubt . At mi dni ght , per haps, I woul d di scover t hat I
had come t o Par i s and hi dden mysel f l i ke a t hi ef i n a har ml ess museumof t echnol ogy
onl y because I had f ool i shl y f al l en i nt o a macumba st aged f or cr edul ous t our i st s,
l et t i ng mysel f be hypnot i zed by t he per f u- mador es and t he r hyt hmof t he pont os.
As I r ecomposed t he mosai c, my mood changed f r omdi senchant ment t o pi t y t o
suspi ci on- and I wi sh t hat now I coul d r i d mysel f of t hi s pr esent l uci di t y and
r ecover t hat same vaci l l at i on bet ween myst i c i l l usi on and t he pr esent i ment of a
t r ap; r ecover what I t hought t hen as I mul l ed over t he document s I had r ead so
f r ant i cal l y t he day bef or e and r er ead t hat mor ni ng at t he ai r por t and dur i ng t he
f l i ght t o Par i s.
How i r r esponsi bl y Bel bo, Di ot al l evi , and I had r ewr i t t en t he wor l d, or - as Di ot al l evi
woul d have put i t - had r edi scover ed what i n t he Book had been engr aved at whi t e heat
bet ween t he bl ack l i nes f or med by t he l et t er s, l i ke bl ack i nsect s, t hat supposedl y
made t he Tor ah cl ear !
And now, t wo days l at er , havi ng achi eved, I hope, ser eni t y and amor f at i , I can t el l
t he st or y I r econst r uct ed so anxi ousl y ( hopi ng i t was f al se) i nsi de t he per i scope,
t he st or y I had r ead t wo days ago i n Bel bo' s apar t ment , t he st or y I had l i ved f or
t wel ve year s bet ween Pi l ade' s whi skey and t he dust of Gar amond Pr ess.
BI NAH
7
Do not expect t oo much of t he end of t he wor l d.
- St ani sl aw J . Lee, Af or yzmy. Fr aszki , Kr akow, Wydawni ct wo Li t er acki e, 1977, " Mysl i
ni euczesane"
To ent er a uni ver si t y a year or t wo af t er 1968 was l i ke bei ng admi t t ed t o t he
Academi c de Sai nt - Cyr i n 1793: you f el t your bi r t h dat e was wr ong. J acopo Bel bo, who
was al most f i f t een year s ol der t han I , l at er convi nced me t hat ever y gener at i on
f eel s t hi s way. You ar e al ways bor n under t he wr ong si gn, and t o l i ve i n t hi s wor l d
pr oper l y you have t o r ewr i t e your own hor oscope day by day.
I bel i eve t hat what we become depends on what our f at her s t each us at odd moment s,
when t hey ar en' t t r yi ng t o t each us. We ar e f or med by l i t t l e scr aps of wi sdom. When
I was t en, I asked my par ent s t o subscr i be t o a weekl y magazi ne t hat was publ i shi ng
comi c- st r i p ver si ons of t he gr eat cl assi cs of l i t er at ur e. My f at her , not because he
was st i ngy, but because he was suspi ci ous of comi c st r i ps, t r i ed t o beg of f . " The
pur pose of t hi s magazi ne, " I pont i f i cat ed, quot i ng t he ad, " i s t o educat e t he r eader
i n an ent er t ai ni ng way. " " The pur pose of your magazi ne, " my f at her r epl i ed wi t hout
l ooki ng up f r omhi s paper , " i s t he pur pose of ever y magazi ne: t o sel l as many copi es
as i t can. "
That day, I began t o be i ncr edul ous.
Or , r at her , I r egr et t ed havi ng been cr edul ous. I r egr et t ed havi ng al l owed mysel f t o
be bor ne away by a passi on of t he mi nd. Such i s cr edul i t y.
Not t hat t he i ncr edul ous per son doesn' t bel i eve i n anyt hi ng. I t ' s j ust t hat he
doesn' t bel i eve i n ever yt hi ng. Or he bel i eves i n one t hi ng at a t i me. He bel i eves a
second t hi ng onl y i f i t somehow f ol l ows f r omt he f i r st t hi ng. He i s near si ght ed and
met hodi cal , avoi di ng wi de hor i zons. I f t wo t hi ngs don' t f i t , but you bel i eve bot h of
t hem, t hi nki ng t hat somewher e, hi dden, t her e must be a t hi r d t hi ng t hat connect s
t hem, t hat ' s cr edul i t y.
I ncr edul i t y doesn' t ki l l cur i osi t y; i t encour ages i t . Though di st r ust f ul of l ogi cal
chai ns of i deas, I l oved t he pol yphony of i deas. As l ong as you don' t bel i eve i n
t hem, t he col l i si on of t wo i deas- bot h f al se- can cr eat e a pl easi ng i nt er val , a ki nd
Page 27
of di abol us i n musi ca. I had no r espect f or some i deas peopl e wer e wi l l i ng t o st ake
t hei r l i ves on, but t wo or t hr ee i deas t hat I di d not r espect mi ght st i l l make a
ni ce mel ody. Or have a good beat , and i f i t was j azz, al l t he bet t er .
" You l i ve on t he sur f ace, " Li a t ol d me year s l at er . " You somet i mes seempr of ound,
but i t ' s onl y because you pi ece a l ot of sur f aces t oget her t o cr eat e t he i mpr essi on
of dept h, sol i di t y. That sol i di t y woul d col l apse i f you t r i ed t o st and i t up. "
" Ar e you sayi ng I ' msuper f i ci al ?"
" No, " she answer ed. " What ot her s cal l pr of undi t y i s onl y a t esser act , a
f our - di mensi onal cube. You wal k i n one si de and come out anot her , and you' r e i n
t hei r uni ver se, whi ch can' t coexi st wi t h your s. "
( Li a, now t hat They have wal ked i nt o t he cube and i nvaded our wor l d, I don' t know i f
I ' l l ever see you agai n. And i t was al l my f aul t : I made Thembel i eve t her e was a
dept h, a dept h t hat They, i n t hei r weakness, desi r ed. )
What di d I r eal l y t hi nk f i f t een year s ago? A nonbel i ever , I f el t gui l t y i n t he mi dst
of al l t hose bel i ever s. And si nce i t seemed t o me t hat t hey wer e i n t he r i ght , I
deci ded t o bel i eve, as you mi ght deci de t o t ake an aspi r i n: I t can' t hur t , and you
mi ght get bet t er .
So t her e I was, i n t he mi dst of t he Revol ut i on, or at l east i n t he most st upendous
i mi t at i on of i t , seeki ng an honor abl e f ai t h. I t was honor abl e, f or exampl e, t o t ake
par t i n r al l i es and mar ches. I chant ed " Fasci st scum, your t i me has come! " wi t h
ever ybody el se. I never t hr ew pavi ng st ones or bal l bear i ngs, out of f ear t hat
ot her s mi ght do unt o me as I di d unt o t hem, but I exper i enced a ki nd of mor al
exci t ement escapi ng al ong nar r ow downt own st r eet s when t he pol i ce char ged. I woul d
come home wi t h t he sense of havi ng per f or med a dut y. I n t he meet i ngs I r emai ned
unt ouched by t he di sagr eement s t hat di vi ded t he var i ous gr oups: I al ways had t he
f eel i ng t hat i f you subst i t ut ed t he r i ght phr ase f or anot her phr ase, you coul d move
f r omgr oup t o gr oup. I amused mysel f by f i ndi ng t he r i ght phr ases. I modul at ed.
At t he demonst r at i ons, I woul d f al l i n behi nd one banner or anot her , dr awn by a gi r l
who had ar oused my i nt er est , so I came t o t he concl usi on t hat f or many of my
compani ons pol i t i cal act i vi smwas a sexual t hi ng. But sex was a passi on. I want ed
onl y cur i osi t y. Tr ue, i n t he cour se of my r eadi ng about t he Templ ar s and t he var i ous
at r oci t i es at t r i but ed t o t hem, I had come acr oss Car pocr at es' s asser t i on t hat t o
escape t he t yr anny of t he angel s, t he mast er s of t he cosmos, ever y possi bl e i gnomi ny
shoul d be per pet r at ed, t hat you shoul d di schar ge al l debt s t o t he wor l d and t o your
own body, f or onl y by commi t t i ng ever y act can t he soul be f r eed of i t s passi ons and
r et ur n t o i t s or i gi nal pur i t y. When we wer e i nvent i ng t he Pl an, I f ound t hat many
addi ct s of t he occul t pur sued t hat pat h i n t hei r sear ch f or enl i ght enment . Accor di ng
t o hi s bi ogr apher s, Al ei st er Cr owl ey, who has been cal l ed t he most per ver t ed man of
al l t i me and who di d ever yt hi ng t hat coul d be done wi t h hi s wor shi per s, bot h men and
women, chose onl y t he ugl i est par t ner s of ei t her sex. I have t he naggi ng suspi ci on,
however , t hat hi s l ovemaki ng was i ncompl et e.
Ther e must be a connect i on bet ween t he l ust f or power and i mpot ent i a coeundi . I
l i ked Mar x, I was sur e t hat he and hi s J enny had made l ove mer r i l y. You can f eel i t
i n t he easy pace of hi s pr ose and i n hi s humor . On t he ot her hand, I r emember
r emar ki ng one day i n t he cor r i dor s of t he uni ver si t y t hat i f you scr ewed Kr upskaya
al l t he t i me, you' d end up wr i t i ng a l ousy book l i ke Mat er i al i smand
Empi r i ocr i t i ci sm. I was al most cl ubbed. A t al l guy wi t h a Tar t ar must ache sai d I was
a f asci st . I ' l l never f or get hi m. He l at er shaved hi s head and now bel ongs t o a
commune wher e t hey weave basket s.
I evoke t he mood of t hose days onl y t o r econst r uct my st at e of mi nd when I began t o
vi si t Gar amond Pr ess and made f r i ends wi t h J acopo Bel bo. I was t he t ype who l ooked
at di scussi ons of What I s Tr ut h onl y wi t h a vi ew t owar d cor r ect i ng t he manuscr i pt .
I f you wer e t o quot e " I amt hat I am, " f or exampl e, I t hought t hat t he f undament al
pr obl emwas wher e t o put t he comma, i nsi de t he quot at i on mar ks or out si de.
That ' s why I wi sel y chose phi l ol ogy. The Uni ver si t y of Mi l an was t he pl ace t o be i n
t hose year s. Ever ywher e el se i n t he count r y st udent s wer e t aki ng over cl assr ooms and
t el l i ng t he pr of essor s t hey shoul d t each onl y pr ol et ar i an sci ences, but at our
uni ver si t y, except f or a f ew i nci dent s, a const i t ut i onal pact - or , r at her , a
t er r i t or i al compr omi se- hel d. The Revol ut i on occupi ed t he gr ounds, t he audi t or i um,
and t he mai n hal l s, whi l e t r adi t i onal Cul t ur e, pr ot ect ed, wi t hdr ew t o t he i nner
cor r i dor s and upper f l oor s, wher e i t went on t al ki ng as i f not hi ng had happened.
The r esul t was t hat I coul d spend t he mor ni ng debat i ng pr ol et ar i an mat t er s
downst ai r s and t he af t er noon pur sui ng ar i st ocr at i c knowl edge upst ai r s. I n t hese t wo
Page 28
par al l el uni ver ses I l i ved comf or t abl y and f el t no cont r adi ct i on. I f i r ml y bel i eved
t hat an egal i t ar i an soci et y was dawni ng, but I al so t hought t hat t he t r ai ns, f or
exampl e, i n t hi s bet t er soci et y ought t o r un bet t er , and t he mi l i t ant s ar ound me
wer e not l ear ni ng how t o shovel coal i nt o t he f ur nace, wor k t he swi t ches, or dr aw up
t i met abl es. Somebody had t o be r eady t o oper at e t he t r ai ns.
I f el t l i ke a ki nd of St al i n l aughi ng t o hi msel f , somewhat r emor sef ul l y, and
t hi nki ng: " Go ahead, you poor Bol shevi ks. I ' mgoi ng t o st udy i n t hi s semi nar y i n
Ti f l i s, and we' l l see whi ch one of us get s t o dr af t t he Fi ve- Year Pl an. "
Per haps because I was al ways sur r ounded by ent husi asmi n t he mor ni ng, i n t he
af t er noon I came t o equat e l ear ni ng wi t h di st r ust . I want ed t o st udy somet hi ng t hat
conf i ned i t sel f t o what coul d be document ed, as opposed t o what was mer el y a mat t er
of opi ni on.
For no par t i cul ar r eason I si gned up f or a semi nar on medi eval hi st or y and chose,
f or my t hesi s subj ect , t he t r i al of t he Templ ar s. I t was a st or y t hat f asci nat ed me
f r omt he moment I f i r st gl anced at t he document s. At t hat t i me, when we wer e
st r uggl i ng agai nst t hose i n power , I was whol ehear t edl y out r aged by t he t r i al i n
whi ch t he Templ ar s, t hr ough evi dence i t woul d be gener ous t o cal l ci r cumst ant i al ,
wer e sent enced t o t he st ake. Then I qui ckl y l ear ned t hat , f or cent ur i es af t er t hei r
execut i on, count l ess l over s of t he occul t per si st ed i n l ooki ng f or t hem, seeki ng
ever ywher e, wi t hout ever pr oduci ng pr oof of t hei r exi st ence. Thi s vi si onar y excess
of f ended my i ncr edul i t y, and I r esol ved t o wast e no mor e t i me on t hese hunt er s of
secr et s. I woul d st i ck t o pr i mar y sour ces. The Templ ar s wer e monast i c kni ght s; t hei r
or der was r ecogni zed by t he Chur ch. I f t he Chur ch di ssol ved t hat or der , as i n f act
i t had seven cent ur i es ago, t hen t he Templ ar s coul d no l onger exi st . Ther ef or e, i f
t hey exi st ed, t hey wer en' t Templ ar s. I dr ew up a bi bl i ogr aphy of mor e t han a hundr ed
books, but i n t he end r ead onl y about t hi r t y of t hem.
I t was t hr ough t he Templ ar s t hat I f i r st got t o know J acopo Bel boat Pi l ade' s t owar d
t he end of ' 72, when I was at wor k on my t hesi s.
8
Havi ng come f r omt he l i ght and f r omt he gods, her e I ami n exi l e, separ at ed f r om
t hem.
- Fr agment of TUr f a' n M7
I n t hose days Pi l ade' s Bar was a f r ee por t , a gal act i c t aver n wher e al i en i nvader s
f r omOphi ul co coul d r ub el bows peaceabl y wi t h t he sol di er s of t he Empi r e pat r ol l i ng
t he Van Al i en bel t . I t was an ol d bar near one of t he navi gl i , t he Mi l an canal s,
^wi t h a zi nc count er and a bi l l i ar d t abl e. Local t r amdr i ver s and ar t i sans woul d
dr op i n f i r st t hi ng i n t he mor ni ng f or a gl ass of whi t e wi ne. I n ' 68 and i n t he
year s t hat f ol l owed, Pi l ade' s became a ki nd of Ri ck' s Caf e, wher e Movement act i vi st s
coul d pl ay car ds wi t h a r epor t er f r omt he bosses' newspaper who had come i n f or a
whi skey af t er put t i ng t he paper t o bed, whi l e t he f i r st t r ucks wer e al r eady out
di st r i but i ng t he Est abl i shment ' s l i es t o t he newsst ands. But at Pi l ade' s t he
r epor t er al so f el t l i ke an expl oi t ed pr ol et ar i an, a pr oducer of sur pl us val ue
chai ned t o an i deol ogi cal assembl y l i ne, and t he st udent s f or gave hi m.
Bet ween el even at ni ght and t wo i n t he mor ni ng you mi ght see a young publ i sher , an
ar chi t ect , a cr i me r epor t er t r yi ng t o wor k hi s way up t o t he ar t s page, some Br er a
Academy pai nt er s, a f ew semi successf ul wr i t er s, and st udent s l i ke me.
A mi ni mumof al cohol i c st i mul at i on was t he r ul e, and ol d Pi l ade, whi l e he st i l l
st ocked hi s bi g bot t l es of whi t e f or t he t r amdr i ver s and t he most ar i st ocr at i c
cust omer s, r epl aced r oot beer and cr eamsoda wi t h pet i l l ant wi nes wi t h t he r i ght
l abel s f or t he i nt el l ect ual s and J ohnni e Wal ker f or t he r evol ut i onar i es. I coul d
wr i t e t he pol i t i cal hi st or y of t hose year s based on how Red Label gr adual l y gave way
t o t wel ve- year - ol d Bal l ant i ne and t hen t o si ngl e mal t .
At t he ol d bi l l i ar d t abl e t he pai nt er s and mot or men st i l l chal l enged each ot her t o
games, but wi t h t he ar r i val of t he new cl i ent el e, Pi l ade al so put i n a pi nbal l
machi ne.
I was never abl e t o make t he l i t t l e bal l s l ast . At f i r st I at t r i but ed t hat t o
absent - mi ndedness or a l ack of manual dext er i t y. I l ear ned t he t r ut h year s l at er
af t er wat chi ng Lor enza Pel l egr i ni pl ay. At t he begi nni ng I hadn' t not i ced her , but
t hen she came i nt o f ocus one eveni ng when I f ol l owed t he di r ect i on of Bel bo' s gaze.
Page 29
Bel bo had a way of st andi ng at t he bar as i f he wer e j ust passi ng t hr ough ( he had
been a r egul ar t her e f or at l east t en year s) . He of t en t ook par t i n conver sat i ons,
at t he count er or at a t abl e, but al most al ways he di d no mor e t han dr op some shor t
r emar k t hat woul d i nst ant l y f r eeze al l ent husi asm, no mat t er what subj ect was bei ng
di scussed. He had anot her f r eezi ng t echni que: aski ng a quest i on. Someone woul d be
t al ki ng about an event , t he whol e gr oup woul d be compl et el y absor bed, t hen Bel bo,
t ur ni ng hi s pal e, sl i ght l y absent eyes on t he speaker , wi t h hi s gl ass at hi p l evel ,
as t hough he had l ong f or got t en he was dr i nki ng, woul d ask, " I s t hat a f act ?" Or ,
" Real l y?" At whi ch poi nt ever yone, i ncl udi ng t he nar r at or , woul d suddenl y begi n t o
doubt t he st or y. Maybe i t was t he way Bel bo' s Pi edmont dr awl made hi s st at ement s
i nt er r ogat i ve and hi s i nt er r ogat i ves t aunt i ng. And he had yet anot her Pi edmont
t r i ck: l ooki ng i nt o hi s i nt er l ocut or ' s eyes, but as i f he wer e avoi di ng t hem. Hi s
gaze di dn' t exact l y shi r k di al ogue, but he woul d suddenl y seemt o concent r at e on
some di st ant conver gence of par al l el l i nes no one had pai d at t ent i on t o. He made you
f eel t hat you had been st ar i ng al l t hi s t i me at t he one pl ace t hat was uni mpor t ant .
I t wasn' t j ust hi s gaze. Bel bo coul d di smi ss you wi t h t he smal l est gest ur e, a br i ef
i nt er j ect i on. Suppose you wer e t r yi ng har d t o show t hat i t was Kant who r eal l y
compl et ed t he Coper - ni can r evol ut i on i n moder n phi l osophy, suppose you wer e st aki ng
your whol e f ut ur e on t hat t hesi s. Bel bo, si t t i ng opposi t e you, wi t h hi s eyes
hal f - cl osed, woul d suddenl y l ook down at hi s hands or at hi s knee wi t h an Et r uscan
smi l e. Or he woul d si t back wi t h hi s mout h open, eyes on t he cei l i ng, and mumbl e,
" Yes, Kant . . . " Or he woul d commi t hi msel f mor e expl i ci t l y, i n an assaul t on t he
whol e syst emof t r anscendent al i deal i sm: " You r eal l y t hi nk Kant meant al l t hat
st uf f ?" Then he woul d l ook at you wi t h sol i ci t ude, as i f you, and not he, had
di st ur bed t he spel l , and he woul d t hen encour age you: " Go ahead, go ahead. I mean,
t her e must be somet hi ng t o i t . The man had a mi nd, af t er al l . "
But somet i mes Bel bo, when he became r eal l y angr y, l ost hi s composur e. Si nce l oss of
composur e was t he one t hi ng he coul d not t ol er at e i n ot her s, hi s own was whol l y
i nt er nal - and r egi onal . He woul d pur se hi s l i ps, r ai se hi s eyes, t hen l ook down, t i l t
hi s head t o t he l ef t , and say i n a sof t voi ce: " Ma gavt e l a nat a. " For anyone who
di dn' t know t hat Pi edmont ese expr essi on, he woul d occasi onal l y expl ai n: " Ma gavt e l a
nat a. Take out t he cor k. " You say i t t o one who i s f ul l of hi msel f , t he i dea bei ng
t hat what causes hi mt o swel l and st r ut i s t he pr essur e of a cor k st uck i n hi s
behi nd. Remove i t , and phsssssh, he r et ur ns t o t he human condi t i on.
Bel bo' s r emar ks had a way of maki ng you see t he vani t y of t hi ngs, and t hey del i ght ed
me. But I dr ew t he wr ong concl usi on f r omt hem, consi der i ng t heman expr essi on of
supr eme cont empt f or t he banal i t y of ot her peopl e' s t r ut h.
Now, havi ng br eached t he secr et of Abul af i a and, wi t h i t , Bel bo' s soul , I see t hat
what I t hought di senchant ment and a phi l osophy of l i f e was a f or mof mel anchol y. Hi s
i nt el l ect ual di sr espect conceal ed a desper at e t hi r st f or t he Absol ut e. Thi s was not
i mmedi at el y obvi ous, because Bel bo had many moods- i r r esponsi bi l i t y, hesi t at i on,
i ndi f f er ence- and t her e wer e al so moment s when he r el axed and enj oyed conver sat i on,
asser t i ng absol ut el y cont r adi ct or y i deas wi t h l i ght hear t ed di sbel i ef . Then he and
Di ot al l evi woul d cr eat e handbooks f or i mpossi bi l i t i es, or i nvent upsi de- down wor l ds
or bi bl i ogr aphi cal monst r osi t i es. When you saw hi mso ent husi ast i cal l y t al kat i ve,
const r uct i ng hi s Rabel ai si an Sor bonne, t her e was no way of knowi ng how much he
suf f er ed at hi s exi l e r r omt he f acul t y of t heol ogy, t he r eal one.
I had del i ber at el y t hr own t hat addr ess away; he had mi sl ai d i t and coul d never
r esi gn hi msel f t o t he l oss.
I n Abul af i a' s f i l es I f ound many pages of a pseudo di ar y t hat Bel bo had ent r ust ed t o
t he passwor d, conf i dent t hat he was not bet r ayi ng hi s of t en- r epeat ed vow t o r emai n a
mer e spect at or of t he wor l d. Some ent r i es car r i ed ol d dat es; obvi ousl y he had put
t hese on t he comput er out of nost al gi a, or because he pl anned t o r ecycl e t hem
event ual l y. Ot her s wer e mor e r ecent , af t er t he advent of Abu. Hi s wr i t i ng was a
mechani cal game, a sol i t ar y ponder i ng on hi s own er r or s, but i t was not - he
t hought - " cr eat i on, " f or cr eat i on had t o be i nspi r ed by l ove of someone who i s not
our sel ves.
But Bel bo, wi t hout r eal i zi ng i t , had cr ossed t hat Rubi con; he was cr eat i ng.
Unf or t unat el y. Hi s ent husi asmf or t he Pl an came f r omhi s ambi t i on t o wr i t e a book.
No mat t er i f t he book wer e made ent i r el y of er r or s, i nt ent i onal , deadl y er r or s. As
l ong as you r emai n i n your pr i vat e vacuum, you can pr et end you ar e i n har mony wi t h
Page 30
t he One. But t he moment you pi ck up t he cl ay, el ect r oni c or ot her wi se, you become a
demi ur ge, and he who embar ks on t he cr eat i on of wor l ds i s al r eady t ai nt ed wi t h
cor r upt i on and evi l .
FI LENAME: A bevy of f ai r women
I t ' s l i ke t hi s: t out es l es f emmes que j ' ai r encont r des se dr essent aux hor i zons- avec
l es gest es pi t eux et l es r egar ds t r i st es des semaphor es sous l a pl ui e. . .
Ai mhi gh, Bel bo. Fi r st l ove, t he Most Bl essed Vi r gi n. Mama si ngi ng as she hol ds me
on her l ap as i f r ocki ng me t hough I ' mpast t he age f or l ul l abi es, but I asked her
t o si ng because I l ove her voi ce and t he l avender scent of her bosom. " O Queen of
Heaven f ai r and pur e, hai l , O daught er , queen demur e, hai l , mot her of our Savi or ! "
Nat ur al l y, t he f i r st woman i n my l i f e was not mi ne. By def i ni t i on she was not
anyone' s. I f el l i mmedi at el y i n l ove wi t h t he onl y per son capabl e of doi ng
ever yt hi ng wi t hout me.
Then, Mar i l ena ( Mar yl ena? Mar y Lena?) . Descr i be t he l yr i c t wi l i ght , her gol den hai r ,
bi g bl ue bow, me st andi ng i n f r ont of t he bench wi t h my nose upwar d, she
t i ght r ope- wal ki ng on t he t op r ai l of t he back, swayi ng, ar ms out st r et ched f or
bal ance ( del i ci ous ext r asyst ol es! ) , ski r t f l appi ng ar ound her pi nk t hi ghs. Hi gh
above me, unat t ai nabl e.
Sket ch: t hat same eveni ng as Mama spr i nkl es t al cumpowder on my si st er ' s pi nk ski n.
I ask when her wee- wee wi l l f i nal l y gr ow out . Mani a' s answer i s t hat l i t t l e gi r l s
don' t gr ow wee- wees, t hey st ay l i ke t hat . Suddenl y I see Mar y Lena agai n, t he whi t e
of her under pant s vi si bl e beneat h t he f l ut t er i ng bl ue ski r t , and I r eal i ze t hat she
i s bl ond and haught y and i naccessi bl e because she i s di f f er ent . No possi bl e
r el at i onshi p; she bel ongs t o anot her r ace.
My t hi r d woman, swi f t l y l ost i n t he abyss, wher e she has pl unged. She has di ed i n
her sl eep, vi r gi nal Ophel i a ami d f l ower s on her bi er . The pr i est i s r eci t i ng t he
pr ayer f or t he dead, when suddenl y she si t s up on t he cat af al que, pal e, f r owni ng,
vi ndi ct i ve, poi nt i ng her f i nger , and her voi ce caver nous: " Don' t pr ay f or me,
Fat her . Bef or e I f el l asl eep l ast ni ght , I had an i mpur e t hought , t he onl y one i n my
l i f e, and now I amdamned. " Fi nd t he book of my f i r st communi on. Does i t have t hi s
i l l ust r at i on, or di d I make t he whol e t hi ng up? She must have di ed whi l e t hi nki ng of
me; I was t he i mpur e t hought , desi r i ng t he unt ouchabl e Mar y Lena, she of a di f f er ent
speci es and f at e. I amgui l t y of her damnat i on, I amgui l t y of t he damnat i on of al l
women who ar e damned. I t i s r i ght t hat I shoul d not have had t hese t hr ee women: my
puni shment f or want i ng t hem.
I l ose t he f i r st because she' s i n par adi se, t he second because she' s i n pur gat or y
envyi ng t he peni s t hat wi l l never be her s, and t he t hi r d because she' s i n hel l .
Theol ogi cal l y symmet r i cal . But t hi s has al r eady been wr i t t en.
On t he ot her hand, t her e' s t he st or y of Ceci l i a, and Ceci l i a i s her e on ear t h. I
used t o t hi nk about her bef or e f al l i ng asl eep: I woul d be cl i mbi ng t he hi l l on my
way t o t he f ar mf or mi l k, and when t he par t i sans st ar t ed shoot i ng at t he r oadbl ock
f r omt he hi l l opposi t e, I pi ct ur ed mysel f r ushi ng t o her r escue, savi ng her f r omt he
hor de of Fasci st br i gands who chased her , br andi shi ng t hei r weapons. Bl onder t han
Mar y Lena, mor e di st ur bi ng t han t he mai den i n t he sar cophagus, mor e pur e and demur e
t han t he Vi r gi n- Ceci l i a, al i ve and accessi bl e. I coul d have t al ked t o her so easi l y,
f or I was sur e she coul d l ove one of my speci es. And, i n f act , she di d. Hi s name was
Papi ; he had wi spy bl ond hai r and a t i ny skul l , was a year ol der t han I , and had a
saxophone. I di dn' t even have a t r umpet . I never saw t he t wo of t hemt oget her , but
al l t he ki ds at Sunday School l aughed, poked one anot her i n t he r i bs, and whi sper ed,
gi ggl i ng, t hat t he pai r made l ove. They wer e pr obabl y l yi ng, l i t t l e peasant s, hor ny
as goat s, but t hey wer e pr obabl y r i ght t hat she ( Mar yl ena Ceci l i a br i de and queen)
was accessi bl e, so accessi bl e t hat someone had al r eady gai ned access t o her . I n any
case- t he f our t h case- I was out i n t he col d.
Coul d a st or y l i ke t hi s be made i nt o a novel ? Per haps I shoul d wr i t e, i nst ead, about
t he women I avoi d because I can have t hem. Or coul d have had t hem. Same st or y.
I f you can' t even deci de what t he st or y i s, bet t er st i ck t o edi t i ng books on
phi l osophy.
9
I n hi s r i ght hand he hel d a gol den t r umpet .
Page 31
- J ohann Val ent i n Andr eae, Di e Chymi sche Hochzei t des Chr i st i an Rosencr eut z,
St r assbur g, Zet zner , 1616, I
I n t hi s f i l e, I f i nd t he ment i on of a t r umpet . The day bef or e yest er day, i n t he
per i scope, I wasn' t awar e of i t s i mpor t ance. The f i l e had onl y one r ef er ence t o i t ,
and t hat mar gi nal .
Dur i ng t he l ong af t er noon at t he Gar amond of f i ce, Bel bo, t or ment ed by a manuscr i pt ,
woul d occasi onal l y l ook up and t r y t o di st r act me, t oo, as I sat at t he desk acr oss
f r omhi s sor t i ng t hr ough ol d engr avi ngs of t he Wor l d Fai r . Then he woul d dr i f t i nt o
r emi ni scence, pr ompt t o r i ng down t he cur t ai n i f he suspect ed I was t aki ng hi mt oo
ser i ousl y. He woul d r ecal l scenes f r omhi s past , but onl y t o i l l ust r at e a poi nt , t o
cast i gat e some vani t y.
" I wonder wher e al l t hi s i s headi ng?" he r emar ked one day.
" Do you mean t he t wi l i ght of West er n ci vi l i zat i on?"
" Twi l i ght ? Let t he sun handl e t wi l i ght . No. I was t al ki ng about our wr i t er s. Thi s i s
my t hi r d manuscr i pt t hi s week: one on Byzant i ne l aw, one on t he Fi ni s Aust r i ae, and
one on t he poems of t he Ear l of Rochest er . Thr ee ver y di f f er ent subj ect s, woul dn' t
you say?"
" I woul d. "
" Yet i n al l t hese manuscr i pt s, at one poi nt or anot her , Desi r e appear s, and t he
Obj ect of Desi r e. I t must be a t r end. Wi t h t he Ear l of Rochest er I can under st and
i t , but Byzant i ne l aw?"
" J ust r ej ect t hem. "
" I can' t . Al l t hr ee books have been f unded by t he Nat i onal Resear ch Counci l .
Act ual l y, t hey' r e not t hat bad. Maybe I ' l l j ust cal l t he t hr ee aut hor s and ask t hem
t o del et e t hose par t s. The Desi r e st uf f doesn' t make t heml ook good ei t her . "
" What can t he Obj ect of Desi r e possi bl y be i n Byzant i ne l aw?"
" Oh, you can sl i p i t i n. I f t her e ever was an Obj ect of Desi r e i n Byzant i ne l aw, of
cour se, i t wasn' t what t hi s guy says i t was. I t never i s. "
" Never i s what ?"
" What you t hi nk i t i s. Once- I was f i ve or si x- I dr eamed I had a t r umpet . A gol d
t r umpet . I t was one of t hose dr eams wher e you can f eel honey f l owi ng i n your vei ns;
you know what I mean? A ki nd of pr epubescent wet dr eam. I don' t t hi nk I Ve ever been
as happy as I was i n t hat dr eam. When I woke up, I r eal i zed t her e was no t r umpet ,
and I st ar t ed cr yi ng. I cr i ed al l day. Thi s was bef or e t he war - i t must have been
' 38- <- a t i me of pover t y. I f I had a son t oday and saw hi mi n such despai r , I ' d say,
' Al l r i ght , I ' l l buy you a t r umpet . ' I t was onl y a t oy, af t er al l , i t woul dn' t have
cost a f or t une. But my par ent s never even consi der ed such a t hi ng. Spendi ng money
was a ser i ous busi ness i n t hose days. And t hey wer e ser i ous, t oo, about t eachi ng a
chi l d he coul dn' t have ever yt hi ng he want ed. ' I can' t st and cabbage soup, ' I ' d t el l
t hem- and i t was t r ue, f or God' s sake; cabbage made me si ck. But t hey never sai d:
' Ski p t he soup t oday, t hen, and j ust eat your meat . ' We may have been poor , but we
st i l l had a f i r st cour se, a mai n cour se, and f r ui t . No. I t was al ways: ' Eat what ' s
on t he t abl e. ' Somet i mes, as a compr omi se, my gr andmot her woul d pi ck t he cabbage out
of my bowl , st r i ngy pi ece by st r i ngy pi ece. Then I ' d have t o eat t he expur gat ed
soup, whi ch was mor e di sgust i ng t han bef or e. And even t hi s was a concessi on my
f at her di sappr oved of . "
" But what about t he t r umpet ?"
He l ooked at me, hesi t ant . " Why ar e you so i nt er est ed i n t he t r umpet ?"
" I ' mnot . You wer e t he one who br ought i t up, t o show how t he Obj ect of Desi r e i s
never what ot her s t hi nk. "
" The t r umpet . . . My uncl e and aunt f r om*** ar r i ved t hat eveni ng. They had no
chi l dr en, and I was t hei r f avor i t e nephew. Wel l , when t hey saw me bawl i ng over my
dr eamt r umpet , t hey sai d t hey woul d f i x ever yt hi ng: t omor r ow we woul d go t o t he
depar t ment st or e wher e t her e was a whol e count er of t oys- wonder of wonder s- and I ' d
have t he t r umpet I want ed. I di dn' t sl eep al l ni ght , and I coul dn' t si t st i l l al l
t he next mor ni ng. I n t he af t er noon we went t o t he st or e, and t hey had at l east t hr ee
ki nds of t r umpet s t her e. Li t t l e t i n t hi ngs, pr obabl y, but t o me t hey wer e
magni f i cent br ass wor t hy of di e Phi l har moni c. Ther e was an ar my bugl e, a sl i de
t r ombone, and a t r umpet of gol d wi t h a r eal t r umpet mout hpi ece but t he keys of a
saxophone. I coul dn' t deci de, and maybe I t ook t oo l ong. Want i ng t hemal l , I must
have gi ven t he i mpr essi on t hat I di dn' t want any of t hem. Meanwhi l e, I bel i eve my
uncl e and aunt l ooked at t he pr i ce t ags. My uncl e and aunt wer en' t st i ngy; on t he
Page 32
ot her hand, a Bakel i t e cl ar i net wi t h si l ver keys was much cheaper . ' Woul dn' t you
l i ke t hi s bet t er ?' t hey asked. I t r i ed i t , pr oduced a r easonabl e honk, and t ol d
mysel f t hat i t was beaut i f ul , but act ual l y I was r at i onal i zi ng. I knew t hey want ed
me t o t ake t he cl ar i net because t he t r umpet cost a f or t une. I coul dn' t demand such a
sacr i f i ce f r ommy r el at i ves, havi ng been t aught t hat i f a per son of f er s you
somet hi ng you l i ke, you must say, ' No, t hank you, ' and not j ust once, not ' No, t hank
you, ' wi t h your hand out , but ' No, t hank you' unt i l t he gi ver i nsi st s, unt i l he
says, ' Pl ease, t ake i t . ' A wel l - br ed chi l d doesn' t accept unt i l t hat poi nt . So I
sai d maybe I di dn' t car e about t he t r umpet , maybe t he cl ar i net was al l r i ght , i f
t hat ' s what t hey want ed. And I l ooked up at t hem, hopi ng t hey woul d i nsi st . They
di dn' t , God bl ess t hem, t hey wer e del i ght ed t o buy me t he cl ar i net , si nce- t hey
sai d- t hat was what I want ed. I t was t oo l at e t o backt r ack. I got t he cl ar i net . "
Bel bo l ooked at me out of t he cor ner of hi s eyes. " You want t o know i f I dr eamed
about t he t r umpet agai n?' '
" I want t o know, " I sai d, " what t he Obj ect of Desi r e was. "
" Ah, " he sai d, t ur ni ng back t o hi s manuscr i pt . " You see? You' r e obsessed by t he
Obj ect of Desi r e, t oo. But i t ' s not al l t hat si mpl e. . . Suppose I had t aken t he
t r umpet . Woul d I have been t r ul y happy t hen? What do you t hi nk, Casaubon?"
" I t hi nk you woul d have dr eamed about t he cl ar i net . "
" I got t he cl ar i net , " he concl uded shar pl y, " but I never pl ayed i t . "
" Never pl ayed i t ? Or never dr eamed i t ?"
" Pl ayed i t , " he sai d, under l i ni ng hi s wor ds, and f or some r eason I f el t l i ke a f ool .
10
And f i nal l y not hi ng i s cabal i st i cal l y i nf er r ed f r omvi numsave VI S NUMer or um, upon
whi ch number s t hi s Magi a depends.
- Cesar e del l a Ri vi er a, I l Mondo Magi co degl i Er oi , Mant ua, Osanna, 1603, pp. 65- 66
But I was t al ki ng about my f i r st encount er wi t h Bel bo. We knew each ot her by si ght ,
had exchanged a f ew wor ds at Pi l ade' s, but I di dn' t know much about hi m, onl y t hat
he wor ked at Gar amond Pr ess, a smal l but ser i ous publ i sher . I had come acr oss a f ew
Gar amond books at t he uni ver si t y.
" And what do you do?" he asked me one eveni ng, as we wer e bot h l eani ng agai nst t he
f ar end of t he zi nc bar , pr essed cl ose t oget her by a f est i ve cr owd. He used t he
f or mal pr onoun. I n t hose days we al l cal l ed one anot her by t he f ami l i ar t u, even
st udent s and pr of essor s, even t he cl i ent el e at Pi l ade' s. " Tu- buy me a dr i nk, " a
st udent wear i ng a par ka woul d say t o t he managi ng edi t or of an i mpor t ant newspaper .
I t was l i ke Moscow i n t he days of young Shkl ovski . We wer e al l Mayakovski s, not one
Zhi vago among us. Bel bo coul d not avoi d t he r equi r ed t u, but he used i t wi t h poi nt ed
scor n, suggest i ng t hat al t hough he was r espondi ng t o vul gar i t y wi t h vul gar i t y, t her e
was st i l l an abyss bet ween act i ng i nt i mat e and bei ng i nt i mat e. I hear d hi msay t u
wi t h r eal af f ect i on onl y a f ew t i mes, onl y t o a f ew peopl e: Di o- t al l evi , one or t wo
women. He used t he f or mal pr onoun wi t h peopl e he r espect ed but hadn' t known l ong. He
addr essed me f or mal l y t he whol e t i me we wor ked t oget her , and I val ued t hat .
" And what do you do?" he asked, wi t h what I now know was f r i endl i ness.
" I n r eal l i f e or i n t hi s t heat er ?" I sai d, noddi ng at our sur r oundi ngs.
" I n r eal l i f e. "
" I st udy. "
" You mean you go t o t he uni ver si t y, or you st udy?"
" You may not bel i eve t hi s, but t he t wo need not be mut ual l y excl usi ve. I ' mf i ni shi ng
a t hesi s on t he Templ ar s. "
" What an awf ul subj ect , " he sai d. " I t hought t hat was f or l unat i cs. "
" No. I ' mst udyi ng t he r eal st uf f . The document s of t he t r i al . What do you know about
t he Templ ar s, anyway?"
" I wor k f or a publ i shi ng company. We deal wi t h bot h l unat i cs and nonl unat i cs. Af t er
a whi l e an edi t or can pi ck out t he l unat i cs r i ght away. I f somebody br i ngs up t he
Templ ar s, he' s al most al ways a l unat i c. "
" Don' t I know! Thei r name i s l egi on. But not al l l unat i cs t al k about t he Templ ar s.
How do you i dent i f y t he ot her s?"
" I ' l l expl ai n. By t he way, what ' s your name?"
" Casaubon. "
" Casaubon. Wasn' t he a char act er i n Mi ddl emar ch?"
Page 33
" I don' t know. Ther e was al so a Renai ssance phi l ol ogi st by t hat name, but we' r e not
r el at ed. "
" The next r ound' s on me. Two mor e, Pi l ade. Al l r i ght , t hen. Ther e ar e f our ki nds of
peopl e i n t hi s wor l d: cr et i ns, f ool s, mor ons, and l unat i cs. "
" And t hat cover s ever ybody?"
" Oh, yes, i ncl udi ng us. Or at l east me. I f you t ake a good l ook, ever ybody f i t s i nt o
one of t hese cat egor i es. Each of us i s somet i mes a cr et i n, a f ool , a mor on, or a
l unat i c. A nor mal per son i s j ust a r easonabl e mi x of t hese component s, t hese f our
i deal t ypes. "
" I deal t ypen. "
" Ver y good. You know Ger man?"
" Enough f or bi bl i ogr aphi es. "
" When I was i n school , i f you knew Ger man, you never gr aduat ed. You j ust spent your
l i f e knowi ng Ger man. Nowadays I t hi nk t hat happens wi t h Chi nese. "
" My Ger man' s poor , so I ' l l gr aduat e. But l et ' s get back t o your t ypol ogy. What about
geni uses? Ei nst ei n, f or exampl e?"
" A geni us uses one component i n a dazzl i ng way, f uel i ng i t wi t h t he ot her s. " He t ook
a si p of hi s dr i nk. " Hi t her e, beaut i f ul , " he sai d. " Made t hat sui ci de at t empt yet ?"
" No, " t he gi r l answer ed as she wal ked by. " I ' mi n a col l ect i ve now. "
" Good f or you, " Bel bo sai d. He t ur ned back t o me. " Of cour se, t her e' s no r eason one
can' t have col l ect i ve sui ci des, t oo. "
" Get t i ng back t o t he l unat i cs. "
" Look, don' t t ake me t oo l i t er al l y. I ' mnot t r yi ng t o put t he uni ver se i n or der . I
' mj ust sayi ng what a l unat i c i s f r omt he poi nt of vi ew of a publ i shi ng house. Mi ne
i s an ad- hoc def i ni t i on. "
" Al l r i ght . My r ound. "
" Al l r i ght . Less i ce, Pi l ade. Ot her wi se i t get s i nt o t he bl oodst r eamt oo f ast . Now
t hen: cr et i ns. Cr et i ns don' t even t al k; t hey sor t of sl obber and st umbl e. You know,
t he guy who pr esses t he i ce cr eamcone agai nst hi s f or ehead, or ent er s a r evol vi ng
door t he wr ong way. "
" That ' s not possi bl e. "
" I t i s f or a cr et i n. Cr et i ns ar e of no i nt er est t o us: t hey never come t o
publ i sher s' of f i ces. So l et ' s f or get about t hem. "
" Let ' s. "
" Bei ng a f ool i s mor e compl i cat ed. I t ' s a f or mof soci al behavi or . A f ool i s one who
al ways t al ks out si de hi s gl ass. "
" What do you mean?"
" Li ke t hi s. " He poi nt ed at t he count er near hi s gl ass. " He want s t o t al k about
what ' s i n t he gl ass, but somehow or ot her he mi sses. He' s t he guy who put s hi s f oot
i n hi s mout h. For exampl e, he says how' s your l ovel y wi f e t o someone whose wi f e has
j ust l ef t hi m. "
" Yes, I know a f ew of t hose. "
" Fool s ar e i n gr eat demand, especi al l y on soci al occasi ons. They embar r ass ever yone
but pr ovi de mat er i al f or conver sat i on. I n t hei r posi t i ve f or m, t hey become
di pl omat s. Tal ki ng out si de t he gl ass when someone el se bl under s hel ps t o change t he
subj ect . But f ool s don' t i nt er est us, ei t her . They' r e never cr eat i ve, t hei r t al ent
i s al l secondhand, so t hey don' t submi t manuscr i pt s t o publ i sher s. Fool s don' t
cl ai mt hat cat s bar k, but t hey t al k about cat s when ever yone el se i s t al ki ng about
dogs. They of f end al l t he r ul es of conver sat i on, and when t hey r eal l y of f end,
t hey' r e magni f i cent . I t ' s a dyi ng br eed, t he embodi ment of al l t he bour geoi s
vi r t ues. What t hey r eal l y need i s a Ver dur i n sal on or even a chez Guer mant es. Do you
st udent s st i l l r ead such t hi ngs?"
" I do. "
" Wel l , a f ool i s a J oachi mMur at r evi ewi ng hi s of f i cer s. He sees one f r omMar t i ni que
cover ed wi t h medal s. ' Vous et es negr e?' Mur at asks. ' Oui , mon gener al ! ' t he man
answer s. And Mur at says: ' Br avo, br avo, cont i nuez! ' And so on. You f ol l ow me?
For gi ve me, but t oni ght I ' mcel ebr at i ng a hi st or i c deci si on i n my l i f e. I ' ve st opped
dr i nki ng. Anot her r ound? Don' t answer , you' l l make me f eel gui l t y. Pi l ade! "
" What about t he mor ons?"
" Ah. Mor ons never do t he wr ong t hi ng. They get t hei r r easoni ng wr ong. Li ke t he
f el l ow who says al l dogs ar e pet s and al l dogs bar k, and cat s ar e pet s, t oo, and
t her ef or e cat s bar k. Or t hat al l At heni ans ar e mor t al , and al l t he ci t i zens of
Pi r aeus ar e mor t al , so al l t he ci t i zens of Pi r aeus ar e At heni ans. "
Page 34
" Whi ch t hey ar e. "
" Yes, but onl y acci dent al l y. Mor ons wi l l occasi onal l y say somet hi ng t hat ' s r i ght ,
but t hey say i t f or t he wr ong r eason. "
" You mean i t ' s okay t o say somet hi ng t hat ' s wr ong as l ong as t he r eason i s r i ght . "
" Of cour se. Why el se go t o t he t r oubl e of bei ng a r at i onal ani mal ?"
" Al l gr eat apes evol ved f r oml ower l i f e f or ms, man evol ved f r oml ower l i f e f or ms,
t her ef or e man i s a gr eat ape. "
" Not bad. I n such st at ement s you suspect t hat somet hi ng' s wr ong, but i t t akes wor k
t o show what and why. Mor ons ar e t r i cky. You can spot t he f ool r i ght away ( not t o
ment i on t he cr et i n) , but t he mor on r easons al most t he way you do; t he gap i s
i nf i ni t esi mal . A mor on i s a mast er of par al ogi sm. For an edi t or , i t ' s bad news. I t
can t ake hi man et er ni t y t o i dent i f y a mor on. Pl ent y of mor ons' books ar e publ i shed,
because t hey' r e convi nci ng at f i r st gl ance. An edi t or i s not r equi r ed t o weed out
t he mor ons. I f t he Academy of Sci ences doesn' t do i t , why shoul d he?"
" Phi l osopher s don' t ei t her . Sai nt Ansel m' s ont ol ogi cal ar gument i s mor oni c, f or
exampl e. God must exi st because I ^can concei ve Hi mas a bei ng per f ect i n al l ways,
i ncl udi ng exi st ence. The sai nt conf uses exi st ence i n t hought wi t h exi st ence i n
r eal i t y. "
" Tr ue, but Gauni l on' s r ef ut at i on i s mor oni c, t oo. I can t hi nk of an i sl and i n t he
sea even i f t he i sl and doesn' t exi st . He conf uses t hi nki ng of t he possi bl e wi t h
t hi nki ng of t he necessar y. "
" A duel bet ween mor ons. "
" Exact l y. And God l oves ever y mi nut e of i t . He chose t o be unt hi nkabl e onl y t o pr ove
t hat Ansel mand Gauni l on wer e mor ons. What a subl i me pur pose f or cr eat i on, or ,
r at her , f or t hat act by whi ch God wi l l ed Hi msel f t o be: t o unmask cosmi c mo- r oni sm. "
" We' r e sur r ounded by mor ons. "
" Ever yone' s a mor on- save me and t hee. Or , r at her - I woul dn' t want t o of f end- save
t hee. "
" Somehow I f eel t hat Godel ' s t heor emhas somet hi ng t o do wi t h al l t hi s. "
" I woul dn' t know, I ' ma cr et i n. Pi l ade! "
" My r ound. "
" We' l l spl i t i t . Epi meni des t he Cr et an says al l Cr et ans ar e l i ar s. I t must be t r ue,
because he' s a Cr et an hi msel f and knows hi s count r ymen wel l . "
" That ' s mor oni c t hi nki ng. "
" Sai nt Paul . Epi st l e t o Ti t us. On t he ot her hand, t hose who cal l Epi meni des a l i ar
have t o t hi nk al l Cr et ans ar en' t , but Cr et ans don' t t r ust Cr et ans, t her ef or e no
Cr et an cal l s Epi meni des a l i ar . "
" I sn' t t hat mor oni c t hi nki ng?"
" You deci de. I t ol d you, t hey ar e har d t o i dent i f y. Mor ons can even wi n t he Nobel
pr i ze. "
" Hol d on. Of t hose who don' t bel i eve God cr eat ed t he wor l d i n seven days, some ar e
not f undament al i st s, but of t hose who do bel i eve God cr eat ed t he wor l d i n seven
days, some ar e. Ther ef or e, of t hose who don' t bel i eve God cr eat ed t he wor l d i n seven
days, some ar e f undament al i st s. How' s t hat ?"
" My God- t o use t he mot j ust e- I woul dn' t know. A mor on- i smor not ?"
" I t i s, def i ni t el y, even i f i t wer e t r ue. Vi ol at es one of t he l aws of syl l ogi sms:
uni ver sal concl usi ons cannot be dr awn f r omt wo par t i cul ar s. "
" And what i f you wer e a mor on?"
" I ' d be i n excel l ent , vener abl e company. "
" You' r e r i ght . And per haps, i n a l ogi cal syst emdi f f er ent f r omour s, our mor oni smi s
wi sdom. The whol e hi st or y of l ogi c consi st s of at t empt s t o def i ne an accept abl e
not i on of mor oni sm. A t ask t oo i mmense. Ever y gr eat t hi nker i s someone el se' s
mor on. "
" Thought as t he coher ent expr essi on of mor oni sm. "
" But what i s mor oni smt o one i s i ncoher ence t o anot her . "
" Pr of ound. I t ' s t wo o' cl ock, Pi l ade' s about t o cl ose, and we st i l l haven' t got t o
t he l unat i cs. "
" I ' mget t i ng t her e. A l unat i c i s easi l y r ecogni zed. He i s a mor on who doesn' t know
t he r opes. The mor on pr oves hi s t hesi s; he has a l ogi c, however t wi st ed i t may be.
The l unat i c, on t he ot her hand, doesn' t concer n hi msel f at al l wi t h l ogi c; he wor ks
by shor t ci r cui t s. For hi m, ever yt hi ng pr oves ever yt hi ng el se. The l unat i c i s al l
i d6e f i xe, and what ever he comes acr oss conf i r ms hi s l unacy. You can t el l hi mby t he
l i ber t i es he t akes wi t h common sense, by hi s f l ashes of i nspi r at i on, and by t he f act
Page 35
t hat sooner or l at er he br i ngs up t he Templ ar s. "
" I nvar i abl y?"
" Ther e ar e l unat i cs who don' t br i ng up t he Templ ar s, but t hose who do ar e t he most
i nsi di ous. At f i r st t hey seemnor mal , t hen al l of a sudden. . . " He was about t o or der
anot her whi skey, but changed hi s mi nd and asked f or t he check. " Speaki ng of t he
Templ ar s, t he ot her day some char act er l ef t me a manuscr i pt on t he subj ect . A
l unat i c, but wi t h a human f ace. The book st ar t s r easonabl y enough. Woul d you l i ke t o
see i t ?"
" I ' d be gl ad t o. Maybe t her e' s somet hi ng I can use. "
" I doubt t hat ver y much. But dr op i n i f you have a spar e hal f hour . Number 1, Vi a
Si ncer e Renat o. The vi si t wi l l be of mor e benef i t t o me t han t o you. You can t el l me
whet her t he book has any mer i t . "
" What makes you t r ust me?"
" Who says I t r ust you? But i f you come, I ' l l t r ust you. I t r ust cur i osi t y. "
A st udent r ushed i n, f ace t wi st ed i n anger . " Comr ades! Ther e ar e f asci st s al ong t he
canal wi t h chai ns! "
" Let ' s get t hem, " sai d t he f el l ow wi t h t he Tar t ar must ache who had t hr eat ened me
over Kr upskaya. " Come on, comr ades! " And t hey al l l ef t .
" What do you want t o do?" I asked, f eel i ng gui l t y. " Shoul d we go al ong?"
" No, " Bel bo sai d. " Pi l ade set s t hese t hi ngs up t o cl ear t he pl ace out . For my f i r st
ni ght on t he wagon, I f eel pr et t y hi gh. Must be t he col d- t ur key ef f ect . Ever yt hi ng
I ' ve sai d t o you so f ar i s f al se. Good ni ght , Casaubon. "
11
Hi s st er i l i t y was i nf i ni t e. I t was par t of t he ecst asy.
- E. M. Ci or an, Le mauvai s demi ur ge, Par i s, Gal l i mar d, 1969, " Pensees f t r angl ees"
The conver sat i on at Pi l ade' s had shown me t he publ i c Bel bo. But a keen obser ver
woul d have been abl e t o sense t he mel anchol y behi nd t he sar casm. Not t hat Bel bo' s
sar casmwas t he mask. The mask, per haps, was t he pr i vat e conf essi ng he di d. Or
per haps hi s mel anchol y i t sel f was t he mask, a cont r i vance t o hi de a deeper
mel anchol y.
Ther e i s a document i n whi ch he t r i ed t o f i ct i onal i ze what he t ol d me about hi s j ob
when I went t o Gar amond t he next day. I t cont ai ns al l hi s pr eci si on and passi on, t he
di sappoi nt ment of an edi t or who coul d wr i t e onl y t hr ough ot her s whi l e year ni ng f or
cr eat i vi t y of hi s own. I t al so has t he mor al sever i t y t hat l ed hi mt o puni sh hi msel f
f or desi r i ng somet hi ng t o whi ch he di d not f eel ent i t l ed. Though he pai nt ed hi s
desi r e i n pat het i c and gar i sh hues, I never knew a man who coul d pi t y hi msel f wi t h
such cont empt .
FI LENAME: Seven Seas J i m
Tomor r ow, see young Ci nt i .
1. Good monogr aph, schol ar l y, per haps a bi t t oo schol ar l y.
2. I n t he concl usi on, t he compar i son bet ween Cat ul l us, t he poet ae novi , and t oday' s
avant - gar de i s t he best par t .
3. Why not make t hi s t he i nt r oduct i on?
4. Convi nce hi m. He' l l say t hat such f l i ght s of f ancy don' t bel ong i n a phi l ol ogi cal
ser i es. He' s af r ai d of al i enat i ng hi s pr of essor , who i s supposed t o wr i t e t he
aut hor i t at i ve pr ef ace. A br i l l i ant i dea i n t he l ast t wo pages mi ght go unnot i ced,
but at t he begi nni ng i t woul d be t oo conspi cuous, i t woul d i r r i t at e t he academi c
power s t hat be.
5. I f , however , i t i s put i nt o i t al i cs, i n a conver sat i onal f or m, separ at e f r omt he
act ual schol ar shi p, t hen t he hypot hesi s r emai ns onl y a hypot hesi s and doesn' t
under mi ne t he ser i ousness of t he wor k. And r eader s wi l l be capt i vat ed at once;
t hey' l l appr oach t he book i n a t ot al l y di f f er ent way.
AmI ur gi ng hi mt o an act of f r eedom- or amI usi ng hi mt o wr i t e my own book?
Tr ansf or mi ng books wi t h a wor d her e, a wor d t her e. Demi ur ge f or t he wor k of ot her s.
Tappi ng at t he har dened cl ay, at t he st at ue someone el se has al r eady car ved. I nst ead
of t aki ng sof t cl ay and mol di ng my own. Gi ve Moses t he r i ght t ap wi t h t he hammer ,
and he' l l t al k.
See Wi l l i amS.
Page 36
" I ' ve l ooked at your wor k. Not bad. I t has t ensi on, i magi nat i on. I s t hi s t he f i r st
pi ece you' ve wr i t t en?"
" No. I wr ot e anot her t r agedy. I t ' s t he st or y of t wo l over s i n Ver ona who- "
" Let ' s t al k about t hi s pi ece f i r st , Mr . S. I was wonder i ng why you set i t i n Fr ance.
May I suggest - Denmar k? I t woul dn' t r equi r e much wor k. I f you j ust change t wo or
t hr ee names, and t ur n t he chat eau of Chal ons- sur - Mar ne i nt o, say, t he cast l e of
El si nor e. . . I n a Nor di c, Pr ot est ant at mospher e, i n t he shadow of Ki er kegaar d, so t o
speak, al l t hese exi st ent i al over t ones. . . "
" Per haps you' r e r i ght . "
" I t hi nk I am. The wor k mi ght need a l i t t l e t ouchi ng up st yl i st i cal l y. Not hi ng
dr ast i c; t he bar ber ' s sni ps bef or e he hol ds up t he mi r r or f or you, so t o speak. The
f at her ' s ghost , f or exampl e. Why at t he end? I ' d put hi mat t he begi nni ng. That way
t he f at her ' s war ni ng hel ps mot i vat e t he young pr i nce' s behavi or , and i t est abl i shes
t he conf l i ct wi t h t he mot her . ' '
" Hmm, good i dea. I ' d onl y have t o move one scene. "
" Exact l y. Now, st yl e. Thi s passage her e, wher e t he pr i nce t ur ns t o t he audi ence and
begi ns hi s monol ogue on act i on and i nact i on. I t ' s a ni ce speech, but he doesn' t
sound, wel l , t r oubl ed enough. ' To act or not t o act ? Thi s i s my pr obl em. ' I woul d
say not ' my pr obl em* but ' t he quest i on. " That i s t he quest i on. ' You see what I mean?
I t ' s not so much hi s i ndi vi dual pr obl emas i t i s t he whol e quest i on of exi st ence.
The quest i on whet her t o be or not t o be. . . "
* * *
I f you f i l l t he wor l d wi t h chi l dr en who do not bear your name, no one wi l l know t hey
ar e your s. Li ke bei ng God i n pl ai n cl ot hes. You ar e God, you wander t hr ough t he
ci t y, you hear peopl e t al ki ng about you, God t hi s, God t hat , what a wonder f ul
uni ver se t hi s i s, and how el egant t he l aw of gr avi t y, and you smi l e t o your sel f
behi nd your f ake bear d ( no, bet t er t o go wi t hout a bear d, because i n a bear d God i s
i mmedi at el y r ecogni zabl e) . You sol i l oqui ze ( God i s al ways sol i l oqui zi ng) : " Her e I
am, t he One, and t hey don' t know i t . " I f a pedest r i an bumps i nt o you i n t he st r eet ,
or even i nsul t s you, you humbl y apol ogi ze and move on, even t hough you' r e God and
wi t h a snap of your f i nger s can t ur n t he wor l d t o ashes. But , i nf i ni t el y power f ul as
you ar e, you can af f or d t o be l ong- suf f er i ng.
A novel about God i ncogni t o. No. I f I t hought of i t , somebody el se must have al r eady
done i t .
* * *
You' r e an aut hor , not yet awar e of your power s. The woman you l oved has bet r ayed
you, l i f e f or you no l onger has meani ng, so one day, t o f or get , you t ake a t r i p on
t he Ti t ani c and ar e shi pwr ecked i n t he Sout h Seas. You ar e pi cked up, t he sol e
sur vi vor , by a pi r ogue f ul l of nat i ves, and spend l ong year s, f or got t en by t he
out si de wor l d, on t hi s i sl and i nhabi t ed onl y by Papuans. Gi r l s ser enade you wi t h
l anguor ous songs, t hei r swayi ng br east s bar el y cover ed by neckl aces of pua bl ossoms.
They cal l you J i m( t hey cal l al l whi t e men J i m) , and one ni ght an amber - ski nned gi r l
sl i ps i nt o your hut and says: " I your s, I wi t h you. " How ni ce, t o l i e t her e i n t he
eveni ng on t he ver anda and l ook up at t he Sout her n Cr oss whi l e she f ans your br ow.
You l i ve by t he cycl e of dawn and sunset , and know not hi ng el se. One day a mot or boat
ar r i ves wi t h some Dut chmen aboar d, you l ear n t hat t en year s have passed; you coul d
go away wi t h t hese Dut chmen, but you r ef use. You st ar t a busi ness t r adi ng coconut s,
you super vi se t he hemp har vest , t he nat i ves wor k f or you, you sai l f r omi sl and t o
i sl and, and ever yone cal l s you Seven Seas J i m. A Por t uguese advent ur er r ui ned by
dr i nk comes t o wor k wi t h you and r edeems hi msel f . By now you' r e t he t al k of t he
Sunda, you advi se t he mahar aj ah of Br unei i n hi s campai gn agai nst t he Dayaks of t he
r i ver , you f i nd an ol d cannon f r omt he days of Ti ppo Sahi b and get i t back i n
wor ki ng or der . You t r ai n a squad of devot ed Mal ayans whose t eet h ar e bl ackened wi t h
bet el . I n a ski r mi sh near t he cor al r eef , ol d Sampan, hi s t eet h bl ackened wi t h
bet el , shi el ds you wi t h hi s own body; I gl adl y di e f or you, Seven Seas J i m. Good ol d
Sampan, f ar ewel l , my f r i end.
Now you' r e f amous i n t he whol e ar chi pel ago, f r omSumat r a t o Por t - au- Pr i nce. You
t r ade wi t h t he Engl i sh, t oo; at t he har bor mast er ' s of f i ce i n Dar wi n you' r e
r egi st er ed as Kur t z, and now you' r e Kur t z t o ever yone- onl y t he nat i ves st i l l cal l
Page 37
you Seven Seas J i m. One eveni ng, as t he gi r l car esses you on t he ver anda and t he
Sout her n Cr oss shi nes br i ght er t han ever over head- ah! so di f f er ent f r omt he Gr eat
Bear - you r eal i ze you want t o go back. J ust f or a l i t t l e whi l e, t o see what , i f
anyt hi ng, i s l ef t of you t her e.
You t ake a boat t o Mani l a, f r omt her e a pr op pl ane t o Bal l , t hen Samoa, t he
Admi r al t y I sl ands, Si ngapor e, Tener i f e, Ti mbukt u, Al eppo, Samar kand, Basr a, Mal t a,
and you' r e home.
Ei ght een year s have passed, l i f e has l ef t i t s mar k on you: your f ace i s t anned by
t he t r ade wi nds, you' r e ol der , per haps al so handsomer . Ar r i vi ng, you di scover t hat
al l t he bookshops ar e di spl ayi ng your books, i n new cr i t i cal edi t i ons, and your name
has been car ved i nt o t he pedi ment of your ol d school , wher e you l ear ned t o r ead and
wr i t e. You ar e t he Gr eat Vani shed Poet , t he consci ence of a gener at i on. Romant i c
mai dens ki l l t hemsel ves at your empt y gr ave.
And t hen I encount er you, my l ove, wi t h t hose wr i nkl es ar ound your eyes, your f ace
st i l l beaut i f ul t hough wor n by memor y and t ender r emor se. I al most pass you on t he
si dewal k, I ' monl y a f ew f eet away, and you l ook at me as you l ook at al l peopl e, as
t hough seeki ng anot her beyond t hei r shadow. I coul d speak, er ase t he year s. But t o
what end? AmI not , even now, f ul f i l l ed? I aml i ke God, as sol i t ar y as He, as vai n,
and as despai r i ng, unabl e t o be one of my cr eat ur es. They dwel l i n my l i ght , whi l e I
dwel l i n unbear abl e dar kness, t he sour ce of t hat l i ght .
* * *
Go i n peace, t hen, Wi l l i amS. ! Famous, you pass and do not r ecogni ze me. I mur mur t o
mysel f : To be or not t o be. And I say t o mysel f : Good f or you, Bel bo, good wor k. Go,
ol d Wi l l i amS. , and r eap your meed of gl or y. You al one cr eat ed; I mer el y made a f ew
changes.
We mi d wi ves, who assi st at t he bi r t hs of what ot her s concei ve, shoul d be r ef used
bur i al i n consecr at ed gr ound. Li ke act or s. Except t hat act or s pl ay wi t h t he wor l d as
i t i s, whi l e we pl ay wi t h a pl ur al i t y of make- bel i eves, wi t h t he endl ess
possi bi l i t i es of exi st ence i n an i nf i ni t e uni ver se. . .
How can l i f e be so bount i f ul , pr ovi di ng such subl i me r ewar ds f or medi ocr i t y?
12
Sub umbr a al ar umt uar um, J ehova.
- Fama Fr at er ni t at i s, i n Al l gemei ne und gener al Ref or mat i on, Cassel , Wessel , 1514,
concl usi on
The next day, I went t o Gar amond Pr ess. Number 1, Vi a Si ncer e Renat o, opened i nt o a
dust y passage, f r omwhi ch you coul d gl i mpse a cour t yar d and a r ope- maker ' s shop. To
t he r i ght was an el evat or t hat l ooked l i ke somet hi ng out of an i ndust r i al ar cheol ogy
exhi bi t . When I t r i ed t o t ake i t , i t shudder ed, j er ked, as i f unabl e t o make up i t s
mi nd t o ascend, so pr udent l y I got out and cl i mbed t wo f l i ght s of dust y, al most
ci r cul ar wooden st ai r s. I l at er l ear ned t hat Mr . Gar amond l oved t hi s bui l di ng
because i t r emi nded hi mof a publ i shi ng house i n Par i s. A met al pl at e on t he l andi ng
sai d GARAMOND PRESS, and an open door l ed t o a l obby wi t h no swi t chboar d or
r ecept i oni st of any ki nd. But you coul dn' t go i n wi t hout bei ng seen f r oma l i t t l e
out er of f i ce, and I was i mmedi at el y conf r ont ed by a per son, pr obabl y f emal e, of
i ndet er mi nat e age and a hei ght t hat coul d euphemi st i cal l y be cal l ed bel ow aver age.
She accost ed me i n a f or ei gn l anguage t hat was somehow f ami l i ar ; t hen I r eal i zed i t
was I t al i an, an I t al i an al most compl et el y l acki ng i n vowel s. When I asked f or Bel bo,
she l ed me down a cor r i dor t o an of f i ce i n t he back.
Bel bo wel comed me cor di al l y: " So, you ar e a ser i ous per son. Come i n. " He had me si t
opposi t e hi s desk, whi ch was ol d, l i ke ever yt hi ng el se, and pi l ed hi gh wi t h
manuscr i pt s, as wer e t he shel ves on t he wal l s.
" I hope Gudr un di dn' t f r i ght en you, " he sai d.
" Gudr un? That . . . si gnor a?"
" Si gnor i na. Her name i sn' t r eal l y Gudr un. We cal l her t hat because of her Ni bel ung
l ook and because her speech i s vaguel y Teut oni c. She want s t o say ever yt hi ng
qui ckl y, so she saves t i me by l eavi ng out t he vowel s. But she has a sense of
j ust i t i a aequa- t r i x: When she t ypes, she ski ps consonant s. "
" What does she do her e?"
Page 38
" Ever yt hi ng, unf or t unat el y. I n ever y publ i shi ng house t her e i s one per son who i s
i ndi spensabl e, t he onl y one who can f i nd t hi ngs i n t he mess t hat he or she cr eat es.
At l east when a manuscr i pt i s l ost , you know whose f aul t i t i s. "
" She l oses manuscr i pt s, t oo?"
" Publ i sher s ar e al ways l osi ng manuscr i pt s. I t hi nk somet i mes t hat ' s t hei r mai n
act i vi t y. But a scapegoat i s al ways necessar y, don' t you agr ee? My onl y compl ai nt i s
t hat she doesn' t l ose t he ones I ' d l i ke t o see l ost . Cont r et emps, t hese, i n what t he
good Bacon cal l ed The Advancement of Lear ni ng. ' '
" How do t hey get l ost ?"
He spr ead hi s ar ms. " For gi ve me, but t hat i s a st upi d quest i on. I f we knew how t hey
got l ost , t hey woul dn' t get l ost . "
" Logi cal , " I sai d. " But l ook, t he Gar amond books I see her e and t her e seemver y
car ef ul l y made, and you have an i mpr essi ve cat al og. I s i t al l done her e? How many of
you ar e t her e?"
" Ther e' s a r oomf or t he pr oduct i on st af f acr oss t he hal l ; next door i s my col l eague
Di ot al l evi . But he does t he r ef er ence books, t he bi g pr oj ect s, wor ks t hat t ake
f or ever t o pr oduce and have a l ong sal es l i f e. I do t he uni ver si t y edi t i ons. I t ' s
not r eal l y t hat much wor k. Nat ur al l y I get i nvol ved wi t h some of t he books, but as a
r ul e we have not hi ng t o wor r y about edi t or i al l y, academi cal l y, or f i nanci al l y.
Publ i cat i ons of an i nst i t ut e, or conf er ence pr oceedi ngs under t he aegi s of a
uni ver si t y. I f t he aut hor ' s a begi nner , hi s pr of essor wr i t es t he pr ef ace. The aut hor
cor r ect s t he pr oof s, checks t he quot at i ons and f oot not es, and r ecei ves no r oyal t i es.
The book i s adopt ed as a t ext book, a f ew t housand copi es ar e sol d i n a f ew year s,
and our expenses ar e cover ed. No sur pr i ses, no r ed i nk. "
" What do you do, t hen?"
" A l ot of t hi ngs. For exampl e, we publ i sh some books at our own expense, usual l y
t r ansl at i ons of pr est i ge aut hor s, t o add t one t o t he cat al og. And t hen t her e ar e t he
manuscr i pt s t hat j ust t ur n up, l ef t at t he door . Rar el y publ i shabl e, but t hey al l
have t o be r ead. You never can t el l . "
" Do you l i ke i t ?"
" Li ke i t ? I t ' s t he onl y t hi ng I know how t o do wel l . "
We wer e i nt er r upt ed by a man i n hi s f or t i es wear i ng a j acket a f ew si zes t oo bi g,
wi t h wi spy l i ght hai r t hat f el l over t hi ck bl ond eyebr ows. He spoke sof t l y, as i f he
wer e i nst r uct i ng a chi l d.
" I ' msi ck of t hi s Taxpayer ' s Vade Mecum. The whol e t hi ng needs t o be r ewr i t t en, and
I don' t f eel l i ke i t . AmI i nt r udi ng?"
" Thi s i s Di ot al l evi , " Bel bo sai d, i nt r oduci ng us.
" Oh, you' r e her e t o l ook at t hat Templ ar t hi ng. Poor man. Li st en, J acopo, I t hought
of a good one: Ur ban Pl anni ng f or Gypsi es. "
" Gr eat , " Bel bo sai d admi r i ngl y. " I have one, t oo: Azt ec Equi t at i on. "
" Excel l ent . But woul d t hat go wi t h Pot i o- sect i on or t he Adyn- at a?"
" We' l l have t o see, " Bel bo sai d. He r ummaged i n hi s dr awer and t ook out some sheet s
of paper . " Pot i o- sect i on. . . " He l ooked at me, saw my bewi l der ment . " Pot i o- sect i on,
as ever ybody knows, of cour se, i s t he ar t of sl i ci ng soup. No, no, " he sai d t o
Di ot al l evi . " I t ' s not a depar t ment , i t ' s a subj ect , l i ke Mechani cal
Avuncul ogr at ul at i on or Pyl ocat abasi s. They al l f al l under t he headi ng of
Tet r apyl oct omy. "
" What ' s t et r a. . . ?" I asked.
" The ar t of spl i t t i ng a hai r f our ways. Thi s i s t he depar t ment of usel ess
t echni ques. Mechani cal Avuncul ogr at ul at i on, f or exampl e, i s how t o bui l d machi nes
f or gr eet i ng uncl es. We' r e not sur e, t hough, i f Pyl ocat abasi s bel ongs, si nce i t ' s
t he ar t of bei ng saved by a hai r . Somehow t hat doesn' t seemcompl et el y usel ess. "
" Al l r i ght , gent l emen, " I sai d, " I gi ve up. What ar e you t wo t al ki ng about ?"
" Wel l , Di ot al l evi and I ar e pl anni ng a r ef or mi n hi gher educat i on. A School of
Compar at i ve I r r el evance, wher e usel ess or i mpossi bl e cour ses ar e gi ven. The school ' s
ai mi s t o t ur n out schol ar s capabl e of endl essl y i ncr easi ng t he number of
unnecessar y subj ect s. "
" And how many depar t ment s ar e t her e?"
" Four so f ar , but t hat may be enough f or t he whol e syl l abus. The Tet r apyl oct omy
depar t ment has a pr epar at or y f unct i on; i t s pur pose i s t o i ncul cat e a sense of
i r r el evance. Anot her i mpor t ant depar t ment i s Adynat a, or I mpossi bi l i a. Li ke Ur ban
Pl anni ng f or Gypsi es. The essence of t he di sci pl i ne i s t he compr ehensi on of t he
under l yi ng r easons f or a t hi ng' s absur di t y. We have cour ses i n Mor se synt ax, t he
Page 39
hi st or y of ant ar ct i c agr i cul t ur e, t he hi st or y of East er I sl and pai nt i ng,
cont empor ar y Sumer i an l i t er at ur e, Mont essor i gr adi ng, Assyr i o- Babyl oni an phi l at el y,
t he t echnol ogy of t he wheel i n pr e- Col umbi an empi r es, and t he phonet i cs of t he
si l ent f i l m. "
" How about cr owd psychol ogy i n t he Sahar a?"
" Wonder f ul , " Bel bo sai d.
Di ot al l evi nodded. " You shoul d j oi n us. The ki d' s got t al ent , eh, J acopo?"
" Yes, I saw t hat r i ght away. Last ni ght he const r uct ed some mor oni c ar gument s wi t h
gr eat ski l l . But l et ' s cont i nue. What di d we put i n t he Oxymor oni cs depar t ment ? I
can' t f i nd my not es. "
Di ot al l evi t ook a sl i p of paper f r omhi s pocket and r egar ded me wi t h f r i endl y
condescensi on. " I n Oxymor oni cs, as t he name i mpl i es, what mat t er s i s
sel f - cont r adi ct i on. That ' s why I t hi nk i t ' s t he pl ace f or Ur ban Pl anni ng f or
Gypsi es. "
" No, " Bel bo sai d. " Onl y i f i t wer e Nomadi c Ur ban Pl anni ng. The Adynat a concer n
empi r i cal i mpossi bi l i t i es; Oxymor oni cs deal wi t h cont r adi ct i ons i n t er ms. "
" Maybe. But what cour ses di d we put under Oxymor oni cs? Oh, yes, her e we ar e:
Tr adi t i on i n Revol ut i on, Democr at i c Ol i gar chy, Par meni dean Dynami cs, Her acl i t ean
St at i cs, Spar t an Sybar i t i cs, Taut ol ogi cal Di al ect i cs, Bool ean Er i st i c. "
I coul dn' t r esi st t hr owi ng i n " How about a Gr ammar of Sol eci sms?"
" Excel l ent ! " t hey bot h sai d, maki ng a not e.
" One pr obl em, " I sai d.
" What ?"
" I f t he publ i c get s wi nd of t hi s, peopl e wi l l show up wi t h manuscr i pt s. "
" The boy' s shar p, J acopo, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Unwi t t i ngl y, we' ve dr awn up a r eal
pr ospect us f or schol ar shi p. We' ve shown t he necessi t y of t he i mpossi bl e. Ther ef or e,
mum' s t he wor d. But I have t o go now. "
" Wher e?" Bel bo asked.
" I t ' s Fr i day af t er noon. "
" J esus Chr i st ! " Bel bo sai d, t hen t ur ned t o me. " Acr oss t he st r eet ar e a f ew houses
wher e Or t hodox J ews l i ve; you know, bl ack hat s, bear ds, ear l ocks. Ther e ar en' t many
of t hemi n Mi l an. Thi s i s Fr i day, and t he Sabbat h begi ns at sundown, so i n t he
af t er noon t hey st ar t pr epar i ng i n t he apar t ment acr oss t he way: pol i shi ng t he
candl est i cks, cooki ng t he f ood, set t i ng ever yt hi ng up so t hey won' t have t o l i ght
any f i r es t omor r ow. They even l eave t he TV on al l ni ght , pi cki ng a channel i n
advance. Anyway, Di ot al l evi her e has a pai r of bi nocul ar s; he spi es on t hemwi t h
del i ght , pr et endi ng he' s on t he ot her si de of t he st r eet . "
" Why?" I asked.
" Our Di ot al l evi t hi nks he' s J ewi sh. "
" What do you mean, ' t hi nks' ?" Di ot al l evi sai d, annoyed. " I amJ ewi sh. Do you have
anyt hi ng agai nst t hat , Casaubon?"
" Of cour se not . "
" Di ot al l evi i s not J ewi sh, " Bel bo sai d f i r ml y.
" No? And what about my name? J ust l i ke Gr azi adi o or Di os- i acont e. A t r adi t i onal
J ewi sh name. A ghet t o name, l i ke Shol omAl ei chem. "
" Di ot al l evi i s a good- l uck name gi ven t o f oundl i ngs by ci t y of f i ci al s. Your
gr andf at her was a f oundl i ng. "
" A J ewi sh f oundl i ng. "
" Di ot al l evi , you have pi nk ski n, you' r e pr act i cal l y an al bi no. "
" Ther e ar e al bi no r abbi t s; why not al bi no J ews?"
" Di ot al l evi , a per son can' t j ust deci de t o be a J ew t he way he mi ght deci de t o be a
st amp col l ect or or a J ehovah' s Wi t ness. J ews ar e bor n. Admi t i t ! You' r e a gent i l e
l i ke t he r est of us. "
" I ' mci r cumci sed. "
" Come on! Lot s of peopl e ar e ci r cumci sed, f or r easons of hygi ene. Al l you need i s a
doct or wi t h a kni f e. How ol d wer e you when you wer e ci r cumci sed?"
" Let ' s not ni t pi ck. "
" No, l et ' s. J ews ni t pi ck. "
" Nobody can pr ove my gr andf at her wasn' t J ewi sh. "
" Of cour se not ; he was a f oundl i ng. He coul d have been anyt hi ng, t he hei r t o t he
t hr one of Byzant i umor a Hapsbur g bast ar d. "
" He was f ound near t he Por t i co d' Ot t avi a, i n t he ghet t o i n Rome. "
" But your gr andmot her wasn' t J ewi sh, and J ewi sh descent i s supposed t o be
Page 40
mat r i l i neal . . . "
" And ski ppi ng r egi st r y r easons- and muni ci pal l edger s can al so be r ead beyond t he
l et t er - t her e ar e r easons of bl ood. The bl ood i n me says t hat my t hought s ar e
exqui si t el y Tal mudi c, and i t woul d be r aci st f or you t o cl ai mt hat a gent i l e can be
as exqui si t el y Tal mudi c as I am. "
He l ef t . " Don' t pay any at t ent i on, " Bel bo sai d. " We have t hi s ar gument al most ever y
day. The f act i s, Di ot al l evi i s a devot ee of t he cabal a. But t her e wer e al so
Chr i st i an cabal i st s. Anyway, i f Di ot al l evi want s t o be J ewi sh, why shoul d I obj ect ?"
" Why i ndeed. We' r e al l l i ber al s her e. "
" So we ar e. "
He l i t a ci gar et t e. I r emember ed why I had come. " You ment i oned a manuscr i pt about
t he Templ ar s, " I sai d.
" That ' s r i ght . . . Let ' s see. I t was i n a f ake- l eat her f ol der . . . " He t r i ed t o pi ck a
manuscr i pt out of t he mi ddl e of a pi l e wi t hout di st ur bi ng t he ot her s. A hazar dous
oper at i on. Par t of t he pi l e f el l t o t he f l oor . Now Bel bo was hol di ng t he
f ake- l eat her f ol der .
I l ooked at t he t abl e of cont ent s and t he i nt r oduct i on. " I t deal s wi t h t he ar r est of
t he Templ ar s, " I sai d. " I n 1307, Phi l i p t he Fai r deci ded t o ar r est al l t he Templ ar s
i n Fr ance. Ther e' s a l egend t hat t wo days bef or e Phi l i p i ssued t he ar r est war r ant ,
t he ox- dr awn hay wai n l ef t t he encl ave of t he Templ e i n Par i s f or an
unknown dest i nat i on. They say t hat hi dden i n t he wai n was a gr oup of kni ght s l ed by
one Aumont . These kni ght s supposedl y escaped, t ook r ef uge i n Scot l and, and j oi ned a
Masoni c l odge i n Ki l wi nni ng. Accor di ng t o t he l egend, t hey became par t of t he
soci et y of Fr eemasons, who ser ved as guar di ans of t he secr et s of t he Templ e of
Sol omon. Ah, her e we ar e; I t hought so. Thi s wr i t er , t oo, cl ai ms t hat t he or i gi ns of
Masonr y l i e i n t he Templ ar s' escape t o Scot l and. A st or y t hat ' s been r ehashed f or a
coupl e of cent ur i es, wi t h no f oundat i on t o i t . I can gi ve you at l east f i f t y
pamphl et s t hat t el l t he same t al e, each cr i bbed f r omt he ot her . Her e, l i st en t o
t hi s- j ust a page pi cked at r andom: ' The pr oof of t he Scot t i sh expedi t i on l i es i n t he
f act t hat even t oday, si x hundr ed and f i f t y year s l at er , t her e st i l l exi st i n t he
wor l d secr et or der s t hat har k back t o t he Templ e Mi l i t i a. How el se i s one t o expl ai n
t he cont i nui t y of t hi s her i t age?' You see what I mean? How can t he Mar qui s de
Car abas not exi st when Puss i n Boot s says he' s i n t he mar qui s' s ser vi ce?"
" Al l r i ght , " Bel bo sai d, " I ' l l t hr ow i t out . But t hi s Templ ar busi ness i nt er est s me.
For once I have an exper t handy, and I don' t want t o l et hi mget away. Why i s t her e
al l t hi s t al k about t he Templ ar s and not hi ng about t he Kni ght s of Mal t a? No, don' t
t el l me now. I t ' s l at e. Di ot al l evi and I have t o go t o di nner wi t h Si gnor Gar amond
i n a l i t t l e whi l e. We shoul d be t hr ough by about t en- t hi r t y. I ' l l t r y t o per suade
Di ot al l evi t o dr op by Pi - l ade' s- he goes t o bed ear l y and usual l y doesn' t dr i nk. Wi l l
you be t her e?"
" Wher e el se? I bel ong t o a l ost gener at i on and amcomf or t abl e onl y i n t he company of
ot her s who ar e l ost and l onel y. ' '
13
Li f r er e, l i mest r e du Templ e
Qu' est oi ent r empl i et ampl e
D' or et d' ar gent et de r i chesse
Et qui menoi ent t el nobl esse,
Ou sont i l s? que sont devenu?
- Chr oni que a l a sui t e du r oman de Favel
Et i n Ar cadi a ego. That eveni ng Pi l ade' s was t he i mage of t he gol den age. One of
t hose eveni ngs when you f eel t hat not onl y wi l l t her e def i ni t el y be a r evol ut i on,
but t hat t he Associ at i on of Manuf act ur er s wi l l f oot t he bi l l f or i t . Wher e but at
Pi l ade' s coul d you wat ch t he bear ded owner of a cot t on mi l l , wear i ng a par ka, pl ay
hear t s wi t h a f ut ur e f ugi t i ve f r omj ust i ce dr essed i n a doubl e- br east ed j acket and
t i e? Thi s was t he dawn of gr eat changes i n st yl e. Unt i l t he begi nni ng of t he
si xt i es, bear ds wer e f asci st , and you had t o t r i mt hem, and shave your cheeks, i n
t he st yl e of I t al o Bal bo; but by ' 68 bear ds meant pr ot est , and now t hey wer e
becomi ng neut r al , uni ver sal , a mat t er of per sonal pr ef er ence. Bear ds have al ways
been masks ( you wear a f ake bear d t o keep f r ombei ng r ecogni zed) , but i n t hose
year s, t he ear l y sevent i es, a r eal bear d was al so a di sgui se. You coul d l i e whi l e
Page 41
t el l i ng t he t r ut h- or , r at her , by maki ng t he t r ut h el usi ve and eni gmat i c. A man' s
pol i t i cs coul d no l onger be guessed f r omhi s bear d. That eveni ng, bear ds seemed t o
hover on cl ean- shaven f aces whose ver y l ack of hai r suggest ed def i ance.
I di gr ess. Bel bo and Di ot al l evi ar r i ved t ense, exchangi ng har sh whi sper s about t he
di nner t hey had j ust come f r om. Onl y l at er di d I l ear n what Si gner Gar amond' s
di nner s wer e.
Bel bo went st r ai ght t o hi s f avor i t e di st i l l at i ons; Di ot al l evi , af t er ponder i ng at
l engt h, deci ded on t oni c wat er . We f ound a l i t t l e t abl e i n t he back. Two t r am
dr i ver s who had t o get up ear l y t he next mor ni ng wer e l eavi ng.
" Now t hen, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " t hese Templ ar s. . . "
" But , r eal l y, you can r ead about t he Templ ar s anywher e. . . "
" We pr ef er t he or al t r adi t i on, " Bel bo sai d.
" I t ' s mor e myst i cal , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " God cr eat ed t he wor l d by speaki ng, He di dn' t
send a t el egr am. "
" Fi at l ux, st op, " Bel bo sai d.
" Epi st l e f ol l ows, " I sai d.
" The Templ ar s, t hen?" Bel bo asked.
" Ver y wel l , " I sai d. " To begi n wi t h. . . "
" You shoul d never begi n wi t h ' To begi n wi t h, ' " Di ot al l evi obj ect ed.
" To begi n wi t h, t her e' s t he Fi r st Cr usade. Godef r oy wor shi ps at t he Hol y Sepul cher
and f ul f i l l s hi s vow. Baudoui n becomes t he f i r st ki ng of J er usal em. A Chr i st i an
ki ngdomi n t he Hol y Land. But hol di ng J er usal emi s one t hi ng; qui t e anot her , t o
conquer t he r est of Pal est i ne. The Sar acens ar e down but not out . Li f e' s not easy
f or t he new occupi er s, and not easy f or t he pi l gr i ms ei t her . And t hen i n 1118,
dur i ng t he r ei gn of Baudoui n I I , ni ne young men l ed by a f el l ow named Hugues de
Payns ar r i ve and set up t he nucl eus of an or der of t he Poor Fel l ow- Sol di er s of J esus
Chr i st : a monast i c or der , but wi t h swor d and shi el d. The t hr ee cl assi c vows of
pover t y, chast i t y, and obedi ence, pl us a f our t h: def ense of pi l gr i ms. The ki ng, t he
bi shop, ever yone i n J er usal emcont r i but es money, of f er s t he kni ght s l odgi ng, and
f i nal l y set s t hemup i n t he cl oi st er of t he ol d Templ e of Sol omon. Fr omt hen on t hey
ar e known as t he Kni ght s of t he Templ e. "
" But what wer e t hey r eal l y?"
" Hugues and t he or i gi nal ei ght ot her s wer e pr obabl y i deal i st s caught up i n t he
myst i que of t he Cr usade. But l at er r ecr ui t s wer e most l i kel y younger sons seeki ng
advent ur e. Remember , t he new ki ngdomof J er usal emwas sor t of t he Cal i f or ni a of t he
day, t he pl ace you went t o make your f or t une. Pr ospect s at home wer e not gr eat , and
some of t he kni ght s may have been on t he r un f or one r eason or anot her . I t hi nk of
i t as a ki nd of For ei gn Legi on. What do you do i f you' r e i n t r oubl e? You j oi n t he
Templ ar s, see t he wor l d, have some f un, do a l i t t l e f i ght i ng. They f eed you and
cl ot he you, and i n t he end, as a bonus, you save your soul . Of cour se, you had t o be
pr et t y desper at e, because i t meant goi ng out i nt o t he deser t , sl eepi ng i n a t ent ,
spendi ng days and days wi t hout seei ng a l i vi ng soul except ot her Templ ar s, and maybe
a Tur k now and t hen. I n t he meant i me, you r i de under t he sun, dyi ng of t hi r st , and
cut t he gut s out of ot her poor bast ar ds. "
I st opped f or a moment . " Maybe I ' mmaki ng i t sound t oo much l i ke a West er n. Ther e
was pr obabl y a t hi r d phase. Once t he or der became power f ul , peopl e may have want ed
t o j oi n even i f t hey wer e wel l of f at home. By t hat t i me, t hough, you coul d be a
Templ ar wi t hout havi ng t o go t o t he Hol y Land; you coul d be a Templ ar at home, t oo.
I t get s compl i cat ed. Somet i mes t hey sound l i ke t ough sol di er s, and somet i mes t hey
show sensi t i vi t y. For exampl e, you can' t cal l t hemr aci st s. Yes, t hey f ought t he
Mosl ems- t hat was t he whol e poi nt - but t hey f ought i n a spi r i t of chi val r y and wi t h
mut ual r espect . Once, when t he ambassador of t he emi r of Damascus was vi si t i ng
J er usal em, t he Templ ar s l et hi msay hi s pr ayer s i n a l i t t l e mosque t hat had been
t ur ned i nt o a Chr i st i an chur ch. One day a Fr ank came i n, was out r aged t o see a
Mosl emi n a hol y pl ace, and st ar t ed t o r ough hi mup. But t he Templ ar s t hr ew t he
i nt ol er ant Fr ank out and apol ogi zed t o t he Mosl em. Lat er on, t hi s f r at er ni zat i on
wi t h t he enemy hel ped l ead t o t hei r r ui n: one of t he char ges agai nst t hemat t hei r
t r i al was t hat t hey had deal i ngs wi t h esot er i c Mosl emsect s. Whi ch may have been
t r ue. They wer e a l i t t l e l i ke t he ni net eent h- cent ur y advent ur er s who went nat i ve and
caught t he mal d' Af - r i que. The Templ ar s, l acki ng t he usual monast i c educat i on, wer e
sl ow t o gr asp t he f i ne poi nt s of t heol ogy. Thi nk of t hemas Lawr ences of Ar abi a, who
af t er a whi l e st ar t dr essi ng l i ke shei ks. . . But i t ' s di f f i cul t t o get an obj ect i ve
pi ct ur e of t hei r behavi or because cont empor ar y Chr i st i an hi st or i ogr apher s, Wi l l i am
Page 42
of Tyr e, f or exampl e, t ake ever y oppor t uni t y t o vi l i f y t hem. "
" Why?"
" The Templ ar s became t oo power f ul t oo f ast . I t al l goes back t o Sai nt Ber nar d.
You' r e f ami l i ar wi t h Sai nt Ber nar d, of cour se. A gr eat or gani zer . He r ef or med t he
Benedi ct i ne or der and el i mi nat ed decor at i ons f r omchur ches. I f a col l eague got on
hi s ner ves, as Abel ar d di d, he at t acked hi mMcCar t hyst yl e and t r i ed t o get hi m
bur ned at t he st ake. I f he coul dn' t manage t hat , he' d bur n t he of f ender ' s books
i nst ead. And of cour se he pr eached t he Cr usade: Let us t ake up ar ms and you go
f or t h. . . "
" You don' t car e f or hi m, " Bel bo r emar ked.
" I f I had my way, Sai nt Ber nar d woul d end up i n one of t he nast i er ci r cl es of t he
i nf er no. Sai nt , hel l ! But he was good at sel f - pr omot i on. Look how Dant e t r eat s hi m:
maki ng hi mt he Madonna' s r i ght - hand man. He got t o be a sai nt because he but t er ed up
al l t he r i ght peopl e. But t o get back t o t he Templ ar s. Ber nar d r eal i zed r i ght away
t hat t hi s i dea had possi bi l i t i es. He suppor t ed t he ni ne or i gi nal advent ur er s,
t r ansf or med t hemi nt o a Mi l i t i a of Chr i st . You coul d even say t hat t he her oi c vi ew
of t he Templ ar s was hi s i nvent i on. I n 1128 he hel d a counci l i n Tr oyes f or t he
expr ess pur pose of def i ni ng t he r ol e of t hose new sol di er - monks, and a f ew year s
l at er he wr ot e an el ogi umon t hemand dr ew up t hei r r ul e, sevent y- t wo ar t i cl es. The
ar t i cl es ar e f un t o r ead; t her e' s a l i t t l e of ever yt hi ng i n t hem. Dai l y Mass, no
cont act wi t h excommuni cat ed kni ght s, t hough i f one of t hemappl i es f or admi ssi on t o
t he Templ e, he must be r ecei ved i n a Chr i st i an spi r i t . You see what I mean about t he
For ei gn Legi on. They' r e supposed t o wear si mpl e whi t e cl oaks, no f ur s, at most a
l ambski n or a r am' s pel t . They' r e f or bi dden t o wear t he cur ved shoes so f ashi onabl e
at t he t i me, and must sl eep i n t hei r under wear , wi t h one pal l et , one sheet , and one
bl anket . . . "
" Wi t h t he heat t her e, I can i magi ne t he st i nk, " Bel bo sai d.
" We' l l come t o t he st i nk i n a mi nut e. Ther e wer e ot her t ough measur es i n t he r ul e:
one bowl f or each t wo men; eat i n si l ence; meat t hr ee t i mes a week; penance on
Fr i days; up at dawn ever y day. I f t he wor k has been especi al l y heavy, t hey can sl eep
an ext r a hour , but i n r et ur n t hey must r eci t e t hi r t een Pat er s i n bed. Ther e i s a
mast er and a whol e ser i es of l ower r anks, down t o ser geant s, squi r es, at t endant s,
and ser vant s. Ever y kni ght wi l l have t hr ee hor ses and one squi r e, no decor at i ons ar e
al l owed on br i dl es, saddl es, or spur s. Si mpl e but wel l - made weapons. Hunt i ng
f or bi dden, except f or l i ons. I n shor t , a l i f e of penance and bat t l e. And don' t
f or get chast i t y. The r ul e i s par t i cul ar l y i nsi st ent about t hat . Remember , t hese ar e
men who ar e not l i vi ng i n a monast er y. They' r e f i ght i ng a war , l i vi ng i n t he wor l d,
i f you can use t hat wor d f or t he r at ' s nest t he Hol y Land must have been i n t hose
days. The r ul e says i n no uncer t ai n t er ms t hat a woman' s company i s per i l ous and
t hat t he men ar e al l owed t o ki ss onl y t hei r mot her s, si st er s, and aunt s. "
" Aunt s, eh?" Bel bo gr umbl ed. " I ' d have been mor e car ef ul t her e. . . But i f memor y
ser ves, wer en' t t he Templ ar s accused of sodomy? Ther e' s t hat book by Kl ossowski , The
Baphomet . Baphomet was one of t hei r sat ani c di vi ni t i es, wasn' t he?"
" I ' l l get t o t hat , t oo. But t hi nk about i t f or a moment . You l i ve f or mont hs and
mont hs i n t he deser t , out i n t he mi ddl e of nowher e, and at ni ght you shar e a t ent
wi t h t he guy who' s been eat i ng out of t he same bowl as you. You' r e t i r ed and col d
and t hi r st y and af r ai d. You want your mama. So what do you do?"
" Manl y l ove, t he Theban l egi on, " Bel bo suggest ed.
" The ot her sol di er s haven' t t aken t he Templ ar vow. When a ci t y i s sacked, t hey get
t o r ape t he dusky Moor i sh mai ds wi t h amber bel l i es and vel vet eyes. And what i s t he
Templ ar supposed t o do ami d t he scent of t he cedar s of Lebanon? You can see why
t her e was t he popul ar sayi ng: ' To dr i nk and bl aspheme l i ke a Templ ar . ' I t ' s l i ke a
chapl ai n i n t he t r enches who dr i nks br andy and cur ses wi t h hi s i l l i t er at e sol di er s.
The Templ ar seal depi ct s t he kni ght s al ways i n pai r s, one r i di ng behi nd t he ot her on
t he same hor se. Now why shoul d t hat be? The r ul e al l ows t hemt hr ee hor ses each. I t
must have been one of Ber nar d' s i deas, an at t empt t o symbol i ze pover t y or per haps
t hei r doubl e r ol e as monks and kni ght s. But you can i magi ne what peopl e must have
sai d about i t , t wo men gal l opi ng, one wi t h hi s ass pr essed agai nst t he ot her ' s
bel l y. But t hey may have been sl ander ed. . . "
" They cer t ai nl y wer e aski ng f or i t , " Bel bo i nt er r upt ed. " That Sai nt Ber nar d wasn' t
st upi d, was he?"
" St upi d, no. But he was a monk hi msel f , and i n t hose days monks had t hei r own
st r ange i deas about t he body. . . I sai d bef or e t hat maybe I was maki ng t hi s sound t oo
Page 43
much l i ke a West er n, but now t hat I t hi nk about i t . . . Li st en t o what Ber nar d has t o
say about hi s bel oved kni ght s. I br ought t hi s quot at i on wi t h me, because i t ' s wor t h
hear i ng: ' They shun and abhor mi mes, magi ci ans, and j uggl er s, l ewd songs and
buf f ooner y; t hey cut t hei r hai r shor t , f or t he apost l e says i t i s shamef ul f or a man
t o gr oomhi s hai r . Never ar e t hey seen coi f f ed, and r ar el y washed. Thei r bear ds ar e
unkempt , caked wi t h dust and sweat f r omt hei r ar mor and t he heat . ' "
" I woul d hat e t o sl eep i n t hei r quar t er s, " Bel bo sai d.
" I t ' s al ways been char act er i st i c of t he her mi t , " Di ot al l evi decl ar ed, " t o cul t i vat e
a heal t hy f i l t h, t o humi l i at e hi s body. Wasn' t i t Sai nt Macar i us who l i ved on a
col umn and pi cked up t he wor ms t hat dr opped f r omhi mand put t hemback on hi s body
so t hat t hey, who wer e al so God' s cr eat ur es, mi ght enj oy t hei r banquet ?' '
" The st yl i t e was Sai nt Si meon, " Bel bo sai d, " and I t hi nk he st ayed on t hat col umn so
he coul d spi t on t he peopl e who wal ked bel ow. ' '
" How I det est t he cyni ci smof t he Enl i ght enment , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " I n any case,
whet her Macar i us or Si meon, I ' msur e t her e was a st yl i t e wi t h wor ms, but of cour se
I ' mno aut hor i t y on t he subj ect , si nce t he f ol l i es of t he gent i l es don' t i nt er est
me. "
" Wher eas your Ger ona r abbi s wer e spi ck and span, " Bel bo sai d.
" They l i ved i n squal or because you gent i l es kept t hemi n t he ghet t o. The Templ ar s,
on t he ot her hand, chose t o be squal i d. "
" Let ' s not go over boar d, " I sai d. " Have you ever seen a pl at oon of r ecr ui t s af t er a
day' s mar ch? The r eason I ' mt el l i ng you al l t hi s i s t o hel p you under st and t he
di l emma of t he Templ ar . He had t o be myst i c, ascet i c, no eat i ng, dr i nki ng, or
scr ewi ng, but at t he same t i me he r oamed t he deser t cut t i ng of f t he heads of
Chr i st ' s enemi es; t he mor e heads he cut of f , t he mor e poi nt s he ear ned f or par adi se.
He st ank, got hai r i er ever y day, and t hen Ber nar d i nsi st ed t hat af t er conquer i ng a
ci t y he coul dn' t j ump on t op of some young gi r l - or ol d hag, f or t hat mat t er . And on
moonl ess ni ght s, when t he si moombl ew over t he deser t , he coul dn' t seek any f avor s
f r omhi s f avor i t e f el l ow- sol di er . How can you be a monk and a swor dsman at t he same
t i me, di sembowel i ng peopl e one mi nut e and r eci t i ng Ave Mar i as t he next ? They t el l
you not t o l ook even your f emal e cousi n i n t he eye, but when you ent er a ci t y, af t er
days of si ege, t he ot her Cr usader s hump t he cal i ph' s wi f e bef or e your ver y eyes, and
mar vel ous Shul ammi t e women undo t hei r bodi ces and say, Take me, Take me, but spar e
my l i f e. . . No, t he Templ ar had t o st ay har d, r eci t i ng compl i ne, hai r y and st i nki ng,
as Sai nt Ber nar d want ed hi mt o. For t hat mat t er , i f you j ust r ead t he r et r ai t s. . . "
" The what ?"
" The st at ut es of t he or der , dr awn up r at her l at e, af t er t he or der had put on i t s
r obe and sl i pper s, so t o speak. Ther e' s not hi ng wor se t han an ar my when t he war i s
over . At one poi nt , f or i nst ance, br awl i ng i s f or bi dden, i t ' s f or bi dden t o wound a
Chr i st i an f or r evenge, f or bi dden t o have commer ce wi t h women, f or bi dden t o sl ander a
br ot her . A Templ ar coul d not al l ow a sl ave t o escape, l ose hi s t emper and t hr eat en
t o def ect t o t he Sar acens, l et a hor se wander of f , gi ve away any ani mal except a dog
or cat , be absent wi t hout l eave, br eak t he mast er ' s seal , go out of t he bar r acks at
ni ght , l end t he or der ' s money wi t hout aut hor i zat i on, or t hr ow hi s habi t on t he
gr ound i n anger . "
" Fr ompr ohi bi t i ons you can t el l what peopl e nor mal l y do, " Bel bo sai d. " I t ' s a way of
dr awi ng a pi ct ur e of dai l y l i f e. "
" Let ' s see, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " A Templ ar , annoyed at somet hi ng t he br ot her s sai d or
di d t hat eveni ng, r i des out at ni ght wi t hout l eave, accompani ed by a l i t t l e Sar acen
boy and wi t h t hr ee capons hangi ng f r omhi s saddl e. He goes t o a gi r l of l oose mor al s
and, best owi ng t he capons upon her , engages i n i l l i ci t i nt er cour se. Dur i ng t hi s
debaucher y, t he Sar acen boy r i des of f wi t h t he hor se, and our Templ ar , even mor e
sweat - cover ed and di r t y t han usual , cr awl s home wi t h hi s t ai l bet ween hi s l egs. I n
an at t empt t o pass unnot i ced, he sl i ps some of t he Templ e' s money t o t he J ewi sh
usur er , who i s wai t i ng l i ke a vul t ur e on i t s per ch. . . "
" Thou hast sai d i t , Cai aphas, " Bel bo r emar ked.
" We' r e t al ki ng i n st er eot ypes her e. Wi t h t he money t he Templ ar t r i es t o r ecover , i f
not t he Sar acen boy, at l east a sembl ance of a hor se. But a f el l ow Templ ar hear s
about t he mi sadvent ur e, and one ni ght - we know t hat envy i s endemi c i n such
communi t i es- he dr ops some heavy hi nt s at supper , when t he meat i s ser ved. The
capt ai n gr ows suspi ci ous, t he suspect st ammer s, f l ushes, t hen dr aws hi s dagger and
f l i ngs hi msel f on hi s br ot her . . . "
" On t he t r eacher ous sycophant , " Bel bo cor r ect ed hi m.
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" On t he t r eacher ous sycophant , good. He f l i ngs hi msel f on t he wr et ch, sl ashi ng hi s
f ace. The wr et ch dr aws hi s swor d, an unseeml y br awl ensues, t he capt ai n wi t h t he
f l at of hi s swor d t r i es t o r est or e or der , t he ot her br ot her s sni gger . . . "
" Dr i nki ng and bl asphemi ng l i ke Templ ar s, " Bel bo sai d.
" God' s bodki n, i n God' s name, ' swounds, God' s bl ood, " I sai d.
" Our her o i s enr aged, and what does a Templ ar do when he' s enr aged?"
" He t ur ns pur pl e, " Bel bo suggest ed.
" Ri ght . He t ur ns pur pl e, t ear s of f hi s habi t , and t hr ows i t on t he gr ound. "
" How about : ' You can shove t hi s t uni c, you can shove your goddamn t empl e! ' " I
suggest ed. " And t hen he br eaks t he seal wi t h hi s swor d and announces t hat he' s
j oi ni ng t he Sar acens. "
" Vi ol at i ng at l east ei ght pr ecept s at one bl ow. "
" Anyway, " I sai d, dr i vi ng home my poi nt , " i magi ne a man l i ke t hat , who says he' s
j oi ni ng t he Sar acens. And one day t he ki ng' s bai l i f f ar r est s hi m, shows hi mt he
whi t e- hot i r ons, and says: ' Conf ess, knave! Admi t you st uck i t up your br ot her ' s
behi nd! " Who, me? Your i r ons make me l augh. I ' l l show you what a Templ ar i s! I ' l l
st i ck i t up your behi nd, and t he pope' s. And Ki ng Phi l i p' s, t oo, i f he comes wi t hi n
r each! ' "
" A conf essi on! That must be how i t happened, " Bel bo sai d. " Then i t ' s of f t o t he
dungeon wi t h hi m, and a coat of oi l ever y day so he' l l bur n bet t er when t he t i me
comes. "
" They wer e j ust a bunch of chi l dr en, " Di ot al l evi concl uded.
We wer e i nt er r upt ed by a gi r l wi t h a st r awber r y bi r t hmar k on her nose; she had some
paper s i n her hand and asked i f we had si gned t he pet i t i on f or t he i mpr i soned
Ar gent i nean comr ades. ' Bel bo si gned wi t hout r eadi ng i t . " They' r e even wor se of f t han
I am, " he sai d t o Di ot al l evi , who was r egar di ng hi mwi t h a bemused expr essi on. " He
can' t si gn, " Bel bo sai d t o t he gi r l . " He bel ongs t o a smal l I ndi an sect t hat f or bi ds
i t s member s t o wr i t e t hei r own names. Many of t hemar e i n j ai l because of gover nment
per secut i on. " The gi r l l ooked sympat het i cal l y at Di ot al l evi and passed t he pet i t i on
t o me.
" And who ar e t hey?" I asked.
" What do you mean, who ar e t hey? Ar gent i nean comr ades. "
" But what gr oup do t hey bel ong t o?"
" The Tacuar as, I t hi nk. "
" The Tacuar as ar e f asci st s, " I sai d. As i f I knew one gr oup f r omt he ot her .
" Fasci st pi g, " t he gi r l hi ssed at me. She l ef t .
" What you ar e sayi ng, t hen, " Di ot al l evi asked, " i s t hat t he Templ ar s wer e j ust poor
bast ar ds?"
" No, " I sai d. " Per haps I shoul dn' t have t r i ed t o l i ven up t he st or y. We wer e t al ki ng
about t he r ank and f i l e, but f r omt he begi nni ng t he or der r ecei ved huge donat i ons
and l i t t l e by l i t t l e set up commander i es t hr oughout Eur ope. Al f onso of Ar agon, f or
exampl e, gave t hema whol e r egi on. I n f act , i n hi s wi l l he want ed t o l eave t he
ki ngdomt o t hemi n t he event t hat he di ed wi t hout i ssue. The Templ ar s di dn' t t r ust
hi m, so t hey made a deal - t ook t he money and r an, mor e or l ess. Except t hat i nst ead
of money i t was hal f a dozen st r onghol ds i n Spai n. The ki ng of Por t ugal gave t hema
f or est . Si nce t he f or est happened t o be occupi ed by t he Sar acens, t he Templ ar s
or gani zed an at t ack, dr ove out t he Moor s, and i n t he pr ocess f ounded Coi mbr a. And
t hese ar e j ust a f ew epi sodes. The poi nt i s t hi s: Par t of t he or der was f i ght i ng i n
Pal est i ne, but t he bul k of i t st ayed home. Then what happened? Let ' s say someone has
t o go t o Pal est i ne. He needs money, and he' s af r ai d t o t r avel wi t h j ewel s and gol d,
so he l eaves hi s f or t une wi t h t he Templ ar s i n Fr ance, or i n Spai n, or i n I t al y. They
gi ve hi ma r ecei pt , and he get s cash f or i t i n t he East . "
" A l et t er of cr edi t , " Bel bo sai d.
" That ' s r i ght . They i nvent ed t he checki ng account l ong bef or e t he banker s of
Fl or ence. What wi t h donat i ons, ar med conquest s, and a per cent age f r omt hei r
f i nanci al oper at i ons, t he Templ ar s became a mul t i nat i onal . Runni ng an oper at i on l i ke
t hat t ook men who knew what t hey wer e doi ng. Men who coul d convi nce I nnocent I I t o
gr ant t hemexcept i onal pr i vi l eges. The or der was al l owed t o keep i t s boot y, and
wher ever t hey owned pr oper t y, t hey wer e answer abl e not t o t he ki ng, not t o t he
bi shops or t o t he pat r i ar ch of J er usal em, but onl y t o t he pope. They wer e exempt ed
f r omal l t i t hes, but t hey had t he r i ght t o i mpose t hei r own t i t hes on t he l ands
under t hei r cont r ol . . . I n shor t , t he or gani zat i on was al ways i n t he bl ack, and nobody
Page 45
had t he r i ght t o pr y i nt o i t . You can see why t he bi shops and monar chs di dn' t l i ke
t hem, t hough t hey coul dn' t do wi t hout t hem. The Cr usader s wer e t er r i bl e scr ewups.
They mar ched of f wi t hout any i dea of wher e t hey wer e goi ng or what t hey woul d f i nd
when t hey got t her e. But t he Templ ar s knew t hei r way ar ound. They knew how t o deal
wi t h t he enemy, t hey wer e f ami l i ar wi t h t he t er r ai n and t he ar t of f i ght i ng. The
Or der of t he Templ e had become a ser i ous busi ness, even t hough i t s r eput at i on was
based on t he boast i ng of i t s assaul t t r oops. "
" And t he boast i ng was empt y?" Di ot al l evi asked.
" Of t en. Her e agai n, what ' s amazi ng i s t he gul f bet ween t hei r pol i t i cal and
admi ni st r at i ve ski l l on t he one hand and t hei r Gr een Ber et st yl e on t he ot her : al l
gut s and no br ai ns. Let ' s t ake t he st or y of Ascal on- "
" Yes, l et ' s, " Bel bo sai d, af t er a moment ' s di st r act i on as he gr eet ed, wi t h a gr eat
show of l ust , a gi r l named Dol or es.
She j oi ned us, sayi ng, " I must hear t he st or y of Ascal on! "
" Al l r i ght . One f i ne day t he ki ng of Fr ance, t he Hol y Roman emper or , Ki ng Baudoui n
HI of J er usal em, and t he gr and mast er s of t he Templ ar s and t he Hospi t al er s al l
deci ded t o l ay si ege t o Ascal on. They set out t oget her : ki ng, cour t , pat r i ar ch,
pr i est s car r yi ng cr osses and banner s, and t he ar chbi shops of Tyr e, Nazar et h,
Caesar ea. I t was l i ke a bi g par t y, or i f t ammes and st andar ds f l yi ng, t ent s pi t ched
ar ound t he enemy ci t y, dr ums beat i ng. Ascal on was def ended by one hundr ed and f i f t y
t ower s, and t he i nhabi t ant s had l ong been pr epar i ng f or a si ege: al l t he houses had
sl i t s made i n t he wal l s; t hey wer e l i ke f or t r esses wi t hi n t he f or t r ess. I mean, t he
Templ ar s wer e smar t f i ght er s, t hey shoul d have known t hese t hi ngs. But no, ever ybody
got exci t ed, and t hey bui l t bat t er i ng r ams and wooden t ower s: you know, t hose
const r uct i ons on wheel s t hat you push up t o t he enemy wal l s so you can hur l st ones
or f i r ebr ands or shoot ar r ows whi l e t he cat apul t s sl i ng r ocks f r oma di st ance. The
Ascal oni t es t r i ed t o set f i r e t o t he t ower s, but t he wi nd was agai nst t hem, and t hey
bur ned t hei r own wal l s i nst ead, unt i l i n one pl ace a wal l col l apsed. The at t acker s
al l char ged t he br each.
" And t hen a st r ange t hi ng happened. The gr and mast er of t he Templ ar s had a cor don
set up so t hat onl y hi s men coul d ent er t he ci t y. Cyni cs say he was t r yi ng t o make
sur e t hat onl y t he Templ ar s woul d get t he boot y. A ki nder expl anat i on i s t hat he
f ear ed a t r ap and want ed t o send hi s own br ave men i n f i r st . Ei t her way, I woul dn' t
make hi mhead of a mi l i t ar y academy. For t y Templ ar s r an f ul l st eamst r ai ght t hr ough
t he ci t y, came t o a scr eechi ng hal t i n a gr eat cl oud of dust at t he wal l on t he
ot her si de, l ooked at one anot her , and wonder ed what i n hel l t hey wer e doi ng t her e.
Then t hey about - f aced and r an back, r aci ng past t he Sar acens, who pel t ed t hemwi t h
r ocks and dar t s, sl aught er i ng t he l ot of t hem, gr and mast er i ncl uded. Then t hey
cl osed t he br each, hung t he cor pses f r omt he wal l s, and j eer ed at t he Chr i st i ans,
wi t h obscene gest ur es and hor r i d l aught er . "
" The Moor i s cr uel , " Bel bo sai d.
" Li ke chi l dr en, " Di ot al l evi added.
" These Templ ar s of your s wer e r eal l y cr azy! " Dol or es sai d wi t h admi r at i on.
" They r emi nd me of Tomand J er r y, " Bel bo sai d.
I f el t a l i t t l e gui l t y. Af t er al l , I had been l i vi ng wi t h t he Templ ar s f or t wo
year s, and I l oved t hem. Yet now, cat er i ng t o t he snobber y of my audi ence, I had
made t hemsound l i ke char act er s out of a car t oon. Maybe i t was Wi l l i amof Tyr e' s
f aul t , t r eacher ous hi st or i ogr apher t hat he was. I coul d al most see my Kni ght s of t he
Templ e, bear ded and bl azi ng, t he br i ght r ed cr osses on t hei r snow- whi t e cl oaks,
t hei r mount s wheel i ng i n t he shadow of t he Beauceant , t hei r bl ack- and- whi t e banner .
They had been so dazzl i ngl y i nt ent on t hei r f east of deat h and dar i ng. Per haps t he
sweat Sai nt Ber nar d t al ked about was a br onze gl ow t hat l ent a sar cast i c nobi l i t y t o
t hei r f ear some smi l es as t hey cel ebr at ed t hei r f ar ewel l t o l i f e. . . Li ons i n war ,
J acques de Vi t r y cal l ed t hem, but sweet l ambs i n t i mes of peace; har sh i n bat t l e,
devout i n pr ayer ; f er oci ous t o t hei r enemi es, but f ul l of ki ndness t owar d t hei r
br ot her s. The whi t e and t he bl ack of t hei r banner wer e so apposi t e: t o t he f r i ends
of Chr i st t hey wer e pur e; t o Hi s adver sar i es t hey wer e gr i mand t er r i bl e.
Pat het i c champi ons of t he f ai t h, l ast gl i mmer of chi val r y' s t wi l i ght . Why pl ay any
ol d Ar i ost o t o t hemwhen I coul d be t hei r J oi nvi l l e? The aut hor of t he Hi st oi r e de
Sai nt Loui s had accompani ed t he sai nt ed ki ng t o t he Hol y Land, act i ng as bot h scr i be
and sol di er . I r ecal l ed now what he had wr i t t en about t he Templ ar s. Thi s was mor e
t han a hundr ed and ei ght y year s af t er t he or der was f ounded, and i t had been t hr ough
Page 46
enough cr usades t o under mi ne anyone' s i deal s. The her oi c f i gur es of Queen Mel i - sande
and Baudoui n t he l eper - ki ng had vani shed l i ke ghost s; f act i onal f i ght i ng i n
Lebanon- bl ood- soaked even t hen- had dr awn t o a cl ose; J er usal emhad al r eady f al l en
once; Bar bar ossa had dr owned i n Ci l i ci a; Ri char d t he Li on- Hear t , def eat ed and
humi l i at ed, had gone home di sgui sed as, of al l t hi ngs, a Templ ar ; Chr i st i ani t y had
l ost t he bat t l e. The Moor s' vi ew of t he conf eder at i on of aut onomous pot ent at es
uni t ed i n t he def ense of t hei r ci vi l i zat i on was ver y di f f er ent . They had r ead
Avi cenna, and t hey wer e not i gnor ant , l i ke t he Eur opeans. How coul d you l i ve
al ongsi de a t ol er ant , myst i cal , l i ber t i ne cul t ur e f or t wo cent ur i es wi t hout
succumbi ng t o i t s al l ur e, par t i cul ar l y when you compar ed i t t o West er n cul t ur e,
whi ch was cr ude, vul gar , bar bar i c, and Ger mani c? Then, i n 1244, came t he f i nal ,
def i ni t i ve f al l of J er usal em. The war , begun a hundr ed and f i f t y year s ear l i er , was
l ost . The Chr i st i ans had t o l ay down t hei r ar ms i n a l and now devot ed t o peace and
t he scent of t he cedar s of Lebanon. Poor Templ ar s. Your epi c, al l i n vai n.
Li t t l e wonder t hat i n t he t ender mel anchol y of t hei r f aded, agi ng gl or y t hey l ent an
ear t o t he secr et doct r i nes of Mosl emmyst i cs, hi er at i c guar di ans of hi dden
t r easur es. Per haps t hat was how t he l egend of t he Kni ght s of t he Templ e was bor n,
t he l egend wi t h whi ch some f r ust r at ed and year ni ng mi nds ar e st i l l obsessed, t he
myt h of a boundl ess power l yi ng unused, unhar nessed. . .
Even i n J oi nvi l l e' s day, t he sai nt - ki ng Loui s, at whose t abl e Aqui nas di ned,
per si st ed i n hi s bel i ef i n t he cr usade, despi t e t wo cent ur i es of dr eams r ui ned by
t he vi ct or s' st upi di t y. Was i t wor t h one mor e t r y? Yes, Loui s sai d. And t he Templ ar s
wer e r eady and wi l l i ng; t hey f ol l owed hi mi nt o def eat , because t hat was t hei r j ob.
Wi t hout a cr usade, how coul d t hey j ust i f y t he Templ e?
Loui s at t acks Dami et t a f r omt he sea. The enemy shor e gl i t t er s wi t h pi kes, hal ber ds,
or i f l ammes, shi el ds, and sci mi t ar s. Fi ne- l ooki ng men, J oi nvi l l e says chi val r ousl y,
who car r y ar ms of gol d st r uck by t he sun. Loui s coul d wai t , but he deci des t o l and
at any cost . " My f ai t hf ul f ol l ower s, we wi l l be i nvi nci bl e i f we ar e i nsepar abl e i n
our char i t y. I f we ar e def eat ed, we wi l l be mar t yr s. I f we t r i umph, t he gl or y of God
wi l l be t he gr eat er . " The Templ ar s don' t bel i eve i t , but t hey have been t r ai ned t o
be kni ght s of t he i deal , and t hi s i s t he i mage of t hemsel ves t hey must conf i r m. They
wi l l f ol l ow t he ki ng i n hi s myst i cal madness.
I ncr edi bl y, t he l andi ng i s a success; equal l y i ncr edi bl y, t he Sar acens abandon
Dami et t a. But t he ki ng hesi t at es t o ent er t he ci t y, f ear i ng t r eacher y. But t her e i s
no t r eacher y: t he ci t y i s hi s f or t he t aki ng, al ong wi t h i t s t r easur es and i t s
hundr ed mosques, whi ch Loui s i mmedi at el y conver t s i nt o chur ches of t he Lor d. Now he
has a deci si on t o make: Shoul d he mar ch on Al exandr i a or on Cai r o? The wi se choi ce
woul d be Al exandr i a, t hus depr i vi ng Egypt of a vi t al por t . But t he expedi t i on has
i t s evi l geni us, t he ki ng' s br ot her , Rober t d' Ar t oi s, a megal omani ac hungr y f or
gl or y. A t ypi cal younger son. He advi ses Loui s t o head f or Cai r o, t he hear t of
Egypt . The Templ ar s, caut i ous at f i r st , ar e now champi ng at t he bi t . The ki ng i ssues
or der s t o avoi d i sol at ed ski r mi shes, but t he mar shal of t he Templ e t akes i t upon
hi msel f t o vi ol at e t hat pr ohi bi t i on. Seei ng a squadr on of t he sul t an' s Mamel ukes, he
cr i es out : " Now have at t hem, i n t he name of God, f or a shame l i ke t hi s I cannot
bear ! "
The Sar acens di g i n beyond t he r i ver near Mansur a. The Fr ench t r y t o bui l d a damand
cr eat e a f or d, pr ot ect i ng i t wi t h t hei r mobi l e t ower s, but t he Sar acens have l ear ned
t he ar t of Gr eek f i r e f r omt he Byzant i nes. Gr eek f i r e i s a bar r el - l i ke cont ai ner
wi t h a ki nd of bi g spear as a t ai l . I t i s hur l ed l i ke a l i ght ni ng bol t , a f l yi ng
dr agon. I t bur ns so br i ght l y t hat i n t he Chr i st i an camp at ni ght one can see as
cl ear l y as i f i t wer e day.
Whi l e t he camp bur ns, a Bedoui n t r ai t or l eads t he ki ng and hi s men t o a f or d i n
exchange f or a payment of t hr ee hundr ed bezant s. The ki ng deci des t o at t ack. The
cr ossi ng i s not easy; many ar e dr owned and swept away by t he cur r ent , whi l e t hr ee
hundr ed mount ed Sar acens wai t on t he ot her si de. When t he mai n body of t he at t ack
f or ce f i nal l y comes ashor e, t he Templ ar s, as pl anned, ar e i n t he vanguar d, f ol l owed
by t he Comt e d' Ar t oi s. The Mosl emhor semen f l ee, and t he Templ ar s wai t f or t he r est
of t he Chr i st i an ar my. But Ar t oi s and hi s men dash of f i n pur sui t of t he enemy.
The Templ ar s, anxi ous t o avoi d di shonor , t hen j oi n i n t he assaul t , but cat ch up wi t h
Ar t oi s onl y af t er he has penet r at ed t he enemy camp and begun a massacr e. The Mosl ems
f al l back t owar d Mansur a, whi ch i s j ust what Ar t oi s has been hopi ng f or . He set s out
af t er t hem. The Templ ar s t r y t o st op hi m; Br ot her Gi l l es, supr eme commander of t he
Templ e, t r i es f l at t er y, t el l i ng Ar t oi s t hat he has per f or med a wondr ous f eat ,
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per haps t he gr eat est ever achi eved over seas. But Ar t oi s, eager f or gl or y, accuses
t he Templ ar s of t r eacher y, cl ai mi ng t hat t he Templ ar s and Hospi t al er s coul d have
conquer ed t hi s t er r i t or y l ong ago i f t hey had r eal l y want ed t o. He has shown t hem
what a man wi t h bl ood i n hi s vei ns can do. Thi s i s t oo much. The Templ ar s must pr ove
t hat t hey ar e second t o none. They char ge i nt o t he ci t y and chase t he enemy al l t he
way t o t he wal l on t he opposi t e si de. Then suddenl y t he Templ ar s r eal i ze t hat t hey
have r epeat ed t he mi st ake of Ascal on. Whi l e t he Chr i st i ans ar e busy sacki ng t he
sul t an' s pal ace, t he i nf i del s r eassembl e and f al l upon t he now unor gani zed gr oup of
j ackal s.
Have t he Templ ar s al l owed t hemsel ves t o be bl i nded once agai n by gr eed? Some say
t hat bef or e accompanyi ng Ar t oi s i nt o t he ci t y, Br ot her Gi l l es spoke t o hi mwi t h
st oi c l uci di t y: " My Lor d, my br ot her s and I ar e not af r ai d. We f ol l ow you. But gr eat
i s our doubt t hat any of us wi l l r et ur n. " And i ndeed, Ar t oi s was ki l l ed, and many
good kni ght s di ed wi t h hi m, i ncl udi ng t wo hundr ed and ei ght y Templ ar s.
I t was mor e t han a def eat ; i t was a di sgr ace. Yet not even J oi nvi l l e r ecor ded i t as
such. I t happened and t hat i s t he beaut y of war .
J oi nvi l l e' s pen t ur ns many of t hese bat t l es and ski r mi shes i nt o char mi ng bal l et s.
Heads r ol l her e and t her e, i mpl or at i ons t o t he good Lor d abound, and t he ki ng sheds
t ear s over a l oyal f ol l ower ' s deat h. But t he whol e t hi ng i s Techni col or , compl et e
wi t h cr i mson saddl ecl ot hs, gi l ded t r appi ngs, t he f l ash of hel met s and swor ds under
t he yel l ow deser t sun, and an azur e sea i n t he backgr ound. And who knows? Per haps
t he Templ ar s r eal l y l i ved t hei r dai l y but cher y t hat way.
J oi nvi l l e' s per spect i ve shi f t s ver t i cal l y, dependi ng on whet her he has f al l en f r om
hi s hor se or j ust r emount ed. I sol at ed scenes ar e shar pl y f ocused, but t he l ar ger
pi ct ur e el udes hi m. We see i ndi vi dual duel s, whose out come i s of t en r andom.
J oi nvi l l e set s of f t o hel p t he l or d of Wanpn. A Tur k st r i kes hi mwi t h hi s l ance,
J oi nvi l l e' s hor se si nks t o i t s knees, J oi nvi l l e f al l s over t he ani mal ' s head, he
st ands up, swor d i n hand, and Cheval i er Er ar d de Si vei ey ( " may God gr ant hi mgr ace" )
poi nt s t o a r ui ned house wher e t hey can t ake r ef uge. They ar e t r ampl ed by Tur ks on
hor seback. Cheval i er Fr eder i c de Loupey i s st r uck f r ombehi nd, " whi ch made so l ar ge
a wound t hat t he bl ood pour ed f r omhi s body as i f f r omt he bunghol e of a bar r el . "
Si ver ey r ecei ves a sl ashi ng bl ow i n t he f ace, so t hat " hi s nose was l ef t dangl i ng
over hi s l i ps. " And so on, unt i l hel p ar r i ves. They l eave t he house and move t o
anot her par t of t he bat t l ef i el d, wher e t her e ar e mor e deat hs and l ast - mi nut e
r escues, and l oud pr ayer s t o Sai nt J ames. I n t he meant i me, t he good Comt e de
Soi ssons, wi el di ng hi s swor d, cr i es, " Seneschal , l et t hese dogs howl as t hey wi l l .
By God' s bonnet , we shal l t al k of t hi s day yet , you and I , si t t i ng at home wi t h our
l adi es! " The ki ng asks f or news of hi s br ot her , t he wr et ched Comt e d' Ar t oi s, and
Br ot her Henr i de Ronnay, pr ovost of t he Hospi t al er s, answer s t hat he " has good news,
f or cer t ai nl y t he count i s now i n Par adi se. " " God be pr ai sed f or ever yt hi ng He
gi ves, " says t he ki ng, bi g t ear s f al l i ng f r omhi s eyes.
But i t i sn' t al ways a bal l et , angel i c and bl oodst ai ned. Gr and Mast er Gui l l aume de
Sonnac di es, bur ned al i ve by Gr eek f i r e. Wi t h t he gr eat st i nk of cor pses and t he
shor t age of pr ovi si ons, t he Chr i st i an ar my i s st r i cken wi t h scur vy. Sai nt Loui s' s
men ar e f i nal l y r out ed. The ki ng i s so badl y r acked by dysent er y t hat he cut s out
t he seat of hi s pant s t o save t i me i n bat t l e. Dami et t a i s l ost , and t he queen has t o
negot i at e wi t h t he Sar acens, payi ng f i ve hundr ed t housand l i vr es t our noi s t o r ansom
t he ki ng.
The cr usades wer e car r i ed out i n vi r t uous bad f ai t h. On hi s r et ur n t o
Sai nt - J ean- d' Acr e, Loui s i s hai l ed as a vi ct or ; t he whol e ci t y comes out i n
pr ocessi on t o gr eet hi m, i ncl udi ng t he cl er gy, l adi es, and chi l dr en. The Templ ar s,
seei ng whi ch way t he wi nd i s bl owi ng, t r y t o open negot i at i ons wi t h Damascus. Loui s
f i nds out and, f ur i ous at bei ng bypassed, r epudi at es t he new gr and mast er i n t he
pr esence of t he Mosl emambassador s. The gr and mast er has t o r et r act t he pr omi ses he
made t o t he enemy, has t o kneel bef or e t he ki ng and beg hi s par don. No one can say
t he Kni ght s haven' t f ought wel l - and sel f l essl y- but t he ki ng of Fr ance st i l l
humi l i at es t hem, t o r easser t hi s power . And, hal f a cent ur y l at er , Loui s' s
successor , Phi l i p, t o r easser t hi s power , wi l l send t he Kni ght s t o t he st ake.
I n 1291 Sai nt - J ean- d' Acr e i s conquer ed by t he Moor s, and al l i t s i nhabi t ant s ar e put
t o t he swor d. The Chr i st i an ki ngdomof J er usal emi s gone f or good. The Templ ar s ar e
r i cher , mor e numer ous, mor e power f ul t han ever , but t hey wer e bor n t o f i ght i n t he
Hol y Land, and i n t he Hol y Land t her e ar e none l ef t .
They l i ve i n spl endor , i sol at ed i n t hei r commander i es t hr oughout Eur ope and i n t he
Page 48
Templ e i n Par i s, but t hey dr eamst i l l of t he pl at eau of t he Templ e i n J er usal emi n
t hei r days of gl or y, dr eamof t he handsome chur ch of Sai nt Mar y Lat er an spangl ed
wi t h vot i ve chapel s, dr eamof t hei r bouquet s of t r ophi es, and al l t he r est : t he
f or ges, t he saddl er y, t he gr anar i es, t he st abl es of t wo t housand hor ses, t he
cant er i ng t r oops of squi r es, ai des, and t ur copol es, t he r ed cr osses on whi t e cl oaks,
t he dar k sur pl i ces of t he at t endant s, t he sul t an' s envoys wi t h t hei r gr eat t ur bans
and gi l ded hel met s, t he pi l gr i ms, a cr ossr oads f i l l ed wi t h dapper pat r ol s and
out r i der s, and t he del i ght s of r i ch cof f er s, t he por t f r omwhi ch i nst r uct i ons and
car goes wer e di spat ched f or t he cast l es on t he mai nl and, or on t he i sl ands, or on
t he shor es of Asi a Mi nor . . .
Al l gone now, my poor Templ ar s.
That eveni ng, at Pi l ade' s, by t hen on my f i f t h whi skey, f or whi ch Bel bo was payi ng,
i nsi st ed on payi ng, I r eal i zed t hat I had been dr eami ng al oud and- t he shame of
i t - wi t h f eel i ng. But I must have t ol d a beaut i f ul st or y, f ul l of compassi on, because
Dol or es' s eyes wer e gl i st eni ng, and Di ot al l evi , havi ng t aken t he mad pl unge and
or der ed a second t oni c wat er , was ser aphi cal l y gazi ng t owar d heaven- or , r at her ,
t owar d t he bar ' s deci dedl y noncabal i st i c cei l i ng. " Per haps, " he mur mur ed, " t hey wer e
al l t hose t hi ngs: l ost soul s and sai nt s, hor semen and gr ooms, banker s and her oes. . . "
" They wer e r emar kabl e, no doubt about i t " was Bel bo' s summat i on. " But t el l me,
Casaubon, do you l ove t hem?"
" I ' mdoi ng my t hesi s on t hem. I f you do your t hesi s on syphi l i s, you end up l ovi ng
even t he Spi r ochaet a pal l i da. "
" I t was l ovel y, " Dol or es sai d. " Li ke a movi e. But I have t o go now. I have t o
mi meogr aph t he l eaf l et s f or t omor r ow mor ni ng. Ther e' s pi cket i ng at t he Mar el l i
f act or y. "
" Lucky you. You can af f or d i t , " Bel bo sai d. He r ai sed a wear y hand and st r oked her
hai r . Then he or der ed what he sai d was hi s l ast whi skey. " I t ' s al most mi dni ght . I
say t hat not f or nor mal peopl e, I say i t f or Di ot al l evi ' s benef i t . But l et ' s go on.
I want t o hear about t he t r i al . Who, what , when, and why. "
" Cur , quomodo, quando, " Di ot al l evi agr eed. " Yes, yes. "
14
He decl ar es t hat he saw, t he day bef or e, f i ve hundr ed and f our br ot her s of t he or der
l ed t o t he st ake because t hey woul d not conf ess t he above- ment i oned er r or s, and he
hear d i t sai d t hat t hey wer e bur ned. But he f ear s t hat he hi msel f woul d not r esi st
i f he wer e t o be bur ned, t hat he woul d conf ess i n t he pr esence of t he l or d
magi st r at es and anyone el se, i f quest i oned, and say t hat al l t he er r or s wi t h whi ch
t he or der has been char ged ar e t r ue; t hat he, i f asked, woul d al so conf ess t o
ki l l i ng Our Lor d.
- Test i mony of Ai mer y de Vi l l i er s- l e- Duc, May 13, 1310
A t r i al f ul l of si l ences, cont r adi ct i ons, eni gmas, and act s of st upi di t y. The act s
of st upi di t y wer e t he most obvi ous, and, because t hey wer e i nexpl i cabl e, t hey
gener al l y coi nci ded wi t h t he eni gmas. I n t hose hal cyon days I bel i eved t hat t he
sour ce of eni gma was st upi di t y. Then t he ot her eveni ng i n t he per i scope I deci ded
t hat t he most t er r i bl e eni gmas ar e t hose t hat mask t hemsel ves as madness. But now I
have come t o bel i eve t hat t he whol e wor l d i s an eni gma, a har ml ess eni gma t hat i s
made t er r i bl e by our own mad at t empt t o i nt er pr et i t as t hough i t had an under l yi ng
t r ut h.
Wi t h t he col l apse of t he Chr i st i an ki ngdoms of t he Hol y Land, t he Templ ar s wer e l ef t
wi t hout a pur pose. Or , r at her , t hey soon t ur ned t hei r means i nt o an end; t hey spent
t hei r t i me managi ng t hei r i mmense weal t h. Phi l i p t he Fai r , a monar ch i nt ent on
bui l di ng a cent r al i zed st at e, nat ur al l y di sl i ked t hem. They wer e a sover ei gn or der ,
beyond any r oyal cont r ol . The gr and mast er r anked as a pr i nce of t he bl ood; he
commanded an ar my, admi ni st er ed vast l andhol di ngs, was el ect ed l i ke t he emper or , and
had absol ut e aut hor i t y. The Fr ench t r easur y was l ocat ed i n t he Templ e i n Par i s,
out si de t he ki ng' s cont r ol . The Templ ar s wer e t he t r ust ees, pr oxi es, and
admi ni st r at or s of an account t hat was t he ki ng' s onl y i n name. They pai d f unds i n
and out and mani pul at ed t he i nt er est ; t hey act ed l i ke a gr eat pr i vat e bank but
enj oyed al l t he pr i vi l eges and exempt i ons of a st at e i nst i t ut i on. The ki ng' s
Page 49
t r easur er was a Templ ar . How coul d a r ul er r ul e under such condi t i ons?
I f you can' t l i ck ' em, j oi n ' em. Phi l i p asked t o be made an honor ar y Templ ar .
Request deni ed. An i nsul t no ki ng coul d swal l ow. He suggest ed t hat t he pope mer ge
Templ ar s and Hospi t al er s and pl ace t he new or der under t he cont r ol of one of hi s
sons. J acques de Mol ay, gr and mast er of t he Templ e, ar r i ved wi t h gr eat pomp f r om
Cypr us, wher e he l i ved l i ke a monar ch i n exi l e. He handed t he pope a memor andumt hat
supposedl y assessed t he advant ages of t he mer ger but act ual l y emphasi zed i t s
di sadvant ages. Mol ay br azenl y ar gued t hat , among ot her t hi ngs, t he Templ ar s wer e f ar
weal t hi er t han t he Hospi t al er s, t hat t he mer ger woul d enr i ch t he l at t er at t he
expense of t he f or mer , t hus put t i ng t he soul s of hi s kni ght s i n j eopar dy. Mol ay won
t hi s f i r st r ound: t he pl an was shel ved.
The onl y r ecour se l ef t was sl ander , and her e t he ki ng hel d good car ds. Rumor s about
t he Templ ar s had been ci r cul at i ng f or a l ong t i me. I magi ne how t hese " col oni al s"
must have l ooked t o r i ght - t hi nki ng Fr enchmen, t hese peopl e who col l ect ed t i t hes
ever ywher e whi l e gi vi ng not hi ng i n r et ur n, not even- anymor e- t hei r own bl ood as
guar di ans of t he Hol y Sepul cher . Tr ue, t hey wer e Fr enchmen. But not compl et el y.
Peopl e saw t hemas pi eds noi r s; at t he t i me, t he t er mwas poul ai ns. The Templ ar s
f l aunt ed t hei r exot i c ways; i t was sai d t hat among t hemsel ves t hey even spoke t he
l anguage of t he Moor s, wi t h whi ch t hey wer e f ami l i ar . Though t hey wer e monks, t hei r
savage nat ur e was common knowl edge: some year s bef or e, Pope I nnocent I I I had i ssued
a bul l ent i Sed De i nsol ent i a Templ ar i or um. They had t aken a vow of pover t y, but t hey
l i ved wi t h t he pomp of ar i st ocr at s, wi t h t he gr eed of t he new mer chant cl asses, and
wi t h t he ef f r ont er y of a cor ps of musket eer s.
The whi sper i ng campai gn was not l ong i n comi ng: t he Templ ar s wer e homosexual s,
her et i cs, i dol at er s wor shi pi ng a bear ded head of unknown pr ovenance. Per haps t hey
shar ed t he secr et s of t he I sma' i l i s, f or t hey had had deal i ngs wi t h t he Assassi ns of
t he Ol d Man of t he Mount ai n. Phi l i p and hi s advi ser s put t hese r umor s t o good use.
Phi l i p was assi st ed by hi s t wo evi l geni uses, Mar i gny and Nogar et . I t was Mar i gny
who ul t i mat el y got cont r ol of t he Templ ar t r easur y, admi ni st er i ng i t on t he ki ng' s
behal f unt i l i t was t r ansf er r ed t o t he Hospi t al er s. I t i s not cl ear who got t he
i nt er est . Nogar et , t he ki ng' s l or d chancel l or , i n 1303 had been t he st r at egi st
behi nd t he i nci dent i n Anagni , when Sci ar r a Col onna sl apped Boni f ace VI I I and t he
pope di ed of humi l i at i on l ess t han a mont h l at er .
Then a man by t he name of Esqui n de Fl oyr an appear ed on t he scene. Appar ent l y, whi l e
i mpr i soned f or unspeci f i ed cr i mes and on t he ver ge of bei ng execut ed, Fl oyr an
encount er ed a r enegade Templ ar i n hi s cel l and f r omhi mhear d a t er r i bl e conf essi on.
I n exchange f or hi s l i f e and a t i dy sum, Fl oyr an t ol d ever yt hi ng. Whi ch t ur ned out
t o be exact l y what ever ybody was al r eady r umor i ng. Now t he r umor s became f or mal
deposi t i ons bef or e a magi st r at e. The ki ng t r ansmi t t ed Fl oyr an' s sensat i onal
r evel at i ons t o t he pope, Cl ement V, who l at er moved t he papal seat t o Avi gnon.
Cl ement bel i eved some of t he char ges, but knew i t woul d not be easy t o i nt er f er e i n
t he Templ e' s af f ai r s. I n 1307, however , he agr eed t o open an of f i ci al i nqui r y.
Mol ay, t he gr and mast er , was i nf or med, but decl ar ed t hat hi s consci ence was cl ear .
At t he ki ng' s si de, he cont i nued t o t ake par t i n of f i ci al cer emoni es, a pr i nce among
pr i nces. Cl ement V seemed t o be st al l i ng, and t he ki ng began t o suspect t hat t he
pope want ed t o gi ve t he Templ ar s t i me t o di sappear . But no, t he Templ ar s went on
dr i nki ng and bl asphemi ng i n t hei r commander i es, seemi ngl y unawar e of t he danger . And
t hi s i s t he f i r st eni gma.
On Sept ember 14, 1307, t he ki ng sent seal ed messages t o al l t he bai l i f f s and
seneschal s of t he r eal m, or der i ng t he mass ar r est of t he Templ ar s and t he
conf i scat i on of t hei r pr oper t y. A mont h went by bet ween t he i ssui ng of t hi s or der
and t he ar r est on Oct ober 13. But t he Templ ar s suspect ed not hi ng. On t hat Oct ober
mor ni ng t hey al l f el l i nt o t he t r ap and- anot her eni gma- gave t hemsel ves up wi t hout a
f i ght . I n f act , i n t he days bef or e t he ar r est s, usi ng t he most f eebl e excuses, t he
ki ng' s men, want i ng t o make sur e t hat not hi ng woul d escape conf i scat i on, had
conduct ed a ki nd of i nvent or y of t he Templ e' s possessi ons t hr oughput t he count r y.
And st i l l t he Templ ar s di d not hi ng. Come r i ght i n, my dear bai l i f f , t ake a l ook
ar ound, make your sel f at home.
When he l ear ned what had happened, t he pope hazar ded a pr ot est , but i t was t oo l at e.
The r oyal i nvest i gat or s had al r eady br ought out t hei r i r ons and r opes, and many
Kni ght s had begun t o conf ess under t or t ur e. When t hey conf essed, t hey wer e handed
over t o i nqui si t or s, who had met hods of t hei r own, even t hough t hey wer e not yet
bur ni ng peopl e at t he st ake. The Kni ght s conf i r med t hei r conf essi ons.
Page 50
Thi s i s t he t hi r d myst er y. Gr ant ed, t her e was t or t ur e, and i t must have been
vi gor ous, si nce t hi r t y- si x Kni ght s di ed i n t he cour se of i t . But not a si ngl e one of
t hese men of i r on, seasoned by t hei r bat t l es wi t h t he cr uel Tl i r k, r esi st ed ar r est .
I n Par i s onl y f our Kni ght s out of a hundr ed and t hi r t y- ei ght r ef used t o conf ess. Al l
t he ot her s di d, i ncl udi ng J acques de Mol ay.
" What di d t hey conf ess?" Bel bo asked.
" They conf essed exact l y what was char ged i n t he ar r est war r ant . Ther e was har dl y any
var i at i on i n t he t est i mony, at l east not i n Fr ance and I t al y. I n Engl and, wher e
nobody r eal l y want ed t o go t hr ough wi t h t he t r i al , t he usual accusat i ons appear ed i n
t he deposi t i ons, but t hey wer e at t r i but ed t o wi t nesses out si de t he or der , whose
t est i mony was hear say. I n ot her wor ds, t he Templ ar s conf essed onl y when asked t o,
and t hen onl y t o what was char ged. "
" Same ol d i nqui si t i onal st uf f . We' ve seen i t of t en, " Bel bo r emar ked.
" Yet t he behavi or of t he accused was odd. The char ges wer e t hat dur i ng t hei r
i ni t i at i on r i t es t he Templ ar s deni ed Chr i st t hr ee t i mes, spat on t he cr uci f i x, and
wer e st r i pped and ki ssed i n post er i or i par t e spi ne dor si , i n ot her wor ds, on t he
behi nd, t hen on t he navel and t he mout h, i n humane di gni t at i s oppr obr i um. That t hey
t hen engaged i n mut ual f or ni cat i on. That t hey wer e t hen shown t he head of a bear ded
i dol , whi ch t hey had t o wor shi p. Now, how di d t he accused r espond t o t hese char ges?
Geof f r oy de Char nay, who was l at er bur ned at t he st ake wi t h Mol ay, sai d t hat , yes,
i t had happened t o hi m; he had deni ed Chr i st , but wi t h hi s mout h, not hi s hear t ; he
di dn' t r ecal l whet her he spat on t he cr uci f i x, because t hey had been i n such a hur r y
t hat ni ght . As f or t he ki ss on t he behi nd, t hat al so had happened t o hi m, and he had
hear d t he pr ecept or of Auver gne say t hat , af t er al l , i t was bet t er t o coupl e wi t h
br ot her s t han t o be bef oul ed by a woman, but he per sonal l y had not commi t t ed car nal
si ns wi t h ot her Kni ght s. I n ot her wor ds: Yes, i t ' s al l t r ue, but i t was onl y a game,
nobody r eal l y bel i eved i n i t , and anyway i t was t he ot her s who di d i t , I j ust went
al ong t o be pol i t e. J acques de Mol ay- t he gr and mast er hi msel f - sai d t hat when t hey
gave hi mt he cr uci f i x, he onl y pr et ended t o spi t on i t and spat on t he gr ound
i nst ead. He admi t t ed t hat t he i ni t i at i on cer emoni es wer e mor e or l ess as descr i bed,
but - t o t el l t he t r ut h- he coul dn' t say f or sur e, because he had i ni t i at ed ver y f ew
br ot her s i n t he cour se of hi s car eer . Anot her Kni ght sai d t hat he had ki ssed t he
mast er , but onl y on t he mout h, not t he behi nd; i t was t he mast er who ki ssed hi mon
t he behi nd. Some di d conf ess t o mor e t han was necessar y, sayi ng t hat t hey had not
onl y deni ed Chr i st but al so cal l ed Hi ma cr i mi nal , and t hey had deni ed t he vi r gi ni t y
of Mar y, and t hey had ur i nat ed on t he cr uci f i x, not onl y on t he day of t hei r
i ni t i at i on, but dur i ng Hol y Week as wel l . They di dn' t bel i eve i n t he sacr ament s,
t hey sai d, and t hey wor shi ped not onl y Ba- phomet but al so t he Devi l i n t he f or mof a
cat . . . "
Equal l y gr ot esque, t hough not as i ncr edi bl e, i s t he pas de deux t hat now begi ns
bet ween t he ki ng and t he pope. The pope want s t o t ake char ge of t he case; t he ki ng
i nsi st s on seei ng t he t r i al t hr ough t o i t s concl usi on. The pope suggest s a t empor ar y
suspensi on of t he or der : t he gui l t y wi l l be sent enced, t hen t he Templ e wi l l be
r evi ved i n i t s or i gi nal pur i t y. The ki ng want s t he scandal t o spr ead, want s i t t o
i nvol ve t he ent i r e or der . Thi s wi l l l ead t o t he or der ' s compl et e
di ssol ut i on- pol i t i cal l y, r el i gi ousl y, and, most of al l , f i nanci al l y.
At one poi nt a document i s pr oduced t hat ' s a pur e mast er pi ece. Some doct or s of
t heol ogy ar gue t hat i n or der t o pr event t hemf r omr et r act i ng t hei r conf essi ons, t he
accused shoul d be deni ed any def ense. Si nce t hey have al r eady conf essed, t her e i s no
need f or a t r i al . A t r i al i s r equi r ed onl y i f some doubt about t he case exi st s, and
her e t her e i s no doubt . " Why al l ow t hema def ense, whose onl y pur pose woul d be t o
shi el d t hemf r omt he consequences of t hei r admi t t ed er r or s? The evi dence r ender s
t hei r puni shment i nescapabl e. "
But t her e i s st i l l a r i sk t hat t he pope mi ght t ake cont r ol of t he t r i al , so t he ki ng
and Nogar et set up a sensat i onal case i nvol vi ng t he bi shop of Tr oyes, who i s accused
of wi t chcr af t by t he secr et t est i mony of a myst er i ous conspi r at or named Nof f o Dei .
I t wi l l be di scover ed l at er t hat Dei l i ed- and he wi l l be hanged f or hi s t r oubl e- but
i n t he meant i me t he poor bi shop i s publ i cl y accused of sodomy, sacr i l ege, and usur y;
t he same cr i mes as t he Templ ar s. Per haps t he ki ng i s t r yi ng t o show t he sons of
Fr ance t hat t he Chur ch has no r i ght t o si t i n j udgment on t he Templ ar s, si nce i t i s
i t sel f not unt ouched by t hei r si ns; or per haps he i s si mpl y gi vi ng t he pope a
war ni ng t o st ay away. I t ' s al l ver y mur ky, a cr i sscr ossi ng of var i ous pol i ce f or ces
and secr et ser vi ces, mut ual i nf i l t r at i ons and anonymous accusat i ons. The pope i s now
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cor ner ed, and he agr ees t o i nt er r ogat e sevent y- t wo Templ ar s, who r epeat t he
conf essi ons t hey made under t or t ur e. But t he pope obser ves t hat t hey have r epent ed,
and uses t hei r abj ur at i on- a t r ump car d- as an excuse t o par don t hem.
And her e somet hi ng el se happens- i t was a pr obl emI had t o r esol ve i n my t hesi s, but
I was t or n bet ween cont r adi ct or y sour ces. J ust when t he pope has f i nal l y won
j ur i sdi ct i on over t he kni ght s, he suddenl y hands t hemback t o t he ki ng. Why does
t hi s happen? Mol ay r et r act s hi s conf essi on; Cl ement al l ows hi ma def ense, and t hr ee
car di nal s ar e summoned t o i nt er r ogat e hi m. On November 26, 1309, Mol ay pr oudl y
def ends t he or der and i t s pur i t y; he even goes so f ar as t o t hr eat en i t s accuser s.
But t hen he i s vi si t ed by an envoy f r omt he ki ng, Gui l l aume de Pl ai sans, whomMol ay
consi der s a f r i end. He i s gi ven some obscur e advi ce, and t wo days l at er , on November
28, he i ssues a meek and vague deposi t i on, i n whi ch he cl ai ms t o be a poor ,
uneducat ed kni ght , and he conf i nes hi msel f t o l i st i ng t he ( now r emot e) mer i t s of t he
Templ e, i t s act s of char i t y, t he bl ood t he Templ ar s shed i n t he Hol y Land, and so
on. To make mat t er s wor se, Nogar et suddenl y ar r i ves and r emi nds ever yone t hat t he
Templ e once had dubi ous cont act s wi t h Sal adi n. Now t he i mpl i ed cr i me i s hi gh
t r eason. Mol ay' s excuses ar e pat het i c. He has endur ed t wo year s i n pr i son, and i n
t hi s deposi t i on he seems a br oken man, but he seemed a br oken man i mmedi at el y af t er
hi s ar r est , t oo. I n Mar ch of t he f ol l owi ng year Mol ay adopt s a new st r at egy i n a
t hi r d deposi t i on. Now he r ef uses t o speak at al l , sayi ng t hat he wi l l addr ess t he
pope hi msel f but no one el se,
A dr amat i c t wi st , and her e t he epi c t heat er begi ns. I n Apr i l of 1310, f i ve hundr ed
and f i f t y Templ ar s ask t o be al l owed t o speak i n def ense of t he or der . They denounce
t he t or t ur e t o whi ch t hey have been subj ect ed and deny t he char ges agai nst t hem.
They demonst r at e t hat al l t he accusat i ons ar e i mpl ausi bl e. But t he ki ng and Nogar et
know what t o do. Some Templ ar s have r et r act ed t hei r conf essi ons? Fi ne. Thei r
r et r act i on onl y makes t hemr eci di vi st s and per j ur er s- r el apsi - a t er r i bl e char ge i n
t hose days. He who conf esses and r epent s may be par doned, but he who not onl y does
not r epent but al so r et r act s hi s conf essi on, f or swear s hi msel f , and st ubbor nl y
deni es t hat he has anyt hi ng t o r epent , he must di e. Fi f t y such per j ur er s ar e
condemned t o deat h.
I t i s easy t o pr edi ct t he r esponse of t he ot her pr i soner s. I f you conf ess, you st ay
al i ve, t hough l ocked up, and you can wai t and see what happens. I f you do not
conf ess, or , wor se, i f you r et r act your conf essi on, you go t o t he st ake. The f i ve
hundr ed sur vi vi ng r et r act or s r et r act t hei r r et r act i on.
As i t t ur ns out , t he ones who r epent ed chose wi sel y. I n 1312 t hose who have not
conf essed ar e sent enced t o l i f e i mpr i sonment , wher eas t hose who conf essed ar e
par doned. Phi l i p i s not l ooki ng f or a massacr e; he j ust want s t o di ssol ve t he or der .
The f r eed kni ght s, br oken i n mi nd and body by f our or f i ve year s i n pr i son, qui et l y
dr i f t i nt o ot her or der s. Al l t hey want i s t o be f or got t en, and t hi s si l ent
di sappear ance wi l l f uel t he l egend of t he or der ' s under gr ound sur vi val .
Mol ay was st i l l aski ng t o be hear d by t he pope. Cl ement had convened a counci l i n
Vi enne i n 1311, but Mol ay had not been i nvi t ed. The suppr essi on of t he or der i s
r at i f i ed and i t s pr oper t y t ur ned over t o t he Hospi t al er s, t hough t empor ar i l y i t i s
t o be admi ni st er ed by t he ki ng.
Anot her t hr ee year s go by, and f i nal l y an agr eement i s r eached wi t h t he pope. On
Mar ch 19, 1314, i n f r ont of Not r e- Dame, Mol ay i s sent enced t o l i f e i mpr i sonment . He
r eact s wi t h a sur ge of di gni t y. He had expect ed t he pope t o al l ow hi mt o excul pat e
hi msel f ; he now f eel s bet r ayed. He knows t hat i f he r et r act s yet agai n he wi l l be
condemned as a r eci di vi st and per j ur er . What does he f eel i n hi s hear t as he st ands
t her e af t er al most seven year s awai t i ng j udgment ? Does he r egai n t he cour age of hi s
f or ebear s? Or does he si mpl y deci de t hat , r ui ned as he now i s, condemned t o end hi s
days i n di shonor , bur i ed al i ve, he mi ght as wel l di e a decent deat h? Because he
pr ot est s i n a l oud voi ce t hat he and hi s br ot her s ar e i nnocent . The Templ ar s, he
says, commi t t ed one cr i me and one cr i me onl y: out of cowar di ce t hey bet r ayed t he
Templ e. He wi l l dp so no l onger .
Nogar et i s over j oyed. A publ i c cr i me r equi r es publ i c condemnat i on, def i ni t i ve,
i mmedi at e. Geof f r oy de Char nay, t he Templ ar pr ecept or of Nor mandy, f ol l ows Mol ay' s
exampl e. The ki ng makes hi s deci si on t hat ver y day: a pyr e i s er ect ed at t he t i p of
t he l i e de l a Ci t e' . At sundown, Mol ay and Char nay ar e bur ned at t he st ake.
Tr adi t i on has i t t hat bef or e hi s deat h t he gr and mast er pr ophesi ed t he r ui n of hi s
per secut or s. And, i ndeed, t he pope, t he ki ng, and Nogar et al l di e bef or e t he year i s
out . Once t he ki ng i s gone, Mar i gny comes under suspi ci on of embezzl ement . Hi s
Page 52
enemi es accuse hi mof wi t chcr af t and have hi mhanged. Many begi n t o t hi nk of Mol ay
as a mar t yr . Dant e hi msel f voi ces wi despr ead i ndi gnat i on at t he per secut i on of t he
Templ ar s.
And t hat i s wher e hi st or y ends and l egend begi ns. One par t of t he l egend i nsi st s
t hat when Loui s XVI was gui l l ot i ned, an unknown man cl i mbed ont o t he bl ock and
shout ed: " J acques de Mol ay, you ar e avenged! "
That was mor e or l ess t he st or y I t ol d t hat ni ght at Pi l ade' s, wi t h const ant
i nt er r upt i ons.
Bel bo, f or i nst ance, woul d ask: " Ar e you sur e you di dn' t r ead t hi s i n Or wel l or
Koest l er ?" Or : " Wai t a mi nut e, t hi s i s j ust what happened t o what ' s- hi s- name, t hat
guy i n t he Cul t ur al Revol ut i on. " And Di ot al l evi kept i nt er j ect i ng, sent ent i ousl y:
" Hi s- t or i a magi st r a vi t ae. " To whi ch Bel bo r esponded: " Come on, cabal i st s don' t
bel i eve i n hi st or y. " And Di ot al l evi i nvar i abl y answer ed: " That ' s j ust t he poi nt .
Ever yt hi ng i s r epeat ed, i n a ci r cl e. Hi st or y i s a mast er because i t t eaches us t hat
i t doesn' t exi st . I t ' s t he per mut at i ons t hat mat t er . "
" We st i l l haven' t answer ed t he r eal quest i on, " Bel bo f i nal l y sai d. " Who wer e t he
Templ ar s? At f i r st you made t hemsound l i ke ser geant s i n a J ohn For d movi e, t hen
l i ke a bunch of bums, t hen l i ke kni ght s i n an i l l umi nat ed mi ni at ur e, t hen l i ke
banker s of God car r yi ng on t hei r di r t y deal s, t hen l i ke a r out ed ar my, t hen l i ke
devot ees of a sat ani c sect , and f i nal l y l i ke mar t yr s t t f r ee t hought . What wer e t hey
i n t he end?"
" Pr obabl y t hey wer e al l t hose t hi ngs. ' What was t he Cat hol i c Chur ch?' a Mar t i an
hi st or i an i n t he year 3000 mi ght ask. ' The peopl e who got t hemsel ves t hr own t o t he
l i ons or t he ones who ki l l ed her et i cs?' Al l of t he above. "
" But di d t hey do t hose hor r i bl e t hi ngs or di dn' t t hey?"
" The f unny t hi ng i s t hat t hei r f ol l ower s- t he neo- Templ ar s of var i ous epochs- say t hey
di d. And t hey of f er j ust i f i cat i ons. For i nst ance, i t was l i ke f r at er ni t y hazi ng. You
want t o be a Templ ar ? Okay, pr ove you have bal l s, spi t on t he cr uci f i x, and l et ' s
see i f God st r i kes you dead. I f you j oi n t hi s mi l i t i a, you have t o gi ve your sel f t o
your br ot her s hear t and soul , so l et t hemki ss your ass. An al t er nat i ve t hesi s i s
t hat t hey wer e asked t o deny Chr i st i n or der t o see how t hey woul d behave i f t he
Sar acens got t hem. Whi ch seems i di ot i c, because you don' t t r ai n someone t o r esi st
t or t ur e by maki ng hi mdo- even i f onl y symbol i cal l y- what t he t or t ur er wi l l ask of
hi m. A t hi r d t hesi s: I n t he East t he Templ ar s had come i nt o cont act wi t h Mani chean
her et i cs who despi sed t he Cr oss, r egar di ng i t as t he i nst r ument of t he Lor d' s
t or t ur e. The Mani cheans al so pr eached r enunci at i on of t he wor l d and di scour aged
mar r i age and pr ocr eat i on. An ol d i dea, common t o many her esi es i n t he ear l y
cent ur i es of Chr i st i ani t y. I t was l at er t aken up by t he Cat har s- and i n f act t her e' s
a whol e t r adi t i on cl ai mi ng t hat t he Templ ar s wer e st eeped i n Cat har i sm. And t hi s
woul d expl ai n t he sodomy- al so onl y symbol i c. Let ' s assume t he kni ght s came i nt o
cont act wi t h Mani chean her et i cs. Wel l , t hey wer en' t exact l v i nt el l ect ual s, so
per haps- par t l y out of nai vet e, par t l y out of snobber y and espr i t de cor ps- t hey
i nvent ed a per sonal cer emony t o di st i ngui sh t hemsel ves f r omt he ot her Cr usader s.
They per f or med var i ous r i t ual act s of r ecogni t i on, wi t hout bot her i ng about t hei r
si gni f i cance. "
" And t hat Baphomet busi ness?"
" Many of t he deposi t i ons do ment i on a f i gur e Baf f omet i , but t hi s may have been an
er r or made by t he f i r st scr i be, an er r or copi ed i nt o al l subsequent document s. Or
t he r ecor ds may have been t amper ed wi t h. I n some cases t her e was t al k of Mahomet
( i st ud caput vest er deus est , et vest er Mahumet ) , whi ch woul d suggest t hat t he
Templ ar s had cr eat ed a syncr et i c l i t ur gy of t hei r own. Some deposi t i ons say t hat
t hey wer e al so ur ged t o cal l out ' Yal l a, ' whi ch coul d be Al l ah. But t he Mosl ems
di dn' t wor shi p i mages of Mahomet , so wher e does t he obj ect come f r om? The
deposi t i ons say t hat many peopl e saw car ved heads, but somet i mes i t was not j ust a
head but a whol e i dol - wooden, wi t h ki nky hai r , cover ed wi t h gol d, and al ways wi t h a
bear d. I t seems t hat i nvest i gat or s di d f i nd such heads and conf r ont ed t he accused
wi t h t hem, but no t r ace of t hemr emai ns. Ever yone saw t he heads, and no one saw
t hem. Li ke t he cat : some saw a gr ay cat , ot her s a r ed cat , ot her s st i l l a bl ack cat .
I magi ne bei ng i nt er r ogat ed wi t h a r ed- hot i r on: Di d you see a cat dur i ng t he
i ni t i at i on? Wel l , why not a cat ? A Templ ar f ar m, wher e st or ed gr ai n had t o be
pr ot ect ed agai nst mi ce, woul d be f ul l of cat s. The cat was not a common domest i c
ani mal i n Eur ope back t hen. But i n Egypt i t was. Maybe t he Templ ar s kept cat s i n t he
Page 53
house, t hough r i ght - mi nded f ol k l ooked upon such ani mal s wi t h suspi ci on. Same t hi ng
wi t h t he heads of Baphomet . Maybe t hey wer e r el i quar i es i n t he shape of a head; not
unknown at t he t i me. Of cour se, some say Baphomet was an al chemi c f i gur e. "
" Al chemy al ways comes up, " Di ot al l evi sai d, noddi ng. " The Templ ar s pr obabl y knew t he
secr et of maki ng gol d. "
" Of cour se t hey di d, " Bel bo sai d. " I t was si mpl e enough. At t ack a Sar acen ci t y, cut
t he t hr oat s of t he women and chi l dr en, and gr ab ever yt hi ng mat ' s not nai l ed down.
The t r ut h i s t hat t hi s whol e st or y i s a gr eat bi g mess. "
" Maybe t he mess was i n t hei r heads. What di d t hey car e about doct r i nal debat es?
Hi st or y i s f ul l of l i t t l e sect s t hat make up t hen- own st yl e, par t swagger , par t
myst i ci sm. The Templ ar s t hemsel ves di dn' t r eal l y under st and what t hey wer e doi ng. On
t he ot her hand, t her e' s al ways t he esot er i c expl anat i on: They knew exact l y what t hey
wer e doi ng, t hey wer e adept s of Or i ent al myst er i es, and even t he ki ss on t he ass had
a r i t ual meani ng. "
" Do expl ai n t o me, br i ef l y, t he r i t ual meani ng of t he ki ss on t he ass, " Di ot al l evi
sai d.
" Al l r i ght . Some moder n esot er i ci st s mai nt ai n t hat t he Templ ar s wer e r evi vi ng
cer t ai n I ndi an doct r i nes. The ki ss on t he ass ser ves t o wake t he ser pent Kundal i ni ,
a cosmi c f or ce t hat dwel l s at t he base of t he spi nal col umn, i n t he sexual gl ands.
Once wakened, Kundal i ni r i ses t o t he pi neal gl and. . . "
" Descar t es' s pi neal gl and?"
" I t hi nk i t ' s t he same one. A t hi r d eye i s t hen supposed t o open up i n t he br ow, t he
eye t hat l et s you see di r ect l y i nt o t i me and space. Thi s i s why peopl e ar e st i l l
seeki ng t he secr et of t he Templ ar s. "
" Phi l i p t he Fai r shoul d have bur ned t he moder n esot er i ci st s i nst ead of t hose poor
bast ar ds. "
" Yes, except t hat t he moder n esot er i ci st s don' t have t wo penni es t o r ub t oget her . "
" Now you see t he ki nd of st or i es we have t o l i st en t o! " Bel bo concl uded. " At l east I
under st and why so many of my l unat i cs ar e obsessed wi t h t hese Templ ar s. "
" I t ' s a l i t t l e l i ke what you wer e sayi ng t he ot her day. The whol e t hi ng i s a t wi st ed
syl l ogi sm. Act l i ke a l unat i c and you wi l l be i nscr ut abl e f or ever . Abr acadabr a,
Manel Tekel Phar es, Pape Sat an Pape Sat an Al eppe, l e vi er ge l e vi vace et l e bel
au- j our d' hui . Whenever a poet or pr eacher , chi ef or wi zar d spout s gi bber i sh, t he
human r ace spends cent ur i es deci pher i ng t he message. The Templ ar s' ment al conf usi on
makes t hemi ndeci pher abl e. That ' s why so many peopl e vener at e t hem. "
" A posi t i vi st expl anat i on, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Yes, " I agr eed, " maybe I ama posi t i vi st . A l i t t l e sur ger y on t he pi neal gl and
mi ght have t ur ned t he Templ ar s i nt o Hospi t al er s; nor mal peopl e, i n ot her wor ds. War
somehow damages t he cer ebr al ci r cui t r y. Maybe i t ' s t he sound of t he cannon, or t he
Gr eek f i r e. Look at our gener al s. "
I t was one o' cl ock. Di ot al l evi , dr unk on t oni c wat er , was cl ear l y unst eady. We al l
sai d good ni ght . I had enj oyed mysel f . So had t hey. We di dn' t yet know t hat we had
begun t o pl ay wi t h f i r e- Gr eek f i r e, t he ki nd t hat bur ns and dest r oys.
15
Er ar d de Si ver ey sai d t o me: " My l or d, i f you t hi nk t hat nei t her I nor my hei r s wi l l
i ncur r epr oach f or i t , I wi l l go and f et ch you hel p f r omt he Comt e d' Anj ou, whomI
see i n t he f i el ds over t her e. " I sai d t o hi m: " My dear man, i t seems t o me you woul d
wi n gr eat honor f or your sel f i f you went f or hel p t o save our l i ves. Your own, by
t he way, i s al so i n gr eat danger . "
- J oi nvi l l e, Hi st oi r e de Sai nt Loui s, 46, 226
Af t er t hat eveni ng of t he Templ ar s, I had onl y f l eet i ng conver sat i ons wi t h Bel bo at
Pi l ade' s, wher e I went l ess and l ess of t en because I was wor ki ng on my t hesi s.
One day t her e was a bi g mar ch agai nst f asci st conspi r aci es. I t was t o st ar t at t he
uni ver si t y, and al l t he l ef t - wi ng i nt el l ect ual s had been i nvi t ed t o t ake par t .
Magni f i cent , pol i ce pr esence, but appar ent l y t he t aci t under st andi ng was t o l et
t hi ngs t ake t hei r cour se. Typi cal of t hose days: t he demonst r at i on had no per mi t ,
but i f not hi ng ser i ous happened, t he pol i ce woul d j ust wat ch, maki ng sur e t he
mar cher s di dn' t t r ansgr ess any of t he unwr i t t en boundar i es dr awn t hr ough downt own
Mi l an ( t her e wer e a l ot of t er r i t or i al compr omi ses back t hen) . The pr ot est er s
oper at ed i n an ar ea beyond Lar go August o; t he f asci st s wer e ent r enched i n Pi azza San
Page 54
Babi l a and i t s nei ghbor i ng st r eet s. I f anybody cr ossed t he l i ne, t her e wer e
i nci dent s; ot her wi se not hi ng happened. I t was l i ke a l i on and a l i on t amer . We
usual l y bel i eve t hat t he t amer i s at t acked by t he l i on and t hat t he t amer st ops t he
at t ack by r ai si ng hi s whi p or f i r i ng a bl ank. Wr ong: t he l i on was f ed and sedat ed
bef or e i t ent er ed t he cage and doesn' t f eel l i ke at t acki ng anybody. Li ke al l
ani mal s, i t has i t s own space; i f you don' t i nvade t hat space, t he l i on r emai ns
cal m. When t he t amer st eps f or war d, i nvadi ng i t , t he l i on r oar s; t he t amer t hen
r ai ses hi s whi p, but al so t akes a st ep backwar d ( as i f i n expect at i on of a char ge) ,
wher eupon t he l i on cal ms down. A si mul at ed r evol ut i on must al so have i t s r ul es.
I went t o t he demonst r at i on but di dn' t mar ch wi t h any of t he gr oups. I nst ead, I
st ood at t he edge of Pi azza Sant o St ef ano, wher e r epor t er s, edi t or s, and ar t i st s who
had come t o show t hei r sol i dar i t y wer e mi l l i ng ar ound. The whol e cl i ent el e of
Pi l ade' s.
I f ound mysel f st andi ng next t o Bel bo and a woman I had of t en seen hi mwi t h at t he
bar , who I t hought was hi s compani on. ( She l at er di sappear ed- and now I know why,
havi ng r ead about i t i n t he f i l e on Dr . Wagner . )
" What ar e you doi ng her e?" I asked.
" You know how i t i s, " he sai d, smi l i ng, embar r assed. " We have t o save our soul s
somehow. Cr ede f i r mi t er et pecca f or t i t er . Doesn' t t hi s scene r emi nd you of
somet hi ng?"
I l ooked ar ound. I t was a sunny af t er noon, one of t hose days when Mi l an i s
beaut i f ul : yel l ow f acades and a sof t l y met al l i c sky. The pol i ce, acr oss t he squar e,
wer e ar mor ed wi t h hel met s and pl ast i c shi el ds t hat gave of f gl i nt s l i ke st eel . A
pl ai ncl ot hes of f i cer gi r ded wi t h a gaudy t r i col or sash st r ut t ed up and down i n f r ont
of hi s men. I t ur ned and l ooked at t he head of t he mar ch. Peopl e wer en' t movi ng;
t hey wer e mar ki ng t i me. They wer e l i ned up i n r anks, but t he r ows wer e i r r egul ar ,
al most ser pent i ne, and t he cr owd seemed t o br i st l e wi t h pi kes, st andar ds, banner s,
st i cks. I mpat i ent gr oups chant ed r hyt hmi c sl ogans. Al ong t he f l anks of t he
pr ocessi on, act i vi st s dar t ed back and f or t h, wear i ng r ed ker chi ef s over t hei r f aces,
mot l ey shi r t s, st udded bel t s, and j eans t hat had known much r ai n and sun. Even t he
r ol l ed- up f l ags t hat conceal ed t he i ncongr uous weapons l ooked l i ke dabs of col or on
a pal et t e. I t hought of Dut y, hi s gai et y. Fr eel y associ at i ng, I went f r omDuf y t o
Gui l l aume Duf ay. I had t he i mpr essi on of bei ng i n a Fl emi sh mi ni at ur e. I n t he l i t t l e
cr owds gat her ed on ei t her si de of t he mar cher s, I gl i mpsed some andr ogynous women
wai t i ng f or t he gr eat di spl ay of dar i ng t hey had been pr omi sed. But al l t hi s went
t hr ough my mi nd i n a f l ash, as i f I wer e r el i vi ng some ot her exper i ence wi t hout
r ecogni zi ng i t .
" I t ' s t he t aki ng of Ascal on, i sn' t i t ?" Bel bo sai d.
" By t he l or d Sai nt J ames, my good si r , " I r epl i ed, " t hi s i s t r ul y a Cr usader s'
combat ! I do bel i eve t hat t hi s ni ght some of t hese men wi l l be i n par adi se! "
" No doubt , " Bel bo sai d. " But can you t el l me wher e t he Sar acens ar e?"
" Wel l , t he pol i ce ar e def i ni t el y Teut oni c, " I obser ved, " whi ch woul d make us t he
hor des of Al eksandr Nevski . But I ' mget t i ng my t ext s mi xed up. Look at t hat gr oup
over t her e. They must be t he compani ons of t he Comt e d' Ar t oi s, eager t o ent er t he
f r ay, f or t hey wi l l br ook no of Fense, and al r eady t hey head f or t he enemy l i nes,
shout i ng t hr eat s t o pr ovoke t he i nf i del ! "
That was when i t happened. I don' t r emember i t t hat cl ear l y. The mar cher s had
st ar t ed movi ng, and a gr oup of act i vi st s wi t h chai ns and ski masks began t o f or ce
t hei r way t hr ough t he pol i ce l i nes t owar d Pi azza San Babi l a, yel l i ng. The l i on was
on t he move. The f r ont l i ne of pol i ce par t ed and t he f i r e hoses appear ed. The f i r st
bal l bear i ngs, t hen t he f i r st st ones, came hur t l i ng f r omt he f or war d posi t i ons of
t he demonst r at i on. A cor don of pol i ce advanced, swi ngi ng cl ubs, and t he pr ocessi on
r ecoi l ed. At t hat moment , i n t he di st ance, f r omt he f ar end of Vi a La- ghet t o, a shot
was hear d. Maybe i t was onl y a t i r e expl odi ng, or a f i r ecr acker ; maybe i t was a
popgun shot f r omone of t hose gr oups t hat i n a f ew year s woul d r egul ar l y be usi ng
P- 38s.
Pani c. The pol i ce dr ew t hei r weapons, t r umpet bl ast s f or a char ge wer e hear d, t he
mar ch spl i t i nt o t wo gr oups: one, mi l i t ant s, who wer e r eady t o f i ght , and one, al l
t he ot her s, who consi der ed t hei r dut y done. I f ound mysel f r unni ng al ong Vi a Lar ga,
wi t h t he mad f ear of bei ng hi t by some bl unt obj ect , such as a cl ub. Suddenl y Bel bo
and hi s compani on wer e besi de me, r unni ng f ast but wi t hout pani c.
At t he cor ner of Vi a Rast r el l i , Bel bo gr abbed me by t he ar m. " Thi s way, ki d, " he
sai d. I want ed t o ask why; Vi a Lar ga seemed much mor e spaci ous and peopl ed, and
Page 55
cl aust r ophobi a over came me i n t he maze of al l eys bet ween Vi a Pecor ar i and t he
Ar chbi shop' s Pal ace. I t seemed t o me t hat wher e Bel bo was goi ng t her e wer e f ewer
pl aces t o hi de or bl end i n i f t he pol i ce i nt er cept ed us. But he si gnal ed me t o be
qui et , t ur ned t wo or t hr ee cor ner s, and gr adual l y sl owed down. We f ound our sel ves
wal ki ng unhur r i edl y, r i ght behi nd t he cat hedr al , wher e t r af f i c was nor mal and no
echoes came f r omt he bat t l e t aki ng pl ace l ess t han t wo hundr ed met er s away. St i l l
si l ent , we wal ked ar ound t he cat hedr al and f i nal l y came t o t he si de f aci ng t he
Gal l er i a. Bel bo bought a bag of cor n and began f eedi ng t he pi geons wi t h ser aphi c
pl easur e. We bl ended i nt o t he Sat ur day cr owd compl et el y; Bel bo and I wer e i n j acket s
and t i es, and t he gi r l had on t he uni f or mof a Mi l anese l ady: a gr ay t ur t l eneck wi t h
a st r and of pear l s- cul t ur ed, or maybe not .
Bel bo i nt r oduced us. " Thi s i s Sandr a. You t wo know each ot her ?"
" By si ght . Hi . "
" You see, Casaubon, " Bel bo sai d t o me t hen, " you must never f l ee i n a st r ai ght l i ne.
Napol eon HI , f ol l owi ng t he exampl e of t he Savoys i n Tur i n, had Par i s di sembowel ed,
t hen t ur ned i t i nt o t he net wor k of boul evar ds we al l admi r e t oday. A mast er pi ece of
i nt el l i gent ci t y pl anni ng. Except t hat t hose br oad, st r ai ght st r eet s ar e al so i deal
f or cont r ol l i ng angr y cr owds. Wher e possi bl e, even t he si de st r eet s wer e made br oad
and st r ai ght , l i ke t he Champs- El ysees. Wher e i t wasn' t possi bl e, i n t he l i t t l e
st r eet s of t he Lat i n Quar t er , f or exampl e, t hat ' s wher e May ' 68 was seen t o i t s best
advant age. When you f l ee, head f or al l eys. No pol i ce f or ce can guar d t hemal l , and
even t he pol i ce ar e af r ai d t o ent er t hemi n smal l number s. I f you r un i nt o a f ew on
t hei r own, t hey' r e mor e f r i ght ened t han you ar e, and bot h par t i es t ake of f , i n
opposi t e di r ect i ons. Anyt i me you' r e goi ng t o a mass r al l y i n an ar ea you don' t know
wel l , r econnoi t er t he nei ghbor hood t he day bef or e, and st and at t he cor ner wher e t he
l i t t l e st r eet s st ar t . "
" Di d you t ake a cour se i n Bol i vi a, or what ?"
" Sur vi val t echni ques ar e l ear ned onl y i n chi l dhood, unl ess as an adul t you enl i st i n
t he Gr een Ber et s. I had some bad exper i ences dur i ng t he war , when t he par t i sans wer e
act i ve ar ound ***, " he sai d, nami ng a t own bet ween Monf er r at o and t he Langhe. " We
had been evacuat ed f r omt he ci t y i n ' 43, a gr eat i dea, exact l y t he t i me and pl ace t o
savor ever yt hi ng: mass ar r est s, t he SS, gunf i r e i n t he st r eet s. . . One eveni ng I was
goi ng up t he hi l l t o get some f r esh mi l k f r oma f ar m, and I hear d a sound up i n t he
t r ees: f r r , f r r . I r eal i zed t hat some men on a di st ant hi l l wer e machi ne- gunni ng t he
r ai l r oad l i ne i n t he val l ey behi nd me. My i nst i nct was t o r un, or j ust di ve t o t he
gr ound. I made a mi st ake: I r an t owar d t he val l ey, and suddenl y I hear d a
chack- chack- chack i n t he f i el d ar ound me. Some of t he shot s wer e f al l i ng shor t of
t he r ai l r oad. That ' s when I l ear ned t hat i f t hey' r e shoot i ng f r oma hi gh hi l l down
at a val l ey, t hen you shoul d r un uphi l l . The hi gher you go, t he hi gher t he bul l et s
wi l l be over your head. Once, my gr andmot her was caught i n a shoot - out bet ween
Fasci st s and par t i sans depl oyed on opposi t e si des of a cor nf i el d. Wher ever she r an,
she r i sked st oppi ng a bul l et . So she j ust f l ung her sel f down i n t he mi ddl e of t he
f i el d, r i ght i n t he l i ne of f i r e, and l ay t her e f or t en mi nut es, her f ace i n t he
di r t , hopi ng t hat nei t her si de woul d advance ver y f ar . She was l ucky. When you l ear n
t hese t hi ngs as a chi l d, t hey ar e har dwi r ed i n your ner vous syst em. "
" So you wer e i n t he Resi st ance. "
" As a spect at or , " he sai d. I sensed a sl i ght embar r assment i n hi s voi ce. " I n 1943 I
was el even, and at t he end of t he war , bar el y t hi r t een. Too young t o t ake par t , but
ol d enough t o f ol l ow ever yt hi ng wi t h- how shal l I put i t ?- phot ogr aphi c at t ent i on.
What el se coul d I do? I wat ched. And r an. Li ke t oday. "
" You shoul d wr i t e about i t , i nst ead of edi t i ng ot her peopl e' s books. "
" I t ' s al l been t ol d, Casaubon. I f I had been t went y back t hen, i n t he f i f t i es I ' d
have wr i t t en a poet i c memoi r . Lucki l y I was bor n t oo l at e f or t hat . By t he t i me I
was ol d enough t o wr i t e, al l I coul d do was r ead t he books t hat wer e al r eady
wr i t t en. On t he ot her hand, I coul d al so have ended up on t hat hi l l wi t h a bul l et i n
my head. "
" Fr omwhi ch si de?" I asked, t hen i mmedi at el y r egr et t ed t he quest i on. " Sor r y, I was
j ust ki ddi ng. "
" No you wer en' t . Sur e, t oday I know, but what di d I know t hen? You can be obsessed
by r emor se al l your l i f e, not because you chose t he wr ong t hi ng- you can al ways
r epent , at one- but because you never had t he chance t o pr ove t o your sel f t hat you
woul d have chosen t he r i ght t hi ng. I was a pot ent i al t r ai t or . What t r ut h does t hat
ent i t l e me now t o t each t o ot her s?"
Page 56
" Excuse me, " I sai d, " but pot ent i al l y you wer e al so a J ack t he Ri pper . Thi s i s
neur ot i c- unl ess your r emor se i s based on somet hi ng speci f i c. "
" What does t hat mean? But , speaki ng of neur osi s, t hi s eveni ng t her e' s a di nner par t y
f or Dr . Wagner . Let ' s t ake a t axi at Pi azza del l a Scal a. Comi ng, Sandr a?"
" Dr . Wagner ?" I asked, about t o t ake my l eave of t hem. " I n per son?"
" Yes. He' s i n Mi l an f or a f ew days, and maybe I ' l l be abl e t o per suade hi mt o gi ve
us some of hi s unpubl i shed essays f or a l i t t l e vol ume. I t woul d be a r eal coup. "
So Bel bo was i n cont act wi t h Dr . Wagner even t hen. I wonder i f t hat was t he eveni ng
Wagner ( pr onounced Vagner e) psychoanal yzed Bel bo f r ee of char ge, wi t hout ei t her of
t hemknowi ng i t . But per haps t hi s happened l at er .
I n any case, t hat was t he f i r st t i me I hear d Bel bo t al k about hi s chi l dhood i n ***.
St r ange, he t al ked about r unni ng away, i nvest i ng i t wi t h a ki nd of her oi sm, i n t he
gl or i ous l i ght of memor y, but t he memor y had come back t o hi monl y af t er - wi t h me as
accompl i ce but al so as wi t ness- he had unher oi cal l y, i f wi sel y, r un away agai n.
16
Af t er whi ch, br ot her Et i enne de Pr ovi ns, br ought i nt o t he pr esence of t he af or esai d
of f i ci al s and asked by t hemt o def end t he or der , sai d he di d not wi sh t o. I f t he
mast er s wi shed t o def end i t , t hey coul d, but bef or e hi s ar r est , he had been i n t he
or der onl y ni ne mont hs.
- Deposi t i on, November 27, 1309
I n Abul af i a I f ound ot her t al es of Bel bo' s r unni ng away. And I t hought about t hem
t hat eveni ng as I st ood i n t he dar kness i n t he per i scope l i st eni ng t o a sequence of
r ust l i ng sounds, squeaks, cr eaks and t el l i ng mysel f not t o pani c, because t hat was
how museums, l i br ar i es, and ant i que pal aces t al ked t o t hemsel ves at ni ght . I t i s
onl y ol d cupboar ds set t l i ng, wi ndow f r ames r eact i ng t o t he eveni ng' s humi di t y,
pl ast er cr umbl i ng at a mi ser l y mi l l i met er - per - cent ur y r at e, wal l s yawni ng. You can' t
r un away, I t ol d mysel f . You' r e her e t o l ear n what happened t o a man who, i n a mad
( or desper at e) act of cour age, t r i ed once and f or al l t o st op r unni ng away- per haps
i n or der t o hast en hi s encount er , so many t i mes post poned, wi t h t he t r ut h.
FI LENAME: Canal
Was i t f r oma pol i ce char ge or , once agai n, f r omhi st or y t hat I r an away? Does i t
make any di f f er ence? Di d I go t o t he mar ch because of a mor al choi ce or t o subj ect
mysel f t o yet anot her t est of Oppor t uni t y? Gr ant ed, I was ei t her t oo ear l y or t oo
l at e f or al l t he gr eat Oppor t uni t i es, but t hat was t he f aul t of my bi r t h dat e. I
woul d have l i ked t o be i n t hat f i el d of bul l et s, shoot i ng, even at t he pr i ce of
hi t t i ng Gr anny. But I was absent because of age, not because of cowar di ce. Al l
r i ght . And what about t he mar ch? Agai n I r an away f or a gener at i onal r eason: i t was
not my conf l i ct . But I coul d have t aken t he r i sk even so, wi t hout ent husi asm, t o
pr ove t hat i f I had been i n t he f i el d of bul l et s, I woul d have known how t o choose.
Does i t make sense t o choose t he wr ong Oppor t uni t y j ust t o convi nce your sel f t hat
you woul d have chosen t he r i ght one- had you had t he Oppor t uni t y? I wonder how many
of t hose who opt f or f i ght i ng t oday do i t f or t hat r eason. But a cont r i ved
Oppor t uni t y i s not t he r i ght Oppor t uni t y.
Can you cal l your sel f a cowar d si mpl y because t he cour age of ot her s seems t o you out
of pr opor t i on t o t he t r i vi al i t y of t he occasi on? Thus wi sdomcr eat es cowar ds. And
t hus you mi ss Oppor t uni t y whi l e spendi ng your l i f e on t he l ookout f or i t . You have
t o sei ze Oppor t uni t y i nst i nct i vel y, wi t hout knowi ng at t he t i me t hat i t i s t he
Oppor t uni t y. I s i t possi bl e t hat I r eal l y di d sei ze i t once, wi t hout knowi ng? How
can you f eel l i ke a cowar d because you wer e bor n i n t he wr ong decade? The answer :
You f eel l i ke a cowar d because once you wer e a cowar d.
But suppose you passed up t he Oppor t uni t y because you f el t i t was i nadequat e?
* * *
Descr i be t he house i n ***, i sol at ed on t he hi l l among t he vi neyar ds- don' t t hey cal l
t hose br east - shaped hi l l s?- and t hen t he r oad t hat l ed t o t he edge of t own, t o t he
l ast r ow of houses ( or t he f i r st , dependi ng on t he di r ect i on you come f r om) . The
l i t t l e evacuee who abandons t he pr ot ect i on of hi s f ami l y and vent ur es i nt o t he
Page 57
t ent acul ar t own, wal ki ng t he br oad avenue, ski r t i ng t he Al l ey he so envi ousl y f ear s.
The Al l ey was t he gat her i ng pl ace of t he Al l ey gang. Count r y boys, di r t y, l oud. I
was t oo ci t i f i ed: bet t er t o st ay away f r omt hem. But t o r each t he squar e, and t he
newspaper ki osk and t he st at i oner y st or e, unl ess I essayed a ci r cumnavi gat i on al most
equat or i al and qui t e undi gni f i ed, t he onl y cour se was t o go al ong t he Canal . And t he
boys of t he Al l ey gang wer e l i t t l e gent l emen compar ed t o t he Canal gang, named af t er
a f or mer st r eam, now a dr ai nage di t ch, t hat r an t hr ough t he poor est par t of t own.
The Canal ki ds wer e f i l t hy subpr ol et ar i ans, and vi ol ent .
The Al l ey ki ds coul dn' t cr oss t he Canal ar ea wi t hout bei ng at t acked and beat en up.
At f i r st I di dn' t know t hat I was an Al l ey ki d. I had j ust ar r i ved, but al r eady t he
Canal gang had i dent i f i ed me as an enemy. I wal ked t hr ough t hei r ar ea wi t h a
chi l dr en' s magazi ne open bef or e my f ace, r eadi ng as I went . They saw me. I r an. They
chased me, t hr owi ng st ones. One st one went r i ght t hr ough a page of t he magazi ne,
whi ch I was st i l l hol di ng i n f r ont of me as I r an, t r yi ng t o r et ai n a l i t t l e
di gni t y. I got away but l ost t he magazi ne. The next day I deci ded t o j oi n t he Al l ey
gang.
I pr esent ed mysel f at t hei r Sanhedr i n and was gr eet ed wi t h cackl es. My hai r was ver y
t hi ck at t he t i me, and i t t ended t o st and up on my head a bi t l i ke St r uwwel pet er ' s.
The st yl e i n t hose days, as shown i n movi es and ads, or on Sunday st r ol l s af t er
Mass, f eat ur ed young men wi t h br oad- shoul der ed, doubl e- br east ed j acket s, gr eased
must aches, and gl eami ng hai r combed st r ai ght back and st uck t o t hei r skul l s. And
t hat ' s what I want ed, sl eek hai r l i ke t hat . I n t he mar ket squar e, on a Monday, I
spent what f or me was an enor mous sumon some boxes of br i l l i ant i ne t hi ck as
beanf l ower honey. Then I spent hour s smear i ng i t on unt i l my hai r was l ami nat ed, a
l eaden cap, a camaur o. Then I put on a net , t o keep t he hai r t i ght l y compr essed. The
Al l ey gang had seen me go by wear i ng t he net , and had shout ed t aunt s i n t hat har sh
di al ect of t hei r s, whi ch I under st ood but coul dn' t speak. That par t i cul ar day, af t er
st ayi ng t wo hour s i n t he house wi t h t he net on, I t ook i t of f , checked t he spl endi d
r esul t i n t he mi r r or , and set out t o meet t he gang t o whi ch I hoped t o swear
al l egi ance. I appr oached t hemj ust as t he br i l l i ant i ne was l osi ng i t s gl ut i nous
power and my hai r was agai n assumi ng, i n sl ow mot i on, i t s ver t i cal posi t i on. Del i ght
among t he Al l ey ki ds, i n a ci r cl e ar ound me, nudgi ng one anot her . I asked t o be
admi t t ed.
Unf or t unat el y, I spoke i n I t al i an. An out si der . Thei r l eader , Mar t i - net t i , who
seemed a gi ant t o me t hen, came f or war d, spl endi d, bar ef oot . He deci ded I shoul d
under go one hundr ed ki cks i n t he behi nd. Per haps t he ki cks wer e meant t o r eawaken
t he ser pent Kundal i ni . I agr eed and st ood agai nst t he wal l . Two ser geant s hel d my
ar ms, and I r ecei ved one hundr ed bar ef oot ki cks. Mar t i net t i appl i ed hi msel f t o hi s
t ask wi t h vi gor and ski l l , st r i ki ng si deways so he woul dn' t hur t hi s t oes. The gang
ser ved as chor us f or t he r i t ual , keepi ng count i n t hei r di al ect . Then t hey shut me
up i n a r abbi t hut ch f or hal f an hour , whi l e t hey passed t he t i me i n gut t ur al
conver sat i on. They l et me out when I compl ai ned t hat my l egs wer e numb. I was pr oud
because I had been abl e t o st and up t o t he l i t ur gy of a savage t r i be. I was a man
cal l ed Hor se.
I n *** i n t hose days wer e st at i oned l at t er - day Teut oni c Kni ght s, who wer e not
par t i cul ar l y al er t , because t he par t i sans hadn' t yet made t hemsel ves f el t - t hi s was
t owar d t he end of ' 43, t he begi nni ng of ' 44. One of our f i r st expl oi t s was t o sl i p
i nt o a shed, whi l e some of us f l at t er ed t he sol di er on guar d dut y, a gr eat Langobar d
eat i ng an enor mous sandwi ch of - we t hought , and wer e hor r i f i ed- sal ami and j am. The
decoys di st r act ed t he Ger man, pr ai si ng hi s weapons, whi l e t he r est of us cr ept
t hr ough some l oose pl anks i n t he back of t he shed and st ol e a f ew st i cks of TNT. I
don' t bel i eve t he expl osi ve was ever used subsequent l y, but t he i dea was, accor di ng
t o Mar t i net t i ' s pl an, t o set i t of f i n t he count r ysi de, f or pur el y pyr ot echni cal
pur poses and by met hods I now know wer e ver y cr ude and woul d not have wor ked. Lat er ,
t he Ger mans wer e r epl aced by t he Fasci st mar i nes of t he Deci ma Mas, who set up a
r oadbl ock near t he r i ver , r i ght at t he cr ossr oads wher e t he gi r l s f r omt he school of
Sant a Mar i a Ausi l i at r i ce came down t he avenue at si x i n t he eveni ng. Mar t i net t i
convi nced t he Deci ma mar i nes ( who coul dn' t have been over ei ght een) t o t i e t oget her
a bunch of hand gr enades l ef t by t he Ger mans, t he ones wi t h a l ong pi n, and r emove
t he saf et i es so t hey coul d expl ode at t he wat er ' s edge at t he exact moment t he gi r l s
ar r i ved. Mar t i net t i knew how t o cal cul at e t he t i mi ng. He expl ai ned i t t o t he
Fasci st s, and t he ef f ect was pr odi gi ous: a sheet of wat er r ose up al ong t he bank i n
a t hunder ous di n j ust as t he gi r l s wer e t ur ni ng t he cor ner . Gener al f l i ght , much
Page 58
squeaki ng, and we and t he Fasci st s spl i t our si des l aughi ng. The sur vi vor s of Al l i ed
i mpr i sonment woul d r emember t hat day of gl or y, second onl y t o t he bur ni ng of Mol ay.
The chi ef amusement of t he Al l ey ki ds was col l ect i ng shel l cases and ot her war
r esi due, whi ch af t er Sept ember 8 and t he Ger man occupat i on of I t al y wer e pl ent i f ul :
ol d hel met s, car t r i dge pouches, knapsacks, somet i mes l i ve bul l et s. Thi s i s what you
di d wi t h a good bul l et : hol di ng t he shel l case i n one hand, you st uck t he pr oj ect i l e
i nt o a keyhol e, t wi st ed i t , and pul l ed out t he case, addi ng i t t o your col l ect i on.
The gunpowder was empt i ed out ( somet i mes t her e wer e t hi n st r i ps of bal l i st i t e) and
deposi t ed i n ser pent i ne t r ai l s t hat wer e set al i ght . The casi ngs, especi al l y pr i zed
i f t he caps wer e i nt act , went t o enr i ch one' s ar my. A good col l ect or woul d have a
l ot of t hem, ar r anged i n r ows by make, col or , shape, and or i gi n. Ther e wer e squads
of f oot sol di er s, whi ch wer e submachi ne- gun and St en casi ngs, t hen squi r es and
kni ght s, whi ch wer e 1891 r i f l e shel l s ( we saw Gar ands onl y af t er t he Amer i cans
came) , and f i nal l y, a boy' s supr eme ambi t i on, t ower i ng gr and mast er s, whi ch wer e
empt y machi ne- gun shel l s.
One eveni ng, as we wer e absor bed i n t hese peacef ul pur sui t s, Mar - t i net t i i nf or med us
t hat t he moment had come. A chal l enge had been sent t o t he Canal gang, and t hey had
accept ed. The bat t l e was t o t ake pl ace on neut r al gr ound, behi nd t he st at i on. That
ni ght , at ni ne.
I t was l at e af t er noon, on a summer day, ener vat i ng but char ged wi t h exci t ement . We
decked our sel ves out i n t he most t er r i f yi ng par apher nal i a, l ooki ng f or pi eces of
wood t hat coul d be easi l y gr i pped, f i l l i ng pouches and knapsacks wi t h st ones of
var i ous si zes. Some of us made whi ps out of r i f l e sl i ngs, awesome i f wi el ded wi t h
deci si on. Dur i ng t hose t wi l i ght hour s we al l f el t l i ke her oes, me most of al l . I t
was t he exci t ement bef or e t he at t ack: bi t t er , pai nf ul , spl endi d. So l ong, Mama, I ' m
of f t o Yokohama; send t he wor d over t her e. We wer e sacr i f i ci ng our yout h t o t he
Fat her l and, j ust as t hey had t aught us i n school bef or e Sept ember 8.
Mar t i net t i ' s pl an was shr ewd. We woul d cr oss t he r ai l r oad embankment f ar t her t o t he
nor t h and come at t hemf r ombehi nd, t ake t hemby sur pr i se, and t hus woul d be vi ct or s
f r omt he st ar t . Then no quar t er woul d be gr ant ed.
At dusk we cr ossed t he embankment , scr ambl i ng up r amps and acr oss gul l i es, l oaded
down wi t h st ones and cl ubs. Fr omt he cr est of t he embankment we saw t heml yi ng i n
ambush behi nd t he st at i on l at r i nes. But t hey saw us, t oo, because t hey wer e wat chi ng
t hei r backs, suspect i ng we woul d ar r i ve f r omt hat di r ect i on. The onl y t hi ng f or us
t o do was t o move i n wi t hout gi vi ng t hemt i me f or ast oni shment at t he obvi ousness of
our pl oy.
Nobody had passed ar ound any gr appa bef or e we went over t he t op, but we f l ung
our sel ves i nt o bat t l e anyway, yel l i ng. Then came t he t ur ni ng poi nt , when we wer e
about a hundr ed met er s f r omt he st at i on. Ther e st ood t he f i r st houses of t he t own,
and t hough t hey wer e f ew, t hey cr eat ed a web of nar r ow pat hs. Ther e, t he bol dest
gr oup dashed f or war d, f ear l ess, whi l e I and ( l ucki l y f or me) a f ew ot her s sl owed
down and ducked behi nd t he cor ner s of t he houses, t o wat ch f r oma di st ance.
I f Mar t i net t i had or gani zed us i nt o vanguar d and r ear guar d, we woul d have done our
dut y, but t hi s was a spont aneous depl oyment : t hose wi t h gut s i n f r ont , and t he
cowar ds behi nd. So f r omour r ef uges- mi ne was f ar t her back t han t he ot her s- we
obser ved t he conf l i ct . Whi ch never t ook pl ace.
The t wo gr oups came wi t hi n a f ew met er s of each ot her , and st ood i n conf r ont at i on,
snar l i ng. Then t he l eader s st epped f or war d t o conf er . Yal t a. They deci ded t o di vi de
t hei r t er r i t or i es i nt o zones and agr eed t o al l ow an occasi onal saf e- conduct pass,
l i ke Chr i st i ans and Mosl ems i n t he Hol y Land. Sol i dar i t y bet ween gr oups of kni ght s
had pr evai l ed over t he i nel uct abi l i t y of bat t l e. Each si de had pr oved i t sel f . The
opposi ng camps wi t hdr ew i n har mony, st i l l opponent s, i n opposi t e di r ect i ons.
Now I t el l mysel f t hat I di dn' t r ush i nt o t he at t ack because I f ound i t l aughabl e.
But t hat ' s not what I t ol d mysel f t hen. Then, I f el t l i ke a cowar d, and t hat was
t hat .
Today, even mor e cowar dl y, I t el l mysel f t hat as i t t ur ned out I woul d have r i sked
not hi ng had I char ged wi t h t he ot her s, and my l i f e af t er war d woul d have been bet t er .
I mi ssed Oppor t uni t y at t he age of t wel ve. I f you f ai l t o have an er ect i on t he f i r st
t i me, you' r e i mpot ent f or t he r est of your l i f e.
A mont h l at er , some r andomt r espass br ought t he Al l ey and Canal gangs f ace t o f ace
i n a f i el d, and cl ods of ear t h began t o f l y. I don' t know whet her i t was because t he
out come of t he ear l i er conf l i ct had r eassur ed me or because I desi r ed mar t yr dom, but
one way or anot her , t hi s t i me I st ood i n t he f r ont l i ne. A cl od, whi ch conceal ed a
Page 59
st one, st r uck my l i p and spl i t i t . I r an home cr yi ng, and my mot her had t o use t he
t weezer s f r omher t oi l et case t o pi ck pi eces of ear t h out of t he wound on t he i nsi de
of my l i p. I n f act I was l ef t wi t h a l ump next t o t he l ower r i ght cani ne, and even
now, when I r un my t ongue over i t , I f eel a vi br at i on, a shudder .
But t hi s l ump does not absol ve me, because I got i t t hr ough heed- l essness, not
t hr ough cour age. I r un my t ongue over my l i p and what do I do? I wr i t e. But bad
l i t er at ur e br i ngs no r edempt i on.
* * *
Af t er t he day of t he mar ch I di dn' t see Bel bo agai n f or about a year . I f el l i n l ove
wi t h Ampar o and st opped goi ng t o Pi - l ade' s- or , at l east , t he f ew t i mes I di d dr op i n
wi t h Ampar o, Bel bo wasn' t t her e. Ampar o di dn' t l i ke t he pl ace anyway. I n her mor al
and pol i t i cal sever i t y- equal ed onl y by her gr ace, her magni f i cent pr i de- she
consi der ed Pi l ade' s a cl ubhouse f or l i ber al dandi es, and l i ber al dandysme, as f ar as
she was concer ned, was a subt l e t hr ead i n t he f abr i c of t he capi t al i st pl ot . For me
t hi s was a year of gr eat commi t ment , ser i ousness, and enchant ment . I wor ked j oyf ul l y
but ser enel y on my t hesi s.
Then one day I r an i nt o Bel bo al ong t he navi gl i , not f ar f r omt he Gar amond of f i ce.
" Wel l , l ook who' s her e, " he sai d cheer f ul l y. " My f avor i t e Templ ar ! Li st en, I ' ve j ust
been pr esent ed wi t h a bot t l e of i nef f abl y anci ent nect ar . Why don' t you come up t o
t he of f i ce? I have paper cups and a f r ee af t er noon. "
" A zeugma, " I sai d.
" No. Bour bon. And bot t l ed, I bel i eve, bef or e t he f al l of t he Al amo. "
I f ol l owed hi m. We had j ust t aken t he f i r st si p when Gudr un came i n and sai d t her e
was a gent l eman t o see Bel bo. He sl apped hi s f or ehead. He had f or got t en t he
appoi nt ment . But chance has a t ast e f or conspi r acy, he sai d t o me. Fr omwhat he had
gat her ed, t hi s i ndi vi dual want ed t o show hi ma book t hat concer ned t he Templ ar s.
" I ' l l get r i d of hi mqui ckl y, " he sai d, " but you must l end me a hand wi t h some keen
obj ect i ons. "
I t had sur el y been chance. And so I was caught i n t he net .
17
And t hus di d t he kni ght s of t he Templ e vani sh wi t h t hei r secr et , i n whose shadow
br eat hed a l of t y year ni ng f or t he ear t hl y ci t y. But t he Abst r act t o whi ch t hei r
ef f or t s aspi r ed l i ved on, unat t ai nabl e, i n unknown r egi ons. . . and i t s i nspi r at i on,
mor e t han once i n t he cour se of t i me, has f i l l ed t hose spi r i t s capabl e of r ecei vi ng
i t .
- Vi ct or Emi l e Mi chel et , Le secr et de l a Cheval er i e, 1930, p. 2
He had a 1940s f ace. J udgi ng by t he ol d magazi nes I had f ound i n t he basement at
home, ever ybody had a f ace l i ke t hat i n t he f or t i es. I t must have been war t i me
hunger t hat hol l owed t he cheeks and made t he eyes vaguel y f ever i sh. Thi s was a f ace
I knew f r omphot ogr aphs of f i r i ng squads- on bot h si des. I n t hose days men wi t h t he
same f ace shot one anot her .
Our vi si t or was wear i ng a bl ue sui t , a whi t e shi r t , and a pear l - gr ay t i e, and
i nst i nct i vel y I asked mysel f why he was i n ci vi l i an cl ot hes. Hi s hai r , unnat ur al l y
bl ack, was combed back f r omt he t empl es i n t wo bands, br i l l i ant i ned, t hough wi t h
di scr et i on, showi ng a bal d, shi ny cr own t r aver sed by f i ne st r ands, r egul ar as
t el egr aph wi r es, t hat f or med a cent er ed V on hi s f or ehead. Hi s f ace was t anned,
mar ked- mar ked not onl y by t he expl i ci t l y col oni al wr i nkl es. A pal e scar r an acr oss
hi s l ef t cheek f r oml i p t o ear , sl i ci ng i mper cept i bl y t hr ough t he l ef t hal f of hi s
bl ack Adol phe Menj ou must ache. The ski n must have been opened l ess t han a mi l l i met er
and st i t ched up. Mensur ? Or a gr azi ng bul l et ' s wound?
He i nt r oduced hi msel f - Col onel Ar dent i - of f er i ng Bel bo hi s hand and mer el y noddi ng at
me when Bel bo pr esent ed me as an assi st ant . He sat down, cr ossed hi s l egs, dr ew up
hi s t r ouser s f r omt he knee, r eveal i ng a pai r of mar oon socks, ankl e- l engt h.
" Col onel . . . on act i ve ser vi ce?" Bel bo asked.
Ar dent i bar ed some hi gh- qual i t y dent ur es. " Ret i r ed, you coul d say. Or , i f you
pr ef er , i n t he r eser ves. I may not l ook ol d, but I am. "
" You don' t l ook at al l ol d, " Bel bo sai d.
" I ' ve f ought i n f our war s. "
Page 60
" You must have begun wi t h Gar i bal di . "
" No. I was a vol unt eer l i eut enant i n Et hi opi a. Then a capt ai n, agai n a vol unt eer , i n
Spai n. Then a maj or back i n Af r i ca, unt i l we abandoned our col oni es. Si l ver Medal .
I n ' 43- wel l , l et ' s j ust say I chose t he l osi ng si de, and i ndeed I l ost ever yt hi ng,
save honor . I had t he cour age t o st ar t al l over agai n, i n t he r anks. For ei gn Legi on.
School of har d knocks. Ser geant i n ' 46, col onel i n ' 58, wi t h Massu. Appar ent l y I
al ways choose t he l osi ng si de. When De Gaul l e' s l ef t i st s t ook over , I r et i r ed and
went t o l i ve i n Fr ance. I had made some good f r i ends i n Al gi er s, so I set up an
i mpor t - expor t f i r mi n Mar sei l l es. Thi s t i me I chose t he wi nni ng si de, appar ent l y,
si nce I now enj oy an i ndependent i ncome and can devot e mysel f t o my hobby. These
past f ew year s, I ' ve wr i t t en down t he r esul t s of my r esear ch. Her e. . . " Fr oma
l eat her br i ef case he pr oduced a vol umi nous f i l e, whi ch at t he t i me seemed r ed t o me.
" So, " Bel bo sai d, " a book on t he Templ ar s?"
" The Templ ar s, " t he col onel acknowl edged. " A passi on of mi ne al most f r ommy yout h.
They, t oo, wer e sol di er s of f or t une who cr ossed t he Medi t er r anean i n sear ch of
gl or y. "
" Si gnor Casaubon has al so been st udyi ng t he Templ ar s, " Bel bo sai d. " He knows t he
subj ect bet t er t han I do. But t el l us about your book. "
" The Templ ar s have al ways i nt er est ed me. A handf ul of gener ous soul s who bor e t he
l i ght of Eur ope among t he savages of t he t wo Tr i pol i s. . . "
" The Templ ar s' adver sar i es wer en' t exact l y savages, " I r emar ked.
" Have you ever been capt ur ed by r ebel s i n t he Magr eb?" he asked me wi t h heavy
sar casm.
" Not t hat I r ecal l , " I sai d.
He gl ar ed at me, and I was gl ad I had never ser ved i n one of hi s pl at oons. " Excuse
me, " he sai d, speaki ng t o Bel bo. " I bel ong t o anot her gener at i on. " He l ooked back at
me def i ant l y. " I s t hi s some ki nd of t r i al , or - "
" We' r e her e t o t al k about your wor k, Col onel , " Bel bo sai d. " Tel l us about i t ,
pl ease. "
" I want t o make one t hi ng cl ear i mmedi at el y, " t he col onel sai d, put t i ng hi s hands on
t he f i l e. " I ampr epar ed t o assume t he pr oduct i on cost s. You won' t l ose money on
t hi s. I f you want schol ar l y r ef er ences, I ' l l pr ovi de t hem. J ust t wo hour s ago I met
an exper t i n t he f i el d, a man - who came her e f r omPar i s expr essl y t o see me. He
coul d cont r i but e an aut hor i t at i ve pr ef ace. . . " He ant i ci pat ed Bel bo' s quest i on and
made a gest ur e, as i f t o say t hat f or t he moment i t was best t o l eave t he name
unsai d, t hat i t was a del i cat e mat t er .
" Dr . Bel bo, " he sai d, " t hese pages cont ai n al l t he el ement s of a st or y. A t r ue
st or y, and a most unusual st or y. Bet t er t han any Amer i can t hr i l l er . I ' ve di scover ed
somet hi ng- somet hi ng ver y i mpor t ant - but i t ' s onl y t he begi nni ng. I want t o t el l t he
wor l d what I know, hopi ng t hat t her e may be somebody out t her e who can f i t t he r est
of t he puzzl e t oget her - somebody who mi ght r ead t he book and come f or war d. I n ot her
wor ds, t hi s i s a f i shi ng' expedi t i on of sor t s. And t i me i s of t he essence. The one
man who knew what I know now has pr obabl y been ki l l ed, pr eci sel y t o keep hi mf r om
di vul gi ng i t . But i f I can r each per haps t wo t housand r eader s wi t h what I know,
t her e wi l l be no f ur t her poi nt i n doi ng away wi t h me. " He paused. " The t wo of you
know somet hi ng about t he ar r est of t he Templ ar s?"
" Si gner Casaubon t ol d me about i t r ecent l y, and I was st r uck by t he f act t hat t her e
was no r esi st ance t o t he ar r est , and t he kni ght s wer e caught by sur pr i se. ' '
The col onel smi l ed condescendi ngl y. " Tr ue. But i t ' s absur d t o t hi nk t hat men
power f ul enough t o f r i ght en t he ki ng of Fr ance woul d have been unabl e t o f i nd out
t hat a f ew r ogues wer e st i r r i ng up t he ki ng and t hat t he ki ng was st i r r i ng up t he
pope. Qui t e absur d! Whi ch suggest s t hat t her e had t o be a pl an. A subl i me pl an.
Suppose t he Templ ar s had a pl an t o conquer t he wor l d, and t hey knew t he secr et of an
i mmense sour ce of power , a secr et whose pr eser vat i on was wor t h t he sacr i f i ce of t he
whol e Templ e quar t er i n Par i s, and of t he commander i es scat t er ed t hr oughout t he
ki ngdom, al so i n Spai n, Por t ugal , Engl and, and I t al y, t he cast l es i n t he Hol y Land,
t he monet ar y weal t h- ever yt hi ng. Phi l i p t he Fai r suspect ed t hi s. Why el se woul d he
have unl eashed a per secut i on t hat di scr edi t ed t he f ai r f l ower of Fr ench chi val r y?
The Templ e r eal i zed t hat t he ki ng suspect ed and t hat he woul d at t empt i t s
dest r uct i on. Di r ect r esi st ance was f ut i l e; t he pl an r equi r ed t i me: ei t her t he
t r easur e ( or what ever i t was) had t o be f ound, or i t had t o be expl oi t ed sl owl y. And
t he Templ e' s secr et di r ect or at e, whose exi st ence ever yone now r ecogni zes. . . "
" Ever yone?"
Page 61
" Of cour se. I t ' s i nconcei vabl e t hat such a power f ul or der coul d have sur vi ved so
l ong wi t hout havi ng a secr et di r ect or at e. "
" Your r easoni ng i s f l awl ess, " Bel bo sai d, gi vi ng me a si del ong gl ance.
The col onel went on. " The gr and mast er bel onged t o t he secr et di r ect or at e, but he
must have ser ved onl y as i t s cover , t o decei ve out si der s. I n La Cheval er i e et l es
aspect s secr et s de I ' hi st oi r e, Gaul t hi er Wal t her says t hat t he Templ ar pl an f or
wor l d conquest was t o be f i nal l y r eal i zed onl y i n t he year 2000. The Templ e deci ded
t o go under gr ound, and t hat meant t hat i t had t o l ook as i f t he or der wer e dead.
They sacr i f i ced t hemsel ves, t hat ' s what t hey di d! The gr and mast er i ncl uded. Some
l et t hemsel ves be ki l l ed; t hey wer e pr obabl y chosen by l ot . Ot her s submi t t ed,
bl endi ng i nt o t he ci vi l i an l andscape. What became of t he mi nor of f i ci al s, t he l ay
br ot her s, t he car pent er s, t he gl azi er s? That was how t he Fr eemasons wer e bom, l at er
spr eadi ng t hr oughout t he wor l d, as ever yone knows. But hi Engl and t hi ngs happened
di f f er ent l y. The ki ng r esi st ed t he pope' s pr essur e and pensi oned t he Templ ar s of f .
They l i ved out t hei r days meekl y, i n t he or der ' s gr eat houses. Meekl y- do you bel i eve
t hat ? I don' t . I n Spai n t he or der changed i t s name t o t he or der of Mont esa.
Gent l emen, t hese wer e men who coul d br i ng a ki ng t o heel ; t hey hel d so many of hi s
pr omi ssor y not es t hat t hey coul d have bankr upt ed hi mi n a week. The ki ng of
Por t ugal , f or i nst ance, came t o t er ms. Let us handl e i t l i ke t hi s, dear f r i ends, he
sai d: don' t cal l your sel ves Kni ght s of t he Templ e anymor e; change t he name t o
Kni ght s of Chr i st , and I ' l l be happy. I n Ger many t her e wer e ver y f ew t r i al s. The
abol i t i on of t he or der was pur el y f or mal , and i n any case t her e was a br ot her or der ,
t he Teut oni c Kni ght s, who at t he t i me wer e not mer el y a st at e wi t hi n t he st at e: t hey
wer e t he st at e, havi ng acqui r ed a t er r i t or y as bi g as t hose count r i es now under t he
Russi an heel , and t hey kept expandi ng unt i l t he end of t he f i f t eent h cent ur y, when
t he Mongol s ar r i ved. But t hat ' s anot her st or y, because t he Mongol s ar e at our gat es
even now. But I must n' t di gr ess. "
" Yes, l et us not di gr ess, " Bel bo sai d.
" Wel l t hen. As ever yone knows, t wo days bef or e Phi l i p i ssued t he ar r est war r ant , and
a mont h bef or e i t was car r i ed out , a hay wai n dr awn by oxen l ef t t he pr eci nct s of
t he Templ e f or an unknown dest i nat i on. Nost r adamus hi msel f al l udes t o i t i n one of
hi s Cent ur i es. . . " He l ooked t hr ough hi s manuscr i pt f or t he quot at i on:
Souz l a past ur e d' ani maux r umi nant
par eux condui t s au vent r e her bi pol i que
sol dat s caches, l es ar mes br ui t menant . . . .
" The hay wai n i s a l egend, " I sai d. " And I woul d har dl y
consi der Nost r adamus an aut hor i t y i n mat t er s of hi st or i cal f act . "
" Peopl e ol der t han you, Si gner Casaubon, have had f ai t h i n many of Nost r adamus' s
pr opheci es. Not t hat I amso i ngenuous as t o t ake t he st or y of t he hay wai n
l i t er al l y. I t ' s a symbol - a symbol of t he obvi ous, est abl i shed f act t hat J acques de
Mol ay, ant i ci pat i ng hi s ar r est , t ur ned over command of t he or der , as wel l as i t s
secr et i nst r uct i ons, t o a nephew, Comt e de Beauj eu, who became t he head of t he now
cl andest i ne Templ e. "
" Ar e t her e document s t hat bear t hi s out ?"
" Of f i ci al hi st or y, " t he col onel sai d wi t h a bi t t er smi l e, " i s wr i t t en by t he
vi ct or s. Accor di ng t o of f i ci al hi st or y, men l i ke me don' t exi st . No, behi nd t he
st or y of t he hay wai n l i es somet hi ng el se. The Templ e' s secr et nucl eus moved t o a
qui et spot , and f r omt her e t hey began t o ext end t hei r under gr ound net wor k. Thi s
obvi ous f act was my st ar t i ng poi nt . For year s- even bef or e t he war - I kept aski ng
mysel f wher e t hese br ot her s i n her oi smmi ght have gone. When I r et i r ed t o pr i vat e
l i f e, I f i nal l y deci ded t o l ook f or a t r ai l . Si nce t he f l i ght of t he hay wai n had
occur r ed i n Fr ance, Fr ance was wher e I shoul d f i nd t he or i gi nal gat her i ng of t he
secr et nucl eus. But wher e i n Fr ance?"
He had a sense of t heat er . Bel bo and I wer e al l ear s. We coul d f i nd not hi ng bet t er
t o say t han " Wel l , wher e?"
" I ' l l t el l you. Wher e woul d t he Templ ar s have hi dden? Wher e di d Hugues de Payns come
f r om? Champagne, near Tr oyes. And at t he t i me t he Templ ar s wer e f ounded, Champagne
was r ul ed by Hugues de Champagne, who j oi ned t hemi n J er usal emj ust a f ew year s
l at er . When he came back home, he appar ent l y got i n t ouch wi t h t he abbot of Ci t eaux
and hel ped hi mi ni t i at e t he st udy and t r ansl at i on of cer t ai n Hebr ew t ext s i n hi s
monast er y. Thi nk about i t : t he Whi t e Benedi ct i nes- Sai nt Ber nar d' s Benedi ct i nes- al so
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i nvi t ed t he r abbi s of upper Bur gundy t o come t o Ci t eaux, t o st udy what ever t ext s
Hugues had f ound i n Pal est i ne. Hugues even gave Sai nt Ber nar d' s monks a f or est at
Bar - sur - Aube, wher e Cl ai r vaux was l at er bui l t . And what di d Sai nt Ber nar d do?"
" He became t he champi on of t he Templ ar s, " I sai d.
" But why? Di d you know he made t he Templ ar s even mor e power f ul t han t he
Benedi ct i nes? That he pr ohi bi t ed t he Benedi ct i nes f r omr ecei vi ng gi f t s of l ands and
houses, and had t hemgi ve l ands and houses t o t he Templ ar s i nst ead? Have you ever
seen t he For et d' Or i ent near Tr oyes? I t ' s i mmense, one commander y af t er t he ot her .
And i n t he meant i me, you know, t he kni ght s i n Pal est i ne wer en' t f i ght i ng. They wer e
set t l ed i n t he Templ e, maki ng f r i ends wi t h t he Mosl ems i nst ead of ki l l i ng t hem. They
communi cat ed wi t h Mosl emmyst i cs. I n ot her wor ds, Sai nt Ber nar d, wi t h t he economi c
suppor t of t he count s of Champagne, bui l t an or der i n t he Hol y Land t hat was i n
cont act wi t h Ar ab and J ewi sh secr et sect s. An unknown di r ect or at e r an t he Cr usades
i n an ef f or t t o keep t he or der goi ng, and not t he ot her way ar ound. And i t set up a
net wor k of power t hat was out si de r oyal j ur i sdi ct i on. I ama man of act i on, not a
man of sci ence. I nst ead of spi nni ng empt y conj ect ur es, I di d what al l t he
l ong- wi nded schol ar s have never done: I went t o t he pl ace t he Templ ar s came f r om,
t he pl ace t hat had been t hei r base f or t wo cent ur i es, t hei r home, wher e t hey coul d
l i ve l i ke f i sh i n wat er . . . "
" Chai r man Mao says t hat r evol ut i onar i es must l i ve among t he peopl e l i ke f i sh i n
wat er , " I sai d.
" Good f or your chai r man. But t he Templ ar s wer e pr epar i ng a r evol ut i on f ar gr eat er
t han t he r evol ut i on of your pi gt ai l ed communi st s. "
" They don' t wear pi gt ai l s anymor e. "
" No? Wel l , so much t he wor se f or t hem. As I was sayi ng, t he Templ ar s must have
sought r ef uge i n Champagne. Payns? Tr oyes? The East er n For est ? No. Payns was- and
st i l l i s- a t i ny vi l l age. At t he t i me, i t had a cast l e at most . Tr oyes was a ci t y:
t oo many of t he ki ng' s men ar ound. The f or est , whi ch t he Templ ar s owned, was t he
f i r st pl ace t he r oyal guar ds woul d l ook. Whi ch t hey di d, by t he way. No, I sai d t o
mysel f , t he onl y pl ace t hat made sense was Pr ovi ns. "
18
I f our eye coul d penet r at e t he ear t h and see i t s i nt er i or f r ompol e t o pol e, f r om
wher e we st and t o t he ant i podes, we woul d gl i mpse wi t h hor r or a mass t er r i f yi ngl y
r i ddl ed wi t h f i ssur es and caver ns.
- Thomas Bur net , Tel l ur i s Theor i a Sacr a, Amst er dam, Wol t er s, 1694, p. 38
" Why Pr ovi ns?"
" Have you ever been t o Pr ovi ns? A magi c pl ace: you can f eel i t even t oday. Go t her e.
A magi c pl ace, st i l l r edol ent of secr et s. I n t he el event h cent ur y i t was t he seat of
t he Comt e de Champagne, a f r ee zone, wher e t he cent r al gover nment coul dn' t come
snoopi ng. The Templ ar s wer e at home t her e; even t oday a st r eet i s named af t er t hem.
Ther e wer e chur ches, pal aces, a cast l e over l ooki ng t he whol e pl ai n. And a l ot of
money, mer chant s doi ng busi ness, f ai r s, conf usi on, wher e i t was easy t o pass
unnot i ced. But most i mpor t ant , somet hi ng t hat has been t her e si nce pr ehi st or i c
t i mes: t unnel s. A net wor k of t unnel s- r eal cat acombs- ext ends beneat h t he hi l l . Some
t unnel s ar e open t o t he publ i c t oday. They wer e pl aces wher e peopl e coul d meet i n
secr et , and i f t hei r enemi es got i n, t he conspi r at or s coul d di sper se i n a mat t er of
seconds, di sappear i ng i nt o nowher e. And i f t hey wer e r eal l y f ami l i ar wi t h t he
passages, t hey coul d exi t i n one di r ect i on and r eappear i n t he opposi t e, on padded
f eet , l i ke cat s. They coul d sneak up behi nd t he i nt r uder s and cut t hemdown i n t he
dar k. As God i s my wi t ness, gent l emen, t hose t unnel s ar e t ai l or - made f or commandos.
Qui ck and i nvi si bl e, you sl i p i n at ni ght , kni f e bet ween your t eet h, a coupl e of
gr enades i n hand, and your enemi es di e l i ke r at s! "
Hi s eyes wer e shi ni ng. " Do you r eal i ze what a f abul ous hi di ng pl ace Pr ovi ns must
have been? A secr et nucl eus coul d meet under gr ound, and t he l ocal s, even i f t hey di d
see somet hi ng, woul dn' t say a wor d. The ki ng' s men, of cour se, di d come t o Pr ovi ns.
They ar r est ed t he Templ ar s who wer e vi si bl e on t he sur f ace and t ook t hemt o Par i s.
Reynaud de Pr ovi ns was t or t ur ed, but di dn' t t al k. Cl ear l y, t he secr et pl an cal l ed
f or hi mt o be ar r est ed t o make t he ki ng bel i eve t hat Pr ovi ns had been swept cl ean.
But at t he same t i me he was t o gi ve a si gnal , by r ef usi ng t o t al k: Pr ovi ns wi l l not
yi el d- not Pr ovi ns, wher e t he new, under gr ound Templ ar s l i ve on. Some t unnel s l ead
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f r ombui l di ng t o bui l di ng. You can ent er a gr anar y or a war ehouse and come out i n a
chur ch. Some t unnel s ar e const r uct ed wi t h col umns and vaul t ed cei l i ngs. Even t oday,
ever y house i n t he upper ci t y st i l l has a cel l ar wi t h ogi val vaul t s- t her e must be
mor e t han a hundr ed of t hem. And ever y cel l ar has an ent r ance t o a t unnel . "
" Conj ect ur e, " I sai d.
" No, young man, f act . You haven' t seen t he t unnel s of Pr ovi ns. Roomaf t er r oom, deep
i n t he ear t h, cover ed wi t h anci ent gr af f i t i . The gr af f i t i ar e f ound most l y i n what
spel eol ogi st s cal l l at er al cel l s. Hi er at i c dr awi ngs of dr ui di c or i gi n, scr at ched
i nt o t he wal l bef or e t he Romans came. Caesar passed over head, whi l e down bel ow men
pl ot t ed r esi st ance, ambushes, spel l s. Ther e ar e Cat har i st symbol s, t oo. Yes,
gent l emen, t he Cat har s i n Pr ovence wer e wi ped out , but t her e wer e Cat har s i n
Champagne al so, and t hey sur vi ved, meet i ng secr et l y i n t hese cat acombs of her esy.
One hundr ed and ei ght y- t hr ee of t hemwer e bur ned above- gr ound, but t he ot her s hi d
bel ow. The chr oni cl es cal l t hembougr es et mani cheens. Now, mi nd you, t he bougr es
wer e si mpl y Bogomi l s, Cat har s of Bul gar i an or i gi n. Does t he Fr ench wor d bougr es t el l
you anyt hi ng? Or i gi nal l y i t meant sodomi t e, because t he Bul gar i an Cat har s wer e sai d
t o have t hat l i t t l e f ai l i ng. . . " He gave a ner vous l augh. " And who el se was accused of
t hat same f ai l i ng? The Templ ar s. Cur i ous, i sn' t i t ?"
" Up t o a poi nt , " I sai d. " I n t hose days t he easi est way t o get r i d of a her et i c was
t o accuse hi mof sodomy. . . "
" Tr ue, and you must n' t t hi nk t hat I bel i eve t he Templ ar s act ual l y. . . They wer e
f i ght i ng men, and we f i ght i ng men l i ke beaut i f ul women. Vows or not , a man i s a man.
I ment i on t hi s onl y because I don' t bel i eve i t ' s a coi nci dence t hat Cat har her et i cs
f ound r ef uge wher e t he Templ ar s wer e. But i n any case t he Templ ar s l ear ned f r omt hem
t he use of caves and t unnel s. "
" But al l t hi s, r eal l y, i s guesswor k, " Bel bo sai d.
" I t st ar t ed wi t h guesswor k, yes. I ' mj ust expl ai ni ng why I set out t o expl or e
Pr ovi ns. But now we come t o t he act ual st or y. I n t he cent er of Pr ovi ns i s a bi g
Got hi c bui l di ng, t he Gr ange- aux- Di mes, or t i t he gr anar y. As you may know, one of t he
sour ces of t he Templ ar s' st r engt h was t hat t hey col l ect ed t i t hes di r ect l y and di dn' t
have t o pay anyt hi ng t o t he st at e. Under t he bui l di ng, as ever ywher e el se, t her e' s a
net wor k of passages, t oday i n ver y bad condi t i on. Wel l , as I was goi ng t hr ough
ar chi ves i n Pr ovi ns I came acr oss a l ocal newspaper f r om1894. I n i t was an ar t i cl e
about t wo dr agoons, Cheval i er Cami l l e Laf or ge of Tour s and Cheval i er Edouar d I ngol f
of Pet er sbur g- yes, Pet er sbur g! - who had vi si t ed t he Gr ange a f ew days ear l i er .
Accompani ed by t he car et aker , t hey went down i nt o one of t he subt er r anean r ooms, on
t he second l evel bel owgr ound. When t he car et aker , t r yi ng t o show t hat t her e wer e
ot her l evel s even f ar t her down, st amped on t he ear t h, t hey hear d echoes and
r ever ber at i ons. The r epor t er pr ai sed t he bol d dr agoons, who pr ompt l y f et ched
l ant er ns and r opes and went i nt o t he unknown t unnel s l i ke boys down a mi ne, pul l i ng
t hemsel ves f or war d on t hei r el bows, cr awl i ng t hr ough myst er i ous passages. And t he
paper says t hey came t o a gr eat hal l wi t h a f i ne f i r epl ace and a dr y wel l i n t he
cent er . They t i ed a st one t o a r ope, l ower ed i t , and f ound t hat t he wel l was el even
met er s deep. They went back a week l at er wi t h st r onger r opes, and t wo compani ons
l ower ed I ngol f i nt o t he wel l , wher e he di scover ed a bi g r oomwi t h st one wal l s, t en
met er s squar e and f i ve met er s hi gh. The ot her s t hen f ol l owed hi mdown. They r eal i zed
t hat t hey wer e at t he t hi r d l evel , t hi r t y met er s beneat h t he sur f ace. We don' t know
what t he men saw and di d i n t hat r oom. The r epor t er admi t s t hat when he went t o t he
scene t o i nvest i gat e, he l acked t he cour age t o go down i nt o t he wel l . I was exci t ed
by t he st or y and f el t a desi r e t o vi si t t he pl ace. But many of t he t unnel s had
col l apsed si nce t he end of di e l ast cent ur y, and even i f such a wel l di d exi st at
t hat t i me, t her e was no way of t el l i ng wher e i t was now.
" I t suddenl y occur r ed t o me t hat t he dr agoons mi ght have f ound somet hi ng down t her e.
I had r ecent l y r ead a book about t he secr et of Rennes- l e- Chat eau, anot her st or y i n
whi ch t he Templ ar s f i gur e. A penni l ess and obscur e par i sh pr i est was r est or i ng an
ol d chur ch i n a l i t t l e vi l l age of some t wo hundr ed soul s. A ' , st one i n t he
choi r f l oor was l i f t ed, r eveal i ng a box sai d t o cont ai n ; some ver y ol d
manuscr i pt s. Onl y manuscr i pt s? We don' t know ( exact l y what happened next , but
i n l at er year s t he pr i est became i mmensel y r i ch, t hr ew money ar ound, l ed a l i f e of
di ssi pat i on, and was f i nal l y br ought bef or e an eccl esi ast i cal cour t . What i f
somet hi ng si mi l ar had happened t o one of t he dr agoons? Or t o bot h? I ngol f went down
f i r st ; l et ' s say he f ound some pr eci ous obj ect smal l enough t o be hi dden i n hi s
t uni c. He came back up and sai d not hi ng t o hi s compani ons. Wel l , I ama st ubbor n
Page 64
man; ot her wi se I woul dn' t have l i ved t he l i f e I have. "
The col onel r an hi s f i nger s over hi s scar , t hen r ai sed hi s hands t o hi s t empl es and
br ushed hi s hai r t owar d hi s nape, maki ng sur e i t was i n pl ace.
" I went t o t he cent r al t el ephone of f i ce i n Par i s and checked t he di r ect or i es of t he
ent i r e count r y, l ooki ng f or a f ami l y named I ngol f . I f ound onl y one, i n Auxer r e, and
wr ot e a l et t er i nt r oduci ng mysel f as an amat eur ar cheol ogi st . Two weeks l at er I
r ecei ved a r epl y f r oman el der l y mi dwi f e, t he daught er of t he I ngol f I had r ead
about . She was cur i ous t o know why I was i nt er est ed i n hi m. I n f act , she asked: For
God' s sake, coul d I t el l her anyt hi ng? I r eal i zed t her e was a myst er y her e, so I
hur r i ed t o Auxer r e. Mademoi sel l e I ngol f l i ves i n a l i t t l e i vy- cover ed cot t age, i t s
wooden gat e hel d shut by a st r i ng l ooped ar ound a nai l . An ol d mai d- t i dy, ki nd, and
uneducat ed. She asked me r i ght away what I knew about her f at her , and I t ol d her I
knew onl y t hat one day he had gone down i nt o a t unnel i n Pr ovi ns. I sai d I was
wr i t i ng a hi st or i cal monogr aph on t he r egi on. She was dumbf ounded; she had no i dea
her f at her had ever been t o Pr ovi ns. Yes, he had been a dr agoon, but he r esi gned
f r omt he ser vi ce i n 1895, bef or e she was bor n. He bought t hi s cot t age i n Auxer r e,
and i n 1898 he mar r i ed a l ocal gi r l wi t h some money of her own. Mademoi sel l e I ngol f
was f i ve when her mot her di ed, i n 1915. Her f at her di sappear ed i n 1935. Li t er al l y
di sappear ed. He l ef t f or Par i s, whi ch he r egul ar l y vi si t ed at l east t wi ce a year ,
but was never hear d f r omagai n. The l ocal gendar mer i e t el ephoned Par i s: t he man had
vani shed i nt o t hi n ai r . Pr esumed dead. And so our mademoi sel l e, l ef t al one wi t h onl y
a meager i nher i t ance, had t o go t o wor k. Appar ent l y she never f ound a husband, and
j udgi ng by t he way she si ghed, t her eby al so hangs a t al e- pr obabl y t he onl y t al e i n
her l i f e, and i t must have ended badl y. ' Monsi eur Ar dent i , ' she sai d, ' I suf f er
const ant angui sh and r emor se, havi ng l ear ned not hi ng of poor Papa' s f at e, not even
t he si t e of hi s gr ave, i f i ndeed t her e i s one. ' She was eager t o t al k about hi m,
descr i bi ng hi mas ver y gent l e and cal m, a met hodi cal , cul t ur ed man who spent hi s
days r eadi ng and wr i t i ng i n a l i t t l e at t i c st udy. He put t er ed i n t he gar den now and
t hen, and exchanged a f ew wor ds wi t h t he phar maci st - al so dead now. Fr omt i me t o t i me
he t r avel ed t o Par i s- on busi ness, he sai d- and al ways came home wi t h packages of
books. The st udy was st i l l f ul l of t hem; she waht ed t o show t hemt o me. We went
upst ai r s.
" I t was a cl ean and t i dy l i t t l e r oom, whi ch Mademoi sel l e I ngol f dust ed once a week:
she coul d t ake f l ower s t o her mot her ' s gr ave, but al l she coul d do f or poor Papa was
t hi s. She kept i t j ust as he l ef t i t ; she wi shed she had gone t o school so she coul d
r ead t hose books of hi s, but t hey wer e i n l anguages l i ke Ol d Fr ench, Lat i n, Ger man,
and even Russi an. Papa had been bor n and spent hi s chi l dhood i n Russi a; hi s f at her
had been a Fr ench Embassy of f i ci al . Ther e wer e about a hundr ed vol umes i n t he
l i br ar y, most of t hem- I was del i ght ed t o see- on t he t r i al of t he Templ ar s. For
exampl e, he had Raynouar d' s Monument s hi st or i ques r el at i f s a l a condamnat i on des
cheval i er s du Templ e, publ i shed i n 1813, a gr eat r ar i t y. Ther e wer e many vol umes on
secr et wr i t i ng syst ems, a whol e col l ect i on on cr ypt ogr aphy, and some wor ks on
pal eogr aphy and di pl omat i c hi st or y. As I was l eaf i ng t hr ough an ol d account l edger ,
I f ound an annot at i on t hat made me st ar t : i t concer ned t he sal e of a case, wi t h no
f ur t her descr i pt i on and no ment i on of t he buyer ' s name. Nor was any pr i ce gi ven, but
t he dat e was 1895, and t he ent r i es i mmedi at el y bel ow wer e qui t e met i cul ous. Thi s was
t he l edger of a j udi ci ous gent l eman shr ewdl y managi ng hi s nest egg. Ther e wer e some
not es on t he pur chase of i t ems f r omant i quar i an booksel l er s i n Par i s. I was
begi nni ng t o under st and.
" I n t he cr ypt i n Pr ovi ns, I ngol f must have f ound a gol d case st udded wi t h pr eci ous
st ones. Wi t hout a moment ' s t hought , he sl i pped i t i nt o hi s t uni c and went back up,
not sayi ng a wor d t o t he ot her s. At home, he f ound a par chment i n t he case. That
much seems obvi ous. He went t o Par i s and cont act ed a col l ect or of ant i ques- pr obabl y
some bl oodsucki ng pawnbr oker - but t he sal e of t he case, even so, l ef t I ngol f
comf or t abl y of f , i f not r i ch. Then he went f ur t her , l ef t t he ser vi ce, r et i r ed t o t he
count r y, and st ar t ed buyi ng books and st udyi ng t he par chment . Per haps he was
somet hi ng of a t r easur e hunt er t o st ar t wi t h; ot her wi se he woul dn' t have been
expl or i ng t unnel s i n Pr ovi ns. He was pr obabl y educat ed enough t o bel i eve t hat he
woul d event ual l y be abl e t o deci pher t he par chment on hi s own. So he wor ked cal ml y,
unr uf f l ed, f or mor e t han t hi r t y year s, a t r ue monomani ac. Di d he ever t el l anyone
about hi s di scover i es? Who knows? One way or anot her , by 1935 he must have f el t
ei t her t hat he had made consi der abl e pr ogr ess or t hat he had come t o a dead end,
because he t hen appar ent l y deci ded t o t ur n t o someone, ei t her t o t el l t hat per son
Page 65
what he knew or t o f i nd out what he needed t o know. And what he knew must have been
so secr et and awesome t hat t he per son he t ur ned t o di d away wi t h hi m.
" But l et us r et ur n t o hi s at t i c. I want ed t o see whet her I ngol f had l ef t any cl ues,
so I t ol d t he good mademoi sel l e t hat i f I exami ned her f at her ' s books, I mi ght
per haps f i nd some t r ace of t he di scover y he had made i n Pr ovi ns. I f so, I woul d gi ve
hi mf al l cr edi t i n my essay. She was ent husi ast i c. Anyt hi ng f or poor Papa. She
i nvi t ed me t o st ay t he whol e af t er noon and t o come back t he next mor ni ng i f
necessar y. She br ought me coi f ee, t ur ned on t he l i ght s, and went back t o her gar den,
l eavi ng me i n f ul l char ge. The r oomhad smoot h, whi t e wal l s, no cupboar ds, nooks, or
cr anni es wher e I coul d r ummage, but I negl ect ed not hi ng. I l ooked above, bel ow, and
i nsi de t he f ew pi eces of f ur ni t ur e; I sear ched t hr ough an al most empt y war dr obe
cont ai ni ng a f ew sui t s f i l l ed wi t h mot hbal l s; I l ooked behi nd t he t hr ee or f our
f r amed engr avi ngs of l andscapes. I ' l l spar e you t he det ai l s, but , t ake i t f r omme, I
di d a t hor ough j ob. I t ' s not enough, f or i nst ance, t o f eel t he st uf f i ng , of a sof a;
you have t o st i ck needl es i n t o make sur e you don' t mi ss any f or ei gn obj ect . . . "
The col onel ' s exper i ence, I r eal i zed, was not l i mi t ed t o bat t l ef i el ds.
" That l ef t t he books. I made a l i st of t he t i t l es and checked f or under l i ni ngs and
not es i n t he mar gi ns, f or any hi nt at al l . Af t er a l ong whi l e, I cl umsi l y pi cked up
an ol d vol ume wi t h a heavy bi ndi ng; I dr opped i t , and a handwr i t t en sheet of paper
f el l out . I t was not ebook paper , and t he t ext ur e and i nk suggest ed t hat i t wasn' t
ver y ol d: i t coul d have been wr i t t en i n t he l ast year s of I ngol f ' s l i f e. I bar el y
gl anced at i t , but suddenl y not i ced somet hi ng wr i t t en i n t he mar gi n: ' Pr ovi ns 1894. '
Wel l , you can i magi ne my exci t ement , t he wave of emot i on t hat swept over me. . . I
r eal i zed t hat I ngol f had t aken t he or i gi nal par chment t o Par i s, and t hat t hi s was a
copy. I f el t no compunct i on. Mademoi sel l e I ngol f had dust ed t hose books f or year s
and had never come acr oss t hat paper , ot her wi se she woul d have t ol d me. Ver y wel l ,
l et her cont i nue t o be unawar e of i t . The wor l d i s made up of wi nner s and l oser s. I
had had my shar e of def eat ; i t was t i me now t o gr asp vi ct or y. I f ol ded t he paper and
put i t i n my pocket . I bade Mademoi sel l e I ngol f goodbye, t el l i ng her t hat , t hough I
had f ound not hi ng of i nt er est , I woul d never t hel ess ment i on her f at her i f I wr ot e
anyt hi ng. Bl ess you, she sai d. A man of act i on, gent l emen, especi al l y one bur ni ng
wi t h t he passi on t hat bl azed wi t hi n me, can' t have scr upl es when deal i ng wi t h a
di smal woman al r eady sent enced by f at e. "
" No need t o apol ogi ze, " Bel bo sai d. " You di d i t . J ust t el l us t he r est . "
" Gent l emen, I wi l l now show you t hi s t ext . For gi ve me f or usi ng a phot ocopy. I t ' s
not di st r ust . I don' t want t o subj ect t he or i gi nal t o f ur t her wear . "
" But I ngol f ' s copy wasn' t t he or i gi nal , " I sai d. " The par chment was t he or i gi nal . "
" Casaubon, when or i gi nal s no l onger exi st , t he l ast copy i s t he or i gi nal . "
" But I ngol f may have made er r or s i n t r anscr i pt i on. "
" You don' t know t hat he di d. Wher eas I know I ngol f ' s t r anscr i pt i on i s t r ue, because
I see no way t he t r ut h coul d be ot her wi se. Ther ef or e I ngol f ' s copy i s t he or i gi nal .
Do we agr ee on t hi s poi nt , or do we si t and spl i t hai r s?"
" No, " Bel bo sai d. " I hat e t hat . Let ' s see your or i gi nal copy. "
19
Af t er Beauj eu, t he Or der has never ceased t o exi st , not f or a moment , and af t er
Aumont we f i nd an uni nt er r upt ed sequence of Gr and Mast er s of t he Or der down t o our
own t i me, and i f t he name and seat of t he t r ue Gr and Mast er and t he t r ue Seneschal s
who r ul e t he Or der and gui de i t s subl i me l abor s r emai n a myst er y t oday, an
i mpenet r abl e secr et known onl y t o t he t r ul y enl i ght ened, i t i s because t he hour of
t he Or der has not st r uck and t he t i me i s not r i pe. . .
- Manuscr i pt of 1760, i n G. A. Schi f f mann, Di e Ent st ehung der Ri t t er gr ade i n der
Fr ei mauer ei ur n di e Mi t t e des XVI I I J ahr hunder t s, Lei pzi g, Zechel , 1882, pp.
178- 190
Thi s was our f i r st , r emot e cont act wi t h t he Pl an. I coul d easi l y be somewher e el se
now i f I hadn' t been i n Bel bo' s of f i ce t hat day. I coul d be- who knows?- sel l i ng
sesame seeds i n Samar kand, or edi t i ng a ser i es of books i n Br ai l l e, or headi ng t he
f i r st Nat i onal Bank of Fr anz J osef Land. Count er f act ual condi t i onal s ar e al ways
t r ue, because t he pr emi se i s f al se. But I was t her e t hat day, so now I amwher e I
am.
The col onel handed us t he page wi t h a f l our i sh. I st i l l have i t her e among my
Page 66
paper s, i n a l i t t l e pl ast i c f ol der . Pr i nt ed on t hat t her mal paper phot ocopi es used
i n t hose days, i t i s mor e yel l owed and f aded now. Act ual l y t her e wer e t wo t ext s on
t he page: t he f i r st , densel y wr i t t en, t ook up hal f t he space; t he second was di vi ded
i nt o f r agment s of ver ses. . .
The f i r st t ext was a ki nd of demoni acal l i t any, a par ody of a Semi t i c l anguage:
Kuabr i s Def r abax Rexul on Ukkazaal Ukzaab Ur paef el Tacul - bai n Habr ak Hacor ui n
Maquaf el Tebr ai n Hmcat ui n Rokasor Hi mesor Ar gaabi l Kaquaan Docr abax Rei saz Rei sabr ax
De- cai quan Oi quaqui l Zai t abor Qaxaop Dugr aq Xael obr an Di - saeda Magi suan Rai t ak
Hui dal Uscol da Ar abaomZi pr eus Mecr i mCosmae Duqui f as Rocar bi s.
" Not exact l y cl ear , " Bel bo r emar ked.
" No, i t i sn' t , " t he col onel agr eed sl yl y. " And I mi ght have spent my l i f e t r yi ng t o
make sense of i t , i f one day, al most by chance, I hadn' t f ound a book about
Tr i t hemi us on a bookst al l and not i ced one of hi s coded messages: ' Pamer si el Oshur my
Del muson Thaf l oyn. . . ' I had uncover ed a cl ue, and I pur sued i t r el ent l essl y. I knew
not hi ng at al l - about Tr i t hemi us, but i n Par i s I f ound an edi t i on of hi s
St eganogr aphi a, hoc est ar s per occul t amscr i pt ur amani mi sui vol unt at emabsent i bus
aper i endi cer t a, publ i shed i n Fr ankf ur t i n 1606. The ar t of usi ng secr et wr i t i ng i n
or der t o bar e your soul t o di st ant per sons. A f asci nat i ng man, t hi s Tr i t hemi us. A
Benedi ct i ne abbot of Spannhei m, l at e f i f t eent h- ear l y si xt eent h cent ur i es, a schol ar
who knew Hebr ew and Chal dean, Or i ent al l anguages l i ke Tar t ar . He cor r esponded wi t h
t heol ogi ans, cabal i st s, al chemi st s, most cer t ai nl y wi t h t he gr eat Cor nel i us Agr i ppa
of Net t eshei mand per haps wi t h Par acel sus. . . Tr i t hemi us masked hi s r evel at i ons about
secr et wr i t i ngs behi nd magi cal smoke scr eens. For i nst ance, he r ecommended sendi ng
coded messages l i ke t he one you' r e l ooki ng at now. The r eci pi ent was t hen supposed
t o cal l upon angel s l i ke Pamer si el , Padi el , Dor ot hi el , and so on, t o hel p hi m
deci pher t he r eal message. But many of hi s exampl es ar e act ual l y mi l i t ar y
di spat ches, and hi s book- dedi cat ed t o Phi l i p, Count Pal at i ne and Duke of
Bavar i a- r epr esent s one of t he f i r st ser i ous st udi es of cr ypt ogr aphy. "
" Cor r ect me i f I ' mwr ong, " I sai d, " but di dn' t you say t hat Tr i t hemi us l i ved at
l east a hundr ed year s af t er t he manuscr i pt we' r e t al ki ng about was wr i t t en?"
" Tr i t hemi us was associ at ed wi t h a Sodal i t as Cel t i ca t hat was concer ned wi t h
phi l osophy, ast r ol ogy, Pyt hagor ean mat hemat i cs. You see t he connect i on? The Templ ar s
wer e an or der whose i ni t i at es wer e al so i nspi r ed by t he wi sdomof t he anci ent Cel t s;
t hat has been wi del y demonst r at ed. Somehow Tr i t hemi us al so l ear ned t he cr ypt ogr aphi c
syst ems used by t he Templ ar s. "
" Amazi ng, " Bel bo sai d. " And t he t r anscr i pt i on of t he secr et message? What does i t
say?"
" Al l i n good t i me, gent l emen. Tr i t hemi us pr esent s f or t y maj or and t en mi nor
cr ypt osyst ems. Her e I was l ucky- ei t her t hat or t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns si mpl y di dn' t
make any gr eat ef f or t , si nce t hey wer e sur e nobody woul d ever cr ack t hei r code. I
t r i ed t he f i r st of t he f or t y maj or syst ems and assumed t hat onl y t he f i r st l et t er of
each wor d count ed. "
Bel bo asked t o see t he page and gl anced over i t . " You st i l l get nonsense:
kdr uuut h. . . "
" Nat ur al l y, " t he col onel sai d condescendi ngl y. " The Templ ar s may not have made a
gr eat ef f or t , but t hey wer en' t al t oget her l azy ei t her . Thi s f i r st sequence of
l et t er s i s i t sel f a coded message, and I wonder ed whet her t he second ser i es of t en
mi nor codi ng syst ems mi ght not gi ve an answer . For t hi s second ser i es, you see,
Tr i t hemi us used some wheel s. Her e i s t he wheel f or t he f i r st syst em. "
He t ook anot her phot ocopy f r omhi s f i l e, dr ew hi s chai r up t o t he desk, and, aski ng
us t o pay car ef ul at t ent i on, t ouched t he l et t er s wi t h hi s cl osed f ount ai n pen.
" I t ' s t he si mpl est possi bl e syst em. Consi der onl y t he out er ci r cl e. To code
somet hi ng, you r epl ace each l et t er of your or i gi nal message wi t h t he l et t er t hat
pr ecedes i t f or A you wr i t e Z, f or B you wr i t e A, and so on. Chi l d' s pl ay f or a
secr et agent nowadays, but back t hen i t was consi der ed wi t chcr af t . To decode, of
cour se, you go i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on, r epl aci ng each l et t er of t he coded message
wi t h t he l et t er t hat f ol l ows i t . I t r i ed i t , and I was l ucky agai n; i t wor ked t he
ver y f i r st t i me. Her e' s what i t says. " He r eci t ed: " ' Les 36 i nui si bl es separ ez en
Page 67
si x bandes. ' That i s: t he t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es di vi ded i nt o si x gr oups. "
" Whi ch means what ?"
" Appar ent l y not hi ng, at f i r st gl ance. I t ' s a ki nd of headl i ne announci ng t he
est abl i shment of a gr oup. I t was wr i t t en i n secr et l anguage f or r i t ual i st i c r easons.
Our Templ ar s, sat i sf i ed t hat t hey wer e put t i ng t hei r message i n an i nvi ol abl e i nner
sanct um, wer e cont ent t o use t hei r f our t eent h- cent ur y Fr ench. But l et ' s l ook at t he
second t ext . "
a l a. . . Sai nt J ean
36 p char r et e de f ei n
6. . . ent i er s avec sai el
p. . . l es bl ancs mant i ax
r . . . s. . . cheval i er s de Pr ui ns pour / a. . . j . nc.
6 f oi l 6 en 6 pl aces
chascune f oi l 20 a. . . 720 a. . .
i cest e est I ' or donat i on
al donj on I t pr emi er s
i t l i secunz j ost e i ceus qui . . . pans
i t al r ef uge
i t a Nost r e Dame de I ' al t r e pan de I ' i au
i t a I ' ost el des popel i cans
i t a l a pi er r e
3 f oi z 6 avant l a f est e. . . t o Gr ant Put e.
" Thi s i s t he decoded message?" Bel bo asked, di sappoi nt ed and amused.
" Obvi ousl y t he dot s i n I ngol f ' s t r anscr i pt i on st and f or wor ds t hat wer e i l l egi bl e.
Per haps t he par chment was damaged i n pl aces. But I ' ve made a f i nal t r anscr i pt i on and
t r ansl at i on, based on sur mi ses t hat ar e, i f I do say so mysel f , unassai l abl e. I ' ve
r est or ed t he t ext t o i t s anci ent spl endor - as t he sayi ng goes. "
Wi t h a magi ci an' s gest ur e, he f l i pped over t he phot ocopy and showed us hi s not es,
pr i nt ed i n capi t al s.
THE ( NI GHT OF) SAI NT J OHN
36 ( YEARS) P( OST) HAY WAI N
6 ( MESSAGES) I NTACT WI TH SEAL
F( OR THE KNI GHTS WI TH) THE WHI TE CLOAKS [ TEMPLARS]
R( ELAP) S( I ) OF PROVI NS FOR ( VAI N) J ANCE [ REVENGE]
6 TI MES 6 I N SI X PLACES
EACH TI ME 20 Y( EARS MAKES) 120 Y( EARS)
THI S I S THE PLAN
THE FI RST GO TO THE CASTLE
I T( ERUM) [ AGAI N AFTER 120 YEARS] THE SECOND J OI N THOSE
( OF THE) BREAD AGAI N TO THE REFUGE AGAI N TO OUR LADY BEYOND THE RI VER
AGAI N TO THE HOSTEL OF THE POPELI CANS
AGAI N TO THE STONE
3 TI MES 6 [ 666] BEFORE THE FEAST ( OF THE) GREAT WHORE.
" Cl ear as mud, " Bel bo sai d.
" Of cour se, i t st i l l needs i nt er pr et at i on. But I ngol f sur el y must have done t hat , as
I have. I f you know t he hi st or y of t he or der , i t ' s l ess obscur e t han i t seems. "
A pause. He asked f or a gl ass of wat er and went over t he t ext wi t h us agai n, wor d by
wor d.
" Now t hen. The ni ght of Sai nt J ohn' s Eve, t hi r t y- si x year s af t er t he hay wai n. The
Templ ar s char ged wi t h keepi ng t he or der al i ve escaped capt ur e i n Sept ember 1307 i n a
hay wai n. At t hat t i me t he year was cal cul at ed f r omEast er t o East er . So 1307 woul d
end at what we woul d consi der East er of 1308. Count t hi r t y- si x year s af t er East er
1308 and you ar r i ve at East er 1344. The message was pl aced i n t he cr ypt i nsi de a
pr eci ous case, as a seal , a ki nd of deed at t est i ng t o some event t hat t ook pl ace
t her e on Sai nt J ohn' s Eve af t er t he est abl i shment of t he secr et or der . I n ot her
wor ds, on J une 23, 1344. "
" Why 1344?"
" I bel i eve t hat bet ween 1307 and 1344 t he secr et or der was r eor gani zed i n
pr epar at i on f or t he pr oj ect pr ocl ai med i n t he par chment . They had t o wai t t i l l t he
Page 68
dust had set t l ed, t i l l l i nks coul d be f or ged agai n among Templ ar s i n f i ve or si x
count r i es. Now i f t he Templ ar s wai t ed t hi r t y- si x year s- not t hi r t y- f i ve or
t hi r t y- seven- cl ear l y i t was because t he number 36 had myst i cal pr oper t i es f or t hem,
as t he coded message conf i r ms. The sumof t he di gi t s of t hi r t y- si x i s ni ne, and I
don' t have t o r emi nd you of t he pr of ound si gni f i cance of t hi s number . "
" AmI di st ur bi ng you?" I t was Di ot al l evi , who had sl i pped i n behi nd us, on padded
f eet l i ke a Templ ar of Pr ovi ns.
" Ri ght up your al l ey, " Bel bo sai d. He i nt r oduced hi mt o t he col onel , who di dn' t seem
par t i cul ar l y di st ur bed. On t he cont r ar y, he was happy t o have a l ar ger , and keen,
audi ence. He cont i nued hi s exegesi s, Di ot al l evi sal i vat i ng at t hose numer ol og- i cal
del i caci es. Pur e gemat r i a.
" We come now t o t he seal s: si x t hi ngs i nt act wi t h seal s. I ngol f had f ound a case
cl osed wi t h a seal . For whomwas t hi s case seal ed? For t he Whi t e Cl oaks, f or t he
Templ ar s. Next comes an r , sever al mi ssi ng l et t er s, and an s. I r ead i t as
' r el apsi . ' Why? Because, as we al l know, r el apsi wer e conf essed def endant s who l at er
r et r act ed, and r el apsi pl ayed a cr uci al r ol e i n t he t r i al of t he Templ ar s. The
Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns bor e t hei r i dent i t y as r el apsi pr oudl y. They wer e t he ones who
di sassoci at ed t hemsel ves f r omt hat wi cked f ar ce of a t r i al . So t he message r ef er s t o
t he kni ght s of Pr ovi ns, r el apsi , who ar e pr epar i ng- what ? The f ew l et t er s we have
suggest ' vai nj ance, ' r evenge. "
" Revenge f or what ?"
" Gent l emen! The whol e Templ ar myst i que, f r omt he t r i al on, was f ocused on t he pl an
t o avenge J acques de Mol ay. I don' t t hi nk much of t he Masoni c r i t e- a mer e bour geoi s
car i cat ur e of Templ ar kni ght hood- but never t hel ess i t ' s a r ef l ect i on, however pal e,
of Templ ar pr act i ces. And one of t he degr ees of Scot t i sh Masonr y was kadosch kni ght ,
t he kni ght of r evenge. "
" Al l r i ght , t he Templ ar s wer e pr epar i ng f or r evenge. What next ?"
" How much t i me woul d i t t ake t o car r y out t he pl an of r evenge? I n t he coded message
t her e i s ment i on of si x kni ght s appear i ng si x t i mes i n si x pl aces; t hi r t y- si x
di vi ded i nt o si x gr oups. Then i t says ' Each t i me t went y. ' What f ol l ows i s uncl ear ,
but i n I ngol f ' s t r anscr i pt i on i t l ooks l i ke an a, f or ' ans, ' or year s. Ever y t went y
year s, I concl ude; si x t i mes or one hundr ed and t went y year s i n al l . Lat er on i n t he
message we f i nd a l i st of si x pl aces, or si x t asks t o be per f or med. Ther e i s ment i on
of an ' or donat i on, ' a pl an, pr oj ect , or pr ocedur e t o be f ol l owed. And i t says t he
f i r st gr oup must go t o a donj on or cast l e whi l e t he second goes somewher e el se, and
so on down t o t he si xt h. Then t he document t el l s us t her e shoul d be anot her si x
document s, st i l l seal ed, scat t er ed i n di f f er ent pl aces. I t i s obvi ous t o me t hat t he
seal s ar e supposed t o be opened i n sequence, at i nt er val s of a hundr ed and t went y
year s. "
" But what does t went y year s each t i me mean?" Di ot al l evi asked.
" These kni ght s of r evenge ar e t o car r y out mi ssi ons i n par t i cul ar pl aces ever y
hundr ed and t went y year s. I t ' s a ki nd of r el ay r ace. Cl ear l y, si x Templ ar s set out
on t hat ni ght i n 1344, each one goi ng t o one of t he si x pl aces i ncl uded i n t he pl an.
But t he keeper of t he f i r st seal sur el y can' t r emai n al i ve f or a hundr ed and t went y
year s. I nst ead, each keeper of each seal i s t o hol d hi s post f or t went y year s and
t hen pass t he command on t o a successor . Twent y year s seems a r easonabl e t er m. Ther e
woul d be si x keeper s per seal , each one ser vi ng t went y year s. When t he hundr ed and
t went y year s had gone by, t he l ast keeper of t he seal coul d r ead an i nst r uct i on, f or
exampl e, and t hen pass i t on t o t he chi ef keeper of t he second seal . That ' s why t he
ver bs i n t he message ar e i n t he pl ur al : t he f i r st ar e t o go her e, t he second t her e.
Each l ocat i on i s, so t o speak, under sur vei l l ance f or a hundr ed and t went y year s by
si x kni ght s who ser ve t er ms of t went y year s each. I f you add i t up, you' l l see t hat
t her e ar e f i ve spaces of one hundr ed and t went y year s bet ween t he f i r st l ocat i on and
t he si xt h. Fi ve t i mes one hundr ed and t went y i s si x hundr ed. Add si x hundr ed t o 1344
and you get 1944. Whi ch, by t he way, i s conf i r med i n t he l ast l i ne. Per f ect l y
cl ear . "
" Cl ear how?"
" The l ast l i ne says, ' Thr ee t i mes si x bef or e t he f east ( of t he) Gr eat Whor e. ' Thi s
i s anot her numer ol ogi cal game, because t he di gi t s of 1944 add up t o ei ght een.
Ei ght een i s t hr ee t i mes si x. Thi s f ur t her mi r acul ous numer i cal coi nci dence suggest ed
anot her , ver y subt l e, eni gma t o t he Templ ar s. The year 1944 i s t he t er mi nal dat e of
t he pl an. But wi t h a vi ew t o anot her t ar get : t he year 2000! The Templ ar s bel i eved
t hat t he second mi l l enni umwoul d see t he advent of t hei r J er usal em, an ear t hl y
Page 69
J er usal em, t he Ant i - J er usal em. They wer e per secut ed as her et i cs, and i n t hei r hat r ed
of t he Chur ch t hey came t o i dent i f y wi t h t he Ant i chr i st . They knew t hat t hr oughout
t he occul t t r adi t i on 666 was t he number of t he Beast , and t he si x hundr ed and
si xt y- si xt h year was t he year of t he Beast . Wel l , 666, t he Year of t he Beast , i s t he
year 2000, when t he Templ ar s' r evenge wi l l t r i umph. The Ant i - J er usal emi s t he New
Babyl on, and t hi s i s why 1944 i s t he year of t he t r i umph of La Gr ande Put e, t he
gr eat whor e of Babyl on ment i oned i n t he Apocal ypse. The r ef er ence t o 666 was a
pr ovocat i on, a bi t of br avado f r omt hose f i ght i ng men. A gest ur e of def i ance f r om
out si der s, as t hey woul d be cal l ed t oday. Gr eat st or y, don' t you t hi nk?"
Hi s eyes wer e moi st as he l ooked at us, and so wer e hi s l i ps and must ache. He
st r oked hi s br i ef case.
" Al l r i ght , " Bel bo sai d. " Let ' s assume t hat t he message out l i nes t he t i mi ng of a
pl an. But what pl an?"
" Now you' r e aski ng t oo much. I f I knew t hat , I woul dn' t need t o cast t hi s bai t . But
one t hi ng I do know. Somewher e al ong t he l i ne somet hi ng went wr ong, and t he pl an was
not car r i ed out . Ot her wi se, i f I may say so, we' d know i t . And I can under st and t he
r eason: 1944 wasn' t an easy year . Back i n 1344, t he Templ ar s had no way of
pr edi ct i ng a di sr upt i ve wor l d war . ' '
" Excuse me f or but t i ng i n, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " but i f I under st ood cor r ect l y, when
t he f i r st seal i s opened, t he successi on of keeper s of t hat seal doesn' t end; i t
l i ves on unt i l t he br eaki ng of t he l ast seal , when al l t he r epr esent at i ves of t he
or der ar e t o be pr esent . I n ever y cent ur y, t hen- or , st r i ct l y speaki ng, ever y hundr ed
and t went y year s- t her e woul d al ways be si x keeper s f or each pl ace, or t hi r t y- si x i n
al l . "
" Ri ght , " Ar dent i sai d.
" Thi r t y- si x kni ght s f or each of t he si x pl aces makes t wo hundr ed and si xt een, t he
di gi t s of whi ch add up t o ni ne. And si nce t her e ar e si x cent ur i es, we can mul t i pl y
t wo hundr ed and si xt een by si x, whi ch gi ves us one t housand t wo hundr ed and
ni net y- si x, whose di gi t s add up t o ei ght een, or t hr ee t i mes si x, or 666. "
Di ot al l evi woul d per haps have gone on t o a numer ol ogi cal r econst r uct i on of t he
hi st or y of t he wor l d i f Bel bo hadn' t st opped hi mwi t h one of t hose l ooks mot her s
gi ve chi l dr en when t hey ar e act i ng up. But t he col onel i mmedi at el y r ecogni zed
Di ot al l evi as an enl i ght ened mi nd.
" Spl endi d, Pr of essor . I t ' s a r evel at i on! By t he way, di d you know t hat ni ne was t he
number of t he kni ght s who f ounded t he Templ e i n J er usal em?"
" And t he Gr eat Name of God, as expr essed i n t he Tet r agr ammat on, " Di ot al l evi sai d,
" has sevent y- t wo l et t er s- and seven pl us t wo makes ni ne. But t hat ' s not al l , i f
you' l l al l ow me. The Pyt hagor ean t r adi t i on, whi ch cabal a pr eser ves- or per haps
i nspi r ed- not es t hat t he sumof t he odd number s f r omone t o seven i s si xt een, and t he
sumof t he even number s f r omt wo t o ei ght i s t went y, and t went y pl us si xt een makes
t hi r t y- si x. "
" My God, Pr of essor ! " The col onel was besi de hi msel f . " I knew i t , I knew i t ! You' ve
gi ven me t he cour age t o go on. Now I know t hat I ' mcl ose t o t he t r ut h. "
Had Di ot al l evi t ur ned ar i t hmet i c i nt o a r el i gi on, or r el i gi on i nt o ar i t hmet i c?
Per haps bot h. Or maybe he was j ust an at hei st f l i r t i ng wi t h t he r apt ur e of some
super i or heaven. He coul d have become a f anat i c of r oul et t e ( and t hat woul d have
been bet t er ) ; i nst ead, he t hought of hi msel f as an unbel i evi ng r abbi .
I don' t r emember exact l y how i t happened, but Bel bo i nt er vened and br oke t he spel l
wi t h hi s Pi edmont - st yl e good sense. Mor e l i nes of t he message r emai ned f or t he
col onel t o i nt er pr et , and we wer e al l eager t o hear . I t was now si x o' cl ock. Si x
P. M. , I t hought : ei ght een hour s.
" Al l r i ght , " Bel bo sai d. " Thi r t y- si x per cent ur y; st ep by st ep t he kni ght s pr epar e
t o conver ge on t he St one. But what i s t hi s St one?"
" Real l y, gent l emen! The St one i s, of cour se, t he Gr ai l . "
20
The Mi ddl e Ages awai t ed t he her o of t he Gr aal and expect ed t hat t he head of t he Hol y
Roman Empi r e woul d become an i mage and a mani f est at i on of t hat " Ki ng of t he
Wor l d. " . . . The i nvi si bl e Emper or was t o become al so t he vi si bl e one, and t he Mi ddl e
Ages woul d be " mi ddl e" i n t he sense of " cent r al " . . . t he i nvi si bl e, i nvi ol abl e cent er ,
t he sover ei gn who must r eawaken, t he same her o, avengi ng and r est or i ng. These ar e
not f ant asi es of a dead, r omant i c past , but , r at her , t he si mpl e t r ut h f or t hose who,
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t oday, al one can l egi t i mat el y cal l t hemsel ves al i ve.
- J ul i us Evol a, I l mi st er o del Gr aal , Rome, Edi zi oni Medi t er r anee, 1983, Chapt er 23
and epi l ogue
" You mean t he Gr ai l al so comes i nt o t hi s?" Bel bo asked.
" Nat ur al l y. And I ' mnot t he onl y one who says so. You ar e educat ed men; t her e i s no
need f or me t o go i nt o t he l egend of t he Gr ai l . The Kni ght s of t he Round Tabl e, t he
myst i cal quest f or t hi s mi r acul ous obj ect , whi ch some bel i eve was t he chal i ce i n
whi ch t he bl ood of J esus was col l ect ed. The Gr ai l t aken t o Fr ance by J oseph of
Ar i mat hea. Ot her s say i t i s a st one t hat possesses myst er i ous power s. The Gr ai l i s
of t en depi ct ed as a dazzl i ng l i ght . I t ' s a symbol r epr esent i ng power , a sour ce of
i mmense ener gy. I t nour i shes, heal s wounds, bl i nds, st r i kes down. . . Some have t hought
of i t as t he phi l osopher ' s st one of t he al chemi st s, but even i f t hat ' s so, what was
t he phi l osopher ' s st one i f not a symbol of some cosmi c ener gy? The l i t er at ur e on t he
subj ect i s endl ess, but you can easi l y di st i ngui sh si gns t hat ar e i r r ef ut abl e. I n
Wol f r amvon Eschenbach' s Par zi val t he Gr ai l i s sai d t o be kept i n a Templ ar cast l e!
Was Eschenbach an i ni t i at e? A f ool har dy wr i t er who r eveal ed t oo much? But t her e i s
mor e. Thi s Gr ai l kept by t he Templ ar s i s descr i bed as a st one f al l en f r omt he
heavens: l api s exi l l i s. I t ' s not cl ear whet her t he expr essi on means ' st one f r om
heaven' ( ex coel i s) or ' st one f r omexi l e. ' But i n ei t her case, i t i s somet hi ng t hat
comes f r omf ar away, and some suggest t hat i t coul d have been a met eor i t e. As f ar as
we' r e concer ned, however , i t i s def i ni t el y a st one. What ever t he Gr ai l may have
been, f or t he Templ ar s i t was t he symbol of t he obj ect i ve, or end of t he pl an. "
" Excuse me, " I sai d, " but t he document i ndi cat es t hat t he kni ght s' si xt h meet i ng
woul d be hel d near or above a st one. I t doesn' t t el l t hemt o f i nd t he st one. "
" Anot her subt l e ambi gui t y, anot her l umi nous myst i cal anal ogy! Yes, i ndeed: t he si xt h
meet i ng i s t o be hel d near a st one, and we shal l soon see wher e; but at t hat st one,
wher e t he t r ansmi ssi on of t he pl an i s f ul f i l l ed and t he si x seal s opened, t he
kni ght s wi l l l ear n wher e t o f i nd t he St one! I t ' s l i ke t he pun i n t he New Test ament :
Thou ar t Pet er and upon t hi s r ock. . . On t he st one you shal l f i nd t he St one. "
" I t ' s al l qui t e obvi ous, " Bel bo sai d. " Pl ease go on. Casau- bon, st op i nt er r upt i ng.
We' r e al l eager t o hear t he r est . "
" Wel l t hen, " t he col onel sai d, " t he r ef er ence t o t he Gr ai l made me t hi nk f or a l ong
t i me t hat t he t r easur e was a huge deposi t of r adi oact i ve mat er i al , per haps of
ext r at er r est r i al or i gi n. Consi der , f or exampl e, t he myst er i ous wound i n t he l egend
of Ki ng Amf or t as. The account makes hi msound l i ke a r adi ol ogi st who has been
danger ousl y exposed. He i s not t o be t ouched. Why not ? I magi ne how exci t ed t he
Templ ar s must have been when t hey r eached t he shor es of t he Dead Sea, whose wat er s,
as you gent l emen sur el y know, ar e so dense t hat on t hemyou f l oat l i ke a cor k. I t i s
a sea wi t h cur at i ve power s. They coul d have di scover ed a deposi t of r adi umor
ur ani umi n Pal est i ne, a deposi t t hey wer en' t i n a posi t i on t o expl oi t t hen and
t her e.
" The r el at i onshi p bet ween t he Gr ai l , t he Templ ar s, and t he Cat har s was i nvest i gat ed
sci ent i f i cal l y by a val i ant Ger man of f i cer . I ' mr ef er r i ng t o Ot t o Rahn, an SS
Ober st ur mbannr uhr er who devot ed hi s l i f e t o r i gor ous, schol ar l y st udy of t he
Eur opean and Ar yan nat ur e of t he Gr ai l . I won' t go i nt o why and how he l ost hi s l i f e
i n 1939, but some i nsi st t hat . . . Wel l , how can I f or get what happened t o I ngol f ? I n
any case, Rahn demonst r at ed a l i nk bet ween t he Gol den Fl eece of t he Ar gonaut s and
t he Gr ai l . I t ' s obvi ous t hat t her e' s a connect i on bet ween t he Gr ai l , t he
phi l osopher ' s st one, and t he enor mous power sour ce t hat Hi t l er ' s f ol l ower s wer e
seeki ng on t he eve of t he war and pur sued t o t hei r l ast br eat h. I n one ver si on of
t he Ar gonaut s' st or y, r emember , t hey see a cup- a cup, mi nd you- f l oat i ng over t he
Mount ai n of t he Wor l d wi t h t he Tr ee of Li ght . When t he Ar gonaut s f i nd t he Gol den
Fl eece, t hei r shi p i s magi cal l y bor ne i nt o t he Mi l ky Way, i n t he aust r al sky, wher e
t he l umi nous nat ur e of God et er nal i s made mani f est by t he Sout her n Cr oss, t he
Tr i angl e, and t he Al t ar . The t r i angl e symbol i zes t he Hol y Tr i ni t y, t he cr oss t he
di vi ne Sacr i f i ce of l ove, and t he al t ar i s t he Tabl e of t he Supper , on whi ch st ood
t he Cup of t he Resur r ect i on. The Cel t i c and Ar yan or i gi n of al l t hese symbol s i s
obvi ous. "
The col onel seemed caught i n t he same her oi c ecst asy t hat had i mpel l ed hi s
Ober st ur munddr ang, or what ever t he hel l t hat Ger man was, t o t he supr eme sacr i f i ce.
Someone had t o br i ng hi mdown t o ear t h.
" Wher e i s al l t hi s l eadi ng?" I asked.
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" Si gner Casaubon, can' t you see i t f or your sel f ? The Gr ai l has been cal l ed t he
Luci f er i an St one, whi ch poi nt s t o t he f i gur e of Baphomet . The Gr ai l i s a power
sour ce, t he Templ ar s wer e t he guar di ans of an ener gy secr et , and t hey dr ew up t hei r
pl an accor di ngl y. Wher e woul d t he unknown commander i es be est abl i shed? Wher e,
gent l eman?" And t he col onel l ooked at us wi t h a conspi r at or i al ai r , as i f we wer e
al l i n t he pl ot t oget her . " I had a t r ai l t o f ol l ow, er r oneous but usef ul . I n 1797,
Char l es Loui s Cadet de Gassi cour t , an aut hor who must have over hear d some secr et s,
wr ot e a book ent i t l ed Le t ombeau de J acques Mal ay ou l e secr et des conspi r at eur s a
ceux qui veul ent t out savoi r . By an i nt er est i ng coi nci dence, hi s wor k t ur ned up i n
I ngol f ' s l i t t l e l i br ar y. He cl ai ms t hat Mol ay, bef or e hi s deat h, set up f our secr et
l odges: i n Par i s, Scot l and, St ockhol m, and Napl es. These f our l odges wer e t o
ext er mi nat e al l monar chs and dest r oy t he power of di e pope. Gassi cour t was an
eccent r i c, of cour se, but I used hi s i dea as a st ar t i ng poi nt f r omwhi ch t o
det er mi ne wher e t he Templ ar s mi ght have l ocat ed t hei r secr et cent er s. I woul dn' t
have been abl e t o under st and t he eni gmas of t he message i f I hadn' t had some gui di ng
i dea. But I di d have such an i dea. I t was my convi ct i on, based oh abundant evi dence,
t hat t he Templ ar spi r i t was of Cel t i c, dr ui di c or i gi n; i t was t he spi r i t of Nor di c
Ar i an- i sm, t r adi t i onal l y associ at ed wi t h t he i sl and of Aval on, seat of t he l egendar y
ci vi l i zat i on of t he f ar nor t h. As you sur el y know, var i ous aut hor s have i dent i f i ed
Aval on as t he Gar den of t he Hes- per i des or as Ul t i ma Thul e, or as t he Col chi s of t he
Gol den Fl eece. I t ' s har dl y an acci dent t hat hi st or y' s gr eat est chi val r i c or der was
l a Toi son d' Or , t he Or der of t he Gol den Fl eece. Whi ch makes i t cl ear what t he wor d
' cast l e' i n t he message r eal l y means: i t r ef er s t o t he hyper bor eal , t he nor t her nmost
cast l e, wher e t he Templ ar s kept t he Gr ai l , pr obabl y t he myt hi cal Monsal vat . "
He paused, want i ng us t o hang on hi s ever y wor d. We hung.
" Now l et ' s go back t o t he second command i n t he message: The guar di ans of t he seal
ar e t o go t o a pl ace associ at ed wi t h br ead. Thi s i nst r uct i on i s compl et el y cl ear :
t he Gr ai l i s t he chal i ce t hat cont ai ned Chr i st ' s bl ood, t he br ead i s Chr i st ' s body,
t he pl ace wher e t he br ead was eat en i s t he pl ace of t he Last Supper , J er usal em. I t
seems i mpossi bl e t hat t he Templ ar s woul dn' t have mai nt ai ned a secr et base t her e,
even af t er t he Sar acen r econ- quest . I must admi t t hat at f i r st I was t r oubl ed by
t hi s J ewi sh el ement i n a pl an so deepl y i mbued wi di Ar yan myt hol ogy. But t hen I
r eal i zed: we ar e t he ones who cont i nue t o r egar d J esus as der i vi ng f r omt he J udai c
r el i gi on, because t hat ' s what t he Chur ch of Rome has al ways t aught us. But t he
Templ ar s knew t hat J esus was act ual l y a Cel t i c myt h. The whol e gospel st or y i s a
her met i c al l egor y: r esur r ect i on af t er di ssol ut i on i n t he bowel s of t he ear t h, and
al l t hat . Chr i st i s si mpl y t he el i xi r of t he al chemi st s. For t hat mat t er , ever yone
knows t hat t he Tr i ni t y i s an Ar yan concept anyway, and t hat ' s why t he whol e r ul e of
t he Templ ar s, dr awn up by t he Dr ui d Sai nt Ber nar d, i s r i ddl ed wi t h t he number s. "
The col onel t ook anot her si p of wat er . He was hoar se. " And now we come t o t he t hi r d
st age: t he r ef uge. I t ' s Ti bet . "
" Why Ti ber ?"
" Because, i n t he f i r st pl ace, Eschenbach t el l s us t he Templ ar s l ef t Eur ope and t ook
t he Gr ai l t o I ndi a. Cr adl e of t he Ar yan r ace. The r ef uge i s Agar t t ha. You gent l emen
must have hear d t al k of Agar t t ha, seat of t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d, t he under gr ound
ci t y f r omwhi ch t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d cont r ol and di r ect t he devel opment s of
human hi st or y. The Templ ar s est abl i shed one of t hei r secr et cent er s t her e, at t he
ver y sour ce of t hei r spi r i t ual i t y. You must be awar e of t he connect i on bet ween t he
r eal mof Agar t t ha and t he Synar chy. . . "
" Fr ankl y, no. "
" Al l t he bet t er . Ther e ar e secr et s t hat ki l l . But l et ' s not di gr ess. I n any case,
you know t hat Agar t t ha was f ounded si x t housand year s ago, at t he begi nni ng of t he
Kal i Yuga er a, i n whi ch we ar e st i l l l i vi ng. The t ask of t he kni ght l y or der s has
al ways been t o mai nt ai n cont act wi t h Agar t t ha, t he act i ve l i nk bet ween t he wi sdomof
t he East and t he wi sdomof t he West . And now i t ' s cl ear wher e t he f our t h meet i ng i s
t o t ake pl ace, i n anot her dr ui di c sanct uar y, i n a ci t y of t he Vi r gi n: t he cat hedr al
of Char t r es. Fr omPr ovi ns, Char t r es l i es acr oss t he chi ef r i ver of t he
I l e- de- Fr ance, t he Sei ne. "
We wer e compl et el y l ost . " Wai t a mi nut e, " I sai d. " What does Char t r es have t o do
wi t h your Cel t s and Dr ui ds?"
" Wher e do you t hi nk t he i dea of t he Vi r gi n came f r om? The f i r st vi r gi ns ment i oned i n
Eur ope wer e t he bl ack vi r gi ns of t he Cel t s. Once, as a young man, Sai nt Ber nar d was
i n t he chur ch of Sai nt Voi r l es, kneel i ng bef or e t he bl ack vi r gi n t her e, and she
Page 72
squeezed f r omher br east t hr ee dr ops of mi l k, whi ch f el l on t he l i ps of t he f ut ur e
f ounder of t he Templ ar s. That was why t he r omances of t he Gr ai l ar ose: t o cr eat e a
cover f or t he Cr usades, whi ch wer e meant t o f i nd t he Gr ai l . The Benedi ct i nes ar e t he
hei r s of t he Dr ui ds. Ever ybody knows t hat . "
" And wher e ar e t hese bl ack vi r gi ns now?"
" They wer e dest r oyed by f or ces who want ed t o cor r upt t he Nor di c and Cel t i c
t r adi t i ons and t r ansf or mt hemi nt o a Medi t er r anean r el i gi on by i nvent i ng t he myt h of
Mar y of Nazar et h. Or el se t hose vi r gi ns wer e di sgui sed, di st or t ed, l i ke so many
ot her bl ack madonnas st i l l di spl ayed t o t he f anat i ci smof t he masses.
But i f you exami ne t he i mages i n t he cat hedr al s as car ef ul l y as t he gr eat Ful canel l i
di d, you wi l l f i nd t hat t hi s st or y i s t ol d qui t e cl ear l y, and t he t i es bet ween t he
Cel t i c vi r gi ns and t he al chemi st t r adi t i on, Templ ar i n or i gi n, ar e equal l y cl ear .
The bl ack vi r gi n symbol i zes t he pr i me mat t er t hat seeker s empl oy i n t hei r quest f or
t he phi l osopher ' s st one, whi ch, as we have seen, i s si mpl y t he Gr ai l . Wher e do you
mi nk Mahomet , anot her gr eat Dr ui d i ni t i at e, got t he i nspi r at i on f or t he Bl ack St one
of Mecca? Someone wal l ed up t he cr ypt i n Char t r es t hat l eads t o t he under gr ound si t e
wher e t he or i gi nal pagan st at ue st i l l st ands, but i f you l ook car ef ul l y, you can
st i l l make out a bl ack vi r gi n, Not r e- Dame- du- Pi l i er , car ved by an Odi ni an canon. I n
her r i ght hand she hol ds t he magi c cyl i nder of t he hi gh pr i est esses of Odi n, i n her
l ef t t he magi c cal endar t hat once depi ct ed- I say, ' once, ' because t hese scul pt ur es
unf or t unat el y wer e vandal i zed by or t hodox canons- t he sacr ed ani mal s of Odi ni sm: t he
dog, t he eagl e, t he l i on, t he whi t e bear , and t he wer ewol f . At t he same t i me, none
of t he schol ar s of Got hi c esot er i ca has over l ooked i n Char t r es a st at ue of a woman
hol di ng t he chal i ce, t he Gr ai l . Ah, gent l emen, i f onl y i t wer e possi bl e not j ust t o
r ead Char t r es cat hedr al accor di ng t o t he t our i st gui des- Roman, Cat hol i c, and
Apost ol i c- but t o see i t , r eal l y see i t , wi t h t he eyes of Tr adi t i on! Then t he t r ue
st or y t ol d by t hat r ock of Er i k at Aval on woul d be known. "
" Whi ch br i ngs us t o t he Popel i cans. Who wer e t hey?"
" The Cat har s. ' Popel i can' - or ' Popel i cant ' - was one of t he names gi ven t o her et i cs.
The Cat har s of Pr ovence had been dest r oyed, and I amnot so nai ve as t o i magi ne a
meet i ng i n t he r ui ns of Mont segur , but t he sect i t sel f di dn' t di e. Ther e' s a whol e
geogr aphy of hi dden Cat har i sm, whi ch pr oduced Dant e as wel l as t he dol ce st i l nuovo
poet s and t he Fedel i d' Amor e sect . The f i f t h meet i ng pl ace i s t her ef or e somewher e i n
nor t her n I t al y or sout her n Fr ance. "
" And t he l ast ?"
" Ah, what i s t he most anci ent , t he most sacr ed, t he most endur i ng of Cel t i c st ones,
t he sanct uar y of t he sun- god, most f avor ed obser vat i on poi nt f r omwhi ch f i nal l y t he
r euni t ed descendant s of t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns, havi ng r eached t he end of t hei r
pl an, can l ook upon t he secr et s hi dden t i l l t hen by t he seven seal s and at l ast
di scover how t o expl oi t t he i mmense power gr ant ed by t hei r possessi on of t he Hol y
Gr ai l ? Why, i t ' s i n Engl and! The magi c ci r cl e of St onehenge! Wher e el se?"
" O bast a l a, " Bel bo sai d. Onl y anot her chi l d of Pi edmont coul d have under st ood t he
spi r i t i n whi ch t hi s expr essi on of pol i t e amazement was ut t er ed. No equi val ent i n
any ot her l anguage or di al ect ( di s done, ar e you ki ddi ng?) can convey t he apat hy,
t he f at al i smwi t h whi ch i t expr esses t he f i r mconvi ct i on t hat t he per son t o whomi t
i s addr essed i s, i r r epar abl y, t he pr oduct of a bumbl i ng cr eat or .
But t he col onel wasn' t f r omPi edmont , and he seemed f l at t er ed by Bel bo' s r eact i on.
" Yes i ndeed. Such i s t he pl an, t he or donat i on, i n i t s mar vel - ous si mpl i ci t y and
coher ence. And t her e' s somet hi ng el se. I f you t ake a map of Eur ope and Asi a and
t r ace t he devel opment of t he pl an begi nni ng wi t h t he cast l e i n t he nor t h and movi ng
f r omt her e t o J er usal em, f r omJ er usal emt o Agar t t ha, f r omAgar t t ha t o Char t r es, f r om
Char t r es t o t he shor es of t he Medi t er r anean, and f r omt her e t o St onehenge, you wi l l
f i nd t hat you have dr awn a r une t hat l ooks mor e or l ess l i ke t hi s. "
" And?" Bel bo asked.
" And t he same r une, i deal l y, woul d connect t he mai n cent er s of Templ ar esot er i ci sm:
Ami ens, Tr oyes- Sai nt Ber nar d' s domai n at t he edge of t he For et d' Or i ent - Rei ms,
Char t r es, Rennes- l e- Chat eau, and Mont - Sai nt - Mi chel , a pl ace of anci ent dr ui di c
wor shi p. The r une al so r ecal l s t he const el l at i on of t he Vi r gi n. "
" I dabbl e i n ast r onomy, " Di ot al l evi sai d shyl y. " The Vi r gi n has a di f f er ent shape,
and I bel i eve i t cont ai ns el even st ar s. . . "
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The col onel smi l ed i ndul gent l y. " Gent l emen, gent l emen, you know as wel l as I do t hat
ever yt hi ng depends on how you dr aw t he l i nes. You can make a wai n or a bear ,
what ever you l i ke, and i t ' s har d t o deci de whet her a gi ven st ar i s par t of a gi ven
const el l at i on or not . Take anot her l ook at t he Vi r gi n, make Spi ca t he l ower most
poi nt cor r espondi ng t o t he Pr ovengal coast , use onl y f i ve st ar s, and you' l l see a
st r i ki ng r esembl ance bet ween t he t wo out l i nes. "
" You j ust have t o deci de whi ch st ar s t o omi t , " Bel bo sai d.
" Pr eci sel y, " t he col onel agr eed.
" Li st en, " Bel bo sai d, " how can you r ul e out t he possi bi l i t y t hat t he meet i ngs di d
t ake pl ace as schedul ed and t hat t he kni ght s ar e now har d at wor k?"
" Because I per cei ve no sympt oms, and al l ow me t o add, ' unf or t unat el y. ' No, t he pl an
was def i ni t el y i nt er r upt ed. And per haps t hose who wer e t o car r y i t t o i t s concl usi on
no l onger exi st .
The gr oups of t he t hi r t y- si x may have been br oken up by some wor l dwi de cat ast r ophe.
But some ot her gr oup of men wi t h spi r i t , men wi t h t he r i ght i nf or mat i on, coul d
per haps pi ck up t he t hr ead of t he pl ot . What ever i t i s, t hat somet hi ng i s st i l l
t her e. I ' ml ooki ng f or t he r i ght men. That ' s why I want t o publ i sh t he book: t o
encour age r eact i ons. And at t he same t i me, I ' mt r yi ng t o make cont act wi t h peopl e
who can hel p me l ook f or t he answer i n t he l abyr i nt h of t r adi t i onal l ear ni ng. J ust
t oday I managed t o meet t he gr eat est exper t on t he subj ect . But he, al as, l umi nar y
t hat he i s, coul dn' t t el l me anyt hi ng, t hough he expr essed gr eat i nt er est i n my
st or y and pr omi sed t o wr i t e a pr ef ace. . . "
" Excuse me, " Bel bo asked, " but wasn' t i t unwi se t o conf i de your secr et t o t hi s
gent l eman? You t ol d us your sel f about I ngol f ' s mi sst ep. . . "
" Pl ease, " t he col onel r epl i ed. " I ngol f was a bungl er . The per son I ' mi n cont act wi t h
i s a schol ar above suspi ci on, a man who doesn' t vent ur e hast y concl usi ons. Today,
f or i nst ance, he asked me t o wai t a l i t t l e l onger bef or e showi ng my wor k t o a
publ i sher , unt i l I had r esol ved al l t he cont r over si al poi nt s. I di dn' t want t o
ant agoni ze hi m, so I di dn' t t el l hi mI was comi ng her e. But I ' msur e you can
under st and how i mpat i ent I am, havi ng come t hi s f ar i n my t ask. The gent l eman. . . oh,
t o hel l wi t h di scr et i on! I don' t want you t o t hi nk I ' mbr aggi ng i dl y. He i s
Rakosky. "
He paused f or our r eact i on.
Bel bo di sappoi nt ed hi m. " Who?"
" Rakosky. The Rakosky! The aut hor i t y on t r adi t i onal st udi es, t he f or mer edi t or of
Les Cahi er s du Myst er el "
" Oh, t hat Rakosky, " Bel bo sai d. " Yes, yes, of cour se. . . "
" Bef or e wr i t i ng t he f i nal ver si on of my book, I ' l l wai t t o hear t hi s gent l eman' s
advi ce. But I want ed t o move as qui ckl y as possi bl e, and i f I coul d come t o an
agr eement wi t h your f i r mi n t he meant i me. . . As I sai d, I ameager t o st i r up
r eact i ons, t o col l ect new i nf or mat i on. . . Ther e ar e peopl e who sur el y know but won' t
speak. . . Ar ound 1944, gent l emen, t hough he knew t he war was l ost , Hi t l er began
t al ki ng about a secr et weapon t hat woul d al l ow hi mt o t ur n t he si t uat i on ar ound. He
was cr azy, peopl e sai d. But what i f he wasn' t cr azy? You f ol l ow me?" Hi s f or ehead
was bat hed i n sweat , and hi s moust ache br i st l ed l i ke a f el i ne' s whi sker s. " I n any
event , " he sai d, " I ' mcast i ng t he bai t . We' l l see i f anyone bi t es. "
Fr omwhat I knew and t hought of Bel bo t hen, I expect ed hi mt o show t he col onel out
wi t h some pol i t e wor ds. But he di dn' t . " Li st en, Col onel , " he sai d, " t hi s i s
enor mousl y i nt er est i ng, r egar dl ess of whet her you si gn a cont r act wi t h us or wi t h
someone el se. Do you t hi nk you coul d spar e anot her t en mi nut es or so?" He t ur ned t o
me. " I t ' s l at e, Casaubon, and I ' ve kept you t oo l ong al r eady. Can we meet t omor r ow?"
I was bei ng di smi ssed. Di ot al l evi t ook my ar mand sai d he was l eavi ng, t oo. We sai d
goodbye. The col onel shook Di ot al l evi ' s hand war ml y and gave me a nod accompani ed
by a chi l l y smi l e.
As we wer e goi ng down t he st ai r s, Di ot al l evi sai d t o me: " You' r e pr obabl y wonder i ng
why Bel bo asked you t o l eave. Don' t t hi nk he was bei ng r ude. He' s goi ng t o make t he
col onel an of f er . I t ' s a del i cat e mat t er . Del i cat e, by or der of Si gner Gar - amond.
Our pr esence woul d be an embar r assment . "
As I l ear ned l at er , Bel bo meant t o cast t he col onel i nt o t he maw of Manut i us.
I dr agged Di ot al l evi t o Pi l ade' s, wher e I had a Campar i and he a r oot beer . Root
beer , he sai d, had a monki sh, ar chai c t ast e, al most Templ ar .
Page 74
I asked hi mwhat he t hought of t he col onel .
" Al l t he wor l d' s f ol l i es, " he r epl i ed, " t ur n up i n publ i shi ng houses sooner or l at er .
But t he wor l d' s f ol l i es may al so cont ai n f l ashes of t he wi sdomof t he Most Hi gh, so
t he wi se man obser ves f ol l y wi t h humi l i t y. " Then he excused hi msel f ; he had t o go.
" Thi s eveni ng, a f east awai t s me, " he sai d.
" A par t y?"
He seemed di smayed by my f r i vol i t y. " The Zohar , " he expl ai ned. " Lekh Lekha. Passages
st i l l compl et el y mi sunder st ood. "
21
The Gr aal . . . i s a wei ght so heavy t hat cr eat ur es i n t he bondage of si n ar e unabl e t o
move i t f r omi t s pl ace.
- Wol f r amvon Eschenbach, Par zi val , I X, 477
I hadn' t t aken t o t he col onel , yet he had pi qued my i nt er est . You can be f asci nat ed
even by a t r ee f r og i f you wat ch i t l ong enough. I was savor i ng t he f i r st dr ops of
t he poi son t hat woul d car r y us al l t o per di t i on.
I went back t o see Bel bo t he f ol l owi ng af t er noon, and we t al ked a l i t t l e about our
vi si t or . Bel bo sai d t he man had seemed a myt homani ac t o hi m. " Di d you not i ce how he
quot ed t hat Rakosky, or Rost r opovi ch, as i f t he man wer e Kant ?"
" But t hese ar e t ypi cal ol d t al es, " I sai d. " I ngol f was a l unat i c who bel i eved t hem,
and t he col onel i s a l unat i c who bel i eves I ngol f . "
" Maybe he bel i eved hi myest er day and t oday he bel i eves somet hi ng el se. Bef or e he
l ef t , I ar r anged an appoi nt ment f or hi mwi t h- wel l , wi t h anot her publ i sher , a f i r m
t hat ' s not choosy and br i ngs out books f i nanced by t he aut hor s t hemsel ves. He seemed
ent husi ast i c. But I j ust l ear ned t hat he di dn' t show up. And- i magi ne- he even l ef t
t he phot ocopy of t hat message her e. Look. He l eaves t he secr et of t he Templ ar s
ar ound as i f i t wer e of no i mpor t ance. That ' s how t hese char act er s ar e. "
At t hi s moment t he phone r ang. Bel bo answer ed: " Good mor ni ng, Gar amond Pr ess, Bel bo
speaki ng. What can I do f or you?. . . Yes, he was her e yest er day af t er noon, of f er i ng me
a book. . . Sor r y, t hat ' s r at her conf i dent i al . I f you coul d t el l me. . . "
He l i st ened f or a f ew seconds, t hen, suddenl y pal e, l ooked at me and sai d: " The
col onel ' s been mur der ed, or somet hi ng of t he sor t . " He spoke i nt o t he phone agai n:
" Excuse me. I was t al ki ng t o Si gner Casaubon, a consul t ant of mi ne who was al so
pr esent at yest er day' s conver sat i on. . . Wel l , Col onel Ar dent i came t o t al k t o us about
a pr oj ect of hi s, a st or y I consi der l ar gel y f abr i cat i on, about a supposed t r easur e
of t he Templ ar s. They wer e medi eval kni ght s. . . "
I nst i nct i vel y, he put hi s hand ar ound t he mout hpi ece as i f t o t al k pr i vat el y, t hen
t ook hi s hand away when he saw I was wat chi ng. He spoke wi t h some hesi t at i on: " No,
I nspect or De Angel i s, t he col onel di scussed a book he want ed t o wr i t e, but onl y i n
vague t er ms. . . What , bot h of us? Now? Al l r i ght , gi ve me t he addr ess. "
He hung up and was si l ent f or a whi l e, dr ummi ng hi s f i nger s on t he desk. " Sor r y,
Casaubon, " he sai d. " I ' maf r ai d I ' ve dr agged you i nt o t hi s. I di dn' t have t i me t o
t hi nk. That was a pol i ce i nspect or named De Angel i s. I t seems t he col onel was
st ayi ng i n an apar t ment hot el , and somebody cl ai ms t o have f ound hi mt her e l ast
ni ght , dead. . . "
" Cl ai ms? The i nspect or doesn' t know i f i t ' s t r ue or not ?"
" I t sounds st r ange, but appar ent l y he doesn' t . They f ound my name and yest er day' s
appoi nt ment i n a not ebook. I bel i eve we' r e t he onl y cl ue. What can I say? Let ' s go. "
We cal l ed a t axi . Dur i ng t he r i de Bel bo gr i pped my ar m. " Li st en, Casaubon, t hi s may
be j ust a coi nci dence. Maybe my mi nd i s war ped. But wher e I come f r omt her e' s a
sayi ng: ' What ever you do, don' t name names. ' When I was a boy, I used t o
go see t hi s Nat i vi t y pl ay per f or med i n di al ect . A pi ous f ar ce, wi t h shepher ds who
di dn' t know whet her t hey wer e i n Bet hl ehemor on t he banks of t he Tanar o, f ar t her up
t he Po val l ey. The Magi ar r i ve and ask a shepher d' s boy what hi s mast er ' s name i s.
The boy answer s: Gel i ndo. When Gel i ndo f i nds out , he beat s t he dayl i ght s out of t he
boy. ' Never gi ve away a man' s name, ' he says. Anyway, i f i t ' s al l r i ght wi t h you,
t he col onel never ment i oned I ngol f or t he Pr ovi ns message. "
" We don' t want t o meet I ngol f ' s myst er i ous end, " I sai d, t r yi ng t o smi l e.
" As I sai d, - i t ' s al l nonsense. But t her e ar e some t hi ngs i t ' s bet t er t o keep out
of . "
I pr omi sed I woul d go al ong wi t h hi mon t hi s, but I was ner vous. Af t er al l , I was a
Page 75
st udent who par t i ci pat ed i n demonst r at i ons. The pol i ce made me uneasy. We ar r i ved at
t he hot el - not one of t he best - i n an out l yi ng nei ghbor hood. They sent us r i ght up t o
what t hey cal l ed Col onel Ar dent i ' s apar t ment . Pol i ce on t he st ai r s. They l et us i nt o
number 27- t wo pl us seven i s ni ne, I t hought . A bedr oom, vest i bul e wi t h a l i t t l e
t abl e, cl oset - ki t chen, bat hr oomwi t h shower , no cur t ai n. Thr ough t he hal f - open door
I coul dn' t see i f t her e was a bi det , t hough i n a pl ace l i ke t hi s i t was pr obabl y t he
onl y conveni ence t he guest s demanded. Dr ab f ur ni shi ngs, not many per sonal ef f ect s,
but what t her e was, i n gr eat di sor der . Someone had hast i l y gone t hr ough t he cl oset s
and sui t cases. Maybe t he pol i ce; t her e wer e about a dozen of t hem, i ncl udi ng
pl ai ncl ot hesmen.
A f ai r l y young man wi t h f ai r l y l ong hai r came over t o us. " I ' mDe Angel i s. Dr .
Bel bo? Dr . Casaubon?"
" I ' mnot a doct or yet . St i l l wor ki ng t owar d my degr ee. "
" Good f or you. Keep at i t . Wi t hout a degr ee you won' t be abl e t o t ake t he pol i ce
exams, and you don' t know what you' r e mi ssi ng. " He seemed i r r i t at ed. " Excuse me, but
l et ' s get t he pr el i mi nar i es out of t he way. Thi s i s t he passpor t t hat bel onged t o
t he man who r ent ed t hi s r oom. He r egi st er ed as Col onel Ar - dent i . Recogni ze hi m?"
" That ' s Ar dent i , " Bel bo sai d. " But can you t el l us what ' s goi ng on her e? Fr omwhat
you sai d on t he phone, I di dn' t qui t e under st and i f he' s dead or - "
" I ' d be del i ght ed i f you coul d t el l me t hat , " De Angel i s sai d wi t h a f r own. " But al l
r i ght , you gent l emen ar e pr obabl y ent i t l ed t o know a bi t mor e. Si gnor Ar dent i - or
Col onel Ar dent i - checked i n f our days ago. As you may have not i ced, t hi s pl ace i sn' t
t he Gr and. The one desk cl er k goes t o bed at el even, because t he guest s have a key
t o t he f r ont door . Ther e ar e a coupl e of mai ds who come i n ever y mor ni ng t o do t he
r ooms, and an ol d al cohol i c who act s as por t er and t akes l i quor up t o t he r ooms i f
t he cust omer s r i ng. Not onl y al cohol i c, but ar t er i oscl er ot i c, t oo. I t was hel l
get t i ng anyt hi ng out of hi m. The desk cl er k says t he ol d man sees spooks and
somet i mes scar es t he guest s. Last ni ght t he cl er k saw Ar dent i come i n ar ound t en and
go up t o hi s r oomwi t h t wo men. I n t hi s pl ace t hey don' t bat an eye i f somebody
t akes a whol e t r oop of t r ansvest i t es upst ai r s. The men l ooked nor mal , t hough
accor di ng t o t he cl er k t hey had f or ei gn accent s. At t en- t hi r t y Ar dent i cal l ed t he
ol d al cohol i c and asked hi mt o br i ng up a bot t l e of whi skey, mi ner al wat er , and
t hr ee gl asses. At about one or one- t hi r t y t he ol d man hear d someone r i ngi ng
er r at i cal l y f r omr oom27. J udgi ng by t he way he l ooked t hi s mor ni ng, t hough, he must
have put away qui t e a f ew gl asses by t hen, r ot gut f or sur e. Anyway, t he ol d man came
up and knocked. No answer . He opened t he door wi t h hi s passkey. Found ever yt hi ng al l
messed up t he way i t i s now. The col onel was l yi ng on t he bed wi t h a l engt h of wi r e
wound t i ght ar ound hi s neck, hi s eyes st ar i ng. The ol d man r an downst ai r s, woke t he
desk cl er k, but nei t her of t hemf el t l i ke comi ng back up. They t r i ed t o use t he
phone, but t he l i ne seemed t o be dead. I t was wor ki ng per f ect l y t hi s mor ni ng, but
we' l l t ake t hei r wor d f or i t . The cl er k r an out t o cal l t he pol i ce f r omt he pay
phone on t he comer , whi l e t he ol d man hobbl ed acr oss t he squar e t o a doct or ' s house.
To make a l ong st or y shor t , t hey wer e gone f or t went y mi nut es. When t hey got back,
t hey wai t ed downst ai r s, st i l l f r i ght ened. Meanwhi l e, t he doct or got dr essed and
ar r i ved al most at t he same t i me as t he squad car . They went up t o t went y- seven, and
t her e was no one on t he bed. "
" What do you mean, no one?" Bel bo asked.
" No cor pse. The doct or went home, and t he pol i ce f ound onl y what you see her e. They
quest i oned t he ol d al cohol i c and t he cl er k, and got t he st or y I j ust t ol d you. What
of t he t wo gent l emen who came i n wi t h Ar dent i at t en o' cl ock? They coul d have l ef t
anyt i me bet ween el even and one, and nobody woul d have not i ced. Wer e t hey st i l l i n
t he r oomwhen t he ol d man came i n? Who knows? He st ayed onl y a second, di dn' t l ook
i nt o t he ki t chen or t he bat hr oom. Coul d t hey have l ef t whi l e t he cl er k and t he
al cohol i c wer e out cal l i ng f or hel p? Di d t hey t ake t he body wi t h t hem? Not
i mpossi bl e. Ther e' s an out si de st ai r case t o t he cour t yar d, and f r omt he cour t yar d
t hey coul d j ust wal k out t he f r ont door , whi ch opens i nt o a si de st r eet .
" Mor e i mpor t ant , was t her e r eal l y a body? Or di d t he col onel go out wi t h t he t wo
men- at mi dni ght , say- and t he ol d al cohol i c dr eamed t he whol e t hi ng? The cl er k says
i t woul dn' t be t he f i r st t i me t he ol d man saw t hi ngs t hat wer en' t t her e. A f ew year s
ago he saw a naked f emal e guest hanged i n her r oom, but hal f an hour l at er t he woman
came i n, f r esh as a dai sy, and on t he ol d man' s cot t hey f ound one of t hose S- M
magazi nes. Who knows? Maybe he was peepi ng t hr ough t he keyhol e and saw a cur t ai n
st i r r i ng i n t he shadows. Al l we know f or sur e i s t hat t hi s r oomhas been sear ched
Page 76
and Ar dent i i s mi ssi ng.
" But I ' ve al r eady t al ked t oo much. Now i t ' s your t ur n, Dr . Bel bo. The onl y t hi ng we
f ound was a sl i p of paper on t he f l oor by t hat l i t t l e t abl e, ' 2 P. M. Rakosky, Hot el
Pr i nci pe e Savoi a; 4 P. M. Gar amond, Dr . Bel bo. ' You say he di d come t o see you. Tel l
me what happened. "
22
The kni ght s of t he Gr aal want ed t o f ace no f ur t her quest i ons.
- Wol f r amvon Eschenbach, Par zi val , XVI , 819
Bel bo was br i ef . He r epeat ed what he had al r eady sai d on t he phone: The col onel had
t ol d a hazy st or y about di scover i ng evi dence of a t r easur e i n some document s he had
f ound i n Fr ance, but he hadn' t sai d much mor e about i t . He seemed t o t hi nk he was i n
possessi on of a danger ous secr et , and he want ed t o make i t publ i c so he woul dn' t be
t he onl y one who knew i t . He ment i oned t he f act t hat ot her s who had di scover ed t he
secr et bef or e hi mhad di sappear ed myst er i ousl y. He woul d show us t he document s onl y
i f we guar ant eed hi ma cont r act , but Bel bo coul dn' t guar ant ee a cont r act wi t hout
seei ng somet hi ng f i r st . They vaguel y agr eed t o get t oget her agai n. The col onel had
spoken of a meet i ng wi t h someone named Rakosky, descr i bi ng hi mas t he edi t or of Les
Cahi er s du Myst er e. The col onel want ed t hi s Rakosky t o wr i t e a pr ef ace f or hi m, and
appar ent l y Rakosky had advi sed hi mt o del ay publ i cat i on. The col onel hadn' t t ol d
t hi s man about t he appoi nt ment at Gar amond. That was al l .
" I see, " De Angel i s sai d. " What sor t of i mpr essi on di d he make on you?"
" He seemed an eccent r i c t o us, and he spoke about hi s past i n, wel l , an unr epent ant
t one. I t i ncl uded a spel l i n t he For ei gn Legi on. "
" He t ol d you t he t r ut h, t hough not t he whol e t r ut h. We wer e al r eady keepi ng an eye
on hi m, at l east t o some ext ent . We have so many such cases. . . Fi r st of al l , Ar dent i
wasn' t hi s r eal name, but he had a l egi t i mat e Fr ench passpor t . He st ar t ed
r eappear i ng i n I t al y f r omt i me t o t i me a f ew year s ago, and was t ent at i vel y
i dent i f i ed as a Capt ai n Ar coveggi , sent enced t o deat h i n absent i a i n 1945.
Col l abor at i on wi t h t he SS. He sent some peopl e t o Dachau. They wer e keepi ng an eye
on hi mi n Fr ance, t oo. He was t r i ed f or f r aud t her e, and j ust managed t o get of f . We
have an i dea- but onl y an i dea, mi nd you- t hat Ar dent i at one poi nt was cal l i ng
hi msel f Fassot t i , t hat he' s t he Fassot t i t hat a smal l i ndust r i al i st i n Peschi er a
Bor r omeo f i l ed a compl ai nt agai nst l ast year . Thi s Fassot t i - or Ar dent i - had convi nced
t he i ndust r i al i st t hat t he t r easur e of Dongo, t he l egendar y Fasci st gol d r eser ve,
was st i l l l yi ng at t he bot t omof Lake Como. Fassot t i cl ai med t o have i dent i f i ed t he
spot , and sai d al l he needed was a f ew t ens of mi l l i ons of l i r e f or a coupl e of
di ver s and a power boat . Once he had t he money, he vani shed. Now you conf i r mt hat he
had a ki nd of mani a about t r easur es. "
" And t hi s Rakosky?"
" We checked. A Vl adi mi r Rakosky was r egi st er ed at t he Pr i nci pe e Savoi a. Fr ench
passpor t . Di st i ngui shed- l ooki ng gent l eman. I t mat ches t he descr i pt i on t he cl er k her e
gave us. Al i t al i a says hi s name appear s on t he passenger l i st f or t he f i r st f l i ght
t o Par i s t hi s mor ni ng. I Ve al er t ed I nt er pol . Annunzi at a, anyt hi ng come i n f r om
Par i s?"
" Not hi ng so f ar , si r . "
" And t hat ' s i t . So Col onel Ar dent i , or what ever hi s name i s, ar r i ved i n Mi l an f our
days ago. We don' t know what he di d t he f i r st t hr ee, but yest er day at t wo he
pr esumabl y saw Rakosky at t he hot el , di dn' t t el l hi mabout goi ng t o see you- whi ch i s
i nt er est i ng- t hen l ast ni ght he came her e, pr obabl y wi t h t he same Rakosky and anot her
man, and af t er t hat your guess i s as good as mi ne. Even i f t hey di dn' t ki l l hi m,
t hey cer t ai nl y sear ched hi s r oom. What wer e t hey l ooki ng f or ? I n hi s j acket . . . whi ch
r emi nds me, i f he went out , i t was i n shi r t sl eeves, because t he j acket wi t h hi s
passpor t i n t he pocket i s st i l l her e. But t hat doesn' t make t hi ngs any easi er ,
because t he ol d man says t he col onel was st r et ched out on t he bed i n hi s j acket ,
unl ess k was a di f f er ent j acket . God, I f eel l i ke I ' mi n a l oony bi n. Anyway, wher e
was I ? Oh, yes, i n hi s j acket we f ound pl ent y of money, t oo much money. So i t wasn' t
money t hey wer e l ooki ng f or . And you gent l emen have gi ven me t he onl y l ead. You say
t he col onel had some document s. What di d t hey l ook l i ke?"
" He was car r yi ng a br own br i ef case, " Bel bo sai d.
" I t l ooked mor e r ed t o me, " I sai d.
Page 77
" Br own, " Bel bo i nsi st ed. " But I coul d be wr ong. "
" Red or br own, " De Angel i s sai d, " i t ' s not her e now. Last ni ght ' s vi si t or s must have
t aken i t . The br i ef case i s what we have t o concent r at e on. I f you ask me, Ar dent i
wasn' t t r yi ng t o publ i sh a book at al l . He had pr obabl y come up wi t h somet hi ng he
coul d bl ackmai l Rakosky wi t h, and t al ki ng about a publ i shi ng cont r act was a way of
appl yi ng pr essur e. That woul d have been mor e hi s st yl e. Fr omt her e, any number of
hypot heses ar e possi bl e. The t wo men may have t hr eat ened hi mand l ef t , and Ar dent i
was so scar ed t hat he f l ed i nt o t he ni ght , l eavi ng ever yt hi ng behi nd except t he
br i ef case, whi ch he cl ut ched under hi s ar m. But f i r st , f or some r eason, he t r i ed t o
make t he ol d man t hi nk he was dead. I t al l sounds t oo much l i ke a novel , and i t
doesn' t account f or t he way t he r oomwas t or n up. On t he ot her hand, i f t he t wo men
ki l l ed hi mand st ol e t he br i ef case, why woul d t hey al so st eal t he cor pse? Excuse me,
but may I see your I Ds?"
He l ooked at my st udent car d, t ur ni ng i t over a f ew t i mes. " Phi l osophy st udent , eh?"
" Ther e ar e l ot s of us, " I sai d.
" Far t oo many. And you' r e st udyi ng t he Templ ar s. Suppose I want ed t o get some
backgr ound on t hemwhat shoul d I r ead?"
I suggest ed t wo books, popul ar but f ai r l y ser i ous. I al so t ol d hi mhe woul d f i nd
r el i abl e i nf or mat i on onl y up t o t he t r i al . Af t er t hat i t was al l r avi ng nonsense.
" I see, " he sai d. " Now i t ' s t he Templ ar s, t oo. One spl i nt er gr oup I haven' t r un i nt o
yet . "
The pol i ceman named Annunzi at a came i n wi t h a t el egr am: " The r epl y f r omPar i s, si r . "
De Angel i s r ead i t . " Gr eat , " he sai d. " No one i n Par i s has hear d of Rakosky, and t he
passpor t number shows t hat i t was st ol en t wo year s ago. Now we' r e r eal l y st uck.
Monsi eur Rakosky doesn' t exi st . You say he' s t he edi t or of a magazi ne- what was i t
cal l ed?" He made a not e. " Wel l , we' l l t r y, but I bet we f i nd t hat t he magazi ne
doesn' t exi st ei t her , or el se i t f ol ded ages ago. Al l r i ght , gent l emen, t hanks f or
your hel p. I may t r oubl e you agai n at some poi nt . Oh, yes, one l ast quest i on: Di d
Ar gent i i ndi cat e t hat he had connect i ons wi t h any pol i t i cal or gani zat i on?"
" No, " Bel bo sai d. " He seemed t o have gi ven up pol i t i cs f or t r easur es. "
" And conf i dence games. " He t ur ned t o me. " You seemnot t o have l i ked hi mmuch. "
" Not my st yl e, " I sai d. " But i t woul dn' t have occur r ed t o me t o st r angl e hi mwi t h a
l engt h of wi r e. Except i n t heor y. "
" Nat ur al l y. Too much t r oubl e. Rel ax, Si gner Casaubon. I ' mnot one of t hose cops who
t hi nk al l st udent s ar e cr i mi nal s. Good l uck, al so, on your t hesi s. "
" Excuse me, " Bel bo asked, " but j ust out of cur i osi t y, ar e you homi ci de or
pol i t i cal ?' '
" Good quest i on. My opposi t e number f r omhomi ci de was her e l ast ni ght . Af t er t hey
f ound a bi t mor e on Ar dent i i n t he r ecor ds, he t ur ned t he case over t o me. Yes, I ' m
f r ompol i t i cal . But I ' mr eal l y not sur e I ' mt he r i ght man. Li f e i sn' t si mpl e, t he
way i t i s i n det ect i ve st or i es. "
" I guess not , " Bel bo sai d, shaki ng hi s hand.
We l ef t , but I was st i l l t r oubl ed. Not because of De Angel i s, who seemed ni ce
enough, but because f or t he f i r st t i me i n my l i f e I f ound mysel f i nvol ved i n
somet hi ng shady. I had l i ed. And so had Bel bo.
We par t ed at t he door of t he Gar amond of f i ce, and we wer e bot h embar r assed.
" We di dn' t do anyt hi ng wr ong, " Bel bo sai d def ensi vel y. " I t won' t make any di f f er ence
i f t he pol i ce don' t l ear n about I ngol f and t he Cat har s. I t was al l r avi ng anyway.
Maybe Ar dent i had t o di sappear f or ot her r easons; t her e coul d be a t housand r easons.
Maybe Rakosky was an I sr ael i secr et - ser vi ce agent set t l i ng ol d scor es. Or maybe he
was sent by some bi g shot t he col onel had conned. Or maybe t hey wer e i n t he For ei gn
Legi on t oget her and t her e was some ol d gr udge. Or maybe Rakosky was an Al ger i an
assassi n. And maybe t hi s Templ ar - t r easur e st or y was onl y a mi nor epi sode i n t he l i f e
of our col onel . Al l r i ght , t he br i ef case i s mi ssi ng, r ed or br own. By t he way, i t
was good t hat you cont r adi ct ed me: t hat made i t cl ear we had onl y had a qui ck
gl i mpse of i t . "
I sai d not hi ng, and Bel bo di dn' t know how t o concl ude.
" You' l l say I ' ve r un away agai n. Li ke Vi a Lar ga. "
" Nonsense. We di d t he r i ght t hi ng. I ' l l see you. "
I was sor r y f or hi m, because he f el t l i ke a cowar d. But I di dn' t . I had l ear ned i n
school t hat when you deal wi t h t he pol i ce, you l i e. As a mat t er of pr i nci pl e. But a
gui l t y consci ence can poi son a f r i endshi p.
I di dn' t see Bel bo f or a l ong t i me af t er t hat . I was hi s r emor se, and he was mi ne.
Page 78
I wor ked f or anot her year and pr oduced t wo hundr ed and f i f t y t ypewr i t t en pages on
t he t r i al of t he Templ ar s. I t was t hen t hat I l ear ned t hat a gr aduat e st udent i s
l ess an obj ect of suspi ci on t han an under gr aduat e. Those wer e year s when def endi ng a
t hesi s was consi der ed evi dence of r espect f ul l oyal t y t o t he st at e, and you wer e
t r eat ed wi t h i ndul gence.
I n t he mont hs t hat f ol l owed, some st udent s st ar t ed usi ng guns. The days of mass
demonst r at i ons i n t he open ai r wer e dr awi ng t o a cl ose.
I was shor t on i deal s, but f or t hat I had an al i bi , because l ovi ng Ampar o was l i ke
bei ng i n l ove wi t h t he Thi r d Wor l d. Ampar o was beaut i f ul , Mar xi st , Br azi l i an,
ent husi ast i c, di senchant ed. She had a f el l owshi p and spl endi dl y mi xed bl ood. Al l at
t he same t i me.
I met her at a par t y, and act ed on i mpul se. " Excuse me, " I sai d, " but I woul d l i ke
t o make l ove t o you. "
" You' r e a f i l t hy mal e chauvi ni st pi g. "
" For get I sai d i t . "
" Never . I ' ma f i l t hy f emi ni st . "
She was goi ng back t o Br azi l , and I di dn' t want t o l ose her . She put me i n t ouch
wi t h t he Uni ver si t y of Ri o, wher e t he I t al i an depar t ment was l ooki ng f or a l ect ur er .
They of f er ed me a t wo- year cont r act wi t h an opt i on t o r enew. I di dn' t f eel at home
i n I t al y anymor e; I accept ed.
Besi des, I t ol d mysel f , i n t he New Wor l d I woul dn' t r un i nt o any Templ ar s.
Wr ong, I t hought Sat ur day eveni ng as I huddl ed i n t he per i scope. Cl i mbi ng t he st eps
t o t he Gar amond oi f i ce had been l i ke ent er i ng t he Pal ace. Bi nah, Di ot al l evi used t o
say, i s t he pal ace Hokhmah bui l ds as He spr eads out f r omt he pr i mor di al poi nt . I f
Hokhmah i s t he sour ce, Bi nah i s t he r i ver t hat f l ows f r omi t , separ at i ng i nt o i t s
var i ous br anches unt i l t hey al l empt y i nt o t he gr eat sea of t he l ast Sef i r ah. But i n
Bi nah al l f or ms ar e al r eady f or med.
HESED
23
The anal ogy of opposi t es i s t he r el at i on of l i ght t o shadow, peak t o abyss, f ul l ness
t o voi d. Al l egor y, mot her of al l dogmas, i s t he r epl acement of t he seal by t he
hal l mar k, of r eal i t y by shadow; i t i s t he f al sehood of t r ut h, and t he t r ut h of
f al sehood.
- El i phas Levi , Dogme de l a haut e magi e, Par i s, Bai l i e r e, 1856, XXI I , 22
I went t o Br azi l out of l ove f or Ampar o, I st ayed out of l ove f or t he count r y. I
never di d under st and how i t was t hat Ampar o, a descendant of Dut ch set t l er s i n
Reci f e who i nt er mar r i ed wi t h I ndi ans and Sudanese bl acks- wi t h her J amai can f ace and
Par i si an cul t ur e- had wound up wi t h a Spani sh name. For t hat mat t er , I never managed
t o f i gur e out Br azi l i an names. They def y al l onomast i c di ct i onar i es, and exi st onl y
i n Br azi l .
Ampar o t ol d me t hat i n t hei r hemi spher e, when wat er dr ai ns down a si nk, t he l i t t l e
eddy swi r l s count er cl ockwi se, wher eas at home, our s swi r l s cl ockwi se. Or maybe i t ' s
t he ot her way ar ound: I ' ve never succeeded i n checki ng t he t r ut h of i t . Not onl y
because nobody i n our hemi spher e has ever l ooked t o see whi ch way t he wat er swi r l s,
but al so because, af t er var i ous exper i ment s i n Br azi l , I r eal i zed i t ' s ver y har d t o
t el l . The suct i on i s t oo qui ck t o be st udi ed, and i t s di r ect i on pr obabl y depends
par t l y on t he f or ce and angl e of t he j et and t he shape of t he si nk or t he t ub.
Besi des, i f t hi s i s t r ue, what happens at t he equat or ? Maybe t he wat er dr ai ns
st r ai ght down, wi t h no swi r l i ng, or maybe i t doesn' t dr ai n at al l .
Page 79
At t hat t i me I di dn' t agoni ze over t he pr obl em, but Sat ur day ni ght i n t he per i scope
I was t hi nki ng how ever yt hi ng depended on t el l ur i c cur r ent s, and t he Pendul um
cont ai ned t he secr et .
Ampar o was st eadf ast i n her f ai t h. " The par t i cul ar empi r i cal event doesn' t mat t er , "
she sai d. " I t ' s an i deal pr i nci pl e, whi ch can be ver i f i ed onl y under i deal
condi t i ons. Whi ch means never . But i t ' s st i l l t r ue. "
I n Mi l an, Ampar o' s di senchant ment had been one of her most desi r abl e t r ai t s. But i n
Br azi l , r eact i ng t o t he chemi st r y of her nat i ve l and, she became el usi ve, a
vi si onar y capabl e of subt er r anean r at i onal i t y. St i r r ed by anci ent passi ons, she was
car ef ul t o keep t hemi n check; but t he ascet i ci smwhi ch made her r ej ect t hei r
seduct i on was not convi nci ng.
I measur ed her spl endi d cont r adi ct i ons when I wat ched her ar gue wi t h her comr ades.
The meet i ngs wer e hel d i n shabby houses decor at ed wi t h a f ew post er s and a l ot of
f ol k ar t , por t r ai t s of Leni n and Amer i ndi an f et i shes, or t er r a- cot t a f i gur es
gl or i f yi ng t he cangacei r os, out l aws of t he Nor t heast . I hadn' t ar r i ved dur i ng one of
t he count r y' s most l uci d moment s pol i t i cal l y, and, af t er my exper i ences at home, I
deci ded t o st eer cl ear of i deol ogi es, especi al l y i n a pl ace wher e I di dn' t
under st and t hem. The way Ampar o' s comr ades t al ked made me even mor e uncer t ai n, but
t hey al so r oused a new cur i osi t y i n me. They wer e, nat ur al l y, al l Mar xi st s, and at
f i r st t hey seemed t o t al k mor e or l ess l i ke Eur opean Mar xi st s, but t he subj ect
somehow was al ways di f f er ent . I n t he mi ddl e of an ar gument about t he cl ass st r uggl e,
t hey woul d suddenl y ment i on " Br azi l i an canni bal i sm" or t he r evol ut i onar y r ol e of
Af r o- Br azi l i an r el i gi ons.
Hear i ng t hemt al k about t hese cul t s convi nced me t hat at l east i deol ogi cal suct i on,
down t her e, swi r l ed i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on. They descr i bed a panor ama of i nt er nal
mi gr at i ons back and f or t h, t he di si nher i t ed of t he nor t h movi ng down t owar d t he
i ndust r i al sout h, wher e t hey became subpr ol et ar i ans i n i mmense smog- choked
met r opol i ses, event ual l y r et ur ni ng i n desper at i on t o t he nor t h, onl y t o r epeat t hei r
f l i ght sout hwar d i n t he next cycl e. But many r an agr ound i n t he bi g ci t i es dur i ng
t hese osci l l at i ons, and t hey wer e absor bed by a pl et hor a of i ndi genous chur ches;
t hey wor shi ped spi r i t s, evoked Af r i can di vi ni t i es. . . And her e Ampar o' s comr ades wer e
di vi ded: some consi der ed t hi s a r et ur n t o t hei r r oot s, a way of opposi ng t he whi t e
wor l d; ot her s t hought t hese cul t s wer e t he opi at e wi t h whi ch t he r ul i ng cl ass hel d
an i mmense r evol ut i onar y pot ent i al i n check; and st i l l ot her s mai nt ai ned t hat t he
cul t s wer e a mel t i ng pot i n whi ch whi t es, I ndi ans, and bl acks coul d be bl ended- f or
what pur pose, t hey wer e not cl ear . Ampar o had made up her mi nd: r el i gi on was al ways
t he opi at e of t he peopl e, and pseudo- t r i bal cul t s wer e even wor se. But when I hel d
her by t he wai st i n t he escol as de samba, j oi ni ng i n t he snaki ng l i nes t o t he
unbear abl e r hyt hmof t he dr ums, I r eal i zed t hat she cl ung t o t hat wor l d wi t h t he
muscl es of her bel l y, her hear t , her head, her nost r i l s. . . Af t er war d, she was di e
f i r st t o of f er a bi t t er , sar cast i c anal ysi s of t he or gi ast i c char act er of peopl e' s
r el i gi ous devot i on- week af t er week and mont h af t er mont h- t o t he r i t e of car ni val .
Exact l y t he same sor t of t r i bal wi t chcr af t , she woul d say wi t h r evol ut i onar y
cont empt , as t he soccer r i t ual s i n whi ch t he di si nher i t ed expended t hei r combat i ve
ener gy and sense of r evol t , pr act i ci ng spel l s and enchant ment s t o wi n f r omt he gods
of ever y possi bl e wor l d t he deat h of t he opposi ng hal f back, compl et el y unawar e of
t he Est abl i shment , whi ch want ed t o keep t hemi n a st at e of ecst at i c ent husi asm,
condemned t o unr eal i t y.
I n t i me I l ost any sense of cont r adi ct i on, j ust as I gr adual l y abandoned any at t empt
t o di st i ngui sh t he di f f er ent r aces i n t hat l and of age- ol d, unbr i dl ed hybr i di zat i on.
I gave up t r yi ng t o est abl i sh wher e pr ogr ess l ay, and wher e r evol ut i on, or t o see
t he pl ot - as Ampar o' s comr ades expr essed i t - of capi t al i sm. How coul d I cont i nue t o
t hi nk l i ke a Eur opean once I l ear ned t hat t he hopes of t he f ar l ef t wer e kept al i ve
by a Nor dest e bi shop suspect ed of havi ng har bor ed Nazi sympat hi es i n hi s yout h but
who now f ai t hf ul l y and f ear l essl y hel d hi gh t he t or ch of r evol t , upset t i ng t he war y
Vat i can and t he bar r acudas of Wal l St r eet , and j oyf ul l y i nf l ami ng t he at hei smof t he
pr ol et ar i an myst i cs won over by t he t ender yet menaci ng banner of a Beaut i f ul Lady
who, pi er ced by seven sor r ows, gazed down on t he suf f er i ngs of her peopl e?
One mor ni ng Ampar o and I wer e dr i vi ng al ong t he coast af t er havi ng at t ended a
semi nar on t he cl ass st r uct ur e of t he l umpen- pr ol et ar i at . I saw some vot i ve
of f er i ngs on t he beach, l i t t l e candl es, whi t e gar l ands. Ampar o t ol d me t hey wer e
of f er i ngs t o Yemanj a, goddess of t he wat er s. We st opped, and she got out and wal ked
demur el y ont o t he sand, st ood a f ew moment s i n si l ence. I asked her i f she bel i eved
Page 80
i n t hi s. She r et or t ed angr i l y: How coul d I t hi nk such a t hi ng? Then she added, " My
gr andmot her used t o br i ng me t o t he beach her e, and she woul d pr ay t o t he goddess t o
make me gr ow up beaut i f ul and good and happy. Who was t hat I t al i an phi l osopher who
made t hat comment about bl ack cat s and cor al hor ns? ' I t ' s not t r ue, but I bel i eve i n
i t ' ? Wel l , I don' t bel i eve i n i t , but i t ' s t r ue. " That was t he day I deci ded t o save
some money t o vent ur e a t r i p t o Bahi a.
I t was al so t he day I began t o l et mysel f be l ul l ed by f eel i ngs of r esembl ance: t he
not i on t hat ever yt hi ng mi ght be myst er i ousl y r el at ed t o ever yt hi ng el se.
Lat er , when I r et ur ned t o Eur ope, I conver t ed t hi s met aphysi cs i nt o mechani cs- and
t hus f el l i nt o t he t r ap i n whi ch I now l i e. But back t hen I was l i vi ng i n a t wi l i ght
t hat bl ur r ed al l di st i nct i ons. Li ke a r aci st , I bel i eved t hat a st r ong man coul d
r egar d t he f ai t hs of ot her s as an oppor t uni t y f or har ml ess daydr eami ng and no mor e.
I l ear ned some r hyt hms, ways of l et t i ng go wi t h body and mi nd. Recal l i ng t hemt he
ot her eveni ng i n t he per i scope, t o f i ght of f gr owi ng numbness I moved my l i mbs as i f
I wer e once agai n st r i ki ng t he agogd. You see? I sai d t o mysel f . To escape t he power
of t he unknown, t o pr ove t o your sel f t hat you don' t bel i eve i n i t , you accept i t s
spel l s. Li ke an avowed at hei st who sees t he Devi l at ni ght , you r eason: He cer t ai nl y
doesn' t exi st ; t hi s i s t her ef or e an i l l usi on, per haps a r esul t of i ndi gest i on. But
t he Devi l i s sur e t hat he exi st s, and bel i eves i n hi s upsi de- down t heol ogy. What ,
t hen, wi l l f r i ght en hi m? You make t he si gn of t he cr oss, and he vani shes i n a puf f
of br i mst one.
What happened t o me was l i ke what mi ght happen t o a pedant i c et hnol ogi st who has
spent year s st udyi ng canni bal i sm. He chal l enges t he smugness of t he whi t es by
assur i ng ever ybody t hat act ual l y human f l esh i s del i ci ous. Then one day a doubt er
deci des t o see f or hi msel f and per f or ms t he exper i ment - on hi m. As t he et hnol ogi st i s
devour ed pi ece by pi ece, he hopes, f or he wi l l never know who was r i ght , t hat at
l east he i s del i ci ous, whi ch wi l l j ust i f y t he r i t ual and hi s deat h. The ot her
eveni ng I had t o bel i eve t he Pl an was t r ue, because i f i t wasn' t , t hen I had spent
t he past t wo year s as t he omni pot ent ar chi t ect of an evi l dr eam. Bet t er r eal i t y t han
a dr eam: i f somet hi ng i s r eal , t hen i t ' s r eal and you' r e not t o bl ame.
24
Sauvez l a f ai bl e Ai scha des ver t i ges de Nahash, sauvez l a pl ai nt i ve Heva des mi r ages
de l a sensi bi l i t y, et que l es Khe' r ubs me gar dent .
- J ose' phi n P^l adan, Comment on devi ent Fee, Par i s, Chamuel , 1893, p. XI I I
As I was advanci ng i nt o t he f or est of r esembl ances, I r ecei ved Bel bo' s l et t er .
Dear Casaubon,
I di dn' t know unt i l t he ot her day t hat you wer e i n Br azi l . I l ost t ouch compl et el y,
not even knowi ng t hat you had gr aduat ed ( congr at ul at i ons) . Anyway, someone at
Pi l ade' s gave me your coor di nat es, and I t hought i t woul d be a good i dea t o br i ng
you up t o dat e on some devel opment s i n t hat unf or t unat e Col onel Ar dent i busi ness.
I t ' s been mor e t han t wo year s now, I know, and agai n I must apol ogi ze: I was t he one
who got you i nt o t r oubl e t hat mor ni ng, t hough I di dn' t mean t o.
I had al most f or got t en t he whol e nast y st or y, but t wo weeks ago I was dr i vi ng ar ound
i n t he Mont ef el t r o ar ea and happened upon t he f or t r ess of San Leo. I n t he ei ght eent h
cent ur y, i t seems, t he r egi on was under papal r ul e, and t he pope i mpr i soned
Cagl i ost r o t her e, i n a cel l wi t h no r eal door ( you ent er ed i t , f or t he f i r st and
l ast t i me, t hr ough a t r apdoor i n t he cei l i ng) and wi t h one l i t t l e wi ndow f r omwhi ch
t he pr i soner coul d see onl y t he t wo chur ches of t he vi l l age. I saw a bunch of r oses
on t he shel f wher e Cagl i ost r o had sl ept and di ed, and I was t ol d t hat many devot ees
st i l l make t he pi l gr i mage t o t he pl ace of hi s mar t yr dom. Among t he most assi duous
pi l gr i ms ar e t he member s of Pi cat r i x, a gr oup of Mi l anese st udent s of t he occul t . I t
publ i shes a' magazi ne ent i t l ed- wi t h gr eat i magi nat i on- Pi cat r i x.
You know how cur i ous I amabout t hese oddi t i es. So back i n Mi l an I got hol d of a
copy of Pi cat r i x, f r omwhi ch I l ear ned t hat an evocat i on of t he spi r i t of Cagl i ost r o
was t o be hel d i n a f ew days. I went .
The wal l s wer e dr aped wi t h banner s cover ed wi t h cabal i st i c si gns, an abundance of
owl s of al l ki nds, scar abs and i bi ses, and Or i ent al di vi ni t i es of uncer t ai n or i gi n.
Near t he r ear wal l was a dai s, a pr osceni umof bur ni ng t or ches hel d up by r ough
l ogs, and i n t he backgr ound an al t ar wi t h a t r i angul ar al t ar - pi ece and st at uet t es of
Page 81
I si s and Osi r i s. The r oomwas r i nged by an amphi t heat er of f i gur es of Anubi s, and
t her e was a por t r ai t of Cagl i ost r o ( i t coul d har dl y have been of anyone el se, coul d
i t ?) , a gi l ded mummy i n Cheops f or mat , t wo f i ve- ar med candel abr a, a gong suspended
f r omt wo r ampant snakes, on a podi uma l ect er n cover ed by cal i co pr i nt ed wi t h
hi er ogl yphi cs, and t wo cr owns, t wo t r i pods, a l i t t l e por t abl e sar cophagus, a t hr one,
a f ake sevent eent h- cent ur y f aut eui l , f our unmat ched chai r s sui t abl e f or a banquet
wi t h t he sher i f f of Not t i ngham, and candl es, t aper s, vot i ve l i ght s, al l f l i cker i ng
ver y spi r i t ual l y.
Anyway, t o go on wi t h t he st or y: seven al t ar boys ent er ed i n r ed cassocks and
car r yi ng t or ches, f ol l owed by t he cel ebr ant , appar ent l y t he head of Pi cat r i x- he
r ej oi ced i n t he commonpl ace name of Br ambi l l a- i n pi nk- and- ol i ve vest ment s. He was,
i n t ur n, f ol l owed by t he neophyt e, or medi um, and si x acol yt es i n whi t e, who al l
l ooked l i ke Bi ng Cr osby, but wi t h i nf ul as, t he god' s, i f you r ecal l our poet s.
Br ambi l l a put on a t r i pl e cr own wi t h a hal f - moon, pi cked up a r i t ual swor d, dr ew
magi c symbol s on t he dai s, and summoned var i ous angel i c spi r i t s wi t h names endi ng hi
" el . " At t hi s poi nt I was vaguel y r emi nded of t hose pseudo- Semi t i c i ncant at i ons i n
I ngol f ' s message, but onl y f or a moment , because I was i mmedi at el y di st r act ed by
somet hi ng unusual . The mi cr ophones on t he dai s wer e connect ed t o a t uner t hat was
supposed t o pi cj c up r andomwaves i n space, but t he oper at or must have made a
mi st ake, because f i r st we hear d a bur st of di sco musi c and t hen Radi o Moscow came
on. Br ambi l l a opened t he sar cophagus, t ook out a book of magi c spel l s, swung a
t hur i bl e, and cr i ed, " O Lor d, Thy ki ngdomcome. " Thi s seemed t o achi eve somet hi ng,
because Radi o Moscow f el l si l ent , but t hen, at t he most magi cal moment , i t came on
agai n, wi t h a dr unken Cossack song, t he ki nd t hey dance t o wi t h t hei r behi nds
scr api ng t he gr ound. Br ambi l l a i nvoked t he Cl avi cul a Sal omoni s, r i sked
sel f - i mmol at i on by bur ni ng a par chment on a t r i pod, summoned sever al di vi ni t i es of
t he t empl e of Kar nak, t est i l y asked t o be pl aced on t he cubi c st one of Yesod, and
i nsi st ent l y cal l ed out f or " Fami l i ar 39, " who must have been f ami l i ar enough t o t he
audi ence, si nce a shi ver r an t hr ough t he hal l . One woman sank i nt o a t r ance, her
eyes r ol l i ng back unt i l onl y t he whi t es wer e vi si bl e. Peopl e cal l ed f or a doct or ,
but Br ambi l l a i nvol ved t he Power of t he Pent a- cl es, and t he neophyt e, who had
meanwhi l e sat down on t he f ake f aut eui l , began t o wr i t he and gr oan. Br ambi l l a
hover ed over her , anxi ousl y aski ng quest i ons of her , or , r at her , of Fami l i ar 39,
who, I suddenl y r eal i zed, was Cagl i ost r o hi msel f . And now came t he di st ur bi ng par t ,
because t he pat het i c gi r l seemed t o be i n r eal pai n: she t r embl ed, sweat ed,
bel l owed, and began t o speak i n br oken phr ases of a t empl e and a door t hat must be
opened. She sai d a vor t ex of power was bei ng cr eat ed, and we had t o ascend t o t he
Gr eat Pyr ami d. Br ambi l l a, up on t he dai s, became agi t at ed; he banged t he gong and
cal l ed I si s i n a l oud voi ce. I was enj oyi ng t he per f or mance unt i l I hear d t he gi r l ,
st i l l si ghi ng and moani ng, say somet hi ng about si x seal s, a
one- hundr ed- and- t went y- year wai t , and t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es. Now, t her e coul d be no
doubt : she was t al ki ng about t he message of Pr ovi ns. I wai t ed t o hear mor e, but t he
gi r l sl umped back, exhaust ed. Br ambi l l a st r oked her br ow, bl essed t he audi ence wi t h
hi s t hur i bl e, and pr ocl ai med t he r i t e over .
I was sl i ght l y awed, and al so eager t o under st and. I t r i ed t o move cl oser t o t he
gi r l , who i n t he meant i me had come t o her senses, sl i pped i nt o a scr uf f y over coat ,
and was on her way out t hr ough t he r ear exi t . I was about t o t ouch her on t he
shoul der , when I f el t someone gr asp my ar m. I t ur ned and i t was I nspect or De
Angel i s, who t ol d me t o l et her go: he knew wher e t o f i nd her . He i nvi t ed me out f or
cof f ee. I went , as i f he had caught me doi ng somet hi ng wr ong, whi ch i n a sense he
had. At t he caf e he asked me what I was doi ng t her e and why I had t r i ed t o appr oach
t he gi r l . Thi s i r r i t at ed me. We ar en' t l i vi ng i n a di ct at or shi p, I sai d. I can
appr oach anyone I choose. He apol ogi zed and expl ai ned t hat , al t hough t he Ar - dent i
i nvest i gat i on had no pr i or i t y, t hey had t r i ed t o r econst r uct t he t wo days he had
spent i n Mi l an bef or e hi s meet i ng at Gar amond and wi t h t he myst er i ous Rakosky. A
year af t er Ar dent i ' s di sappear ance, t he pol i ce had f ound out , by sheer l uck, t hat
someone had seen hi ml eavi ng t he Pi cat r i x of f i ces i n t he company of t he psychi c
gi r l , who, i nci dent al l y, was of i nt er est t o De Angel i s because she l i ved wi t h an
i ndi vi dual not unknown t o t he nar cot i cs squad.
I t ol d hi mI was t her e by chance, and I had been st r uck by t he f act t hat t he gi r l
had spoken a phr ase about si x seal s, whi ch I had hear d f r omt he col onel . He r emar ked
how st r ange i t was t hat I coul d r emember so cl ear l y what t he col onel sai d t wo year s
ago, yet , at t he t i me, I had spoken onl y of some vague t al k about t he t r easur e of
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t he Templ ar s. I r epl i ed t hat t he col onel had i ndeed sai d t hat t he t r easur e was
pr ot ect ed by si x seal s of some ki nd, but I hadn' t consi der ed t hi s an i mpor t ant
det ai l because al l t r easur es ar e pr ot ect ed by seal s, usual l y seven, and by gol d
bugs. He obser ved t hat i f al l t r easur es wer e pr ot ect ed by gol d bugs, he coul dn' t see
why I shoul d have been st r uck t y what t he gi r l had sai d. I asked hi mt o st op
t r eat i ng me l i ke a suspect , and he l aughed and changed hi s t one. He sai d he di dn' t
f i nd i t st r ange t hat t he gi r l had sai d what she di d, because Ar dent i must have
t al ked t o her about hi s f ant asi es, per haps t r yi ng t o use her t o est abl i sh some
ast r al cont act , as t hey say i n t hose ci r cl es. A psychi c, he went on, was l i ke a
sponge, a phot ogr aphi c pl at e wi t h an unconsci ous t hat must l ook l i ke an amusement
par k. The Pi cat r i x bunch pr obabl y gi ve her a br ai nwashi ng al l year r ound, so i t was
not unl i kel y t hat once i n a t r ance- because t he gi r l was i n ear nest , wasn' t f aki ng,
and t her e was somet hi ng wr ong wi t h her head- she woul d see i mages t hat had been
i mpr essed on her l ong ago.
But t wo days l at er De Angel i s dr opped i n at t he of f i ce t o say t hat , cur i ousl y
enough, when he went t o see t he gi r l t he day af t er t he cer emony, she was gone. The
nei ghbor s sai d nobody had seen her si nce t he af t er noon bef or e t he eveni ng of t he
cer emony. Hi s suspi ci ons wer e ar oused, so he ent er ed t he apar t ment and f ound i t t or n
t o pi eces: sheet s on t he f l oor , pi l l ows i n one cor ner , t r ampl ed newspaper s, empt i ed
dr awer s. No si gn of her . Or of her boyf r i end, or r oommat e or what ever you want ed t o
cal l hi m.
He t ol d me t hat i f I knew anyt hi ng mor e, I ' d be wi se t o t al k, because i t was st r ange
how t he gi r l had di sappear ed i nt o t hi n ai r , and he coul d t hi nk of onl y t wo r easons:
ei t her somebody r eal i zed t hat De Angel i s had her under sur vei l l ance, or i t was
not i ced t hat one J acopo Bel bo had t r i ed t o t al k t o her . The t hi ngs she had sai d i n
t he t r ance mi ght t her ef or e have concer ned somet hi ng ser i ous, some unf i ni shed
busi ness.
They- whoever t hey wer e- hadn' t r eal i zed she knew so much.
" Now suppose some col l eague of mi ne get s i t i nt o hi s head t hat you ki l l ed her , " De
Angel i s added wi t h a beaut i f ul smi l e.
" You can see we have ever y i nt er est i n wor ki ng t oget her . " I al most l ost my t emper ,
and God knows I don' t do t hat of t en. I asked hi mwhy a per son who' s not home i s
assumed t o have been mur der ed, and he asked i f I r emember ed what happened t o t he
col onel . Then I t ol d hi mt hat i f she had been ki l l ed, or ki dnapped, i t must have
happened t hat eveni ng, when I was wi t h hi m. He asked how I coul d be so sur e of t hat ,
si nce we had sai d goodbye ar ound mi dni ght and he had no way of knowi ng what had
happened af t er t hat . I asked hi mi f he was ser i ous, and he sai d what , hadn' t I ever
r ead a det ect i ve st or y? Di dn' t I know t hat t he pr i me suspect was al ways t he one who
di dn' t have an al i bi as r adi ant as Hi r oshi ma? He sai d he woul d donat e hi s head t o an
or gan bank i f I had an al i bi f or t he t i me bet ween one A. M. and t he next mor ni ng.
What can I say, Casaubon? Maybe I shoul d have t ol d hi mt he t r ut h, but wher e I come
f r om, men ar e st ubbor n and never back down.
I ' mwr i t i ng you because i f I f ound your addr ess, t hen De Angel i s can f i nd i t , t oo.
I f he get s i n t ouch wi t h you, at l east you know t he l i ne I ' ve t aken. But si nce i t
doesn' t seema ver y st r ai ght l i ne t o me, go ahead and t el l hi mever yt hi ng i f you
want t o. I ' membar r assed, I apol ogi ze. I f eel l i ke some ki nd of accompl i ce. Tr y as I
mi ght , I can' t seemt o f i nd any nobl e j ust i f i cat i on f or mysel f . Must be my peasant
or i gi ns; i n our par t of t he count r y, we' r e a mean bunch. The whol e t hi ng i s- as t he
Ger mans says- unhei ml i ch.
Your s, J acopo Bel bo
25
. . . of t hese myst er i ous i ni t i at es- now become numer ous, bol d, conspi r i ng- al l was bor n:
J esui t i sm, magnet i sm, Mar t i ni sm, phi l osopher ' s st one, somnambul i sm, ecl ect i ci sm.
- C. - L. Cadet - Gassi cour t , Le t ombeau de J acques de Mal ay, Par i s, Desenne, 1797, p.
91
The l et t er upset me. Not t hat I was af r ai d of bei ng t r acked down by De Angel i s- we
wer e i n di f f er ent hemi spher es, af t er al l - but f or l ess def i nabl e r easons. At t he
t i me, I t hought I was upset because a wor l d I had l ef t behi nd had bounced back at
me. But t oday I r eal i ze t hat what bot her ed me was yet anot her st r and of r esembl ance,
t he suspi ci on of an anal ogy. I was annoyed, t oo, at havi ng t o deal wi t h Bel bo agai n,
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Bel bo and hi s et er nal gui l t y consci ence. I deci ded not t o ment i on t he l et t er t o
Ampar o.
A r eassur i ng second l et t er ar r i ved f r omBel bo t wo days l at er .
The st or y of t he psychi c had had a r easonabl e endi ng. A pol i ce i nf or mer r epor t ed
t hat t he gi r l ' s l over had been i nvol ved i n a set t l i ng of scor es over a dr ug
shi pment , whi ch he had sol d r et ai l i nst ead of del i ver i ng i t t o t he honest whol esal er
who had al r eady pai d. They f r own on t hat sor t of behavi or i n t hose ci r cl es, and he
vani shed t o save hi s neck. Obvi ousl y he t ook t he woman wi t h hi m. Rummagi ng t hen
among t he newspaper s l ef t i n t hei r apar t ment , De Angel i s f ound some magazi nes on t he
or der of Pi cat r i x, wi t h a ser i es of ar t i cl es heavi l y under l i ned i n r ed. One was
about t he t r easur e of t he Templ ar s, anot her about Rosi cr uci ans who l i ved i n a
cast l e, cave, or some damn pl ace wher e " post CXX annos pat ebo" was wr i t t en and t hey
cal l ed t hemsel ves t he t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es. So f or De Angel i s i t was al l cl ear . The
psychi c, consumi ng t he same sor t of l i t er at ur e t hat t he col onel had, r egur gi t at ed i t
whi n she was i n a t r ance. The mat t er was cl osed, passed on t o t he nar cot i cs squad.
Bel bo' s l et t er exuded r el i ef . De Angel i s' s expl anat i on seemed t he most economi cal .
The ot her eveni ng i n t he per i scope, I t ol d mysel f t hat t he f act s mi ght have been
qui t e di f f er ent . Gr ant ed, t he psychi c quot ed somet hi ng she had hear d f r omAr dent i ,
but i t was somet hi ng her magazi nes never ment i oned, somet hi ng no one was supposed t o
know. Whoever had got r i d of t he col onel was i n t he Pi cat r i x gr oup, and t hi s someone
not i ced t hat Bel bo was about t o quest i on t he psychi c, so he el i mi nat ed her . To t hr ow
t he i nvest i gat or s of f t he t r ack, he al so el i mi nat ed her l over , t hen i nst r uct ed a
pol i ce i nf or mer t o say t hat t he coupl e had f l ed.
Si mpl e enough, i f t her e was r eal l y a pl an. But how coul d t her e have been? Si nce we
i nvent ed " t he Pl an" our sel ves, and onl y much l at er was i t possi bl e f or r eal i t y not
onl y t o cat ch up wi t h f i ct i on, but act ual l y t o pr ecede i t , or , r at her , t o r ush ahead
of i t and r epai r t he damage t hat i t woul d cause.
At t he t i me, t hough, i n Br azi l , t hese wer e not my t hought s on r ecei vi ng Bel bo' s
second l et t er . I nst ead, I f el t once mor e t hat somet hi ng was r esembl i ng somet hi ng
el se. I had been t hi nki ng about my t r i p t o Bahi a and had spent an af t er noon vi si t i ng
bookst or es and shops t hat sol d cul t obj ect s, pl aces I had i gnor ed t i l l t hen. I went
t o out - of - t he- way l i t t l e empor i ums cr ammed wi t h st at ues and i dol s. I pur chased
per f umador es of Yemanj a, pungent l y scent ed myst i cal smoke st i cks, i ncense, sweet i sh
spr ay cans l abel ed " Sacr ed Hear t of J esus, " cheap amul et s. I al so f ound many books,
some f or devot ees, ot her s f or peopl e st udyi ng devot ees, a mi xt ur e of exor ci sm
manual s l i ke Como adi vi n- har of ut ur o na bol a de cr i st al and ant hr opol ogy t ext books.
And a monogr aph on t he Rosi cr uci ans.
Suddenl y i t al l seemed t o come t oget her : Sat ani c and Moor i sh r i t es i n t he Templ e of
J er usal em, Af r i can wi t chcr af t f or t he subpr ol et ar i ans of t he Br azi l i an Nor t heast ,
t he message- of Pr ovi ns wi t h i t s hundr ed and t went y year s, and t he hundr ed and t went y
year s of t he Rosi cr uci ans.
I f el t l i ke a wal ki ng bl ender mi xi ng st r ange concoct i ons of di f f er ent l i quor s. Or
maybe I had caused some ki nd of shor t ci r cui t , t r i ppi ng over a var i col or ed t angl e of
wi r es t hat had been ent wi ni ng t hemsel ves f or a l ong, l ong t i me. I bought t he book on
t he Rosi cr uci ans, t hi nki ng t hat i f I spent a f ew hour s i n t hese bookst or es, I woul d
meet at l east a dozen Col onel Ar dent i s and br ai nwashed psychi cs.
I went home and of f i ci al l y i nf or med Ampar o t hat t he wor l d was f ul l of unnat ur al
char act er s. She pr omi sed me sol ace, and we ended t he day nat ur al l y.
That was l at e 1975. I deci ded t o put r esembl ances asi de and concent r at e on my wor k.
Af t er al l , I was supposed t o be t eachi ng I t al i an cul t ur e, not t he Rosi cr uci ans.
I devot ed mysel f t o Renai ssance phi l osopher s and I di scover ed t hat t he men of
secul ar moder ni t y, once t hey had emer ged f r omt he dar kness of t he Mi ddl e Ages, had
f ound not hi ng bet t er t o do t han devot e t hemsel ves t o cabal a and magi c.
Af t er t wo year s spent wi t h Neopl at oni st s who chant ed f or mul as desi gned t o convi nce
nat ur e t o do t hi ngs she had no i nt ent i on of doi ng, I r ecei ved news f r omI t al y. I t
seems my ol d cl assmat es- or some of t hem, at l east - wer e now shoot i ng peopl e who
di dn' t agr ee wi t h t hem, t o convi nce t he st ubbor n t o do t hi ngs t hey had no i nt ent i on
of doi ng.
I coul dn' t under st and i t . Now par t of t he Thi r d Wor l d, I made up my mi nd t o vi si t
Bahi a. I set of f wi t h a hi st or y of Renai ssance cul t ur e and t he book on t he
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Rosi cr uci ans, whi ch had r emai ned on a shel f , i t s pages uncut .
26
Al l t he t r adi t i ons of t he ear t h must be seen as der i vi ng f r oma f undament al
mot her - t r adi t i on t hat , f r omt he begi nni ng, was ent r ust ed t o si nf ul man and t o hi s
f i r st of f spr i ng.
- Loui s- Cl aude de Sai nt - Mar t i n, De I ' espr i t des chases, Par i s, Lar an, 1800, I I , " De
l ' espr i t des t r adi t i ons en gener al "
And I saw Sal vador : Sal vador da Bahi a de Todos os Sant os, t he " bl ack Rome, " wi t h
t hr ee hundr ed and si xt y- f i ve chur ches, whi ch st and out agai nst t he l i ne of hi l l s or
nest l e al ong t he bay, chur ches wher e t he gods of t he Af r i can pant heon ar e honor ed.
Ampar o knew a pr i mi t i ve ar t i st who pai nt ed bi g wooden panel s cr ammed wi t h Bi bl i cal
and apocal ypt i c vi si ons, dazzl i ng as a medi eval mi ni at ur e, wi t h Copt i c and Byzant i ne
el ement s. Nat ur al l y he was a Mar xi st ; he t al ked about t he comi ng r evol ut i on, but he
spent hi s days dr eami ng i n t he sacr i st i es of t he sanct uar y of Nosso Senhor do
Bomf i m: a t r i umph of hor r or vacui , scal y wi t h ex- vot os t hat hung f r omt he cei l i ng
and encr ust ed t he wal l s, a myst i cal assembl age of si l ver hear t s, wooden ar ms and
l egs, i mages of wondr ous r escues f r omgl i t t er i ng st or ms, wat er spout s, mael st r oms. He
t ook us t o t he sacr i st y of anot her chur ch, whi ch was f ul l of gr eat f ur ni shi ngs
r edol ent of j acar anda. " Who i s t hat a pai nt i ng of ?" Ampar o asked t he sacr i st an.
" Sai nt Geor ge?"
The sacr i st an gave us a knowi ng l ook. " They cal l hi mSai nt Geor ge, " he sai d, " and i f
you don' t cal l hi mt hat , t he past or get s angr y. But he' s Oxossi . "
For t wo days t he pai nt er l ed us t hr ough naves and cl oi st er s hi dden behi nd decor at ed
f agades l i ke si l ver pl at es now bl ackened and wor n. Wr i nkl ed, l i mpi ng f amul i
accompani ed us. The sacr i st i es wer e si ck wi t h gol d and pewt er , heavy chest s,
pr eci ous f r ames. Al ong t he wal l s, i n cr yst al cases, l i f e- si ze i mages of sai nt s
t ower ed, dr i ppi ng bl ood, t hei r open wounds spat t er ed wi t h r uby dr opl et s; Chr i st s
wr i t hed i n pai n, t hei r l egs r ed. I n a gl ow of l at e- Bar oque gol d, I saw angel s wi t h
Et r uscan f aces, Romanesque gr i f f i ns, and Or i ent al si r ens peepi ng out f r omt he
capi t al s.
I moved al ong anci ent st r eet s, enchant ed by names t hat sounded l i ke songs: Rua da
Agoni a, Aveni da dos Amor es, Tr a- vessa de Chi co Di abo. Our vi si t t o Sal vador t ook
pl ace dur i ng a per i od when t he l ocal gover nment , or someone act i ng i n i t s name, was
t r yi ng t o r enew t he ol d ci t y, and was cl osi ng down t he t housands of br ot hel s. But
t he pr oj ect was onl y at mi dpoi nt . At t he f eet of t hose deser t ed and l epr ous chur ches
embar r assed by t hei r own evi l - smel l i ng al l eys, f i f t een- year - ol d bl ack pr ost i t ut es
st i l l swar med, anci ent women sel l i ng Af r i can sweet s cr ouched al ong t he si dewal ks
wi t h t hei r st eami ng pot s, and hor des of pi mps danced ami d t r i ckl es of sewage t o t he
sound of t r ansi st or r adi os i n near by bar s. The anci ent pal aces of t he Por t uguese
set t l er s, sur mount ed by coat s of ar ms now i l l egi bl e, had become houses of
i l l - r eput e.
On t he t hi r d day, our gui de t ook us t o t he bar of a hot el i n a r enovat ed par t of t he
upper ci t y, on a st r eet f ul l of l uxur y ant i que shops. He was t o meet an I t al i an
gent l eman, he t ol d us, who want ed t o buy- and f or t he aski ng pr i ce- a pai nt i ng of hi s,
t hr ee met er s by t wo, i n whi ch t eemi ng angel i c host s waged t he f i nal bat t l e agai nst
t he opposi ng l egi ons.
And so we met Si gnor Agl i e. I mpeccabl y dr essed i n a doubl e- br east ed pi n- st r i ped sui t
despi t e t he heat , he wor e gol d- r i mmed eyegl asses and had a r osy compl exi on, si l ver
hai r . He ki ssed Ampar o' s hand as i f he knew of no ot her way t o gr eet a l ady, and he
or der ed champagne. When t he pai nt er had t o l eave, Agl i f c handed hi ma pack of
t r avel er ' s checks and sai d t o send t he pi ct ur e t o hi s hot el . We st ayed on t o chat .
Agl i e spoke Por t uguese cor r ect l y, but i t sounded as i f he had l ear ned i t i n Li sbon.
Thi s accent made hi mseemeven mor e l i ke a gent l eman of bygone days. He asked about
us, comment ed on t he possi bl e Genevan or i gi n of my name, and expr essed cur i osi t y
about Ampar o' s f ami l y hi st or y, t hough somehow he had al r eady guessed t hat t he mai n
br anch was f r omReci f e. About hi s own or i gi ns he was vague. " I ' ml i ke many peopl e
her e, " he sai d. " Count l ess r aces ar e r epr esent ed i n my genes. . . The name i s I t al i an,
f r omt he anci ent est at e of an ancest or . Per haps a nobl eman, but who car es t hese
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days? I t was cur i osi t y t hat br ought me t o Br azi l . Al l f or ms of t r adi t i on f asci nat e
me. "
He t ol d us he had a f i ne l i br ar y of r el i gi ous sci ences i n Mi l an, wher e he had been
l i vi ng f or some year s. " Come and see me when you get back. I have a number of
i nt er est i ng t hi ngs, f r omAf r o- Br azi l i an r i t es t o t he I si s cul t s of t he l at e Roman
Empi r e. " " I ador e t he I si s cul t s, " Ampar o sai d, who of t en, out of pr i de, pr et ended
t o be si l l y. " You must know ever yt hi ng t her e i s t o know about t hem. "
Agl i e r epl i ed modest l y: " Onl y what l i t t l e I Ve seen of t hem. " Ampar o t r i ed agai n:
" But wasn' t i t t wo t housand year s ago?" " I ' mnot as young as you ar e. " Agl i e smi l ed.
" Li ke Cagl i ost r o, " I j oked. " Wasn' t he t he one who was hear d t o mur mur t o hi s
at t endant as t hey passed a cr uci f i x, ' I t ol d t hat J ew t o be car ef ul t hat eveni ng,
but he j ust woul dn' t l i st en' ?"
Agl i e st i f f ened. Af r ai d I had of f ended hi m, I st ar t ed t o apol ogi ze, but our host
st opped me wi t h an i ndul gent smi l e. " Cagl i ost r o was a humbug. I t ' s common knowl edge
when and wher e he was bor n, and he di dn' t even manage t o l i ve ver y l ong. A
br aggar t . "
" I don' t doubt i t . "
" Cagl i ost r o was a humbug, " Agl i e r epeat ed, " but t hat does not mean t hat t her e have
not been- and st i l l ar e- pr i vi l eged per sons who have l i ved many l i ves. Moder n sci ence
knows so l i t t l e about t he agi ng pr ocess. I t ' s qui t e possi bl e t hat mor t al i t y i s
si mpl y t he r esul t of poor educat i on. Cagl i ost r o was a humbug, but t he Comt e de
Sai nt - Ger mai n was not . He may not have been boast i ng when he cl ai med t o have l ear ned
some of hi s chemi cal secr et s f r omt he anci ent Egypt i ans. Nobody bel i eved hi m, so out
of pol i t eness t o hi s l i st ener s he pr et ended t o be j oki ng. "
" And now you pr et end t o be j oki ng i n or der t o convi nce us you' r e t el l i ng t he t r ut h, "
Ampar o sai d.
" You ar e not onl y beaut i f ul , but ext r aor di nar i l y per cept i ve t oo, " Agl i e sai d. " But I
beseech you, do not bel i eve me. Wer e I t o appear bef or e you i n t he dust y spl endor of
my many cent ur i es, your own beaut y woul d wi t her , and I coul d never f or gi ve mysel f . ' '
Ampar o was conquer ed, and I f el t a t wi nge of j eal ousy. I changed t he subj ect t o
chur ches, and t o t he Sai nt Geor ge- Oxossi we had seen. Agl i e sai d we absol ut el y had
t o at t end a candombl e" . " Not one wher e t hey char ge admi ssi on. They l et you i nt o t he
r eal ones wi t hout aski ng anyt hi ng of you. You don' t even have t o be a bel i ever . You
must obser ve r espect f ul l y, of cour se, showi ng t he same t ol er ance of al l f ai t hs as
t hey do i n accept i ng your unbel i ef . At f i r st si ght a pai or mae- de- sant o mi ght seem
t o be st r ai ght out of Uncl e Tom' s Cabi n, but t hey have as much cul t ur e as a Vat i can
t heol ogi an. "
Ampar o put her hand on hi s. " Take us! " she sai d. " I went t o one many year s ago, i n a
t enda de umbanda, but I can' t r ecal l much about i t . Al l I r emember i s gr eat
t ur moi l . "
The physi cal cont act embar r assed Agl i e, but he di dn' t t ake hi s hand away. He di d
somet hi ng I l at er saw hi mdo i n moment s of r ef l ect i on: r eachi ng i nt o hi s vest wi t h
hi s ot her hand, he t ook out a l i t t l e gol d- and- si l ver box wi t h an agat e on t he l i d.
I t l ooked l i ke a snuf f box or a pi l l box. Ther e was a smal l wax l i ght bur ni ng on t he
t abl e, and Agl i e, as i f by chance, hel d t he box near i t . When exposed t o heat , t he
agat e' s col or coul d no l onger be di scer ned, and i n i t s pl ace appear ed a mi ni at ur e,
ver y f i ne, i n gr een, bl ue, and gol d, depi ct i ng a shepher dess wi t h a basket of
f l ower s. He t ur ned i t i n hi s f i nger s wi t h absent - mi nded devot i on, as i f t el l i ng a
r osar y. When he not i ced my i nt er est , he smi l ed and put t he obj ect away.
" Tur moi l ? I hope, my sweet l ady, t hat , al t hough you ar e so per cept i ve, you ar e not
excessi vel y sensi t i ve. An exqui si t e qual i t y, of cour se, when i t accompani es gr ace
and i nt el l i gence, but danger ous i f you go t o cer t ai n pl aces wi t hout knowi ng what t o
l ook f or or what you wi l l f i nd. Mor eover , t he umbanda must not be conf used wi t h t he
candombl e" . The l at t er i s compl et el y i ndi genous- Af r o- Br azi l i an, as t hey say- wher eas
t he f or mer i s a much l at er devel opment bor n of a f usi on of nat i ve r i t es and esot er i c
Eur opean cul t ur e, and wi t h a myst i que I woul d cal l Templ ar . . . "
The Templ ar s had f ound me agai n. I t ol d Agl i e I had st udi ed t hem. He r egar ded me
wi t h i nt er est . " A most cur i ous ci r cumst ance, my young f r i end, t o f i nd a young
Templ ar her e, under t he Sout her n Cr oss. "
" I woul dn' t want you t o consi der me an adept - "
" Pl ease, Si gnor Casaubon. I f you knew how much nonsense t her e i s i n t hi s f i el d. "
" I do know. "
" Good. But we' l l see one anot her soon. " I n f act , we ar r anged t o meet t he next day:
Page 86
al l of us want ed t o expl or e t he l i t t l e cover ed mar ket al ong t he por t .
We met t her e t he next mor ni ng, and i t was a f i sh mar ket , an Ar ab souk, a sai nt ' s- day
f ai r t hat had pr ol i f er at ed wi t h cancer ous vi r ul ence, l i ke a Lour des over r un by t he
f or ces of evi l , wi zar d r ai nmaker s si de by si de wi t h ecst at i c and st i gmat i zed
Capuchi ns. Ther e wer e l i t t l e pr opi t i at or y sacks wi t h pr ayer s sewn i nt o t he l i ni ng,
l i t t l e hands i n semi pr eci ous st ones, t he mi ddl e f i nger ext ended, cor al hor ns,
cr uci f i xes, St ar s of Davi d, sexual symbol s of pr e- J udai c r el i gi ons, hammocks, r ugs,
pur ses, sphi nxes, sacr ed hear t s, Bor or o qui ver s, shel l neckl aces. The degener at e
myst i que of t he Eur opean conqui st ador s was owed t o t he occul t knowl edge of t he
sl aves, j ust as t he ski n of ever y passer by t ol d a si mi l ar st or y of l ost geneal ogi es.
" Thi s, " Agl i e sai d, " i s t he ver y i mage of what t he et hnol ogy t ext books cal l
Br azi l i an syncr et i sm. An ugl y wor d, i n t he of f i ci al vi ew. But i n i t s l of t i est sense
syncr et i smi s t he acknowl edgment t hat a si ngl e Tr adi t i on r uns t hr ough and nur t ur es
al l r el i gi on, al l l ear ni ng, al l phi l osophy. The wi se man does not di scr i mi nat e; he
gat her s t oget her al l t he shr eds of l i ght , f r omwher ever t hey may come. . . These
sl aves, or descendant s of sl aves, ar e t her ef or e wi ser t han t he et hnol ogi st s of t he
Sor bonne. At l east you under st and me, do you not , l ovel y l ady?"
" I n my mi nd, no, " Ampar o sai d. " But i n my womb, yes. Sor r y, I don' t i magi ne t he
Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n , ever expr essed hi msel f i n such t er ms. What I mean i s: I was
bor n i n t hi s count r y, and even t hi ngs I don' t under st and somehow speak t o me f r om
somewher e. . . Her e, I bel i eve. " And she t ouched her br east .
" What was i t Car di nal Lamber t i ni once sai d t o a l ady wear i ng a spl endi d di amond
cr oss on her decol l et age? ' What j oy i t woul d be t o di e on t hat Cal var y! ' Wel l , how I
woul d l ove t o l i st en t o t hose voi ces! But now i t i s I who must beg your f or gi veness,
bot h of you. I amf r oman age when one woul d have accept ed damnat i on t o pay homage
t o beaut y. You t wo must want t o be al one. Let ' s keep i n t ouch. "
" He' s ol d enough t o be your f at her , " I sai d t o Ampar o as I dr agged her t hr ough t he
st al l s.
" Even my gr eat - gr eat - gr andf at her . He i mpl i ed t hat he' s at l east a t housand year s
ol d. Ar e you j eal ous of a phar aoh' s mummy?"
" I ' mj eal ous of anyone who makes a l i ght bul b f l ash on i n your head. "
" How wonder f ul . That ' s l ove. "
27
One day, sayi ng t hat he had known Pont i us Pi l at e i n J er usal em, he descr i bed mi nut el y
t he gover nor ' s house and l i st ed t he di shes ser ved at supper . Car di nal de Rohan,
bel i evi ng t hese wer e f ant asi es, t ur ned t o t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n' s val et , an ol d
man wi t h whi t e hai r and an honest expr essi on. " My f r i end, " he sai d t o t he ser vant ,
" I f i nd i t har d t o bel i eve what your mast er i s t el l i ng us. Gr ant ed t hat he may be a
vent r i l oqui st ; and even t hat he can make gol d. But t hat he i s t wo t housand year s ol d
and saw Pont i us Pi l at e? That i s t oo much. Wer e you t her e?" " Oh, no, Monsi gnor e, " t he
val et answer ed i ngenuousl y, " I have been i n M. l e Comt e' s ser vi ce onl y f our hundr ed
year s. "
- Col l i n de Pl ancy, Di ct i onnai r e i nf er nal , Par i s, Mel l i er , 1844, p. 434
I n t he days t hat f ol l owed, Sal vador absor bed me compl et el y. I spent l i t t l e t i me i n
t he hot el . But as I was l eaf i ng t hr ough t he i ndex of t he book on t he Rosi cr uci ans, I
came acr oss a r ef er ence t o t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n. Wel l , wel l , I sai d t o mysel f ,
t out se t i ent .
Vol t ai r e wr ot e of hi m, " C' est un homme qui ne meur t j amai s et qui sai l t out , " but
Fr eder i ck t he Gr eat wr ot e back, " C' est un comt e pour r i r e. " Hor ace Wal pol e descr i bed
hi mas an I t al i an or Spani ar d or Pol e who had made a f or t une i n Mexi co and t hen f l ed
t o Const ant i nopl e wi t h hi s wi f e' s j ewel s. The most r el i abl e i nf or mat i on about hi m
comes f r omt he memoi r s of Madame du Hausset , l a Pompadour ' s f emme de chambr e ( some
aut hor i t y, t he i nt ol er ant Ampar o sai d) . He had gone by var i ous names: Sur mont i n
Br ussel s, Wel l done i n Lei pzi g, t he Mar qui s of Ay- mar or Bedmar or Bel mar , Count
Sol t i kof f . I n 1745 he was ar r est ed i n London, wher e he excel l ed as a musi ci an,
gi vi ng vi ol i n and har psi chor d r eci t al s i n dr awi ng r ooms. Thr ee year s l at er he
of f er ed hi s ser vi ces as an exper t i n dyei ng t o Loui s XV i n Par i s, i n exchange f or a
r esi dence i n t he chat eau of Chambor d. The ki ng sent hi mon di pl omat i c mi ssi ons t o
Hol l and, wher e he got i nt o some sor t of t r oubl e and f l ed t o London agai n. I n 1762 he
Page 87
t ur ned up i n Russi a, t hen agai n i n Bel gi um, wher e he encount er ed Casanova, who t el l s
us how t he count t ur ned a coi n i nt o gol d. I n 1776 he appear ed at t he cour t of
Fr eder i ck t he Gr eat , t o whomhe pr oposed var i ous pr oj ect s havi ng t o do wi t h
chemi st r y. Ei ght year s l at er he di ed i n Schl eswi g, at t he cour t of t he l andgr ave of
Hesse, wher e he was put t i ng t he f i ni shi ng t ouches on a manuf act or y f or pai nt s.
Not hi ng except i onal , t he t ypi cal car eer of an ei ght eent h- cent ur y advent ur er ; not as
many l oves as Casanova and f r auds l ess t heat r i cal t han Cagl i ost r o' s. Apar t f r omt he
odd i nci dent her e and t her e, he enj oyed some cr edi bi l i t y wi t h t hose i n aut hor i t y, t o
whomhe pr omi sed t he wonder s of al chemy, t hough wi t h an i ndust r i al sl ant . The onl y
unusual f eat ur e was t he r umor of hi s i mmor t al i t y, whi ch he undoubt edl y i nst i gat ed
hi msel f . I n dr awi ng r ooms he woul d casual l y ment i on r emot e event s as i f he had been
an eyewi t ness, and he cul t i vat ed hi s l egend gr acef ul l y, en sour di ne.
The book al so quot ed a passage f r omGi ovanni Papi ni ' s Gog, descr i bi ng a ni ght t i me
encount er wi t h t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n on t he deck of an ocean l i ner . The count ,
oppr essed by hi s mi l l enni al past and by t he memor i es cr owdi ng hi s br ai n, spoke i n
despai r i ng t ones r emi ni scent of Funes, " el memo- r i oso" of Bor ges, except t hat
Papi ni ' s st or y dat es f r om1930. " You must not i magi ne our l ot i s deser vi ng of envy, "
t he count says t o Gog. " Af t er a coupl e of cent ur i es an i ncur abl e ennui t akes
possessi on of t he wr et ched i mmor t al s. The wor l d i s monot onous, men l ear n not hi ng,
and, wi t h ever y gener at i on, t hey f al l i nt o t he same er r or s and ni ght mar es, event s
ar e not r epeat ed but t hey r esembl e one anot her . . . novel t i es end, sur pr i ses,
r evel at i ons. I can conf ess t o you now t hat onl y t he Red Sea i s l i st eni ng t o us: my
i mmor t al i t y bor es me. Ear t h hol ds no mor e secr et s f or me and I have no hope anymor e
i n my f el l ows. "
" Cur i ous char act er , " I r emar ked. " Obvi ousl y our f r i end Agl i f e i s pl ayi ng at
i mper sonat i ng hi m. A gent l eman get t i ng on i n year s, a bi t dot t y, wi t h money t o
spend, f r ee t i me f or t r avel , and an i nt er est i n t he super nat ur al . "
" A consi st ent r eact i onar y, wi t h t he cour age t o be decadent , " Ampar o sai d. " Act ual l y,
I pr ef er hi mt o bour geoi s democr at s. "
" Si st er hood i s power f ul , but l et a man ki ss your hand and you' r e ecst at i c. "
" That ' s how you' ve t r ai ned us, f or cent ur i es. Let us f r ee our sel ves gr adual l y. I
di dn' t say I want ed t o mar r y hi m. "
" That ' s good. "
The f ol l owi ng week Agl i e t el ephoned me. That eveni ng, he sai d, we woul d be al l owed
t o vi si t a t er r ei r o de candombl e. We woul dn' t be admi t t ed t o t he act ual r i t e,
because t he i al or i xa was suspi ci ous of t our i st s, but she woul d wel come us her sel f
and woul d show us ar ound bef or e i t st ar t ed.
He pi cked us up by car and dr ove t hr ough t he f avel as beyond t he hi l l . The bui l di ng
wher e we st opped had a humbl e l ook, l i ke a bi g gar age, but on t he t hr eshol d an ol d
bl ack man met us and pur i f i ed us wi t h a f umi gant . Up ahead was a bar e l i t t l e gar den
wi t h an i mmense cor bei l of pal mf r onds, on whi ch some t r i bal del i caci es, t he comi das
de sant o, wer e l ai d out .
I nsi de, we f ound a l ar ge hal l , t he wal l s cover ed wi t h pai nt i ngs, especi al l y
ex- vot os, and Af r i can masks. Agl i e expl ai ned t he ar r angement of f ur ni t ur e: t he
benches i n t he r ear wer e f or t he uni ni t i at ed, t he l i t t l e dai s f or t he i nst r ument s,
and t he chai r s f or t he Oga. " They ar e peopl e of some st andi ng, not necessar i l y
bel i ever s, but r espect f ul of t he cul t . Her e i n Bahi a t he gr eat J or ge Amado i s an Oga
i n one t er r ei r o. He was sel ect ed by l ansa, mi st r ess of war and wi nds. . . "
" But wher e do t hese di vi ni t i es come f r om?" I asked.
" I t ' s compl i cat ed. Fi r st of al l , t her e' s a Sudanese br anch, domi nant her e i n t he
nor t h f r omt he ear l y days of sl aver y. The candombl e of t he or i xas- i n ot her wor ds,
t he Af r i can di vi ni t i es- come f r omt hi s br anch. I n t he sout her n st at es you f i nd t he
i nf l uence of t he Bant u gr oups, and t hi s i s wher e al l t he i nt er mi ngl i ng st ar t s. The
nor t her n cul t s r emai n f ai t hf ul t o t he or i gi nal Af r i can r el i gi ons, but i n t he sout h
t he pr i mi t i ve macumba devel ops t owar d t he umbanda, whi ch i s i nf l uenced by
Cat hol i ci sm, Kar deci sm, and Eur opean occul t i sm. . . "
" So no Templ ar s t oni ght ?"
" That was meant t o be a met aphor , but no, no Templ ar s t oni ght . Syncr et i sm, however ,
i s a ver y subt l e pr ocess. Di d you not i ce, out si de, near t he comi das de sant o, a
l i t t l e i r on st at ue, a sor t of devi l wi t h a pi t chf or k, and wi t h vot i ve of f er i ngs at
hi s f eet ? That ' s Exu, ver y power f ul i n t he umbanda, but not i n t he candombl e. St i l l ,
Page 88
t he candombt e al so honor s hi mas a ki nd of degener at e Mer cur y. I n t he umbanda, t hey
ar e possessed by Exu, but not her e. However , he' s t r eat ed af f ect i onat el y. But you
never can t el l . You see t hat wal l over t her e?" He was poi nt i ng at t he pol ychr ome
st at ues of a naked I ndi o and an ol d bl ack sl ave, seat ed, dr essed i n whi t e, and
smoki ng a pi pe. " They ar e a cabocl o and a pr et o vel ho, spi r i t s of t he depar t ed.
Ver y i mpor t ant i n umbanda r i t es. What ar e t hey doi ng her e? Recei vi ng homage. They
ar e not used, because t he candombl ent er t ai ns r el at i ons onl y wi t h t he Af r i can
or i xas, but t hey ar e not cast out on t hat account . "
" What do al l t hese chur ches have i n common, t hen?"
" Wel l , dur i ng t he r i t e i n al l Af r o- Br azi l i an cul t s t he i ni t i at es go i nt o a t r ance
and ar e possessed by hi gher bei ngs. I n t he candombl e t hese bei ngs ar e t he or i xas; i n
t he umbanda t hey ar e spi r i t s of t he depar t ed. "
" I f or got my own count r y and my own r ace, " Ampar p sai d. " My God, a bi t of Eur ope and
a bi t of hi st or i cal mat er i al i sm, and I f or got ever yt hi ng, t he st or i es I used t o hear
f r ommy gr andmot her . . . "
" Hi st or i cal mat er i al i sm?" Agl i f e smi l ed. " Oh, yes, I bel i eve I ' ve hear d of i t . An
apocal ypt i c cul t t hat came out of t he Tr i er r egi on. AmI r i ght ?"
I squeezed Ampar o' s ar m. " No pasar an, dar l i ng. "
" God, " she mur mur ed.
Agl i e wat ched our br i ef whi sper ed di al og i n si l ence. " I nf i ni t e ar e t he power s of
syncr et i sm, my dear . Shal l I t el l you a pol i t i cal ver si on of t hi s whol e st or y?
Legal l y, t he sl aves wer e f r eed i n t he ni net eent h cent ur y, but al l t he ar chi ves of
t he sl ave t r ade wer e bur ned i n an ef f or t t o wi pe out t he st i gmat a of sl aver y.
For mal l y, sl aves wer e f r ee, but t hei r past was gone. I n t he absence of any f ami l y
i dent i t y, t hey t r i ed t o r econst r uct a col l ect i ve past . I t was t hei r way of opposi ng
what you young peopl e cal l t he Est abl i shment . "
" But you j ust sai d t hose Eur opean sect s wer e al so par t of i t . "
" My dear , pur i t y i s a l uxur y, and sl aves t ake what t hey can get . But t hey have t hei r
r evenge. By now t hey have capt ur ed mor e whi t es t han you t hi nk. The or i gi nal Af r i can
cul t s possessed t he weakness of al l r el i gi ons: t hey wer e l ocal , et hni c,
shor t si ght ed. But when t hey met t he myt hs of t he conquer or s, t hey r epr oduced an
anci ent mi r acl e, br eat hi ng new l i f e i nt o t he myst er y cul t s t hat ar ose ar ound t he
Medi t er r anean dur i ng t he second and t hi r d cent ur i es of our er a, when Rome i n decl i ne
was exposed t o f er ment t hat had or i gi nat ed i n Per si a, Egypt , and pr e- J udai c
Pal est i ne. . . I n t he cent ur i es of t he l at e empi r e, Af r i ca r ecei ved t he i nf l uences of
al l t he r el i gi ons of t he Medi t er r anean and condensed t hemi nt o a package. Eur ope was
cor r upt ed by Chr i st i ani t y as a st at e r el i gi on, but Af r i ca pr eser ved t he t r easur es of
knowl edge, j ust as i t had pr eser ved and spr ead t hemi n t he days of t he Egypt i ans,
passi ng t hemon t o t he Gr eeks, who wr eaked such gr eat havoc wi t h t hem. "
28
Ther e i s a body t hat enf ol ds t he whol e of t he wor l d; i magi ne i t i n t he f or mof a
ci r cl e, f or t hi s i s t he f or mof t he Whol e. . . I magi ne now t hat under t he ci r cl e of
t hi s body ar e t he 36 decans, mi dway bet ween t he t ot al ci r cl e and t he ci r cl e of t he
zodi ac, separ at i ng t hese t wo ci r cl es and, so t o speak, del i mi t i ng t he zodi ac,
t r anspor t ed al ong i t wi t h t he pl anet s. . . The changi ng of ki ngs, t he r i si ng up of
ci t i es, f ami ne, pl ague, t he t i des of t he sea, ear t hquakes: none of t hese t akes pl ace
wi t hout t he i nf l uence of t he decans. . .
- Cor pus Her met i cus, St obaeus, excer pt umVI
" What t r easur es of knowl edge?"
" Do you r eal i ze how gr eat t he second and t hi r d cent ur i es af t er Chr i st wer e? Not
because of t he pomp of t he empi r e i n i t s sunset , but because of what was bur geoni ng
i n t he Medi t er r anean basi n t hen. I n Rome, t he Pr aet or i ans wer e sl aught er i ng t hei r
emper or s, but i n t he Medi t er r anean ar ea, t her e f l our i shed t he epoch of Apul ei us, t he
myst er i es of I si s, and t hat gr eat r et ur n t o spi r i t ual i t y: Neopl at oni sm, gnosi s.
Bl i ssf ul t i mes, bef or e t he Chr i st i ans sei zed power and began t o put her et i cs t o
deat h. A spl endi d epoch, i n whi ch dwel l ed t he nous, a t i me dazzl ed by ecst asi es and
peopl ed wi t h pr esences, emanat i ons, demons, and angel i c host s. The knowl edge I am
t al ki ng about i s di f f use and di sj oi nt ed; i t i s as anci ent as t he wor l d i t sel f ,
r eachi ng back beyond Pyt hagor as, t o t he Br ahmans of I ndi a, t he Hebr ews, t he mages,
t he gymnosophi st s, and even t he bar bar i ans of t he f ar nor t h, t he Dr ui ds of Gaul and
Page 89
t he Br i t i sh I sl es. The Gr eeks cal l ed t he bar bar i ans by t hat name because t o
over educat ed Gr eek ear s, t hei r l anguages sounded l i ke bar ki ng, and t he Gr eeks
t her ef or e assumed t hat t hey wer e unabl e t o expr ess t hemsel ves. I n f act , t he
bar bar i ans knew much mor e t han t he Hel l enes at t he t i me, pr eci sel y because t hei r
l anguage was i mpenet r abl e. Do you bel i eve t he peopl e who wi l l dance t oni ght know t he
meani ng of al l t he chant s and magi c names t hey wi l l ut t er ? For t unat el y, t hey do not ,
and each unknown name wi l l be a ki nd of br eat hi ng exer ci se, a myst i cal vocal i zat i on.
" The age of t he Ant oni nes. . . The wor l d was f ul l of mar - vel ous cor r espondences, subt l e
r esembl ances; t he onl y way t o penet r at e t hem- and t o be penet r at ed by t hemwas
t hr ough dr eams, or acl es, magi c, whi ch al l ow us t o act on nat ur e and her f or ces,
movi ng l i ke wi t h l i ke. Knowl edge i s el usi ve and vol at i l e; i t escapes measur ement .
That ' s why t he conquer i ng god of t hat er a was Her mes, i nvent or of al l t r i cker y, god
of cr ossr oads and t hi eves. He was al so t he cr eat or of wr i t i ng, whi ch i s t he ar t of
evasi on and di ssi mul at i on and a navi gat i on t hat car r i es us t o t he end of al l
boundar i es, wher e ever yt hi ng di ssol ves i nt o t he hor i zon, wher e cr anes l i f t st ones
f r omt he gr ound and weapons t r ansf or ml i f e i nt o deat h, and wat er pumps make heavy
mat t er f l oat , and phi l osophy del udes and decei ves. . . And do you know wher e Her mes i s
t oday? Ri ght her e. You passed hi mwhen you came t hr ough t he door . They cal l hi mExu,
messenger of t he gods, go- bet ween, t r ader , who i s i gnor ant of t he di f f er ence bet ween
good and evi l . "
He l ooked at us wi t h amused di st r ust . " You bel i eve t hat I amas hast y i n
di st r i but i ng gods as Her mes i s i n di st r i but i ng mer chandi se. But l ook at t hi s book,
whi ch I bought t hi s mor ni ng i n a l i t t l e shop i n Pel our i nho. Magi c and myst er y of
Sai nt Cypr i an, r eci pes f or spel l s t o wi n l ove or cause your enemy' s deat h,
i nvocat i ons t o t he angel s and t o t he Vi r gi n. Popul ar l i t er at ur e f or t hese myst i cs
whose ski n i s bl ack. But t hi s i s Sai nt Cypr i an of Ant i och, about whomt her e i s an
i mmense l i t er at ur e dat i ng f r omt he si l ver age. Hi s par ent s want ed hi mt o l ear n al l
t her e was t o know about t he ear t h- l and, sea, and ai r - so t hey sent hi mt o t he most
di st ant r eal ms, t hat he mi ght acqui r e al l myst er i es, i ncl udi ng t he gener at i on and
cor r upt i on of her bs and t he vi r t ues of pl ant s and of ani mal s: t he secr et s not of
nat ur al hi st or y but of occul t sci ence, t hose bur i ed i n t he dept hs of di st ant and
ar chai c t r adi t i ons. At Del phi , Cypr i an dedi cat ed hi msel f t o Apol l o and t o t he
dr amat ur gy of t he ser pent ; he st udi ed t he myst er i es of Mi t hr a; on Mount Ol ympus at
f i f t een, gui ded by f i f t een hi - er ophant s, he at t ended t he r i t es t hat summon t he
Pr i nce of Thi s Wor l d, i n or der t o mast er hi s i nt r i gues; i n Ar gos he was i ni t i at ed
i nt o t he myst er i es of Her a; i n Phr ygi a he l ear ned hepat oscopi c f or t unet el l i ng. At
l ast t her e was not hi ng l ef t of l and, sea, or ai r t hat he di d not know, no ghost , no
obj ect , no ar t i f i ce of any ki nd, not even t he ar t of al t er i ng wr i t i ng t hr ough
sor cer y. I n t he under gr ound t empl es of Memphi s he had l ear ned how demons communi cat e
wi t h ear t hl y t hi ngs and pl aces, what t hey l oat he and l ove, how t hey dwel l i n
dar kness and how t hey mount r esi st ance i n cer t ai n domai ns, how t hey ar e abl e t o
possess soul s and bodi es, t he f eat s of hi gher knowl edge t hey can per f or m, of memor y,
t er r or , and i l l usi on, and t he ar t of causi ng t ur moi l i n t he ear t h, i nf l uenci ng
under gr ound cur r ent s. . . Then, al as, he was conver t ed, but somet hi ng of hi s knowl edge
r emai ned and was passed on, and we f i nd i t her e, i n t he mout hs and mi nds of t hese
r agged peopl e you cal l i dol at er s. My l ovel y f r i end, a l i t t l e whi l e ago you l ooked at
me as i f I wer e a ci - devant . Who among us i s l i vi ng i n t he past ? You, who woul d
best ow t he hor r or s of t he t oi l i ng i ndust r i al age upon t hi s count r y, or I , who wi sh
t hat our poor Eur ope mi ght r ecover t he nat ur al ness and f ai t h of t hese chi l dr en of
sl aves?"
" J esus, " Ampar o sai d i n a nast y hi ss. " You know as wel l as I do t hat i t ' s j ust
anot her way of keepi ng t hemqui et . . . "
" Not qui t e. Capabl e of expect at i on. Wi t hout a sense of expect at i on, t her e can be no
par adi se; i sn' t t hat what you Eur opeans have t aught us?"
" I ' ma Eur opean?"
" The i mpor t ant t hi ng i s not ski n col or but f ai t h i n Tr adi t i on. Gr ant ed, t hese
chi l dr en of sl aves pay a pr i ce i n r et ur ni ng a sense of expect at i on t o a West
par al yzed by wel l - bei ng; per haps t hey even suf f er , but st i l l t hey know t he l anguage
of t he spi r i t s of nat ur e, of t he ai r , t he wat er s, and t he wi nds. . . "
" You peopl e ar e expl oi t i ng us agai n. "
" Agai n?"
" Yes. You shoul d have l ear ned your l esson i n ' 89, Count . We get f ed up, and t hen. . . "
Smi l i ng l i ke an angel , she dr ew her beaut i f ul hand st r ai ght acr oss her t hr oat . For
Page 90
me, even Ampar o' s t eet h ar oused desi r e.
" How dr amat i c! " Agl i e sai d, t aki ng hi s snuf f box f r omhi s pocket and st r oki ng i t wi t h
hi s f i nger s. " So you' ve r ecogni zed me. But i t wasn' t t he sl aves who made heads r ol l
i n ' 89; i t was t he upst andi ng bour geoi si e, whomyou shoul d hat e. Besi des, t he Comt e
de Sai nt - Ger mai n has seen many a head r ol l i n al l hi s cent ur i es, and many a head
r eat t ached. But wai t , her e comes t he mae- de- sant o, t he i al or i xa. "
Our meet i ng wi t h t he abbess of t he t er r ei r o was cal m, cor di al , ci vi l i zed, and r i ch
i n f ol kl or e. She was a bi g bl ack woman wi t h a dazzl i ng smi l e. At f i r st you woul d
have sai d she was a housewi f e, but when we began t al ki ng, I under st ood how women
l i ke t hi s coul d r ul e t he cul t ur al l i f e of Sal vador .
" Ar e t he or i xas peopl e or f or ces?" I asked her . The mae- de- sant o answer ed t hat t hey
wer e f or ces, obvi ousl y: wat er , wi nd, l eaves, r ai nbows. But how di d she pr event
or di nar y peopl e f r omseei ng t hemas war r i or s, women, sai nt s of t he Cat hol i c Chur ch?
" Do you your sel ves not al so wor shi p a cosmi c f or ce i n t he f or mof vi r gi ns?' ' she
r epl i ed. The i mpor t ant t hi ng i s t o vener at e t he f or ce. The aspect of t he f or ce must
f i t each man' s abi l i t y t o compr ehend.
She i nvi t ed us t o vi si t t he chapel s i n t he gar den bef or e t he r i t e began. I n t he
gar den wer e t he houses of t he or i xas. A swar mof bl ack gi r l s i n Bahi an dr ess was
cheer f ul l y gat her ed t her e, maki ng t he f i nal pr epar at i ons.
The houses of t he or i xas wer e ar r anged ar ound t he gar den l i ke t he chapel s of a
sacr ed mount . Out si de each one was di spl ayed t he i mage of t he cor r espondi ng sai nt .
I nsi de, t he gar i sh col or s of f l ower s cl ashed wi t h t hose of t he st at ues and t he
j ust - cooked f oods of f er ed t o t he gods. Whi t e f or Oxal a, bl ue and pi nk f or Yemanj a,
r ed and whi t e f or Xang5, yel l ow and gol d f or Ogun. . . I ni t i at es kneel ed and ki ssed t he
t hr eshol d, t ouchi ng t hemsel ves on t he f or ehead and behi nd t he ear .
" But i s Yemanj a Our Lady of t he Concept i on or not ?" I asked. " I s Xango Sai nt J er ome
or not ?"
" Don' t ask embar r assi ng quest i ons, " Agl i e advi sed. " I t ' s even mor e compl i cat ed i n an
umbanda. Sai nt Ant hony and Sai nt s Cosmas and Dami an ar e par t of t he Oxal a l i ne.
Si r ens, wat er nymphs, cabocl as of t he sea and t he r i ver s, sai l or s, and gui di ng st ar s
ar e par t of t he Yemanj a l i ne. The l i ne of t he Or i ent i ncl udes Hi ndus, doct or s,
sci ent i st s, Ar abs and Mor occans, J apanese, Chi nese, Mongol s, Egypt i ans, Azt ecs,
I ncas, Car i bs, and Romans. To t he Oxossi l i ne bel ong t he sun, t he moon, t he cabocl o
of wat er f al l s, and t he cabocl o of t he bl acks. I n t he Ogun l i ne we come upon Ogun
Bei r a- Mar , Rompe- Mat o, l ar a, Mege, Na- r uee. . . I n ot her wor ds, i t al l depends. "
" J esus, " Ampar o sai d agai n.
" Oxal a, you mean, " I mur mur ed t o her , my l i ps br ushi ng her ear . " Cal mdown. No
pasar an. "
The i al or i xa showed us a ser i es of masks t hat some acol yt es wer e br i ngi ng i nt o t he
t empl e. These wer e bi g st r aw domi noes, or hoods, whi ch t he medi ums woul d put on as
t hey went i nt o a t r ance, f al l i ng pr ey t o t he di vi ni t y. Thi s was a f or mof modest y,
she expl ai ned. I n some t er r ei r os t he chosen danced wi t h t hei r f aces bar e, l et t i ng
onl ooker s see t hei r passi on. But t he i ni t i at es shoul d be shi el ded, r espect ed,
r emoved f r omt he cur i osi t y of t he pr of ane or anyone who cannot under st and t he i nner
j ubi l at i on and gr ace. That was t he cust omi n t hi s t er r ei r o, she sai d, and t hat was
why out si der s wer e not r eadi l y admi t t ed. Maybe someday, she r emar ked, who knows? We
mi ght wel l meet agai n.
But she di dn' t want us t o l eave wi t hout sampl i ng some of t he comi das de sant o- not
f r omt he cor bei l s, whi ch had t o r emai n i nt act unt i l t he end of t he r i t e, but f r om
her own ki t chen. She t ook us t o t he back of t he t er r ei r o, wher e t her e was a
mul t i col or ed banquet of mani oc, pi ment o, coco, amendoi m, gengi br e, moqueca de
si r i - mol e, vat apa, ef 6, car ur u, bl ack beans wi t h f ar of a, ami d a l angui d odor of
Af r i can spi ces, sweet and st r ong t r opi cal f l avor s, whi ch we t ast ed dut i f ul l y,
knowi ng t hat we wer e shar i ng t he f ood of t he anci ent Sudanese gods. And r i ght l y so,
t he i al or i xa t ol d us, because each of us, whet her he knew i t or not , was t he chi l d
of an or i xa, and of t en i t was possi bl e t o t el l whi ch one. I bol dl y asked whose son I
was. The i al or i xa demur r ed at f i r st , sayi ng she coul dn' t be sur e, but t hen she
agr eed t o exami ne t he pal mof my hand. She l ooked i nt o my eyes and sai d: " You ar e a
son of Oxal a. "
I was pr oud. Ampar o, now r el axed, suggest ed we f i nd out whose son Agl i e was, but he
sai d he pr ef er r ed not t o know.
When we wer e home agai n, Ampar o sai d t o me: " Di d you see hi s hand? I nst ead of t he
l i f e l i ne, he has a ser i es of br oken l i nes. Li ke a st r eamt hat comes t o a st one,
Page 91
par t s, and f l ows t oget her agai n a met er f ar t her on. The l i ne of a man who must have
di ed many t i mes. "
" Wor l d champi on of t he met empsychosi s r el ay. "
" No pasar an, " Ampar o sai d, l aughi ng.
29
Si mpl y because t hey change and hi de t hei r names, do not gi ve t hei r r i ght age, and by
t hei r own admi ssi on go about wi t hout al l owi ng t hemsel ves t o be r ecogni zed, t her e i s
no l ogi c t hat can deny t hat t hey necessar i l y must exi st .
- Hei nr i ch Neuhaus, Pi a et ul t i mi ssi ma admonest at i o de Fr at r i - bus Rosae- Cr uci s,
ni mi r um: an si nt ? quot es si nt ? unde nomen Mud si bi asci ver unt , Danzi g, Schmi dl i n,
1618; Fr ench ed. 1623, p. 5
Di ot al l evi used t o say t hat Hesed was t he Sef i r ah of gr ace and l ove, whi t e f i r e,
sout h wi nd. The ot her eveni ng i n t he per i scope, I t hought t hat t hose l ast days wi t h
Ampar o i n Bahi a bel onged under t hat si gn. You r emember so much whi l e you wai t f or
hour s and hour s i n t he dar kness. I r emember ed especi al l y one of t he l ast eveni ngs.
We had wal ked t hr ough so many al l eys and squar es t hat our f eet ached, and we went t o
bed ear l y, but we di dn' t f eel l i ke sl eepi ng. Ampar o, huddl ed agai nst t he pi l l ow i n
t he f et al posi t i on, was pr et endi ng t o r ead one of my l i t t l e pamphl et s on t he
umbanda, pr oppi ng i t on her knees. Fr omt i me t o t i me she woul d r ol l l azi l y ont o her
back, l egs spr ead, t he book bal anced on her bel l y, l i st eni ng t o me r ead f r omt he
book on t he Rosi cr uci ans. I was t r yi ng t o i nvol ve her i n my di scover i es. I t was a
mi l d eveni ng; as Bel bo, exhaust ed wi t h l i t er at ur e, mi ght have put i t i n one of hi s
f i l es, t her e was nought but a l ovel y si ghi ng of t he wi nd. We had spl ur ged on a good
hot el ; t her e was a vi ew of t he sea f r omt he wi ndow, and t he st i l l - l i ght ed cl oset
ki t chen of f er ed t he comf or t i ng si ght of t he basket of t r opi cal f r ui t we had bought
at f our t hat mor ni ng.
" I t says t hat i n 1614 an anonymous wor k appear ed i n Ger many ent i t l ed Al l gemei ne und
gener al Ref or mat i on, or Gener al and common Ref or mof t he ent i r e Uni ver se, f ol l owed
by Fama Fr a- t er ni t at i s of t he Honor abl e Conf r at er ni t y of t he Rosy- Cr oss, addr essed
t o al l l ear ned Men and Sover ei gns of Eur ope, t oget her wi t h a br i ef Repl y by Her r
Hasel meyer , who f or t hi s Reason was cast i nt o Pr i son by t he J esui t s and t hen pl aced
i n I r ons on a Gal l ey. Now pr i nt ed and made known t o al l t he si ncer e of Hear t .
Publ i shed i n Cassel by Wi l hel mWessel . ' '
" A l i t t l e l ong, i sn' t i t ?"
" Appar ent l y al l t i t l es wer e l i ke t hat i n t he sevent eent h cent ur y. Li na Wer t mul l er
wr ot e t hem, t oo. Anyway, t hi s was a sat i r i cal wor k, a f ai r y t al e about a gener al
r ef or mof manki nd, par t l y pl agi ar i zed f r omTr ai ano Boccal i ni ' s Ragguagl i di
Par - naso. But i t cont ai ned a mani f est o of about a dozen pages- t he Fama
Fr at emi t at i s- whi ch was r epubl i shed separ at el y a year l at er , at t he same t i me as
anot her mani f est o, t hi s one i n Lat i n: Conf essi o f r at er ni t at i s Roseae Cr uci s, ad
er udi t os Eur opae. Bot h pr esent t he Conf r at er ni t y of t he Rosy Cr oss and t al k about
i t s f ounder , a myst er i ous C. R. Onl y l at er - and f r omot her sour ces- was i t l ear ned, or
pr esumed, t hat C. R. was one Chr i st i an Ro- sencr eut z. "
" Why di dn' t t hey use t he f ul l name?"
" The whol e t hi ng' s f ul l of i ni t i al s; t hey di dn' t use anybody' s f ul l name. They' r e
al l G. G. M. P. I . ; one i s cal l ed P. O. , an af f ect i onat e ni ckname. Anyway, t he pamphl et
t el l s of t he f or mat i ve year s of C. R. , who f i r st vi si t ed t he Hol y Sepul cher , t hen set
of f f or Damascus, moved on t o Egypt , and f r omt her e went t o Fez, whi ch must have
been one of t he sanct uar i es of Mosl emwi sdomat t he t i me. Ther e, our Chr i st i an, who
al r eady knew Gr eek and Lat i n, l ear ned Or i ent al l anguages, physi cs, mat hemat i cs,
andt he sci ences of nat ur e, accumul at i ng al l t he mi l l enni al wi sdomof t he Ar abs and
Af r i cans, as wel l as cabal a and magi c. He al so t r ansl at ed a myst er i ous Li ber M i nt o
Lat i n, and t hus came t o know al l t he secr et s of t he macr ocosmand mi cr ocosm. For t wo
cent ur i es, ever yt hi ng Or i ent al had been f ashi onabl e, especi al l y i f i t was
i ncompr ehensi bl e. "
" They al ways go f or t hat . Hungr y? Fr ust r at ed? Expl oi t ed? Myst er y cockt ai l comi ng up.
Her e. . . " She passed me a j oi nt . " Thi s i s good st uf f . "
" See? You al so seek t o l ose your sel f . "
" Except t hat I know i t ' s onl y chemi cal . No myst er y at al l . I t wor ks even i f you
don' t know Hebr ew. Come her e. "
Page 92
" Wai t . Next Rosencr eut z went t o Spai n, wher e he pi cked up mor e occul t doct r i nes,
cl ai mi ng t hat he was dr awi ng cl oser t o t he cent er of al l knowl edge. I n t he cour se of
t hese t r avel s- whi ch f or an i nt el l ect ual of t he t i me was a sor t of t ot al - wi sdom
t r i p- he r eal i zed t hat what was needed i n Eur ope was an associ at i on t hat woul d gui de
r ul er s al ong t he pat hs of wi sdomand good. "
" Ver y or i gi nal . Wel l wor t h i t , al l t hat st udyi ng. I want some col d mamai a. "
" I n t he f r i dge. Do me a f avor . You go. I ' mwor ki ng. "
" I f you' r e wor ki ng, t hat makes you t he ant . So be a good ant and get some
pr ovi si ons. "
" Mamai a i s pl easur e, so t he gr asshopper shoul d go. Ot her wi se I ' l l go, and you r ead. "
" No. J esus, I hat e t he whi t e man' s cul t ur e. I ' l l go. "
Ampar o went t o t he l i t t l e ki t chen, and I enj oyed seei ng her agai nst t he l i ght .
Meanwhi l e, C. R. was on hi s way back f r omGer many, but i nst ead of devot i ng hi msel f t o
t he t r ansmut at i on of met al s, of whi ch hi s now i mmense knowl edge made hi mcapabl e, he
deci ded t o dedi cat e hi msel f t o spi r i t ual r ef or mat i on. He t her ef or e f ounded t he
conf r at er ni t y, i nvent i ng a l anguage and magi c wr i t i ng t hat woul d be t he f oundat i on
of t he wi sdomof gener at i ons of br ot her s t o come.
" No, I ' l l spi l l i t on t he book. Put i t i n my mout h. Come on, no t r i cks, si l l y.
That ' s r i ght . . . God, how good mamai a i s, r osencr eut zl i sche Mut t i - j a- j a. . . Anyway, what
t he f i r st Rosi cr uci ans wr ot e i n t he f i r st f ew year s coul d have enl i ght ened t he
wor l d. "
" Why? What di d t hey wr i t e?"
" Ther e' s t he r ub. The mani f est o doesn' t say; i t l eaves you wi t h your mout h wat er i ng.
But i t was i mpor t ant ; so i mpor t ant , i t had t o r emai n secr et . "
" The bast ar ds. "
" No! Hey, cut t hat out ! Wel l , as t he Rosi cr uci ans gai ned mor e and mor e member s, t hey
deci ded t o spr ead t o t he f our cor ner s of t he ear t h, vowi ng t o heal t he si ck wi t hout
char gi ng, t o dr ess accor di ng t o t he cust oms of each count r y ( never wear i ng cl ot hes
t hat woul d i dent i f y t hem) , t o meet once a year , and t o r emai n secr et f or a hundr ed
year s. "
" Tel l me: what ki nd of r ef or mat i on wer e t hey af t er ? I mean, hadn' t t her e j ust been
one? What was Lut her t hen? Shi t ?"
" No, you' r e wr ong. Thi s was bef or e t he Pr ot est ant Ref or mat i on. Ther e' s a not e her e;
i t says t hat a t hor ough r eadi ng of t he Fama and t he Conf essi o evi nces- "
" Evi nces?"
" Evi nces. Shows, makes evi dent . St op t hat , I ' mt r yi ng t o t al k about t he Rosy Cr oss.
I t ' s ser i ous. "
" I t evi nces. "
" Rosencr eut z was bor n i n 1378 and di ed i n 1484, at t he r i pe ol d age of a hundr ed and
si x. And i t ' s not har d t o guess t hat t he secr et conf r at er ni t y made a consi der abl e
cont r i but i on t o t he Ref or mat i on t hat cel ebr at ed i t s cent enar y i n 1615. I n f act ,
Lut her ' s coat of ar ms i ncl udes a r ose and a cr oss. "
" Some i magi nat i on. "
" You expect Lut her t o use a bur ni ng gi r af f e or a l i mp wat ch? We' r e al l chi l dr en of
our own t i me. I ' ve f ound out whose chi l d I am, so shut up and l et me go on. Ar ound
1604 t he br et hr en of t he Rosy Cr oss wer e r ebui l di ng a par t of t hei r pal ace or secr et
cast l e, and t hey came acr oss a pl aque wi t h a bi g nai l dr i ven i nt o i t . When t hey
pul l ed out t he nai l , par t of t he wal l col l apsed, and t hey saw a door wi t h somet hi ng
wr i t t en on i t i n bi g l et t er s: POST CXX ANNOS PATEBO. . . "
I had al r eady l ear ned t hi s f r omBel bo' s l et t er , but st i l l coul dn' t hel p r eact i ng.
" My God. . . "
" What i s i t ?"
" I t ' s l i ke a Templ ar document t hat . . . A st or y I never t ol d you, about a col onel who- "
" What of i t ? The Templ ar s must have copi ed f r omt he Rosi - cr uci ans. "
" But t he Templ ar s came f i r st . "
" Then t he Rosi cr uci ans copi ed f r omt he Templ ar s. "
" What woul d I do wi t hout you, dar l i ng?"
" That Agl i e' s r ui ned you. You' r e l ooki ng ever ywher e f or r evel at i on. "
" Me? I ' mnot l ooki ng f or anyt hi ng. "
" And a good t hi ng, t oo. Wat ch out f or t he opi at e of t he masses. "
" El puebl o uni do j amas ser a venci do. "
" Go ahead, l augh. So what di d t hose i di ot s say?"
" Those i di ot s l ear ned ever yt hi ng t hey knew i n Af r i ca, wer en' t you l i st eni ng?"
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" And whi l e t hey wer e i n Af r i ca, t hey st ar t ed packi ng us up and sendi ng us her e. "
" Thank God. Ot her wi se you mi ght have been bor n i n Pr et or i a. " I ki ssed her . " Beyond
t he door , " I went on, " t hey f ound a sepul cher wi t h seven si des and seven cor ner s,
mi r acul ousl y i l l umi nat ed by an ar t i f i ci al sun. I n t he mi ddl e was a ci r cul ar al t ar
decor at ed wi t h var i ous mot t oes or embl ems, on t he or der of NEQUAQUAM VACUUM. . . . "
" Quack quack what ? Si gned, Donal d Duck?"
" I t ' s Lat i n. I t means ' t he voi d does not exi st . ' "
" That ' s good t o know. Ot her wi se, t hi nk of t he hor r or - "
" Do me a f avor and t ur n on t he f an, ani mul a vagul a bl an- dul a. "
" But i t ' s wi nt er . "
" Onl y f or you peopl e of t he wr ong hemi spher e, dar l i ng. For me i t ' s J ul y. Pl ease, t he
f an. I t ' s not because you' r e a woman; j ust t hat i t ' s on your si de of t he bed.
Thanks. Anyway, under t he al t ar t hey f ound Rosencr eut z' s body, i nt act . I n hi s hand
was a copy of Book I , cr ammed wi t h i nf i ni t e knowl edge. Too bad t he wor l d can' t r ead
i t - t he mani f est o says- ot her wi se, gul p, wow, br r , squi sssh! "
" Ouch. "
" As I was sayi ng, t he mani f est o ends by pr omi si ng t hat a huge t r easur e r emai ns t o be
di scover ed, al ong wi t h st upendous r evel at i ons about t he t i es bet ween t he macr ocosm
and t he mi cr ocosm. And don' t t hi nk t hat t hese wer e a bunch of t acky al chemi st s
of f er i ng t o show us how t o make gol d. No, t hat was smal l pot at oes. They wer e ai mi ng
hi gher , i n ever y sense of t he wor d. The mani f est o announced t hat t he Fama was bei ng
di st r i but ed i n f i ve l anguages, and, soon t o appear on t hi s scr een, t he Conf essi o.
The br ot her s awai t ed r epl i es and r evi ews f r oml ear ned and i gnor ant al i ke. Wr i t e,
t el ephone, send i n your names, and we' l l see i f you' r e wor t hy t o shar e our secr et s,
of whi ch we have gi ven you onl y t he f ai nt est not i on. Sub umbr a al ar umt uar um
l ehova. "
" Whi ch means?"
" I t ' s a f or mul a of concl usi on. Over and out . I t sounds as i f t he Rosi cr uci ans wer e
dyi ng t o t el l what t hey had l ear ned, and wer e anxi ousl y wai t i ng f or t he r i ght
l i st ener . But not one wor d about what i t was t hey knew. "
" Li ke t hat f el l ow whose\ pi ct ur e was i n t he ad we saw on t he pl ane: Send me t en
dol l ar s, and I ' l l t el l you how t o become a mi l l i onai r e. "
" And i t ' s no l i e. He has di scover ed t he secr et . And so have I . "
" Li st en, you bet t er r ead on. You' r e act i ng as i f we j ust met t oni ght . "
" Wi t h you, i t ' s al ways l i ke t he f i r st t i me. "
" Ah, but I don' t get t oo f ami l i ar wi t h t he f i r st one who comes al ong. Anyway, you
have qui t e a col l ect i on now. Fi r st Templ ar s, t hen Rosi cr uci ans. You haven' t r ead
Pl ekhanov by any chance?"
" No. I ' mwai t i ng t o di scover hi s sepul cher a hundr ed and t went y year s f r omnow.
Unl ess St al i n bur i ed hi mwi t h t r act or s. "
" I di ot . I ' mt aki ng a bat h. "
30
And t he f amous conf r at er ni t y of t he Rosy Cr oss decl ar es even now t hat t hr oughout t he
uni ver se del i r i ous pr opheci es ci r cul at e. I n f act , t he moment t he ghost appear ed
( t hough Fama and Conf essi o pr ove t hat t hi s was a mer e i nvent i on of i dl e mi nds) , i t
pr oduced a hope of uni ver sal r ef or m, and gener at ed t hi ngs par t l y r i di cul ous and
absur d, par t l y i ncr edi bl e. Thus upr i ght and honest men of var i ous count r i es exposed
t hemsel ves t o cont empt and der i si on i n or der t o l end open suppor t , or t o r eveal
t hemsel ves t o t hese br ot her s. . . t hr ough t he Mi r r or of Sol omon or i n some ot her occul t
way.
- Chr i st oph von Besol d ( ?) , Appendi x t o Tommaso Campanel l a, Van der Spani schen
Monar chy, 1623
The best came l at er , and when Ampar o r et ur ned, I was abl e t o gi ve her a f or et ast e of
wondr ous event s. " I t ' s an i ncr edi bl e st or y. The mani f est oes appear ed i n an age
t eemi ng wi t h t ext s of t hat sor t . Ever yone was seeki ng r enewal , a gol den cent ur y, a
Cockai gne of t he spi r i t . Some por ed over magi c t ext s, ot her s l abor ed at f or ges,
mel t i ng met al s, ot her s sought t o r ul e t he st ar s, and st i l l ot her s i nvent ed secr et
al phabet s and uni ver sal l anguages. I n Pr ague, Rudol ph I I t ur ned hi s cour t i nt o an
al chemi st i c l abor at or y, i nvi t ed Comeni us and J ohn Dee, t he Engl i sh cour t ast r ol oger
who had r eveal ed al l t he secr et s of t he cosmos i n t he f ew pages of hi s Monas
Page 94
l er ogl i phi ca. Ar e you wi t h me?"
" To t he end of t i me. "
" Rudol ph' s physi ci an was a man named Mi chael Mai er , who l at er wr ot e a book of vi sual
and musi cal embl ems, t he At al ant a Fugi ens, an or gy of phi l osopher ' s eggs, dr agons
bi t i ng t hei r t ai l s, sphi nxes. Not hi ng was mor e l umi nous t han a secr et ci pher ;
ever yt hi ng was t he hi er ogl yph of somet hi ng el se. Thi nk about i t . Gal i l eo was
dr oppi ng st ones f r omt he Tower of Pi sa, Ri chel i eu pl ayed Monopol y wi t h hal f of
Eur ope, and i n t he meant i me t hey al l had t hei r eyes peel ed t o r ead t he si gns of t he
wor l d. Pul l of gr avi t y, i ndeed; somet hi ng el se l i es beneat h ( or , r at her , above) al l
t hi s, somet hi ng qui t e di f f er ent . Woul d you l i ke t o know what ? Abr acadabr a.
Tor r i cel l i i nvent ed t he bar omet er , but t he r est of t hemwer e messi ng ar ound wi t h
bal l et s, wat er games, and f i r ewor ks i n t he Hor t us Pal at i nus i n Hei del ber g. And t he
Thi r t y Year s' War was about t o br eak out . "
" Mut t er Cour age must have been del i ght ed. "
" But even f or t hemi t wasn' t al l f un and games. I n 1619 t he Pal ant i ne el ect or
accept ed t he cr own of Bohemi a, pr obabl y because he was dyi ng t o r ul e Pr ague, t he
magi c ci t y. But t he next year , t he Hapsbur gs nai l ed hi mt o t he Whi t e Mount ai n. I n
Pr ague t he Pr ot est ant s wer e sl aught er ed, Comeni us' s house and l i br ar y wer e bur ned,
and hi s wi f e and son wer e ki l l ed. He f l ed f r omcour t t o cour t , har pi ng on how gr eat
and f ul l of hope t he i dea of t he Rosy Cr oss was. "
" Poor man, but what di d you expect hi mt o do? Consol e hi msel f wi t h t he bar omet er ?
Wai t a mi nut e. Gi ve a poor gi r l t i me t o t hi nk. Who wr ot e t hese mani f est oes?"
" That ' s t he whol e poi nt : we don' t know. Let ' s t r y t o f i gur e i t out . . . How about
scr at chi ng my r osy cr oss. . . no, bet ween t he shoul der bl ades, hi gher , t o t he l ef t ,
t her e. Yes, t her e. Now t hen, t her e wer e some i ncr edi bl e char act er s i n t hi s Ger man
envi r onment . Li ke Si mon St udi on, aut hor of Naomet r i a, an occul t t r eat i se on t he
measur ement s of t he Templ e of Sol omon; Hei n- r i ch Khunr at h, who wr ot e Amphi t heat r um
sapi ent i ae aet er nae, f ul l of al l egor i es, wi t h Hebr ew al phabet s and cabal i st i c
l abyr i nt hs t hat must have i nspi r ed t he aut hor s of Fama, who wer e pr obabl y f r i ends of
one of t he count l ess l i t t l e Ut opi an convent i cl es of Chr i st i an r ebi r t h. One popul ar
r umor i s t hat t he aut hor was a man named J ohann Val ent i n Andr eae. A year l at er , he
publ i shed The Chemi cal Weddi ng of Chr i st i an Rosencr eut z, but he had wr i t t en t hat i n
hi s yout h, so he must have been ki cki ng t he i dea of t he Rosy Cr oss ar ound f or qui t e
some t i me. Ther e wer e ot her ent husi ast s, i n Tubi ngen, who dr eamed of t he r epubl i c of
Chr i st i anopol i s. Per haps t hey al l got t oget her . But i t sounds as i f i t was al l i n
f un, a j oke. They had no i dea of t he pandemoni umt hey wer e unl eashi ng. Andr eae spent
t he r est of hi s l i f e swear i ng he hadn' t wr i t t en di e mani f est oes, whi ch he cl ai med
wer e a l usus, a l udi br i um, a pr ank. I t cost hi mhi s academi c r eput at i on. He gr ew
angr y, sai d t hat t he Rosi cr uci ans, i f i ndeed t hey exi st ed, wer e al l i mpost or s. But
t hat di dn' t hel p. Once t he mani f est oes appear ed, i t was as i f peopl e had been
wai t i ng f or t hem. Lear ned men f r omal l over Eur ope act ual l y wr ot e t o t he
Rosi cr uci ans, and si nce t her e was no addr ess, t hey sent open l et t er s, pamphl et s,
pr i nt ed vol umes. I n t hat same year Mai er publ i shed Ar cana ar cani ssi ma, i n whi ch t he
br et hr en of t he Rosy Cr oss wer e not ment i oned expl i ci t l y, but ever yone was sur e he
was t al ki ng about t hemand t hat t her e was mor e t o hi s book t han met t he eye. Some
peopl e boast ed t hat t hey had r ead Fama i n manuscr i pt . I t wasn' t so easy t o pr epar e a
book f or publ i cat i on i n t hose days, especi al l y i f i t had engr avi ngs, but i n 1616,
Rober t Fl udd- who wr ot e i n Engl and but pr i nt ed i n Leyden, so you have t o f i gur e i n
t he t i me t o shi p t he pr oof s- ci r cul at ed Apol ogi a compendi ar i a Fr at emi t at emde Rosea
Cr uce suspi ci oni s et i n- f ami i s macul i s asper sam, ver i t at emquasi Fl uct i bus abl uens
et abst er gens, t o def end t he br et hr en and f r ee t hemf r omsuspi ci on, f r omt he
' sl ander ' t hat had been t hei r r ewar d. I n ot her wor ds, a debat e was r agi ng i n
Bohemi a, Ger many, Engl and, and Hol l and, al i ve wi t h cour i er s on hor seback and
i t i ner ant schol ar s. "
" And t he Rosi cr uci ans t hemsel ves?"
" Deat hl y si l ence. Post CXX annos pat ebo, my ass. They wat ched, f r omt he vacuumof
t hei r pal ace. I bel i eve i t was t hei r si l ence t hat agi t at ed ever yone so much. The
f act t hat t hey di dn' t answer was t aken as pr oof of t hei r exi st ence. I n 1617 Fl udd
wr ot e Tr act at us apol oget i cus i nt egr i t at emsoci et at i s de Rosea Cr uce de- f endens, and
somebody i n a De Nat ur ae Secr et i s, 1618, sai d t hat t he t i me had come t o r eveal t he
secr et of t he Rosi cr uci ans. "
" And di d t hey?"
" Anyt hi ng but . They onl y compl i cat ed t hi ngs, expl ai ni ng t hat i f you subt r act ed f r om
Page 95
1618 t he one hundr ed and ei ght y- ei ght year s pr omi sed by t he Rosi cr uci ans, you got
1430, t he year when t he Or der of t he Gol den Fl eece, l a Toi son d' Or , was
est abl i shed. "
" What ' s t hat got t o do wi t h anyt hi ng?"
" I don' t under st and t he one hundr ed and ei ght y- ei ght year s. I t seems t o me i t shoul d
have been one hundr ed and t went y, but myst i cal subt r act i ons and addi t i ons al ways
come out t he way you want . As f or l a Toi son d' Or , i t ' s a r ef er ence t o t he Ar gonaut s,
who, an uni mpeachabl e sour ce once t ol d me, had some connect i on wi t h t he Hol y Gr ai l
and t her ef or e wi t h t he Templ ar s. But t hat ' s not al l . Fl udd, who seems t o have been
as pr ol i f i c as Bar bar a Car t l and, br ought out f our mor e books bet ween 1617 and 1619,
i ncl udi ng Ut r i usque cosmi hi st or i a, br i ef r emar ks on t he uni ver se, i l l ust r at ed wi t h
r oses and cr osses t hr oughout . Mai er t hen must er ed al l hi s cour age and put out hi s
Si l ent i umpost cl amor es, i n whi ch he cl ai med t hat t he conf r at er ni t y di d i ndeed exi st
and was connect ed not onl y t o l a Toi son d' Or but al so t o t he Or der of t he Gar t er .
Except t hat he was t oo l owl y a per son t o be r ecei ved i nt o i t . I magi ne t he r eact i on
of t he schol ar s of Eur ope! I f t he Rosi cr uci ans di dn' t accept even Mai er , t he or der
must have been r eal l y excl usi ve. So now al l t he pseuds bent over backwar d t o get i n.
I n ot her wor ds, ever yone sai d t he Rosi cr uci ans exi st ed, t hough no one admi t t ed t o
havi ng act ual l y seen t hem. Ever yone wr ot e as i f t r yi ng t o set up a meet i ng or
wheedl e an audi ence, but no one had t he cour age t o say I ' mone, and some, maybe onl y
because t hey had never been appr oached, sai d t he or der di dn' t exi st ; ot her s sai d t he
or der exi st ed pr eci sel y because t hey had been appr oached. "
" And not a peep out of t he Rosi cr uci ans. "
" Qui et as mi ce. "
" Open your mout h. You need some mamai a. "
" Yum. Meanwhi l e, t he Thi r t y Year s' War began, and J ohann Val ent i n Andr eae wr ot e
Tur ns Babel , pr omi si ng t hat t he Ant i chr i st woul d be def eat ed wi t hi n t he year , whi l e
one I r eneus Agnost us wr ot e Ti nt i nnabul umsophor um- "
" Ti nt i nnabul um! I l ove i t . "
" - not a wor d of whi ch i s compr ehensi bl e. But t hen Campa- nel l a, or someone act i ng on
hi s behal f , decl ar ed i n Spani schen Monar chy t hat t he whol e Rosy Cr oss busi ness was a
game of cor r upt mi nds. . . And t hat ' s i t . Bet ween 1621 and 1623 t hey al l shut up. "
" J ust l i ke t hat ?"
" J ust l i ke t hat . They got t i r ed of i t . Li ke t he Beat l es. But onl y i n Ger many.
Ot her wi se, i t ' s t he st or y of a t oxi c cl oud. I t shi f t ed t o Fr ance. One f i ne mor ni ng
i n 1623, Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes appear ed on t he wal l s of Par i s, i nf or mi ng t he good
ci t i zens t hat t he deput i es of t he conf r at er ni t y' s chi ef col l ege had moved t o t hei r
ci t y and wer e r eady t o accept appl i cat i ons. But accor di ng t o anot her ver si on, t he
mani f est oes came r i ght out and sai d t her e wer e t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es scat t er ed
t hr ough t he wor l d i n gr oups of si x, and t hat t hey had t he power t o make t hei r adept s
i nvi si bl e. Hey! The t hi r t y- si x agai n! "
" What t hi r t y- si x?"
" The ones i n my Templ ar document . "
" No i magi nat i on at al l , t hese peopl e. What next ?"
" Col l ect i ve madness br oke out . Some def ended t he Rosi cr uci ans, ot her s want ed t o meet
t hem, st i l l ot her s accused t hemof devi l wor shi p, al chemy, and her esy, cl ai mi ng t hat
Asht or et h had i nt er vened t o make t hemr i ch, power f ul , capabl e of f l yi ng f r ompl ace
t o pl ace. The t al k of t he t own, i n ot her wor ds. "
" Smar t , t hose br et hr en. Not hi ng l i ke a Par i s l aunchi ng t o make you f ashi onabl e. "
" You' r e r i ght . Li st en t o what happened next . Descar t es- t hat ' s r i ght , Descar t es
hi msel f - had, sever al year s bef or e, gone l ooki ng f or t hemi n Ger many, but he never
f ound t hem, because, as hi s bi ogr apher says, t hey del i ber at el y di sgui sed t hemsel ves.
By t he t i me he got back t o Par i s, t he mani f est oes had appear ed, and he l ear ned mat
ever ybody consi der ed hi ma Rosi cr uci an. Not a good t hi ng t o be, gi ven t he at mospher e
at t he t i me. I t al so i r r i t at ed hi s f r i end Mer senne, who was al r eady f ul mi nat i ng
agai nst t he Rosi cr uci ans, cal l i ng t hemwr et ches, subver si ves, mages, and cabal i st s
bent on sowi ng per ver t ed doct r i nes. So what does Descar t es do? Si mpl y appear s i n
publ i c as of t en as possi bl e. Si nce ever ybody can undeni abl y see hi m, he must not be
a Rosi cr u- ci an, because i f he wer e, he' d be i nvi si bl e. "
" That ' s met hod f or you! "
" Of cour se, denyi ng i t woul dn' t have wor ked. The way t hi ngs wer e, i f somebody came
up t o you and sai d, ' Hi t her e, I ' ma Rosi cr uci an, ' t hat meant he wasn' t . No
sel f - r espect i ng Rosi cr u- ci an woul d acknowl edge i t . On t he cont r ar y, he woul d deny i t
Page 96
t o hi s l ast br eat h. "
" But you can' t say t hat anyone who deni es bei ng a Rosi cr uci an i s a Rosi cr uci an,
because I say I ' mnot , and t hat doesn' t make me one. "
" But t he deni al i s i t sel f suspi ci ous. "
" No, i t ' s not . What woul d a Rosi cr uci an do once he r eal i zed peopl e wer en' t bel i evi ng
t hose who sai d t hey wer e, and t hat peopl e suspect ed onl y t hose who sai d t hey
wer en' t ? He' d say he was, t o make t hemt hi nk he wasn' t . "
" Damnat i on. So t hose who say t hey' r e Rosi cr uci ans ar e l yi ng, whi ch means t hey r eal l y
ar e! No, no, Ampar o, we musn' t f al l i nt o t hei r t r ap. Thei r spi es ar e ever ywher e,
even under t hi s bed, so now t hey know t hat we know, and t her ef or e t hey say t hey
ar en' t . "
" Dar l i ng, you' r e scar i ng me. "
" Don' t wor r y, I ' mher e, and I ' mst upi d, so when t hey say t hey ar en' t , I ' l l bel i eve
t hey ar e and unmask t hemat once. The Rosi cr uci an unmasked i s har ml ess; you can shoo
hi mout t he wi ndow wi t h a r ol l ed- up newspaper . "
" What about Agl i e? He want s us t o t hi nk he' s t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n. Obvi ousl y
so we' l l t hi nk he i sn' t . Ther ef or e, he' s a Rosi cr uci an. Or i sn' t he?"
" Li st en, Ampar o, l et ' s get some sl eep. "
" Oh, no, now I want t o hear t he r est . "
" The r est i s a compl et e mess. Ever ybody' s a Rosi cr uci an. I n 1627 Fr anci s Bacon' s New
At l ant i s was publ i shed, and r eader s t hought he was t al ki ng about t he l and of t he
Rosi cr uci ans, even t hough he never ment i oned t hem. Poor J ohann Val ent i n Andr eae
di ed, st i l l swear i ng up and down t hat he wasn' t a Rosi cr uci an, or i f he sai d he was,
he had onl y been ki ddi ng, but by now i t was t oo l at e. The Rosi cr uci ans wer e
ever ywher e, ai ded by t he f eet t hat t hey di dn' t exi st . ' '
" Li ke God. "
" Now t hat you ment i on i t , l et ' s see. Mat t hew, Mar k, Luke, and J ohn ar e a bunch of
pr act i cal j oker s who meet somewher e and deci de t o have a cont est . They i nvent a
char act er , agr ee on a f ew basi c f act s, and t hen each one' s f r ee t o t ake i t and r un
wi t h i t . At t he end, t hey' l l see who' s done t he best j ob. The f our st or i es ar e
pi cked up by some f r i ends who act as cr i t i cs: Mat t hew i s f ai r l y r eal i st i c, but
i nsi st s on t hat Messi ah busi ness t oo much; Mar k i sn' t bad, j ust a l i t t l e sl oppy;
Luke i s el egant , no denyi ng t hat ; and J ohn t akes t he phi l osophy a l i t t l e t oo f ar .
Act ual l y, t hough, t he books have an appeal , t hey ci r cul at e, and when t he f our
r eal i ze what ' s happeni ng, i t ' s t oo l at e. Paul has al r eady met J esus on t he r oad t o
Damascus, Pl i ny begi ns hi s i nvest i gat i on or der ed by t he wor r i ed emper or , and a
l egi on of apocr yphal wr i t er s pr et ends al so t o know pl ent y. . . Toi , apocr yphe l ect eur ,
mon sembl abl e, mon f r er e. I t al l goes t o Pet er ' s head; he t akes hi msel f ser i ousl y.
J ohn t hr eat ens t o t el l t he t r ut h, Pet er and Paul have hi mchai ned up on t he i sl and
of Pat mos. Soon t he poor man i s seei ng t hi ngs: Hel p, t her e ar e l ocust s al l over my
bed, make t hose t r umpet s st op, wher e' s al l t hi s bl ood comi ng f r om? The ot her s say
he' s dr unk, or maybe i t ' s ar t er i oscl er osi s. . . Who knows, maybe i t r eal l y happened
t hat way. "
" I t di d happen t hat way. You shoul d r ead some Feuer bach, i nst ead of t hose j unk books
of your s. "
" Ampar o, t he sun' s comi ng up. "
" We must be cr azy. "
" Rosy- f i nger ed dawn gent l y car esses t he waves. . . "
" Yes, go on. I t ' s Yemanj a. Li st en! She' s comi ng. "
" Show me your l udi br i a. . . "
" Oh, t he Ti nt i nnabul um! "
" You ar e my At al ant a Fugi ens. . . "
" Oh, my Tur r i s Babel . . . "
" I want t he Ar cana Ar cani ssi ma, t he Gol den Fl eece, pal e et r ose comme un coqui l l age
mar i n. . . "
" Sssh. . . Si l ent i umpost cl amor es, " she sai d.
31
I t i s pr obabl e t hat t he maj or i t y of t he supposed Rosy Cr osses, gener al l y so
desi gnat ed, wer e i n r eal i t y onl y Rosi cr uci ans. . . I ndeed, i t i s cer t ai n t hat t hey wer e
i n no way member s, f or t he si mpl e f act t hat t hey wer e member s of such associ at i ons.
Thi s may seempar adoxi cal at f i r st , and cont r adi ct or y, but i s never t hel ess easi l y
Page 97
compr ehensi bl e. . .
- Ren6 Guenon, Aper f u sur I ' i ni t i at i on, Par i s, Edi t i ons Tr adi t i onel l es, 1981,
XXXVI I I , p. 241
We r et ur ned t o Ri o, and I went back t o wor k. One day I r ead i n an i l l ust r at ed
magazi ne t hat t her e was an Or der of t he Anci ent and Accept ed Rosy Cr oss i n t he ci t y.
I suggest ed t o Ampar o t hat we go and t ake a l ook, and r el uct ant l y she came al ong.
The of f i ce was i n a si de st r eet ; i t s pl at e- gl ass wi ndow cont ai ned pl ast er st at uet t es
of Cheops, Nef er t i t i , t he Sphi nx.
Ther e was a pl enar y sessi on schedul ed f or t hat ver y af t er noon: " The Rosy Cr oss and
t he Umbanda. " The speaker was one Pr of essor Br amant i , Ref er endar y of t he Or der i n
Eur ope, Secr et Kni ght of t he Gr and Pr i or y i n Par t i bus of Rhodes, Mal t a, and
Thessal oni ca.
We deci ded t o go i n. The r oom, f ai r l y shabby, was decor at ed wi t h Tant r i c mi ni at ur es
depi ct i ng di e ser pent Kundal i ni , t he one t he Templ ar s want ed t o r eawaken wi t h t he
ki ss on t he behi nd. Al l t hi ngs consi der ed, I t hought , i t had har dl y been wor t h
cr ossi ng t he At l ant i c t o di scover a new wor l d: I coul d have f ound t he same t hi ngs at
t he Pi cat r i x of f i ce.
Pr of essor Br amant i sat behi nd a t abl e cover ed wi t h a r ed cl ot h, f aci ng a r at her
spar se and sl eepy audi ence. He was a cor pul ent gent l eman who mi ght have been
descr i bed as a t api r i f i t hadn' t been f or hi s bul k. He was al r eady t al ki ng when we
came i n. Hi s st yl e was pompous and or at or i cal . He coul dn' t have st ar t ed l ong bef or e,
however , because he was st i l l di scussi ng t he Rosi cr u- ci ans dur i ng t he ei ght eent h
dynast y, under t he r ei gn of Ah- mose I .
Four Vei l ed Mast er s, he sai d, kept wat ch over t he r ace t hat t went y- f i ve t housand
year s bef or e t he f oundat i on of Thebes had or i gi nat ed t he ci vi l i zat i on of t he Sahar a.
The phar aoh Ahmose, i nf l uenced by t hem, est abl i shed t he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y,
guar di an of t he ant edi l uvi an wi sdomt he Egypt i ans st i l l r et ai ned. Br amant i cl ai med
t o have document s ( nat ur al l y, i naccessi bl e t o t he pr of ane) t hat dat ed back t o t he
sages of t he Templ e of Kar nak and t hei r secr et ar chi ves. The symbol of t he r ose and
t he cr oss had been concei ved by t he phar aoh Akhenat on. Someone has t he papyr us,
Br amant i sai d, but don' t ask me who.
The Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y was ul t i mat el y r esponsi bl e f or t he educat i on of : Her mes
Tr i smegi st us ( who i nf l uenced di e I t al i an Renai ssance j ust as much as he l at er
i nf l uenced Pr i ncet on gnosi s) , Homer , t he Dr ui ds of Gaul , Sol omon, Sol on,
Pyt hagor as, Pl ot i nus, t he Essenes, t he Ther apeut ae, J oseph of Ar i mat hea ( who t ook
t he Gr ai l t o Eur ope) , Al cui n, Ki ng Dagober t , Sai nt Thomas, Bacon, Shakespear e,
Spi noza, J akob Bohme, Debussy, Ei nst ei n. ( Ampar o whi sper ed t hat he seemed t o be
mi ssi ng onl y Ner o, Cambr onne, Ger oni mo, Pancho Vi l l a, and Bust er Kea- t on. )
As f or t he i nf l uence of t he or i gi nal Rosy^ Cr oss on Chr i st i ani t y, Br amant i poi nt ed
out , f or t hose who hadn' t got t hei r bear i ngs, t hat i t was no acci dent t hat J esus had
di ed on a cr oss.
The sages of t he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y wer e al so t he f ounder s of t he f i r st Masoni c
l odge, back i n t he days of Ki ng Sol omon. I t was cl ear , f r omhi s wor ks, t hat Dant e
had been a Rosi cr uci an and a Mason- as had Sai nt Thomas, i nci dent al l y. I n cant os XXI V
and XXV of t he " Par adi so" one f i nds t he t r i pl e ki ss of Pr i nce Rosi cr ux, t he pel i can,
whi t e t uni cs ( me same as t hose wor n by t he ol d men of t he Apocal ypse) , and t he t hr ee
t heol ogi cal vi r t ues of Masoni c chapt er s ( Fai t h, Hope, and Char i t y) . I n f act , t he
symbol i c f l ower of t he Rosi cr uci ans ( t he whi t e r ose of cant os XXX and XXXI ) was
adopt ed by t he Chur ch of Rome as symbol of t he mot her of t he Savi or . Hence t he Rosa
Myst i ca of t he l i t ani es.
I t was equal l y cl ear t hat t he Rosi cr uci ans had l i ved on t hr ough t he Mi ddl e Ages, a
f act shown not onl y by t hei r i nf i l t r at i on of t he Templ ar s, but al so by f ar mor e
expl i ci t document s. Br amant i ci t ed one Ki esewet t er , who demonst r at ed i n t he l at e
ni net eent h cent ur y t hat t he Rosi cr uci ans had manuf act ur ed f our qui nt al s of gol d f or
t he Pr i nce- El ect or of Saxony i n medi eval t i mes, cl ear pr oof bei ng avai l abl e on a
cer t ai n page of t he Theat r umChem- i cum, publ i shed i n St r asbour g i n 1613. But f ew
have r emar ked t he Templ ar r ef er ences i n t he l egend of Wi l l i amTel l . Tel l cut s hi s
ar r ow f r oma br anch of mi st l et oe, a pl ant of Ar yan myt hol ogy, and he hi t s an appl e,
symbol of t he t hi r d eye act i vat ed by t he ser pent Kundal i ni . And we know, of cour se,
t hat t he Ar yans came f r omI ndi a, wher e t he Rosi cr uci ans t ook r ef uge af t er l eavi ng
Ger many.
Of t he var i ous gr oupi ngs t hat cl ai med descent f r omt he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y- of t en
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chi l di shl y- Br amant i r ecogni zed j ust one as l egi t i mat e: t he Rosi cr uci an Fel l owshi p of
Max Hei ndel , and t hat onl y because Al ai n Kar dek had been educat ed i n i t s ci r cl es.
Kar dek was t he f at her of spi r i t ual i sm, and i t was hi s t heosophy, whi ch cont empl at ed
cont act wi t h t he soul s of t he depar t ed, t hat spi r i t ual l y f or med umbanda
spi r i t ual i t y, t he gl or y of our most nobl e Br azi l . I n t hi s t heosophy, AumBanda, i t
seems, i s a Sanskr i t expr essi on denot i ng t he di vi ne pr i nci pl e and sour ce of l i f e.
( " They t r i cked us agai n, " Ampar o mur mur ed. " Not even t he wor d ' umbanda' i s our s; t he
onl y Af r i can t hi ng about i t i s t he sound. " )
The r oot i s Aumor Um, whi ch i s t he Buddhi st Omand al so t he name of God i n t he
l anguage of Adam. I f t he syl l abl e ur n i s pr oper l y pr onounced, i t becomes a power f ul
mant r a and pr oduces f l ui d cur r ent s of har mony i n t he psyche t hr ough t he si akr a, or
f r ont al pl exus. ( " What ' s t he f r ont al pl exus?" Ampar o asked. " An i ncur abl e di sease?" )
Br amant i expl ai ned t hat t her e was a bi g di f f er ence bet ween t r ue br et hr en of t he Rosy
Cr oss- hei r s of t he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y, obvi ousl y secr et , such as t he Anci ent and
Accept ed Or der , whose unwor t hy r epr esent at i ve he was, and t he " Rosi cr uci ans, " who
cl ai med at t achment t o t he Rosy Cr oss myst i que f or oppor t uni st i c r easons, l acki ng any
j ust i f i cat i on. He ur ged hi s audi ence t o gi ve no cr edence t o any Rosi cr uci an who
cal l ed hi msel f a br ot her of t he Rosy Cr oss. ( Ampar o r emar ked t hat one man' s Rosy
Cr oss was anot her man' s Rosi cr uci an. )
One i l l - advi sed member of t he audi ence st ood up and asked how Pr of essor Br amant i ' s
or der coul d cl ai mt o be aut hent i c, si nce i t vi ol at ed t he l aw of si l ence obser ved by
al l t r ue adept s of t he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y.
Br amant i r ose t o r epl y. " I was unawar e t hat we had been i nf i l t r at ed by t he pai d
pr ovocat eur s of at hei st i c mat er i al i sm. Under t hese ci r cumst ances I have no mor e t o
say. " And at t hat he wal ked out wi t h a cer t ai n maj est y.
That eveni ng, Agl i e t el ephoned t o see how we wer e and t o t el l us t hat we had f i nal l y
been i nvi t ed t o a r i t e, t he next day. I n t he meant i me, he suggest ed we have a dr i nk.
Ampar o had a pol i t i cal meet i ng wi t h her f r i ends; I went t o j oi n Agl i e by mysel f .
32
Val ent i ni ani . . . ni hi l magi s cur ant quamoccul t ar e quod pr aedi cant : si t amen
pr aedi cant , qui occul t ant . . . Si bona f i des quaer es, concr et e vul t u, suspense
super ci l i o- al t umest - ai unt . Si subt i l i t er t ent es, per ambi gui t at es bi l i ngues
communemf i der n af f i r mant . Si sci r e t e subos- t endas, negant qui dqui d
agnoscunt . . . Habent ar t i f i ci umquo pr i us per suadeant , quamedoceant .
- Ter t ul l i an, Adver sus Val ent i ni anos
Agl i e i nvi t ed me t o a pl ace wher e some agel ess men st i l l made a bat i da i n t he
t r adi t i onal way. I n j ust a f ew st eps we l ef t t he ci vi l i zat i on of Car men Mi r anda, and
I f ound mysel f i n a dar k r oomwher e some nat i ves wer e smoki ng ci gar s t hi ck as
sausages. The t obacco, as br oad, t r anspar ent l eaves, was r ol l ed i nt o what l ooked
l i ke ol d hawser , wor ked wi t h t he f i nger t i ps, and wr apped i n oi l y st r aw paper . I t
kept goi ng out , but you coul d under st and what i t must have been l i ke when Si r Wal t er
Ral ei gh di scover ed i t .
I t ol d hi mabout my af t er noon advent ur e.
" So now i t ' s t he Rosi cr uci ans as wel l ? Your t hi r st f or knowl edge i s i nsat i abl e, my
f r i end. But pay no at t ent i on t o t hose l unat i cs. They const ant l y t al k about
i r r ef ut abl e document s t hat no one ever pr oduces. I know t hat Br amant i . He l i ves i n
Mi l an, but he t r avel s al l over t he wor l d spr eadi ng hi s gospel . , A har ml ess man,
t hough he st i l l bel i eves i n Ki esewet t er . Hor des of Rosi cr uci ans i nsi st on t hat page
of t he Theat r umChemi cum. But i f you act ual l y t ake a l ook at i t - and I mi ght modest l y
add t hat I have a copy i n my l i t t l e Mi l anese l i br ar y- t her e i s no such quot at i on. "
" Her r Ki esewet t er ' s a cl own, t hen. "
" But much quot ed. The t r oubl e i s t hat even t he ni net eent h- cent ur y occul t i st s f el l
vi ct i mt o t he spi r i t of posi t i vi sm: a t hi ng i s t r ue onl y i f i t can be pr oved. Take
t he debat e on t he Cor pus Her met i cum. When t hat document came t o l i ght i n Eur ope i n
t he f i f t eent h cent ur y, Pi co del l a Mi r andol a, Fi ci no, and many ot her peopl e of gr eat
wi sdomi mmedi at el y r eal i zed t hat i t had t o be a wor k of most anci ent wi sdom,
ant edat i ng t he Egypt i ans, ant edat i ng even Moses hi msel f . I t cont ai ned i deas t hat
woul d l at er be expr essed by Pl at o and by J esus. "
" What do you mean, l at er ? That ' s t he same ar gument Br amant i used t o pr ove Dant e was
a Mason. I f t he Cor pus r epeat s i deas of Pl at o and J esus, i t must have been wr i t t en
Page 99
af t er t hem! "
" You see? You' r e doi ng i t , t oo. That was exact l y t he r easoni ng of modem
phi l ol ogi st s, who al so added wor dy l i ngui st i c anal yses i nt ended t o show t hat t he
Cor pus was wr i t t en i n t he second or t hi r d cent ur y of our er a. I t ' s l i ke sayi ng t hat
Cassandr a must have been bor n af t er Homer because she pr edi ct ed t he dest r uct i on of
Tr oy. The bel i ef t hat t i me i s a l i near , di r ect ed sequence r unni ng f r omA t o B i s a
modemi l l usi on. I n f act , i t can al so go f r omB t o A, t he ef f ect pr oduci ng t he
cause. . . What does ' comi ng bef or e' mean, or ' comi ng af t er ' ? Does your beaut i f ul
Ampar o come bef or e or af t er her mot l ey ancest or s? She i s t oo spl endi d- i f you wi l l
al l ow a di spassi onat e opi ni on f r oma man ol d enough t o be her f at her . She t hus comes
bef or e. She i s t he myst er i ous or i gi n of what ever went i nt o her cr eat i on. "
" But at t hi s poi nt . . . "
" I t i s t he whol e i dea of ' poi nt ' t hat i s mi st aken. Ever si nce Par meni des, poi nt s
have been posi t ed by sci ence i n an at t empt t o est abl i sh whence and whi t her somet hi ng
moves. But i n f act not hi ng moves, and t her e i s onl y one poi nt , t he one f r omwhi ch
al l ot her s ar e gener at ed at t he same i nst ant . The occul t i st s of t he ni net eent h
cent ur y, l i ke t hose of our own t i me, nai vel y t r i ed t o pr ove t he t r ut h of a t hi ng by
r esor t i ng t o t he met hods of sci ent i f i c f al sehood. You must r eason not accor di ng t o
t he l ogi c of t i me but accor di ng t o t he l ogi c of Tr adi t i on. One t i me symbol i zes al l
ot her s, and t he i nvi si bl e Templ e of t he Rosi cr uci ans t her ef or e exi st s and has al ways
exi st ed, r egar dl ess of t he cur r ent of hi st or y- your hi st or y. The t i me of t he f i nal
r evel at i on i s not t i me by t he cl ock. I t s bonds ar e r oot ed i n t he t i me of ' subt l e
hi st or y, ' wher e t he bef or es and af t er s of sci ence ar e of scant i mpor t ance. "
" I n ot her wor ds, t hose who mai nt ai n t hat t he Rosi cr uci ans ar e et er nal - "
" Ar e sci ent i f i c f ool s, because t hey seek t o pr ove t hat whi ch must be known wi t hout
pr oof . Do you t hi nk t he wor shi per s we wi l l see t omor r ow ni ght ar e capabl e of pr ovi ng
al l t he t hi ngs t hat Kar dek t ol d t hem? Not at al l . They si mpl y know, because t hey ar e
wi l l i ng t o know. I f we had al l r et ai ned t hi s r ecept i vi t y t o secr et knowl edge, we
woul d be dazzl ed by r evel at i ons. Ther e i s no need t o wi sh; i t ' s enough t o be
wi l l i ng. "
" But l ook- and f or gi ve my banal i t y- do t he Rosi cr uci ans exi st or not ?' '
" What do you mean by exi st ?"
" You t el l me. "
" The Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y- whet her you cal l t hemRosi cr uci ans or t he spi r i t ual
kni ght hood of whi ch t he Templ ar s ar e a t empor ar y i ncar nat i on- i s a cohor t of a f ew, a
ver y f ew, el ect wi se men who j our ney t hr ough human hi st or y i n or der t o pr eser ve a
cor e of et er nal knowl edge. Hi st or y does not happen r andoml y. I t i s t he wor k of t he
Mast er s of t he Wor l d, whomnot hi ng escapes. Nat ur al l y, t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d
pr ot ect t hemsel ves t hr ough secr ecy. And t hat i s why anyone who says he i s a mast er ,
a Rosi cr uci an, a Templ ar i s l yi ng. They must be sought el sewher e. "
" Then t he st or y goes on endl essl y. "
" Exact l y. And i t demonst r at es t he shr ewdness of t he Mast er s. "
" But what do t hey want peopl e t o know?"
" Onl y t hat t her e' s a secr et . Ot her wi se, i f ever yt hi ng i s as i t appear s t o be, why go
on l i vi ng?"
" And what i s t he secr et ?"
" What t he r eveal ed r el i gi ons have been unabl e t o r eveal . The secr et l i es beyond. "
33
The vi si ons ar e whi t e, bl ue, whi t e, pal e r ed. I n t he end t hey mi ngl e and ar e al l
pal e, t he col or of t he f l ame of a whi t e candl e; you wi l l see spar ks, you wi l l f eel
goosef l esh al l over your body. Thi s announces t he begi nni ng of t he at t r act i on
exer t ed on t he one who f ul f i l l s t he mi ssi on.
- Papus, Mar l i nes de Pasqual l y, Par i s, Chamuel , 1895, p. 92
The pr omi sed eveni ng ar r i ved. Agl i e pi cked us up j ust as he had i n Sal vador . The
t enda wher e t he sessi on, or gi r a, was t o t ake pl ace was i n a f ai r l y cent r al
di st r i ct , i f you can speak of a cent er i n a ci t y whose t ongues of l and st r et ch
t hr ough hi l l s and l i ck t he sea. Seen f r omabove, i l l umi nat ed i n t he eveni ng, t he
ci t y l ooks l i ke a head wi t h pat ches of al opeci a ar eat a.
" Remember , mi s i s an umbanda t oni ght , not a candombl e. The par t i ci pant s wi l l be
possessed not by or i xas, but by t he eguns, spi r i t s of t he depar t ed. And by Exu, t he
Page 100
Af r i can Her mes you saw i n Bahi a, and hi s compani on, Pompa Gi r a. Exu i s a Yor uba
di vi ni t y, a demon i ncl i ned t o mi schi ef and j oki ng, but t her e was a t r i ckst er god i n
Amer i nd myt hol ogy, t oo. "
" And who ar e t he depar t ed?"
" Pr et os vel hos and cabocl os. The pr et os vel hos ar e ol d Af r i can wi se men who gui ded
t hei r peopl e at t he t i me of depor t at i on, l i ke Rei Congo and Pai Agost i nho. . . They ar e
t he memor y of a mi l der phase of sl aver y, when t he bl acks, no l onger ani mal s, became
f ami l y f r i ends, uncl es, gr andf at her s. The cabocl os, on t he ot her hand, ar e I ndi an
spi r i t s, vi r gi n f or ces r epr esent i ng t he pur i t y of or i gi nal nat ur e. I n t he umbanda
t he Af r i can or i xas st ay i n t he backgr ound, compl et el y syncr et i zed wi t h Cat hol i c
sai nt s, and t hese bei ngs al one i nt er vene. They ar e t he ones who pr oduce t he t r ance.
At a cer t ai n poi nt i n t he dance, t he medi um, t he caval o, i s penet r at ed by a hi gher
bei ng and l oses al l awar eness of sel f . He cont i nues t o dance unt i l t he di vi ne bei ng
has l ef t hi m, and he emer ges f eel i ng bet t er . Cl ean, pur i f i ed. "
" Lucky medi ums, " Ampar o sai d.
" Lucky i ndeed, " Agl i e sai d. " They at t ai n cont act wi t h mot her ear t h. These wor shi per s
have been upr oot ed, f l ung i nt o t he hor r i bl e mel t i ng pot of t he ci t y, and, as
Spengl er sai d, at a t i me of cr i si s t he mer cant i l e West t ur ns once mor e t o t he wor l d
of t he ear t h. "
We ar r i ved. The t enda l ooked l i ke an or di nar y bui l di ng f r omt he out si de. Her e, t oo,
you ent er ed t hr ough a l i t t l e gar den, mor e modest t han t he one i n Bahi a, and at t he
door of t he bar r acao, a ki nd of st or ehouse, was a l i t t l e st at ue of Exu, al r eady
sur r ounded by pr opi t i at or y of f er i ngs.
Ampar o dr ew me asi de as we went i n. " I Ve f i gur ed i t out , " she sai d. " That t api r at
t he l ect ur e t al ked about t he Ar yan age, r emember ? And t hi s one t al ks about t he
decl i ne of t he West . Bl ut und Boden, bl ood and ear t h. I t ' s pur e Nazi sm. "
" I t ' s not t hat si mpl e, dar l i ng. Thi s i s a di f f er ent cont i nent . "
" Thanks f or t he news. The Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y! You eat your God f or di nner . "
" I t ' s t he Cat hol i cs who do t hat . I t ' s not t he same t hi ng. "
" I t i s t oo. Wer en' t you l i st eni ng? Pyt hagor as, Dant e, t he Vi r gi n Mar y, and t he
Masons. Al ways out t o scr ew us. Make umbanda, not l ove. "
" You' r e t he one who' s syncr et i zed. Come on, l et ' s have a l ook. Thi s, t eo, i s
cul t ur e. "
" Ther e' s onl y one cul t ur e: st r angl e t he l ast pr i est wi t h t he ent r ai l s of t he l ast
Rosi cr uci an. "
Agl i e si gnal ed us t o go i n. I f t he out si de was seedy, t he i nsi de was a bl aze of
vi ol ent col or s. I t was a quadr angul ar hal l , wi t h one ar ea set asi de f or t he danci ng
of t he caval os. The al t ar was at t he f ar end, pr ot ect ed by a r ai l i ng, agai nst whi ch
st ood t he pl at f or mf or t he dr ums, t he at abaques. The r i t ual space was st i l l empt y,
but on our si de of t he r ai l i ng a het er ogeneous cr owd was al r eady st i r r i ng: bel i ever s
and t he mer el y cur i ous, bl acks and whi t es, al l mi xed, some bar ef oot , ot her s wear i ng
t enni s shoes. I was i mmedi at el y st r uck by t he f i gur es ar ound t he al t ar : pr et os
vel hos, cabocl os i n mul t i col or ed f eat her s, sai nt s who woul d have seemed t o be
mar zi pan wer e i t not f or t hei r Pant agr uel i an di mensi ons, Sai nt Geor ge i n a shi ni ng
br east pl at e and scar l et cl oak, sai nt s Cosmas and Dami an, a Vi r gi n pi er ced by swor ds,
and a shamel essl y hyper r eal i st Chr i st , hi s ar ms out st r et ched l i ke t he r edeemer of
Cor covado, but i n col or . Ther e wer e no or i xas, but you coul d sense t hei r pr esence i n
t he f aces of t he cr owd and i n t he sweet i sh odor of cane and cooked f oods, i n t he
st ench of sweat caused by t he heat and by t he exci t ement of t he i mmi nent gi r a.
The pai - de- sant o went f or war d and t ook a seat near t he al t ar , wher e he r ecei ved t he
f ai t hf ul , scent i ng t hemwi t h dense exhal at i ons of hi s ci gar , bl essi ng t hem, and
of f er i ng t hema cup of l i quor as i f i n a r api d Euchar i st i c r i t e. I knel t and dr ank
wi t h my compani ons, not i ci ng, as I wat ched a cambone pour t he l i qui d f r oma bot t l e,
t hat i t was Dubonnet . No mat t er . I savor ed i t as i f i t wer e an el i xi r f r omt he
Fount ai n of Yout h. On t he pl at f or mt he at abaques wer e al r eady beat i ng, t o br i sk
bl ows, as t he i ni t i at es chant ed a pr opi t i at or y song t o Exu and t o Pompa Gi r a: Seu
Tr anca Ruas e Moj uba! E Moj uba, e Moj uba! Set e Encr uzi l hadas 6 Moj uba! E Moj uba, 6
Moj uba! Seu Mar aboe e Moj uba! Seu Ti r i r i Moj uba! Exu Vel udo, i Moj uba! A Pompa
Gi r a Moj uba!
The pai - de- sant o began t o swi ng hi s t hur i bl e, r el easi ng a heavy odor of I ndi an
i ncense, and t o chant speci al or at i ons t o OxaM and Nossa Senhor a.
The at abaques beat f ast er , and t he caval os i nvaded t he space bef or e t he al t ar ,
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begi nni ng t o f al l under t he spel l of t he pont os. Most wer e women, and Ampar o made
sar cast i c asi des about t he sensi t i vi t y of her sex.
Among t he women wer e some Eur opeans. Agl i e poi nt ed out a bl onde, a Ger man
psychol ogi st who had been par t i ci pat i ng i n t he r i t es f or year s. She had t r i ed
ever yt hi ng, but i f you ar e not chosen, i t ' s hopel ess: f or her , t he t r ance never
came, was beyond achi evi ng. Her eyes seemed l ost i n t he voi d as she danced, and t he
at abaques gave nei t her her ner ves nor our s any r el i ef . Pungent f umes f i l l ed t he hal l
and dazed bot h wor shi per s and obser ver s, somehow hi t t i ng ever ybody- me i ncl uded- i n
t he st omach. But t he same t hi ng had happened t o me at t he escol as de samba i n Ri o. I
knew t he psychol ogi cal power of musi c and noi se, t he way t hey pr oduced Sat ur day
ni ght f ever s i n di scos. The Ger man woman' s eyes wer e wi de, and ever y movement of her
hyst er i cal l i mbs begged f or obl i vi on. The ot her daught er s of t he sai nt went i nt o
ecst asy, f l ung t hei r heads back, wr i ggl ed f l ui dl y, navi gat i ng a sea of
f or get f ul ness. The Ger man t ensed, di st r aught and al most i n t ear s, l i ke someone
desper at el y st r uggl i ng t o r each or gasm, wr i ggl i ng and st r ai ni ng, but f i ndi ng no
r el ease. However much she t r i ed t o l ose cont r ol , she const ant l y r egai ned i t . Poor
Teut on, si ck f r omt oo many wel l - t emper ed cl avi chor ds.
The el ect , meanwhi l e, wer e maki ng t hei r l eap i nt o t he vacuum, t hei r gaze dul l ed,
t hei r l i mbs st i f f ened. Thei r movement s became mor e and mor e aut omat i c, but not
haphazar d, because t hey r eveal ed t he nat ur e of t he bei ngs t aki ng possessi on of t hem:
some of t he el ect seemed sof t , t hei r hands movi ng si deways, pal ms down, i n a
swi mmi ng mot i on; ot her s went bent over and moved sl owl y, and t he cambones used whi t e
l i nen cl ot hs t o shi el d t hemf r omt he cr owd' s vi ew, f or t hese had been t ouched by an
excel l ent spi r i t .
Some of t he caval os shook vi ol ent l y, and t hose possessed by pr et os vel hos emi t t ed
hol l ow sounds- humhumhum- as t hey moved wi t h t hei r bodi es t i l t ed f or war d, l i ke ol d
men l eani ng on canes, j aws j ut t i ng out i n haggar d, t oot hl ess f aces. But t hose
possessed by t he cabocl os l et out shr i l l war r i or cr i eshi ahou! - and t he cambones
r ushed t o assi st t he ones unabl e t o bear t he vi ol ence of t he gi f t .
The dr ums beat , t he pont os r ose i n t he ai r t hi ck wi t h f umes. I was hol di ng Ampar o' s
ar mwhen al l of a sudden her hands wer e sweat i ng, her body t r embl ed, and her l i ps
par t ed. " I don' t f eel wel l , " she sai d. " I want t o go. "
Agl i e not i ced what had happened and hel ped me t ake her out si de. The ni ght ai r
br ought her ar ound. " I ' mal l r i ght , " she sai d. " I t must have been somet hi ng I at e.
And t he smel l s, t he heat . . . "
" No, " sai d t he pai - de- sant o, who had f ol l owed us. " You have t he qual i t i es of a
medi um. You r eact ed wel l t o t he pont os. I was wat chi ng you. "
" St op! " Ampar o cr i ed, addi ng a f ew wor ds i n a l anguage I di dn' t know. I saw t he
pai - de- sant o t ur n pal e- or gr ay, as t hey used t o say i n advent ur e st or i es, wher e men
wi t h bl ack ski n t ur ned gr ay wi t h f ear . " That ' s enough. I got a l i t t l e si ck. I at e
somet hi ng I shoul dn' t have. . . Pl ease, go back i nsi de. J ust l et me get some ai r . I ' d
r at her be by mysel f ; I ' mnot an i nval i d. "
We di d as she asked, but when I went back i nsi de, af t er t he br eak i n t he open ai r ,
t he smel l s, t he dr ums, t he sweat t hat now cover ed ever y body act ed l i ke a shot of
al cohol gul ped down af t er a l ong abst i nence. I r an a hand over my br ow, and an ol d
man of f er ed me an agog6, a smal l gi l ded i nst r ument l i ke a t r i angl e wi t h bel l s, whi ch
you st r i ke wi t h a l i t t l e bar . " Go up on t he pl at f or m, " he sai d. " Pl ay. I t ' l l do you
good. "
Ther e was homeopat hi c wi sdomi n t hat advi ce. I st r uck t he agogo, t r yi ng t o f al l i n
wi t h t he beat of t he dr ums, and gr adual l y I became par t of t he event , and, becomi ng
par t of i t , I cont r ol l ed i t . I f ound r el i ef by movi ng my l egs and f eet , I f r eed
mysel f f r omwhat sur r ounded me, I chal l enged i t , I embr aced i t . Lat er , Agl i e was t o
t al k t o me about t he di i f er ence bet ween t he man who knows and t he man who under goes.
As t he medi ums f el l i nt o t r ances, t he cambones l ed t hemt o t he si des of t he r oom,
sat t hemdown, of f er ed t hemci gar s and pi pes. Those of t he f ai t hf ul who had been
deni ed possessi on r an and knel t at t hei r f eet , whi sper ed i n t hei r ear s, l i st ened t o
t hei r advi ce, r ecei ved t hei r benef i cent i nf l uence, pour ed out conf essi ons, and dr ew
comf or t f r omt hem. Some hover ed at t he edges of t r ance, and t he cambones gent l y
encour aged t hem, l eadi ng t hem, now mor e r el axed, back among t he cr owd.
I n t he danci ng ar ea many aspi r ant s t o ecst asy wer e st i l l movi ng. The Ger man woman
t wi t ched unnat ur al l y, wai t i ng t o be vi si t ed- i n vai n. Ot her s had been t aken over by
Exu and wer e maki ng wi cked f aces, sl y, ast ut e, as t hey moved i n j er ks.
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I t was t hen t hat I saw Ampar o.
Now I know t hat Hesed i s not onl y t he Sef i r ah of gr ace and l ove. As Di ot al l evi sai d,
i t i s al so t he moment of expansi on of t he di vi ne subst ance, whi ch spr eads out t o t he
edge of i nf i ni t y. I t i s t he car e of t he l i vi ng f or t he dead, but someone al so must
have obser ved t hat i t i s t he car e of t he dead f or t he l i vi ng.
St r i ki ng t he agogd, I no l onger f ol l owed what was happeni ng i n t he hal l , f ocused as
I was on my own cont r ol , l et t i ng mysel f be l ed by t he musi c. Ampar o must have come
i n at l east t en mi nut es bef or e, and sur el y she had f el t t he same ef f ect I had
exper i enced ear l i er . But no one had gi ven her an agogo, and by now she pr obabl y
woul dn' t have want ed one. Cal l ed by deep voi ces, she had st r i pped her sel f of al l
def enses, of al l wi l l .
I saw her f l i ng her sel f i nt o t he mi dst of t he danci ng, st op, her abnor mal l y t ense
f ace l ooki ng upwar d, her neck r i gi d. Then, obl i vi ous, she l aunched i nt o a l ewd
sar aband, her hands mi mi ng t he of f er of her own body. " A Pomba Gi r a, a Pomba Gi r a! "
some shout ed, del i ght ed by t he mi r acl e, si nce unt i l t hen t he she- devi l had not made
her pr esence known. O seu mant o 6 de vel udo, r ebor dado t odo emour o, o seu gar f o 6
de pr at a, mui t o gr ande e seu t esour i . . . Pomba Gi r a das Al mas, vei n t oma cho cho. . .
I di dn' t dar e i nt er vene. I may have accel er at ed t he st r okes of my l i t t l e bar , t r yi ng
t o j oi n car nal l y wi t h my woman, or wi t h t he i ndi genous spi r i t she now i ncar nat ed.
The cambones went t o her , had her put on t he r i t ual vest ment , and hel d her up as she
came out of her br i ef but i nt ense t r ance. They l ed her t o a chai r . She was soaked
wi t h sweat and br eat hed wi t h di f f i cul t y. She r ef used t o wel come t hose who r ushed
over t o beg f or or acl es. I nst ead, she st ar t ed cr yi ng.
The gi r a was comi ng t o an end. I l ef t t he pl at f or mand r an t o Ampar o. Agl i e was
al r eady t her e, del i cat el y massagi ng her t empl es.
" How embar r assi ng! " Ampar o sai d. " I don' t bel i eve i n i t , I di dn' t want t o. How coul d
I have done t hi s?"
" I t happens, " Agl i e sai d sof t l y, " i t happens. "
" But t hen t her e' s no hope, " Ampar o cr i ed. " I ' mst i l l a sl ave. Go away, " she sai d t o
me angr i l y. " I ' ma poor di r t y bl ack gi r l . Gi ve me a mast er ; I deser ve i t ! "
" I t happens t o bl ond Achaeans, t oo, " Agl i e consol ed her . " I t ' s human nat ur e. . . "
Ampar o asked t he way t o t he t oi l et . The r i t e was endi ng. The Ger man woman was st i l l
danci ng, al one i n t he mi ddl e of t he hal l , ost ent at i ous but now l i st l ess. She had
f ol l owed Ampar o' s exper i ence wi t h envi ous eyes.
Ampar o came back about t en mi nut es l at er , as we wer e t aki ng our l eave of t he
pai - de- sant o, who congr at ul at ed us on t he spl endi d success of our f i r st cont act wi t h
t he wor l d of t he dead.
Agl i e dr ove i n si l ence t hr ough t he ni ght . When he st opped out si de our house, Ampar o
sai d she want ed t o go upst ai r s al one. " Why don' t you t ake a l i t t l e wal k, " she sai d
t o me. " Come back when I ' masl eep. I ' l l t ake a pi l l . Excuse me, bot h of you. I
r eal l y must have eat en somet hi ng I shoul dn' t have. Al l t hose women t oni ght must
have. I hat e my count r y. Good ni ght . "
Agl i e under st ood my uneasi ness and suggest ed we go t o an al l - ni ght bar i n
Cppacabana.
At t he bar I di dn' t speak. Agl i e wai t ed unt i l I had st ar t ed si ppi ng my bat i da bef or e
he br oke t he si l ence.
" Race- or cul t ur e, i f you pr ef er - i s par t of our unconsci ous mi nd. And i n anot her par t
of t hat unconsci ous dwel l ar chet ypes, f i gur es i dent i cal f or al l men and i n al l
cent ur i es. Thi s eveni ng, t he at mospher e, t he sur r oundi ngs l ul l ed our vi gi l ance. I t
happened t o al l of us; you f el t i t your sel f . Ampar o di scover ed t hat t he or i xas, whom
she has dest r oyed i n her hear t , st i l l l i ve i n her womb. You must not t hi nk I
consi der t hi s a posi t i ve t hi ng. You have hear d me speak r espect f ul l y of t he
super nat ur al ener gi es t hat vi br at e ar ound us i n t hi s count r y. But I have no speci al
f ondness f or t he pr act i ces of possessi on. An i ni t i at e i s not t he same as a myst i c.
Bei ng an i ni t i at e- havi ng an i nt ui t i ve compr ehensi on of what r eason cannot expl ai n- i s
a ver y deep pr ocess; i t i s a sl ow t r ansf or mat i on of t he spi r i t and of t he body, and
i t can l ead t o t he exer ci se of super i or abi l i t i es, even t o i mmor t al i t y. But i t i s
secr et , i nt i mat e; i t does not show i t sel f ext er nal l y; i t i s modest , l uci d, det ached.
That i s why t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d, i ni t i at es, do not i ndul ge i n myst i ci sm. For
Page 103
t hem, a myst i c i s a sl ave, a si t e of t he mani f est at i on of t he numi nous, t hr ough
whi ch si t e t he si gns of a secr et can be obser ved. The i ni t i at e encour ages t he myst i c
and uses hi mas you mi ght use a t el ephone, t o est abl i sh l ong- di st ance cont act , or as
a chemi st mi ght use l i t mus paper , t o det ect t he act i on of a par t i cul ar subst ance.
The myst i c i s usef ul , because he i s conspi cuous. He br oadcast s hi msel f . I ni t i at es,
on t he cont r ar y, ar e r ecogni zabl e onl y t o one anot her . I t i s t hey who cont r ol t he
f or ces t hat myst i cs under go. I n t hi s sense t her e i s no di f f er ence bet ween t he
possessi on exper i enced by t he caval os and t he ecst asi es of Sai nt Ther esa of Avi l a or
Sai nt J ohn of t he Cr oss. Myst i ci smi s a degener at e f or mof cont act wi t h t he di vi ne,
wher eas i ni t i at i on i s t he f r ui t of l ong askesi s of mi nd and hear t . Myst i ci smi s a
democr at i c, i f not demagogi c, phenomenon; i ni t i at i on i s ar i st ocr at i c. "
" I t i s ment al as opposed t o car nal ?"
" I n a sense. Your Ampar o was guar di ng her mi nd t enaci ousl y, but she was not on guar d
agai nst her body. The l ay per son i s weaker t han we ar e. "
I t was l at e. Agl i e i nf or med me t hat he was l eavi ng Br azi l . He gave me hi s Mi l an
addr ess.
I went home and f ound Ampar o asl eep. I l ay down besi de her i n si l ence, i n t he dar k,
and spent a sl eepl ess ni ght . I t was as i f t her e wer e an unknown bei ng next t o me.
I n t he mor ni ng Ampar o t ol d me t hat she was goi ng t o Pet r dp- ol i s t o vi si t a
gi r l f r i end. We sai d goodbye awkwar dl y.
She l ef t wi t h a canvas bag, a vol ume of pol i t i cal economy under her ar m.
For t wo mont hs she sent me no wor d, and I made no at t empt t o seek her out . Then she
wr ot e me a br i ef , evasi ve l et t er , t el l i ng me she needed t i me t o t hi nk. I di dn' t
answer .
I f el t no passi on, no j eal ousy, no nost al gi a. I was hol l ow, cl ear - headed, cl ean, and
as emot i onl ess as an al umi numpot .
I st ayed i n Br azi l f or anot her year , wi t h t he const ant f eel i ng t hat I was on t he
br i nk of depar t ur e. I di dn' t see Agl i e agai n, I di dn' t see any of Ampar o' s f r i ends.
I spent l ong, l ong hour s on t he beach, sunbat hi ng.
I f l ew ki t es, whi ch down t her e ar e ver y beaut i f ul .
GEVURAH
34
Beydel us, Demeymes, Adul ex, Mat ucgayn, At i ne, Ff ex, Uqui zuz, Ga- di x, Sol , Veni ci t o
cumt ui s spi r i t i bus.
- Pi cat r i x, Sl oane Ms. 1305, 152, ver so
The Br eaki ng of t he Vessel s. Di ot al l evi was t o t al k t o us of t en about t he l at e
cabal i smof I saac Lur i a, i n whi ch t he or der l y ar t i cul at i on of t he Sef i r ot was l ost .
Cr eat i on, Lur i a hel d, was a pr ocess of di vi ne i nhal at i on and exhal at i on, l i ke
anxi ous br eat hi ng or t he act i on of t he bel l ows.
" God' s ast hma, " Bel bo gl ossed.
" You t r y cr eat i ng f r omnot hi ng. I t ' s somet hi ng you do once i n your l i f e. God bl ows
t he wor l d as you woul d bl ow a gl ass bubbl e, and t o do t hat He t akes a deep br eat h,
hol ds i t , and emi t s t he l ong l umi nous hi ss of t he t en Sef i r ot . "
" A hi ss of l i ght ?"
" God hi ssed, and t her e was l i ght . "
" Mul t i medi a. "
" But t he l i ght s of t he Sef i r ot must be gat her ed i n vessel s t hat can cont ai n t hei r
spl endor wi t hout shat t er i ng. The vessel s dest i ned t o r ecei ve Ket er , Hokhmah, and
Bi nah wi t hst ood t hei r magni f i cence, but f or t he l ower Sef i r ot , f r omHesed t o Yesod,
l i ght was exhal ed t oo st r ongl y i n a si ngl e bur st , and t he vessel s br oke. Fr agment s
Page 104
of l i ght wer e spi l l ed i nt o t he uni ver se, and gr oss mat t er was t hus bor n. "
The br eaki ng of t he vessel s was a cat ast r ophe, Di ot al l evi sai d. What coul d be mor e
unbear abl e t han an abor t ed wor l d? Ther e must have been some def ect i n t he cosmos
f r omt he begi nni ng, and not even t he most l ear ned r abbi s had been abl e t o expl ai n i t
compl et el y. Per haps at t he moment God exhal ed and was empt i ed, a f ew dr ops of oi l
l ay i n t he f i r st r ecept acl e, a mat er i al r esi due, t he r eshi mu, t hus adul t er at i ng
God' s essence. Or per haps t he seashel l s^t he qel i ppot , t he begi nni ngs of r ui n- wer e
sl yl y wai t i ng i n ambush somewher e.
" Sl i pper y f ol k, t hose qel i ppot , " Bel bo sai d. " Agent s of t he di abol i cal Dr . Fu
Manchu. And t hen what happened?"
And t hen, Di ot al l evi pat i ent l y expl ai ned, i n t he l i ght of Sever e J udgment , or
Gevur ah- al so known as Pachad, or Ter r or - t he Sef i r ah i n whi ch, accor di ng t o I saac t he
Bl i nd, Evi l f i r st shows i t sel f , t he seashel l s acqui r ed a r eal exi st ence.
" Then t he seashel l s ar e i n our mi dst , " Bel bo sai d.
" J ust l ook ar ound you, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" But i s t her e no way out ?"
" Ther e' s a way back i n, act ual l y, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Al l emanat es f r omGod, i n t he
cont r act i on of si msum. The pr obl emi s t o br i ng about t i kkun, t he r est or at i on of Adam
Qadmon. Then we wi l l r ebui l d ever yt hi ng i n t he bal anced st r uct ur e of t he par - zuf i m,
t he f aces- or , r at her , f or ms- t hat wi l l t ake t he pl ace of t he Sef i r ot . The ascensi on
of t he soul i s l i ke a cor d of si l k t hat enabl es devout i nt ent i on, gr opi ng i n t he
dar kness, t o f i nd t he pat h t o t he l i ght . And so t he wor l d const ant l y st r i ves, by
combi ni ng t he l et t er s of t he Tor ah, t o r egai n i t s nat ur al f or m, t o emer ge f r omi t s
hor r i bl e conf usi on. "
And t hi s i s what I amdoi ng now, i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni ght , i n t he unnat ur al cal m
of t hese hi l l s. The ot her eveni ng i n t he per i scope, however , I was st i l l mi r ed i n
t he sl i me of t he seashel l s I f el t af l ar ound me, of t he sl ugs t r apped i n t he cr yst al
cases of t he Conser vat oi r e, among t he bar omet er s and r ust ed cl ockwor ks, i n deaf
hi ber nat i on. I t hought t hen t hat i f t her e had been a br eaki ng of t he vessel s, t he
f i r st cr ack pr obabl y appear ed t hat eveni ng i n Ri o, dur i ng t he r i t e, but i t was on my
r et ur n t o my nat i ve count r y t hat t he shat t er i ng occur r ed. I t happened sl owl y,
soundl essl y, so t hat we al l f ound our sel ves caught i n t he mor ass of gr oss mat t er ,
wher e noxi ous ver mi n emer ge by spont aneous gener at i on.
When I r et ur ned f r omBr azi l , I har dl y knew who I was anymor e. I was appr oachi ng
t hi r t y. At t hat age, my f at her was a f at her ; he knew who he was and wher e he l i ved.
I had been t oo f ar f r ommy count r y whi l e pr odi gi ous t hi ngs wer e happeni ng. I had
l i ved i n a wor l d swol l en wi t h t he i ncr edi bl e, wher e event s i n I t al y wor e a hal o of
l egend. Shor t l y bef or e l eavi ng t he ot her hemi spher e- i t was near t he end of my st ay
and I was t r eat i ng mysel f t o an ai r pl ane r i de over t he f or est s of Amazoni a- I pi cked
up a l ocal newspaper dur i ng a st opover i n For t al eza. On t he f r ont page was a
pr omi nent phot ogr aph of someone I r ecogni zed: I had seen hi msi ppi ng whi t e wi ne at
Pi l ade' s f or year s. The capt i on r ead: " O homemque mat ou Mor o. "
When I got back, I f ound out t hat , of cour se, he wasn' t t he man who ki l l ed Mor o.
Handed a l oaded pi st ol , he woul d have shot hi msel f i n t he ear when checki ng t o see
i f i t wor ked. What had happened was si mpl y t hat an ant i t er r or i st squad had bur st i n
on hi mand f ound t hr ee pi st ol s and t wo packs of expl osi ves hi dden under t he bed. He
was l yi ng on t he bed, si nce i t was t he onl y pi ece of f ur ni t ur e i n t hat one- r oom
apar t ment , whose r ent was shar ed by a gr oup of sur vi vor s of ' 68 who used i t as a
pl ace t o sat i sf y t he demands of t he f l esh. I f i t s sol e decor at i on hadn' t been a
post er of Che, t he pl ace coul d have been t aken f or any bachel or ' s pi ed- a- t er r e. But
one of t he t enant s bel onged t o an ar med gr oup, and t he ot her s had no i dea t hat t hey
wer e f i nanci ng t he gr oup' s saf e house. They al l ended up i n j ai l f or a year .
I under st ood ver y l i t t l e of what had happened i n I t al y over t he past f ew year s. The
count r y had been on t he br i nk of gr eat changes when I l ef t - l ef t gui l t i l y, f eel i ng
al most t hat I was r unni ng away at t he moment of t he set t l i ng of scor es. Bef or e I
l ef t , I coul d t el l a man' s i deol ogy j ust by t he t one of hi s voi ce. I was back and
now coul d not f i gur e out who was on whose si de. No one was t al ki ng about r evol ut i on;
t he new t hi ng was t he unconsci ous. Peopl e who cl ai med t o be l ef t i st s quot ed
Ni et zsche and Cel i ne, whi l e r i ght - wi ng magazi nes hai l ed r evol ut i on i n t he Thi r d
Wor l d.
I went back t o Pi l ade' s, but I f el t I was on f or ei gn soi l . The bi l l i ar d t abl e was
st i l l t her e, and mor e or l ess t he same pai nt er s, but t he young f auna had changed. I
Page 105
l ear ned t hat some of t he ol d cust omer s had opened school s of t r anscendent al
medi t at i on or macr obi ot i c r est aur ant s. Appar ent l y nobody had t hought of a t enda de
umbanda yet . Maybe I was ahead of t he t i mes.
To appease t he hi st or i c har d cor e, Pi l ade st i l l had one of t hose ol d- f ashi oned
pi nbal l machi nes, t he ki nd t hat now seemed copi ed f r oma Li cht enst ei n pai nt i ng and
wer e bought up whol esal e by ant i que deal er s. Next t o i t , however , t he younger
cust omer s cr owded ar ound ot her machi nes, machi nes wi t h f l uor escent scr eens on whi ch
st yl i zed hawks or kami kazes f r omPl anet X hover ed, or f r ogs j umped ar ound gr unt i ng
i n J apanese. Pi l ade' s was an ar cade of si ni st er f l ashi ng l i ght s, and cour i er s f r om
t he Red Br i gades on r ecr ui t i ng mi ssi ons may wel l have been t aki ng t hei r t ur n at t he
Space I nvader s scr een. But t hey coul dn' t pl ay t he pi nbal l ; you can' t pl ay pi nbal l
wi t h a pi st ol st uck i n your bel t .
I r eal i zed t hi s one ni ght when I f ol l owed Bel bo' s gaze and saw Lor enza Pel l egr i ni at
t he machi ne. Or , r at her , when I l at er r ead one of hi s f i l es. Lor enza i sn' t named,
but i t ' s obvi ousl y about her . She was t he onl y one who pl ayed pi nbal l l i ke t hat .
FI LENAME: Pi nbal l
You don' t pl ay pi nbal l wi t h j ust your hands, you pl ay i t wi t h t he gr oi n t oo. The
pi nbal l pr obl emi s not t o st op t he bal l bef or e i t ' s swal l owed by t he mout h at t he
bot t om, or t o ki ck i t back t o mi df i el d l i ke a hal f back. The pr obl emi s t o make i t
st ay up wher e t he l i ght ed t ar get s ar e mor e numer ous and have i t bounce f r omone t o
anot her , wander i ng, conf used, del i r i ous, but st i l l a f r ee agent . And you achi eve
t hi s not by j ol t i ng t he bal l but by t r ansmi t t i ng vi br at i ons t o t he case, t he f r ame,
but gent l y, so t he machi ne won' t cat ch on and say Ti l t . You can onl y do i t wi t h t he
gr oi n, or wi t h a pl ay of t he hi ps t hat makes t he gr oi n not so much bump, as sl i t her ,
keepi ng you on t hi s si de of an or gasm. And i f t he hi ps move accor di ng t o nat ur e,
i t ' s t he but t ocks t hat suppl y t he f or war d t hr ust , but gr acef ul l y, so t hat when t he
t hr ust r eaches t he pel vi c ar ea, i t i s sof t ened, as i n homeopat hy, wher e t he mor e you
shake a sol ut i on and t he mor e t he dr ug di ssol ves i n t he wat er added gr adual l y, unt i l
t he dr ug has al most ent i r el y di sappear ed, t he mor e medi cal l y ef f ect i ve and pot ent i t
i s. Thus f r omt he gr oi n an i nf i ni t esi mal pul se i s t r ansmi t t ed t o t he case, and t he
machi ne obeys, t he bal l moves agai nst nat ur e, agai nst i ner t i a, agai nst gr avi t y,
agai nst t he l aws of dynami cs, and agai nst t he cl ever ness of i t s const r uct or , who
want ed i t di sobedi ent . The bal l i s i nt oxi cat ed wi t h vi s movendi , r emai ni ng i n pl ay
f or memor abl e and i mmemor i al l engt hs of t i me. But a f emal e gr oi n i s r equi r ed, one
t hat i nt er poses no spongy body bet ween t he i l eumand t he machi ne, and t her e must be
no er ect i l e mat t er i n bet ween, onl y ski n, ner ves, padded bone sheat hed i n a pai r of
j eans, and a subl i mat ed er ot i c f ur y, a sl y f r i gi di t y, a di si nt er est ed adapt abi l i t y
t o t he par t ner ' s r esponse, a t ast e f or ar ousi ng desi r e wi t hout suf f er i ng t he excess
of one' s own: t he Amazon must dr i ve t he pi nbal l cr azy and savor t he t hought t hat she
wi l l t hen abandon i t .
* * *
That , I bel i eve, was when Bel bo f el l i n l ove wi t h Lor enza Pel l egr i ni : when he
r eal i zed t hat she coul d pr omi se hi man unat t ai nabl e happi ness. But I al so bel i eve i t
was t hr ough her t hat he began t o be awar e of t he er ot i c nat ur e of aut omat ed
uni ver ses, t he machi ne as met aphor of t he cosmi c body, t he mechani cal game as
t al i smani c evocat i on. He was al r eady hooked on Abu- l af i a and per haps had ent er ed,
even t hen, i nt o t he spi r i t of Pr oj ect Her mes. Cer t ai nl y he had seen t he Pendul um.
Somehow, Lor enza Pel l egr i ni hel d out t he pr omi se of t he Pendul um.
I had t r oubl e r eadj ust i ng t o Pi l ade' s. Li t t l e by l i t t l e, but not ever y eveni ng, i n
t he f or est of al i en f aces, I was r edi scover i ng f ami l i ar ones, t he f aces of
sur vi vor s, t hough t hey wer e bl ur r ed by my ef f or t of r ecogni t i on. Thi s one was a
copywr i t er i n an adver t i si ng agency; t hi s one, a t ax consul t ant ; and t hi s one sol d
books on t he i nst al l ment pl an- i n t he ol d days he peddl ed t he wor ks of Che, but now
he was of f er i ng her bal s, Buddhi sm, ast r ol ogy. They had gai ned a l i t t l e wei ght and
some gr ay i n t hei r hai r , but I f el t t hat t he Scot chon- t he- r ocks i n t hei r hands was
t he same one t hey had hel d t en year s ago. They wer e si ppi ng sl owl y, one dr op ever y
si x mont hs.
" What ar e you up t o? Why don' t you come by and see us?" one of t hemasked me.
" Who' s M* nowadays?"
Page 106
He l ooked at me as i f I ' d been away f or a cent ur y. " The Cul t ur al Commi ssi on at Ci t y
Hal l , of cour se. "
I had ski pped t oo many beat s.
I deci ded t o i nvent a j ob f or mysel f . I knew a l ot of t hi ngs, unconnect ed t hi ngs,
but I want ed t o be abl e t o connect t hemaf t er a f ew hour s at a l i br ar y. I once
t hought i t was necessar y t o have a t heor y, and t hat my pr obl emwas t hat I di dn' t .
But nowadays al l you needed was i nf or mat i on; ever ybody was gr eedy f or i nf or mat i on,
especi al l y i f i t was out of dat e. I dr opped i n at t he uni ver si t y, t o see i f I coul d
f i t i n somewher e. The l ect ur e hal l s wer e qui et ; t he st udent s gl i ded al ong t he
cor r i dor s l i ke ghost s, l endi ng one anot her badl y made bi bl i ogr aphi es. I knew how t o
make a good bi bl i ogr aphy.
One day, a doct or al candi dat e, mi st aki ng me f or f acul t y ( t he t eacher s now wer e t he
same age as t he st udent s, or vi ce ver sa) , asked me what t hi s Lor d Chandos t hey wer e
t al ki ng about i n an economi cs cour se on cycl i cal cr i ses had wr i t t en. I t ol d hi m
Chandos was a char act er i n Hof mannst hal , not an economi st .
That same eveni ng I was at a par t y wi t h ol d f r i ends and r ecogni zed a man who wor ked
f or a publ i sher . He had j oi ned t he st af f af t er t he f i r mhad swi t ched f r omnovel s by
Fr ench col l abor at i oni st s t o Al bani an pol i t i cal t ext s. They wer e st i l l publ i shi ng
pol i t i cal books, but wi t h gover nment backi ng. And t hey di dn' t r ej ect an occasi onal
good wor k i n phi l osophy- pr ovi ded i t was i n t he cl assi cal l i ne, he added.
" By t he way, " he sai d t o me t hen, " si nce you' r e a phi l osopher - "
" Thanks, but unf or t unat el y I ' mnot . "
" Come on, i n your day you knew ever yt hi ng. I was j ust l ooki ng over t he t r ansl at i on
of a book on t he cr i si s of Mar xi sm, and I came acr oss a quot at i on f r omAnsel mof
Cant er bur y. Who' s he? I coul dn' t even f i nd hi mi n t he Di ct i onar y of Aut hor s. ' " I
t ol d hi mi t was Ansel mo d' Aost a, and t hat onl y t he Engl i sh, who had t o be di f f er ent
f r omever ybody el se, cal l ed hi mAnsel mof Cant er bur y.
A sudden i l l umi nat i on: I had a t r ade af t er al l . I woul d set up a cul t ur al
i nvest i gat i on agency, be a ki nd of pr i vat e eye of l ear ni ng.
I nst ead of st i cki ng my nose i nt o al l - ni ght di ves and cat houses, I woul d skul k ar ound
bookshops, l i br ar i es, cor r i dor s of uni ver si t y depar t ment s. Then I ' d si t i n my
of f i ce, my f eet pr opped on t he desk, dr i nki ng, f r oma Di xi e cup, t he whi skey I ' d
br ought up f r omt he cor ner st or e i n a paper bag. The phone r i ngs and a man says:
" Li st en, I ' mt r ansl at i ng t hi s book and came acr oss somet hi ng or someone cal l ed
Mot akal l i mun. What t he hel l i s i t ?"
Gi ve me t wo days, I t el l hi m. Then I go t o t he l i br ar y, f l i p t hr ough some car d
cat al ogs, gi ve t he man i n t he r ef er ence of f i ce a ci gar et t e, and pi ck up a cl ue.
That eveni ng I i nvi t e an i nst r uct or i n I sl ami c st udi es out f or a dr i nk. I buy hi ma
coupl e of beer s and he dr ops hi s guar d, gi ves me t he l owdown f or not hi ng. I cal l t he
cl i ent back. " Al l r i ght , t he Mot akal l i mun wer e r adi cal Mosl emt heol ogi ans at t he
t i me of Avi cenna. They sai d t he wor l d was a sor t of dust cl oud of acci dent s t hat
f or med par t i cul ar shapes onl y by an i nst ant aneous and t empor ar y act of t he di vi ne
wi l l . I f God was di st r act ed f or even a moment , t he uni ver se woul d f al l t o pi eces,
i nt o a meani ngl ess anar chy of at oms. That enough f or you? The j ob t ook me t hr ee
days. Pay what you t hi nk i s f ai r . "
I was l ucky enough t o f i nd t wo r ooms and a l i t t l e ki t chen i n an ol d bui l di ng i n t he
subur bs. I t must have been a f act or y once, wi t h a wi ng f or of f i ces. Al l t he
apar t ment s t hat had been made f r omi t opened ont o one l ong cor r i dor . I was bet ween a
r eal est at e agent and a t axi der mi st ' s l abor at or y ( A. Sal on, t he si gn sai d) . I t was
l i ke bei ng i n an Amer i can skyscr aper of t he t hi r t i es; i f I ' d had a gl ass door , I ' d
have f el t l i ke Mar l owe. I put a sof a bed i n t he back r oomand made t he f r ont one an
of f i ce. I n a pai r of bookcases I ar r anged t he at l ases, encycl opedi as, cat al ogs I
acqui r ed bi t by bi t . I n t he begi nni ng, I had t o t ur n a deaf ear t o my consci ence and
wr i t e t heses f or desper at e st udent s. I t wasn' t har d: I j ust went and copi ed some
f r omt he pr evi ous decade. But t hen my f r i ends i n publ i shi ng began sendi ng me
manuscr i pt s and f or ei gn books t o r ead- nat ur al l y, t he l east appeal i ng and f or l i t t l e
money.
St i l l , I was accumul at i ng exper i ence and i nf or mat i on, and I never t hr ew anyt hi ng
away. I kept f i l es on ever yt hi ng. I di dn' t t hi nk t o use a comput er ( t hey wer e comi ng
on t he mar ket j ust t hen; Bel bo was t o be a pi oneer ) . I nst ead, I had cr oss- r ef er enced
i ndex car ds. Nebul ae, Lapl ace; Lapl ace, Kant ; Kant , Koni gsber g, t he seven br i dges
of Koni gsber g, t heor ems of t opol ogy. . . I t was a l i t t l e l i ke t hat game wher e you have
Page 107
t o go f r omsausage t o Pl at o i n f i ve st eps, by associ at i on of i deas. Let ' s see:
sausage, pi g br i st l e, pai nt br ush, Manner i sm, I dea, Pl at o. Easy. Even t he sl oppi est
manuscr i pt woul d br i ng t went y new car ds f or my hoar d. I had a st r i ct r ul e, whi ch I
t hi nk secr et ser vi ces f ol l ow, t oo: No pi ece of i nf or mat i on i s super i or t o any ot her .
Power l i es i n havi ng t hemal l on f i l e and t hen f i ndi ng t he connect i ons. Ther e ar e
al ways connect i ons; you have onl y t o want t o f i nd t hem.
Af t er about t wo year s i n busi ness, I was pl eased wi t h mysel f . I was havi ng f un.
Meanwhi l e I had met Li a.
35
Sappi a qual unque i l mi o nome di manda ch' i ' mi son Li a, e vo movendo i nt or no l e bel l e
mani a f ar mi una ghi r l anda.
- Dant e, Pur gat or i o, XXVI I , 100- 102
Li a. Now, I despai r of seei ng her agai n, but I mi ght never have met her , and t hat
woul d have been wor se. I wi sh she wer e her e, t o hol d my hand whi l e I r econst r uct t he
st ages of my undoi ng. Because she t ol d me so. But no, she must r emai n out si de t hi s
busi ness, she and t he chi l d. I hope t hey put of f t hei r r et ur n, t hat t hey come back
when ever yt hi ng i s f i ni shed, however i t may f i ni sh.
I t was J ul y 16, 1981. Mi l an was empt yi ng; t he r ef er ence r oomof t he l i br ar y was
al most deser t ed.
" Hey, I need vol ume 109 mysel f . "
" Then why di d you l eave i t her e?"
" I j ust went back t o my seat f or a mi nut e t o check a not e. "
" That ' s no excuse. "
She t ook t he vol ume st ubbor nl y and went t o her t abl e. I sat down acr oss f r omher ,
t r yi ng t o get a bet t er l ook at her f ace.
" How can you r ead i t l i ke t hat , unl ess i t ' s i n Br ai l l e?" I asked.
She r ai sed her head, and I r eal l y coul dn' t t el l whet her I was l ooki ng at her f ace or
t he nape of her neck. " What ?" she asked. " Oh. I can see t hr ough i t al l r i ght . " But
she l i f t ed her hai r as she spoke, and she had gr een eyes.
" You have gr een eyes. "
" Of cour se I do. I s t hat bad?"
" No. Ther e shoul d be mor e eyes l i ke t hat . "
That ' s how i t began.
" Eat . You' r e t hi n as a r ai l , " she sai d t o me at supper . At mi dni ght we wer e st i l l i n
t he Gr eek r est aur ant near Pi l ade' s, t he candl e gut t er i ng i n t he neck of t he bot t l e
as we t ol d each ot her ever yt hi ng. We di d al most t he same wor k: she checked
encycl opedi a ent r i es.
I f el t I had t o t el l her . At t wel ve- t hi r t y, when she pul l ed her hai r asi de t o see me
bet t er , I ai med a f or ef i nger at her , t humb r ai sed^ and went : " Pow. "
" Me t oo, " she sai d.
That ni ght we became f l esh of one f l esh, and f r omt hen on she cal l ed me Pow.
We coul dn' t af f or d a new house. I sl ept at her pl ace, and somet i mes she st ayed wi t h
me at t he of f i ce, or went of f i nvest i gat i ng, because she was smar t er t han I when i t
came t o f ol l owi ng up cl ues. She was good, al so, at suggest i ng connect i ons.
" We seemt o have a hal f - empt y f i l e on t he Rosi cr uci ans, " she sai d.
" I shoul d go back t o i t one of t hese days. They' r e not es I t ook i n Br azi l . . . "
" Wel l , put i n a cr oss r ef er ence t o Yeat s. "
" What ' s Yeat s got t o do wi t h i t ?"
" Pl ent y. I see her e t hat he bel onged t o a Rosi cr uci an soci et y t hat was cal l ed St el l a
Mat ut i na. "
" What woul d I do wi t hout you?"
I r esumed goi ng t o Pi l ade' s, because i t was l i ke a mar ket pl ace wher e I coul d f i nd
cust omer s.
One eveni ng I saw Bel bo agai n. He must have been comi ng r ar el y i n t he past f ew
year s, but he showed up r egul ar l y af t er meet i ng Lor enza Pel l egr i ni . He l ooked t he
same, maybe a bi t gr ayer , maybe sl i ght l y t hi nner .
I t was a cor di al meet i ng, gi ven t he l i mi t s of hi s expansi veness: a f ew r emar ks about
Page 108
t he ol d days, sober r et i cence about our compl i ci t y i n t hat l ast event and i t s
epi st ol ar y sequel . I nspect or De Angel i s hadn' t been hear d f r omagai n. Case cl osed?
Who coul d say?
I t ol d hi mabout my wor k, and he seemed i nt er est ed. " J ust t he ki nd of t hi ng I ' d l i ke
t o do: t he SamSpade of cul t ur e. Twent y bucks a day and expenses. "
" Except t hat no f asci nat i ng, myst er i ous women have dr opped i n on me, and nobody ever
comes t o t al k about t he Mal t ese f al con, " I sai d.
" You never can t el l . Ar e you enj oyi ng your sel f ?"
" Enj oyi ng mysel f ?" I asked. I quot ed hi m: " I t ' s t he onl y t hi ng I seemt o be abl e t o
do wel l . "
" Bon pour vous, " he sai d.
We saw each ot her agai n af t er t hat , and I t ol d hi mabout my Br azi l i an exper i ence,
but he seemed mor e absent t han usual . When Lor enza Pel l egr i ni wasn' t t her e, he kept
hi s eyes gl ued t o t he door , and when she was, he gl anced ner vousl y al ong t he bar ,
f ol l owi ng her ever y move. One ni ght near cl osi ng t i me, he sai d, wi t hout l ooki ng at
me, " Li st en, we mi ght be abl e t o use your ser vi ces, - but not f or a si ngl e
consul t at i on. Coul d you gi ve us, say, a f ew af t er noons each week?"
" We can di scuss i t . What does i t i nvol ve?"
" A st eel company has commi ssi oned a book about met al s. Somet hi ng wi t h a l ot of
i l l ust r at i ons. Ser i ous, but f or t he mass mar ket . You know t he sor t of t hi ng: met al s
i n hi st or y, f r omt he I r on Age t o spaceshi ps. We need somebody who' l l di g ar ound i n
l i br ar i es and ar chi ves and f i nd beaut i f ul i l l ust r at i ons, ol d mi ni at ur es, engr avi ngs
f r omni net eent h- cent ur y vol umes on smel t i ng, f or i nst ance, or l i ght ni ng r ods. "
" Al l r i ght . I ' l l dr op by t omor r ow. "
Lor enza Pel l egr i ni came over t o hi m. " Woul d you t ake me home?"
" Why me?" Bel bo asked.
" Because you' r e t he man of my dr eams. "
He bl ushed, as onl y he coul d bl ush, and l ooked away. " Ther e' s a wi t ness, " he sai d.
And t o me: " I ' mt he man of her dr eams. Thi s i s Lor enza. "
" Ci ao. "
" Ci ao. "
He got up, whi sper ed somet hi ng i n her ear .
She shook her head. " I asked f or a r i de home, t hat ' s al l . "
" Ah, " he sai d. " Excuse me, Casaubon, I have t o pl ay chauf f eur t o t he woman of
someone el se' s dr eams. "
" I di ot , ' ' she sai d t o hi mt ender l y, and ki ssed hi mon t he cheek.
36
Yet one caut i on l et me gi ve by t he way t o my pr esent or f ut ur e r eader , who i s
act ual l y mel anchol y- t hat he r ead not t he sympt omes or pr ognost i cks of t he f ol l owi ng
t r act , l est , by appl yi ng t hat whi ch he r eads t o hi msel f , aggr avat i ng, appr opr i at i ng
t hi ngs gener al l y spoken, t o hi s own per son ( as mel anchol y men f or t he most par t do) ,
he t r oubl e or hur t hi msel f , and get , i n concl usi on, mor e har mt han good. I advi se
t hemt her ef or e war i l y t o per use t hat t r act .
- Rober t Bur t on, The Anat omy of Mel anchol y, Oxf or d, 1621, I nt r oduct i on
I t was obvi ous t hat t her e was somet hi ng bet ween Bel bo and Lor enza Pel l egr i ni . I
di dn' t know exact l y what i t was or how l ong i t had been goi ng on. Abul af i a' s f i l es
di d not hel p me t o r econst r uct t he st or y.
Ther e i s no dat e, f or exampl e, on t he f i l e about t he di nner wi t h Dr . Wagner . Bel bo
knew Dr . Wagner bef or e my depar t ur e, and may wel l have been i n cont act wi t h hi m
af t er I st ar t ed wor ki ng at Gar amond, whi ch was when, i n f act , I got t o know hi m
mysel f . So t he di nner coul d have been bef or e or af t er t he eveni ng I have i n mi nd. I f
i t was bef or e, t hen I under st and Bel bo' s embar r assment , hi s sol emn desper at i on.
Dr . Wagner - an Aust r i an who f or year s had been pr act i ci ng i n Par i s ( hence t he
pr onunci at i on " Vagner e" f or t hose who want ed t o boast of t hei r f ami l i ar i t y wi t h
hi m) - had been comi ng t o Mi l an r egul ar l y f or about t en year s, at t he i nvi t at i on of
t wo r evol ut i onar y gr oups of t he post - ' 68 per i od. They f ought over hi m, and of cour se
each gr oup gave a r adi cal l y di f f er ent i nt er pr et at i on of hi s t hought . How and why
t hi s f amous man al l owed hi msel f t o be sponsor ed by ext r emi st s, I never under st ood.
Wagner ' s t heor i es had no pol i t i cal col or , so t o speak, and, had he want ed, he coul d
easi l y have been i nvi t ed by t he uni ver si t i es, t he cl i ni cs, t he academi es. I bel i eve
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he accept ed t he i nvi t at i ons because he was basi cal l y an epi cur ean and r equi r ed r egal
expense account s. The pr i vat e host s coul d r ai se mor e money t han t he i nst i t ut i ons,
and f or Dr . Wagner t hi s meant f i r st - cl ass t i cket s, l uxur y hot el s, pl us f ees i n
keepi ng wi t h hi s t her api st r at es, f or t he l ect ur es and semi nar s.
Why t he t wo gr oups f ound i deol ogi cal i nspi r at i on i n Wagner ' s t heor i es was anot her
st or y. But i n t hose days Wagner ' s br and of psychoanal ysi s seemed suf f i ci ent l y
deconst r uct i ve, di agonal , l i - bi di nal , and non- Car t esi an t o pr ovi de some t heor et i cal
j ust i f i cat i on f or r evol ut i onar y act i vi t y.
I t pr oved di f f i cul t t o get t he wor ker s t o swal l ow i t , so at a cer t ai n poi nt t he t wo
gr oups had t o choose bet ween t he wor ker s and Wagner . They chose Wagner . Whi ch gave
r i se t o t he t heor y t hat t he new r evol ut i onar y pr ot agoni st was not t he pr ol et ar i an
but t he devi at e.
" I nst ead of devi at i ng t he pr ol et ar i at , t hey woul d do bet t er t o pr ol et ar i ani ze t he
devi at es, whi ch woul d be mor e economi cal , consi der i ng Dr . Wagner ' s pr i ces, " Bel bo
sai d t o me one day.
The Wagner i an r evol ut i on was t he most expensi ve i n hi st or y.
Gar amond, subsi di zed by a uni ver si t y psychol ogy depar t ment , had publ i shed a
t r ansl at i on of Wagner ' s mi nor essays- ver y t echni cal , near l y i mpossi bl e t o f i nd, and
t her ef or e i n gr eat demand among t he f ai t hf ul . Wagner had come t o Mi l an f or a
publ i ci t y l aunch, and t hat was when hi s acquai nt ance wi t h Bel bo began.
FI LENAME: Dokt or Wagner
The di abol i cal Dokt or Wagner Twent y- si xt h i nst al l ment
Who, on t hat gr ay mor ni ng of
Dur i ng t he di scussi on I r ai sed an obj ect i on. The sat ani c ol d man must have been
i r r i t at ed, but he di dn' t l et i t show. On t he cont r ar y, he r epl i ed as i f he want ed t o
seduce me.
Li ke Char l us wi t h J upi en, bee and f l ower . A geni us can' t bear not bei ng l oved; he
must i mmedi at el y seduce t he di ssent er , make t he di ssent er l ove hi m. He succeeded. I
l oved hi m.
But he must not have f or gi ven me, because t hat eveni ng of t he di vor ce he deal t me a
mor t al bl ow. Unconsci ousl y, i nst i nct i vel y, not t hi nki ng, he seduced me, and
unconsci ousl y, he puni shed me. Though i t cost hi mdeont ol ogi cal l y, he psychoanal yzed
me f r ee. The unconsci ous bi t es even i t s handl er s.
St or y of t he Mar qui s de Lant enac i n Quat r e- vi ngt - t r ei i e. The shi p of t he Vendeei ens
i s sai l i ng t hr ough a st or mof f t he Br et on coast . Suddenl y a cannon sl i ps i t s
moor i ngs, and as t he shi p pi t ches and r ol l s i t begi ns a mad r ace f r omr ai l t o r ai l ,
an i mmense beast smashi ng l ar boar d and st ar boar d. A cannoneer ( al as, t he ver y one
whose negl i gence had l ef t t he cannon i mpr oper l y secur ed) sei zes a chai n and wi t h
unpar al l el ed cour age f l i ngs hi msel f at t he monst er , whi ch near l y cr ushes hi m, but he
st ops i t , bol t s i t f ast , l eads i t back t o i t s st al l , savi ng t he shi p, t he cr ew, t he
mi ssi on. Wi t h subl i me l i t ur gy, t he f ear some Lant enac must er s al l t he men on deck,
pr ai ses t he cannoneer ' s her oi sm, t akes an i mpr essi ve medal f r omar ound hi s own neck
and put s i t on t he man, embr aces hi m, and t he cr ew makes t he wel ki n r i ng wi t h i t s
hur r ahs.
Then st er n Lant enac, r emi ndi ng t he honor ed sai l or t hat he was r esponsi bl e f or t he
danger i n t he f i r st pl ace, or der s hi mt o be shot .
Spl endi d, j ust Lant enac, man of vi r t ue, above cor r upt i on. And t hi s i s what Dr .
Wagner di d f or me: he honor ed me wi t h hi s f r i endshi p, and execut ed me wi t h t he
t r ut h.
and execut ed me, r eveal i ng t o me what I desi r ed
r eveal i ng t o me t hat t he t hi ng t hat I desi r ed, I f ear ed.
Begi n t he st or y i n a bar . The need t o f al l i n l ove.
Some t hi ngs you can f eel comi ng. You don' t f al l i n l ove because you f al l i n l ove;
you f al l i n l ove because of t he need, desper at e, t o f al l i n l ove. When you f eel t hat
need, you have t o wat ch your st ep: l i ke havi ng dr unk a phi l t er , t he ki nd t hat makes
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you f al l i n l ove wi t h t he f i r st t hi ng you meet . I t coul d be a duck- bi l l ed pl at ypus.
Because at t hat t i me I f el t t he need. I had j ust gi ven up dr i nki ng. Rel at i onshi p
bet ween t he l i ver and t he hear t . A new l ove i s a good r eason f or goi ng back t o
dr i nk. Somebody t o go t o a bar wi t h. Feel good wi t h.
The bar i s br i ef , f ur t i ve. I t al l ows you a l ong, sweet expect at i on t hr ough t he day,
t hen you go and hi de i n t he shadows among t he l eat her chai r s; at si x i n t he eveni ng
t her e' s nobody t her e, t he sor di d cl i ent el e comes l at er , wi t h t he pi ano man. Choose a
l ouche Amer i can bar empt y i n t he l at e af t er noon. The wai t er comes onl y i f you cal l
hi mt hr ee t i mes, and he has t he next mar t i ni r eady.
I t has t o be a mar t i ni . Not whi skey, a mar t i ni . The l i qui d i s cl ear . You r ai se your
gl ass and you see her over t he ol i ve. The di f f er ence bet ween l ooki ng at your bel oved
t hr ough a dr y mar t i ni st r ai ght up, wher e t he gl ass i s smal l , t hi n, and l ooki ng at
her t hr ough a mar t i ni on t he r ocks, t hr ough t hi ck- gl ass, and her f ace br oken by t he
t r anspar ent cubi smof t he i ce. The ef f ect i s doubl ed i f you each pr ess your gl ass t o
your f or ehead, f eel i ng t he chi l l , and l ean cl ose unt i l t he gl asses t ouch. For ehead
t o f or ehead wi t h t wo gl asses i n bet ween. You can' t do t hat wi t h mar t i ni gl asses.
The br i ef hour of t he bar . Af t er war d, t r embl i ng, you awai t anot her day. Fr ee of t he
bl ackmai l of cer t ai nt y.
He who f al l s i n l ove i n bar s doesn' t need a woman al l hi s own. He can al ways f i nd
one on l oan.
Hi s r ol e. He al l owed her gr eat f r eedom, he was al ways t r avel i ng. Hi s suspect
gener osi t y: I coul d t el ephone even at mi dni ght . He was t her e, you wer en' t . He sai d
you wer e out . Act ual l y, whi l e I have you on t he l i ne, do you have any i dea wher e she
i s? The onl y moment s of j eal ousy. But st i l l , i n t hat way I was t aki ng Ceci l i a f r om
t he sax pl ayer . To l ove, or bel i eve you l ove, as an et er nal pr i est of an anci ent
vengeance.
Wi t h Sandr a, t hi ngs wer e compl i cat ed. That t i me she deci ded I was t oo i nvol ved. Our
l i f e as a coupl e had become st r ai ned. Shoul d we br eak up? Let ' s br eak up, t hen. No,
wai t , l et ' s t al k i t over . No, we can' t go on l i ke t hi s. The pr obl em, i n a nut shel l ,
was Sandr a.
When you hang out i n bar s, t he dr ama of l ove i sn' t t he women you f i nd but t he women
you l eave.
Then comes t he di nner wi t h Dr . Wagner . At t he l ect ur e he had j ust gi ven a heckl er a
def i ni t i on of psychoanal ysi s. La psychanal yse? C' est qu' ent r e 1' homme et l a
f emme. . . cher s ami s. . . ca ne col l e pas.
Ther e was di scussi on: t he coupl e, di vor ce as a l egal f i ct i on. Taken up by my own
pr obl ems, I par t i ci pat ed i nt ensel y. We al l owed our sel ves t o be dr awn i nt o
di al ect i cal exchanges, speaki ng whi l e Wagner was si l ent , f or get t i ng t her e was an
or acl e i n our pr esence. And i t was wi t h a pensi ve
and i t was wi t h a sl y expr essi on
and i t was wi t h mel anchol y det achment
and i t was as i f he ent er ed our conver sat i on pl ayf ul l y, of f t he subj ect , he sai d ( I
r emember hi s exact wor ds; t hey ar e car ved on my mi nd) : I n pr of essi onal l i f e not once
have I had a pat i ent made neur ot i c by hi s own di vor ce. The cause of t he t r oubl e was
al ways t he di vor ce of t he Ot her .
Dr . Wagner al ways sai d Ot her wi t h a capi t al O. I gave a st ar t , as i f bi t t en by an
asp.
t he vi scount st ar t ed, as i f bi t t en by an asp a col d sweat beaded hi s br ow
t he bar on peer ed at hi mt hr ough t he" l azy whor l s of smoke f r omhi s t hi n Russi an
ci gar et t e
Ar e you sayi ng, I asked, t hat a per son has a br eakdown not because he i s di vor ced
but on account of t he di vor ce, whi ch may or may not happen, of t he t hi r d par t y, t hat
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i s, of t he one who cr eat ed t he cr i si s f or t he coupl e of whi ch he i s a member ?
Wagner l ooked at me wi t h t he puzzl ement of a l ayman who encount er s a ment al l y
di st ur bed per son f or t he f i r st t i me. He asked me what I meant . To t el l t he t r ut h,
what ever I meant , I had expr essed i t badl y. I t r i ed t o be mor e concr et e. I t ook a
spoon f r omt he t abl e and put i t next t o a f or k. Her e, t hi s i s me, Spoon, mar r i ed t o
her , For k. And her e i s anot her coupl e: she' s Fr ui t Kni f e, mar r i ed t o St eak Kni f e,
al i as Macki e Messer . Now I , Spoon, bel i eve I ' msuf f er i ng because I have t o l eave
For k and I don' t want t o; I l ove Fr ui t Kni f e, but i t ' s al l r i ght wi t h me i f she
st ays wi t h St eak Kni f e. And now you' r e t el l i ng me, Dr . Wagner , t hat t he r eal r eason
I ' msuf f er i ng i s t hat Fr ui t Kni f e won' t l eave St eak Kni f e. I s t hat i t ?
Wagner t ol d someone el se at t he t abl e t hat he had sai d not hi ng of t he sor t .
What do you mean, you di dn' t say i t ? You sai d t hat not once had you come acr oss
anyone made neur ot i c by hi s own di vor ce, i t was al ways t he di vor ce of t he Ot her .
That may be, I don' t r emember , Wagner sai d t hen, bor ed.
I f you di d say i t , di d you mean what I under st ood you t o mean?
Wagner was si l ent f or a f ew moment s.
Whi l e t he ot her s wai t ed, not even swal l owi ng, Wagner si gnal ed f or hi s wi negl ass t o
be f i l l ed. He l ooked car ef ul l y at t he l i qui d agai nst t he l i ght and f i nal l y spoke.
What you under st ood was what you want ed t o under st and.
Then he l ooked away, sai d i t was hot , hummed an ar i a, moved a br eadst i ck as i f he
wer e conduct i ng an or chest r a, yawned, concent r at ed on a cake wi t h whi pped cr eam, and
f i nal l y, af t er anot her si l ence, asked t o be t aken back t o hi s hot el .
The ot her s l ooked at me as i f I had r ui ned a symposi umf r omwhi ch Wor ds of Wi sdom
mi ght have come.
The t r ut h i s t hat I had hear d Tr ut h speak.
I t el ephoned. You wer e at home, and wi t h t he Ot her . I spent a sl eepl ess ni ght . I t
was al l cl ear : I coul dn' t bear your bei ng wi t h hi m. Sandr a had not hi ng t o do wi t h
i t .
Si x dr amat i c mont hs f ol l owed, i n whi ch I cl ung t o you, br eat hed down your neck,
t r yi ng t o under mi ne your coupl ehood, t el l i ng you I want ed you f or mysel f , convi nci ng
you t hat you hat ed t he Ot her . You began quar r el i ng wi t h hi m, and he gr ew j eal ous,
demandi ng; he never went out i n t he eveni ng, and when he was t r avel i ng he cal l ed
t wi ce a day, i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni ght , and one ni ght he sl apped you. You asked me
f or money so you coul d r un away. I col l ect ed t he l i t t l e I had i n t he bank. You
abandoned t he conj ugal bed, went of f t o t he mount ai ns wi t h f r i ends, no f or war di ng
addr ess. The Ot her t el ephoned me i n despai r , asked i f I knew wher e you wer e; I
di dn' t know, but i t l ooked as i f I wer e l yi ng, because you t ol d hi myou wer e l eavi ng
hi mf or me.
When you r et ur ned, you announced, r adi ant , t hat you had wr i t t en hi ma l et t er of
f ar ewel l . I wonder ed t hen what woul d happen wi t h me and Sandr a, but you di dn' t gi ve
me t i me t o wor r y, you t ol d me you had met t hi s man wi t h a scar on hi s cheek and a
ver y gypsy apar t ment . You wer e goi ng t o l i ve wi t h hi m.
Don' t you l ove me anymor e?
Of cour se I do, you' r e t he onl y man i n my l i f e, but af t er ever yt hi ng t hat ' s happened
I need t o have t hi s exper i ence, don' t be chi l di sh, t r y t o under st and. Af t er al l , I
l ef t my husband f or you. Let peopl e f ol l ow t hei r t empo.
Thei r t empo? You' r e t el l i ng me you' r e goi ng of f wi t h anot her man.
You' r e an i nt el l ect ual and a l ef t i st . Don' t act l i ke a maf i oso. I ' l l see you soon.
I owe ever yt hi ng t o Dr . Wagner .
37
Whoever r ef l ect s on f our t hi ngs, i t wer e bet t er he had never been bor n: t hat whi ch
i s above, t hat whi ch i s bel ow, t hat whi ch i s bef or e, and t hat whi ch i s af t er .
- Tal mud, Hagi gah 2. 1
I showed up at Gar amond t he mor ni ng t hey wer e i nst al l i ng Abu- l af i a, as Bel bo and
Di ot al l evi wer e l ost i n a di at r i be about t he names of God, and Gudr un suspi ci ousl y
Page 112
wat ched t he men who wer e i nt r oduci ng t hi s new, di st ur bi ng pr esence among t he
i ncr easi ngl y dust y pi l es of manuscr i pt s.
" Si t down, Casaubon. Her e ar e t he pl ans f or our hi st or y of met al s. " We wer e l ef t
al one, and Bel bo showed me i ndexes, chapt er out l i nes, suggest ed l ayout s. I was t o
r ead t he t ext s and f i nd i l l ust r at i ons. I ment i oned sever al Mi l an l i br ar i es t hat
seemed pr omi si ng sour ces.
" That won' t be enough, " Bel bo sai d. " You' l l have t o vi si t ot her pl aces, t oo. The
sci ence museumi n Muni ch, f or i nst ance, has a spl endi d phot ogr aphi c ar chi ve. I n
Par i s t her e' s t he Conser vat oi r e des Ar t s et Met i er s. I ' d go back t her e mysel f , i f I
had t i me. "
" I nt er est i ng?"
" Di st ur bi ng. The t r i umph of t he machi ne, housed i n a Got hi c chur ch. . . " He hesi t at ed,
r eal i gned some paper s on hi s desk. Then, as i f af r ai d of gi vi ng t oo much i mpor t ance
t o t he st at ement , he sai d, " And t her e' s t he Pendul um. "
" What pendul um?"
" The Pendul um. Foucaul t ' s Pendul um. "
And he descr i bed i t t o me, j ust as I saw i t t wo days ago, Sat ur day. Maybe I saw i t
t he way I saw i t because Bel bo had pr epar ed me f or t he si ght . But at t he t i me I must
not have shown much ent husi asm, because Bel bo l ooked at me as i f I wer e a man who,
seei ng t he Si st i ne Chapel , asks: I s t hi s al l ?
" I t may be t he at mospher e- t hat i t ' s i n a chur ch- but , bel i eve me, you f eel a ver y
st r ong sensat i on. The i dea t hat ever yt hi ng el se i s i n mot i on and up above i s t he
onl y f i xed poi nt i n t he uni ver se. . . For t hose who have no f ai t h, i t ' s a way of
f i ndi ng God agai n, and wi t hout chal l engi ng t hei r unbel i ef , because i t i s a nul l
pol e. I t can be ver y comf or t i ng f or peopl e of my gener at i on, who at e di sappoi nt ment
f or br eakf ast , l unch, and di nner . ' '
" My gener at i on at e even mor e di sappoi nt ment . "
" Don' t br ag. Anyway, you' r e wr ong. For you i t was j ust a phase. You sang t he
' Car magnol e, ' and t hen you al l met i n t he Vended. For us i t was di f f er ent . Fi r st
t her e was Fasci sm, and even i f we wer e ki ds and saw i t as an advent ur e st or y, our
nat i on' s i mmor t al dest i ny was a f i xed poi nt . The next f i xed poi nt was t he
Resi st ance, especi al l y f or peopl e l i ke me, who obser ved i t f r omt he out si de and
t ur ned i t i nt o a r i t e of passage, t he r et ur n of spr i ng- l i ke an equi nox or a
sol st i ce; I al ways get t hemmi xed up. . . For some, t he next t hi ng was God; f or some,
t he wor ki ng cl ass; and f or many, bot h. I nt el l ect ual s f el t good cont empl at i ng t he
handsome wor ker , heal t hy, st r ong, r eady t o r emake t he wor l d. And now, as you' ve seen
f or your sel f , wor ker s exi st , but not t he wor ki ng cl ass. Per haps i t was ki l l ed i n
Hungar y. Then came your gener at i on. For you per sonal l y, what happened was nat ur al ;
i t pr obabl y seemed l i ke a hol i day. But not f or t hose my age. For us, i t was a
set t l i ng of scor es, a t i me of r emor se, r epent ance, r egener at i on. We had f ai l ed, and
you wer e ar r i vi ng wi t h your ent husi asm, cour age, sel f - cr i t i ci sm. Br i ngi ng hope t o
us, who by t hen wer e t hi r t y- f i ve or f or t y, hope and humi l i at i on, but st i l l hope. We
had t o be l i ke you, even at t he pr i ce of st ar t i ng over f r omt he begi nni ng. We
st opped wear i ng t i es, we t hr ew away our t r ench coat s and bought secondhand duf f l e
coat s. Some qui t t hei r j obs r at her t han ser ve t he Est abl i shment . . . "
He l i t a ci gar et t e and pr et ended t hat he had onl y been pr et endi ng bi t t er ness. An
apol ogy f or l et t i ng hi msel f go.
" And t hen you gave i t al l up. We, wi t h our peni t ent i al pi l gr i mages t o Buchenwal d,
r ef used t o wr i t e adver t i si ng copy f or Coca- Col a because we wer e ant i f asci st s. We
wer e cont ent t o wor k f or peanut s at Gar amond, because at l east books wer e f or t he
peopl e. But you, t o avenge your sel ves on t he bour geoi si e you hadn' t managed t o
over t hr ow, sol d t hemvi deocasset t es and f anzi nes, br ai nwashed t hemwi t h Zen and t he
ar t of mot or cycl e mai nt enance. You' ve made us buy, at a di scount , your copi es of t he
t hought of Chai r man Mao, and used t he money t o pur chase f i r ewor ks f or t he
cel ebr at i on of t he new cr eat i vi t y. Shamel essl y. Whi l e we spent our l i ves bei ng
ashamed. You t r i cked us, you di dn' t r epr esent pur i t y; i t was onl y adol escent acne.
You made us f eel l i ke wor ms because we l acked t he cour age t o f ace t he Bol i vi an
mi l i t i a, and you st ar t ed shoot i ng a f ew poor bast ar ds i n t he back whi l e t hey wer e
wal ki ng down t he st r eet . Ten year s ago, we had t o l i e t o get you out of j ai l ; you
l i ed t o send your f r i ends t o j ai l . That ' s why I l i ke t hi s machi ne: i t ' s st upi d, i t
doesn' t bel i eve, i t doesn' t make me bel i eve, i t j ust does what I t el l i t . St upi d me,
st upi d machi ne. An honest r el at i onshi p. "
" But I - "
Page 113
" You' r e i nnocent , Casaubon. You r an away i nst ead of t hr owi ng st ones, you got your
degr ee, you di dn' t shoot anybody. Yet a f ew year s ago I f el t you, t oo, wer e
bl ackmai l i ng me. Not hi ng per sonal , j ust gener at i onal cycl es. And t hen l ast year ,
when I saw t he Pendul um, I under st ood ever yt hi ng. "
" Ever yt hi ng?"
" Al most ever yt hi ng. You see, Casaubon, even t he Pendul umi s a f al se pr ophet . You
l ook at i t , you t hi nk i t ' s t he onl y f i xed poi nt i n t he cosmos, but i f you det ach i t
f r omt he cei l i ng of t he Conser vat oi r e and hang i t i n a br ot hel , i t wor ks j ust t he
same. And t her e ar e ot her pendul ums: t her e' s one i n New Yor k, i n t he UN bui l di ng,
t her e' s one i n t he sci ence museumi n San Fr anci sco, and God knows how many ot her s.
Wher ever you put i t , Foucaul t ' s Pendul umswi ngs f r oma mot i onl ess poi nt whi l e t he
ear t h r ot at es beneat h i t . Ever y poi nt of t he uni ver se i s a f i xed poi nt : al l you have
t o do i s hang t he Pendul umf r omi t . "
" God i s ever ywher e?"
" I n a sense, yes. That ' s why t he Pendul umdi st ur bs me. I t pr omi ses t he i nf i ni t e, but
wher e t o put t he i nf i ni t e i s l ef t t o me. So i t i sn' t enough t o wor shi p t he Pendul um;
you st i l l have t o make a deci si on, you have t o f i nd t he best poi nt f or i t . And
yet . . . "
" And yet ?"
" And yet . . . You' r e not t aki ng me ser i ousl y by any chance, ar e you, Casaubon? No, I
can r est easy; we' r e not t he t ype t o t ake t hi ngs ser i ousl y. . . Wel l , as I was sayi ng,
t he f eel i ng you have i s t hat you' ve spent a l i f et i me hangi ng t he Pendul umi n many
pl aces, and i t ' s never wor ked, but t her e, i n t he Conser vat oi r e, i t wor ks. . . Do you
t hi nk t her e ar e speci al pl aces i n t he uni ver se? On t he cei l i ng of t hi s r oom, f or
exampl e? No, nobody woul d bel i eve t hat . You need at mospher e. I don' t know, maybe
we' r e al ways l ooki ng f or t he r i ght pl ace, maybe i t ' s wi t hi n r each, but we don' t
r ecogni ze i t . Maybe, t o r ecogni ze i t , we have t o bel i eve i n i t . Wel l , l et ' s go see
Si gnor Gar amond. "
" To hang t he Pendul um?"
" Ah, human f ol l y! Now we have t o be ser i ous. I f you' r e goi ng t o be pai d, t he boss
must see you, t ouch you, sni f f you, and say you' l l do. Come and l et t he boss t ouch
you; t he boss' s t ouch heal s scr of ul a. "
38
Pr i nce of Babyl on, Kni ght of t he Bl ack Cr oss, Kni ght of Deat h, Subl i me Mast er of t he
Lumi nous Ri ng, Pr i est of t he Sun, Gr and Ar chi t ect , Kni ght of t he Bl ack and Whi t e
Eagl e, Hol y Royal Ar ch, Kni ght of t he Phoeni x, Kni ght of I r i s, Pr i est of El eusi s,
Kni ght of t he Gol den Fl eece.
- Hi gh gr ades of t he Anci ent and Accept ed Scot t i sh Ri t e
We wal ked al ong t he cor r i dor , cl i mbed t hr ee st eps, went t hr ough a f r ost ed- gl ass
door , and abr upt l y ent er ed anot her uni ver se. The r ooms I had seen so f ar wer e dar k,
dust y, wi t h peel i ng pai nt , but t hi s l ooked l i ke a VI P l ounge at an ai r por t . Sof t
musi c, a pl ush wai t i ng r oomwi t h desi gner f ur ni t ur e, pal e- bl ue wal l s decor at ed wi t h
phot ogr aphs showi ng gent l emen who l ooked l i ke Member s of Par l i ament pr esent i ng
Wi nged Vi ct or i es t o gent l emen who l ooked l i ke senat or s. On a cof f ee t abl e, as i n a
dent i st ' s of f i ce, wer e sl i ck magazi nes, i n casual di sar r ay, wi t h t i t l es l i ke
Li t er at ur e and Wi t , The Poet i c At hanor , The Rose and t he Thor n, The I t al i c
Par nassus, Fr ee Ver se. I had never seen any of t hembef or e, and I l at er f ound out
why: t hey wer e di st r i but ed onl y t o Manut i us cl i ent s.
At f i r st I t hought t hese wer e t he of f i ces of t he Gar amond di r ect or s, but I soon
l ear ned ot her wi se. Thi s was anot her publ i shi ng f i r ment i r el y. The Gar amond l obby had
a l i t t l e gl ass case, dust y and cl ouded, di spl ayi ng t he l at est publ i cat i ons, but t he
books wer e unassumi ng, wi t h uncut pages and sober gr ay cover s i mi t at i ng Fr ench
uni ver si t y publ i cat i ons. The paper was t he ki nd t hat t ur ned yel l ow i n a f ew year s,
gi vi ng t he i mpr essi on t hat t he aut hor , no mat t er how young, had been publ i shi ng f or
a l ong t i me. But her e t he gl ass case, l i ght ed i nsi de, di spl ayed Manut i us books, some
of t hemopened t o r eveal br i ght pages. They had gl eami ng whi t e cover s sheat hed i n
el egant t r anspar ent pl ast i c, wi t h handsome r i ce paper and cl ean pr i nt .
Wher eas t he Gar amond cat al og cont ai ned such schol ar l y ser i es as Humani st St udi es and
Phi l osophi a, t he Manut i us ser i es wer e del i cat el y, poet i cal l y named: The Fl ower
Unpl ucked ( poet r y) , Ter r a I ncogni t a ( f i ct i on) , The Hour of t he Ol eander ( i ncl udi ng
Page 114
Di ar y of a Young Gi r l ' s I l l ness) , East er I sl and ( assor t ed nonf i ct i on, I bel i eve) ,
New At l ant i s ( t he most r ecent r el ease bei ng Kdni gsber g Revi si t ed: Pr ol egomena t o Any
Fut ur e Met aphysi cs Pr esent ed as Bot h a Tr anscendent al Syst emand a Sci ence of t he
Phenomenal Noumenon) . On ever y cover t her e was t he f i r m' s l ogo: a pel i can under a
pal mt r ee, wi t h t he D' Annunzi an mot t o " I have what I have gi ven. "
Bel bo had been l aconi c: Si gnor Gar amond owned t wo publ i shi ng houses. I n t he days
t hat f ol l owed, I r eal i zed t hat t he passageway bet ween Gar amond and Manut i us was
pr i vat e and secr et . The of f i ci al ent r ance t o Manut i us Pr ess was on Vi a Mar chese
Gual di , t he st r eet i n whi ch t he pur ul ent wor l d of Vi a Si ncer o Renat o ceded t o
spot l ess f acades, spaci ous si dewal ks, l obbi es wi t h al umi numel evat or s. No one coul d
have suspect ed t hat an apar t ment i n an ol d Vi a Si ncer o Renat o bui l di ng mi ght be
j oi ned, by a mer e t hr ee st eps, t o a bui l di ng on Vi a Mar chese Gual di . To obt ai n
per mi ssi on f or t hi s, Si gnor Gar amond must have Had t o per f or mf eat s of per suasi on. I
bel i eve he had hel p f r omone of hi s aut hor s, an of f i ci al i n t he Ci t y Pl anni ng
Bur eau.
We wer e r ecei ved pr ompt l y by Si gnor a Gr azi a, bl and and mat r onl y, her desi gner scar f
and sui t t he exact col or of t he wal l s. Wi t h a guar ded smi l e she showed us i nt o an
of f i ce t hat r ecal l ed Mussol i ni ' s.
The r oomwas not so i mmense, but i t suggest ed t hat hal l i n t he Pal azzo Venezi a.
Her e, t oo, t her e was a gl obe near t he door , and at t he f ar end t he mahogany desk of
Si gnor Gar amond, who seemed t o be l ooki ng at us t hr ough r ever sed bi nocul ar s. He
mot i oned us t o appr oach, and I f el t i nt i mi dat ed. Lat er , when De Guber nat i s came i n,
Gar amond got up and went t o gr eet hi m, an act of cor di al i t y t hat enhanced even mor e
t he publ i sher ' s i mpor t ance. The vi si t or f i r st wat ches hi mcr oss t he r oom, t hen
cr osses i t hi msel f , ar mi n ar mwi t h hi s host , and as i f by magi c t he space i s
doubl ed.
Gar amond waved us t o seat s opposi t e hi s desk. He was br usque but f r i endl y: " Dr .
Bel bo speaks hi ghl y of you, Dr . Ca- saubon. We need good men. You r eal i ze, of cour se,
we' r e not put t i ng you on t he st af f . Can' t af f or d i t . But you' l l be wel l pai d f or
your ef f or t s. For your devot i on, i f I may say so, because I consi der our wor k a
mi ssi on. "
He ment i oned a f l at f ee based on est i mat ed hour s of wor k; i t seemed r easonabl e f or
t hose t i mes. I accept ed.
" Excel l ent , Casaubon. " Now t hat I was an empl oyee, t he t i t l e di sappear ed. " Thi s
hi st or y of met al s, " he went on, " must be spl endi d- mor e, a t hi ng of beaut y. Popul ar ,
but schol ar l y, t oo. I t must cat ch t he r eader ' s i magi nat i on. An exampl e. Her e i n t he
f i r st dr af t t her e i s ment i on of t hese spher es- what wer e t hey cal l ed? Yes, t he
Magdebur g hemi spher es. Two hemi spher es whi ch, when put t oget her and t he ai r i s
pumped out , cr eat e a pneumat i c vacuumi nsi de. Teams of dr af t hor ses ar e hi t ched t o
t hemand t hey pul l i n opposi t e di r ect i ons. The hor ses can' t separ at e t he
hemi spher es. Thi s i s sci ent i f i c i nf or mat i on. But i t ' s speci al , i t ' s pi ct ur esque. You
must si ngl e i t out f r omal l t he ot her i nf or mat i on, t hen f i nd t he r i ght i mage- a
f r esco, an oi l , what ever - and we' l l gi ve i t a f ul l page, i n col or . "
" Ther e' s an engr avi ng I know of , " I sai d.
" You see? Br avo! A whol e page. Ful l col or . "
" Si nce i t ' s an engr avi ng, i t ' l l have t o be i n bl ack and whi t e, " I sai d.
" Real l y? Fi ne, bl ack and whi t e i t i s. Accur acy above al l . But agai nst a gol d
backgr ound. I t has t o st r i ke t he r eader , make hi mf eel he' s t her e on t he day t he
exper i ment was car r i ed out . See what I mean? Sci ence, r eal i sm, passi on. Wi t h sci ence
you can gr ab t he r eader by t he t hr oat . What coul d be mor e dr amat i c t han Madame Cur i e
comi ng home one eveni ng and seei ng t hat phosphor escent gl ow i n t he dar k? Oh, my
goodness, what ever can t hat be? Hydr ocar bon, gol conda, phl ogi st on, what ever t he hel l
t hey cal l ed i t , and voi l a, Mar i e Cur i e i nvent s X r ays. Dr amat i ze! But wi t h absol ut e
r espect f or t he t r ut h. "
" What connect i on do X r ays have wi t h met al s?" I asked.
" I sn' t r adi uma met al ?"
" Yes. "
" Wel l t hen. The ent i r e body of knowl edge can be vi ewed f r omt he st andpoi nt of
met al s. What di d we deci de t o cal l t he book, Bel bo?"
" We wer e t hi nki ng of somet hi ng sober , l i ke Met al s. "
" Yes, i t has t o be sober . But wi t h t hat ext r a hook, t hat l i t t l e det ai l t hat t el l s
t he whol e st or y. Let ' s see. . . Met al s: A Wor l d Hi st or y. Ar e t her e Chi nese i n i t , t oo?"
" Yes. "
Page 115
" Wor l d, t hen. Not an adver t i si ng gi mmi ck: i t ' s t he t r ut h. Wai t , I know: The
Wonder f ul Advent ur e of Met al s. "
I t was at t hat moment Si gnor a Gr azi a announced t he ar r i val of Commendat or e De
Guber nat i s. Si gner Gar amond hesi t at ed, gave me a dubi ous l ook. Bel bo made a si gn, as
i f t o say t hat I coul d be t r ust ed. Gar amond or der ed t he guest t o be shown i n and
went t o gr eet hi m. De Guber nat i s wor e a doubl e- br east ed sui t , a r oset t e i n hi s
l apel , a f ount ai n pen i n hi s br east pocket , a f ol ded newspaper i n hi s si de pocket , a
l eat her et t e br i ef case under hi s ar m.
" Ah, my dear Commendat or e, " Gar amond sai d, " come r i ght i n. Our dear f r i end De
Ambr osi i s t ol d me al l about you. A l i f e spent i n t he ser vi ce of t he st at e. And a
secr et poet i c vei n, yes? Show me, show me t he t r easur e you hol d i n your hands. . . But
f i r st l et me i nt r oduce t wo of my seni or edi t or s. "
He seat ed t he vi si t or i n f r ont of t he desk, cl ut t er ed wi t h manuscr i pt s, whi l e hi s
hands, t r embl i ng wi t h ant i ci pat i on, car essed t he cover of t he wor k hel d out t o hi m.
" Not a wor d. I know ever yt hi ng. You come f r omVi t i peno, t hat gr eat and nobl e ci t y.
You wer e i n t he cust oms ser vi ce. And, secr et l y, ni ght af t er ni ght , you f i l l ed t hese
pages, f i r ed by t he demon of poet r y. Poet r y. . . i t consumed Sappho' s young year s, i t
nour i shed Goet he' s ol d age. Dr ug, t he Gr eeks cal l ed i t , bot h poi son and medi ci ne.
Nat ur al l y, we' l l have t o r ead t hi s cr eat i on of your s. I al ways i nsi st on at l east
t hr ee r eader s' r epor t s, one i n- house and t wo f r omconsul t ant s ( who must r emai n
anonymous; you' l l f or gi ve me, but t hey ar e qui t e pr omi nent peopl e) . Manut i us doesn' t
publ i sh a book unl ess we' r e sur e of i t s qual i t y, and qual i t y, as you know bet t er
t han I , i s an i mpal pabl e, i t can be det ect ed onl y wi t h a si xt h sense. A book may
have i mper f ect i ons, f l aws- even Svevo somet i mes wr ot e badl y, as you know bet t er t han
I - but , by God, you st i l l f eel t he i dea, r hyt hm, power . I know- don' t say i t . The
moment I gl anced at t he i nci pi t of your f i r st page, I f el t somet hi ng, but I don' t
want t o j udge on my own, t hough t i me and agai n- ah, yes, of t en- when t he r eader s'
r epor t s wer e l ukewar m, I over r ul ed t hem, because you can' t j udge an aut hor wi t hout
havi ng gr asped, so t o speak, hi s r hyt hm, and her e, f or exampl e, I open t hi s wor k of
your s at r andomand my eyes f al l on a ver se, ' As i n aut umn, t he wan eyel i d' . . . Wel l ,
I don' t know how i t cont i nues, but I sense an i nspi r at i on, I see an i mage. Ther e ar e
t i mes you st ar t a wor k l i ke t hi s wi t h a sur ge of ecst asy, car r i ed away. Cel a di t , my
dear f r i end, ah, i f onl y we coul d al ways do what we l i ke! But publ i shi ng, t oo, i s a
busi ness, per haps t he nobl est of al l , but st i l l a busi ness. Do you have any i dea
what pr i nt er s char ge t hese days? And t he cost of paper ? J ust l ook at t hi s mor ni ng' s
news: t he r i se of t he pr i me r at e on Wal l St r eet . Doesn' t af f ect us, you say? Ah, but
i t does. Do you know t hey t ax even our i nvent or y? And t hey t ax r et ur ns, t he books I
don' t sel l . Yes, I pay even f or f ai l ur e- such i s t he cal var y of geni us unr ecogni zed
by t he phi l i st i nes. Thi s oni onski n- most r ef i ned of you, i f I may say so, t o t ype
your t ext on such t hi n paper . I t smacks of t he poet . The t ypi cal cl od woul d have
used par chment t o dazzl e t he eye and conf use t he spi r i t , but her e i s poet r y wr i t t en
wi t h t he hear t - t hi s oni onski n mi ght as wel l be paper money. "
The phone r ang. I l at er l ear ned t hat Gar amond had pr essed a but t on under t he desk,
and Si gnor a Gr azi a had sent t hr ough a f ake cal l .
" My dear Maest r o! What ? Spl endi d! Gr eat news! Ri ng out , wi l d bel l s! A new book f r om
your pen i s al ways an event . Why, of cour se! Manut i us i s pr oud, moved- mor e,
t hr i l l ed- t o number you among i t s aut hor s. You saw what t he paper s wr ot e about your
l at est epi c poem? Nobl e mat er i al . Unf or t unat el y, you' r e ahead of your t i me. We had
t r oubl e sel l i ng t he t hr ee t housand copi es. . . "
Commendat or e De Guber nat i s bl anched: t hr ee t housand copi es was an achi evement beyond
hi s dr eams.
" Sal es di dn' t cover t he pr oduct i on cost s. Take a l ook t hr ough t he gl ass door s and
you' l l see how many peopl e I have i n t he edi t or i al depar t ment . For a book t o br eak
even nowadays I have t o sel l at l east t en t housand copi es, and l ucki l y I sel l mor e
t han t hat i n many cases, but t hose ar e wr i t er s wi t h- how shal l I put i t ?- a di f f er ent
vocat i on. Bal zac was gr eat , and hi s books sol d l i ke hot cakes; Pr oust was equal l y
gr eat , but he publ i shed at hi s own expense. You' l l end up i n school ant hol ogi es, but
not on t he st ands i n t r ai n st at i ons. The same t hi ng happened t o J oyce, who, l i ke
Pr oust , publ i shed at hi s own expense. I can al l ow mysel f t he pr i vi l ege of br i ngi ng
out a book l i ke your s once ever y t wo or t hr ee year s. Gi ve me t hr ee year s' t i me. . . " A
l ong pause f ol l owed. An expr essi on of pai ned embar r assment came over Gar amond' s
f ace.
" What ? At your own expense? No, no, i t ' s not t he amount . We can hol d t he cost s
Page 116
down. . . But as a r ul e Manut i us doesn' t . . . Of cour se, you' r e r i ght , even J oyce and
Pr oust . . . Of cour se, I under st and. . . "
Anot her pai ned pause. " Ver y wel l , we' l l t al k about i t . I ' ve been honest wi t h you,
and you' r e i mpat i ent . . . Let ' s t r y what t he Amer i cans cal l a j oi nt vent ur e. They' r e
al ways way ahead of us, t he Yanks. Dr op i n t omor r ow, and we' l l do some f i gur i ng. . . My
r espect s and my admi r at i on. "
Gar amond seemed t o wake up f r oma dr eam. He r ubbed hi s eyes, t hen suddenl y
r emember ed t he pr esence of hi s vi si t or . " For gi ve me. That was a wr i t er , a t r ue
wr i t er , per haps one of t he Gr eat s. And yet , f or t hat ver y r eason. . . Somet i mes t hi s
j ob i s humbl i ng. I f i t wer en' t f or t he vocat i on. . . But wher e wer e we? Ah, yes, I
t hi nk we' ve sai d ever yt hi ng t her e i s t o be sai d now. I ' l l wr i t e you, hmm, i n about a
mont h. Pl ease l eave your wor k her e; i t ' s i n good hands. "
Commendat or e De Guber nat i s went out , speechl ess. He had set f oot i n t he f or ge of
gl or y.
39
Doct or of t he Pl ani spher es, Her met i c Phi l osopher , Gr and El ect of t he Eons, Kni ght
Pr i nce of t he Rose of Her edom, Gr and Mast er of t he Templ e of Wi sdom, Kni ght
Noachi t e, . Wi se Si vi ast , Kni ght Supr eme Commander of t he St ar s, Subl i me Sage of t he
Zodi ac, Shepher d Ki ng of t he Hut z, I nt er pr et er of Hi er ogl yphs, Sage of t he Pyr ami ds,
Subl i me Ti t an of t he Caucasus, Or phi c Doct or , Subl i me Skal d, Pr i nce Br ahmi n,
Guar di an of t he Thr ee Fi r es.
- Gr ades of t he Ant i ent and Pr i mi t i ve Memphi s- Mi sr ai mRi t e Manut i us was a publ i shi ng
house f or SFAs.
An SEA, i n Manut i uan j ar gon, was. . . But why do I use t he past t ense? SFAs st i l l
exi st , af t er al l . Back i n Mi l an, al l cont i nues as i f not hi ng has happened, and yet I
cast ever yt hi ng i nt o a t r emendousl y r emot e past . What occur r ed t wo ni ght s ago i n t he
nave of Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs has made a r ent i n t i me, r ever si ng t he or der of t he
cent ur i es. Or per haps i t i s si mpl y t hat I have aged decades over ni ght , or t hat t he
f ear t hat They wi l l f i nd me makes me speak as i f I wer e now chr oni cl i ng a col l apsi ng
empi r e as I l i e i n t he bal neumwi t h my vei ns sever ed, wai t i ng t o dr own i n my own
bl ood. . .
An SFA i s a sel f - f i nanci ng aut hor , and Manut i us i s a vani t y pr ess. Ear ni ngs hi gh,
over head mi nuscul e. A st af f of f our : Gar amond, Si gnor a Gr azi a, t he bookkeeper i n t he
cubbyhol e i n t he back, and Luci ano, t he di sabl ed shi ppi ng cl er k i n t he vast
st or er oomi n t he hal f - basement .
" I ' ve never f i gur ed out how Luci ano manages t o pack books wi t h one ar m, " Bel bo once
sai d t o me. " I bel i eve he uses hi s t eet h. However , he doesn' t have al l t hat much
packi ng t o do. Nor mal publ i sher s shi p t o booksel l er s, but Luci ano shi ps onl y t o
aut hor s. Manut i us i sn' t i nt er est ed i n r eader s. . . The mai n t hi ng, Si gner Gar amond
says, i s t o make sur e t he aut hor s r emai n l oyal t o us. We can get al ong f i ne wi t hout
r eader s. "
Bel bo admi r ed Si gnor Gar amond. He f el t t he man possessed a st r engt h t hat he hi msel f
l acked.
The Manut i us syst emi s ver y si mpl e. A f ew ads ar e pl aced i n l ocal paper s,
pr of essi onal magazi nes, pr ovi nci al l i t er ar y r evi ews, especi al l y t hose t hat t end t o
sur vi ve f or onl y a f ew i ssues. Medi umsi ze announcement s, wi t h a phot ogr aph of t he
aut hor and a f ew i nci si ve l i nes: " A l of t y voi ce i n our nat i on' s poet r y, " or " The
l at est nar r at i ve achi evement by t he aut hor of Fl or i ana and Her Si st er s. "
" At t hi s poi nt t he net i s cast , " Bel bo expl ai ned, " and t he SFAs f al l i nt o i t i n
cl umps, i f you can f al l i nt o a net i n cl umps. "
" And t hen?"
" Wel l , t ake De Guber nat i s f or exampl e. A mont h f r omnow, as our r et i r ed cust oms
of f i ci al wr i t hes wi t h anxi et y, a cal l f r omSi gner Gar amond wi l l i nvi t e hi mt o di nner
wi t h a f ew wr i t er s. They' l l meet i n t he l at est Ar ab r est aur ant : ver y excl usi ve, no
si gn out si de, you r i ng t he bel l and gi ve your name t hr ough a peephol e. Del uxe
i nt er i or , sof t l i ght s, exot i c musi c. Gar amond wi l l shake t he mai t r e d' s hand, cal l
t he wai t er s by name, and send back t he f i r st bot t l e of wi ne because t he vi nt age
i sn' t r i ght . Or el se he' l l say, ' Excuse me, ol d f r i end, but t hi s i sn' t couscous t he
way we eat i t i n Mar r akesh. ' De Guber nat i s wi l l be i nt r oduced t o I nspect or X; al l
t he ai r por t ser vi ces ar e under hi s command, but hi s r eal cl ai mt o f ame i s t hat he i s
Page 117
t he i nvent or and apost l e of Cosmor ant o, t he l anguage of uni ver sal peace now bei ng
consi der ed by UNESCO. Ther e' s al so Pr of essor Y, a r emar kabl e st or yt el l er , wi nner of
t he Pet r uzzel l i s del l a Gat t i na Pr i ze i n 1980, but al so a l eadi ng f i gur e i n medi cal
sci ence. How many year s di d you t each, Pr of essor ? Ah, t hose wer e ot her t i mes;
educat i on t hen was t aken ser i ousl y. And f i nal l y, our char mi ng poet ess, t he exqui si t e
Odol i nda Mezzof ant i Sassabet t i , aut hor of Chast e Thr obs, whi ch you' ve sur el y r ead. "
Bel bo t ol d me t hat he had l ong wonder ed why al l f emal e SFAs used a doubl e sur name:
Laur et t a Sol i meni Cal cant i , Dor a Ar - denzi Fi amma, Car ol i na Past or el l i Cef al u. Why
was i t t hat i mpor t ant women wr i t er s had j ust one sur name ( except f or I vy
Compt on- Bur net t ) and some ( l i ke Col et t e) had none at al l , whi l e an SFA f el t t he need
t o cal l her sel f Odol i nda Mezzof ant i Sassabet t i ? Per haps because r eal wr i t er s wr ot e
out of l ove of t he wor k and di dn' t car e whet her t hey wer e known- t hey coul d even use
a pseudonym, l i ke Ner val - wher eas an SFA want ed t o be r ecogni zed by t he f ami l y next
door , by t he peopl e i n her nei ghbor hood, and i n t he nei ghbor hood wher e she used t o
l i ve. For a man, one sur name i s enough, but not f or a woman, because t her e ar e some
who knew her bef or e her mar r i age and some who onl y met her af t er war d. Hence t he need
f or t wo.
" Anyway, " Bel bo went on, " i t i s an eveni ng r i ch i n i nt el l ect ual exper i ences. De
Guber nat i s wi l l f eel as i f he' s dr ai ned an LSD cockt ai l . He' l l l i st en t o t he gossi p
of hi s f el l ow- guest s, hear a t ast y anecdot e about a gr eat poet who i s not or i ousl y
i mpot ent , and not wor t h t hat much as a poet ei t her . He' l l l ook, eyes gl i st eni ng wi t h
emot i on, at t he l at est edi t i on of t he Encycl opedi a of I l l ust r i ous I t al i ans, whi ch
Gar amond wi l l j ust happen t o have on hand, t o show I nspect or X t he appr opr i at e page
( You see, my dear f r i end, you, t oo, have ent er ed t he pant heon; ah, i t i s mer e
j ust i ce) . "
Bel bo showed me t he encycl opedi a. " J ust an hour ago I was pr eachi ng at you, but
nobody i s i nnocent . The encycl opedi a i s compi l ed excl usi vel y by Di ot al l evi and me.
But I swear we don' t do i t j ust f or t he money. I t ' s one of t he most amusi ng j obs
t her e i s. Ever y year we have t o pr epar e a new, updat ed edi t i on. I t wor ks mor e or
l ess t hi s way: you i ncl ude an ent r y on a f amous wr i t er and an ent r y on an SFA,
maki ng sur e t hey' r e i n al phabet i cal pr oxi mi t y. And you don' t wast e space on t he
f amous name. See, f or exampl e, under L. "
LAMPEDUSA, Gi useppe Tomasi di ( 1896- 1957) . Si ci l i an wr i t er . Long i gnor ed, achi eved
f ame post humousl y f or hi s novel The Leopar d.
LAMPUSTRI , Adeodat o ( 1919- ) . Wr i t er , educat or , vet er an ( Br onze St ar , East Af r i ca) ,
t hi nker , novel i st , and poet . Looms l ar ge on t he cont empor ar y I t al i an l i t er ar y scene.
Lampust r i ' s t al ent was r eveal ed i n 1959 wi t h t he publ i cat i on of The Car - massi
Br ot her s, vol ume one of a t r ai l bl azi ng t r i l ogy. Nar r at ed wi t h unr el ent i ng r eal i sm
and nobl e poet i c i nspi r at i on, t he novel t el l s of a f i sher man' s f ami l y i n Lucani a.
The Car massi Br ot her s won t he Pet r uzzel l i s del l a Gat t i na Pr i ze i n 1960 and was
f ol l owed a f ew year s l at er by The Di smi ssed and Pant her Wi t hout Eyel ashes, bot h of
whi ch, per haps even mor e t han t he aut hor ' s i ni t i al wor k, exhi bi t t he epi c sweep, t he
dazzl i ng pl ast i c i nvent i on, t he l yr i cal f l ow t hat di st i ngui sh t hi s i ncompar abl e
ar t i st . A di l i gent mi ni st r y of f i ci al , Lampust r i i s est eemed by t hose who know hi mas
a man of upr i ght char act er , an exempl ar y f at her and husband, and a st unni ng publ i c
speaker .
" De Guber nat i s, " Bel bo expl ai ned, " wi l l want t o appear i n t he encycl opedi a. He' s
al ways sai d t hat t he f ame of t he f amous was a f r aud, a conspi r acy on t he par t of
obl i gi ng cr i t i cs. But , chi ef l y, he wi l l want t o j oi n a f ami l y of wr i t er s who ar e
al so di r ect or s of st at e agenci es, bank manager s, ar i st ocr at s, magi st r at es. Appear i ng
i n t he encycl opedi a, he wi l l expand hi s ci r cl e of acquai nt ances. I f he needs t o ask
a f avor , he' l l know wher e t o t ur n. Si gnor Gar amond has t he power t o l i f t De
Guber nat i s out of t he pr ovi nces and hur l hi mt o t he summi t . Towar d t he end of t he
di nner , Gar amond wi l l whi sper t o hi mt o dr op by t he of f i ce t he next mor ni ng. "
" And t he next mor ni ng, he comes. "
" You can bet on i t . He' l l spend a sl eepl ess ni ght , dr eami ng of t he gr eat ness of
Adeodat o Lampust r i . "
" And t hen?"
" Gar amond wi l l say t o hi m: ' Yest er day, I di dn' t dar e speak- i t woul d have humi l i at ed
t he ot her s- but your wor k, i t ' s subl i me. Not onl y wer e t he r eader s' r epor t s
ent husi ast i c- no, mor e, f avor abl e- but I per sonal l y spent an ent i r e ni ght por i ng over
Page 118
t hese pages of your s. A book wor t hy of a l i t er ar y pr i ze. Gr eat , r eal l y gr eat . ' Then
Gar amond wi l l go back t o hi s desk, sl ap t he manuscr i pt - now wel l wor n by t he l ovi ng
at t ent i on of at l east f our r eader s ( r umpl i ng t he manuscr i pt s i s Si gnor a Gr azi a' s
j ob) - and st ar e at t he SFA wi t h a puzzl ed expr essi on. ' What shal l we do wi t h i t ?' And
' What shal l we do wi t h i t ?' De Guber nat i s wi l l ask. Gar amond wi l l say t hat t he
wor k' s val ue i s beyond t he sl i ght est di sput e. But cl ear l y i t i s ahead of i t s t i me,
and as f or sal es, i t won' t do mor e t han t wo t housand copi es, t went y- f i ve hundr ed
t ops. Wel l , t wo t housand mor e t han cover s al l t he peopl e De Guber nat i s knows, and an
SFA doesn' t t hi nk i n pl anet ar y t er ms- or , r at her , hi s pl anet consi st s of f ami l i ar
f aces: school mat es, bank manager s, f el l ow t eacher s i n t he hi gh school , r et i r ed
col onel s. The SFA want s t o br i ng hi s poet r y t o al l t hese peopl e, even t o t hose who
coul dn' t car e l ess, l i ke t he but cher or t he pr ef ect of pol i ce. Faced by t he r i sk
t hat Gar amond mi ght back oi f ( and r emember : ever ybody at home, i n t own and of f i ce,
knows t hat De Guber nat i s has submi t t ed hi s manuscr i pt t o a bi g Mi l an publ i sher ) , he
wi l l make some qui ck cal cul at i ons. He coul d empt y hi s savi ngs account , t ake out a
l oan agai nst hi s pensi on, mor t gage t he house, cash i n t hose f ew gover nment bonds.
Par i s i s wel l wor t h a mass. Shyl y, he wi l l oi f er t o under wr i t e some of t he cost s.
Gar amond wi l l l ook upset . ' That i s not t he usual pr act i ce of Manut i us, but , wel l ,
al l r i ght , i t ' s a deal , you' ve t al ked me i nt o i t , even Pr oust and J oyce had t o bow
t o har sh necessi t y. The cost s ar e so hi gh, f or t he pr esent we' l l pl an on t wo
t housand copi es, t hough t he cont r act wi l l pr ovi de f or up t o t en t housand. You' l l
r ecei ve t wo hundr ed aut hor ' s copi es, t o send t o anyone you l i ke, anot her t wo hundr ed
wi l l be r evi ew copi es, because we want t o pr omot e t he book as i f t hi s wer e t he new
St ephen Ki ng. That l eaves si xt een hundr ed f or commer ci al di st r i but i on. On t hese,
obvi ousl y, no r oyal t i es f or you, but i f t he book cat ches on and we go i nt o a second
pr i nt i ng, you' l l get t wel ve per cent . ' "
Lat er I saw t he st andar d cont r act t hat De Guber nat i s, now on hi s poet i c t r i p, woul d
si gn wi t hout even r eadi ng, whi l e Si gnor Gar amond' s bookkeeper l oudl y pr ot est ed t hat
t he cost s had been gr ossl y under est i mat ed. Ten pages of cl auses i n ei ght - poi nt t ype:
f or ei gn r i ght s, subsi di ar y r i ght s, dr amat i zat i ons, r adi o and t el evi si on
ser i al i zat i on, f i l mr i ght s, Br ai l l e edi t i ons, abr i dgment s f or Reader ' s Di gest ,
guar ant ees agai nst l i bel sui t s, al l di sput es t o be set t l ed by Mi l an cour t s. The SFA,
l ost i n dr eams of gl or y, woul d not not i ce t he cl ause t hat speci f i ed a maxi mumpr i nt
r un of t en t housand but ment i oned no mi ni mumor t he cl ause t hat sai d t he amount t o
be pai d by t he aut hor was i ndependent of t he pr i nt r un ( whi ch was agr eed upon onl y
ver bal l y) , or t he cl ause t hat sai d- most i mpor t ant of al l - t hat t he publ i sher had t he
r i ght t o pul p al l unsol d copi es af t er one year unl ess t he aut hor wi shed t o buy t hem
at hal f t he l i st pr i ce. Si gn on t he dot t ed l i ne.
The l aunchi ng woul d be l avi sh. Ten- page pr ess r el eases, wi t h bi ogr aphy and cr i t i cal
essays. No modest y; t he newspaper edi t or s woul d t oss t hemout anyway. The act ual
pr i nt i ng: one t housand copi es, of whi ch onl y t hr ee hundr ed and f i f t y woul d be bound.
Two hundr ed t o t he aut hor , about f i f t y t o mi nor or associ at ed bookshops, f i f t y t o
pr ovi nci al magazi nes, about t hi r t y t o t he newspaper s, j ust i n case t hey needed t o
f i l l a coupl e of l i nes i n t he Books Recei ved col umn. These copi es woul d l at er be
gi ven as donat i ons t o hospi t al s or pr i sons- and you can see why t he f or mer don' t heal
and t he l at t er don' t r edeem.
I n summer t he Pet r uzzel l i s del l a Gat t i na Pr i ze, a Gar amond cr eat i on, woul d be
awar ded. Tot al cost : t wo days' meal s and l odgi ng f or t he j ur y, pl us a Ni ke of
Samot hr ace, i n ver mei l , f or t he wi nner . Congr at ul at or y t el egr ams f r omot her Manut i us
aut hor s.
Fi nal l y, t he moment of t r ut h. A year and a hal f l at er , Gar amond wr i t es: Dear f r i end,
as I f ear ed, you ar e f i f t y year s ahead of your t i me. Rave r evi ews i n t he dozens,
awar ds, cr i t i cal accl ai m, ca va sans di r e. But f ew copi es sol d. The publ i c i s not
r eady. We ar e f or ced t o make space i n t he war ehouse, as st i pul at ed i n t he cont r act
( copy encl osed) . Unl ess you exer ci se your r i ght t o buy t he unsol d copi es at hal f t he
l i st pr i ce, we must pul p t hem.
De Guber nat i s goes mad wi t h gr i ef . Hi s r el at i ves consol e hi m: Peopl e j ust don' t
under st and you, of cour se i f you bel onged t o t he r i ght cl i que, i f you sent t he
r equi si t e br i be, by now t hey' d have r evi ewed you i n t he Cor r i er e del l a Ser a, i t ' s
al l Maf i a, you have t o hol d out . Onl y f i ve aut hor ' s copi es ar e l ef t , and t her e ar e
st i l l so many i mpor t ant peopl e t o whomt he wor k shoul d go. You can' t al l ow your
wr i t i ng t o be pul ped, r ecycl ed i nt o t oi l et paper . Let ' s see how much we can scr ape
t oget her , maybe we can buy back f i ve hundr ed copi es, and f or t he r est , si c t r ansi t
Page 119
gl or i a mundi .
Manut i us st i l l has si x hundr ed and f i f t y copi es i n unbound sheet s. Si gnor Gar amond
has f i ve hundr ed of t hembound and shi pped, COD. The f i nal bal ance: t he aut hor pai d
t he pr oduct i on cost s f or t wo t housand copi es, Manut i us pr i nt ed one t housand and
bound ei ght hundr ed and f i f t y, of whi ch f i ve hundr ed wer e pai d f or a second t i me.
About f i f t y aut hor s a year , and Manut i us al ways ends up wel l i n t he bl ack. And
wi t hout r emor se: Manut i us i s di spensi ng happi ness.
40
Cowar ds di e many t i mes bef or e t hei r deat hs.
- Shakespear e, J ul i us Caesar , I I , 2
I was al ways awar e of a conf l i ct bet ween Bel bo' s devot i on i n wor ki ng wi t h hi s
r espect abl e Gar amond aut hor s, hi s ef f or t s t o get f r omt hembooks he coul d be pr oud
of , and t he pi r at i cal zeal wi t h whi ch he cont r i but ed t o t he swi ndl i ng of t he hapl ess
Manut i us aut hor s, even r ef er r i ng t o Vi a Mar chese Gual di t hose he consi der ed
unsui t abl e f or Gar amond, as I had seen hi mat t empt t o do wi t h Col onel Ar dent i .
Wor ki ng wi t h Bel bo, I of t en wonder ed why he accept ed t hi s ar r angement . I don' t t hi nk
i t was t he money. He knew hi s t r ade wel l enough t o f i nd a bet t er - payi ng posi t i on.
For a l ong t i me I t hought he di d i t because i t enabl ed hi mt o pur sue hi s st udy of
human f ol l y f r oman i deal obser vat i on poi nt . As he never t i r ed of poi nt i ng out , he
was f asci nat ed by what he cal l ed st upi di t y- t he i mpr egnabl e par al ogi sm, t he i nsi di ous
del i r i umhi dden behi nd t he i mpeccabl e ar gument . But t hat , t oo, was a mask. I t was
Di ot al l evi who di d i t f or f un, or per haps hopi ng t hat a Manut i us book mi ght someday
of f er an unpr ecedent ed combi nat i on of t he Tor ah. And I , t oo, par t i ci pat ed, f or t he
amusement , t he i r ony, out of cur i osi t y, especi al l y af t er Gar amond l aunched Pr oj ect
Her mes.
For Bel bo i t was a di f f er ent st or y. Thi s became cl ear t o me af t er I went i nt o hi s
f i l es.
FI LENAME: Vendet t a
She si mpl y ar r i ves. Even i f t her e ar e peopl e i n t he of f i ce, she gr abs me by my
l apel s, t hr ust s her f ace f or war d, and ki sses me. How does t hat song go? " Anna st ands
on t i pt oe t o ki ss me. " She ki sses me as i f she wer e pl ayi ng pi nbal l .
She knows i t embar r asses me. Put s me on t he spot .
She never l i es.
I l ove you, she says.
See you Sunday?
No. I ' mspendi ng t he weekend wi t h a f r i end. . .
A gi r l f r i end, nat ur al l y.
No, a man f r i end. You know hi m. He' s t he one who was at t he bar wi t h me l ast week. I
pr omi sed. You woul dn' t want me t o br eak my pr omi se?
Don' t br eak your pr omi se, but don' t come her e t o make me. . . Pl ease, I have an aut hor
comi ng i n.
A geni us t o l aunch?
A poor bast ar d t o dest r oy.
A poor bast ar d t o dest r oy.
I went t o pi ck you up at Pi l ade' s. You wer en' t t her e. I wai t ed a l ong t i me, t hen I
went by mysel f ; ot her wi se t he gal l er y woul d have been cl osed. Somebody t her e t ol d me
you had al l gone on t o t he r est aur ant . I pr et ended t o l ook at t he pi ct ur es, t hough
t hey t el l me ar t ' s been dead si nce Hol der l i n. I t t ook me t went y mi nut es t o f i nd t he
r est aur ant , because deal er s al ways pi ck ones t hat ar e goi ng t o become f amous next
mont h.
You wer e t her e, among t he usual f aces, and besi de you was t he man wi t h t he scar . You
wer en' t t he l east embar r assed. You l ooked at me wi t h compl i ci t y and- how do you
manage bot h at t he same t i me?- def i ance, as i f t o say: So what ? The i nt r uder wi t h
t he scar l ooked me up and down, as i f I , not he, wer e t he i nt r uder . The ot her s, i n
on t he st or y, wai t ed. I shoul d have f ound an excuse t o pi ck a f i ght . I ' d have come
out of i t wel l , even i f he hi t me. Ever ybody knew you wer e t her e wi t h hi mt o pr ovoke
Page 120
me. My r ol e was assi gned. One way or t he ot her , I was t o put on a show.
Si nce t her e had t o be a show, I chose dr awi ng- r oomcomedy. I j oi ned t he
conver sat i on, ami abl e, hopi ng someone woul d admi r e my cont r ol .
The onl y one who admi r ed me was me.
You' r e a cowar d when you f eel you' r e a cowar d.
The masked avenger . As Cl ar k Kent I t ake car e of mi sunder st ood young geni uses; as
Super man I puni sh j ust l y mi sunder st ood ol d geni uses. I col l abor at e i n t he
expl oi t at i on of t hose who, l acki ng my cour age, have been unabl e t o conf i ne
t hemsel ves t o t he r ol e of spect at or .
I s t hi s possi bl e? To spend a l i f e puni shi ng peopl e who wi l l never know t hey have
been puni shed? So you want ed t o be a Homer , eh? Take t hat , wr et ch, and t hat !
I hat e anyone who t r i es t o see me as an i l l usi on of passi on.
41
When i t i s r ecal l ed t hat Daat h i s si t uat ed at t he poi nt wher e t he abyss bi sect s t he
Mi ddl e Pi l l ar , and t hat up t he Mi ddl e Pi l l ar l i es t he Pat h of t he Ar r ow, t he way by
whi ch consci ousness goes when t he psychi c r i ses on t he pl anes, and t hat her e al so i s
Kundal i ni , we see t hat i n Daat h i s t he secr et of bot h gener at i on and r egener at i on,
t he key t o t he mani f est at i on of al l t hi ngs t hr ough t he di f f er ent i at i on i nt o pai r s of
Opposi t es and t hei r uni on i n a Thi r d.
- Di on For t une, The Myst i cal Qabal ah, London, Fr at er ni t y of t he I nner Li ght , 1957,
7. 19
I n any case I wasn' t supposed t o concer n mysel f wi t h Manut i us; my j ob was t he
wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s. I began by expl or i ng t he Mi l an l i br ar i es. I st ar t ed
wi t h t ext books, made a bi bl i ogr aphy on f i l e car ds, and f r omt her e I went back t o t he
or i gi nal sour ces, ol d or new, l ooki ng f or decent pi ct ur es. Ther e' s not hi ng wor se
t han i l l ust r at i ng a chapt er on space t r avel wi t h a phot ogr aph of t he l at est Amer i can
sat el l i t e. Si gner Gar amond had t aught me t hat i t needs, at t he ver y l east , an angel
by Dor e.
I r eaped a har vest of cur j ous r epr oduct i ons, but t hey wer en' t enough. To choose t he
r i ght pi ct ur e f or an i l l ust r at ed book, you have t o r ej ect at l east t en ot her s.
I got per mi ssi on t o go t o Par i s f or f our days. Not much t i me t o vi si t al l t he
ar chi ves. Li a came wi t h me. We ar r i ved Thur sday and had r et ur n r eser vat i ons f or t he
Monday- eveni ng t r ai n, and I schedul ed t he Conser vat oi r e f or Monday, a mi st ake,
because I f ound out t he Conser vat oi r e was cl osed Mondays. Too l at e. I l ef t Par i s
cr est f al l en.
Bel bo was vexed, but I had col l ect ed pl ent y of i nt er est i ng t hi ngs, and we went t o
show t hemt o Si gner Gar amond. He l eaf ed t hr ough t he r epr oduct i ons, many of t hemi n
col or , t hen l ooked at t he bi l l and l et out a whi st l e. " My dear f r i end, " he sai d,
" our wor k i s a mi ssi on, t r ue, we t oi l i n t he f i el ds of cul t ur e, ca va sans di r e, but
we' r e not t he Red Cr oss- mor e, we' r e not UNI CEF. Was i t necessar y t o buy al l t hi s
mat er i al ? I mean, I see her e a must achi oed gent l eman i n hi s under wear who l ooks l i ke
d' Ar t agnan, sur r ounded by abr acadabr as and capr i cor ns. Who i s he? Mandr ake?"
" Pr i mi t i ve medi ci ne. I nf l uence of t he zodi ac on t he di f f er ent par t s of t he body,
wi t h t he cor r espondi ng cur at i ve her bs. And mi ner al s, i ncl udi ng met al s. The doct r i ne
of t he cosmi c si gnat ur es. Those wer e t i mes when t he boundar y bet ween magi c and
sci ence was r at her i l l - def i ned. "
" I nt er est i ng. But what does t hi s t i t l e page mean? Phi l osophi a Moysai ca. What ' s Moses
got t o do wi t h i t ? I sn' t t hat bei ng a l i t t l e t oo pr i mi t i ve?"
" I t ' s t he di sput e over unguent umar mar i um, ot her wi se known as weapon sal ve.
I l l ust r i ous physi ci ans spent f i f t y year s ar gui ng whet her t hi s sal ve coul d heal
wounds by bei ng smear ed on t he weapon t hat had deal t t he bl ow. ' '
" I ncr edi bl e. And t hat ' s sci ence?"
" Not i n t oday' s sense of t he wor d. But t hey consi der ed t hi s ser i ousl y, because t hey
had j ust di scover ed t he mar vel s of t he magnet , t he magi c possi bi l i t y of act i on at a
di st ance. . . These men wer e wr ong, but l at er , Vol t a and Mar coni wer e not . What ar e
el ect r i ci t y and r adi o i f not act i on at a di st ance?"
" Wel l , wel l . Br avo, Casaubon. Sci ence and magi c goi ng ar mi n ar m, eh? Gr eat i dea.
Let ' s pur sue t hi s. Thr ow out some of t hose r evol t i ng gener at or s and put i n a f ew
mor e Mandr akes. Per haps a summoni ng of t he Devi l , say, on a gol d backgr ound. "
" I woul dn' t want t o go t oo f ar . Thi s i s t he wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s. Oddi t i es
Page 121
wor k onl y when t hey' r e t o t he poi nt . "
" The wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s must be, most of al l , t he st or y of sci ence' s
mi st akes. St i ck i n t he cat chy oddi t y, and i n t he capt i on say i t ' s wr ong. I n t he
meant i me, t he r eader ' s hooked, because he sees t hat even t he gr eat s had cr azy i deas,
j ust l i ke hi m. "
I t ol d t hemabout a st r ange t hi ng I had seen i n Par i s, a bookshop near quai
Sai nt - Mi chel . I t s symmet r i cal wi ndows adver t i sed i t s own schi zophr eni a: on one si de,
books on comput er s and t he el ect r oni cs of t he f ut ur e; on t he ot her , occul t sci ences.
And i t was t he same i nsi de: Appl e and cabal a.
" Unbel i evabl e, " Bel bo sai d.
" Obvi ous, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Or , at l east , you' r e t he l ast per son who shoul d be
sur pr i sed, J acopo. The wor l d of machi nes seeki ng t o r edi scover t he secr et of
cr eat i on: l et t er s and number s. "
Gar amond sai d not hi ng. He had cl asped hi s hands as i f i n pr ayer , and hi s eyes wer e
t ur ned heavenwar d. Then he smacked hi s hands t oget her . " What you' ve sai d t oday
conf i r ms an i dea of mi ne. For a whi l e now I Ve. . . But al l i n good t i me; i t needs mor e
t hought . Meanwhi l e, car r y on. You' ve done wel l , Casaubon. We must l ook at your
cont r act agai n; you' r e a val uabl e col l eague. And, yes, put i n pl ent y of cabal a and
comput er s. Comput er s ar e made wi t h si l i con, ar en' t t hey?"
" But si l i con i sn' t a met al . I t ' s a nonmet al l i c el ement . "
" Met al l i c, nonmet al l i c, why spl i t hai r s? What i s t hi s, Rosa r osar um? Comput er s and
cabal a. "
" Cabal a i sn' t a met al ei t her , " I sai d.
He accompani ed us t o t he door . At t he t hr eshol d he sai d: " Casaubon, publ i shi ng i s an
ar t , not a sci ence. Let ' s not t hi nk l i ke r evol ut i onar i es, eh? Those days ar e past .
Put i n t he cabal a. Oh, yes, about your expenses: I ' ve t aken t he l i ber t y of
di sal l owi ng t he couchet t e. Not t o be st i ngy, bel i eve me. I t ' s j ust t hat r esear ch
r equi r es- how shal l I put i t ?- a Spar t an spi r i t . Ot her wi se you l ose your f ai t h. "
He summoned us agai n a f ew days l at er , t el l i ng Bel bo t her e was a vi si t or i n hi s
of f i ce he want ed us t o meet .
We went . Gar amond was ent er t ai ni ng a f at gent l eman wi t h a f ace l i ke a t api r ' s, no
chi n, a l i t t l e bl ond must ache beneat h a l ar ge, ani mal nose. I t hought I r ecogni zed
hi m; t hen I knew who i t was: Pr of essor Br amant i , t he man I had gone t o hear i n Ri o,
t he r ef er endar y or what ever of t hat Rosi cr uci an or der .
" Pr of essor Br amant i , " Gar amond sai d, " bel i eves t hi s i s t he r i ght moment f or a smar t
publ i sher , al er t t o t he cul t ur al cl i mat e of t he t i me, t o i naugur at e a l i ne of books
on t he occul t sci ences. "
" For . . . Manut i us, " Bel bo suggest ed.
" Why, nat ur al l y. " Si gnor Gar amond smi l ed shr ewdl y. " Pr of essor Br amant i - who, by t he
way, was r ecommended t o me by my dear f r i end Dr . De Ami ci s, t he aut hor of t hat
spl endi d vol ume Chr oni cl es of t he Zodi ac, whi ch we br ought out t hi s year - has been
l ament i ng t he f act t hat t he f ew wor ks publ i shed on hi s subj ect - al most i nvar i abl y by
f r i vol ous and unr el i abl e houses- f ai l t o do j ust i ce t o t he weal t h, t he pr of undi t y of
t hi s f i el d of st udi es. . . "
" Gi ven t he f ai l ur e of t he Ut opi as of t he moder n wor l d, " Br amant i sai d, " t he t i me i s
r i pe f or a r eassessment of t he cul t ur e of t he f or got t en past . "
" What you say i s t he sacr ed t r ut h, Pr of essor . But you must f or gi ve our - I don' t l i ke
t o say i gnor ance- our unf ami l i ar i t y wi t h t he subj ect . When you speak of occul t
sci ences, what exact l y do you have i n mi nd? Spi r i t ual i sm, ast r ol ogy, bl ack magi c?"
Br amant i made a gest ur e of di smay. " Pl ease! That ' s j ust t he sor t of nonsense t hat ' s
f oi st ed on t he i ngenuous. I ' mt al ki ng about sci ence, occul t t hough i t be. Of cour se,
t hat may i ncl ude ast r ol ogy when appr opr i at e, but not t he ki nd t hat t el l s a t ypi st
t hat next Sunday she' l l meet t he man of her dr eams. No. What I mean, t o gi ve an
exampl e, woul d be a ser i ous st udy of t he decans. "
" Yes, I see. Sci ent i f i c. I t ' s i n our l i ne, t o be sur e; but coul d you be a l i t t l e
mor e speci f i c?"
Br amant i set t l ed i nt o hi s chai r and l ooked ar ound t he r oom, as i f t o seek ast r al
i nspi r at i on. " I ' d be happy t o gi ve you some exampl es, of cour se. I woul d say t hat
t he i deal r eader of a col l ect i on of t hi s sor t woul d be a Rosi cr uci an adept , and
t her ef or e an exper t i n magi am, i n necr omant i am, i n ast r ol ogi am, i n geomant i am, i n
pyr omant i am, i n hydr omant i am, i n chaomant i am, i n medi ci namadept am, t o quot e t he
book of Azot h, whi ch, as t he Rapt us phi l osophor umexpl ai ns, was gi ven t o
St aur ophor us by a myst er i ous mai den. But t he knowl edge of t he adept embr aces ot her
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f i el ds, such as physi ognosi s, whi ch deal s wi t h occul t physi cs, t he st at i c, t he
dynami c, and t he ki nemat i c, or ast r ol ogy and esot er i c bi ol ogy, t he st udy of t he
spi r i t s of nat ur e, her met i c zool ogy. I coul d add cosmognosi s, whi ch st udi es t he
heavens f r omt he ast r onomi cal , cosmol ogi cal , physi ol ogi cal , and ont ol ogi cal poi nt s
of vi ew, and ant hr opognosi s, whi ch st udi es human anat omy, and t he sci ences of
di vi nat i on, psychur gy, soci al ast r ol ogy, her met i c hi st or y. Then t her e i s qual i t at i ve
mat hemat i cs, ar i t hmol ogy. . . But t he f undament al s ar e t he cosmogr aphy of t he
i nvi si bl e, magnet i sm, aur as, f l ui ds, psy- chomet r y, and cl ai r voyance, and i n gener al
t he st udy of t he f i ve hyper physi cal senses- not t o ment i on hor oscopi c ast r ol ogy
( whi ch, of cour se, becomes a mer e mocker y of l ear ni ng when not conduct ed wi t h t he
pr oper pr ecaut i ons) , as wel l as physi ognomi es, mi nd r eadi ng, and t he pr edi ct i ve ar t s
( t ar ot s, dr eambooks) , r angi ng t o t he hi ghest l evel s, such as pr ophecy and ecst asy.
Suf f i ci ent i nf or mat i on woul d be r equi r ed on al chemy, spagyr i cs, t el epat hy,
exor ci sm, cer emoni al and evocat or y magi c, basi c t heur gy. As f or genui ne occul t i sm, I
woul d advi se expl or at i on of t he f i el ds of ear l y cabal a, Br ahmani sm, gymnosophy,
Memphi s hi er ogl yphi cs- "
" Templ ar phenomenol ogy, " Bel bo sl i pped i n.
Br amant i gl owed. " Absol ut el y. But I al most f or got : f i r st , some i dea of necr omancy
and sor cer y among t he ot her r aces, ono- mancy, pr ophet i c f ur i es, vol unt ar y
t haumat ur gy, hypnot i c suggest i on, yoga, somnambul i sm, mer cur i al chemi st r y. . . For t he
myst i cal t endency, Wr onski advi ses bear i ng i n t he mi nd t he t echni ques of t he
possessed nuns of Loudon, t he convul si ves of Sai nt - Ml dar d, t he myst i cal bever ages,
t he wi ne of Egypt , t he el i xi r of l i f e, and ar seni c wat er . For t he pr i nci pl e of
evi l - but I r eal i ze mat her e we come t o t he most del i cat e par t of a possi bl e ser i es-
I woul d say we need t o acquai nt t he r eader wi t h t he myst er i es of Beel zebub as
dest r uct i on pr oper , wi t h Sat an as det hr oned pr i nce, and wi t h Eur ynomi us, Mol och,
i ncubi and succubi . For t he posi t i ve pr i nci pl e, t he cel est i al myst er i es of Sai nt
Mi chael , Gabr i el , Raphael , and t he agat hodemons. Then of cour se t he myst er i es of
I si s, Mi t hr a, Mor pheus, Samot hr ace, and El eusi s, and t he nat ur al myst er i es of t he
mal e sex, phal l us, Wood of Li f e, Key of Sci ence, Baphomet , mal l et , t hen t he nat ur al
myst er i es of t he f emal e sex, Cer es, Ct ei s, Pat er a, Cybel e, Ast ar t e. "
Si gnor Gar amond l eaned f or war d wi t h an i nsi nuat i ng smi l e. " I woul dn' t over l ook t he
Gnost i cs. . . "
" Cer t ai nl y not , al t hough on t hat par t i cul ar subj ect a gr eat deal of r ubbi sh i s i n
ci r cul at i on. I n any case, ever y sound f or mof occul t i smi s a gnosi s. "
" J ust what I was goi ng t o say, " sai d Gar amond.
" And al l t hi s woul d be enough?" Bel bo asked i nnocent l y.
Br amant i puf f ed out hi s cheeks, abr upt l y t r ansf or mi ng hi msel f f r omt api r t o hamst er .
" Enough? To begi n wi t h, yes, but not f or begi nner s, i f you' l l f or gi ve t he l i t t l e
j oke. But wi t h about f i f t y vol umes you coul d ent hr al l an audi ence of t housands,
r eader s who ar e onl y wai t i ng f or an aut hor i t at i ve wor d. . . Wi t h an i nvest ment of
per haps a f ew hundr ed mi l l i on l i r e- I ' ve come t o you per sonal l y, Dr . Gar amond,
because I know of your wi l l i ngness t o under t ake such gener ous vent ur es- and wi t h a
modest r oyal t y f or mysel f , as edi t or i n chi ef of t he ser i es. . . "
Br amant i had now gone t oo f ar ; Gar amond was l osi ng i nt er est . The vi si t or was
di smi ssed hast i l y, wi t h expansi ve pr omi ses. The usual commi t t ee of advi ser s woul d
car ef ul l y wei gh t he pr oposal .
42
But you must know t hat we ar e al l i n agr eement , what ever we say.
- Tur ba Phi l osopkor um
Af t er Br amant i had l ef t , Bel bo r emar ked t hat he shoul d have pul l ed hi s cor k. Si gnor
Gar amond was unf ami l i ar wi t h t hi s expr essi on, so Bel bo at t empt ed a f ew pol i t e
par aphr ases, but wi t h l i t t l e success.
" Let ' s not qui bbl e, " Gar amond sai d. " Bef or e t hat gent l eman sai d f i ve wor ds, I knew
he wasn' t f or us. Not hi m. But t he peopl e he was t al ki ng about , aut hor s and r eader s
al i ke- t hat ' s di f f er ent . Pr of essor Br amant i happened t o conf i r mt he ver y i dea I Ve
been ponder i ng f or some days now. Her e, l ook at t hi s, " he sai d, t heat r i cal l y t aki ng
t hr ee books f r omhi s dr awer .
" Her e ar e t hr ee vol umes t hat have come out i n r ecent year s, al l of t hemsuccessf ul .
The f i r st i s i n Engl i sh; I haven' t r ead i t , but t he aut hor i s a f amous cr i t i c. What
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has he wr i t t en? The subt i t l e cal l s i t a gnost i c novel . Now l ook at t hi s: a myst er y,
a best - sel l er . And what ' s i t about ? A gnost i c chur ch near Tur i n. You gent l emen may
know who t hese Gnost i cs ar e. . . " He paused, waved hi s hand. " I t doesn' t mat t er .
They' r e somet hi ng demoni acal ; t hat ' s al l I need t o know. . . Yes, maybe I ' mbei ng
hast y, but I ' mnot t r yi ng t o t al k l i ke you, I ' mt r yi ng t o t al k l i ke Br amant i - t hat
i s, I ' mspeaki ng as a publ i sher , not as a pr of essor of compar at i ve gnoseol ogy or
what ever i t i s. Now, what was i t t hat I f ound cl ear , pr omi si ng, i nvi t i ng- no, mor e,
i nt r i gui ng- i n Br amant i ' s t al k? Hi s ext r aor di nar y capaci t y f or t yi ng ever yt hi ng
t oget her . He di dn' t ment i on Gnost i cs, but he easi l y coul d have, what wi t h geomancy,
maal ox, and mer cur i al Radames. And why do I i nsi st on t hi s poi nt ? Because her e i s
anot her book, by a f amous j our nal i st , who t el l s about i ncr edi bl e t hi ngs t hat go on
i n Tur i n- Tur i n, mi nd you, t he ci t y of t he aut omobi l e. Sor cer esses, bl ack masses,
consor t i ng wi t h t he Devi l - and f or payi ng cust omer s, not f or poor cr azed peasant s i n
t he sout h. Casaubon, Bel bo t el l s me you wer e i n Br azi l and saw t he savages down
t her e per f or mi ng sat ani c r i t es. . . Good, l at er you can t el l me about i t , but r eal l y,
i t ' s al l t he same. Br azi l i s r i ght her e, gent l emen. The ot her day I went per sonal l y
i nt o t hat bookshop- what ' s i t cal l ed? Never mi nd; i t doesn' t mat t er - you know, t he
pl ace wher e si x or seven year s ago t hey sol d anar chi st books, books about
r evol ut i onar i es, Tupamar os, t er r or i st s- no, mor e, Mar xi st s. . . Wel l , t he pl ace has been
r ecycl ed. They st ock t hose t hi ngs Br amant i was t al ki ng about . I t ' s t r ue t oday we
l i ve i n an age of conf usi on. Go i nt o a Cat hol i c bookshop, wher e t her e used t o be
not hi ng but t he cat echi sm, and you f i nd a r eassessment of Lut her , t hough at l east
t hey won' t sel l a book t hat says r el i gi on i s al l a f r aud. But i n t he shops I ' m
t al ki ng about t hey sel l t he aut hor s who bel i eve and t he aut hor s who say i t ' s al l a
f r aud, pr ovi ded t he subj ect i s- what do you cal l i t ?"
" Her met i c, " Di ot al l evi pr ompt ed.
" Yes, I bel i eve t hat ' s t he r i ght wor d. I saw at l east a dozen books on Her mes. And
t hat ' s what I want t o t al k t o you about : Pr oj ect Her mes. A new br anch. . . "
" The gol den br anch, " Bel bo sai d.
" Exact l y, " Gar amond sai d, mi ssi ng t he r ef er ence. " I t ' s a gol d mi ne, al l r i ght . I
r eal i zed t hat t hese peopl e wi l l gobbl e up anyt hi ng t hat ' s her met i c, as you put i t ,
anyt hi ng t hat says t he opposi t e of what t hey r ead i n t hei r books at school . I see
t hi s al so as a cul t ur al dut y: I ' mno phi l ant hr opi st , but i n t hese dar k t i mes t o
of f er someone a f ai t h, a gl i mpse i nt o t he beyond. . . Yet Gar amond al so has a schol ar l y
mi ssi on. . . "
Bel bo st i f f ened. " I t hought you had Manut i us i n mi nd. "
" Bot h. Li st en, I r oot ed ar ound i n t hat shop, t hen went t o anot her pl ace, a ver y
r espect abl e pl ace, but even i t had an occul t sci ences sect i on. Ther e ar e
uni ver si t y- l evel st udi es on t hese subj ect s si t t i ng on t he shel ves al ongsi de books
wr i t t en by peopl e l i ke Br amant i . Thi nk a mi nut e: Br amant i has pr obabl y never met any
of t he uni ver si t y aut hor s, but he' s r ead t hem, r ead t hemas i f t hey wer e j ust l i ke
hi m. What ever you say t o such peopl e, t hey t hi nk you' r e t al ki ng about t hei r pr obl em,
l i ke t he st or y of t he cat , wher e t he coupl e was ar gui ng about a di vor ce but t he cat
t hought t hey wer e di sagr eei ng about t he gi bl et s f or i t s l unch. You must have not i ced
i t , Bel bo; you dr opped t hat r emar k about t he Templ ar s and he nodded i mmedi at el y.
Sur e, t he Templ ar s, t oo, and cabal a, and t he l ot t er y, and t ea l eaves. They' r e
omni vor ous. Omni vor ous. You saw Br amant i ' s f ace: a r odent . A huge audi ence, di vi ded
i nt o t wo cat egor i es- I can see t heml i ni ng up now, and t hey' r e l egi on. I n pr i mi s: t he
ones who wr i t e about i t , and Manut i us wi l l gr eet t hemwi t h open ar ms. Al l we have t o
do t o dr aw t hemi s st ar t a ser i es t hat get s a l i t t l e publ i ci t y. We coul d cal l
i t . . . l et ' s see. . . "
" The Tabul a Smar agdi na, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" What ? No. Too di f f i cul t . I t doesn' t say anyt hi ng t o me. No. What we want i s
somet hi ng t hat suggest s somet hi ng el se. . . "
" I si s Unvei l ed, " I sai d.
" I si s Unvei l ed! That ' s good. Br avo, Casaubon. I t has Tut ankhamen i n i t , t he scar ab
of t he pyr ami ds. I si s Unvei l ed, wi t h a sl i ght l y bl ack- magi cal cover , but not
over done. Now l et ' s cont i nue. The second gr oup: t hose who buy i t . I know what you' r e
t hi nki ng, my f r i ends: Manut i us i sn' t i nt er est ed i n t he buyer . But t her e' s no l aw t o
t hat ef f ect . Thi s t i me, we' l l sel l Manut i us books. Pr ogr ess, gent l emen!
" But t her e ar e al so t he schol ar l y st udi es, and t hat ' s wher e Gar amond comes i n. We' l l
l ook t hr ough t he hi st or i cal st udi es and t he ot her uni ver si t y ser i es and f i nd
our sel ves an exper t , a consul t ant . Then we' l l publ i sh t hr ee or f our books a year . An
Page 124
academi c ser i es, wi t h a t i t l e t hat ' sxdi r ect but not t oo pi ct ur esque. . . "
" Her met i ca, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Excel l ent . Cl assi cal , di gni f i ed. You ask me: Why spend money wi t h Gar amond when we
can make money wi t h Manut i us? But t he schol ar l y ser i es wi l l act as a l ur e,
at t r act i ng i nt el l i gent peopl e, who wi l l make suggest i ons and poi nt out new
di r ect i ons. And i t wi l l al so at t r act t he ot her s, t he Pr of essor Br a- mant i s, who wi l l
be r er out ed t o Manut i us. I t seems per f ect t o me: Pr oj ect Her mes, a ni ce, cl ean,
pr of i t abl e oper at i on t hat wi l l st r engt hen t he f l ow of i deas bet ween t he t wo
f i r ms. . . To wor k, gent l emen. Ther e ar e l i br ar i es t o vi si t , bi bl i ogr aphi es t o compi l e,
cat al ogs t o r equest . And f i nd out what ' s bei ng done i n ot her count r i es. . . Who knows
how many peopl e have al r eady sl i pped t hr ough our f i nger s, peopl e bear i ng t r easur es,
and we di smi ssed t hemas wor t hl ess. Casaubon, don' t f or get , i n t he hi st or y of
met al s, t o put i n a l i t t l e al chemy. Gol d' s a met al , I bel i eve. Hol d your comment s
f or l at er : you know I ' mopen t o cr i t i ci sm, suggest i ons, obj ect i ons, as al l cul t ur ed
peopl e ar e. Thi s pr oj ect i s i n ef f ect as of now.
" Si gnor a Gr azi a, t hat gent l eman' s been wai t i ng t wo hour s. That ' s no way t o t r eat an
aut hor ! Show hi mi n! " he shout ed, t o make hi msel f hear d as f ar as t he r ecept i on
r oom.
43
Peopl e who meet on t he st r eet . . . secr et l y dedi cat e t hemsel ves t o oper at i ons of Bl ack
Magi c, t hey bi nd or seek t o bi nd t hemsel ves t o t he Spi r i t s of Dar kness, t o sat i sf y
t hei r ambi t i ons, t hei r hat es, t hei r l oves, t o do- i n a wor d- Evi l .
- J . K. Huysmans, Pr ef ace t o J . Boi s, Le sat ani sme et l a magi e, 1895, pp. VI I I - I X
I had t hought t hat Pr oj ect Her mes was t he r ough sket ch of an i dea, not a pl an of
act i on. But I di dn' t yet know Si gner Gar amond. I n t he days t hat f ol l owed, whi l e I
st ayed l at e i n l i br ar i es l ooki ng f or i l l ust r at i ons about met al s, at Manut i us t hey
wer e al r eady at wor k.
Two mont hs l at er i n Bel bo' s of f i ce, I f ound, hot of f t he pr ess, an i ssue of The
I t al i c Par nassus, wi t h a l ong ar t i cl e, " The Rebi r t h of Occul t i sm, " i n whi ch t he
wel l - known Her met i ci st Dr . Moebi us- Bel bo' s new pseudonym, and sour ce of hi s f i r st
bonus f r omPr oj ect Her mes- t al ked about t he mi r acul ous r enai ssance of t he occul t
sci ences i n t he moder n wor l d and announced t hat Manut i us i nt ended t o move i n t hi s
di r ect i on wi t h i t s new ser i es " I si s Unvei l ed. "
Meanwhi l e, Si gner Gar amond had wr i t t en l et t er s t o var i ous r evi ews of Her met i ci sm,
ast r ol ogy, t ar ot , UFOl ogy, si gni ng one name or anot her and r equest i ng i nf or mat i on
about t he new ser i es announced by Manut i us. Wher eupon t he edi t or s of t he r evi ews
t el ephoned Manut i us, r equest i ng i nf or mat i on, and Si gnor Gar amond act ed myst er i ous,
sayi ng he coul d not yet r eveal t he f i r st t en t i t l es, whi ch wer e, however , i n t he
wor ks. I n t hi s way t hewor l d of t he occul t i st s, st i r r ed by const ant dr ummi ng of t he
t omt oms, was now al er t ed t o Pr oj ect Her mes.
" We di sgui se our sel ves as a f l ower , " Si gner Gar amond sai d, havi ng summoned us t o hi s
of f i ce, " and t he bees wi l l come swar mi ng. ' '
That wasn' t al l . Gar amond want ed t o show us t he f l i er ( t he depl i ant , he cal l ed i t ) :
a si mpl e af f ai r , f our pages, but on gl ossy paper . The f i r st page r epr oduced what was
t o be t he uni f or mcover of t he books i n t he ser i es: a ki nd of gol den seal ( t he
Pen- t acl e of Sol omon, Gar amond expl ai ned) on a bl ack gr ound; t he page was f r amed by
i nt er woven swast i kas ( but Asi an swast i kas, Gar amond hast ened t o add, whi ch went i n
t he di r ect i on of t he sun, not t he Nazi ki nd, whi ch went cl ockwi se) . At t he t op,
wher e each vol ume' s t i t l e woul d go, wer e t he wor ds " Ther e ar e mor e t hi ngs i n heaven
and ear t h. . . " The f l i er ext ol l ed t he gl or i es of Manut i us i n t he ser vi ce of cul t ur e,
t hen st at ed, wi t h some cat chy phr ases, t hat t he cont empor ar y wor l d sought t r ut hs
deeper and mor e l umi nous t han t hose sci ence coul d pr ovi de: " Fr omEgypt , f r om
Chal dea, f r omTi bet , a f or got t en knowl edge- f or t he spi r i t ual r ebi r t h of t he West . "
Bel bo asked wher e t he f l i er woul d go, and Gar amond smi l ed l i ke t he evi l geni us of
t he r aj ah of Assam, as Bel bo woul d have sai d. " Fr omFr ance I ' ve or der ed a di r ect or y
of al l t he secr et soci et i es i n t he wor l d t oday. I t exi st s. Her e i t i s. Edi t i ons
Henr y Veyr i er , wi t h addr esses, post al codes, phone number s. Take a l ook at i t ,
Bel bo, and el i mi nat e t hose t hat don' t appl y, because I see i t al so i ncl udes t he
J esui t s, Opus Dei , t he Car bonar i , and Rot ar y. Fi nd al l t he ones wi t h occul t
t endenci es. I ' ve al r eady under l i ned some. "
Page 125
He l eaf ed t hr ough i t . " Her e you ar e: t he Absol ut i st s ( who bel i eve i n met amor phosi s) ,
t he Aet her i us Soci et y of Cal i f or ni a ( t el epat hi c r el at i ons wi t h Mar s) , t he Ast ar a of
Lausanne ( oat h of absol ut e secr ecy) , At al ant eans i n Gr eat Br i t ai n ( sear ch f or l ost
happi ness) , Bui l der s of t he Adyt umi n Cal i f or ni a ( al chemy, cabal a, ast r ol ogy) ,
Cer cl e E. B. of Per pi gnan ( dedi cat ed t o Hat or , goddess of l ove and guar di an of t he
Mount ai n of t he Dead) , Cer cl e El i phas Levi of Maul e ( I don' t know who t hi s Levi i s;
per haps t hat Fr ench ant hr opol ogi st or what ever he was) , Kni ght s of t he Templ ar
Al l i ance of Toul ouse, Dr ui di c Col l ege of Gaul , Couvent Spi r i t ual i st e de J er i cho, t he
Cosmi c Chur ch of Tr ut h i n Fl or i da, Tr adi t i onal i st Semi nar of Econe i n Swi t zer l and,
t he Mor mons ( I r ead about t hemi n a det ect i ve st or y, t oo, but maybe t hey don' t exi st
anymor e) , t he Chur ch of Mi t hr a i n London and Br ussel s, t he Chur ch of Sat an i n Los
Angel es, t he Uni t ed Lu- ci f er an Chur ch of Fr ance, t he Apost ol i c Rosi cr uci an Chur ch i n
Br ussel s, Chi l dr en of Dar kness and Gr een Or der on t he I vor y Coast ( l et ' s f or get t hat
one; God knows what l anguage t hey wr i t e i n) , Escuel a Her met i st a Occi dent al of
Mont evi deo, t he Nat i onal I nst i t ut e of Cabal a i n Manhat t an, t he Cent r al Ohi o Templ e
of Her met i c Sci ence, Tet r a- Gnosi s of Chi cago, Anci ent Br et hr en of t he Rosi e- Cr oss of
Sai nt Cyr - sur - Mer , J ohanni t e Fr at er ni t y f or t he Templ ar Resur r ect i on i n Kassel ,
I nt er nat i onal Fr at er ni t y of I si s i n Gr enobl e, Anci ent Bavar i an I l l umi nat i of San
Fr anci sco, t he Sanct uar y of Gnosi s of Sher man Oaks, t he Gr ai l Foundat i on of Amer i ca,
Soci edade do Gr aal do Br asi l , Her met i c Br ot her hood of Luxor , Lect or i umRosi cr uci anum
i n Hol l and, t he Gr ai l Movement of St r asbour g, Or der of Anubi s i n New Yor k, Templ e of
t he Bl ack Pent acl e i n Manchest er , Odi ni st Fel l owshi p i n Fl or i da, t he Or der of t he
Gar t er ( even t he Queen of Engl and must be i n t hat one) , t he Or der of t he Vr i l
( neo- Nazi Masons, no addr ess) , Mi l i t i a Templ i i n Mont pel l i er , Sover ei gn Or der of t he
Sol ar Templ e i n Mont e Car l o, Rosy Cr oss of Har l em( you under st and? Even t he bl acks
now) , Wi cca ( Luci f er i ne associ at i on of Cel t i c obedi ence; t hey i nvoke t he sevent y- t wo
geni of t he cabal a) . . . Need I go on?"
" Do al l t hose r eal l y exi st ?" Bel bo asked.
" Those and mor e. To wor k, gent l emen. Dr aw up a def i ni t i ve l i st . Then we' l l do our
mai l i ng. I ncl ude al l t hose f or ei gner s; news t r avel s f ast among t hem. One t hi ng
r emai ns f or us t o do: we have t o go ar ound t o t he r i ght shops and t al k not onl y wi t h
t he booksel l er s but al so wi t h t he cust omer s. Ment i on t hat such- and- such a ser i es
exi st s. "
Di ot al l evi obj ect ed t hat we shoul dn' t expose our sel ves i n t hi s way; we shoul d f i nd
peopl e t o do i t f or us. Gar amond t ol d hi mt o f i nd some, " pr ovi ded t hey' r e f r ee. "
" That ' s aski ng a l ot , " Bel bo sai d when we wer e back i n hi s of f i ce.
But t he gods of t he under wor l d wer e pr ot ect i ng us. At t hat ver y moment Lor enza
Pel l egr i ni came i n, mor e sol ar t han ever , maki ng Bel bo br i ght en. She saw t he f l i er s
and was cur i ous.
When she hear d about t he pr oj ect of t he f i r mnext door , she sai d: " Ter r i f i c! I have
t hi s f ant ast i c f r i end, an ex- Tupamar o f r omUr uguay, who wor ks f or a magazi ne cal l ed
Pi cat r i x. He' s al ways t aki ng me t o seances. Ther e, I met a f ant ast i c ect opl asm; he
asks f or me now ever y t i me he mat er i al i zes! "
Bel bo l ooked at Lor enza as i f t o ask her somet hi ng, t hen changed hi s mi nd. Per haps
he was becomi ng accust omed t o hear i ng about Lor enza' s al ar mi ng f r i ends and had
deci ded t o wor r y onl y about t he ones t hat t hr eat ened hi s r el at i onshi p wi t h her ( di d
t hey have a r el at i onshi p?) . I n t hat r ef er ence t o Pi cat r i x he saw t he t hr eat not of
t he col onel but of t he f ant ast i c ex- Tupamar o. But Lor enza was now t al ki ng about
somet hi ng el se, t el l i ng us t hat she vi si t ed many of t hose l i t t l e shops t hat sol d t he
ki nd of books I si s Unvei l ed want ed t o publ i sh.
" That ' s a r eal t r i p, you know, " she was sayi ng. " They t el l al l about medi ci nal her bs
or l i st i nst r uct i ons f or maki ng a homuncul us, r emember what Faust di d wi t h Hel en of
Tr oy. Oh, J acopo, l et ' s! I ' d l ove t o have your homuncul us, and t hen we coul d keep i t
l i ke a dachshund. I t ' s easy, t he book says: you j ust have t o col l ect a l i t t l e human
seed i n a t est t ube. That woul dn' t be har d f or you- don' t bl ush, si l l y. Then you mi x
i t wi t h hi p- pomene, whi ch i s some l i qui d t hat i s excr et ed- no, not excr et ed- what ' s
t he wor d?"
" Secr et ed, " Di ot al l evi suggest ed.
" Real l y? Anyway, pr egnant mar es make i t . I r eal i ze t hat ' s a bi t har der t o get . I f I
wer e a pr egnant mar e, I woul dn' t l i ke
Ceopl e comi ng t o col l ect my hi ppomene, especi al l y st r anger s, ut I t hi nk you can buy
i t i n packages, l i ke j oss st i cks. Then you put i t al l i n a pot and l et i t st eep f or
Page 126
f or t y days, and l i t t l e by l i t t l e you see a t i ny f or mt ake shape, a f et us t hi ng,
whi ch i n anot her t wo mont hs becomes a dear l i t t l e homuncul us, and he comes out and
put s hi msel f at your ser vi ce. And t hey never di e. I magi ne: t hey' l l even put f l ower s
on your gr ave af t er you' r e dead! "
" What about t he cust omer s i n t hose bookshops?" " Fant ast i c peopl e, peopl e who t al k
wi t h angel s, peopl e who make gol d, and pr of essi onal sor cer er s wi t h f aces exact l y
l i ke pr of essi onal sor cer er s. . . "
" What ' s t he f ace of a pr of essi onal sor cer er l i ke?" " An aqui l i ne nose, Russi an
eyebr ows, pi er ci ng eyes. The hai r i s l ong, l i ke pai nt er s i n t he ol d days, and
t her e' s a bear d, not t hi ck, wi t h bar e pat ches bet ween t he chi n and t he cheeks, and
t he must ache dr oops f or war d and f al l s i n cl umps over t hei r l i ps, but t hat ' s onl y
nat ur al , because t hei r l i ps ar e t hi n, poor t hi ngs, and t hei r t eet h st i ck out . They
shoul dn' t smi l e, wi t h t hose t eet h, but t hey do, ver y sweet l y, but t he eyes- I sai d
t hey wer e pi er ci ng, di dn' t I ?- l ook at you i n an unset t l i ng way. " " Faci es her met i ca, "
Di ot al l evi r emar ked. " Real l y? Wel l , you under st and, t hen. When somebody comes i n and
asks f or a book, say, of pr ayer s agai nst evi l spi r i t s, t hey i mmedi at el y suggest t he
r i ght t i t l e t o t he booksel l er , and, of cour se, i t ' s al ways a t i t l e he doesn' t have
i n st ock. But t hen, i f you make f r i ends and ask i f t he book wor ks, t hey smi l e agai n,
i ndul gent l y, as i f t hey wer e t al ki ng t o chi l dr en, and t hey say t hat wi t h t hi s sor t
of t hi ng you have t o be qui t e car ef ul . They t el l you about cases of devi l s t hat di d
hor r i bl e t hi ngs t o f r i ends of t hei r s, but when you get f r i ght ened, t hey say t hat
of t en i t ' s onl y hyst er i a. I n ot her wor ds, you never know whet her t hey bel i eve i t or
not . Somet i mes t he booksel l er s gi ve me st i cks of i ncense as pr esent s; once one of
t hemgave me a l i t t l e i vor y hand t o war d of f t he evi l eye. "
" Then, i f t he occasi on ar i ses, " Bel bo sai d t o her , " whi l e you' r e br owsi ng i n t hose
pl aces, ask i f t hey know anyt hi ng about t he new Manut i us ser i es, and show t hemour
f l i er . "
Lor enza went of f wi t h a dozen f l i er s. I guess she di d a good j ob i n t he weeks t hat
f ol l owed, but , even so, I woul dn' t have bel i eved t hi ngs coul d move so f ast . Wi t hi n a
f ew mont hs, Si - gnor a Gr azi a si mpl y coul dn' t keep up wi t h t he Di abol i cal s, as we had
come t o cal l t he SFAs wi t h occul t i nt er est s. And, by t hei r ver y nat ur e, t hey wer e
l egi on.
44
I nvoke t he f or ces of t he Tabl et of Uni on by means of Supr eme Ri t ual of Pent agr am,
wi t h t he Act i ve and Passi ve Spi r i t , wi t h Ehei eh and Agl a. Ret ur n t o t he Al t ar , and
r eci t e t he f ol l owi ng Enochi an Spi r i t I nvocat i on: Ol Sonuf Vaor sag Goho l ad Bai t ,
Lonsh Cal z Vonpho, Sobr a Z- ol Ror I Ta Nazps, od Gr aa Ta Mal pr g. . . Ds Hol - q Qaa
Not hoa Zi mz, Od Commah Ta Nopbl oh Zi en. . .
- I sr ael Regar di e, t he Or i gi nal Account of t he Teachi ngs, Ri t es and Cer emoni es of t he
Her met i c Or der of t he Gol den Dawn, Ri t ual f or I nvi si bi l i t y, St . Paul , Ll ewel l yn
Publ i cat i ons, 1986, p. 423
We wer e l ucky; our f i r st meet i ng was of t he hi ghest qual i t y- at l east as f ar as our
i ni t i at i on was concer ned.
For t he occasi on t he t r i o was compl et e- Bel bo, Di ot al l evi , and I - and when our guest
came i n, we al most l et out a cr y of sat i sf act i on. He had t he f aci es her met i ca
descr i bed by Lor enza Pel l egr i ni , and, what ' s mor e, he was dr essed i n bl ack.
He l ooked ar ound ci r cumspect l y, t hen i nt r oduced hi msel f : Pr of essor Camest r es. At t he
quest i on " Pr of essor of what ?" he made a vague gest ur e as i f ur gi ng us t o exer ci se
gr eat er di scr et i on. " For gi ve me, " he sai d, " I don' t know whet her you gent l emen ar e
i nt er est ed i n t he subj ect pur el y f r oma pr of essi onal , commer ci al st andpoi nt , or
whet her you ar e connect ed wi t h any myst i cal gr oup. . . "
We r eassur ed hi mon t hat poi nt .
" Per haps I ambei ng excessi vel y caut i ous, " he sai d, " but I do not wi sh t o have
anyt hi ng t o do wi t h a member of t he OTO. " Seei ng our puzzl ement , he added: " Or do
Templ i Or i ent i s, t he convent i cl e of t he r emai ni ng sel f - st yl ed f ol l ower s of Al ei st er
Cr owl ey. . . I see t hat you ar e not connect ed. . . Al l t he bet t er : t her e wi l l be no
pr ej udi ces on your si de. " He agr eed t o si t down. " Because, you under st and, t he wor k
I woul d now l i ke t o show you t akes a cour ageous st and agai nst Cr owl ey. Al l of us,
mysel f i ncl uded, ar e st i l l f ai t hf ul t o t he r evel at i ons of t he Li ber AL vel l egi s,
whi ch, as you pr obabl y know, was di ct at ed t o Cr owl ey i n Cai r o i n 1904 by a hi gher
Page 127
i nt el l i gence named Ai waz. Thi s t ext i s f ol l owed by t he f ai t hf ul of t he OTO even
t oday. They dr aw on al l f our edi t i ons, t he f i r st of whi ch pr eceded by ni ne mont hs
t he out br eak of t he war i n t he Bal kans, t he second by ni ne mont hs t he out br eak of
t he Fi r st Wor l d War , t he t hi r d by ni ne mont hs t he Si no- J apanese War , and t he f our t h
by ni ne mont hs t he massacr es of t he Spani sh Ci vi l War . . . "
I coul dn' t hel p cr ossi ng my f i nger s. He not i ced and sai d wi t h a f uner eal smi l e, " I
under st and your appr ehensi on. What I ambr i ngi ng you i s t he f i f t h edi t i on of t hat
book. What , you ask, wi l l happen i n ni ne mont hs' t i me? Not hi ng, gent l emen, r est
assur ed. Because what I ampr oposi ng i s an enl ar ged Li ber l egi s, i nasmuch as I have
had t he good f or t une t o be vi si t ed not by a mer e hi gher i nt el l i gence but by Al
hi msel f , t he supr eme pr i nci pl e- namel y, Hoor - paar - Kr aat , who i s t he doubl e or t he
myst i cal t wi n of Ra- Hoor - Khui t . My sol e concer n, al so t o war d of f evi l i nf l uences,
i s t hat my wor k be publ i shed bef or e t he wi nt er sol st i ce. "
" I t hi nk t hat coul d be managed, " Bel bo sai d.
" I ' mmost pl eased. The book wi l l cause a st i r i n t he ci r cl es of i ni t i at es, because,
as you wi l l under st and, my myst i cal sour ce i s mor e ser i ous and aut hent i cat ed t han
Cr owl ey' s. I don' t know how Cr owl ey coul d have act i vat ed t he Ri t ual s of t he Beast
wi t hout bear i ng i n mi nd t he Li t ur gy of t he Swor d. Onl y by unsheat hi ng t he swor d can
t he nat ur e of Mahapr al aya be under st ood, t he Thi r d Eye of Kundal i ni , i n ot her wor ds.
And al so i n hi s ar i t h- mol ogy, al l based on t he Number of t he Beast , he f ai l ed t o
consi der t he New Number s: 93, 118, 444, 868, and 1001.
" What do t hey mean?" asked Di ot al l evi , suddenl y al l ear s.
" Ah, " sai d Pr of essor Camest r es, " as was al r eady st at ed i n t he f i r st Li ber l egi s,
ever y number i s i nf i ni t e and t her ef or e t her e i s no r eal di f f er ence! "
" I under st and, " Bel bo sai d. " But don' t you t hi nk al l t hi s wi l l be a bi t obscur e f or
t he common r eader ?"
Camest r es al most bounced i n hi s chai r . " Why, i t ' s absol ut el y i ndi spensabl e. Anyone
who appr oached t hese secr et s wi t hout t he pr oper pr epar at i on woul d pl unge headl ong
i nt o t he Abyss! Even by maki ng t hempubl i c i n a vei l ed way, bel i eve i ne, I am
r unni ng r i sks. I wor k wi t hi n t he envi r onment of t he wor shi p of t he Beast , but mor e
r adi cal l y t han Cr owl ey: you wi l l see, i n my pages on t he congr essus cumdaemone, t he
r equi r ement s f or t he f ur ni shi ng of t he t empl e and t he car nal uni on wi t h t he Scar l et
Woman and t he Beast she r i des. Cr owl ey st opped at so- cal l ed car nal congr ess agai nst
nat ur e, whi l e I car r y t he r i t ual beyond Evi l as we concei ve i t . I t ouch t he
i nconcei vabl e, t he absol ut e pur i t y of goet y, t he ext r eme t hr eshol d of t he Bas- Aumgn
and t he Sa- Ba- Ft . . . "
The onl y t hi ng l ef t f or Bel bo t o do was t o sound out Ca- mest r es' s f i nanci al
capabi l i t y. He di d t hi s wi t h l ong, r oundabout sent ences, and f i nal l y i t emer ged
t hat , l i ke Br amant i bef or e hi m, t he pr of essor had no t hought of sel f - f i nanci ng. Then
t he di smi ssal phase began, wi t h a mi l d r equest of coul d we keep t he manuscr i pt f or a
week, we woul d have a l ook at i t , and t hen we woul d see. But at t hi s poi nt Camest r es
cl asped t he manuscr i pt t o hi s bosom, sai d he had never been t r eat ed wi t h such
di st r ust , and went out , hi nt i ng t hat he had means, out of t he or di nar y, t o make us
r egr et t he i nsul t we had gi ven hi m.
But bef or e l ong we had dozens of manuscr i pt s f r omel i gi bl e SFAs. A modi cumof
sel ect i vi t y was necessar y, si nce t hese books wer e al so meant t o be sol d. Because i t
was i mpossi bl e f or us t o r ead t hemal l , we gl anced at t he cont ent s, t he i ndexes,
some of t he t ext , t hen t r aded di scover i es.
45
And f r omt hi s spr i ngs t he ext r aor di nar y quest i on: Di d t he Egypt i ans know about
el ect r i ci t y?
- Pet er Kol osi mo, Ter r a senza t empo, Mi l an, Sugar , 1964, p. I l l
" I have a t ext on vani shed ci vi l i zat i ons and myst er i ous l ands, " Bel bo sai d. " I t
seems t hat or i gi nal l y t her e exi st ed, somewher e ar ound Aust r al i a, a cont i nent of Mu,
and f r omt her e t he gr eat cur r ent s of mi gr at i on spr ead out . One went t o Aval on, one
t o t he Caucasus and t he sour ce of t he I ndus; t hen t her e wer e t he Cel t s, and t he
f ounder s of Egypt i an ci vi l i zat i on, and f i nal l y t he f ounder s of At l ant i s. . . "
" Ol d hat . I f you' r e l ooki ng f or books about Mu, I ' l l swamp your desk wi t h t hem, " I
sai d.
" But t hi s wr i t er may pay. Besi des, he has a beaut i f ul chapt er on Gr eek mi gr at i ons
Page 128
i nt o Yucat an, and t el l s about t he bas- r el i ef of a war r i or at Chi che' n I t za who i s
t he spi t and i mage of a Roman l egi onar y. Two peas i n a pod. . . "
" Al l t he hel met s i n t he wor l d have ei t her pl umes or hor se t ai l s, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" That ' s not evi dence. "
" Not f or you, but f or hi m. He f i nds ser pent wor shi p i n al l ci vi l i zat i ons and
concl udes t hat t her e i s a common or i gi n. . . "
" Who hasn' t wor shi ped t he ser pent ?" Di ot al l evi sai d. " Except , of cour se, t he Chosen
Peopl e. "
" They wor shi ped cal ves. "
" Onl y i n a moment of weakness. I ' d r ej ect t hi s one, even i f he pays. Cel t i smand
Ar yani sm, Kal y- yuga, and decl i ne of t he West , and SS spi r i t ual i t y. I may be
par anoi d, but he sounds l i ke a Nazi t o me. "
" For Gar amond, t hat i sn' t necessar i l y a dr awback. "
" No, but t her e' s a l i mi t t o ever yt hi ng. Her e' s a book about gnomes, undi nes,
sal amander s, el ves, syl phs, f ai r i es, but i t , t oo, br i ngs i n t he or i gi ns of Ar yan
ci vi l i zat i on. The SS, appar ent l y, ar e descended f r omt he Seven Dwar f s. "
" Not t he Seven Dwar f s, t he Ni bel ungs. "
" The dwar f s i t ment i ons ar e t he Li t t l e Peopl e of I r el and. The bad guys ar e t he
f ai r i es, but t he Li t t l e Peopl e ar e good, j ust mi schi evous. "
" Put i t asi de. What about you, Casaubon? What have you f ound?"
" A t ext on Chr i st opher Col umbus: i t anal yzes hi s si gnat ur e and f i nds i n i t a
r ef er ence t o t he pyr ami ds. Col umbus' s r eal ai mwas t o r econst r uct t he Templ e of
J er usal em, si nce he was gr and mast er of t he Templ ar s- i n- exi l e. Bei ng a Por t uguese
J ew and t her ef or e an exper t cabal i st , he used t al i smani c spel l s t o cal mst or ms and
over come scur vy. I di dn' t l ook at any t ext s on t he cabal a, because I assumed
Di ot al l evi was checki ng t hem. "
" The Hebr ew l et t er s ar e al l wr ong, phot ocopi ed f r omdr eambooks. "
" Remember , we' r e choosi ng t ext s f or l si s Unvei l ed. Let ' s st eer cl ear of phi l ol ogy. I f
t he Di abol i cal s l i ke t o t ake t hei r Hebr ew l et t er s f r omdr eambooks, l et t hemdo i t .
The pr obl emI have i s al l t he submi ssi ons on t he Masons. Si gnor Gar amond t ol d me t o
be ver y car ef ul t her e; he doesn' t want t o get mi xed up i n pol emi cs among t he var i ous
r i t es. But I woul dn' t negl ect t hi s manuscr i pt about Masoni c symbol i smi n t he gr ot t o
of Lour des. Or t hi s one about a myst er i ous gent l eman, pr obabl y t he Comt e de
Sai nt - Ger mai n, an i nt i mat e f r i end of Fr ankl i n and Laf ayet t e, who appear ed at t he
moment of t he cr eat i on of t he f l ag of t he Uni t ed St at es. I t expl ai ns t he meani ng of
t he st ar s ver y wel l , but becomes conf used on t he subj ect of t he st r i pes. "
" The Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n! " I sai d. " Wel l , wel l ! "
" You know hi m?" '
" I f I sai d yes, you woul dn' t bel i eve me. For get i t . Now her e, gent l emen, i s a
f our - hundr ed- page monst r osi t y decr yi ng t he er r or s of moder n sci ence. The at om, a
J ewi sh l i e. The er r or of Ei nst ei n and t he myst i cal secr et of ener gy. The i l l usi on of
Gal i l eo and t he i mmat er i al nat ur e of t he moon and t he sun. "
" I n t hat l i ne, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " what I l i ked most i s t hi s r evi ew of For t i an
sci ences. "
" What ar e t hey?"
" Named af t er Char l es Hoy For t , who gat her ed an i mmense col l ect i on of i nexpl i cabl e
bi t s of news. A r ai n of f r ogs i n Bi r mi ngham, f oot pr i nt s of a f abul ous ani mal i n
Devon, myst er i ous st eps and sucker mar ks on t he r i dges of some mount ai ns,
i r r egul ar i t i es i n t he pr ecessi on of t he equi noxes, i nscr i pt i ons on met eor i t es, bl ack
snow, r ai ns of bl ood, wi nged cr eat ur es at an al t i t ude of ei ght t housand met er s above
Pal er mo, l umi nous wheel s i n t he sea, f ossi l s of gi ant s, a shower of dead l eaves i n
Fr ance, pr eci pi t at i ons of l i vi ng mat t er i n Sumat r a, and, nat ur al l y, al l t he si gns
mar ked on Machu Pi cchu and ot her peaks i n Sout h Amer i ca t hat bear wi t ness t o t he
l andi ng of power f ul spacecr af t i n pr ehi st or i c t i mes. We ar e not al one i n t he
uni ver se. "
" Not bad, " Bel bo sai d. " But what par t i cul ar l y i nt r i gues me ar e t hese f i ve hundr ed
pages on t he pyr ami ds. Di d you know t hat t he pyr ami d of Cheops si t s r i ght on t he
t hi r t i et h par al l el , whi ch i s t he one t hat cr osses t he gr eat est st r et ch of l and above
sea l evel ? That t he geomet r i c r at i os f ound i n t he pyr ami d of Cheops ar e t he same
ones f ound at Pedr a Pi nt ada i n Amazoni a? That Egypt possessed t wo pl umed ser pent s,
one on t he t hr one of Tut ankhamen and t he ot her on t he pyr ami d of Saqqar a, and t he
l at t er ser pent poi nt s t o Quet zal coat l ?"
" What does Quet zal coat l have t o do wi t h Amazoni a, i f he' s par t of t he Mexi can
Page 129
pant heon?" I asked.
" Wel l , maybe I mi ssed a connect i on. But f or t hat mat t er , how do you expl ai n t he f act
t hat t he st at ues of East er I sl and ar e megal i t hs exact l y l i ke t he Cel t i c ones? Or
t hat a Pol ynesi an god cal l ed Ya i s cl ear l y t he Yod of t he J ews, as i s t he anci ent
Hungar i an I o- v' , t he gr eat and good god? Or t hat an anci ent Mexi can manuscr i pt shows
t he ear t h as a squar e sur r ounded by sea, and i n i t s cent er i s a pyr ami d t hat has on
i t s base t he i nscr i pt i on Azt l an, whi ch i s cl ose t o At l as and At l ant i s? Why ar e
pyr ami ds f ound on bot h si des of t he At l ant i c?' '
" Because i t ' s easi er t o bui l d pyr ami ds t han spher es. Because t he wi nd pr oduces dunes
i n t he shape of pyr ami ds and not i n t he shape of t he Par t henon. "
" I hat e t he spi r i t of t he Enl i ght enment , " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Let me cont i nue. The cul t of Ra doesn' t appear i n Egypt i an r el i gi on bef or e t he New
Empi r e, and t her ef or e i t comes f r omt he Cel t s. Remember Sai nt Ni chol as and hi s
sl ei gh? I n pr ehi st or i c Egypt t he shi p of t he Sun was a sl ei gh. Si nce t her e was no
snow i n Egypt , t he sl ei gh' s or i gi n must have been Nor di c. . . "
I coul dn' t l et t hat pass: " Bef or e t he i nvent i on of t he wheel , sl ei ghs wer e used al so
on sand. "
" Don' t i nt er r upt . The book says t hat f i r st you i dent i f y t he anal ogi es and t hen you
f i nd t he r easons. And i t says t hat , i n t he end, t he r easons ar e sci ent i f i c. The
Egypt i ans knew el ect r i ci t y. Wi t hout el ect r i ci t y t hey woul dn' t have been abl e t o do
what t hey di d. A Ger man engi neer pl aced i n char ge of t he sewer s of Baghdad
di scover ed el ect r i c bat t er i es st i l l oper at i ng t hat dat ed back t o t he Sassani ds. I n
t he excavat i ons of Babyl on, accumul at or s wer e f ound t hat had been made f our t housand
year s ago. And, f i nal l y, t he Ar k of t he Covenant ( whi ch cont ai ned t he Tabl es of t he
Law, Aar on' s r od, and a pot of manna f r omt he deser t ) was a ki nd of el ect r i c
st r ongbox capabl e of pr oduci ng di schar ges on t he or der of f i ve hundr ed vol t s. "
" I saw t hat i n a movi e. "
" So what ? Wher e do you t hi nk scr i pt wr i t er s get t hei r i deas? The ar k was made of
acaci a wood sheat hed i n gol d i nsi de and out - t he same pr i nci pl e as el ect r i c
condenser s, t wo conduct or s separ at ed by an i nsul at or . I t was enci r cl ed by a gar l and,
al so of gol d, and set i n a dr y r egi on wher e t he magnet i c f i el d r eached f i ve hundr ed
t o si x hundr ed vol t s per ver t i cal met er . I t ' s sai d t hat Por sena used el ect r i ci t y t o
f r ee hi s r eal mf r omt he pr esence of a f r i ght f ul ani mal cal l ed Vol t . "
" Whi ch i s why Al essandr o Vol t a chose t hat exot i c pseudonym. Bef or e, hi s name was
si mpl y Szmr szl yn Khr aznapahwsh- ki j . "
" Be ser i ous. Al so, besi des t he manuscr i pt s, I have l et t er s t hat of f er r evel at i ons on
t he connect i ons bet ween J oan of Ar c and t he Si byl l i ne Books, bet ween Li l i t h t he
Tal mudi c demon and t he her maphr odi t i c Gr eat Mot her , bet ween t he genet i c code and t he
Mar t i an al phabet , bet ween t he secr et i nt el l i gence of pl ant s, cosmol ogy,
psychoanal ysi s, and Mar x and Ni et zsche i n t he per spect i ve of a new angel ol ogy,
bet ween t he Gol den Number and t he Gr and Canyon, Kant and occul t i sm, t he El eusi an
myst er i es and j azz, Cagl i ost r o and at omi c ener gy, homosexual i t y and gnosi s, t he
gol emand t he cl ass st r uggl e. I n concl usi on, a l et t er pr omi si ng a wor k i n ei ght
vol umes on t he Gr ai l and t he Sacr ed Hear t . "
" What ' s i t s t hesi s? That t he Gr ai l i s an al l egor y of t he Sacr ed Hear t or t hat t he
Sacr ed Hear t i s an al l egor y of t he Gr ai l ?' '
" He want s i t bot h ways, I t hi nk. I n shor t , gent l emen, I don' t know what cour se t o
f ol l ow. We shoul d sound out Si gnor Gar - amond. "
So we sounded hi mout . He sai d t hat , as a mat t er of pr i nci pl e, not hi ng shoul d be
t hr own out , and we shoul d gi ve ever yone a hear i ng.
" But most of t hi s st uf f , " I ar gued, " r epeat s t hi ngs you can f i nd on any st at i on
newsst and. Even publ i shed aut hor s copy f r omone anot her , and ci t e one anot her as
aut hor i t i es, and al l base t hei r pr oof s on a sent ence of l ambl i cus, so t o speak. "
" Wel l , " Gar amond sai d, " woul d you t r y t o sel l r eader s somet hi ng t hey knew not hi ng
about ? The I si s Unvei l ed books must deal wi t h t he exact same subj ect s as al l t he
ot her s. They conf i r mone anot her ; t her ef or e t hey' r e t r ue. Never t r ust or i gi nal i t y. "
" Ver y wel l , " Bel bo sai d, " but we can' t t el l what ' s obvi ous and what i sn' t . We need a
consul t ant . "
" What sor t of consul t ant ?"
" I don' t know. He must be l ess cr edul ous t han a Di abol i cal , but he must know t hei r
wor l d. And t hen t el l us what di r ect i on we shoul d t ake i n Her met i cs. A ser i ous
st udent of Renai ssance Her met i ci sm. . . "
" And t he f i r st t i me you hand hi mt he Gr ai l and t he Sacr ed Hear t , " Di ot al l evi sai d,
Page 130
" he st or ms out , sl ammi ng t he door . "
" Not necessar i l y. "
" I know someone who woul d be j ust r i ght , " I sai d. " He' s cer t ai nl y er udi t e; he t akes
t hese t hi ngs f ai r l y ser i ousl y, but wi t h el egance, even i r ony, I ' d say. I met hi mi n
Br azi l , but he shoul d be i n Mi l an now. I must have hi s phone number somewher e. "
" Cont act hi m, " Gar amond sai d. " Tent at i vel y. I t depends on t he cost . And t r y al so t o
make use of hi mf or t he wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s. "
Agl i e seemed happy t o hear f r omme agai n. He i nqui r ed af t er t he char mi ng Ampar o, and
when I hi nt ed t hat was over , he apol ogi zed and made some t act f ul r emar ks about how a
young per son coul d al ways begi n, wi t h ease, a new chapt er i n hi s l i f e. I ment i oned
an edi t or i al pr oj ect . He showed i nt er est , sai d he woul d be gl ad t o meet us, and set
a t i me, at hi s house.
Fr omt he bi r t h of Pr oj ect Her mes unt i l t hat day, I had enj oyed mysel f heedl essl y at
t he expense of many peopl e. Now, They wer e pr epar i ng t o pr esent t he bi l l . I was as
much of a bee as t he ones we want ed t o at t r act ; and, l i ke t hem, I was bei ng qui ckl y
l ur ed t o a f l ower , t hough I di dn' t yet know what t hat f l ower was.
46
Dur i ng t he day you wi l l appr oach t he f r og sever al t i mes and wi l l ut t er wor ds of
wor shi p. And you wi l l ask i t t o wor k t he mi r acl es you wi sh. . . Meanwhi l e you wi l l cut
a cr oss on whi ch t o sacr i f i ce i t .
- Fr oma r i t ual of Al ei st er Cr owl ey
Agl i f c l i ved i n t he Pi azzal e Susa ar ea: a l i t t l e secl uded st r eet , a
t ur n- of - t he- cent ur y bui l di ng, sober l y ar t nouveau. An el der l y but l er i n a st r i ped
j acket opened t he door and l ed us i nt o a smal l si t t i ng r oom, wher e he asked us t o
wai t f or t he count .
" So he' s a count , " Bel bo whi sper ed.
" Di dn' t I t el l you? He' s Sai nt - Ger mai n r edi vi vus. "
" He can' t be r edi vi vus i f he' s never di ed, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Sur e he' s not
Ahasuer us, t he wander i ng J ew?"
" Accor di ng t o some, t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n had al so been Ahasuer us. "
" You see?"
Agl t e came i n, i mpeccabl e as al ways. He shook our hands and apol ogi zed: a t i r esome
meet i ng, qui t e unf or eseen, f or ced hi mt o r emai n i n hi s st udy f or anot her t en mi nut es
or so. He t ol d t he but l er t o br i ng cof f ee and begged us t o make our sel ves at home.
Then he went out , dr awi ng asi de a heavy cur t ai n of ol d l eat her . I t wasn' t a door ,
and as we wer e havi ng our cof f ee, we hear d agi t at ed voi ces comi ng f r omt he next
r oom. At f i r st we spoke l oudl y among our sel ves, i n or der not t o l i st en; t hen Bel bo
r emar ked t hat per haps we wer e di st ur bi ng t he ot her s. I n a moment of si l ence, we
hear d a voi ce, and a sent ence t hat ar oused our cur i osi t y.
Di ot al l evi got up and went over , as i f he want ed t o admi r e a sevent eent h- cent ur y
pr i nt on t he wal l by t he cur t ai n. I t showed a mount ai n cave, t o whi ch some pi l gr i ms
wer e cl i mbi ng by way of seven st eps. Soon al l t hr ee of us wer e pr et endi ng t o st udy
t he pr i nt .
The man we had hear d was sur el y Br amant i , and t he sent ence was: " See her e, I don' t
send devi l s t o peopl e' s houses! "
That day we r eal i zed Br amant i had not onl y a t api r ' s f ace but al so a t api r ' s voi ce.
The ot her voi ce bel onged t o a st r anger : a t hi ck Fr ench accent and a shr i l l , al most
hyst er i cal t one. Fr omt i me t o t i me Agl i e' s voi ce, sof t and conci l i at or y, i nt er vened.
" Come, gent l emen, " he was sayi ng now, " you have appeal ed t o my ver di ct , and I am
honor ed, but you must t her ef or e l i st en t o me. Al l ow me, f i r st of al l , t o say t hat
you, dear Pi er r e, wer e i mpr udent , at t he ver y l east , i n wr i t i ng t hat l et t er . . . "
" I t ' s an ext r emel y si mpl e mat t er , Monsi eur l e Comt e, " t he Fr ench voi ce r epl i ed.
" Thi s Si gner Br amant i , he wr i t es an ar t i cl e, i n a publ i cat i on we al l r espect , i n
whi ch he i ndul ges hi msel f i n some f ai r l y st r ong i r ony about cer t ai n Luci f er ans, who,
he says, make host s f l y t hough t hey don' t even bel i eve i n t he Real Pr esence, and
t hey t r ansmut e si l ver , and so f or t h and so on. Bon, ever yone knows t hat t he onl y
r ecogni zed Egl i se Luci f er i enne i s t he one wher e I amt he humbl e t aur obol i ast e and
psychopompe, and i t i s al so wel l known t hat my chur ch does not i ndul ge i t sel f i n
vul gar Sat ani smand does not make r at at oui l l e wi t h host s- t hi ngs wor t hy of chan- oi ne
Page 131
Docr e at Sai nt - Sul pi ce. I n my l et t er I sai d t hat we ar e not vi eux j eu Sat ani st s,
wor shi per s of t he Gr and Tenanci er du Mal , and t hat we do not have t o ape t he Chur ch
of Rome, wi t h al l t hose pyxes and t hose- comment di t - on?- chasubl es. . . We ar e, au
con- t r ai r e, Pal l adi ans, as al l t he wor l d knows, and, f or us, Luci f er r e i s t he
pr i nci pe of good. I f anyt hi ng, i t i s Adonai who i s t he pr i nci pe of evi l , because He
cr eat ed t hi s wor l d, wher eas Luci f er r e t r i ed t o oppose. . . "
" Al l r i ght , " Br amant i sai d angr i l y. " I admi t I may have been car el ess, but t hi s
doesn' t ent i t l e hi mt o t hr eat en me wi t h sor cer y! "
" Mai s voyons! I t was a met aphor ! You ar e t he one who, i n r et ur n, caused me t o have
t he envout ement ! "
" Oh, of cour se, my br ot her s and I have t i me t o wast e, sendi ng l i t t l e devi l s ar ound!
We pr act i ce Dogma and t he Ri t ual of Hi gh Magi c: we ar e not wi t ch doct or s! "
" Monsi eur l e Comt e, I appeal t o you. Si gner Br amant i i s not or i ousl y i n t ouch wi t h
t he abbe Bout r oux, and you wel l know t hat t hi s pr i est i s sai d t o have t he cr uci f i x
t at t ooed on t he sol e of hi s f oot so t hat he may t r ead on Our Lor d, or , r at her , on
hi s. . . Bon, I meet seven days ago t hi s supposed abbe at t he Du San- gr eal Bookshop,
you know; he smi l es at me, ver y sl i my, as i s hi s cust om, and he says t o me, ' Wel l ,
we' l l be hear i ng f r omeach ot her one of t hese eveni ngs. ' What does i t mean, one of
t hese eveni ngs? I t means t hat , t wo eveni ngs af t er , t he vi si t s begi n. I amgoi ng t o
bed and I f eel chocs st r i ke my f ace, f l ui d chocs, you know; t hose emanat i ons ar e
easi l y r ecogni zed. "
" You pr obabl y r ubbed t he sol es of your sl i pper s on t he car pet . ' '
" Yes, yes, t hen why wer e t he bi bel ot s f l yi ng? Why di d one of my al embi ques st r i ke my
head, and my pl ast er Baphomet , i t f al l s t o t he f l oor , and t hat a mement o of my l at e
f at her , and on t he wal l t hr ee wr i t i ngs appear i n r ed, or dur es I cannot r epeat , hei n?
You know wel l t hat no mor e t han a year ago t he l at e Monsi eur Gr os accused t hat abbe1
t her e of maki ng t he cat apl asms wi t h f ecal mat t er , f or gi ve t he expr essi on, and t he
abbe condemned hi mt o deat h, and t wo weeks l at er t he poor Monsi eur Gr os, he di es
myst er i ousl y. Thi s Bout r oux handl es poi sons, t he j ur y d' honneur summoned by t he
Mar t i ni st s of Lyon sai d so. . . "
" Sl ander , " Br amant i gr owl ed.
" Ah, t hat t hen! A t r i al i n mat t er s of t hi s sor t i s al ways ci r cumst ant i al . . . "
" Yes, but nobody at t he t r i al ment i oned t he f act t hat Monsi eur Gr os was an al cohol i c
i n t he l ast st ages of ci r r hosi s. "
" Do not be enf ant i ne! Sor cel er y pr oceeds by nat ur al ways; i f one has a ci r r hosi s,
t hey st r i ke one i n t he ci r r hosi s. That i s t he ABC of bl ack magi c. . . "
" Then al l t hose who di e of ci r r hosi s have t he good Bout r oux t o bl ame. Don' t make me
l augh! "
" Then t el l me, pl ease, what passed i n Lyon i n t hose t wo weeks. . . Deconsecr at ed
chapel , host wi t h Tet r agr amma- t on, your Bout r oux wi t h a gr eat r ed r obe wi t h t he
cr oss upsi de down, and Madame Ol cot t , hi s per sonal voyant e, among ot her t hi ngs, wi t h
t he t r i dent t hat appear s on her br ow and t he empt y chal i ces t hat f i l l wi t h bl ood by
t hemsel ves, and t he abbe who cr ached i n t he mout h of t he f ai t hf ul . . . I s t hat t r ue or
i s i t not ?"
" You' ve been r eadi ng t oo much Huysmans, my f r i end! " Br amant i l aughed. " I t was a
cul t ur al event , a pageant , l i ke t he cel ebr at i ons of t he school of Wi cca and t he
Dr ui d col l eges! "
" Ouai s, t he car ni val of Veni se. . . "
We hear d a scuf f l e, as i f Br amant i was at t empt i ng t o st r i ke hi s adver sar y and Agl i e
was r est r ai ni ng hi m. " You see? You see?" t he Fr enchman sai d i n a f al set t o. " But
guar d your sel f , Br amant i , and ask your f r i end Bout r oux what happened t o hi ml You
don' t know yet , but he' s i n t he hospi t al . Ask hi mwho br oke hi s f i gur e! Even i f I do
not pr act i ce t hat goet y of your s, I know a l i t t l e of i t mysel f , and when I r eal i zed
t hat my house was i nhabi t ed, I dr ew on t he par quet t he ci r cl e of def ense, and si nce
I do not bel i eve, but your di abl ot i nes do, I r emoved t he Car mel i t e scapul ar and made
t he cont r esi gn, t he envout ement r et our ne, ah oui . Your abb6 passed a mauvai s
moment ! "
" You see? You see?" Br amant i was pant i ng. " He' s t he one cast i ng spel l s! "
" Gent l emen, t hat ' s enough, " Agl i e sai d pol i t el y but f i r ml y. " Now l i st en t o me. You
know how hi ghl y I val ue, on a cogni t i ve l evel , t hese r eexami nat i ons of obsol et e
r i t ual s, and f or me t he Luci f er i ne Chur ch and t he Or der of Sat an ar e equal l y t o be
r espect ed above and beyond t hei r demonol ogi cal di f f er ences. You know my skept i ci sm
i n t hi s mat t er . But , i n t he end, we al l bel ong t o t he same spi r i t ual kni ght hood, and
Page 132
I ur ge you t o show a mi ni mumof sol i dar i t y. Af t er al l , gent l emen, t o i nvol ve t he
Pr i nce of Dar kness i n a per sonal spat ! How ver y chi l di sh! Come, come, t hese ar e
occul t i st s' t al es. You ar e behavi ng l i ke vul gar Fr eemasons. To be f r ank, yes,
Bout r oux i s a di ssi dent , and per haps, my dear Br amant i , you mi ght suggest t o hi m
t hat he sel l t o some j unk deal er al l t hat par apher nal i a of hi s, l i ke t he pr ops f or a
pr oduct i on of Boi t o' s Mef i st of el e. . . "
" Ha, c' est bi en di t , ca, " t he Fr enchman sni cker ed. " C' est de l a br ocant er i e. . . "
" Let ' s t r y t o see t hi s i n per spect i ve. Ther e has been a debat e on what we wi l l cal l
l i t ur gi cal f or mal i sms, t emper s have f l ar ed, but we must n' t make mount ai ns out of
mol ehi l l s. Mi nd you, my dear Pi er r e, I amnot f or one moment denyi ng t he pr esence i n
your house of al i en ent i t i es; i t ' s t he most nat ur al t hi ng i n t he wor l d, but wi t h a
l i t t l e common sense i t coul d al l be expl ai ned as a pol t er gei st . "
" Yes, I woul dn' t excl ude t hat possi bi l i t y, " Br amant i sai d. " The ast r al conj unct ur e
at t hi s t i me. . . "
" Wel l t hen! Come, shake hands, and a f r at er nal embr ace. "
We hear d mur mur s of r eci pr ocal apol ogi es. " You know your sel f , " Br amant i was sayi ng,
" somet i mes t o i dent i f y one who i s t r ul y awai t i ng i ni t i at i on, i t i s necessar y t o
i ndul ge i n a bi t of f ol kl or e. Even t hose mer chant s of t he Gr eat Or i ent , who bel i eve
i n not hi ng, have a cer emony. "
" Bi en ent endu, l e r i t uel , ah ca. . . "
" But t hese ar e no l onger t he days of Cr owl ey. I s t hat cl ear ?" Agl i e sai d. " I must
l eave you now. I have ot her guest s. "
We qui ckl y went back t o t he sof a and wai t ed f or Agl i e wi t h composur e and
nonchal ance.
47
Our exal t ed t ask t hen i s t o f i nd or der i n t hese seven measur es, a pat t er n t hat i s
di st i nct and wi l l keep al ways t he sense al er t and t he memor y cl ear . . . Thi s exal t ed
and i ncompar abl e conf i gur at i on not onl y per f or ms t he f unct i on of pr eser vi ng
ent r ust ed t hi ngs, wor ds, and ar t s. . . but i n addi t i on i t gi ves us t r ue knowl edge. . .
- Gi ul i o Cami l l o Del mi ni o, L' i dea del Theat r e, Fl or ence, Tor r ent i no, 1550,
I nt r oduct i on
A f ew mi nut es l at er , Agi l e came i n. " Do f or gi ve me, dear f r i ends, I had t o deal wi t h
a di sput e t hat was r egr et t abl e, t o say t he l east . As my f r i end Casaubon knows, I
consi der mysel f a st udent of t he hi st or y of r el i gi ons, and f or t hi s r eason peopl e
not i nf r equent l y come t o me f or i l l umi nat i on, r el yi ng per haps mor e on my common
sense t han on my l ear ni ng. I t ' s odd how, among t he adept s of sapi ent i al st udi es,
eccent r i c per sonal i t i es ar e somet i mes f ound. . . I don' t mean t he usual seeker s af t er
t r anscendent al consol at i on, I don' t mean t he mel anchol y spi r i t s, but men of pr of ound
knowl edge and gr eat i nt el l ect ual r ef i nement who never t hel ess i ndul ge i n noct ur nal
f ant asi es and l ose t he abi l i t y t o di st i ngui sh bet ween t r adi t i onal t r ut h and t he
ar chi pel ago of t he pr odi gi ous. The peopl e wi t h whomI spoke j ust now wer e ar gui ng
about chi l di sh conj ect ur es. Al as, i t happens i n t he best f ami l i es, as t hey say. But
do come i nt o my l i t t l e st udy, pl ease, wher e we can conver se i n mor e comf or t abl e
sur r oundi ngs. "
He r ai sed t he l eat her cur t ai n and showed us i nt o t he next r oom. " Li t t l e st udy" i s
not how I woul d have descr i bed i t ; i t was spaci ous, wi t h wal l s of exqui si t e ant i que
shel vi ng cr ammed wi t h handsomel y bound books al l of vener abl e age. What i mpr essed me
mor e t han t he books wer e some smal l gl ass cases f i l l ed wi t h obj ect s har d t o
i dent i f y- t hey l ooked l i ke st ones. And t her e wer e l i t t l e ani mal s, whet her st uf f ed,
mummi f i ed, or del i cat el y r epr oduced I coul dn' t say. Ever yt hi ng was bat hed i n a
di f f use cr epuscul ar l i ght t hat came f r oma l ar ge doubl e- mul l i oned wi ndow at t he end,
wi t h l eaded di amond panes of t r anspar ent amber . The l i ght f r omt he wi ndow bl ended
wi t h t hat of a gr eat l amp on a dar k mahogany t abl e cover ed wi t h paper s. I t was one
of t hose l amps somet i mes f ound on r eadi ng t abl es i n ol d l i br ar i es, wi t h a dome of
gr een gl ass t hat coul d cast a whi t e oval on t he page whi l e l eavi ng t he sur r oundi ngs
i n an opal escent penumbr a. Thi s pl ay of t wo sour ces of l i ght , bot h unnat ur al ,
somehow enl i vened t he pol ychr ome of t he cei l i ng. The cei l i ng was vaul t ed, suppor t ed
on al l f our si des by a decor at i ve f i ct i on: l i t t l e br i ck- r ed col umns wi t h t i ny gi l ded
capi t al s. The many t r ompe 1' oei l i mages, di vi ded i nt o seven ar eas, enhanced t he
ef f ect of dept h, and t he whol e r oomhad t he f eel i ng of a mor t uar y chapel , i mpal pabl y
Page 133
si nf ul , mel anchol y, sensual .
" My l i t t l e t heat er , " Agl i e sai d, " i n t he st yl e of t hose Renai ssance f ant asi es wher e
vi sual encycl opedi as wer e l ai d out , syl - l oges of t he uni ver se. Not so much a
dwel l i ng as a memor y machi ne. Ther e i s no i mage t hat , when combi ned wi t h t he ot her s,
does not embody a myst er y of t he wor l d. You wi l l not i ce t hat l i ne of f i gur es t her e,
pai nt ed i n i mi t at i on of t hose i n t he pal ace of Mant ua: t hey ar e t he t hi r t y- si x
decans, t he Mast er s of t he Heavens. And r espect i ng t he t r adi t i on, af t er I f ound t hi s
spl endi d r econst r uct i on- t he wor k of an unknown ar t i st - I went about acqui r i ng t he
l i t t l e obj ect s i n t he gl ass cases, whi ch cor r espond t o t he i mages on t he cei l i ng.
They r epr esent t he f undament al el ement s of t he uni ver se: ai r , wat er , ear t h, and
f i r e. Hence t he pr esence of t hi s char mi ng sal amander , t he mast er - wor k of a
t axi der mi st f r i end, and t hi s del i cat e r epr oduct i on i n mi ni at ur e, a r at her l at e
pi ece, of t he aeol i pi l e of Her o, i n whi ch t he ai r cont ai ned i n t he spher e, wer e I t o
act i vat e t hi s l i t t l e al cohol st ove, war mi ng i t , woul d escape f r omt hese l at er al
spout s and t her eby cause r ot at i on. A magi c i nst r ument . Egypt i an pr i est s used i t i n
t hei r shr i nes, as so many t ext s i nf or mus. They expl oi t ed i t t o cl ai ma mi r acl e,
whi ch t he masses vener at ed, whi l e t he t r ue mi r acl e i s t he gol den l aw t hat gover ns
t hi s secr et and si mpl e mechani smof t he el ement s ear t h and f i r e. Her e i s l ear ni ng
t hat our anci ent s possessed, as di d t he men of al chemy, but t hat t he bui l der s of
cycl ot r ons have l ost . And so I cast my gaze on my t heat er of memor y, t hi s chi l d of
so many vast er t heat er s t hat begui l ed t he gr eat mi nds of t he past , and I know. I
know bet t er t han t he so- cal l ed l ear ned. As i t i s bel ow, so i t i s above. And t her e i s
not hi ng mor e t o know. ' '
He of f er ed us Cuban ci gar s, cur i ousl y shaped- not st r ai ght , but cont or t ed,
cur l ed- t hough t hey wer e t hi ck. We ut t er ed cr i es of admi r at i on. Di ot al l evi went over
t o t he shel ves.
" Oh, " Agl i e sai d, " a mi ni mal l i br ar y, as you see, bar el y t wo hundr ed vol umes; I have
mor e i n my f ami l y home. But , i f I may say so, al l t hese have some mer i t , some val ue.
And t hey ar e not ar r anged at r andom. The or der of t he subj ect s f ol l ows t hat of t he
i mages and t he obj ect s. "
Di ot al l evi t i mi dl y r eached out as i f t o t ouch a vol ume. " Hel p your sel f , " Agl i e sai d.
" That i s t he Oedypus Aegypt i acus of At h- anasi us Ki r cher . As you know, he was t he
f i r st af t er Hor apol l on t o t r y t o i nt er pr et hi er ogl yphi cs. A f asci nat i ng man. I wi sh
t hi s st udy of mi ne wer e l i ke hi s museumof wonder s, now pr esumed l ost , scat t er ed,
because one who knows not how t o seek wi l l never f i nd. . . A char mi ng
conver sat i onal i st . How pr oud he was t he day he di scover ed t hat t hi s hi er ogl yph meant
' The benef i ces of t he di vi ne Osi r i s ar e pr ovi ded by sacr ed cer emoni es and by t he
chai n of spi r i t s. . . ' Then t hat mount ebank Cham- pol l i on came al ong, a hat ef ul man,
bel i eve me, chi l di shl y vai n, and he i nsi st ed t hat t he si gn cor r esponded onl y t o t he
name of a phar aoh. How i ngeni ous t he moder ns ar e i n debasi ng sacr ed symbol s. The
wor k i s act ual l y not al l t hat r ar e: i t cost s l ess t han a Mer cedes. But l ook at t hi s,
a f i r st edi t i on, 1595, of t he Am- phi t heat r umsapi ent i ae aet er nae of Khunr at h. I t i s
sai d t her e ar e onl y t wo copi es i n t he wor l d. Thi s i s t he t hi r d. And t hi s vol ume i s a
f i r st edi t i on of t he Tet t ur i s Theor i a Sacr a of Bur net i us. I cannot l ook at t he
i l l ust r at i ons i n t he eveni ng wi t hout f eel i ng a wave of myst i cal cl aust r ophobi a. The
pr of undi t i es of our gl obe. . . Unsuspect ed, ar e t hey not ? I see t hat Dr . Di ot al l evi i s
f asci nat ed by t he Hebr ew char act er s of Vi gener e' s Tr ai ct e des Chi f f r es. Then l ook at
t hi s: a f i r st edi t i on of t he Kabbal a denudat a of Chr i st i an Knor r von Rosenr ot h. The
book was t r ansl at ed i nt o Engl i sh- i n par t and badl y- at t he begi nni ng of t hi s cent ur y
by t hat wr et ch McGr egor Mat her s. . . You must know somet hi ng of t hat scandal ous
convent i cl e t hat so f asci nat ed t he Br i t i sh est het es, t he Gol den Dawn. Onl y f r omt hat
band of count er f ei t er s of occul t document s coul d such an endl ess ser i es of
debasement s spr i ng, f r omt he St el l a Mat ut i na t o t he sat ani c chur ches of Al ei st er
Cr owl ey, who cal l ed up demons t o wi n t he f avor s of cer t ai n gent l emen devot ed t o t he
vi ce angl ai s. I f you onl y knew, dear f r i ends, t he sor t of peopl e one has t o r ub
el bows wi t h i n devot i ng onesel f t o such st udi es. You wi l l see f or your sel ves i f you
under t ake t o publ i sh i n t hi s f i el d. "
Bel bo sei zed t hi s oppor t uni t y t o br oach t he subj ect . He expl ai ned t hat Gar amond
wi shed t o br i ng out , each year , a f ew books of an esot er i c nat ur e.
" Ah, esot er i c. " Agl i e smi l ed, and Bel bo bl ushed.
" Shoul d we say. . . her met i c?"
" Ah, her met i c. " Agl i e smi l ed.
" Wel l , " Bel bo sai d, " per haps I amusi ng t he wr ong wor d, but sur el y you know t he
Page 134
genr e. "
Agl i e smi l ed agai n. " I t i s not a genr e. I t i s knowl edge. What you wi sh t o do i s
publ i sh a sur vey of knowl edge t hat has not been debased. For you i t may be si mpl y an
edi t or i al choi ce, but f or me, i f I amt o concer n mysel f wi t h i t , i t wi l l be a sear ch
f or t r ut h, a quest e du Gr aal . "
Bel bo war ned t hat j ust as t he f i sher man who cast s hi s net coul d pul l i n empt y shel l s
and pl ast i c bags, so Gar amond Pr ess mi ght r ecei ve many manuscr i pt s of dubi ous val ue,
and t hat we wer e l ooki ng f or a st er n r eader who woul d separ at e t he wheat f r omt he
chaf f , whi l e al so t aki ng not e of any cur i ous by- pr oduct s, because t her e was a
f r i endl y publ i shi ng f i r mt hat woul d be happy i f we r edi r ect ed l ess wor t hy aut hor s t o
i t . . . Nat ur al l y, a sui t abl e f or mof compensat i on woul d be wor ked out .
" Thank heavens I amwhat i s cal l ed a man of means. Even a shr ewd man of means. I f ,
i n t he cour se of my expl or at i ons, I come upon anot her copy of Khunr at h, or anot her
handsome st uf f ed sal amander , or a nar whal ' s hor n ( whi ch I woul d be ashamed t o
di spl ay i n my col l ect i on, t hough t he Tr easur e of Vi enna exhi bi t s one as a uni cor n' s
hor n) , wi t h a br i ef and agr eeabl e t r ansact i on I can ear n mor e t han you woul d pay me
i n t en year s of consul t ancy. I wi l l l ook at your manuscr i pt s i n t he spi r i t of
humi l i t y. I amconvi nced t hat even i n t he most commonpl ace t ext I wi l l f i nd a spar k,
i f not of t r ut h, at l east of bi zar r e f al sehood, and of t en t he ext r emes meet . I wi l l
be bor ed onl y by t he or di nar y, and f or t hat bor edomyou wi l l compensat e me.
Dependi ng on t he bor edomI have under gone, I wi l l conf i ne mysel f t o sendi ng you, at
t he end of t he year , a l i t t l e not e, and I wi l l keep my r equest wi t hi n t he conf i nes
of t he symbol i cal . I f you consi der i t excessi ve, you wi l l j ust send me a case of
f i ne wi ne. "
Bel bo was nonpl ussed. He was accust omed t o deal i ng wi t h consul t ant s who wer e
quer ul ous and st ar vi ng. He opened t he br i ef case he had br ought wi t h hi mand dr ew out
a t hi ck manuscr i pt .
" I woul dn' t want you t o be over opt i mi st i c. Look at t hi s, f or exampl e. I t seems t o me
t ypi cal . "
Agl i e t ook t he manuscr i pt : " The Secr et Language of t he Pyr ami ds. . . Let ' s see t he
i ndex. . . Pyr ami di on. . . Deat h of Lor d Car nar von. . . Test i mony of Her odot us. . . " He l ooked
up. " You gent l emen have r ead i t ?"
" I ski mmed t hr ough i t , " Bel bo sai d.
Agl i e r et ur ned t he manuscr i pt t o hi m. " Now t el l me i f my summar y i s cor r ect . " He sat
down behi nd t he desk, r eached i nt o t he pocket of hi s vest , dr ew out t he pi l l box I
had seen i n Br azi l , and t ur ned i t i n hi s t hi n, t aper i ng f i nger s, whi ch ear l i er had
car essed hi s f avor i t e books. He r ai sed hi s eyes t owar d t he f i gur es on t he cei l i ng
and r eci t ed, as i f f r oma t ext he had l ong known by hear t :
" The aut hor of t hi s book no doubt r emi nds us t hat Pi azzi Smyt h di scover ed t he sacr ed
and esot er i c measur ement s of t he pyr ami ds i n 1864. Al l ow me t o r ound of f t o whol e
number s; at my age t he memor y begi ns t o f ai l a bi t . . . Thei r base i s a squar e; each
si de measur es t wo hundr ed and t hi r t y- t wo met er s. Or i gi nal l y t he hei ght was one
hundr ed and f or t y- ei ght met er s. I f we conver t i nt o sacr ed Egypt i an cubi t s, we obt ai n
a base of t hr ee hundr ed and si xt y- si x; i n ot her wor ds, t he number of days i n a l eap
year . For Pi azzi Smyt h, t he hei ght mul t i pl i ed by t en t o t he ni nt h gi ves t he di st ance
bet ween t he ear t h and t he sun: one hundr ed and f or t y- ei ght mi l l i on ki l omet er s. A
good est i mat e at t he t i me, si nce t oday t he cal cul at ed di st ance i s one hundr ed and
f or t y- ni ne and a hal f mi l l i on ki l omet er s, and t he moder ns ar e not necessar i l y r i ght .
The base di vi ded by t he wi dt h of one of t he st ones i s t hr ee hundr ed and si xt y- f i ve.
The per i met er of t he base i s ni ne hundr ed and t hi r t y- one met er s. Di vi de by t wi ce t he
hei ght , and you get 3. 14, t he number i r . Spl endi d, no?"
Bel bo smi l ed and l ooked embar r assed. " I ncr edi bl e! Tel l me how you- "
" Let Dr . Agl i e go on, J acopo, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
Agi l e t hanked hi mwi t h a nod. Hi s gaze wander ed t he cei l i ng as he spoke, but i t
seemed t o me t hat t he pat h hi s eyes f ol l owed was nei t her i dl e nor r andom, t hat t hey
wer e r eadi ng, i n t hose i mages, what he onl y pr et ended t o be di ggi ng f r omhi s memor y.
48
Now, f r omapex t o base, t he vol ume of t he Gr eat Pyr ami d i n cubi c i nches i s
appr oxi mat el y 161, 000, 000, 000. How many human soul s, t hen, have l i ved on t he ear t h
f r omAdamt o t he pr esent day? Somewher e bet ween 153, 000, 000, 000 and 171, 900, 000, 000.
- Pi azzi Smyt h, Our I nher i t ance i n t he Gr eat Pyr ami d, London, I sbi st er , 1880, p. 583
Page 135
" I i magi ne your aut hor hol ds t hat t he hei ght of t he pyr ami d of Cheops i s equal t o
t he squar e r oot of t he sumof t he ar eas of al l i t s si des. The measur ement s must be
made i n f eet , t he f oot bei ng cl oser t o t he Egypt i an and Hebr ew cubi t , and not i n
met er s, f or t he met er i s an abst r act l engt h i nvent ed i n moder n t i mes. The Egypt i an
cubi t comes t o 1. 728 f eet . I f we do not know t he pr eci se hei ght , we can use t he
pyr ami di on, whi ch was t he smal l pyr ami d set at op t he Gr eat Pyr ami d, t o f or mi t s t i p.
I t was of gol d or some ot her met al t hat shone i n t he sun. Take t he hei ght of t he
pyr ami di on, mul t i pl y i t by t he hei ght of t he whol e pyr ami d, mul t i pl y t he t ot al by
t en t o t he f i f t h, and we obt ai n t he ci r cumf er ence of t he ear t h. What ' s mor e, i f you
mul t i pl y t he per i met er of t he base by t went y- f our t o t he t hi r d di vi ded by t wo, you
get t he ear t h' s r adi us. Fur t her , t he ar ea of t he base of t he pyr ami d mul t i pl i ed by
ni net y- si x t i mes t en t o t he ei ght h gi ves us one hundr ed and ni net y- si x mi l l i on ei ght
hundr ed and t en t housand squar e mi l es, whi ch i s t he sur f ace ar ea of t he ear t h. AmI
r i ght ?"
Bel bo l i ked t o convey amazement wi t h an expr essi on he had l ear ned i n t he
ci nemat heque, f r omt he or i gi nal - l anguage ver si on of Yankee Doodl e Dandy, st ar r i ng
J ames Cagney: " I ' mf l abber gast ed! " Thi s i s what he sai d now. Agl i e al so knew
col l oqui al Engl i sh, appar ent l y, because he coul dn' t hi de hi s sat i sf act i on at t hi s
t r i but e t t r hi s vani t y. " My f r i ends, " he sai d, " when a gent l eman, whose name i s
unknown t o me, pens a compi l at i on on t he myst er y of t he pyr ami ds, he can say onl y
what by now even chi l dr en know. I woul d have been sur pr i sed i f he had sai d anyt hi ng
new. "
" So t he wr i t er i s si mpl y r epeat i ng est abl i shed t r ut hs?" " Tr ut hs?" Agl i e l aughed, and
agai n opened f or us t he box of hi s def or med and del i ci ous ci gar s. " Qui d est ver i t as,
as a f r i end of mi ne sai d many year s ago. Most of i t i s nonsense. To begi n wi t h, i f
you di vi de t he base of t he pyr ami d by exact l y t wi ce t he hei ght , and do not r ound
of f , you don' t get I T, you get 3. 1417254. A smal l di f f er ence, but essent i al .
Fur t her , a di sci pl e of Pi azzi Smyt h, Fl i nder s Pet r i e, who al so measur ed St onehenge,
r epor t s t hat one day he caught t he mast er chi ppi ng at a gr ani t e wal l of t he r oyal
ant echamber , t o make hi s sums wor k out . . . Gossi p, per haps, but Pi azzi Smyt h was not a
man t o i nspi r e t r ust ; you had onl y t o see t he way he t i ed hi s cr avat . St i l l , ami d
al l t he nonsense t her e ar e some uni mpeachabl e t r ut hs. Gent l emen, woul d you f ol l ow me
t o t he wi ndow?"
He t hr ew open t he shut t er s dr amat i cal l y and poi nt ed. At t he cor ner of t he nar r ow
st r eet and t he br oad avenue, st ood a l i t t l e wooden ki osk, wher e, pr esumabl y, l ot t er y
t i cket s wer e sol d.
" Gent l emen, " he sai d, " I i nvi t e you t o go and measur e t hat ki osk. You wi l l see t hat
t he l engt h of t he count er i s one hundr ed and f or t y- ni ne cent i met er s- i n ot her wor ds,
one hundr ed- bi l l i ont h of t he di st ance bet ween t he ear t h and t he sun. The hei ght at
t he r ear , one hundr ed and sevent y- si x cent i met er s, di vi ded by t he wi dt h of t he
wi ndow, f i f t y- si x cent i met er s, i s 3. 14. The hei ght at t he f r ont i s ni net een
deci met er s, equal , i n ot her wor ds, t o t he number of year s of t he Gr eek l unar cycl e.
The sumof t he hei ght s of t he t wo f r ont cor ner s and t he t wo r ear cor ner s i s one
hundr ed and ni net y t i mes t wo pl us one hundr ed and sevent y- si x t i mes t wo, whi ch
equal s seven hundr ed and t hi r t y- t wo, t he dat e of t he vi ct or y at Poi t i er s. The
t hi ckness of t he count er i s 3. 10 cent i met er s, and t he wi dt h of t he cor ni ce of t he
wi ndow i s 8. 8 cent i met er s. Repl aci ng t he number s bef or e t he deci mal s by t he
cor r espondi ng l et t er s of t he al phabet , we obt ai n C f or t en and H f or ei ght , or
C10H8, whi ch i s t he f or mul a f or napht hal ene. "
" Fant ast i c, " I sai d. " You di d al l t hese measur ement s?" " No, " Agl i e sai d. " They wer e
done on anot her ki osk, by a cer t ai n J ean- Pi er r e Adam. But I woul d assume t hat al l
l ot t er y ki osks have mor e or l ess t he same di mensi ons. Wi t h number s you can do
anyt hi ng you l i ke. Suppose I have t he sacr ed number 9 and I want t o get t he number
1314, dat e of t he execut i on of J acques de Mol ay- a dat e dear t o anyone who, l i ke me,
pr of esses devot i on t o t he Templ ar t r adi t i on of kni ght hood. What do I do? I mul t i pl y
ni ne by one hundr ed and f or t y- si x, t he f at ef ul day of t he dest r uct i on of Car t hage.
How di d I ar r i ve at t hi s? I di vi ded t hi r t een hundr ed and f our t een by t wo, by t hr ee,
et cet er a, unt i l I f ound a sat i sf yi ng dat e. I coul d al so have di vi ded t hi r t een
hundr ed and f our t een by 6. 28, t he doubl e of 3. 14, and I woul d have got t wo hundr ed
and ni ne. That i s t he year i n whi ch At t al us I , ki ng of Per gamon, j oi ned t he
ant i - Macedoni an League. You see?"
" Then you don' t bel i eve i n numer ol ogi es of any ki nd, " Di o- t al l evi sai d,
Page 136
di sappoi nt ed.
" On t he cont r ar y, I bel i eve f i r ml y. I bel i eve t he uni ver se i s a gr eat symphony of
numer i cal cor r espondences, I bel i eve t hat number s and t hei r symbol i sms pr ovi de a
pat h t o speci al knowl edge. But i f t he wor l d, bel ow and above, i s a syst emof
cor r espondences wher e t out se t i ent , i t ' s nat ur al f or t he ki osk and t he pyr ami d,
bot h wor ks of man, t o r epr oduce i n t hei r st r uct ur e, unconsci ousl y, t he har moni es of
t he cosmos. The so- cal l ed pyr - ami dol ogi st s di scover wi t h t hei r i ncr edi bl y t or t uous
met hods a st r ai ght f or war d t r ut h, a t r ut h f ar mor e anci ent , and one al r eady known. I t
i s t he l ogi c of r esear ch and di scover y t hat i s t or t uous, because i t i s t he l ogi c of
sci ence. Wher eas t he l ogi c of knowl edge needs no di scover y, because i t knows
al r eady. Why must i t demonst r at e t hat whi ch coul d not be ot her wi se? I f t her e i s a
secr et , i t i s much mor e pr of ound. These aut hor s of your s r emai n si mpl y on t he
sur f ace. I i magi ne t hi s one al so r epeat s al l t he t al es of how t he Egypt i ans knew
about el ect r i ci t y. . . "
" I won' t ask how you managed t o guess. "
" You see? They ar e cont ent wi t h el ect r i ci t y, l i ke any ol d Mar coni . The hypot hesi s of
r adi oact i vi t y woul d be l ess puer i l e. Ther e i s an i nt er est i ng i dea. Unl i ke t he
el ect r i ci t y hypot hesi s, i t woul d expl ai n t he much vaunt ed cur se of Tut ankhamen. And
how wer e t he Egypt i ans abl e t o l i f t t he bl ocks of t he pyr ami ds? Can you l i f t
boul der s wi t h el ect r i c shocks, can you make t hemf l y wi t h nucl ear f i ssi on? No, t he
Egypt i ans f ound a way t o el i mi nat e t he f or ce of gr avi t y; t hey possessed t he secr et
of l evi t at i on. Anot her f or mof ener gy. . . I t i s known t hat t he Chal dean pr i est s
oper at ed sacr ed machi nes by sounds al one, and t he pr i est s of Kar nak and Thebes coul d
open t he door s of a t empl e wi t h onl y t hei r voi ce- and what el se coul d be t he or i gi n,
i f you t hi nk about i t , of t he l egend of Open Sesame?"
" So?" Bel bo asked.
" Now her e' s t he poi nt , my f r i end. El ect r i ci t y, r adi oact i vi t y, at omi c ener gy- t he t r ue
i ni t i at e knows t hat t hese ar e met aphor s, masks, convent i onal l i es, or , at most ,
pat het i c sur r ogat es, f or an ancest r al , f or got t en f or ce, a f or ce t he i ni t i at e seeks
and one day wi l l know. We shoul d speak per haps" - he hesi t at ed a moment - " of t el l ur i c
cur r ent s. "
" What ?" one of us asked, I f or get who.
Agl i e seemed di sappoi nt ed. " You see? I was begi nni ng t o hope t hat among your
pr ospect i ve aut hor s one had appear ed who coul d t el l me somet hi ng mor e i nt er est i ng.
But i t gr ows l at e. Ver y wel l , my f r i ends, our pact i s made; t he r est was j ust t he
r ambl i ng of an el der l y schol ar . ' '
As he hel d out hi s hand t o us, t he but l er ent er ed and mur mur ed somet hi ng i n hi s ear .
" Ah, t he sweet f r i end, " Agl i e sai d, " I had f or got t en. Ask her t o wai t a moment . . . No,
not i n t he l i vi ng r oom, i n t he Tur ki sh sal on. "
The sweet f r i end must have been f ami l i ar wi t h t he house, because she was al r eady on
t he t hr eshol d of t he st udy, and wi t hout even l ooki ng at us, i n t he gat her i ng shadows
of t he day at i t s end, she pr oceeded conf i dent l y t o Agl i e, pat t ed hi s cheek, and
sai d: " Si mon, you' r e not goi ng t o make me wai t out si de, ar e you?" I t was Lor enza
Pel l egr i ni .
Agl i e moved asi de sl i ght l y, ki ssed her hand, and sai d, gest ur i ng at us: " My sweet
Sophi a, you know you ar e al ways wel come, as you i l l umi nat e ever y house you ent er . I
was mer el y sayi ng goodbye t o t hese guest s. "
Lor enza t ur ned, saw us, and made a cheer f ul wave of gr eet i ng- I don' t bel i eve I ever
saw her di scomposed or embar r assed. " Oh, how ni ce, " she sai d; " you al so know my
f r i end! Hel l o, J acopo. "
Bel bo t ur ned pal e. We sai d goodbye. Agl i e expr essed pl easur e t hat we knew each
ot her . " I consi der our mut ual acquai nt ance t o be one of t he most genui ne cr eat ur es I
ever had t he good f or t une t o know. I n her f r eshness she i ncar nat esal l ow an ol d man
of l ear ni ng t hi s f ancy- t he Sophi a, exi l ed on t hi s ear t h. But , my sweet Sophi a, I
haven' t had t i me t o l et you know: t he pr omi sed eveni ng has been post poned f or a f ew
weeks. I ' mso sor r y. ' '
" I t doesn' t mat t er , " Lor enza sai d. " I ' l l wai t . Ar e you goi ng t o t he bar ?" she asked
us- or , r at her , commanded us. " Good. I ' l l st ay her e f or a hal f hour or so. Si mon' s
gi vi ng me one of hi s el i xi r s. You shoul d t r y t hem. But he says t hey' r e onl y f or t he
el ect . Then I ' l l j oi n you. "
Agl i e smi l ed wi t h t he ai r of an i ndul gent uncl e; he had her t ake a seat , t hen
accompani ed us t o t he door .
Out i n t he st r eet agai n, we headed f or Pi l ade' s, i n my car . Bel bo was si l ent . We
Page 137
di dn' t t al k al l t he way t her e. But at t he bar , t he spel l had t o be br oken.
" I hope I haven' t del i ver ed you i nt o t he hands of a l unat i c, " I sai d.
" No, " Bel bo sai d. " The man i s keen, subt l e. I t ' s j ust t hat he l i ves i n a wor l d
di f f er ent f r omour s. " Then he added gr i ml y: " Or al most . "
49
The Tr adi t i o Templ i post ul at es, i ndependent l y, t he t r adi t i on of a t empl ar
kni ght hood, a spi r i t ual kni ght hood of i ni t i at es. . .
- Henr y Cor bi n, Templ e et cont empl at i on, Par i s, Fl ammar i on, 1980
" I bel i eve I ' ve got your Agi l e f i gur ed out , Casaubon, " Di ot al - l evi sai d, havi ng
or der ed a spar kl i ng whi t e wi ne f r omPi l ade, maki ng al l of us f ear f or hi s mor al
heal t h. " He' s a schol ar , cur i ous about t he secr et sci ences, suspi ci ous of
di l et t ant es, of t hose who l ear n by ear . Yet , as we our sel ves l ear ned t oday, by our
eavesdr oppi ng, he may scor n t hembut he l i st ens t o t hem, he may cr i t i ci ze t hembut
he doesn' t di ssoci at e hi msel f f r omt hem. "
" Si gner or Count or Mar gr ave Agl i e, or what ever t he hel l he i s, sai d somet hi ng ver y
r eveal i ng t oday, " Bel bo added. " He used t he expr essi on ' spi r i t ual kni ght hood. ' He
f eel s j oi ned t o t hemby a bond of spi r i t ual kni ght hood. I t hi nk I under st and hi m. "
" J oi ned, i n what sense?" we asked.
Bel bo was now on hi s t hi r d mar t i ni ( whi skey i n t he eveni ng, he cl ai med, because i t
was cal mi ng and i nduced r ever i e; mar t i ni s i n t he af t er noon, because t hey st i mul at ed
and f or t i f i ed) . He began t al ki ng about hi s chi l dhood i n ***, as he had al r eady done
once wi t h me.
" I t was bet ween 1943 and 1945, t hat i s, t he per i od of t r ansi t i on f r omFasci smt o
democr acy and t hen t o t he di ct at or shi p of t he Sal o r epubl i c, wi t h t he par t i san war
goi ng on i n t he mount ai ns. At t he begi nni ng of t hi s st or y I was el even, and st ayi ng
i n my uncl e Car l o' s house. My f ami l y nor mal l y l i ved i n t he ci t y, but i n 1943 t he ai r
r ai ds wer e i ncr easi ng and my mot her had deci ded t o evacuat e.
" Uncl e Car l o and Aunt Cat er i na l i ved i n ***. Uncl e Car l o came f r oma f ar mi ng f ami l y
and had i nher i t ed t he *** house, wi t h some l and, whi ch was cul t i vat ed by a t enant
f ar mer named Adel i ne Canepa. The t enant pl ant ed, har vest ed t he gr ai n, made t he wi ne,
and gave hal f of ever yt hi ng t o t he owner . A t ense si t uat i on, obvi ousl y: t he t enant
consi der ed hi msel f expl oi t ed, and so di d t he owner , who r ecei ved onl y hal f t he
pr oduce of hi s l and.
The l andowner s hat ed t he t enant s and t he t enant s hat ed t he l andowner s. But i n Uncl e
Car l o' s case t hey l i ved si de by si de.
" I n 1914 Uncl e Car l o had enl i st ed i n t he Al pi ne t r oops. A bl uf f Pi edmont ese, al l
dut y and Fat her l and, he became a l i eut enant , t hen a capt ai n. One day, i n a bat t l e on
t he Car so, he f ound hi msel f besi de an i di ot sol di er who l et a gr enade expl ode i n hi s
hands- why el se cal l t hemhand gr enades? Uncl e Car l o was about t o be t hr own i nt o a
common gr ave when an or der l y r eal i zed he was st i l l al i ve. They t ook hi mt o a f i el d
hospi t al , r emoved t he eye t hat was hangi ng out of i t s socket , cut of f one ar m, and,
accor di ng t o Aunt Cat er i na, t hey al so put a met al pl at e i n hi s head, because he had
l ost some of hi s skul l . I n ot her wor ds, a mast er pi ece of sur ger y on t he one hand and
a her o on t he ot her . Si l ver medal , caval i er of t he Cr own of I t al y, and af t er t he war
a good st eady j ob i n publ i c admi ni st r at i on. Uncl e Car l o ended up head of t he t ax
of f i ce i n ***, wher e, af t er i nher i t i ng t he f ami l y pr oper t y, he went t o l i ve i n t he
ancest r al home wi t h Adel i ne Canepa and f ami l y.
" As head of t he t ax of f i ce, Uncl e Car l o was a l ocal bi gwi g, and as a mut i l at ed
vet er an and caval i er of t he Cr own of I t al y, he was nat ur al l y on t he si de of t he
gover nment , whi ch happened t o be t he Fasci st di ct at or shi p. Was Uncl e Car l o a
Fasci st ?
" I n t hose days, Fasci smhad gi ven vet er ans st at us, had r ewar ded t hemwi t h
decor at i ons and pr omot i ons; so l et ' s say Uncl e Car l o was moder at el y Fasci st . Fasci st
enough t o ear n t he hat r ed of Adel i ne Canepa, who was ar dent l y ant i - Fasci st , f or
obvi ous r easons. Canepa had t o go t o Uncl e Car l o ever y year t o make hi s i ncome
decl ar at i on. He woul d ar r i ve i n t he of f i ce wi t h a bol d expr essi on of compl i ci t y,
havi ng t r i ed t o cor r upt Aunt Cat er i na wi t h a f ew dozen eggs. And he woul d f i nd
hi msel f up agai nst Uncl e Car l o, who, bei ng a her o, was not onl y i ncor r upt i bl e, but
al so knew bet t er t han anyone how much Canepa had st ol en f r omhi mi n t he cour se of
t he year , and who woul dn' t f or gi ve hi mone cent . Adel i ne Canepa, consi der i ng hi msel f
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a vi ct i mof t he di ct at or shi p, began spr eadi ng sl ander ous r umor s about Uncl e Car l o.
One l i ved on t he gr ound f l oor , t he ot her on t he f l oor above; t hey met ever y mor ni ng
and ni ght , but no l onger exchanged gr eet i ngs. Communi cat i on was mai nt ai ned t hr ough
Aunt Cat er i na and, af t er our ar r i val , t hr ough my mot her - t o whomAdel i ne Canepa
expr essed much sympat hy and under st andi ng, si nce she was t he si st er - i n- l aw of a
monst er . My uncl e, i n hi s gr ay doubl e- br east ed sui t and bowl er , woul d come home
ever y eveni ng at si x wi t h hi s copy of La St ampa st i l l t o be r ead. He wal ked er ect ,
l i ke an Al pi ne sol di er , hi s gr ay eye on t he peak t o be st or med. He passed by Adel i no
Canepa, who at t hat hour was enj oyi ng t he cool ai r on a bench i n t he gar den, and i t
was as i f my uncl e di d not see hi m. Then he woul d encount er Si - gnor a Canepa at t he
downst ai r s door and cer emoni ousl y dof f hi s hat . And so i t went , ever y eveni ng, year
af t er year . "
I t was ei ght o' cl ock; Lor enza wasn' t comi ng, as she had pr omi sed. Bel bo was on hi s
f i f t h mar t i ni .
" Then came 1943. One mor ni ng Uncl e Car l o came i nt o our r oom, waked me wi t h a ki ss,
and sai d, ' My boy, you want t o hear t he bi ggest news of t he year ? They' ve ki cked out
Mussol i ni . ' I never f i gur ed out whet her or not Uncl e Car l o suf f er ed over i t . He was
a ci t i zen of t ot al i nt egr i t y and a ser vant of t he st at e. I f he di d suf f er , he sai d
not hi ng about i t , and he went on r unni ng t he t ax of f i ce f or t he Badogl i o gover nment .
Then came Sept ember 8, and t he ar ea i n whi ch we l i ved f el l under t he cont r ol of t he
Fasci st s' Soci al Republ i c, and Uncl e Car l o agai n adj ust ed. He col l ect ed t axes f or
t he Soci al Republ i c.
" Adel i ne Canepa, meanwhi l e, boast ed of hi s cont act s wi t h t he par t i san gr oups f or mi ng
i n t he mount ai ns, and he pr omi sed vengeance, t he maki ng of exampl es. We ki ds di dn' t
yet know who t he par t i sans wer e. Ther e wer e gr eat t al es about t hem, but so f ar
nobody had seen t hem. Ther e was t al k about a Badogl i an l eader known as Mongo- a
ni ckname, nat ur al l y, as was t he cust omt hen; many sai d he had t aken i t f r omFl ash
Gor don. Mongo was a f or mer Car abi ni er i ser geant maj or who had l ost a l eg i n t he
f i r st f i ght i ng agai nst t he Fasci st s and t he SS and now commanded al l t he br i gades i n
t he hi l l s ar ound ***.
" And t hen came t he di sast er : one day t he par t i sans showed up i n t own. They had
descended f r omt he hi l l s, t hey wer e r unni ng wi l d i n t he st r eet s, st i l l wi t hout
uni f or ms, j ust bl ue ker chi ef s, and f i r i ng r ounds i nt o t he ai r t o make t hei r pr esence
known. The news spr ead; al l t he peopl e l ocked t hemsel ves i n t hei r houses. I t wasn' t
yet cl ear what sor t of men t hese par t i sans wer e. Aunt Cat er i na was onl y mi l dl y
concer ned: af t er al l , t hose par t i sans wer e f r i ends of Adel i ne Canepa, or at l east
Adel i no Canepa cl ai med t o be a f r i end of t hei r s, so t hey woul dn' t do anyt hi ng bad t o
Uncl e, woul d t hey? They woul d. We wer e i nf or med t hat ar ound el even o' cl ock a squad
of par t i sans wi t h aut omat i c r i f l es ai med had ent er ed t he t ax of f i ce, ar r est ed Uncl e
Car l o, and car r i ed hi mof f , dest i nat i on unknown. Aunt Cat er i na l ay down on her bed,
and whi t i sh f oambegan t o dr i bbl e f r omher l i ps. She decl ar ed t hat Uncl e Car l o woul d
be ki l l ed. A bl ow wi t h a r i f l e but t woul d- be enough: wi t h t he met al pl at e i n hi s
head, he woul d di e on t he spot .
" Dr awn by my aunt ' s moans, Adel i no Canepa ar r i ved wi t h hi s wi f e and chi l dr en. My
aunt cr i ed t hat he was a J udas, t hat he had r epor t ed Uncl e t o t he par t i sans because
Uncl e col l ect ed t axes f or t he Soci al Republ i c. Adel i no Canepa swor e by ever yt hi ng
sacr ed t hat t hi s was not t r ue, but obvi ousl y he f el t r esponsi bl e, because he had
t al ked t oo much i n t own. My aunt sent hi maway. Adel i no Canepa wept , appeal ed t o my
mot her , r emi nded her of al l t he t i mes he had sol d her a r abbi t or a chi cken at a
r i di cul ousl y l ow pr i ce, but my mot her mai nt ai ned a di gni f i ed si l ence, Aunt Cat er i na
cont i nued t o dr i bbl e whi t i sh f oam, I cr i ed. Fi nal l y, af t er t wo hour s of agony, we
hear d shout s, and Uncl e Car l o appear ed on a bi cycl e, st eer i ng i t wi t h hi s one ar m
and l ooki ng as i f he wer e r et ur ni ng f r oma pi cni c. Seei ng a di st ur bance i n t he
gar den, he asked what had happened. Uncl e hat ed dr amas, l i ke ever yone i n our par t s.
He went upst ai r s, appr oached t he bed of pai n of Aunt Cat er i na, who was st i l l ki cki ng
her scr awny l egs, and i nqui r ed why she was so agi t at ed. "
" What had happened?"
" What had happened was t hi s. Mongo' s par t i sans, pr obabl y hear i ng some of Adel i no
Canepa' s mut t er i ngs, had i dent i f i ed Uncl e Car l o as one of t he l ocal r epr esent at i ves
of t he r egi me, so t hey ar r est ed hi mt o t each t he whol e t own a l esson. He was t aken
out si de t he t own i n a t r uck and f ound hi msel f bef or e Mongo. Mongo, hi s war medal s
shi ni ng, st ood wi t h a gun i n hi s r i ght hand and hi s l ef t hol di ng a cr ut ch. Uncl e
Car l o- but I r eal l y don' t t hi nk he was bei ng cl ever ; I t hi nk i t was i nst i nct , or t he
Page 139
r i t ual of chi val r y- snapped t o at t ent i on, i nt r oduced hi msel f : Maj or Car l o Covasso,
Al pi ne Di vi si on, di sabl ed vet er an, si l ver medal . And Mongo al so snapped t o at t ent i on
and i nt r oduced hi msel f : Ser geant Maj or Rebaudengo, Royal Car abi neer s, commander of
t he Badogl i an br i gade Bet t i no Ri casol i , br onze medal . ' Wher e?' Uncl e Car l o asked.
And Mongo, i mpr essed, sai d: ' Por doi , Maj or , hi l l 327. " By God, ' sai d Uncl e Car l o, ' I
was at hi l l 328, t hi r d r egi ment , Sasso di St r i a! ' The bat t l e of t he sol st i ce? Bat t l e
of t he sol st i ce i t was. And t he cannon on Fi ve- Fi nger Mount ai n? Dammi t t o hel l , do I
r emember ! And t he bayonet at t ack on Sai nt Cr i spi n' s Eve? Yessi r ! That sor t of t hi ng.
Then, t he one wi t hout an ar m, t he ot her wi t hout a l eg, on t he same i mpul se t hey t ook
a st ep f or war d and embr aced. Mongo sai d t hen, ' You see, Caval i er , i t ' s t hi s way,
Maj or : we wer e i nf or med t hat you col l ect t axes f or t he Fasci st gover nment t hat
t oadi es t o t he i nvader s. " You see, Commander , ' Uncl e Car l o sai d, ' i t ' s t hi s way: I
have a f ami l y and r ecei ve a sal ar y f r omt he gover nment , and t he gover nment i s what
i t i s; I di dn' t choose i t , and what woul d you have done i n my pl ace?" My dear Maj or , '
Mongo r epl i ed, ' i n your pl ace, I ' d have done what you di d, but t r y at l east t o
col l ect t he t axes sl owl y; t ake your t i me. ' Ti l see what I can do, ' Uncl e Car l o sai d.
' I have not hi ng agai nst you men; you, t oo, ar e sons of I t al y and val i ant f i ght er s. '
They under st ood each ot her , because t hey bot h t hought of Fat her l and wi t h a capi t al
F. Mongo or der ed hi s men t o gi ve t he maj or a' bi cycl e, and Uncl e Car l o went home.
Adel i no Canepa di dn' t show hi s f ace f or sever al mont hs.
" Ther e, I don' t know i f t hi s qual i f i es as spi r i t ual kni ght hood, but I ' mcer t ai n
t her e ar e bonds t hat endur e above f act i ons and par t i es. "
50
For I amt he f i r st and t he l ast . I amt he honor ed and t he hat ed. I amt he sai nt and
t he pr ost i t ut e.
- Fr agment of Nag Hammadi 6, 2
Lor enza Pel l egr i ni ent er ed. Bel bo l ooked up at t he cei l i ng and or der ed a f i nal
mar t i ni . Ther e was t ensi on i n t he ai r , and I got up t o l eave, but Lor enza st opped
me. " No. Al l of you come wi t h me. Toni ght ' s t he openi ng of Ri ccar do' s show; he' s
i naugur at i ng a new st yl e! He' s gr eat ! You know hi m, J acopo. "
I knew who Ri ccar do was; he was al ways hangi ng ar ound Pi l ade' s. But at t hat moment I
di dn' t under st and why Bel bo' s eyes wer e f i xed so i nt ensel y on t he cei l i ng. Havi ng
r ead t he f i l es, I r eal i ze now t hat Ri ccar do was t he man wi t h t he scar , t he man wi t h
whomBel bo had l acked t he cour age t o st ar t a f i ght .
The gal l er y wasn' t f ar f r omPi l ade' s, Lor enza i nsi st ed. They had or gani zed a r eal
par t y- or , r at her , an or gy. Di ot al l evi became ner vous at t hi s and i mmedi at el y sai d he
had t o go home. I hesi t at ed, but i t was obvi ous Lor enza want ed me al ong, and t hi s,
t oo, made Bel bo suf f er , si nce he saw t he possi bi l i t y of a t et e- a- t et e sl i ppi ng
f ar t her and f ar t her away. But I coul dn' t r ef use; so we set out .
I di dn' t car e t hat much f or Ri ccar do. I n t he ear l y si xt i es he t ur ned out ver y bor i ng
pai nt i ngs, smal l canvases i n bl acks and gr ays, ver y geomet r i c, sl i ght l y opt i cal , t he
sor t of st uf f t hat made your eyes swi m. They bor e t i t l es l i ke Composi t i on 15,
Par al l ax 17, Eucl i d X. But i n 1968 he st ar t ed showi ng i n squat s, he changed hi s
pal et t e; now t her e wer e onl y vi ol ent bl acks and whi t es, no gr ays, t he st r okes wer e
bol der , and t he t i t l es wer e l i ke Ce n' est qu' un debut , Mol ot ov, A Hundr ed Fl ower s.
When I got back t o Mi l an, I saw a show of hi s i n a cl ub wher e Dr . Wagner was
wor shi ped. Ri ccar do had el i mi nat ed bl ack, was wor ki ng i n whi t e onl y, t he cont r ast s
pr ovi ded by t he t ext ur e and r el i ef of t he pai nt on por ous Fabr i ano paper , so t hat
t he pi ct ur es- as he expl ai ned- woul d r eveal di f f er ent f i gur es i n di f f er ent l i ght i ngs.
Thei r t i t l es wer e I n Pr ai se of Ambi gui t y, A/ Tr aver s, f a, Ber ggasse, and Denegat i on
15.
That eveni ng, as soon as we ent er ed t he new gal l er y, I saw t hat Ri ccar do' s poet i cs
had under gone a pr of ound change. The show was ent i t l ed Megal e Apophasi s. Ri ccar do
had t ur ned f i gur at i ve wi t h a dazzl i ng pal et t e. He pl ayed wi t h quot at i ons, and, si nce
I don' t bel i eve he knew how t o dr aw, I guess he wor ked by pr oj ect i ng ont o t he canvas
t he sl i de of a f amous pai nt i ng. Hi s choi ces hover ed bet ween t he t ur n- of - t he- cent ur y
pompi er s and t he ear l y- t went i et h- cent ur y Symbol i st s. Over t he pr oj ect ed i mage he
wor ked wi t h a poi nt i l l i st t echni que, usi ng i nf i ni t esi mal gr adat i ons of col or ,
cover i ng t he whol e spect r umdot by dot , so t hat he al ways began f r oma bl i ndi ngl y
br i ght nucl eus and ended at absol ut e bl ack, or vi ce ver sa, dependi ng on t he myst i cal
Page 140
or cosmol ogi cal concept he want ed t o expr ess. Ther e wer e mount ai ns t hat shot r ays of
l i ght , whi ch wer e br oken up i nt o a f i ne powder of pal e spher es, and t her e wer e
concent r i c ski es wi t h hi nt s of angel s wi t h t r anspar ent wi ngs, somet hi ng l i ke t he
Par adi se of Dor e" . The t i t l es wer e Beat r i x, Myst i ca Rosa, Dant e Gabr i el s 33, Fedel i
d' Amor e, At anor , Homuncul us 666. Thi s i s t he sour ce of Lor enza' s passi on f or
homuncul i , I sai d t o mysel f . The l ar gest pi ct ur e was ent i t l ed Sophi a, and i t showed
a r ai n of bl ack angel s, whi ch f aded at t he gr ound and cr eat ed a whi t e cr eat ur e
car essed by gr eat l i vi d hands, t he cr eat ur e a copy of t he one you see hel d up
agai nst t he sky i n Guer ni ca. The j uxt aposi t i on was dubi ous, and, seen cl ose up, t he
execut i on pr oved cr ude, but at a di st ance of t wo or t hr ee met er s t he ef f ect was
qui t e l yr i cal .
" I ' ma r eal i st of t he ol d school , " Bel bo whi sper ed t o me. " I under st and onl y
Mondr i an. What does a nongeomet r i c pi ct ur e say?"
" He was geomet r i c bef or e, " I sai d.
" That wasn' t geomet r y, t hat was bat hr oomt i l es. "
Meanwhi l e, Lor enza r ushed t o embr ace Ri ccar do. He and Bel bo exchanged a nod of
gr eet i ng. Ther e was a cr owd; t he gal l er y was t r yi ng t o l ook l i ke a New Yor k l of t ,
al l whi t e, wi t h heat i ng or wat er pi pes exposed on t he cei l i ng. God knows what i t had
cost t hemt o backdat e t he pl ace l i ke t hat . I n one cor ner , a sound syst emwas
deaf eni ng t hose pr esent wi t h Asi an musi c- si t ar musi c, i f I r ecal l r i ght l y, t he ki nd
wher e you can' t pi ck out a t une. Ever ybody wal ked absent l y past t he pi ct ur es t o
cr owd ar ound t he t abl es at t he end and gr ab paper cups. We had ar r i ved wel l i nt o t he
eveni ng: t he ai r was t hi ck wi t h smoke, some gi r l s f r omt i me t o t i me hi nt ed at dance
movement s i n t he cent er of t he r oom, but ever ybody was st i l l busy conver si ng, busy
consumi ng t he pl ent i f ul buf f et . I sat on a sof a, and at my f eet l ay a gr eat gl ass
bowl hal f - f i l l ed wi t h f r ui t sal ad. I was about t o t ake a l i t t l e, because I hadn' t
had any supper , but t hen I saw i n i t a f oot pr i nt , whi ch had cr ushed t he l i t t l e cubes
of f r ui t i n t he cent er , r educi ng t hemt o a homogeneous pave. Thi s was not t hat
sur pr i si ng, because t he f l oor was now spat t er ed i n many pl aces wi t h whi t e wi ne, and
some of t he guest s wer e al r eady st agger i ng.
Bel bo had capt ur ed a paper cup and was pr oceedi ng l azi l y, wi t hout any appar ent goal ,
occasi onal l y sl appi ng someone on t he shoul der . He was t r yi ng t o f i nd Lor enza.
But f ew peopl e r emai ned mot i onl ess; t he cr owd was i nt ent on a ki nd of ci r cul ar
movement , l i ke bees hunt i ng f or a hi dden f l ower . Though I wasn' t l ooki ng f or
anyt hi ng mysel f , I st ood up and moved, shi f t ed i n r esponse t o t he i mpul ses
t r ansmi t t ed t o me by t he gr oup, and not f ar f r omme I saw Lor enza. She was
wander i ng, mi mi ng t he i mpassi oned r ecogni t i on of t hi s man, of t hat : head hi gh, eyes
del i ber at el y myopi c- wi de, back st r ai ght , br east s st eady, and her st eps haphazar d,
l i ke a gi r af f e' s.
At a cer t ai n poi nt t he human f l ow t r apped me i n a cor ner behi nd a t abl e, wher e
Lor enza and Bel bo had t hei r backs t o me, havi ng f i nal l y met , per haps by chance, and
t hey wer e al so t r apped. I don' t know i f t hey wer e awar e of my pr esence, but t he
noi se was so gr eat t hat nobody coul d hear what ot her s wer e sayi ng at any di st ance.
Lor enza and Bel bo t her ef or e consi der ed t hemsel ves i sol at ed, and I was f or ced t o hear
t hei r conver sat i on.
" Wel l , " Bel bo sai d, " wher e di d you meet your Agl i e?"
" My Agl i e? Your s, t oo, f r omwhat I saw. You can know Si mon, but I can' t . Fi ne. ' '
" Why do you cal l hi mSi mon? Why does he cal l you Sophi a?"
" Oh, i t ' s a game. I met hi mat a f r i end' s pl ace- al l r i ght ? And I f i nd hi m
f asci nat i ng. He ki sses my hand as i f I wer e a pr i ncess. He coul d be my f at her . "
" He coul d be t he f at her of your son, i f you ar en' t car ef ul . "
I t sounded l i ke me, i n Bahi a, t al ki ng t o Ampar o. Lor enza was r i ght . Agl i e knew how
t o ki ss t he hand of a young l ady unf ami l i ar wi t h t hat r i t ual .
" Why Si mon and Sophi a?" Bel bo i nsi st ed. " I s hi s name Si mon? ' '
" I t ' s a wonder f ul st or y. Di d you know t hat our uni ver se i s t he r esul t of an er r or
and t hat i t ' s par t l y my f aul t ? Sophi a was t he f emal e par t of God, because God t hen
was mor e f emal e t han mal e; i t was you men who l at er put a bear d on hi mand st ar t ed
cal l i ng hi mHe. I was hi s good hal f . Si mon says I t r i ed t o cr eat e t he wor l d wi t hout
aski ng per mi ssi on- I , t he Sophi a, who i s al so cal l ed- wai t a mi nut e- t he Ennoi a. But my
mal e par t di dn' t want t o cr eat e; maybe he l acked t he cour age or was i mpot ent . So
i nst ead of uni t i ng wi t h hi m, I deci ded t o make t he wor l d by mysel f . I coul dn' t
r esi st ; i t was t hr ough an excess of l ove. Whi ch i s t r ue; I ador e t hi s whol e mi xed- up
uni ver se. And t hat ' s why I ' mt he soul of t hi s wor l d, accor di ng t o Si mon. "
Page 141
" How ni ce! Does he gi ve t hat l i ne t o al l t he gi r l s?"
" No, st upi d, j ust t o me, because he under st ands me bet t er t han you do. He doesn' t
t r y t o cr eat e me i n hi s i mage. He under st ands I have t o be al l owed t o l i ve my l i f e
i n my own way. And t hat ' s what Sophi a di d; she f l ung her sel f i nt o maki ng t he wor l d.
She came up agai nst pr i mor di al mat t er , whi ch was di sgust i ng, pr obabl y because i t
di dn' t use a deodor ant . And t hen, I t hi nk, she acci dent al l y cr eat ed t he Demi - how do
you say i t ?"
" You mean t he Demi ur ge?"
" That ' s hi m, yes. Or maybe i t wasn' t Sophi a who made t hi s Demi ur ge; maybe he was
al r eady ar ound and she egged hi mon: Get movi ng, si l l y, make t he wor l d, and t hen
we' l l have r eal f un. The Demi ur ge must have been a r eal scr ewup, because he di dn' t
know how t o make t he wor l d pr oper l y. I n f act , he shoul dn' t even have t r i ed i t ,
because mat t er i s bad, and he wasn' t aut hor i zed t o t ouch t he st uf f . Anyway, he made
t hi s awf ul mess, and Sophi a was caught i nsi de. Pr i soner of t he wor l d. "
Lor enza was dr i nki ng a l ot . A number of peopl e had st ar t ed danci ng sl eepi l y i n t he
cent er of t he r oom, t hei r eyes cl osed, and Ri ccar do came by ever y f ew mi nut es and
f i l l ed her cup. Bel bo t r i ed t o st op hi m, sayi ng she had al r eady had t oo much t o
dr i nk, but Ri ccar do l aughed and shook hi s head, and she sai d i ndi gnant l y t hat she
coul d hol d her al cohol bet t er t han J acopo because she was younger .
" Al l r i ght , " Bel bo sai d, " don' t l i st en t o Gr anddad, l i st en t o Si mon. What el se di d
he t el l you?"
" What I sai d: I ' mpr i soner of t he wor l d, or , r at her , of t he bad angel s. . . because i n
t hi s st or y t he angel s ar e bad and t hey hel ped t he Demi ur ge make al l t hi s mess. . . The
bad angel s, anyhow, ar e hol di ng me; t hey don' t want me t o get away, and t hey make me
suf f er . But ever y now and t hen i n t he wor l d of men t her e i s someone who r ecogni zes
me. Li ke Si mon. He says i t happened t o hi monce bef or e, a t housand year s ago- I
f or got t o t el l you Si mon' s pr act i cal l y i mmor t al ; you can' t i magi ne al l t he t hi ngs
he' s seen. . . "
" Of cour se. . . but don' t dr i nk anymor e now. "
" Sssh. . . Si mon f ound me once when I was a pr ost i t ut e i n a br ot hel i n Tyr e and my name
was Hel en. . . "
" He t el l s you t hat ? And you' r e over j oyed. Pr ay l et me ki ss your hand, wAor e of my
scr ewed- op uni ver se. . . Sat ne gea- t l eman. "
" I f anyt hi ng, t hat Hel en was t he whor e. And besi des, i n t hose days, when t hey sai d
pr ost i t ut e, t hey meant a woman who was f r ee, wi t hout t i es, an i nt el l ect ual who
di dn' t want t o be a housewi f e. She mi ght hol d a sal on. Today she' d be i n publ i c
r el at i ons. Woul d you cal l a PR woman a whor e or a hooker , who l i ght s bonf i r es al ong
t he hi ghway f or t r uck dr i ver s?' '
At t hat poi nt Ri ccar do came and t ook her by t he ar m. " Come and dance, " he sai d.
I n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, t hey made f ai nt , dr eamy movement s, as i f beat i ng a dr um.
But f r omt i me t o t i me Ri ccar do dr ew her t o hi m, put a hand possessi vel y on t he back
of her neck, and she woul d f ol l ow hi mwi t h cl osed eyes, her f ace f l ushed, head
t hr own back, hai r hangi ng f r ee, ver t i cal l y. Bel bo l i t one ci gar et t e af t er anot her .
Then Lor enza gr abbed Ri ccar do by t he wai st and sl owl y pul l ed hi munt i l t hey wer e
onl y a st ep f r omBel bo. St i l l danci ng, she t ook t he paper cup f r omBel bo' s hand.
Hol di ng Ri ccar do wi t h her l ef t hand, t he cup wi t h her r i ght , she t ur ned her moi st
eyes on Bel bo. I t was al most as i f she had been cr yi ng, but she smi l ed and sai d: " I t
wasn' t t he onl y t i me, ei t her . " " The onl y t i me, what ?" Bel bo asked.
" That he met Sophi a. Cent ur i es af t er t hat , Si mon was al so Gui l l aume Post el . " " A
l et t er car r i er ?"
" I di ot . He was a Renai ssance schol ar who r ead J ewi sh- " " Hebr ew. "
" Same di f f er ence. He r ead i t t he way ki ds r ead Super man. Wi t hout a di ct i onar y.
Anyhow, i n a hospi t al i n Veni ce he meet s an ol d i l l i t er at e mai dser vant , J oanna. He
l ooks at her and says, ' You ar e t he new i ncar nat i on of Sophi a, t he Ennoi a, t he Gr eat
Mot her descended i nt o our mi dst t o r edeemt he whol e wor l d, whi ch has a f emal e soul . '
And so Post el t akes J oanna wi t h hi m; ever ybody says he' s cr azy, but he pays no
at t ent i on; he ador es her , want s t o f r ee her f r omt he angel s' i mpr i sonment , and when
she di es, he si t s and st ar es at t he sun f or an hour and goes f or days wi t hout
dr i nki ng or eat i ng, i nhabi t ed by J oanna, who no l onger exi st s but i t ' s as i f she
di d, because she' s st i l l t her e, she i nhabi t s t he wor l d, and ever y now and t hen she
r esur f aces, t hat i s, she' s r ei ncar nat ed. . . I sn' t t hat a st or y t o make you cr y?"
" I ' mdi ssol ved i n t ear s. Ar e you so pl eased t o be Sophi a?"
" But I ' mSophi a f or you, t oo, dar l i ng. You know t hat bef or e you met me you wor e t he
Page 142
most dr eadf ul ghast l y t i es and had dandr uf f on your shoul der s. "
Ri ccar do was hol di ng her neck agai n. " May I j oi n t he conver sat i on?" he sai d.
" You keep qui et and dance. You' r e t he i nst r ument of my l ust . " " Sui t s me. "
Bel bo went on as i f t he ot her man di dn' t exi st . " So you' r e hi s pr ost i t ut e, hi s
f emi ni st who does publ i c r el at i ons, and he' s your Si mon. "
" My name' s not Si mon, " Ri ccar do sai d, hi s t ongue t hi ck. " We' r e not t al ki ng about
you, " Bel bo sai d. Hi s behavi or had been maki ng me uneasy f or some whi l e now. He, as
a r ul e so guar ded about hi s f eel i ngs, was havi ng a l over s' quar r el i n f r ont of a
wi t ness, i n f r ont of a r i val , even. But t hi s l ast r emar k made me r eal i ze t hat wi t h
hi s bar i ng of hi msel f bef or e t he ot her man- t he t r ue r i val bei ng yet anot her - Bel bo
was r easser t i ng, i n t he onl y way he coul d, hi s possessi on of Lor enza. Meanwhi l e,
hol di ng out her cup f or mor e dr i nk, Lor enza answer ed: " But i t ' s a game. I l ove you. "
" Thank God you don' t hat e me. Li st en, I ' d l i ke t o go home, I have a st omachache. I ' m
st i l l a pr i soner of base mat t er . Si mon hasn' t done me any good. Wi l l you come wi t h
me?"
" Let ' s st ay a l i t t l e l onger . I t ' s so ni ce. Ar en' t you havi ng f un? Besi des, I st i l l
haven' t l ooked at t he pi ct ur es. Di d you see? Ri ccar do made one on me. "
" Ther e ar e ot her t hi ngs I ' d l i ke t o do on you, " Ri ccar do sai d.
" You' r e vul gar . St op i t . I ' mt al ki ng about J acopo. My God, J acopo, ar e you t he onl y
one who can make i nt el l ect ual j okes wi t h your f r i ends? Who t r eat s me l i ke a
pr ost i t ut e f r omTyr e?
You do. "
" I mi ght have known. Me. I ' mt he one pushi ng you i nt o t he ar ms of ol d gent l emen. "
" He' s never t r i ed t o t ake me i n hi s ar ms. He i sn' t a sat yr . You' r e cr oss because he
doesn' t want t o t ake me t o bed but consi der s me an i nt el l ect ual par t ner . "
" Al l umeuse. "
" You r eal l y shoul dn' t have sai d t hat . Ri ccar do, get me somet hi ng t o dr i nk. ' '
" No, wai t , " Bel bo sai d. " Now, I want you t o t el l me i f you t ake hi mser i ousl y. St op
dr i nki ng, dammi t ! Tel l me i f you t ake hi mser i ousl y! "
" But , dar l i ng, i t ' s our game, a game bet ween hi mand me. And besi des, t he best par t
of t he st or y i s t hat when Sophi a r eal i zes who she i s and f r ees her sel f f r omt he
t yr anny of t he angel s, she f r ees her sel f f r omsi n. . . " " You' ve gi ven up si nni ng?"
" Thi nk i t over f i r st , " Ri ccar do sai d, ki ssi ng her chast el y on t he f or ehead.
" I don' t have t o, " she r epl i ed- t o Bel bo, i gnor i ng t he pai nt er . " Those t hi ngs ar en' t
si ns anymor e; I can do anyt hi ng I l i ke. Once you' ve f r eed your sel f f r omt he f l esh,
you' r e beyond good and evi l . "
She pushed Ri ccar do away. " I ' mSophi a, and t o f r ee mysel f f r omt he angel s I have t o
per pet . . . per - pet - r at e al l si ns, even t he most mar vel ous! "
St agger i ng a l i t t l e, she went t o a cor ner wher e a gi r l was seat ed, dr essed i n bl ack,
her eyes heavi l y mascar aed, her compl exi on pal e. Lor enza l ed t he gi r l i nt o t he
cent er of t he r oomand began t o sway wi t h her . They wer e bel l y t o bel l y, ar ms l i mp
at t hei r si des. " I can l ove you, t oo, " Lor enza sai d, and ki ssed t he gi r l on t he
mout h.
The ot her s gat her ed ar ound, mi l dl y ar oused. Bel bo sat down and l ooked at t he scene
wi t h an i mpenet r abl e f ace, l i ke a pr oducer wat chi ng a scr een t est . He was sweat i ng,
and t her e was a t i c by hi s l ef t eye, whi ch I had never not i ced bef or e. Lor enza
danced f or at l east f i ve mi nut es, wi t h movement s i ncr easi ngl y suggest i ve. Then
suddenl y he sai d: " Now you come her e. "
Lor enza st opped, spr ead her l egs, hel d her ar ms st r ai ght out , and cr i ed: " I amt he
sai nt and t he pr ost i t ut e! "
" You ar e t he pai n i n t he ass. " Bel bo got up, went st r ai ght t o her , gr abbed her by
t he wr i st , and dr agged her t owar d t he door .
" St op i t ! " she shout ed. " Don' t you dar e. . . " Then she bur st i nt o t ear s and f l ung her
ar ms ar ound hi s neck. " But dar l i ng, I ' myour Sophi a; you can' t get mad. . . "
Bel bo t ender l y put an ar mar ound her shoul der s, ki ssed her on t he t empl e, smoot hed
her hai r , t hen sai d t o ever ybody: " Excuse her ; she i sn' t used t o dr i nki ng l i ke
t hi s. "
I hear d some sni cker s f r omt hose pr esent , and I bel i eve Bel bo hear d t hem, t oo. He
saw me on t he t hr eshol d, and di d somet hi ng- whet her f or me, f or t he ot her s, or f or
hi msel f , I ' ve never f i gur ed out . I t was a whi sper , when ever ybody el se had t ur ned
away f r omt he coupl e, l osi ng i nt er est .
St i l l hol di ng Lor enza by t he shoul der s, he addr essed t he r oom, sof t l y, i n t he t one
of a man st at i ng t he obvi ous: " Cock- a- doodl e- doo. "
Page 143
51
When t her ef or e a Gr eat Cabal i st wi shes t o t el l you somet hi ng, what he says wi l l not
be f r i vol ous, vul gar , common, but , r at her , a myst er y, an or acl e. . .
- Thomaso Gar zoni , / / Theat r e de var i e di ver si cer vel l i mondani , Veni ce, Zanf r et t i ,
1583, di scor so XXXVI
The i l l ust r at i ons I f ound i n Mi l an and Par i s wer en' t enough. Si gner Gar amond
aut hor i zed me t o spend a f ew days at t he Deut sches Museumi n Muni ch.
I spent my eveni ngs i n t he bar s of Schwabi ng- or i n t he i mmense cr ypt s wher e el der l y
must ached gent l emen i n l eder hosen pl ayed musi c and l over s smi l ed at each ot her
t hr ough a t hi ck cl oud of por k st eamover f ul l - l i t er beer st ei ns- and i n t he
af t er noons I went t hr ough car d cat al ogs of r epr oduct i ons. Now and t hen I woul d l eave
t he ar chi ve and st r ol l t hr ough t he museum, wher e ever y human i nvent i on had been
r econst r uct ed. You pushed a but t on, and di or amas of oi l expl or at i on came t o l i f e
wi t h wor ki ng dr i l l s, you st epped i nsi de a r eal submar i ne, you made t he pl anet s
r evol ve, you pl ayed at pr oduci ng aci ds and chai n r eact i ons. A l ess Got hi c
Conser vat oi r e, t ot al l y of t he f ut ur e, peopl ed by unr ul y school gr oups bei ng t aught
t o i deal i ze engi neer s.
I n t he Deut sches Museumyou al so l ear ned ever yt hi ng about mi nes: you went down a
l adder and f ound your sel f i n a mi ne compl et e wi t h t unnel s, el evat or s f or men and
hor ses, nar r ow passages wher e scr awny expl oi t ed chi l dr en ( made of wax, I hoped) wer e
cr awl i ng. You went al ong endl ess dar k cor r i dor s, you st opped at t he edge of
bot t oml ess pi t s, you f el t chi l l ed t o t he bone, and you coul d al most cat ch a whi f f of
f i r edamp. Ever yt hi ng l i f e- si ze.
I was wander i ng i n a t unnel , despai r i ng of ever seei ng t he l i ght of day agai n, when
I came upon a man l ooki ng down over t he r ai l i ng, someone I seemed t o r ecogni ze. The
f ace was wr i nkl ed and pal e, t he hai r whi t e, t he l ook owl i sh. But t he cl ot hes wer e
not r i ght - I had seen t hat f ace bef or e, above some uni f or m. I t was l i ke meet i ng,
af t er many year s, a pr i est now i n ci vi l i an cl ot hes, or a Capuchi n wi t hout a bear d.
The man l ooked back at me, al so hesi t at i ng. As usual l y happens i n such si t uat i ons,
t her e was some f enci ng of f ur t i ve gl ances bef or e he t ook t he i ni t i at i ve and gr eet ed
me i n I t al i an. Suddenl y I coul d pi ct ur e hi mi n hi s usual dr ess: i f he had been
wear i ng a l ong yel l ow smock, he woul d have been Si gner Sal on: A. Sal on, t axi der mi st .
Hi s l abor at or y was next door t o my of f i ce on t he cor r i dor of t he f or mer f act or y
bui l di ng wher e I was t he Mar l owe of cul t ur e. I had encount er ed hi mat t i mes on t he
st ai r s, and we had nodded t o each ot her .
" St r ange, " he sai d, hol di ng out hi s hand. " We have been f el l ow- t enant s f or so l ong,
and we i nt r oduce our sel ves i n t he bowel s of t he ear t h a t housand mi l es away. "
We exchanged a f ew pol i t e r emar ks. I got t he i mpr essi on t hat he knew exact l y what I
di d, whi ch was an achi evement of sor t s, si nce I wasn' t sur e mysel f . " How do you
happen t o be i n a t echnol ogi cal museum? I t hought your publ i shi ng f i r mwas concer ned
wi t h mor e spi r i t ual t hi ngs. "
" How di d you know t hat ?"
" Oh" - he gest ur ed vaguel y- " peopl e t al k, I have many cust omer s. . . "
" What sor t of peopl e go t o a t axi der mi st ?"
" You ar e t hi nki ng, l i ke ever yone el se, t hat i t ' s not an or di nar y pr of essi on. But I
do not l ack f or cust omer s, and I have al l ki nds: museums, pr i vat e col l ect or s. "
" I don' t of t en see st uf f ed ani mal s i n peopl e' s homes, " I sai d.
" No? I t depends on t he homes you vi si t . . . Or t he cel l ar s. "
" St uf f ed ani mal s ar e kept i n cel l ar s?"
" Some peopl e keep t hemi n cel l ar s. Not al l cr eches ar e i n t he l i ght of t he sun or
t he moon. I ' msuspi ci ous of such cust omer s, but you know how i t i s: a j ob i s a
j ob. . . I ' msuspi ci ous of ever yt hi ng under gr ound. "
" Then why ar e you st r ol l i ng i n t unnel s?"
" I ' mchecki ng. I di st r ust t he under gr ound wor l d, but I want t o under st and i t . Ther e
ar en' t many oppor t uni t i es. The Roman cat acombs, you' l l say. No myst er y t her e, t oo
many t our i st s, and ever yt hi ng i s under t he cont r ol of t he Chur ch. And t hen t her e ar e
t he sewer s of Par i s. . . Have you been? They can be vi si t ed on Monday, Wednesday, and
t he l ast Sat ur day of ever y mont h. But t hat ' s anot her t our i st at t r act i on. Nat ur al l y,
t her e ar e cat acombs i n Par i s, t oo, and caves. Not t o ment i on t he Met r o. Have you
ever been t o 145 r ue Laf ayet t e?' '
Page 144
" I must conf ess I haven' t . "
" I t ' s a bi t out of t he way, bet ween Gar e de 1' Est and Gar e du Nor d. An unr emar kabl e
bui l di ng at f i r st si ght . But i f you l ook at i t mor e cl osel y, you r eal i ze t hat t hough
t he door l ooks wooden, i t i s act ual l y pai nt ed i r on, and t he wi ndows appear t o bel ong
t o r ooms unoccupi ed f or cent ur i es. Peopl e wal k past and don' t know t he t r ut h. "
" What i s t he t r ut h?"
" That t he house i s f ake. I t ' s a f acade, an encl osur e wi t h no r oom, no i nt er i or . I t
i s r eal l y a chi mney, a vent i l at i on f l ue t hat ser ves t o r el ease t he vapor s of t he
r egi onal Met r o. And once you know t hi s, you f eel you ar e st andi ng at t he mout h of
t he under wor l d: i f you coul d penet r at e t hose wal l s, you woul d have access t o
subt er r anean Par i s. I have had occasi on t o spend hour s and hour s i n f r ont of t hat
door t hat conceal s t he door of door s, t he poi nt of depar t ur e f or t he j our ney t o t he
cent er of t he ear t h. Why do you t hi nk t hey made i t ?"
" To vent i l at e t he Met r o, as you sai d. "
" A f ew duct s woul d have been enough f or t hat . No, when I see t hose subt er r anean
passages, my suspi ci ons ar e ar oused. Do you know why?"
As he spoke of dar kness, he seemed t o gi ve of f l i ght . I asked hi mwhy hi s suspi ci ons
wer e ar oused.
" Because i f t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d exi st , t hey can onl y be under gr ound: t hi s i s a
t r ut h t hat al l sense but f ew dar e ut t er . Per haps t he onl y man bol d enough t o say i t
i n pr i nt was Sai nt - Yves d' Al veydr e. You know hi m?"
I may have hear d t he name ment i oned by one of our Di abol i cal s, but I wasn' t sur e.
" He i s t he one who t ol d us about Agar t t ha, t he under gr ound headquar t er s of t he Ki ng
of t he Wor l d, t he occul t cent er of t he Synar chy, " t he t axi der mi st sai d. " He had no
f ear ; he f el t sur e of hi msel f . But al l t hose who spoke out af t er hi mwer e
el i mi nat ed, because t hey knew t oo much. "
As we wal ked al ong t he t unnel , Si gner Sal on cast ner vous gl ances at t he mout hs of
new passageways, as i f i n t hose shadows he was seeki ng conf i r mat i on of hi s
suspi ci ons.
" Have you ever wonder ed why i n t he l ast cent ur y al l t he gr eat met r opol i ses hast ened
t o bui l d subways?' '
" To sol ve t r af f i c pr obl ems?"
" Bef or e t her e wer e aut omobi l es, when t her e wer e onl y hor se- dr awn car r i ages? Fr oma
man of your i nt el l i gence I woul d have expect ed a mor e per cept i ve expl anat i on. "
" You have one?"
" Per haps, " Si gnor Sal on sai d, and he l ooked pensi ve, absent . The conver sat i on di ed.
Then he sai d t hat he had t o be r unni ng al ong. But , af t er shaki ng my hand, he
l i nger ed anot her f ew seconds, as i f st r uck by a t hought . " Apr opos, t hat col onel - what
was hi s name?- t he one who came t o Gar amond some t i me ago t o t al k t o you about a
Templ ar t r easur e. . . have you had any news of hi m?' '
I t was l i ke a sl ap i n t he f ace, t hi s br ut al and i ndi scr eet di spl ay of knowl edge
about somet hi ng I consi der ed pr i vat e and bur i ed.
I want ed t o ask hi mhow he knew, but I was af r ai d. I conf i ned mysel f t o sayi ng, i n
an i ndi f f er ent t one, " Oh, t hat ol d st or y. I ' d f or got t en al l about i t . But apr opos:
why di d you say apr opos?"
" Di d I say t hat ? Ah, yes, wel l , i t seemed t o me he had di scover ed somet hi ng,
under gr ound. . . "
" How do you know?"
" I r eal l y can' t say. I can' t r emember who spoke t o me about i t . A cust omer , per haps.
But my cur i osi t y i s al ways ar oused when t he under gr ound wor l d i s i nvol ved. The
l i t t l e mani as of ol d age. Good eveni ng. "
He went of f , and I st ood t her e, t o ponder t he meani ng of t hi s encount er .
52
I n cer t ai n r egi ons of t he Hi mal ayas, among t he t went y- t wo t empl es t hat r epr esent t he
t went y- t wo Ar cana of Her mes and t he t went y- t wo l et t er s of some sacr ed al phabet s,
Agar t t ha f or ms t he myst i c Zer o, whi ch cannot be f ound. . . A col ossal chessboar d t hat
ext ends beneat h t he ear t h, t hr ough al most al l t he r egi ons of t he Gl obe.
- Sai nt - Yves d' Al veydr e, Mi ssi on de I ' l nde en Eur ope, Par i s, Cal mann Levy, 1886, pp.
54 and 65
When I got back, I t ol d t he st or y t o Bel bo and Di ot al l evi , and we vent ur ed var i ous
Page 145
hypot heses. Per haps Sal on, a gossi pi ng eccent r i c who dabbl ed i n myst er i es, had
happened t o meet Ar - dent i , and t hat was t he whol e st or y. Unl ess Sal on knew somet hi ng
about Ar dent i ' s di sappear ance and was wor ki ng f or t he ones who had caused hi mt o
di sappear . Anot her hypot hesi s: Sal on was a pol i ce i nf or mer . . .
Then, as our Di abol i cal s came and went , t he memor y of Sal on f aded, was l ost among
hi s si mi l ar s.
One day, Agl i e came t o t he of f i ce t o r epor t on some manuscr i pt s Bel bo had sent hi m.
Hi s opi ni ons wer e pr eci se, sever e, compr ehensi ve. Agl i e was cl ever ; i t di dn' t t ake
hi ml ong t o f i gur e out t he Gar amond- Manut i us doubl e game, and we now t al ked openl y
i n f r ont of hi m. He under st ood: he woul d dest r oy a t ext wi t h a f ew shar p
obser vat i ons, t hen r emar k wi t h smoot h cyni ci smt hat i t woul d be f i ne f or Manut i us.
I asked hi mwhat he coul d t el l me about Agar t t ha and Sai nt - Yves d' Al veydr e.
" Sai nt - Yves d' Al veydr e. . . " he sai d. " A bi zar r e man, beyond any doubt . Fr omhi s
yout h he spent t i me wi t h t he f ol l ower s of Fabr e d' Ol i vet . He became a humbl e cl er k
i n t he Mi ni st r y of t he I nt er i or , but ambi t i ous. . . We nat ur al l y t ook a di mvi ew of hi s
mar r i age t o Mar i e- Vi ct oi r e. . . "
Agl i e coul dn' t r esi st shi f t i ng t o t he f i r st per son, as i f he wer e r emi ni sci ng.
" Who was Mar i e- Vi ct oi r e? I l ove gossi p, " Bel bo sai d. " Mar i e- Vi ct oi r e de Ri sni t ch,
ver y beaut i f ul when she was t he i nt i mat e of t he empr ess Eugeni c. But by t he t i me she
met Sai nt - Yves, she was over f i f t y. And he was i n hi s ear l y t hi r t i es. For her , a
mesal l i ance, of cour se. What ' s mor e, t o gi ve hi ma t i t l e, she bought some pr oper t y- I
can' t r emember wher e- t hat had bel onged t o a cer t ai n Mar qui s d' Al veydr e. So, whi l e
our unscr upul ous char act er boast ed of hi s t i t l e, i n Par i s t hey sang songs about t he
gi gol o. Si nce he coul d now l i ve of f hi s i ncome, he devot ed hi msel f t o hi s dr eam,
whi ch was t o f i nd a pol i t i cal f or mul a t hat woul d l ead t o a har moni ous soci et y.
Synar chy, as opposed t o anar chy. A Eur opean soci et y gover ned by t hr ee counci l s,
r epr esent i ng economi c power , j udi ci al power , and spi r i t ual power - t he Chur ch and t he
sci ent i st s, i n ot her wor ds. An enl i ght ened ol i gar chy t hat woul d el i mi nat e cl ass
conf l i ct s. We' ve hear d wor se. " " What about Agar t t ha?"
" Sai nt - Yves cl ai med t o have been vi si t ed one day by a myst er i ous Af ghan, a man named
Hadj i Schar i pf , who can' t have been an Af ghan, because t he name i s cl ear l y
Al bani an. . . Thi s man r eveal ed t o hi mt he secr et dwel l i ng pl ace of t he Ki ng of t he
Wor l d, t hough Sai nt - Yves hi msel f never used t hat expr essi on he cal l ed i t Agar t t ha,
t he pl ace t hat cannot be f ound. " " Wher e di d he wr i t e t hi s?"
" I n hi s Mi ssi on de I ' l nde en Eur ope, a wor k t hat , i nci dent al l y, has i nf l uenced a
gr eat deal of cont empor ar y pol i t i cal t hought . I n Agar t t ha t her e ar e under gr ound
ci t i es, and bel ow t hem, cl oser t o t he cent er , l i ve t he f i ve t housand sages t hat
gover n i t . The number f i ve t housand suggest s, of cour se, t he her met i c r oot s of t he
Vedi c l anguage, as you gent l emen know. And each r oot i s a magi c hi er ogr amconnect ed
t o a cel est i al power and sanct i oned by an i nf er nal power . The cent r al dome of
Agar t t ha i s l i ght ed f r omabove by somet hi ng l i ke mi r r or s, whi ch al l ow t he l i ght f r om
t he pl anet ' s sur f ace t o ar r i ve onl y t hr ough t he enhar moni c spect r umof col or s, as
opposed t o t he sol ar spect r umof our physi cs books, whi ch i s mer el y di at oni c. The
wi se ones of Agar t t ha st udy al l hol y l anguages i n or der t o ar r i ve at t he uni ver sal
l anguage, whi ch i s Vat t an. When t hey come upon myst er i es t oo pr of ound, t hey
l evi t at e, and woul d cr ack t hei r skul l s agai nst t he vaul t of t he dome i f t hei r
br ot her s di d not r est r ai n t hem. They f or ge t he l i ght ni ng bol t s, t hey gui de t he
cycl i c cur r ent s of t he i nt er pol ar and i nt er t r opi cal f l ui ds, t he i nt er f er ent i al
ext ensi ons i n t he di f f er ent zones of t he ear t h' s l at i t ude and l ongi t ude. They sel ect
speci es and have cr eat ed smal l ani mal s wi t h ext r aor di nar y psychi c power s, ani mal s
whi ch have a t or t oi se shel l wi t h a yel l ow cr oss, a si ngl e eye, and a mout h at ei t her
end. And pol ypod ani mal s whi ch can move i n al l di r ect i ons. Agar t t ha i s pr obabl y
wher e t he Templ ar s f ound r ef uge af t er t hei r di sper si on, and wher e t hey per f or m
cust odi al dut i es. Anyt hi ng el se?"
" But . . . was he ser i ous?" I asked.
" I bel i eve he was. At f i r st , we consi der ed hi ma f anat i c, but t hen we r eal i zed t hat
he was r ef er r i ng, per haps i n a vi si onar y, f i gur at i ve way, t o an occul t di r ect i on of
hi st or y. I sn' t i t sai d t hat hi st or y i s a bl oodst ai ned and sensel ess r i ddl e? No,
i mpossi bl e; t her e must be a Desi gn. Ther e must be a Mi nd. That i s why over t he
cent ur i es men f ar f r omi gnor ant have t hought of t he Mast er s or t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d
not as physi cal bei ngs but as a col l ect i ve symbol , as t he successi ve, t empor ar y
i ncar nat i on of a Fi xed I nt ent i on. An I nt ent i on wi t h whi ch t he gr eat pr i est l y or der s
and t he vani shed chi val r i es wer e i n t ouch. "
Page 146
" Do you bel i eve t hi s?" Bel bo asked.
" Per sons mor e bal anced t han d' Al veydr e seek t he Unknown Super i or s. "
" And do t hey f i nd t hem?"
Agl i e l aughed, as i f t o hi msel f . " What sor t of Unknown Super i or s woul d t hey be i f
t hey al l owed t he f i r st per son who comes al ong t o know t hem? Gent l emen, we have wor k
t o do. Ther e i s one mor e manuscr i pt her e and- what a coi nci dence! - i t ' s a t r eat i se on
secr et soci et i es. "
" Any good?" Bel bo asked.
" Per i sh t he t hought . But i t coul d do f or Manut i us. "
53
Unabl e t o cont r ol dest i ni es on ear t h openl y because gover nment s woul d r esi st , t hi s
myst i c al l i ance can act onl y t hr ough secr et soci et i es. . . These, gr adual l y cr eat ed as
t he need f or t hemar i ses, ar e di vi ded i nt o di st i nct gr oups, gr oups seemi ngl y i n
opposi t i on, somet i mes advocat i ng t he most cont r adi ct or y pol i ci es i n r el i gi on,
pol i t i cs, economi cs, and l i t er at ur e; but t hey ar e al l connect ed, al l di r ect ed by t he
i nvi si bl e cent er t hat hi des i t s power as i t t hus seeks t o move al l t he scept er s of
t he ear t h.
- J . M. Hoene- Wr onski , quot ed by P. Sedi r , Hi st oi r e et doct r i ne des Rose- Cr oi x,
Bi bl i ot heque des Her met i st es, Par i s, 1910
One day I saw Si gnor Sal on at t he door of hi s l abor at or y. Suddenl y, f or no r eason, I
expect ed hi mt o hoot l i ke an owl . He gr eet ed me as i f I wer e an ol d f r i end and asked
how t hi ngs wer e goi ng at wor k. I made a noncommi t t al gest ur e, smi l ed at hi m, and
hur r i ed on.
I was st r uck agai n by t he t hought of Agar t t ha. Sai nt - Yves' s i deas, as Agl i e had
expl ai ned t hem, mi ght be f asci nat i ng t o a Di abol i cal - but cer t ai nl y not al ar mi ng. And
yet i n Sal on' s wor ds and i n hi s f ace, when we met i n Muni ch, t her e had been al ar m.
So, as I went out , I deci ded t o dr op i n at t he l i br ar y and l ook f or La Mi ssi on de
I ' l nde en Eur ope.
Ther e was t he usual mob i n t he cat al og r oomand at t he cal l desk. Wi t h some shovi ng
I got hol d of t he dr awer I needed, f ound t he cal l number , f i l l ed out a sl i p, and
handed i t t o t he cl er k. He i nf or med me t hat t he book had been checked out - and, as
usual i n l i br ar i es, he seemed t o enj oy gi vi ng me t hi s news. But at t hat ver y moment
a voi ce behi nd me sai d, " Act ual l y, i t i s avai l abl e. I j ust r et ur ned i t . " I l ooked
ar ound and saw I nspect or De Angel i s.
And he r ecogni zed me- t oo qui ckl y, I t hought , si nce I had seen hi mi n ci r cumst ances
t hat f or me wer e except i onal , wher eas he had met me i n t he cour se of a r out i ne
i nqui r y. Al so, i n t he Ar dent i days I had had a wi spy bear d and l onger hai r . What a
shar p eye!
Had he been keepi ng me under sur vei l l ance si nce my r et ur n t o I t al y? Or was he si mpl y
good at f aces? Pol i cemen had t o mast er t he sci ence of obser vat i on, memor i ze
f eat ur es, names. . .
" Si gnor Casaubon! We' r e r eadi ng t he same books! "
I hel d out my hand. " " I t ' s Dr . Casaubon now. Has been f or a whi l e. Maybe I ' l l t ake
t he pol i ce ent r ance exam, as you advi sed me t hat mor ni ng. Then I ' l l be abl e t o get
t he books f i r st . "
" Al l you have t o do i s be her e f i r st , " he sai d. " But t he book' s r et ur ned now, and
you can col l ect i t . Let me buy you a cof f ee meanwhi l e. "
The i nvi t at i on made me uncomf or t abl e, but I coul dn' t say no. We sat i n a
nei ghbor hood caf e. He asked me how I happened t o be i nt er est ed i n t he mi ssi on of
I ndi a, and I was t empt ed t o ask hi mhow he happened t o be i nt er est ed i n i t , but I
deci ded f i r st t o def l ect hi s suspi ci on. I t ol d hi mt hat i n my spar e t i me I was
cont i nui ng my st udy of t he Templ ar s. Accor di ng t o Eschen- bach, t he Templ ar s l ef t
Eur ope and went t o I ndi a, some bel i eve t o t he ki ngdomof Agar t t ha. Now i t was hi s
t ur n. " But t el l me, " I asked, " why di d you t ake out t he book?"
" Oh, you know how t hese t hi ngs go, " he r epl i ed. " Ever si nce you suggest ed t hat book
on t he Templ ar s t o me, I ' ve been r eadi ng up on t he subj ect . I don' t have t o t el l you
t hat af t er t he Templ ar s, t he next l ogi cal st ep i s Agar t t ha. " Touche. Then he sai d:
" I was j oki ng. I t ook t he book because. . . " He hesi t at ed. " The f act i s, when I ' mof f
dut y, I l i ke t o br owse i n l i br ar i es. I t keeps me f r omt ur ni ng i nt o a r obot , a
mechani cal cop. You coul d pr obabl y expr ess t he i dea mor e el egant l y. . . But t el l me
Page 147
about your sel f . "
I gave a per f or mance: an aut obi ogr aphi cal summar y, down t o t he wonder f ul advent ur e
of met al s.
He asked me: " I n t hat publ i shi ng f i r m, and i n t he one next door , ar en' t you doi ng
books on t he occul t sci ences?"
How di d he know about Manut i us? Fr omi nf or mat i on gat her ed year s bef or e, when he was
keepi ng an eye on Bel bo? Or was he st i l l on t he Ar dent i case?
" Wi t h char act er s l i ke Col onel Ar dent i t ur ni ng up const ant l y at Gar amond, and wi t h
Manut i us t her e t o handl e t hem, " I sai d, " Si gner Gar amond deci ded t hat was r i ch soi l ,
wor t h t i l l i ng. I f you l ook f or such t ypes, you can f i nd t hemby t he car l oad. "
" But Ar dent i di sappear ed. I hope t he ot her s don' t . "
" They haven' t yet , t hough I al most wi sh t hey woul d. However , sat i sf y my cur i osi t y,
I nspect or . I i magi ne i n your j ob peopl e di sappear , or wor se, ever y day. Do you
devot e so much t i me t o al l of t hem?"
He l ooked at me wi t h amusement . " What makes you t hi nk I ' mst i l l devot i ng t i me t o
Col onel Ar dent i ?"
Al l r i ght , he was gambl i ng, had r ai sed t he ant e, and i t was up t o me now t o cal l hi s
bl uf f i f I had t he cour age, make hi mshow hi s car ds. What was t her e t o l ose? " Come,
I nspect or , " I sai d, " you know ever yt hi ng about Gar amond and Manut i us, and you wer e
l ooki ng f or a book on Agar t t ha. . . "
" You mean Ar dent i spoke t o you about Agar t t ha?"
Touche agai n. Yes, Ar dent i had spoken t o us about Agar t t ha, t oo, as f ar as I coul d
r emember . But I par r i ed: " No, onl y about t he Templ ar s. "
" I see, " he sai d. Then he added: " You must n' t t hi nk we f ol l ow a case unt i l i t ' s
sol ved. That onl y happens on t el evi si on. Bei ng a cop i s l i ke bei ng a dent i st : a
pat i ent comes i n, you gi ve hi ma l i t t l e of t he ol d dr i l l , pr escr i be somet hi ng, he
comes back i n t wo weeks, and i n t he meant i me you deal wi t h a hundr ed ot her pat i ent s.
A case l i ke t he col onel ' s can r emai n i n t he act i ve f i l e maybe f or t en year s, and
t hen, whi l e you' r e i n t he mi ddl e of a di f f er ent case, t aki ng some conf essi on,
t her e' s a hi nt , a cl ue, and, wham! , a shor t ci r cui t i n t he br ai n, you get an i dea- or
el se you don' t , and t hat ' s i t . "
" And what di d you f i nd r ecent l y t hat br ought on a shor t ci r cui t ?"
" An i ndi scr eet quest i on, don' t you t hi nk? But t her e ar e no myst er i es, bel i eve me.
The col onel came up agai n by chance. We wer e keepi ng an eye on a char act er , f or
qui t e di f f er ent r easons, and f ound he was spendi ng t i me at t he Pi cat r i x Cl ub. You' ve
hear d of i t ?. . . "
" I know t he magazi ne, not t he cl ub. What goes on t her e?"
" Not hi ng, not hi ng at al l . Peopl e a bi t l oony, maybe, but wel l behaved. Then I
r emember ed t hat Ar dent i used t o go t her e- a cop' s t al ent consi st s ent i r el y of
r emember i ng t hi ngs, a name, a f ace, even af t er t en year s have gone by. And so I
began wonder i ng what was happeni ng at Gar amond. That ' s al l . "
" What does t he Pi cat r i x Cl ub have t o do wi t h your pol i t i cal squad?"
" Per haps i t ' s t he i mper t i nence of a cl ear consci ence, but you seemt r emendousl y
cur i ous. "
" You' r e t he one who i nvi t ed me f or cof f ee. "
" Tr ue, and bot h of us ar e of f dut y. See her e: i f you l ook at t he wor l d i n a cer t ai n
way, ever yt hi ng i s connect ed t o ever yt hi ng el se. " A ni ce her met i c phi l osopheme, I
t hought . He i mmedi at el y added: " I ' mnot sayi ng t hat t hose peopl e ar e connect ed wi t h
pol i t i cs, but . . . Ther e was a t i me when we went l ooki ng f or t he Red Br i gades i n squat s
and t he Bl ack Br i gades i n mar t i al ar t s cl ubs; nowadays t he opposi t e coul d be t r ue.
We l i ve i n a st r ange wor l d. My j ob, I assur e you, was easi er t en year s ago. Today,
even among i deol ogi es, t her e' s no consi st ency. Ther e ar e t i mes when I t hi nk of
swi t chi ng t o nar cot i cs. Ther e, at l east you can r el y on a her oi n pusher t o push
her oi n. "
Ther e was a pause- he was hesi t at i ng, I t hi nk. Then, f r omhi s pocket , he pr oduced a
not ebook t he si ze of a mi ssal . " Look, Casaubon, you see some st r ange peopl e as par t
of your j ob. You go t o t he l i br ar y and l ook up even st r anger books. Hel p me. What do
you know about synar chy?"
" Now you' r e embar r assi ng me. Al most not hi ng. I hear d i t ment i oned i n connect i on wi t h
Sai nt - Yves; t hat ' s al l . "
" What ar e t hey sayi ng about i t , ar ound?"
" I f t hey' r e sayi ng anyt hi ng, I haven' t hear d. To be f r ank, i t sounds l i ke f asci smt o
me. "
Page 148
" Act ual l y, many of i t s t heses wer e pi cked up by Act i on Fr ancai se. I f t hat wer e t he
whol e st or y, I ' d be okay. I f i nd a gr oup t hat t al ks about synar chy and I can gi ve i t
a pol i t i cal col or . But i n my r eadi ng, I ' ve l ear ned t hat i n 1929 a cer t ai n Vi vi an
Post el du Mas and J eanne Canudo f ounded a gr oup cal l ed Pol ar i s, whi ch was i nspi r ed
by t he myt h of t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d. They pr oposed a synar chi c pr oj ect : soci al
ser vi ce opposed t o capi t al i st pr of i t , t he el i mi nat i on of t he cl ass st r uggl e t hr ough
cooper at i ves. . . I t sounds l i ke a ki nd of Fabi an soci al i sm, a l i ber t ar i an and
communi t ar i an movement . Not e t hat bot h Pol ar i s and t he I r i sh Fabi ans wer e accused of
bei ng i nvol ved i n a synar chi c pl ot l ed by t he J ews. And who accused t hem? The Revue
I nt er nat i onal e des soci et es secr et es, whi ch t al ks about a J ewi sh- Masoni c- Bol shevi k
pl ot . Many of i t s cont r i but or s bel onged t o a secr et r i ght - wi ng or gani zat i on cal l ed
La Sapi ni er e. And t hey say t hat al l t hese r evol ut i onar y gr oups ar e onl y t he f r ont
f or a di abol i cal pl ot hat ched by an occul t i st cenacl e. Now you' l l say: Al l r i ght ,
Sai nt - Yves ended up i nspi r i ng r ef or mi st gr oups, but t hese ! days t he r i ght l umps
ever yt hi ng t oget her and sees i t al l as a demo- pl ut o- soci al - J udai c conspi r acy.
Mussol i ni di d t he same t hi ng. But why accuse t hemof bei ng cont r ol l ed by an
occul t i st cenacl e? Accor di ng t o t he l i t t l e I know- t ake Pi cat r i x, f or exampl e- t hose
occul t i smpeopl e coul dn' t car e l ess about t he wor ker s' movement . " " So i t seems al so
t o me, O Socr at es. So?" " Thanks f or t he Socr at es. But now we' r e comi ng t o t he good
par t . The mor e I r ead on t he subj ect , t he mor e I get conf used. I n t he f or t i es
var i ous sel f - st yl ed synar chi c gr oups spr ang up; t hey t al ked about a new Eur opean
or der l ed by a gover nment of wi se men, above par t y l i nes. And wher e di d t hese gr oups
meet ? I n Vi chy col l abor at i oni st ci r cl es. Then, you say, we got i t wr ong; synar chy i s
r i ght - wi ng. But hol d on! Havi ng r ead t hi s f ar , I begi n t o see t hat t her e i s one
t heme t hat f i nds t hemal l i n agr eement : Synar chy exi st s and secr et l y r ul es t he
wor l d. But her e comes t he ' but ' . . . " " But ?"
" But on J anuar y 24, 1937, Dmi t r i Navachi ne, Mason and Mar t i ni st ( I don' t know what
Mar t i ni st means, but I t hi nk i t ' s one of t hose sect s) , economi c advi ser of t he Fr ont
Popul ai r e, af t er havi ng been di r ect or of a Moscow bank, was assassi nat ed by t he
Or gani sat i on secr et e d' act i on r evol ut i onnai r e et nat i onal e, bet t er known as La
Cagoul e, f i nanced by Mussol i ni . I t was sai d t hen t hat La Cagoul e was gui ded by a
secr et synar chy and t hat Navachi ne was ki l l ed because he had di scover ed i t s
myst er i es. A document or i gi nat i ng f r oml ef t - wi ng ci r cl es dur i ng t he Occupat i on
denounced a synar chi c Pact of t he Empi r e, whi ch was r esponsi bl e f or t he Fr ench
def eat , a pact t hat was a mani f est at i on of Por t uguese- st yl e f asci sm. But t hen i t
t ur ned out t hat t he pact was dr awn up by Du Mas and Canudo and cont ai ned i deas t hey
had publ i shed and publ i ci zed ever ywher e. Not hi ng secr et about i t . But t hese i deas
wer e r eveal ed as secr et , ext r emel y secr et , i n 1946 by one Husson, who denounced a
r evol ut i onar y synar chi c pact of t he l ef t , as he wr ot e i n hi s Synar chi e, panor ama de
25 annees d' act i vi t e occul t e, whi ch he si gned. . . wai t , l et me f i nd i t . . . Geof f r ey de
Char nay. " " Fi ne! " I sai d. " Char nay was a compani on of Mol ay, t he gr and mast er of t he
Templ ar s. They di ed t oget her at t he st ake. Her e we have a neo- Templ ar at t acki ng
synar chy f r omt he r i ght . But synar chy i s bor n at Agar t t ha, whi ch i s t he r ef uge of
t he Templ ar s! "
" What di d I t el l you? You see, you' ve gi ven me an addi t i onal cl ue. Unf or t unat el y, i t
onl y i ncr eases t he conf usi on. So, on t he r i ght , a synar chi c pact of t he l ef t i s
denounced as soci al i st and secr et , t hough i t ' s not r eal l y secr et ; i t ' s t he same
synar chi c pact , as you saw, t hat was denounced by t he l ef t . And now we come t o new
r evel at i ons: synar chy i s a J esui t pl ot t o under mi ne t he Thi r d Republ i c. A t hesi s
expounded by Roger Mennevee, l ef t i st . To al l ow me t o sl eep ni ght s, my r eadi ng t hen
t el l s me t hat i n 1943 i n cer t ai n Vi chy mi l i t ar y ci r cl es- Pet ai ni st , yes, but
ant i - Ger man- document s ci r cul at ed t hat pr ove synar chy was a Nazi pl ot : Hi t l er was a
Rosi cr uci an i nf l uenced by t he Masons, who now have moved f r omhat chi ng a
J udeo- Bol shevi k pl ot t o maki ng an i mper i al Ger man one. "
" So ever yt hi ng i s set t l ed. "
" I f onl y t hat wer e al l . Yet anot her r evel at i on: Synar chy i s a pl ot of t he
i nt er nat i onal t echnocr at s. Thi s was asser t ed i n 1960 by one Vi l l emar est , Le 14'
compl ot du 13 mai . The t echno- synar chi c pl ot want s t o dest abi l i ze gover nment s and,
t o do i t , pr ovokes war s, backs coups d' et at , f oment s schi sms i n pol i t i cal par t i es,
pr omot es i nt er neci ne hat r eds. . . Do you r ecogni ze t hese synar chi st s? "
" My God, i t ' s t he I MS, t he I mper i al i st Mul t i nat i onal St at e- what t he Red Br i gades
wer e t al ki ng about a f ew year s ago! "
" The answer i s cor r ect . And now what does I nspect or De Angel i s do i f he f i nds a
Page 149
r ef er ence t o synar chy somewher e? He asks t he advi ce of Dr . Casaubon, t he Templ ar
exper t . "
" My answer : Ther e exi st s a secr et soci et y wi t h br anches t hr oughout t he wor l d, and
i t s pl ot i s t o spr ead t he r umor t hat a uni ver sal pl ot exi st s. "
" You' r e j oki ng, but I - "
" I ' mnot j oki ng. Come and r ead t he manuscr i pt s t hat t ur n up at Manut i us. But i f you
want a mor e down- t o- ear t h expl anat i on, i t ' s l i ke t he st or y of t he man wi t h a bad
st ammer who compl ai ns t hat t he r adi o st at i on woul dn' t hi r e hi mas an announcer
because he di dn' t car r y- a par t y car d. We al ways have t o bl ame our f ai l ur es on
somebody el se, and di ct at or shi ps al ways need an ext er nal enemy t o bi nd t hei r
f ol l ower s t oget her . As t he man sai d, f or ever y compl ex pr obl emt her e' s a si mpl e
sol ut i on, and i t ' s wr ong. "
" And i f , on a t r ai n, I f i nd a bomb wr apped i n a f l i er t hat t al ks about synar chy, i s
i t enough f or me t o say t hat t hi s i s a si mpl e sol ut i on t o a compl ex pr obl em?"
" Why? Have you f ound bombs on t r ai ns t hat . . . No, excuse me. That ' s r eal l y not my
busi ness. But why di d you say t hat t o me, t hen?"
" Because I was hopi ng you' d know mor e t han I do. Because per haps I ' mr el i eved t o see
you can' t make head or t ai l of i t ei t her . You say you have t o r ead l unat i cs by t he
car l oad and you consi der i t a wast e of t i me. I don' t . For me, t he wor ks of your
l unat i cs- by ' your ' I ' mr ef er r i ng t o you nor mal peopl e- ar e i mpor t ant t ext s. What a
l unat i c wr i t es may expl ai n t he t hi nki ng of t he man who put s t he bomb on t he t r ai n.
Or ar e you af r ai d of becomi ng a pol i ce i nf or mer ?"
" No, not at al l . Besi des, l ooki ng f or t hi ngs i n car d cat al ogs i s my busi ness. I f t he
r i ght pi ece of i nf or mat i on t ur ns up, I ' l l keep you i n mi nd. "
As he r ose f r omhi s chai r , De Angel i s dr opped t he l ast quest i on: " Among your
manuscr i pt s. . . have you ever f ound any r ef er ence t o t he Tr es?"
" What ' s t hat ?"
" I don' t know. An or gani zat i on, maybe. I don' t even know i f i t exi st s. I ' ve hear d i t
ment i oned, and i t occur r ed t o me i n connect i on wi t h your l unat i cs. Say hel l o t o your
f r i end Bel bo f or me. Tel l hi mI ' mnot keepi ng t abs on any of you. The f act i s, I
have a di r t y j ob, and my mi sf or t une i s t hat I enj oy i t . "
As I went home, I asked mysel f who had come out ahead. He had t ol d me a number of
t hi ngs; I ' d t ol d hi mnot hi ng. I f I want ed t o be suspi ci ous, I coul d t hi nk per haps
t hat he had got somet hi ng out of me wi t hout my bei ng awar e of i t . But i f you' r e t oo
suspi ci ous, you f al l i nt o t he psychosi s of synar chi c pl ot s.
When I t ol d Li a about t hi s epi sode, she sai d: " I f you ask me, he was si ncer e. He
r eal l y di d want t o get i t al l of f hi s chest . You t hi nk he can f i nd anyone at pol i ce
headquar t er s who wi l l l i st en t o hi mwonder whet her J eanne Canudo was r i ght - wi ng or
l ef t ? He onl y want ed t o f i nd out i f i t ' s hi s f aul t he can' t under st and i t or i f t he
whol e t hi ng i s t oo di f f i cul t . And you wer en' t abl e t o gi ve hi mt he one t r ue
answer . ' '
" The one t r ue answer ?"
" Of cour se. That t her e' s not hi ng t o under st and. Synar chy i s God. "
" God?"
" Yes. Manki nd can' t endur e t he t hought t hat t he wor l d was bor n by chance, by
mi st ake, j ust because f our br ai nl ess at oms bumped i nt o one anot her on a sl i pper y
hi ghway. So a cosmi c pl ot has t o be f ound- God, angel s, devi l s. Synar chy per f or ms t he
same f unct i on on a l esser scal e. "
" Then I shoul d have t ol d hi mt hat peopl e put bombs on t r ai ns because t hey' r e l ooki ng
f or God?" " Why not ?"
54
The pr i nce of dar kness i s a gent l eman.
- Shakespear e, Ki ng Lear , I I I , i v
I t was aut umn. One mor ni ng I went t o Vi a Mar chese Gual di , because I had t o get
Si gner Gar amond' s aut hor i zat i on t o or der some col or phot ogr aphs f r omabr oad. I
gl i mpsed Agl i e i n Si - gnor a Gr azi a' s of f i ce, bent over t he f i l e of Manut i us aut hor s,
but I di dn' t di st ur b hi m, because I was l at e f or my meet i ng.
When our busi ness was over , I asked Si gnor Gar amond what Agl i e was doi ng i n t he
secr et ar y' s of f i ce.
" The man' s a geni us, " Gar amond sai d. " An ext r aor di nar y mi nd, keen, l ear ned. The
Page 150
ot her eveni ng, I t ook hi mt o di nner wi t h some of our aut hor s, and he made me l ook
gr eat . What conver sat i on! What st yl e! A gent l eman of t he ol d school , an ar i st ocr at ;
t hey' ve t hr own away t he mol d. What knowl edge, what cul t ur e- no, mor e, what
i nf or mat i on! He t ol d del i ght f ul anecdot es about char act er s of a cent ur y ago, and I
swear i t was as i f he had known t hemper sonal l y. Do you want t o hear t he i dea he
gave me as we wer e goi ng home? He sai d we shoul dn' t j ust si t and wai t f or I si s
Unvei l ed aut hor s t o t ur n up on t hei r own. I t ' s a wast e of t i me and ef f or t t o r ead
when you don' t even know whet her t he aut hor s ar e wi l l i ng t o under wr i t e t he expenses.
I nst ead, we have a gol d mi ne at our di sposal : t he l i st of al l t he Manut i us aut hor s
of t he l ast t went y year s! You under st and? We wr i t e t o our ol d, gl or i ous aut hor s, or
at l east t he ones who bought up t hei r r emai nder s, and we say t o t hem: Dear si r , ar e
you awar e t hat we have i naugur at ed a ser i es of wor ks of er udi t i on, t r adi t i on, and
t he hi ghest spi r i t ual i t y? Woul d you, as an aut hor of di st i nct i on and r ef i nement , be
i nt er est ed i n vent ur i ng i nt o t hi s t er r a i ncogni t a, et cet er a, et cet er a? A geni us, I
t el l you. I bel i eve he want s us al l t o j oi n hi mSunday eveni ng. Pl ans t o t ake us t o
a cast l e, a f or t r ess- no, mor e, a vi l l a i n t he Tur i n ar ea. I t seems t hat
ext r aor di nar y t hi ngs ar e t o happen t her e, a r i t e, a sabbat h, wher e someone wi l l make
gol d or qui cksi l ver . I t ' s a whol e wor l d t o be di scover ed, my dear Casaubon, even i f ,
as you know, I have t he gr eat est r espect f or sci ence, t he sci ence t o whi ch you ar e
devot i ng your sel f wi t h such passi on. I ndeed, I amver y, ver y pl eased wi t h your wor k,
and yes, t her e' s t hat l i t t l e f i nanci al adj ust ment you ment i oned; I haven' t f or got t en
i t , and i n due cour se we' l l t al k about i t . Agl i e t ol d me t he l ady wi l l al so be
t her e, t he beaut i f ul l ady- or per haps not beaut i f ul , but at t r act i ve; t her e' s
somet hi ng about her eyes- t hat f r i end of Bel - bo' s- what ' s her name- ?"
" Lor enza Pel l egr i ni . "
" Yes. Ther e' s somet hi ng- no?- bet ween her and our Bel bo. "
" I bel i eve t hey' r e good f r i ends. "
" Ah! A gent l eman' s answer . Br avo, Casaubon. But I do not i nqui r e out of i dl e
cur i osi t y; t he f act i s t hat I f eel l i ke a f at her t o al l of you and. . . gl i ssons, a l a
guer r e comme a l a guer r e. . . Good- bye, dear boy. "
We r eal l y di d have an appoi nt ment wi t h Agl i e i n t he hi l l s near Tur i n, Bel bo t ol d me.
A doubl e appoi nt ment . The ear l y hour s of t he eveni ng woul d be a par t y i n t he cast l e
of a ver y wel l - t o- do Rosi cr uci an. Then Agl i e woul d t ake us a f ew ki l omet er s away, t o
a pl ace wher e- at mi dni ght , nat ur al l y- some ki nd of dr ui di c r i t e, Bel bo wasn' t sur e
what , woul d be hel d.
" I was al so t hi nki ng, " Bel bo added, " t hat we shoul d si t down somewher e and gi ve some
t hought t o our hi st or y of met al s, because her e we keep bei ng i nt er r upt ed. Why don' t
we l eave Sat ur day and spend a coupl e of days i n my ol d house i n ***? I t ' s a
beaut i f ul spot ; you' l l see, t he hi l l s ar e wor t h i t . Di ot al l evi i s comi ng, and maybe
Lor enza wi l l , t oo. Of cour se you can br i ng al ong anyone you want . "
He di dn' t know Li a, but he knew I had a compani on. I sai d I ' d come al one. Li a and I
had quar r el ed t wo days bef or e. Not hi ng ser i ous; i t woul d be f or got t en i n a f ew days,
but meanwhi l e I want ed t o get away f r omMi l an.
So we al l went t o ***, t he Gar amond t r i o and Lor enza Pel l egr i ni . At our depar t ur e, a
t ense moment . When i t came t i me t o get i nt o t he car , Lor enza sai d, " Maybe I ' l l st ay
behi nd, so you t hr ee can wor k i n peace. I ' l l j oi n you l at er wi t h Si mon. "
Bel bo, bot h hands on t he wheel , l ocked hi s el bows, st ar ed st r ai ght ahead, and sai d
i n a l ow voi ce, " Get i n. " Lor enza got i n, and al l t hr ough t he t r i p, si t t i ng up
f r ont , she kept her hand on t he back of Bel bo' s neck as he dr ove i n si l ence.
* * * was st i l l t he t own Bel bo had known dur i ng t he war . But new houses wer e f ew, he
t ol d us, agr i cul t ur e was i n decl i ne, because t he young peopl e had mi gr at ed t o t he
ci t y. He poi nt ed t o hi l l s, now past ur e, t hat had once been yel l ow wi t h gr ai n. The
t own appear ed suddenl y, af t er a cur ve at t he f oot of t he l ow hi l l wher e Bel bo' s
house was. We got a vi ew, beyond i t , of t he Mon- f er r at o pl ai n, cover ed wi t h a l i ght ,
l umi nous mi st . As t he car cl i mbed, Bel bo di r ect ed our at t ent i on t o t he hi l l
opposi t e, al most compl et el y bar e: at t he t op of i t , a chapel f l anked by t wo pi nes.
" I t ' s cal l ed t he Br i cco, " he sai d, t hen added: " I t doesn' t mat t er i f i t has no
ef f ect on you. We used t o go t her e f or t he Angel ' s l unch on East er Monday. Now you
can r each i t i n t he car i n f i ve mi nut es, but t hen we went on f oot , and i t was a
pi l gr i mage. "
Page 151
55
I cal l a t heat r e [ a pl ace i n whi ch] al l act i ons, al l wor ds, al l par t i cul ar subj ect s
ar e shown as i n a publ i c t heat r e, wher e comedi es and t r agedi es ar e act ed.
- Rober t Fl udd, Ut r i usque Cosmi Hi st or i a, Tomi Secundi Tr act at us Pr i mi Sect i o
Secunda, Oppenhei m( ?) , 1620 ( ?) , p. 55
We ar r i ved at t he vi l l a. Vi l l a- act ual l y, a l ar ge f ar mhouse, wi t h gr eat cel l ar s on
t he gr ound f l oor , wher e Adel i ne Canepa- t he quar r el some t enant who had denounced
Uncl e Car l o t o t he par t i sans- once made wi ne f r omt he vi neyar ds of t he Covasso l and.
I t had l ong been unoccupi ed.
I n a l i t t l e peasant house near by Adel i ne Canepa' s aunt st i l l l i ved- a . ver y ol d
woman, Bel bo t ol d us, who t ended a l i t t l e veget abl e gar den, kept a f ew hens and a
pi g. The ot her s wer e now l ong dead, uncl e and aunt , t he Canepas; onl y t hi s
cent enar i an r emai ned. The l and had been sol d year s bef or e t o pay t he i nher i t ance
t axes and ot her debt s. Bel bo knocked at t he door of t he l i t t l e house. The ol d woman
appear ed on t he t hr eshol d, t ook a whi l e t o r ecogni ze t he vi si t or , t hen made a gr eat
show of def er ence, i nvi t i ng us i n, but Bel bo, af t er havi ng embr aced and cal med her ,
cut t he meet i ng shor t .
We ent er ed t he vi l l a, and Lor enza gave cr i es of j oy as she di scover ed st ai r ways,
cor r i dor s, shadowy r ooms wi t h ol d f ur ni t ur e. As usual , Bel bo pl ayed ever yt hi ng down,
r emar ki ng onl y t hat each of us has t he Tar a he deser ves, but he was cl ear l y moved.
He cont i nued t o vi si t t he house, f r omt i me t o t i me, he t ol d us, but not of t en.
" I t ' s a good pl ace t o wor k: cool i n summer , and i n wi nt er t he t hi ck wal l s pr ot ect
you agai nst t he col d, and t her e ar e st oves ever ywher e. Nat ur al l y, when I was a
chi l d, an evacuee, we l i ved onl y i n t wo si de r ooms at t he end of t he mai n cor r i dor .
Now I ' ve t aken possessi on of my uncl e and aunt ' s wi ng. I wor k her e, i n Uncl e Car l o' s
st udy. " Ther e was a secr et ai r e wi t h l i t t l e space f or a sheet of paper but pl ent y of
smal l dr awer s, bot h vi si bl e and conceal ed. " I coul dn' t put Abul af i a her e, " Bel bo
sai d. " But t he r ar e t i mes I come, I l i ke t o wr i t e by hand, as I di d t hen. " He showed
us a maj est i c cupboar d. " When I ' mdead, r emember t hi s cont ai ns al l my j uveni l i a, t he
poems I wr ot e when I was si xt een, t he sket ches f or sagas i n si x vol umes made at
ei ght een, and so on. . . "
" Let ' s see! Let ' s see! " Lor enza cr i ed, cl appi ng her hands and advanci ng wi t h
exagger at ed f el i ne t r ead t owar d t he cupboar d.
" St op r i ght wher e you ar e, " Bel bo sai d. " Ther e' s not hi ng t o see. I don' t even l ook
at i t mysel f anymor e. And, i n any case, when I ' mdead, I ' l l come back and bur n
ever yt hi ng. "
" Thi s pl ace has ghost s, I hope, " Lor enza sai d.
" I t does now. I n Uncl e Car l o' s day, no; i t was l ot s of f un t hen. Geor gi c. That ' s why
I come. I t ' s wonder f ul wor ki ng at ni ght whi l e t he dogs bar k i n t he val l ey. "
He showed us t he r ooms wher e we woul d be sl eepi ng: mi ne, Di ot al l evi ' s, Lor enza' s.
Lor enza l ooked at her r oom, t ouched t he ol d bed and i t s gr eat whi t e count er pane,
sni f f ed t he sheet s, sai d i t was l i ke bei ng i n one of her gr andmot her ' s st or i es,
because ever yt hi ng smel l ed of l avender . Bel bo sai d i t wasn' t l avender , i t was
mi l dew. Lor enza sai d i t di dn' t mat t er , and t hen, l eani ng agai nst t he wal l , her hi ps
t hr ust f or war d as i f she wer e at t he pi nbal l machi ne, she asked, " AmI sl eepi ng her e
by mysel f ?"
Bel bo l ooked away, t hen at us, t hen away agai n. He made as i f t o l eave and sai d:
" We' l l t al k about i t l at er . I n any case, i f you want i t , you have a r ef uge al l your
own. " Di ot al l evi and I moved of f , but we hear d Lor enza ask Bel bo i f he was ashamed
of her . He sai d t hat i f he hadn' t of f er ed her t he r oom, she woul d have asked hi m
wher e she was supposed t o sl eep. " I made t he f i r st move, so you have a choi ce, " he
sai d. " The wi l y Tur k, " she sai d. " I n t hat case, I ' l l sl eep her e i n my dar l i ng l i t t l e
r oom. " " Sl eep wher e you want , " Bel bo sai d, i r r i t at ed. " But t he ot her s ar e her e t o
wor k. Let ' s go out on t he t er r ace. "
So we set t o wor k on t he br oad t er r ace, wher e a per gol a st ood, suppl i ed wi t h col d
dr i nks and pl ent y of cof f ee. Al cohol f or bi dden t i l l eveni ng.
Fr omt he t er r ace we coul d see t he Br i cco, and bel ow i t a l ar ge pl ai n bui l di ng wi t h a
yar d and a soccer f i el d- al l i nhabi t ed by mul t i col or ed l i t t l e f i gur es, chi l dr en, i t
seemed t o me. " I t ' s t he Sal esi an par i sh hal l , " Bel bo expl ai ned. " That ' s wher e Don
Ti co t aught me t o pl ay. I n t he band. "
Page 152
I r emember ed t he t r umpet Bel bo had deni ed hi msel f af t er t he dr eam. I asked: " Tr umpet
or cl ar i net ?"
He had a moment ' s pani c. " How di d you. . . Ah, yes, I t ol d you about t he dr eam, t he
t r umpet . Don Ti co t aught Ti e t he t r umpet , but i n t he band I pl ayed t he bombar don. "
" What ' s a bombar don?"
" Oh, t hat ' s al l ki d st uf f . Back t o wor k now. "
But as we wor ked, I not i ced t hat he of t en gl anced at t hat hal l . I had t he i mpr essi on
t hat he t al ked about ot her t hi ngs as an excuse t o l ook at i t . For exampl e, he woul d
i nt er r upt our di scussi on and say:
" J ust down t her e was some of t he heavi est shoot i ng at t he end of t he war . Her e i n
*** t her e was a ki nd of t aci t agr eement bet ween t he Fasci st s and t he par t i sans. Two
year s i n a r ow t he par t i sans came down f r omt he hi l l s i n spr i ng and occupi ed t he
t own, and t he Fasci st s kept t hei r di st ance and di dn' t make t r oubl e. The Fasci st s
wer en' t f r omar ound her e; t he par t i sans wer e al l l ocal boys. I n t he event of a
f i ght , t hey coul d move easi l y; t hey knew ever y cor nf i el d and t he woods and
hedger ows. The Fasci st s most l y st ayed hol ed up i n t he t own and vent ur ed out onl y f or
r ai ds. I n wi nt er i t was har der f or t he par t i sans t o st ay down i n t he pl ai n: t her e
was no pl ace t o hi de, and i n t he snow t hey coul d be seen f r oma di st ance and pi cked
of f by a machi ne gun even a ki l omet er away. So t hey cl i mbed up i nt o t he hi gher
hi l l s. Ther e, t oo, t hey knew t he passes, t he caves, t he shel t er s. The Fasci st s
r et ur ned t o cont r ol t he pl ai n. But t hat spr i ng we wer e- on t he eve of l i ber at i on,
t he Fasci st s wer e st i l l her e, and t hey wer e dubi ous about goi ng back t o t he ci t y,
sensi ng t hat t he f i nal bl ow woul d be del i ver ed t her e, as i t i n f act was, ar ound
Apr i l 25. I bel i eve t her e was communi cat i on bet ween t he Fasci st s and t he par t i sans.
The l at t er hel d of f , want i ng t o avoi d a cl ash, sur e t hat somet hi ng woul d happen
soon. At ni ght Radi o London gave mor e and mor e r eassur i ng news, t he speci al messages
f or t he Fr anchi br i gade became mor e f r equent : Tomor r ow i t wi l l r ai n agai n; Uncl e
Pi et r o has br ought t he br ead- t hat sor t of t hi ng. Maybe you hear d t hem,
Di ot al l evi . . . Anyway, t her e must have been a mi sunder st andi ng, because t he par t i sans
came down and t he Fasci st s hadn' t l ef t .
" One day my si st er was her e on t he t er r ace, and she came i nsi de and t ol d us t her e
wer e t wo men pl ayi ng t ag wi t h guns. We wer en' t sur pr i sed: t hey wer e ki ds, on bot h
si des, whi l i ng away t he t i me wi t h t hei r weapons. Once- i t was onl y i n f un- t wo of
t hemr eal l y di d shoot , and a bul l et hi t t he t r unk of a t r ee i n t he dr i veway. My
si st er was l eani ng on t he t r ee; she di dn' t even not i ce, but t he nei ghbor s di d, and
af t er t hat she was t ol d t hat when she saw men pl ayi ng wi t h guns, she must go i nsi de.
' They' r e pl ayi ng agai n, ' she sai d, comi ng i n, t o show how obedi ent she was. And at
t hat poi nt we hear d t he f i r st vol l ey. Then a second, a t hi r d, and t hen t he r ounds
came t hi ck and f ast . You cqul d hear t he bar k of t he shot guns, t he r at at at of t he
aut omat i c r i f l es, and a dul l er sound, maybe hand gr enades. Fi nal l y, t he machi ne
guns. We r eal i zed t hey wer en' t pl ayi ng any l onger , but we di dn' t have t i me t o
di scuss i t , because by t hen we coul dn' t hear our own voi ces. Bang, wham, r at at at ! We
cr ouched under t he si nk- me, my si st er , and Mama. Then Uncl e Car l o ar r i ved, al ong t he
cor r i dor , on al l f our s, t o t el l us t hat we wer e t oo exposed, we shoul d come over t o
t hei r wi ng. We di d, and Aunt Cat er i na was cr yi ng because Gr andmot her was out . . . "
" I s t hat when your gr andmot her f ound her sel f f acedown i n a f i el d, i n t he cr oss
f i r e?"
" How di d you know about t hat ?"
" You t ol d me i n ' 73, af t er t he demonst r at i on t hat day. "
" My God, what a memor y! A man has t o be car ef ul what he says ar ound you. . . Yes. But
my f at her was al so out . As we l ear ned l at er , he had t aken shel t er i n a door way i n
t own, and coul dn' t l eave i t because of al l t he shoot i ng back and f or t h i n t he
st r eet , and f r omt he t ower of t he t own hal l a Bl ack Br i gade squad was r aki ng t he
squar e wi t h a machi ne gun. The f or mer mayor of t he ci t y, a Fasci st , was st andi ng i n
t he same door way. At a cer t ai n poi nt , he sai d he was goi ng t o r un f or i t : t o get
home, al l he had t o do was r each t he cor ner . He wai t ed f or a qui et moment , t hen
f l ung hi msel f out of t he door way, r eached t he cor ner , and was mowed down. But t he
i nst i nct i ve r eact i on of my f at her , who had al so gone t hr ough t he Fi r st Wor l d War ,
was: St ay i n t he door way. "
" Thi s i s a pl ace f ul l of sweet memor i es, " Di ot al l evi r emar ked.
" You won' t bel i eve i t , " Bel bo sai d, " but t hey ar e sweet . They' r e t he onl y r eal
t hi ngs I r emember . "
Page 153
The ot her s di dn' t under st and, and I was onl y begi nni ng t o. Now I know f or sur e. I n
t hose mont hs especi al l y, when he was navi gat i ng t he sea of f al sehoods of t he
Di abol i cal s, and af t er year s of wr appi ng hi s di si l l usi on i n t he f al sehoods of
f i ct i on, Bel bo r emember ed hi s days i n *** as a t i me of cl ar i t y: a bul l et was a
bul l et , you ducked or got i t , and t he t wo opposi ng si des wer e di st i nct , mar ked by
t hei r col or s, r ed or bl ack, wi t hout ambi gui t i es- or at l east i t had seemed t hat way
t o hi m. A cor pse was a cor pse was a cor pse was a cor pse. Not l i ke Col onel Ar dent i ,
wi t h hi s sl i pper y di sappear ance. I t hought t hat per haps I shoul d t el l Bel bo about
synar chy, whi ch i n t hose year s was al r eady maki ng i nr oads. Hadn' t t he encount er
bet ween Uncl e Car l o and Mongo been synar chi c, r eal l y, si nce bot h men, on opposi ng
si des, wer e i nspi r ed by t he same i deal of chi val r y? But why shoul d I depr i ve Bel bo
of hi s Combr ay? The memor i es wer e sweet because t hey spoke t o hi mof t he one t r ut h
he had known; doubt woul d begi n onl y af t er war d. Though, as he had hi nt ed t o me, even
i n t he days of t r ut h he had been a spect at or , wat chi ng, t he bi r t h of ot her men' s
memor i es, t he bi r t h of Hi st or y, or of many hi st or i es: al l st or i es t hat he woul d not
be t he one t o wr i t e.
Or had t her e been, f or hi m, t oo, a moment of gl or y and of choi ce? Because now he
sai d, " And al so, t hat day I per f or med t he one her oi c deed of my l i f e. "
" My J ohn Wayne, " Lor enza sai d. " Tel l me. "
" Oh, i t was not hi ng. Af t er cr awl i ng t o my uncl e' s par t of t he house, I st ubbor nl y
i nsi st ed on st andi ng up i n t he cor r i dor . The wi ndow was at t he end, we wer e on t he
upper f l oor , nobody coul d hi t me, I ar gued. I f el t l i ke a capt ai n st andi ng er ect i n
t he cent er of t he bat t l e whi l e t he bul l et s whi st l e ar ound hi m. Uncl e Car l o became
angr y, r oughl y pul l ed me i nt o t he r oom; I al most st ar t ed cr yi ng because t he f un was
over , and at t hat moment we hear d t hr ee shot s, gl ass shat t er i ng, and a ki nd of
r i cochet , as i f someone wer e bounci ng a t enni s bal l i n t he cor r i dor . A bul l et had
come t hr ough t he wi ndow, gl anced of f a wat er pi pe, and bur i ed i t sel f i n t he f l oor at
t he ver y spot wher e I had been st andi ng. I f I had st ayed t her e, I woul d have been
wounded. Maybe. "
" My God, I woul dn' t want you a cr i ppl e, " Lor enza sai d.
" Maybe t oday I ' d be happi er , " Bel bo sai d.
But t he f act was t hat even i n t hi s case he hadn' t chosen. He had l et hi s uncl e pul l
hi maway.
About an hour l at er , he was agai n di st r act ed. " Then Adel i ne Canepa came upst ai r s. He
sai d we' d al l be saf er i n t he cel l ar . He and my uncl e hadn' t spoken f or year s, as I
t ol d you. But i n t hi s t r agi c moment , Adel i ne Canepa had become a human bei ng agai n,
and Uncl e even shook hi s hand. So we spent an hour i n t he dar kness among t he
bar r el s, wi t h t he smel l of count l ess vi nt ages, whi ch made your head swi ma l i t t l e,
not t o ment i on t he shoot i ng out si de. Then t he gunf i r e di ed down, became muf f l ed. We
r eal i zed one si de was r et r eat i ng, but we di dn' t know whi ch, unt i l , f r oma wi ndow
above our heads, whi ch over l ooked a l i t t l e pat h, we hear d a voi ce, i n di al ect :
' Monssu, i ' e d' l a r epubbl i ca bel e si ?' "
" What does t hat mean?" Lor enza asked.
" Roughl y: Si r , woul d you be so ki nd as t o i nf or mme i f t her e ar e st i l l any
sust ai ner s of t he I t al i an Soci al Republ i c i n t hese par t s? Republ i c, at t hat t i me,
was a bad wor d. The voi ce was a par t i san' s, aski ng a passer by or someone at a
wi ndow, and t hat meant t he Fasci st s had gone. I t was gr owi ng dar k. Af t er a l i t t l e
whi l e bot h Papa and Gr andmot her ar r i ved, and t ol d of t hei r advent ur es. Mama and Aunt
pr epar ed somet hi ng t o eat , whi l e Uncl e and Adel i no Canepa cer emoni ousl y st opped
speaki ng t o each ot her agai n. For t he r est of t he eveni ng we hear d shoot i ng i n t he
di st ance, t owar d t he hi l l s. The par t i sans wer e af t er t he f ugi t i ves. We had won. "
Lor enza ki ssed Bel bo on t he head, and he wr i nkl ed hi s nose. He knew he had won,
t hough wi t h some hel p f r omt he Fasci st s. I n r eal i t y i t had been l i ke wat chi ng a
movi e. For a moment , r i ski ng t he r i cochet i ng bul l et , he had ent er ed t he act i on on
t he scr een, but onl y f or a moment , on t he r un, as i n Hel l zapoppi n, Wher e t he r eel s
get mi xed up and an I ndi an on hor seback r i des i nt o a bal l r oomand asks whi ch way di d
t hey go. Somebody says, " That way, " and t he I ndi an gal l ops of f i nt o anot her st or y.
56
He began pl ayi ng hi s shi ni ng t r umpet wi t h such power t hat t he whol e mount ai n r ang.
Page 154
St r assbur g, Zet zner , 1616, 1, p. 4
We had r eached t he chapt er on t he wonder s of hydr aul i c pi pes, and a
si xt eent h- cent ur y engr avi ng f r omt he Spi r i t al i a of Her on depi ct ed a ki nd of al t ar
wi t h a st eam- dr i ven appar at us t hat pl ayed a t r umpet .
I br ought Bel bo back t o hi s r emi ni sci ng. " How di d i t go, t hen, t he st or y of t hat Don
Tycho Br ahe, or what ever hi s name was- t he man who t aught you t o pl ay t he t r umpet ?"
" Don Ti co. I never f ound out i f Ti co was a ni ckname or hi s l ast name. I ' ve never
gone back t o t he par i sh hal l . The f i r st t i me I went t her e, i t was by chance: Mass,
cat echi sm, al l sor t s of games, and i f you won, he gave you a l i t t l e hol y car d of
Bl essed Domeni co Savi o, t hat adol escent wi t h t he wr i nkl ed canvas pant s, al ways
hangi ng on t o Don Bosco i n t he st at ues, hi s eyes r ai sed t o heaven, not l i st eni ng t o
t he ot her boys, who ar e t el l i ng di r t y j okes. I l ear ned t hat Don Ti co had f or med a
band, boys bet ween t en and f our t een. The l i t t l e ones pl ayed t oy cl ar i net s, f i f es,
sopr ano sax, and t he bi gger ones car r i ed t he t ubas and t he bass dr um. They had
uni f or ms, khaki t uni cs and bl ue t r ouser s, and vi sor ed caps. A dr eam, and I want ed t o
be par t of i t . Don Ti co sai d he needed a bombar don. "
He gave us a super i or l ook, and sai d, as i f r epeat i ng f ami l i ar i nf or mat i on: " A
bombar don i s a ki nd of t uba, a bass hor n i n E f l at . I t ' s t he st upi dest i nst r ument i n
t he whol e band. Most of t he t i me i t j ust goes oompah- oompah- oompah, or - when t he beat
changes- pa- pah, pa- pah, pa- pah, I t ' s easy t o l ear n, t hough. Bel ongi ng t o t he br ass
f ami l y, i t wor ks mor e or l ess l i ke t he t r umpet . The t r umpet demands mor e br eat h, and
you need an embouchur e- you know, t hat ki nd of cal l us on t he upper l i p, l i ke Loui s
Ar mst r ong. . . Then you get a cl ear , cl ean sound, and you don' t hear t he bl owi ng. The
i mpor t ant t hi ng i s not t o puf f out your cheeks: t hat onl y happens i n movi es,
car t oons, or New Or l eans br ot hel s. "
" What about t he t r umpet ?"
" The t r umpet I l ear ned on my own, dur i ng t hose summer af t er noons when t her e was
nobody at t he par i sh hal l , and I woul d hi de i n t he seat s of t he l i t t l e t heat er . . . But
I st udi ed t he t r umpet f or er ot i c r easons. You see t hat l i t t l e vi l l a over t her e, a
ki l omet er f r omt he hal l ? That ' s wher e Ceci l i a l i ved, t he daught er of t he Sal esi ans'
gr eat pat r oness. So ever y t i me t he band per f or med, on hol y days of obl i gat i on, af t er
t he pr ocessi on, i n t he yar d of t he par i sh hal l , and especi al l y i n t he t heat er bef or e
per f or mances of t he amat eur dr amat i c soci et y, Ceci l i a and her mama wer e al ways i n
t he f r ont r ow, i n t he pl ace of honor , next t o t he pr ovost of t he cat hedr al . I n t he
t heat er t he band woul d begi n wi t h a mar ch t hat was cal l ed ' A Good St ar t . ' I t opened
wi t h t r umpet s, t he t r umpet s i n B f l at , gol d and si l ver , car ef ul l y pol i shed f or t he
occasi on. The t r umpet s st ood up, pl ayed by t hemsel ves. Then t hey sat down, and t he
band began. Pl ayi ng t he t r umpet was t he onl y way f or me t o at t r act Ceci l i a' s
at t ent i on. "
" The onl y way?" Lor enza asked, moved.
" Ther e was no ot her way. Fi r st , I was t hi r t een and she was t hi r t een and a hal f , and
a gi r l t hi r t een and a hal f i s al r eady a woman; a boy at t hi r t een i s a snot - nose ki d.
Besi des, she l oved an al t o sax, a cer t ai n Papi , a mangy hor r or , he seemed t o me, but
she onl y had eyes f or hi m, as he bl eat ed l asci vi ousl y, because t he saxophone, when
i t i sn' t Or net t e Col eman' s and i t ' s par t of a band- and pl ayed by t he hor r endous
Papi - i s a goat i sh, gut t ur al i nst r ument , wi t h t he voi ce of , say, a f ashi on model
who' s t aken t o dr i nk and t ur ni ng t r i cks. . . "
" What do you know about model s who t ur n t r i cks?"
" Anyway, Ceci l i a di dn' t even know I exi st ed. Of cour se, i n t he eveni ng, when I
st r uggl ed up t he hi l l t o f et ch t he mi l k f r oma f ar mabove us, I i nvent ed spl endi d
st or i es i n whi ch she was ki dnapped by t he Bl ack Br i gades and I r ushed t o save her as
t he ! bul l et s whi st l ed ar ound my head and went chack- chack as t hey hi t t he
sheaves of wheat . I r eveal ed t o her what she coul dn' t have known: t hat i n my secr et
i dent i t y I headed t he Resi st ance i n t he j whol e Monf er r at o r egi on, and she
conf essed t o me t hat t hi s was j what she had al ways hoped, and at t hat poi nt
I woul d f eel a j gui l t y f l ood of honey i n my vei ns- I swear , not even my
f or eski n got wet ; i t was somet hi ng el se, somet hi ng much mor e awesome and gr and- and
on comi ng home, I woul d go and conf ess. . . I bel i eve al l si n, l ove, gl or y ar e t hi s:
when you sl i de down t he knot t ed sheet s, escapi ng f r omGest apo headquar t er s, and she
! hugs you, t her e, suspended, and she whi sper s t hat she' s al ways i
dr eamed of you. The r est i s j ust sex, copul at i on, t he per pet ua- ' t i on of t he
vi l e speci es. I n shor t , i f I wer e swi t ched t o t he t r umpet , Ceci l i a woul d be unabl e
Page 155
t o i gnor e me: on my f eet , gl eami ng, whi l e t he saxophone si t s mi ser abl y on hi s chai r .
The t r umpet i s war l i ke, angel i c, apocal ypt i c, vi ct or i ous; i t sounds t he char ge. The
saxophone pl ays so t hat young punks i n t he sl ums, t hei r hai r sl i cked down wi t h
br i l l i ant i ne, can dance cheek t o cheek wi t h sweat i ng gi r l s. I st udi ed t he t r umpet
l i ke a madman, t hen went t o Don Ti co and sai d: Li st en t o t hi s. And I was Oscar
Levant when he had hi s f i r st t r yout on Br oadway wi t h Gene Kel l y. Don Ti co sai d:
You' r e a t r umpet , al l r i ght , but . . .
" How dr amat i c t hi s i s, " Lor enza sai d. " Go on. Don' t keep us on pi ns and needl es. "
" But I had t o f i nd somebody t o t ake my pl ace on t he bombar don. Wor k out somet hi ng,
Don Ti co sai d. So I wor ked out somet hi ng. Now I must t el l you, dear chi l dr en, t hat
i n t hose days t her e l i ved i n ***, a coupl e of wr et ches, cl assmat es of mi ne, t hough
t hey wer e t wo year s ol der t han I , and t hi s f act t el l s you somet hi ng about t hei r
ment al abi l i t y. These t wo br ut es wer e named Anni bal e Cant al amessa and Pi o Bo.
Ast er i sk: Hi st or i cal f act . "
" What ?" Lor enza asked.
I expl ai ned, smugl y: " When Sal gar i , i n hi s advent ur e st or i es, i ncl udes a t r ue event ,
or somet hi ng he t hi nks i s t r ue- l et ' s say t hat , af t er Li t t l e Bi g Hor n, Si t t i ng Bul l
eat s Gener al Cust er ' s hear t - he al ways put s an ast er i sk and a f oot not e t hat says:
Hi st or i cal f act . "
" Yes, and i t ' s a hi st or i cal f act t hat Anni bal e Cant al amessa and Pi o Bo r eal l y had
t hose names, but t he names wer e t he l east of i t . A r eal pai r of sneaks: t hey st ol e
comi c books f r omt he newsst and, shel l cases f r omot her boys' col l ect i ons. And t hey
woul d t hi nk not hi ng of par ki ng t hei r gr easy sal ami sandwi ch on your pr i zed Chr i st mas
book, a del uxe vol ume of t al es of t he hi gh seas. Cant al amessa cal l ed hi msel f a
Communi st , Bo, a Fasci st , but t hey wer e bot h r eady t o sel l t hemsel ves t o t he enemy
f or a sl i ngshot . They t ol d st or i es about t hei r sexual pr owess, wi t h er r oneous
anat omi cal i nf or mat i on, and ar gued over who had mast ur bat ed mor e t he ni ght bef or e.
Her e wer e t wo vi l l ai ns r eady f or anyt hi ng; why not t he bombar don? So I deci ded t o
seduce t hem. I sang t he pr ai ses of t he band uni f or m, I t ook t hemt o publ i c
per f or mances, I hel d out hopes of amat or y t r i umphs wi t h t he Daught er s of Mar y. . . They
f el l f or i t . I spent my days i n t he t heat er wi t h a l ong st i ck, as I had seen i n
i l l ust r at ed pamphl et s about mi ssi onar i es; I r apped t hemon t he knuckl es when t hey
mi ssed a not e. The bombar don has onl y t hr ee keys, but i t ' s t he embouchur e t hat
mat t er s, as I sai d. I won' t bor e you any f ur t her , my l i t t l e l i st ener s. The day came,
af t er l ong sl eepl ess af t er noons, when I coul d i nt r oduce t o Don Ti co t wo bombar dons- I
won' t say per f ect , but at l east accept abl e. Don Ti co was convi nced; he put t hemi n
uni f or mand moved me t o t he t r umpet . Wi t hi n t he space of a week, f or t he f east of
Our Lady Hel p of Chr i st i ans, f or t he openi ng of t he t heat r i cal season wi t h They Had
t o See Par i s, t her e bef or e t he cur t ai n, i n t he pr esence of t he aut hor i t i es, I was
st andi ng t o pl ay t he openi ng bar s of ' Good St ar t . ' "
" Oh, j oyous moment , " Lor enza sai d, maki ng a f ace of t ender j eal ousy. " And Ceci l i a?"
" She wasn' t t her e. Maybe she was si ck. I don' t know. But she wasn' t t her e. "
He r ai sed hi s eyes and sur veyed t he audi ence, and at t hat moment he was bar d- or
j est er . He cal cul at ed t he pause. " Two days l at er , Don Ti co sent f or me and t ol d me
t hat Anni bal e Cant al amessa and Pi o Bo had r ui ned t he eveni ng. They woul dn' t keep
t i me, t hei r mi nds wander ed when t hey wer en' t pl ayi ng, t hey j oked and never came i n
at t he r i ght pl ace. ' The bombar don, ' Don Ti co sai d t o me, ' i s t he backbone of t he
band, i t s r hyt hmi c consci ence, i t s soul . The band, i t i s a f l ock; t he i nst r ument s
ar e t he sheep, t he bandmast er t he shepher d, but t he bombar don i s t he f ai t hf ul
snar l i ng dog t hat keeps t he f l ock t oget her . The bandmast er l ooks f i r st t o t he
bombar don, f or i f t he bombar don f ol l ows hi m, t he sheep wi l l f ol l ow. J acopo, my boy,
I must ask of you a gr eat sacr i f i ce: t o go back t o t he bombar don. You have a good
sense of r hyt hm, you wi l l keep t hose ot her t wo i n t i me f or me. I pr omi se, as soon as
t hey can pl ay on t hei r own, I ' l l l et you pl ay t he t r umpet . ' I owed ever yt hi ng t o Don
Ti co. I sai d yes. And on t he next hol y day t he t r umpet s r ose t o t hei r f eet and
pl ayed t he openi ng of ' Good St ar t ' i n f r ont of Ceci l i a, once mor e i n t he f i r st r ow.
But I was i n t he dar kness, a bombar don among bombar dons. As f or t hose t wo wr et ches,
t hey never wer e abl e t o pl ay on t hei r own, and I never went back t o t he t r umpet .
The war ended, I r et ur ned t o t he ci t y, abandoned musi c, t he br ass f ami l y, and never
even l ear ned Ceci l i a' s l ast name. "
" Poor boy, " Lor enza sai d, huggi ng hi mf r ombehi nd. " But you st i l l have me. "
" I t hought you l i ke saxophones, " Bel bo sai d. Then he t ur ned and ki ssed her hand.
" But , t o wor k, " he sai d, ser i ous agai n. " We' r e her e t o cr eat e a st or y of t he f ut ur e,
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not a r emembr ance of t hi ngs past . ' '
That eveni ng, t he l i f t i ng of t he ban on al cohol was much cel ebr at ed. J acopo seemed
t o have f or got t en hi s el egi ac mood and compet ed wi t h Di ot al l evi i n i magi ni ng absur d
machi nes- onl y t o di scover , each t i me, t hat t he machi nes had al r eady been i nvent ed.
At mi dni ght , af t er a f ul l day, we al l deci ded i t was t i me t o exper i ence what i t was
l i ke sl eepi ng i n t he hi l l s.
On my bed t he sheet s wer e even damper t han t hey had been i n t he af t er noon. J acopo
had i nsi st ed t hat we use a " pr i est " : an oval f r ame t hat kept t he cover s r ai sed and
had a pl ace f or a l i t t l e br azi er wi t h ember s- he want ed t o make sur e we t ast ed al l
t he pl easur es of r ur al l i f e. But when dampness i s i nher ent , a bedwar mer encour ages
i t : you f eel wel come war mt h, but t he sheet s r emai n humi d. Oh, wel l . I l i t a l amp,
t he ki nd wi t h a f r i nged shade, wher e t he mayf l i es f l ut t er unt i l t hey di e, as t he
poet says, and I t r i ed t o make mysel f sl eepy by r eadi ng t he newspaper .
For an hour or t wo I hear d f oot st eps i n t he cor r i dor , an openi ng and cl osi ng of
door s, and t he l ast cl osi ng was a vi ol ent sl am. Lor enza Pel l egr i ni put t i ng Bel bo' s
ner ves t o t he t est .
I was hal f - asl eep when I hear d a scr at chi ng at t he door , my door . I coul dn' t t el l
whet her i t was an ani mal or not ( I had seen nei t her dogs nor cat s i n t he house) , but
I had t he i mpr essi on t hat i t was an i nvi t at i on, a r equest , a t r ap. Maybe Lor enza was
doi ng i t because she knew Bel bo was spyi ng on her . Maybe not . Unt i l t hen, I had
consi der ed Lor enza Bel bo' s pr oper t y- at l east as f ar as I was concer ned- and besi des,
now t hat I was l i vi ng wi t h Li a, ot her women di dn' t i nt er est me. The sl y gl ances,
of t en conspi r at or i al , t hat Lor enza gave me i n t he of f i ce or i n a bar when she was
t easi ng Bel bo, as i f seeki ng an al l y or a wi t ness, wer e par t - I had al ways t hought - of
t he game she pl ayed. Wi t hout a doubt , Lor enza had a t al ent f or l ooki ng at any man as
i f chal l engi ng hi s sexual capaci t y. But i t was a cur i ous chal l enge, as i f she wer e
sayi ng: " I want you, but onl y t o show how af r ai d you r eal l y ar e. . . " That ni ght ,
however , hear i ng her f i nger nai l s scr ape my door , I f el t somet hi ng di f f er ent . I t was
desi r e: I desi r ed Lor enza.
I st uck my head under t he pi l l ow and t hought of Li a. I want t o have a chi l d wi t h
Li a, I sai d t o mysel f . And I ' l l make hi m( or her ) l ear n t he t r umpet as soon as he
( or she) has enough br eat h.
57
On ever y t hi r d t r ee a l ant er n had been hung, and a spl endi d vi r gi n, al so dr essed i n
bl ue, l i ght ed t hemwi t h a r aar vel ous t or ch, and I l i nger ed, l onger t han necessar y,
t o admi r e t he si ght , whi ch was of an i nef f abl e beaut y.
St r assbur g, Zet zner , 1616, 2, p. 21
Towar d noon Lor enza j oi ned us on t he t er r ace, smi l i ng, and announced t hat she had
f ound a t er r i f i c t r ai n t hat st opped at *** at t wel ve- t hi r t y, and wi t h onl y one
change she coul d get back t o Mi l an i n t he af t er noon. Woul d we dr i ve her , she asked,
t o t he st at i on?
Bel bo cont i nued l eaf i ng t hr ough some not es. " I t hought Agl i e was expect i ng you,
t oo, " he sai d. " I n f act , i t seemed t o me he or gani zed t he whol e expedi t i on j ust f or
you. "
" That ' s hi s pr obl em, " Lor enza sai d. " Who' s dr i vi ng me?"
Bel bo st ood up and sai d t o us, " I t ' l l onl y t ake a moment ; I ' l l be r i ght back. Then
we can st ay her e anot her coupl e of hour s. Lor enza, you had a bag?"
I don' t know i f t hey sai d anyt hi ng t o each ot her dur i ng t he t r i p t o t he st at i on.
Bel bo was back i n about t went y mi nut es and r esumed wor ki ng wi t hout r ef er r i ng t o t he
i nci dent .
At t wo o' cl ock we f ound a comf or t abl e r est aur ant i n t he mar ket squar e, and t he
choosi ng of f ood and wi ne gave Bel bo f ur t her oppor t uni t y t o r ecal l hi s chi l dhood.
But he spoke as i f he wer e quot i ng f r omsomeone el se' s bi ogr aphy. He had l ost t he
nar r at i ve f el i ci t y of t he day bef or e. I n mi daf t er noon we set of f t o j oi n Agl i e and
Gar amond.
Bel bo dr ove sout hwest , and t he l andscape changed gr adual l y, ki l omet er by ki l omet er .
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The hi l l s of ***, even i n l at e aut umn, wer e gent l e, domest i c, but as we went on, t he
hor i zons became mor e vast , at ever y cur ve t he peaks gr ew, some cr owned by l i t t l e
vi l l ages; we gl i mpsed endl ess vi st as. Li ke Dar i en, Di ot al l evi r emar ked, ver bal i zi ng
t hese di scover i es. We cl i mbed i n t hi r d gear t owar d gr eat expanses and t he out l i ne of
mount ai ns, whi ch at t he end of t he pl at eau was al r eady f adi ng i nt o a wi nt r y haze.
Though we wer e al r eady i n t he mount ai ns, i t seemed t o be a pl ai n modul at ed by dunes.
As i f t he hand of a cl umsy demi ur ge had compr essed hei ght s t hat seemed t o hi m
excessi ve, t r ansf or mi ng t hemi nt o a l umpy dough t hat ext ended al l t he way t o t he sea
or - who knows?- t o t he sl opes of har sher and mor e det er mi ned chai ns.
We r eached t he speci f i ed vi l l age and met Agl i e and Gar a- mond, as ar r anged, at t he
caf e i n t he mai n squar e. I f Agl i e was di spl eased t o hear t hat Lor enza wasn' t comi ng,
he gave no i ndi cat i on of i t . " Our exqui si t e f r i end does not wi sh t o t ake par t , i n
t he pr esence of ot her s, i n t he myst er i es t hat def i ne her . A si ngul ar modest y, whi ch
I appr eci at e, " he sai d. And t hat was al l .
We cont i nued, Gar amond' s Mer cedes i n t he l ead and Bel bo' s Renaul t behi nd, unt i l , as
t he sunl i ght was dyi ng, we came wi t hi n si ght of a st r ange yel l ow edi f i ce on a hi l l ,
a ki nd of ei ght eent h- cent ur y cast l e, f r omwhi ch ext ended t er r aces wi t h f l ower s and
t r ees, f l our i shi ng despi t e t he season.
As we r eached t he f oot of t he hi l l , we f ound our sel ves i n an open space wher e many
car s wer e par ked. " We st op her e, " Agl i e sai d, " and cont i nue on f oot . "
Dusk was now becomi ng ni ght . The pat h was i l l umi nat ed f or us by a host of t or ches
t hat bur ned al ong t he sl ope.
I t ' s odd, but of ever yt hi ng t hat happened, f r omt hat moment unt i l l at e at ni ght , I
have memor i es at once cl ear and conf used. I r evi ewed t hemt he ot her eveni ng i n t he
per i scope and sensed a f ami l y r esembl ance bet ween t he t wo exper i ences. Yes, I sai d
t o mysel f , now you ar e her e, i n an unnat ur al si t uat i on, gr oggy f r omt he smel l of ol d
wood, i magi ni ng your sel f i n a t omb or i n t he bel l y of a shi p as a t r ansf or mat i on i s
t aki ng pl ace. You have onl y t o peer out si de t he cabi n, and you wi l l see obj ect s i n
t he gl oomt hat ear l i er t oday wer e mot i onl ess, but now t hey st i r l i ke El eusi ni an
shadows among t he f umes of a spel l . And so i t had been t hat eveni ng at t he cast l e:
t he l i ght s, t he sur pr i ses of t he r out e, t he wor ds I hear d, and t hen t he i ncense;
ever yt hi ng conspi r ed t o make me f eel I was dr eami ng, but dr eami ng t he way you dr eam
when you ar e on t he ver ge of waki ng, when you dr eamt hat you ar e dr eami ng.
I shoul d r emember not hi ng, yet , on t he cont r ar y, I r emember ever yt hi ng, not as i f I
had l i ved i t , but as i f i t had been t ol d t o me by someone el se.
I do not know i f what I r emember , wi t h such anomal ous cl ar i t y, i s what happened or
i s onl y what I wi shed had happened, but i t was def i ni t el y on t hat eveni ng t hat t he
Pl an f i r st st i r r ed i n our mi nds, st i r r ed as a desi r e t o gi ve shape t o shapel essness,
t o t r ansf or mi nt o f ant asi zed r eal i t y t hat f ant asy t hat ot her s want ed t o be r eal .
" The r out e i t sel f i s r i t ual , " Agl i e was t el l i ng us as we cl i mbed t he hi l l . " These
ar e hangi ng gar dens, j ust l i ke- or al most - t he ones Sal omon de Caus devi sed f or
Hei del ber g, t hat i s, f or t he Pal at i ne el ect or Fr eder i ck V, i n t he gr eat Rosi cr uci an
cent ur y. The l i ght i s poor , and so i t shoul d be, because i t i s bet t er t o sense t han
t o see: our host has not r epr oduced t he Sal omon de Caus desi gn l i t er al l y; he had
concent r at ed i t i n a nar r ower space. The gar dens of Hei del ber g i mi t at ed t he
macr ocosm, but t he per son who r econst r uct ed t hemher e has i mi t at ed onl y t he
mi cr ocosm. Look at t hat r ocai l l e gr ot t o. . . Decor at i ve, no doubt . But Caus had i n mi nd
t he embl emof t he At al ant a Fugi ens of Mi chael Mai er , wher e cor al i s t he
phi l osopher ' s st one. Caus knew t hat t he heavenl y bodi es can be i nf l uenced by t he
f or mof a gar den, because t her e ar e pat t er ns whose conf i gur at i on mi mes t he har mony
of t he uni ver se. . . "
" Fant ast i c, " Gar amond sai d. " But how does a gar den i nf l uence t he pl anet s?"
" Ther e ar e si gns t hat at t r act one anot her , t hat l ook at one anot her , embr ace, and
enf or ce l ove. But t hey do not have- t hey must not have- a cer t ai n and def i ni t e f or m. A
man wi l l t r y out gi vei j f or ces accor di ng t o t he di ct at es of hi s passi on or t he
i mpul se of hi s spi r i t ; t hi s happened wi t h t he hi er ogl yphi cs of t he Egypt i ans. For
t her e can be no r el at i onshi p bet ween us and di vi ne bei ngs except t hr ough seal s,
f i gur es, char act er s, and cer emoni es. Thus t he di vi ni t i es speak t o us t hr ough dr eams
and or acl es. And t hat i s what t hese gar dens ar e. Ever y aspect of t hi s t er r ace
r epr oduces a myst er y of t he al chemi st ' s ar t , but unf or t unat el y we can no l onger r ead
i t , not even our host can. An unusual devot i on t o secr ecy, you wi l l agr ee, i n t hi s
man who spends what he has saved over t he year s i n or der t o desi gn i deogr ams whose
Page 158
meani ng he has l ost . "
As we cl i mbed f r omt er r ace t o t er r ace, t he gar dens changed. Some wer e i n t he f or mof
a l abyr i nt h, ot her s i n t he f or mof an embl em, but each t er r ace coul d be vi ewed i n
i t s ent i r et y onl y f r oma hi gher one. Looki ng down, I saw t he out l i ne of a cr own, and
ot her pat t er ns I had been unabl e t o embr ace as I was passi ng t hr ough t hem. But even
f r omabove, I coul d not deci pher t hem. Each t er r ace, seen as one moved among i t s
hedges, pr esent ed some i mages, but t he per spect i ve f r omabove r eveal ed new, even
cont r adi ct or y i mages, as i f ever y st ep of t hat st ai r way spoke t wo di f f er ent
l anguages at once.
As we moved hi gher , we not i ced some smal l st r uct ur es. A f ount ai n of phal l i c shape
st ood beneat h a ki nd of ar ch or por t i co, and t her e was a Nept une t r ampl i ng a
dol phi n, a door wi t h vaguel y Assyr i an col umns, an ar ch of i mpr eci se f or m, as i f
pol ygons had been set upon ot her pol ygons, and each const r uct i on was sur mount ed by
t he st at ue of an ani mal : an el k, a monkey, a l i on. . .
" And al l t hi s means somet hi ng?" Gar amond asked.
" Unquest i onabl y! J ust r ead t he Mundus Symbol i cus of Pi ci - nel l i , whi ch, i nci dent al l y,
Al ci at i f or esaw wi t h ext r aor di nar y pr ophet i c power . The whol e gar den may be r ead as
a book, or as a spel l , whi ch i s, af t er al l , t he same t hi ng. I f you knew t he wor ds,
you coul d speak what t he gar den says and you woul d t hen be abl e t o cont r ol one of
t he count l ess f or ces t hat act i n t he subl unar wor l d. Thi s gar den i s an i nst r ument
f or r ul i ng t he uni ver se. "
He showed us a gr ot t o. A gr owt h of al gae; t he skel et ons of mar i ne ani mal s, whet her
nat ur al or not , I coul dn' t say; per haps t hey wer e i n pl ast er or st one. . . A nai ad
coul d be di scer ned embr aci ng a bul l wi t h t he scal y t ai l of some gr eat Bi bl i cal f i sh;
i t l ay i n a st r eamof wat er t hat f l owed f r omt he shel l a Tr i t on hel d l i ke an
amphor a.
" I wi l l t el l you t he deeper si gni f i cance of t hi s, whi ch ot her wi se mi ght seema banal
hydr aul i c j oke. Caus knew t hat i f one f i l l s a vessel wi t h wat er and seal s i t at t he
t op, t he wat er , even i f one t hen opens a hol e i n t he bot t om, wi l l not come out . But
i f one opens a hol e at t he t op, al so, t he wat er spur t s out bel ow. "
" I sn' t t hat obvi ous?" I sai d. " Ai r ent er s at t he t op and pr esses t he wat er down. "
" A t ypi cal sci ent i f i c expl anat i on, i n whi ch t he cause i s mi st aken f or t he ef f ect , or
vi ce ver sa. The quest i on i s not why t he wat er comes out i n t he second case, but why
i t r ef uses t o come out i n t he f i r st case. "
" And why does i t r ef use?" Gar amond asked eager l y.
" Because, i f i t came out , i t woul d l eave a vacuumi n t he vessel , and nat ur e abhor s a
vacuum. Nequaquamvacui was a Rosi cr uci an pr i nci pl e, whi ch moder n sci ence has
f or got t en. "
" Ver y i mpr essi ve, " Gar amond sai d. " Casaubon, t hi s has t o be put i n our wonder f ul
advent ur e of met al s, t hese t hi ngs must be hi ghl i ght ed: r emember t hat . And don' t t el l
me wat er ' s not a met al . You must use your i magi nat i on. "
" Excuse me, " Bel bo sai d t o Agl i e, " but your ar gument i s si mpl y post hoc er go ant e
hoc. What f ol l ows causes what came bef or e. "
" You must not t hi nk l i near l y. The wat er i n t hese f ount ai ns doesn' t . Nat ur e doesn' t ;
nat ur e knows not hi ng of t i me. Ti me i s an i nvent i on of t he West . ' '
* * *
As we cl i mbed, we encount er ed ot her guest s. Bel bo nudged Di ot al l evi , who sai d i n a
whi sper : " Ah, yes, f aci es her met i ca. "
And among t he pi l gr i ms wi t h t he f aci es her met i ca, a l i t t l e of f t o one si de, a st i f f
smi l e of condescensi on on hi s l i ps, was Si gner Sal on. I nodded, he nodded.
" You know Sal on?" Agl i e asked me.
" You mean you know hi m?" I asked. " I do, of cour se. We l i ve i n t he same bui l di ng.
What do you t hi nk of hi m?"
" I know hi msl i ght l y. Some f r i ends, whose wor d I t r ust , t el l me he' s a pol i ce
i nf or mer . "
That ' s why Sal on knew about Gar amond and Ar dent i . What was t he connect i on, exact l y,
bet ween Sal on and De Angel i s? But I conf i ned mysel f t o aski ng Agl i e: " What i s a
pol i ce i nf or mer doi ng at a par t y l i ke t hi s?"
" Pol i ce i nf or mer s, " Agl i e sai d, " go ever ywher e. They can use any exper i ence f or
i nvent i ng t hei r conf i dent i al r epor t s. For t he pol i ce, t he mor e t hi ngs you know, or
Page 159
pr et end t o know, t he mor e power f ul you ar e. I t doesn' t mat t er i f t he t hi ngs ar e
t r ue. What count s, r emember , i s t o possess a secr et . "
" But why was Sal on i nvi t ed?" I asked.
" My f r i end, " Agl i e r epl i ed, " pr obabl y because our host r espect s t he gol den r ul e of
sapi ent al t hought , whi ch says t hat any er r or can be t he unr ecogni zed bear er of
t r ut h. Tr ue esot er i ci smdoes not f ear cont r adi ct i on. "
" You' r e t el l i ng me t hat , f i nal l y, al l cont r adi ct i ons agr ee. "
" Quod ubi que, quod ab omni busêt quod semper . I ni t i at i on i s t he di scover y of t he
under l yi ng and per enni al phi l osophy. "
Wi t h al l t hi s phi l osophi zi ng, we had r eached t he t op t er r ace and wer e on a pat h
t hr ough a br oad gar den t hat l ed t o t he ent r ance of t he cast l e or vi l l a. I n t he l i ght
of a t or ch l ar ger t han t he ot her s and set upon a col umn, we saw a gi r l wr apped i n a
bl ue gar ment spangl ed wi t h gol den st ar s. I n her hand she hel d a t r umpet , t he ki nd
her al ds bl ow i n oper as. As i n one of t hose hol y pl ays wher e t he angel s ar e ador ned
wi t h t i ssue- paper f eat her s, t he gi r l wor e on her shoul der s t wo l ar ge whi t e wi ngs
decor at ed wi t h al mond- shaped f i gur es, each wi t h a dot i n t he cent er , l ooki ng al most
l i ke an eye.
Pr of essor Camest r es was t her e, one of t he f i r st Di abol i cal s t o vi si t us at Gar amond,
t he adver sar y of t he Or do Templ i Or i ent i s. We had di f f i cul t y r ecogni zi ng hi m,
because he was cost umed most si ngul ar l y, t hough Agl i e sai d i t was appr opr i at e t o t he
occasi on: a whi t e l i nen t oga, l oi ns gi r t by a r ed r i bbon t hat al so cr i sscr ossed bot h
chest and back, and a sevent eent h- cent ur y hat t o whi ch wer e pi nned f our r ed r oses.
He knel t bef or e t he gi r l wi t h t he t r umpet and ut t er ed some wor ds.
" I t ' s t r ue, " Gar amond mur mur ed, " t her e ar e mor e t hi ngs i n heaven and ear t h. . . "
We went t hr ough a st or i ed door way, whi ch r emi nded me of t he Genoa cemet er y. Above
i t , an i nt r i cat e neocl assi cal al l egor y and t he car ved wor ds: CONDOLED ET
CONGRATULATOR.
I nsi de, t he guest s wer e many and l i vel y, cr owdi ng ar ound a buf f et i n a spaci ous hal l
f r omwhi ch t wo st ai r cases r ose t o upper f l oor s. I saw ot her f aces not unknown t o me,
among t hemBr a- mant i and- t o my sur pr i se- Commendat or e De Guber nat i s, an SEA al r eady
expl oi t ed by Gar amond, but per haps not yet made t o f ace t he t er r i bl e pr ospect of
havi ng al l t he copi es of hi s mast er pi ece pul ped, because he appr oached my boss wi t h
a show of obsequi ous gr at i t ude. Agl i e was i n t ur n appr oached obsequi ousl y by a t i ny
man wi t h wi l d eyes, whose t hi ck Fr ench accent t ol d us t hat t hi s was t he Pi er r e we
had hear d accusi ng Br amant i of sor cer y t hr ough t he cur t ai n of Agl i e' s st udy.
I went t o t he buf f et . Ther e wer e pi t cher s wi t h col or ed l i qui ds I coul dn' t i dent i f y.
I pour ed mysel f a yel l ow bever age t hat r esembl ed wi ne; i t wasn' t bad, t ast i ng l i ke
an ol d- f ashi oned cor di al , and i t was def i ni t el y al cohol i c. Per haps t her e was a dr ug
i n i t as wel l : my head began t o swi m. Ar ound me f aci es her - met i cae swar med, t he
st er n count enances of r et i r ed pr ef ect s, f r agment s of conver sat i on. . .
" I n t he f i r st st age you must r enounce al l communi cat i on wi t h ot her mi nds; i n t he
second you pr oj ect t hought s and i mages i nt o bei ngs, i nf use pl aces wi t h emot i onal
aur as, gai n cont r ol over t he ani mal ki ngdom, and i n t he t hi r d st age you pr oj ect your
doubl e- bi l ocat i on- l i ke t he yogi s, and you can appear i n di f f er ent pl at es
si mul t aneousl y and i n di f f er ent f or ms. Beyond t hat , i t ' s a quest i on of passi ng t o
hyper sensi t i ve knowl edge of veget abl e essences. Then, you achi eve di ssoci at i on, you
assume t el l ur i c f or m, di ssol vi ng i n one pl ace, r eappear i ng i n anot her , but i nt act ,
not j ust as a doubl e. The f i nal st age i s t he ext ensi on of physi cal l i f e, . . . "
" Not i mmor t al i t y. . . "
" Not at once. "
" What about you?"
" I t t akes concent r at i on, i t ' s har d wor k, and, you know, I ' mnot t went y anymor e. . . "
I f ound my gr oup agai n. They wer e j ust ent er i ng a r oomwi t h whi t e wal l s, cur ved
cor ner s. I n t he r ear , as i n a muse' e Gr evi n- but t he i mage t hat came i nt o my mi nd
t hat eveni ng was t he al t ar I had seen i n Ri o, ' i n t he t enda de umbanda- wer e t wo wax
st at ues, al most l i f e- si ze, cl ad i n mat er i al t hat gl i t t er ed l i ke sequi ns, pur e t hr i f t
shop. One st at ue was of a l ady on a t hr one, wi t h an i mmacul at e ( or al most
i mmacul at e) gar ment st udded wi t h r hi nest ones. Above her , f r omwi r es, hung cr eat ur es
of i ndef i ni t e f or m, made, I t hought , out of Lenci f el t . I n one cor ner , a
l oudspeaker : a di st ant sound of t r umpet s, musi c of good qual i t y, per haps Gabr i el i .
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The sound ef f ect s showed bet t er t ast e t han t he vi sual s. To t he r i ght , a second
f emal e f i gur e, dr essed i n cr i mson vel vet wi t h a whi t e gi r dl e, and on her head a
cr own of l aur el . She hel d gi l ded scal es. Agl i e expl ai ned t o us t he var i ous symbol s,
but I was not payi ng at t ent i on; I was i nt er est ed i n t he expr essi ons of many of t he
guest s, who moved f r omi mage t o i mage wi t h an ai r of r ever ence and emot i on.
" They' r e no di f f er ent f r omt hose who go t o t he sanct uar y t o see t he Bl ack Madonna i n
an embr oi der ed dr ess cover ed wi t h si l ver hear t s, " I sai d t o Bel bo. " Do t he pi l gr i ms
t hi nk i t ' s t he mot her of Chr i st i n f l esh and bl ood? No, but t hey don' t t hi nk t he
opposi t e, ei t her . They del i ght i n t he si mi l ar i t y, seei ng t he spect acl e as a vi si on
and t he vi si on as a r eal i t y. "
" Yes, " Bel bo sai d, " but t he quest i on i sn' t whet her t hese peopl e her e ar e bet t er or
wor se t han Chr i st i ans who go t o shr i nes. I was aski ng mysel f : Who do we t hi nk we
ar e? We f or whomHaml et i s mor e r eal t han our j ani t or ? Do I have any r i ght t o
j udge- I who keep sear chi ng f or my own Madame Bovar y so we can have a bi g scene?"
Di ot al l evi shook hi s head and sai d t o me i n a l ow voi ce t hat i t was wr ong t o make
i mages of di vi ne t hi ngs, t hat t hese wer e al l epi phani es of t he Gol den Cal f . But he
was enj oyi ng hi msel f .
58
Al chemy, however , i s a chast e pr ost i t ut e, who has many l over s but di sappoi nt s al l
and gr ant s her f avor s t o none. She t r ansf or ms t he haught y i nt o f ool s, t he r i ch i nt o
pauper s, t he phi l osopher s i nt o dol t s, and t he decei ved i nt o l oquaci ous decei ver s. . .
- Tr i t hemi us, Annal i umHi r saugensi umTomi I I , S. Gal l o, 1690, 141
Suddenl y t he r oomwas pl unged i nt o dar kness and t he wal l s l i ght ed up. I r eal i zed
t hat t hr ee- quar t er s of t he wal l space was a semi ci r cul ar scr een on whi ch pi ct ur es
wer e about t o be pr oj ect ed. When t hese appear ed, I became awar e t hat a par t of t he
cei l i ng and of t he f l oor was made of r ef l ect i ng mat er i al , as wer e some of t he
obj ect s t hat had f i r st st r uck me as cheap because of t he t awdr y way t hey spar kl ed:
t he sequi ns, t he scal es, a shi el d, some copper vases. We wer e i mmer sed i n a
subaqueous wor l d wher e i mages wer e mul t i pl i ed, f r agment ed, f used wi t h t he shadows of
t hose pr esent . The f l oor r ef l ect ed t he cei l i ng, t he cei l i ng t he f l oor , and t oget her
t hey mi r r or ed t he f i gur es t hat appear ed on t he scr een. Al ong wi t h t he musi c, subt l e
odor s spr ead t hr ough t he r oom: f i r st I ndi an i ncense, t hen ot her s, l ess di st i nct , and
somet i mes di sagr eeabl e.
At f i r st t he penumbr a about us f el l i nt o absol ut e ni ght . Then a gr umbl i ng was hear d,
a chur ni ng of l ava, and we wer e i n a cr at er , wher e dar k and sl i my mat t er bubbl ed up
i n t he f i t f ul l i ght of yel l ow and bl ui sh f l ames.
Oi l y vapor s r ose, t o descend agai n, condensi ng as dew or r ai n and an odor of f et i d
ear t h dr i f t ed up, a st ench of decay. I i nhal ed sepul cher , t ar t ar , dar kness; a
poi sonous l i qui d oozed ar ound me, snaki ng bet ween t ongues of dung, humus, coal dust ,
mud, smoke, l ead, scum, napht ha, a bl ack bl acker t han bl ack, whi ch now pal ed t o
al l ow t wo r ept i l es t o appear - one l i ght bl ue, t he ot her r eddi sh- ent wi ned i n an
embr ace, each bi t i ng t he ot her ' s t ai l , t o f or ma si ngl e ci r cl e.
I t was as i f I had dr unk t oo much al cohol : I coul d no l onger see my compani ons, who
wer e l ost i n t he shadows, I coul d not r ecogni ze t he f or ms gl i di ng past me, hazy,
f l ui d out l i nes. . . Then I f el t my hand gr asped. I di dn' t t ur n, not want i ng t o di scover
t hat I had decei ved mysel f , because I caught Lor enza' s per f ume, and onl y t hen di d I
r eal i ze how gr eat was my desi r e f or her . I t must have been Lor enza; she had come t o
r esume t he di al og of f i nger nai l s scr api ng on my door , t o f i ni sh what she had l ef t
unf i ni shed t he ni ght bef or e. Sul f ur and mer cur y j oi ned i n a wet war mt h t hat made my
gr oi n t hr ob, but wi t hout ur gency.
I was expect i ng t he Rebi s, t he andr ogynous yout h, t he phi l osopher ' s sal t , t he
cor onat i on of t he Wor k of t he Whi t e. I seemed t o know ever yt hi ng. Al l my r eadi ng of
t he past f ew mont hs was, per haps, now r esur f aci ng i n my mi nd, or per haps Lor enza was
t r ansmi t t i ng t he knowl edge t o me t hr ough t he t ouch of her hand. Her pal mwas moi st
wi t h sweat .
I sur pr i sed mysel f by mur mur i ng obscur e names, names t hat t he phi l osopher s, I knew,
had gi ven t o t he Whi t e. Wi t h t hem, per haps, I was cal l i ng Lor enza t o me, or per haps
I was onl y r epeat i ng t hemt o mysel f , i n a pr opi t i at or y l i t any: Whi t e Copper ,
I mmacul at e Lamb, Ai bat hest , Al bor ach, Bl essed Wat er , Pur i f i ed Mer cur y, Or pi ment ,
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Azoch, Baur ach, Cambar , Caspa, Cher r y, Wax, Chai a, Comer i sson, El ect r on, Euphr at es,
Eve, Fada, Fa- voni us, Foundat i on of t he Ar t , Pr eci ous St one of Gi vi ni s, Di amond,
Zi bach, Zi va, Vei l , Nar ci ssus, Li l y, Her maphr odi t e, Hae, Hypost asi s, Hyl e, Vi r gi n' s
Mi l k, Uni que St one, Ful l Moon, Mot her , Li vi ng Oi l , Legume, Egg, Phl egm, Poi nt , Root ,
Sal t of Nat ur e, Leaf y Ear t h, Tevos, Ti ncar , St eam, Eveni ng St ar , Wi nd, Vi r ago,
Phar aoh' s Gl ass, Baby' s Ur i ne, Vul t ur e, Pl acent a, Menst r uum, Fugi t i ve Sl ave, Lef t
Hand, Sper mof Met al s, Spi r i t , Ti n, J ui ce, Oi l of Sul f ur . . .
I n t he pi t ch, now gr ayi sh, dar k, an out l i ne of r ocks and wi t her ed t r ees, a bl ack sun
set t i ng. Then an al most bl i ndi ng l i ght , and spar kl i ng f i gur es r ef l ect ed ever ywher e,
cr eat i ng a kal ei doscopi c ef f ect . Now t he smel l was l i t ur gi cal , chur chl y; my head
ached; t her e was a wei ght on my br ow, I saw a sumpt uous hal l l i ned wi t h gol den
t apest r i es, per haps a nupt i al banquet , wi t h a pr i ncel y br i degr oomand a br i de i n
whi t e, t hen an el der l y ki ng and queen ent hr oned, besi de t hema war r i or , and anot her
ki ng wi t h dar k ski n. Bef or e t he dar k ki ng, a l i t t l e al t ar on whi ch a book was set ,
cover ed wi t h bl ack vel vet , and a l i ght ed candl e i n an i vor y candl est i ck. Next t o t he
candl est i ck, a r ot at i ng gl obe and a cl ock sur mount ed by a t i ny cr yst al f ount ai n f r om
whi ch a l i qui d f l owed, bl ood- r ed. Above t he f ount ai n was a skul l ; f r oman eye socket
sl i d a whi t e ser pent . . .
Lor enza was br eat hi ng wor ds i nt o my ear . But I coul dn' t hear her voi ce.
The ser pent moved t o t he r hyt hmof sl ow, sad musi c. The ki ng and queen now wor e
bl ack, and bef or e t hemwer e si x cl osed cof f i ns. Af t er a f ew measur es of gr i mbass
t uba, a man i n a bl ack hood appear ed. At f i r st , i n a hi er at i c per f or mance, as i f i n
sl ow mot i on, t he ki ng submi t t ed wi t h mour nf ul j oy, bowi ng hi s meek head. The hooded
man r ai sed an ax, and t hen t he r api d sl ash of a pendul um, t he bl ade mul t i pl i ed i n
ever y r ef l ect i ng sur f ace, and t he heads t hat r ol l ed wer e a t housand. Af t er t hi s, t he
i mages succeeded one anot her , but I had di f f i cul t y f ol l owi ng t he st or y. I bel i eve
t hat al l t he char act er s i n t ur n, i ncl udi ng t he dar k ki ng, wer e decapi t at ed and l ai d
i n t he cof f i ns. The whol e r oomwas t r ansf or med i nt o t he shor e of a sea or a l ake,
and we saw si x vessel s l and, and t he bi er s wer e car r i ed aboar d t hem; t hen t he
vessel s depar t ed acr oss t he wat er , f aded i nt o t he ni ght . Al l t hi s t ook pl ace whi l e
t he i ncense cur l ed, al most pal pabl e, i n dense f umes, and f or a moment I f ear ed I was
among t he condemned. Ar ound me many mur mur ed, " The weddi ng, t he weddi ng. . . "
Lor enza was gone. I t ur ned t o l ook f or her among t he shadows.
* * *
The r oomnow was a cr ypt or sumpt uous t omb, i t s vaul t i l l umi nat ed by a car buncl e of
ext r aor di nar y si ze.
I n ever y cor ner women appear ed i n vi r gi nal dr ess. They gat her ed ar ound a caul dr on
t wo st or i es hi gh, i n a f r amewor k wi t h a st one base and a por t i co l i ke an oven. Fr om
t wi n t ower s emer ged t wo al embi cs empt yi ng i nt o an egg- shaped bowl ; a t hi r d, cent r al ,
t ower ended i n a f ount ai n. . .
I nsi de t he base of t he f r amewor k t he bodi es of t he decapi t at ed wer e vi si bl e. One of
t he vi r gi nal women car r i ed a box and dr ew f r omi t a r ound obj ect , whi ch she pl aced
i n a ni che of t he cent r al t ower , and i mmedi at el y t he f ount ai n at t he t op began t o
spur t . I had t i me t o r ecogni ze t he obj ect : i t was t he head of t he Moor i sh ki ng,
whi ch now bur ned l i ke a l og, maki ng t he wat er of t he f ount ai n boi l . Fumes, puf f s of
st eam, gur gl i ng. . .
Lor enza t hi s t i me put her hand on t he back of my neck, car essi ng i t as I had seen
her car ess J acopo i n t he car .
The woman br ought a gol den spher e, t ur ned on a t ap i n t he oven, and caused a t hi ck
r ed l i qui d t o f l ow i nt o t he spher e. Then t he spher e was opened, and, i n pl ace of t he
r ed l i qui d, i t cont ai ned an egg, l ar ge, beaut i f ul , whi t e as snow. The woman t ook t he
egg out and set i t on t he gr ound i n a pi l e of yel l ow sand. The egg opened, and a
bi r d came out , st i l l unf or med and bl oody. But , wat er ed wi t h t he bl ood of t he
decapi t at ed, i t gr ew bef or e our eyes, became handsome and r adi ant .
They decapi t at ed t he bi r d and r educed i t t o ashes on a l i t t l e al t ar . Some kneaded
t he ash i nt o a past e, pour ed t he t hi n past e i nt o t wo mol ds, and set t hemi n t he oven
t o bake, bl owi ng on t he f i r e wi t h some pi pes. I n t he end, t he mol ds wer e opened, and
t wo pr et t y f i gur es appear ed, pal e, al most t r anspar ent , a yout h and a mai den, no mor e
t han f our spans hi gh, as sof t and f l eshy as l i vi ng cr eat ur es but wi t h eyes st i l l
gl assy, mi ner al . They wer e set on t wo cushi ons, and an ol d man pour ed dr ops of bl ood
Page 162
i nt o t hei r mout hs. . .
Ot her women ar r i ved, wi t h gol den t r umpet s decor at ed wi t h gr een gar l ands. They handed
a t r umpet t o t he ol d man, who put i t t o t he l i ps of t he t wo cr eat ur es st i l l
suspended i n t hei r veget abl e l et har gy, t hei r sweet ani mal sl eep, and he began t o
i nsuf f l at e soul i nt o t hei r bodi es. . . The r oomf i l l ed wi t h l i ght ; t he l i ght di mmed t o
a hal f - l i ght , t hen t o a dar kness br oken by or ange f l ashes. Ther e was an i mmense dawn
whi l e t he t r umpet s sounded, l oud and r i ngi ng, and al l was a dazzl e of r uby. At t hat
poi nt I agai n l ost Lor enza and r eal i zed I woul d never f i nd her .
Ever yt hi ng t ur ned a f l ami ng r ed, whi ch sl owl y dul l ed t o i ndi go and vi ol et , and t he
scr een went bl ank. The pai n i n my f or ehead became i nt ol er abl e.
* * *
" Myst er i umMagnum, " Agl i e sai d cal ml y at my si de. " The r ebi r t h of t he new man
t hr ough deat h and passi on. A good per f or mance, I must say, even i f t he t ast e f or
al l egor y per haps mar r ed t he pr eci si on of t he phases. What you saw was onl y a
per f or mance, but i t spoke of a Thi ng. And our host cl ai ms t o have pr oduced t hi s
Thi ng. Come, l et us go and see t he mi r acl e achi eved. "
59
And i f such monst er s ar e gener at ed, we must bel i eve t hemt he wor k of nat ur e, even i f
t hey be di f f er ent f r omman.
- Par acel sus, De Homuncul i s, i n Oper umVol umen Secundum, Genevae, De Tour nes, 1658,
p. 465
He l ed us out i nt o t he gar den, and I f el t bet t er at once. I di dn' t dar e ask t he
ot her s i f Lor enza had come af t er al l . Pr obabl y I had dr eamed i t . Af t er a f ew st eps
we ent er ed a gr eenhouse; t he st i f l i ng heat dazed me. Among t r opi cal pl ant s wer e si x
gl ass ampul es i n t he shape of pear s- or t ear s- her met i cal l y seal ed, f i l l ed wi t h a
pal e- bl ue l i qui d. I nsi de each vessel f l oat ed a cr eat ur e about t went y cent i met er s
hi gh: we r ecogni zed t he gr ay- hai r ed ki ng, t he queen, t he Moor , t he war r i or , and t he
t wo adol escent s cr owned wi t h l aur el , one bl ue and one pi nk. . . They swayed wi t h a
gr acef ul swi mmi ng mot i on, as i f wat er wer e t hei r el ement .
I t was har d t o det er mi ne whet her t hey wer e model s made of pl ast i c or wax, or whet her
t hey wer e l i vi ng bei ngs, and t he sl i ght opaci t y of t he l i qui d made i t i mpossi bl e t o
t el l i f t he f ai nt pul se t hat ani mat ed t hemwas an opt i cal i l l usi on or r eal i t y.
" They seemt o gr ow ever y day, " Agl i e sai d. " Each mor ni ng, t he vessel s ar e bur i ed i n
f r esh hor se manur e- st i l l war m- whi ch pr ovi des t he heat necessar y f or gr owt h. I n
Par acel sus t her e ar e i pr escr i pt i ons t hat say homuncul i must be gr own at t he
i nt er nal t emper at ur e of a hor se. Accor di ng t o our host , t hese homuncul i speak t o
hi m, t el l hi msecr et s, ut t er pr opheci es. Some r eveal ed t o hi mt he t r ue measur ement s
of t he Templ e of Sol omon, ot her s t ol d hi mhow t o exor ci se demons. . . I must conf ess
t hat I have never hear d t hemspeak. "
They had ver y mobi l e f aces. The ki ng l ooked at t he queen t ender l y.
" Our host t ol d me t hat one mor ni ng he f ound t he bl ue yout h, who had escaped somehow
f r omhi s pr i son, at t empt i ng t o br eak t he seal of t he mai den' s vessel . . . But he was
out of hi s el ement , coul d not br eat he, and t hey saved hi mj ust i n t i me, r et ur ni ng
hi mt o hi s l i qui d. "
" Ter r i bl e, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " I woul dn' t want such a r esponsi bi l i t y. You' d have t o
t ake t he vessel s wi t h you ever ywher e and f i nd al l t hat manur e wher ever you went . And
t hen what woul d you do i n t he summer , on vacat i on? Leave t hemwi t h t he door man? ' '
" But per haps, " Agl i e concl uded, " t hey ar e onl y Car t esi an i mps. Or aut omat a. "
" The devi l ! " Gar amond sai d. " Dr . Agl i e, you' r e openi ng a whol e new uni ver se t o me.
We shoul d al l be mor e humbl e, my dear f r i ends. Ther e ar e mor e t hi ngs i n heaven and
ear t h. . . But , af t er al l , a l a guer r e comme a l a guer r e. . . "
Gar amond was awest r uck; Di ot al l evi mai nt ai ned an expr essi on of cyni cal cur i osi t y;
Bel bo showed no f eel i ng at al l .
To di spel my doubt , I sai d t o hi m, " Too bad Lor enza di dn' t come; she woul d have
l oved t hi s. "
" Mm, yes, " he r epl i ed absent l y.
So Lor enza hadn' t come.
And I was t he way Ampar o had been i n Ri o. I was i l l . I f el t somehow cheat ed. They
Page 163
hadn' t br ought me t he agogo.
I l ef t t he gr oup and went back i nt o t he bui l di ng, pi cki ng my way t hr ough t he cr owd.
I passed t he buf f et , dr ank somet hi ng cool , t hough I was af r ai d i t mi ght cont ai n a
phi l t er . I l ooked f or a bat hr oom, t o spl ash col d wat er on my t empl es and neck. Thi s
accompl i shed, I agai n f el t bet t er . But as I came out , I saw a ci r cul ar st ai r case
and, suddenl y cur i ous, I was unabl e t o r esi st t he new advent ur e. Per haps, even
t hough I t hought I had r ecover ed, I was st i l l l ooki ng f or Lor enza.
60
Poor i di ot ! Ar e you so f ool i sh as t o bel i eve we wi l l openl y t each you t he gr eat est
and most i mpor t ant of secr et s? I assur e you t hat anyone who at t empt s t o st udy,
accor di ng t o t he or di nar y and l i t er al sense of t hei r wor ds, what t he Her met i c
Phi l osopher s wr i t e, wi l l soon f i nd hi msel f i n t he t wi st s of a l abyr i nt h f r omwhi ch
he wi l l be unabl e t o escape, havi ng no Ar i adne' s t hr ead t o l ead hi mout .
- Ar t ephi us
Descendi ng, I came t o a r oombel ow t he gr ound, di ml y l i ght ed, wi t h wal l s i n r ocai l l e
l i ke t hose of f ount ai ns i n a par k. I n one cor ner I saw an openi ng l i ke t he bel l of a
t r umpet . I hear d sounds comi ng f r omi t . When I appr oached, t he sounds became mor e
di st i nct , unt i l I coul d cat ch sent ences, as cl ear and pr eci se as i f t hey wer e bei ng
ut t er ed at my si de. An Ear of Di onysi us! Evi dent l y t he ear communi cat ed wi t h one of
t he upper r ooms, pi cki ng up t he conver sat i on of t hose who st ood near i t s aper t ur e.
" Si gnor a, I ' l l t el l you somet hi ng I ' ve never t ol d anyone el se. I ' mt i r ed. . . I ' ve
wor ked wi t h ci nnabar , wi t h mer cur y, I subl i mat ed spi r i t s, di d di st i l l at i ons wi t h
sal t s of i r on, f er ment at i ons, and st i l l I haven' t f ound t he St one. I pr epar ed st r ong
wat er s, cor r osi ve wat er s, bur ni ng wat er s, al l i n vai n. I used eggshel l s, sul f ur ,
vi t r i ol , ar seni c, sal ammoni ac, quar t z, al kal i s, oxi des of r ock, sal t pet er , soda,
sal t of t ar t ar , and pot ash al um. Bel i eve me, do not t r ust t hem, avoi d t he i mper f ect
met al s; ot her wi se you wi l l be decei ved, as I was decei ved. I t r i ed ever yt hi ng:
bl ood, hai r , t he soul of Sat ur n, mar casi t es, aes ust um, saf f r on of Mar s, t i nct ur e of
i r on, l i t har ge, ant i mony. To no avai l . I ext r act ed wat er f r omsi l ver , cal ci f i ed
si l ver bot h wi t h and wi t hout sal t , and usi ng aqua vi t ae I ext r act ed cor r osi ve oi l s.
I empl oyed mi l k, wi ne, cur ds, t he sper mof t he st ar s whi ch f al l s t o ear t h, chel i don,
pl acent as, ashes, even. . . "
" Even. . . ?"
" Si gnor a, t her e' s not hi ng i n t hi s wor l d t hat demands mor e caut i on t han t he t r ut h. To
t el l t he t r ut h i s l i ke l eechi ng one' s own hear t . . . "
" Enough, enough! You' ve got me al l exci t ed. "
" I dar e conf ess my secr et onl y t o you. I amof no pl ace and no er a. Beyond t i me and
space, I l i ve my et er nal exi st ence. Ther e ar e bei ngs who no l onger have guar di an
angel s: I amone of t hem. . . "
" But why have you br ought me her e"
Anot her voi ce: " My dear Bal samo! Pl ayi ng wi t h t he myt h of i mmor t al i t y, eh?"
" I di ot ! I mmor t al i t y i s not a myt h. I t ' s a f act . "
I was about t o l eave, bor ed by t hi s chat t er , when I hear d Sal on. He was speaki ng i n
a whi sper , t ensel y, as i f gr i ppi ng someone by t he ar m. I al so r ecogni zed t he voi ce
of Pi er r e.
" Come now, " Sal on was sayi ng, " don' t t el l me t hat you t oo ar e her e f or t hi s
al chemi cal f ool i shness. And don' t t el l me you came t o enj oy t he cool ai r of t he
gar dens. Di d you know t hat af t er Hei del ber g, Caus accept ed an i nvi t at i on f r omt he
ki ng of Fr ance t o super vi se t he cl eani ng of Par i s?"
" Les f acades?"
" He wasn' t Mal r aux. I t must have been t he sewer s. Cur i ous, i sn' t i t ? The man
i nvent ed symbol i c or ange gr oves and appl e or char ds f or emper or s, but what r eal l y
i nt er est ed hi mwer e t he under gr ound passages of Par i s. I n t he Par i s of t hose days
t her e wasn' t an act ual net wor k of sewer s; i t was a combi nat i on of canal s on t he
sur f ace and, bel ow, condui t s, about whi ch l i t t l e was known. The Romans, f r omt he
t i me of t he r epubl i c, knew ever yt hi ng about t hei r Cl oaca Maxi ma, yet f i f t een hundr ed
year s l at er , i n Par i s, peopl e wer e i gnor ant of what went on beneat h t hei r f eet . Caus
accept ed t he ki ng' s i nvi t at i on because he want ed t o f i nd out . What di d he f i nd out ?
" Af t er Caus, Col ber t sent pr i soner s down t o cl ean t he condui t s- t hat was t he pr et ext ,
Page 164
and bear i n mi nd t hat t hi s was al so t he per i od of t he Man i n t he I r on Mask- but t hey
escaped t hr ough t he excr ement , f ol l owed t he cur r ent t o t he Sei ne, and sai l ed of f i n
a boat , because nobody had t he cour age t o conf r ont t hose wr et ches cover ed wi t h
st i nki ng sl i me and swar ms of f l i es. . . Then Col ber t st at i oned gendar mes out si de t he
var i ous openi ngs of t he sewer , and t he pr i soner s, f or ced t o st ay i n t he passages,
di ed. I n t hr ee cent ur i es t he ci t y engi neer s managed t o map onl y t hr ee ki l omet er s of
sewer s. But i n t he ei ght eent h cent ur y t her e wer e t went y- si x ki l omet er s of sewer s,
and on t he ver y eve of t he Revol ut i on. Does t hat suggest anyt hi ng t o you?"
" Ah, you know, t hi s- "
" New peopl e wer e comi ng t o power , and t hey knew somet hi ng t hei r pr edecessor s di dn' t .
Napol eon sent t eams of men down i nt o t he dar kness, t hr ough t he det r i t us of t he
capi t al . Those who had t he cour age t o wor k t her e f ound many t hi ngs: gol d, neckl aces,
j ewel s, r i ngs, and God knows what el se t hat had f al l en i nt o t hose passages. Some
br avel y swal l owed what t hey f ound, t hen came out , t ook a l axat i ve, and became r i ch.
I t was di scover ed t hat many houses had cel l ar t r apdoor s t hat l ed di r ect l y t o t he
sewer . "
" Ca al or s. . . "
" I n a per i od when peopl e empt i ed chamber pot s out t he wi ndow? And why di d t hey have
sewer s wi t h si dewal ks al ong t hem, and i r on r i ngs set i n di e wal l , t o hang on t o?
These passages wer e t he equi val ent of t hose t api s f r ancs wher e t he l owl i f e
gat her ed- t he pegr e, as i t was cal l ed t hen- and i f t he pol i ce ar r i ved, t hey coul d
escape and r esur f ace somewher e el se. "
" Legendes. . . "
" You t hi nk so? Whomar e you t r yi ng t o pr ot ect ? Under Napol eon I I I , Bar on Haussmann
r equi r ed al l t he houses of Par i s, by l aw, t o const r uct an i ndependent cesspool , t hen
an under gr ound cor r i dor l eadi ng t o t he sewer syst em. . . A t unnel t wo met er s t hi r t y
cent i met er s hi gh and a met er and a hal f wi de. You under st and? Ever y house i n Par i s
was t o be connect ed by an under gr ound cor r i dor t o t he sewer s. And you know t he
ext ent of t he sewer s of Par i s t oday? Two t housand ki l omet er s, and on var i ous l evel s.
And i t al l began wi t h t he man who desi gned t hose gar dens i n Hei del ber g. . . "
" So?"
" I see you do not wi sh t o t al k. You know somet hi ng, but you won' t t el l me. "
" Pl ease, l eave me. I t ' s l at e. I amexpect ed at a meet i ng. " A sound of f oot st eps.
I di dn' t under st and what Sal on was get t i ng at . Pr essed agai nst t he r ocai l l e by t he
ear , I l ooked ar ound and f el t t hat I was under gr ound mysel f , and i t seemed t o me
t hat t he mout h of t hat phonur gi c channel was but t he begi nni ng of a descent i nt o
dar k t unnel s t hat went t o t he cent er of t he ear t h, t unnel s al i ve wi t h Ni bel ungs. I
f el t col d. I was about t o l eave when I hear d anot her voi ce: " Come. We' r e r eady t o
begi n. I n t he secr et chamber . Cal l t he ot her s. "
61
The Gol den Fl eece i s guar ded by a t hr ee- headed Dr agon, whose f i r st Head der i ves f r om
t he Wat er s, whose second Head der i ves f r omt he Ear t h, and whose t hi r d Head der i ves
f r omt he Ai r . I t i s necessar y t hat t hese t hr ee Heads bel ong t o a si ngl e and ver y
power f ul Dr agon, who wi l l devour al l ot her Dr agons.
- J ean d' Espagnet , Ar canum Her met i cae Phi l osophi ae Opus, 1623, p. 138
I f ound my gr oup agai n, and t ol d Agl i e I had over hear d somet hi ng about a meet i ng.
" Aha, " Agl i e sai d, " what cur i osi t y! But I under st and. Havi ng vent ur ed i nt o t he
her met i c myst er i es, you want t o f i nd out al l about t hem. Wel l , as f ar as I know,
t hi s eveni ng t her e i s t he i ni t i at i on of a new member of t he Anci ent and Accept ed
Or der of t he Rosy Cr oss. "
" Can we wat ch?" Gar amond asked.
" You can' t . You must n' t . You shoul dn' t . But we' l l act l i ke t hose char act er s i n t he
Gr eek myt h who gazed upon what was f or bi dden t hemt o see, and we' l l r i sk t he wr at h
of t he gods. I ' l l al l ow you one peek. "
He l ed us up a nar r ow st ai r way t o a dar k cor r i dor , dr ew asi de a cur t ai n, and t hr ough
a seal ed wi ndow we coul d gl ance i nt o t he r oombel ow, whi ch was l i ght ed by bur ni ng
br azi er s. The wal l s wer e cover ed wi t h l i l i es embr oi der ed on damask, and at t he f ar
end st ood a t hr one under a gi l ded canopy. On one si de of t he t hr one was a sun, on
t he ot her a moon, bot h set on t r i pods and cut out of car dboar d on some pl ast i c
Page 165
mat er i al , cr udel y execut ed, cover ed wi t h t i nf oi l or some met al l eaf , gol d and
si l ver , of cour se, but ef f ect i ve, because each l umi nar y spun, set i n mot i on by t he
f l ames of a br azi er . Above t he canopy an enor mous st ar hung f r omt he cei l i ng,
shi ni ng wi t h pr eci ous st ones- or bi t s of gl ass. The cei l i ng was cover ed wi t h bl ue
damask spangl ed wi t h gr eat si l ver st ar s.
Bef or e t he t hr one was a l ong t abl e decor at ed wi t h pal ms. A swor d had been pl aced on
i t , and bet ween t hr one and t abl e st ood a st uf f ed l i on, i t s j aws wi de. Someone must
have put a r ed l i ght bul b i nsi de t he head, because t he eyes shone, i ncandescent , and
f l ames seemed t o come f r omt he t hr oat . Thi s, I t hought , must be t he wor k of Si gner
Sal on, r emember i ng t he odd cust omer s he had r ef er r ed t o t hat day i n t he Muni ch coal
mi ne.
At t he t abl e was Br amant i , decked out i n a scar l et t uni c and embr oi der ed gr een
vest ment s, a whi t e cape wi t h gol d f r i nge, a spar kl i ng cr oss on hi s chest , and a hat
vaguel y r esembl i ng a mi t er , decor at ed wi t h a r ed- and- whi t e pl ume. Bef or e hi m,
hi - er at i cal l y depl oyed, wer e about t went y men, al so i n scar l et t uni cs but wi t hout
vest ment s. On t hei r chest s t hey al l wor e a gol d medal t hat I t hought I r ecogni zed: I
r emember ed a Renai ssance por t r ai t , t he bi g Hapsbur g nose, and t he cur i ous l amb wi t h
l egs dangl i ng, hangi ng by t he wai st . They had ador ned t hemsel ves wi t h i mi t at i ons,
not bad, of t he Or der of t he Gol den Fl eece.
Br amant i was speaki ng, hi s ar ms upr ai sed, as i f ut t er i ng a l i t any, and t he ot her s
r esponded f r omt i me t o t i me. Then Br amant i r ai sed t he swor d, and f r omt hei r t uni cs
t he ot her s dr ew st i l et t os or paper kni ves and hel d t hemhi gh. At t hi s poi nt Agl i e
l ower ed t he cur t ai n. We had seen t oo much.
We st ol e away wi t h t he t r ead of t he Pi nk Pant her ( as Di ot al l evi put i t ; he was
r emar kabl y abr east of t he per ver si ons of popul ar cul t ur e) and f ound our sel ves back
i n t he gar den, sl i ght l y br eat hl ess.
Gar amond was over whel med. " But ar e t hey. . . Masons?"
" And what , " Agl i e r epl i ed, " does Mason mean? They ar e t he adept s of a chi val r i c
or der i nspi r ed by t he Rosi cr uci ans, and i ndi r ect l y by t he Templ ar s. "
" But what does t hat have t o do wi t h t he Masons?' ' Gar amond asked agai n.
" I f what you saw has anyt hi ng i n common wi t h t he Masons, i t ' s t he f act t hat
Br amant i ' s r i t e i s al so a past i me f or pr ovi nci al pol i t i ci ans and pr of essi onal men.
I t was t hus f r omt he begi nni ng: Fr eemasonr y was a weak expl oi t at i on of t he Templ ar
l egend. And t hi s i s t he car i cat ur e of a car i cat ur e. Except t hat t hose gent l emen t ake
i t ext r emel y ser i ousl y. Al as! The wor l d i s t eemi ng wi t h Rosi cr uci ans and Templ ar s
l i ke t he, ones you saw t hi s eveni ng. You must n' t expect any r evel at i on f r omt hem,
t hough among t hei r number occasi onal l y you can come acr oss an i ni t i at e wor t hy of
t r ust . "
" But you, af t er al l , " Bel bo sai d, wi t hout i r ony, as i f t he mat t er concer ned hi m
per sonal l y, " spend t i me wi t h t hem. Whi ch ones do you bel i eve i n? Or di d you once
bel i eve i n?"
" None, of cour se. Do I l ook l i ke a cr edul ous i ndi vi dual ? I consi der t hemwi t h t he
col d obj ect i vi t y, t he under st andi ng, t he i nt er est wi t h whi ch a t heol ogi an mi ght
obser ve a Napl es cr owd shout i ng i n ant i ci pat i on of t he mi r acl e of San Gennar o. The
cr owd bear s wi t ness t o a f ai t h, a deep need, and t he t heol ogi an wander s among t he
sweat i ng, dr ool i ng peopl e because he mi ght encount er t her e an unknown sai nt , t he
bear er of a hi gher t r ut h, a man capabl e of cast i ng new l i ght on t he myst er y of t he
most Hol y Tr i ni t y. But t he Hol y Tr i ni t y i s one t hi ng, San Gennar o i s anot her . "
He coul d not be pi nned down. I di dn' t know how t o def i ne i t - her met i c skept i ci sm?
l i t ur gi cal cyni ci sm?- t hi s hi gher di sbel i ef t hat l ed hi mt o acknowl edge t he di gni t y
of al l t he super st i t i ons he scor ned.
" I t ' s si mpl e, " he was sayi ng t o Bel bo. " I f t he Templ ar s, t he r eal Templ ar s, di d
l eave a secr et and di d est abl i sh some ki nd of cont i nui t y, t hen i t i s necessar y t o
seek t hemout , and t o seek t hemi n t he pl aces wher e t hey coul d most easi l y
camouf l age t hemsel ves, per haps by i nvent i ng r i t es and myt hs i n or der t o move
unobser ved, l i ke f i sh i n wat er . What do t he pol i ce do when t hey seek t he
ar chvi l l ai n, t he evi l mast er mi nd? They di g i nt o t he l ower dept hs, t he not or i ous
di ves f i l l ed wi t h pet t y cr ooks who wi l l never concei ve t he gr andi ose cr i mes of t he
dar k geni us t he pol i ce ar e af t er . What does t he t er r or i st l eader do t o r ecr ui t new
acol yt es? Wher e does he l ook f or t hemand f i nd t hem? He ci r cul at es i n t he haunt s of
t he pseudosubver si ves, t he f el l ow- t r avel er s who woul d never have t he cour age t o be
t he r eal t hi ng, but who openl y ape t he at t i t udes of t hei r i dol s. Conceal ed l i ght i s
best sought i n f i r es, or i n t he br ush wher e, af t er t he bl aze, t he f l ames go on
Page 166
br oodi ng under t wi gs, under t r ampl ed muck. What bet t er hi di ng pl ace f or t he t r ue
Templ ar t han i n t he cr owd of hi s car i cat ur es?' '
62
We consi der soci et i es dr ui di c i f t hey ar e dr ui di c i n t hei r t i t l es of t hei r ai ms, or
i f t hei r i ni t i at i ons ar e i nspi r ed by dr ui di sm.
- M. Raoul t , Les dr ui des. Les soci et es i ni t i at i qu. es cel t es cont empor ai nes, Par i s,
Rocher , 1983, p. 18
Mi dni ght was appr oachi ng, and accor di ng t o Agi l e' s pr ogr amt he second sur pr i se of
t he eveni ng awai t ed us. Leavi ng t he Pal at i ne gar dens, we r esumed our j our ney t hr ough
t he hi l l s.
Af t er we had dr i ven t hr ee- quar t er s of an hour , Agl i e made us par k t he t wo car s at
t he edge of a wood. We had t o cr oss some under br ush, he sai d, t o ar r i ve at a
cl ear i ng, and t her e wer e nei t her r oads nor t r ai l s.
We pr oceeded, pi cki ng our way t hr ough shr ubs and vi nes, our shoes sl i ppi ng on r ot t ed
l eaves and sl i my r oot s. Fr omt i me t o t i me Agl i e swi t ched on a f l ashl i ght t o f i nd a
pat h, but onl y f or a second, because, he sai d, we shoul d not announce our pr esence
t o t he cel ebr ant s. Di ot al l evi made a r emar k- I don' t r ecal l i t exact l y, somet hi ng
about Li t t l e Red Ri di ng- Hood- and Agl i e, wi t h t ensi on i n hi s voi ce, asked hi mt o be
qui et .
As we wer e about t o come t o t he end of t he br ush, we hear d voi ces. We had r eached
t he edge of t he cl ear i ng, whi ch was i l l umi nat ed by a gl ow f r omr emot e t or ches- or
per haps vot i ve l i ght s, f l i cker i ng at gr ound l evel , f ai nt and si l ver y, as i f a gas
wer e bur ni ng wi t h chemi cal col dness i n bubbl es dr i f t i ng over t he gr ass. Agl t e t ol d
us t o st op wher e we wer e, st i l l shi el ded by bushes, and wai t .
" I n a l i t t l e whi l e t he pr i est esses wi l l come. The Dr ui desses, t hat i s. Thi s i s an
i nvocat i on of t he gr eat cosmi c vi r gi n Mi ki l . Sai nt Mi chael i s a popul ar Chr i st i an
adapt at i on, and i t ' s no acci dent t hat he i s an angel , hence andr ogynous, hence abl e
t o t ake t he pl ace of a f emal e di vi ni t y. . . "
" Wher e do t hey come f r om?" Di ot al l evi whi sper ed.
" Fr ommany pl aces: Nor mandy, Nor way, I r el and. . . I t i s a ver y speci al event , and t hi s
i s a pr opi t i ous pl ace f or t he r i t e. "
" Why?" Gar amond asked.
" Cer t ai n pl aces have mor e magi c t han ot her s. "
" But who ar e t hey- i n r eal l i f e?"
" Peopl e. Secr et ar i es, i nsur ance agent s, poet s. Peopl e you mi ght r un i nt o t omor r ow
and not r ecogni ze. "
Now we coul d see a smal l gr oup pr epar i ng t o ent er t he cl ear i ng. The phosphor escent
l i ght , I r eal i zed, came f r oml i t t l e l amps t he pr i est esses hel d up i n t hei r hands.
They had seemed, ear l i er , t o be at gr ound l evel because t he cl ear i ng was on t he t op
of a hi l l ; t he Dr ui desses had cl i mbed up f r ombel ow and wer e appr oachi ng t he f l at ,
open hi l l t op. They wer e dr essed i n whi t e t uni cs, whi ch f l ut t er ed i n t he sl i ght
br eeze. They f or med a ci r cl e; i n t he cent er , t hr ee cel ebr ant s st ood.
" Those ar e t he t hr ee hal l oui nes of Li si eux, Cl onmacnoi se, and Pi no Tor i nese, " Agl i e
sai d. Bel bo asked why t hose t hr ee i n par t i cul ar . Agl i e shr ugged and sai d: " No mor e.
We must wai t now i n si l ence. I can' t summar i ze f or you i n a f ew wor ds t he whol e
r i t ual and hi er ar chy of Nor di c magi c. Be sat i sf i ed wi t h what I can t el l you. I f I do
not t el l you mor e, i t i s because I do not know. . . or amnot al l owed t o t el l . I must
r espect cer t ai n vows of pr i vacy. "
I n t he cent er of t he cl ear i ng I not i ced a pi l e of r ocks, whi ch suggest ed a dol men.
Per haps t he cl ear i ng had been chosen because of t he pr esence of t hose boul der s. One
of t he cel ebr ant s cl i mbed up on t he dol men and bl ew a t r umpet . Even mor e t han t he
t r umpet we had seen a f ew hour s ear l i er , t hi s l ooked l i ke somet hi ng out of t he
t r i umphal mar ch i n At da. But a muf f l ed and noct ur nal sound came f r omi t , as i f f r om
f ar away. Bel bo t ouched my ar m: " I t ' s t he r amsi ng, t he hor n of t he Thugs ar ound t he
sacr ed banyan. . . "
My r epl y was cr uel , because I di dn' t r eal i ze he was j oki ng pr eci sel y t o r epr ess
ot her associ at i ons, and i t must have t wi st ed t he kni f e i n t he wound. " I t woul d no
doubt be l ess magi cal wi t h t he bombar don, " I sai d.
Bel bo nodded. " Yes, t hey' r e her e pr eci sel y because t hey don' t want a bombar don, " he
sai d.
Page 167
Was i t on t hat eveni ng he began t o see a connect i on bet ween hi s pr i vat e dr eams and
what had been happeni ng t o hi mi n t hose mont hs?
Agl i f c hadn' t f ol l owed our wor ds, but hear d us whi sper i ng. " I t ' s not a war ni ng or a
summons, " he expl ai ned, " but a ki nd of ul t r asound, t o est abl i sh cont act wi t h t he
subt er r anean cur r ent s. You see, now t he Dr ui desses ar e al l hol di ng hands, i n a
ci r cl e. They ar e cr eat i ng a ki nd of l i vi ng accumul at or , t o col l ect and concent r at e
t he t el l ur i c vi br at i ons. Now t he cl oud shoul d appear . . . "
" What cl oud?" I whi sper ed.
" Tr adi t i on cal l s i t t he gr een cl oud. Wai t . . . "
I di dn' t r eal l y expect a gr een cl oud. Al most i mmedi at el y, however , a sof t mi st r ose
f r omt he gr ound- a f og, I woul d have sai d, i f i t had been t hi cker , mor e homogeneous.
But i t was composed of f l akes, denser i n some pl aces t han i n ot her s. The wi nd
st i r r ed i t , r ai sed i t i n puf f s, l i ke spun sugar . Then i t moved wi t h t he ai r t o
anot her par t of t he cl ear i ng, wher e i t gat her ed. A si ngul ar ef f ect . For a moment ,
you coul d see t he t r ees i n t he backgr ound, t hen t hey woul d be hi dden i n a whi t i sh
st eam, whi l e t he t ur f i n t he cent er of t he cl ear i ng woul d smoke and f ur t her obscur e
our vi ew of what ever was goi ng on, as t he moonl i ght shone ar ound t he conceal ed ar ea.
The f l ake cl oud shi f t ed, suddenl y, unexpect edl y, as i f obeyi ng t he whi ms of a
capr i ci ous wi nd.
A chemi cal t r i ck, I t hought , but t hen I r ef l ect ed: we wer e at an al t i t ude of about
si x hundr ed met er s, and i t was possi bl e t hat t hi s was an act ual cl oud. For et ol d by
t he r i t e? Summoned? Or was i t j ust t hat t he cel ebr ant s knew t hat on t hat hi l l t op,
under f avor abl e condi t i ons, t hose er r at i c banks of vapor f or med j ust above t he
gr ound?
I t was di f f i cul t t o r esi st t he f asci nat i on of t he scene. The cel ebr ant s' t uni cs
bl ended wi t h t he whi t e of t he cl oud, and t hei r f or ms ent er ed and emer ged f r omt hat
mi l ky obscur i t y as i f i t had spawned t hem.
Ther e was a moment when t he cl oud f i l l ed t he ent i r e cent er of t he l i t t l e meadow.
Some wi sps, r i si ng, separ at i ng, al most hi d t he moon, but t he cl ear i ng was st i l l
br i ght at i t s edges. We saw a Dr ui dess come f r omt he cl oud and r un t owar d t he wood,
cr yi ng out , her ar ms i n f r ont of her . I t hought she had di scover ed us and was
hur l i ng cur ses. But she st opped wi t hi n a f ew met er s of us, changed di r ect i on, and
began r unni ng i n a ci r cl e ar ound t he cl oud, di sappear i ng i n t he whi t eness t o t he
l ef t , onl y t o r eappear af t er a f ew mi nut es f r omt he r i ght . Agai n she was ver y cl ose
t o us, and I coul d see her f ace.
She was a si byl wi t h a gr eat , Dant ean nose over a mout h t hi n as a ci cat r i x, whi ch
opened l i ke a submar i ne f l ower , t oot hl ess but f or t wo i nci sor s and one skewed
cani ne. The eyes wer e shi f t y, hawkl i ke, pi er ci ng. I hear d, or t hought I hear d- or
t hi nk now t hat I r emember hear i ng, but I may be super i mposi ng ot her memor i es- a
ser i es of Gael i c wor ds mi xed wi t h evocat i ons i n a ki nd of Lat i n, somet hi ng on t he
or der of " O pegni a ( oh, e oh! ) et eee ul uma! ! ! " Suddenl y t he f og l i f t ed,
di sappear ed, t he cl ear i ng became br i ght agai n, and I saw t hat i t had been i nvaded by
a t r oop of pi gs, t hei r shor t necks enci r cl ed by gar l ands of gr een appl es. The
Dr ui dess who had bl own t he t r umpet , st i l l at op t he dol men, now br andi shed a kni f e.
" We go now, " Agl i e sai d shar pl y. " I t ' s over . "
I r eal i zed, as I hear d hi m, t hat t he cl oud was above us and ar ound us, and I coul d
bar el y make out my compani ons.
" What do you mean, over ?" Gar amond sai d. " Looks t o me l i ke t he r eal st uf f i s j ust
begi nni ng! "
" What you wer e per mi t t ed t o see i s over . Now i t i s not per mi t t ed. We must r espect
t he r i t e. Come. "
He r eent er ed t he wood, was pr ompt l y swal l owed up by t he mi st t hat enf ol ded us. We
shi ver ed as we moved, sl i ppi ng 01 dead l eaves, pant i ng, i n di sar r ay, l i ke a f l eei ng
ar my, and r egr ouped at t he r oad. We coul d be i n Mi l an i n l ess t han t wo hour s. Bef or e
get t i ng back i nt o Gar amond' s car , Agl i e sai d goodbye t o us: " You must f or gi ve me f or
i nt er r upt i ng t he show f or you. I want ed you t o l ear n somet hi ng, t o see t he peopl e
f or whomyou ar e now wor ki ng. But i t was not possi bl e t o st ay. When I was i nf or med
of t hi s event , I had t o pr omi se I woul dn' t di st ur b t he cer emony. Our cont i nued
pr esence woul d have had a negat i ve ef f ect on what f ol l ows. "
" And t he pi gs? What happens t o t hem?" Bel bo asked.
" What I coul d t el l you, I have t ol d you. "
63
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' What does t he f i sh r emi nd you of ?" ' Ot her f i sh. "
' And what do ot her f i sh r emi nd you of ?" ' Ot her f i sh. "
- J oseph Hel l er , Cat ch- 22, New Yor k, Si mon & Schust er , 1961, xxvi i
I came back f r omPi edmont wi t h much gui l t . But as soon as I saw Li a agai n, I f or got
t he desi r es t hat had gr azed me.
St i l l , our expedi t i on l ef t ot her mar ks on me, and now i t t r oubl es me t hat at t he
t i me I wasn' t t r oubl ed by t hem. I was put t i ng i n f i nal or der , chapt er by chapt er ,
t he i l l ust r at i ons f or t he wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s, but once agai n I coul d not
el ude t he demon of r esembl ance, any mor e t han I had been abl e t o i n Ri o. How was
t hi s Reaumur cyl i ndr i cal st ove, 1750, di f f er ent f r omt hi s i ncubat i on chamber f or
eggs, or f r omt hi s sevent eent h- cent ur y at hanor , mat er nal womb, dar k ut er us f or t he
cr eat i on of God knows what myst i c met al s? I t was as i f t hey had i nst al l ed t he
Deut sches Museumi n t he Pi edmont cast l e I had vi si t ed t he week bef or e.
I t was becomi ng har der f or me t o keep apar t t he wor l d of magi c and what t oday we
cal l t he wor l d of f act s. Men I had st udi ed i n school as bear er s of mat hemat i cal and
physi cal enl i ght enment now t ur ned up ami d t he mur k of super st i t i on, f or I di scover ed
t hey had wor ked wi t h one f oot i n cabal a and t he ot her i n t he l abor at or y. Or was I
r er eadi ng al l hi st or y t hr ough t he eyes of our Di abol i cal s? But t hen I woul d f i nd
t ext s above al l suspi ci on t hat t ol d me how i n t he t i me of posi t i vi smphysi ci st s
bar el y out of t he uni ver si t y dabbl ed i n st ances and ast r ol ogi cal cenacl es, and how
Newt on had ar r i ved at t he l aw of gr avi t y because he bel i eved i n t he exi st ence of
occul t f or ces, whi ch r ecal l ed hi s i nvest i gat i ons i nt o Rosi cr uci an cosmol ogy.
I had al ways t hought t hat doubt i ng was a sci ent i f i c dut y, but now I came t o di st r ust
t he ver y mast er s who had t aught me t o doubt .
I sai d t o mysel f : I ' ml i ke Ampar o; I don' t bel i eve i n i t , yet I sur r ender t o i t .
Yes, I caught mysel f mar vel i ng over t he f act t hat t he hei ght of t he Gr eat Pyr ami d
r eal l y was one- bi l l i ont h of t he di st ance bet ween t he ear t h and t he sun, and t hat you
r eal l y coul d dr aw st r i ki ng par al l el s bet ween Cel t i c and Amer i nd myt hol ogi es. And I
began t o quest i on ever yt hi ng ar ound me: t he houses, di e shop si gns, t he cl ouds i n
t he sky, and t he engr avi ngs i n t he l i br ar y, aski ng t hemt o t el l me not t hei r
super f i ci al st or y but anot her , deeper st or y, whi ch t hey sur el y wer e hi di ng- but
f i nal l y woul d r eveal t hanks t o t he pr i nci pl e of myst i c r esembl ances.
Li a saved me, at l east t empor ar i l y.
I t ol d her ever yt hi ng- or al most - about t he t r i p t o Pi edmont , and eveni ng af t er
eveni ng I came home wi t h cur i ous new bi t s of i nf or mat i on t o add t o my f i l e of cr oss
r ef er ences. She sai d, " Eat . You' r e t hi n as a r ai l . " One eveni ng, she sat besi de me
at t he desk. Wi t h her hai r par t ed i n t he mi ddl e of her br ow, she coul d now l ook
st r ai ght i nt o my eyes. She had her hands i n her l ap: a housewi f el y pose. I had never
seen her si t l i ke t hat bef or e, her l egs wi de, ski r t t aut f r omknee t o knee. An
i nel egant posi t i on, I t hought . But t hen I saw her f ace: r adi ant , sl i ght l y f l ushed. I
l i st ened t o her - t hough I di dn' t yet know why- wi t h r espect .
" Pow, " she sai d, " I don' t l i ke what ' s happeni ng t o you wi t h t hi s Manut i us busi ness.
Fi r st you col l ect ed f act s t he way peopl e col l ect seashel l s. Now i t ' s as i f you wer e
mar ki ng down l ot t er y number s. "
" I j ust enj oy mysel f mor e, wi t h t he Di abol i cal s. "
" I t ' s not enj oyment ; i t ' s passi on. Ther e' s a di f f er ence. Be car ef ul : t hey' l l make
you si ck. "
" Now, don' t exagger at e. They' r e t he si ck ones, not I . You don' t go cr azy because you
wor k i n an asyl um. "
" That r emai ns t o be seen. "
" You know, I ' ve al ways been suspi ci ous of anal ogi es. But now I f i nd mysel f at a
gr eat f east of anal ogi es, a Coney I sl and, a Moscow May Day, a J ubi l ee Year of
anal ogi es, and I ' mbegi nni ng t o wonder i f by any chance t her e i sn' t a r eason. "
" I ' ve seen your f i l es, Pow, " Li a sai d t o me, " because I have t o keep t hemi n or der .
What ever your Di abol i cal s have di scover ed i s al r eady her e: t ake a good l ook. " And
she pat t ed her bel l y, her t hi ghs, her f or ehead; wi t h her spr ead l egs dr awi ng her
ski r t t i ght , she sat l i ke a wet nur se, sol i d and heal t hy- she so sl i mand suppl e- wi t h
a ser ene wi sdomt hat i l l umi nat ed her and gave her a mat r i ar chal aut hor i t y.
" Pow, ar chet ypes don' t exi st ; t he body exi st s. The bel l y i nsi de i s beaut i f ul ,
because t he baby gr ows t her e, because your sweet cock, al l br i ght and j ol l y, t hr ust s
t her e, and good, t ast y f ood descends t her e, and f or t hi s r eason t he caver n, t he
Page 169
gr ot t o, t he t unnel ar e beaut i f ul and i mpor t ant , and t he l abyr i nt h, t oo, whi ch i s
made i n t he i mage of our wonder f ul i nt est i nes. When somebody want s t o i nvent
somet hi ng beaut i f ul and i mpor t ant , i t has t o come f r omt her e, because you al so came
f r omt her e t he day you wer e bor n, because f er t i l i t y al ways comes f r omi nsi de a
cavi t y, wher e f i r st somet hi ng r ot s and t hen, l o and behol d, t her e' s a l i t t l e man, a
dat e, a baobab.
" And hi gh i s bet t er t han l ow, because i f you have your head down, t he bl ood goes t o
your br ai n, because f eet st i nk and hai r doesn' t st i nk as much, because i t ' s bet t er
t o cl i mb a t r ee and pi ck f r ui t t han end up under gr ound, f ood f or wor ms, and because
you r ar el y hur t your sel f hi t t i ng somet hi ng above- you r eal l y have t o be i n an
at t i c- whi l e you of t en hur t your sel f f al l i ng. That ' s why up i s angel i c and down
devi l i sh.
" But because what I sai d bef or e, about my bel l y, i s al so t r ue, bot h t hi ngs ar e t r ue,
down and i nsi de ar e beaut i f ul , and up and out si de ar e beaut i f ul , and t he spi r i t of
Mer cur y and Mani chean- i smhave not hi ng t o do wi t h i t . Fi r e keeps you war mand col d
gi ves you br onchi al pneumoni a, especi al l y i f you' r e a schol ar f our t housand year s
ago, and t her ef or e f i r e has myst er i ous vi r t ues besi des i t s abi l i t y t o cook your
chi cken. But col d pr eser ves t hat same chi cken, and f i r e, i f you t ouch i t , gi ves you
a bl i st er t hi s bi g; t her ef or e, i f you t hi nk of somet hi ng pr eser ved f or mi l l enni a,
l i ke wi sdom, you have t o t hi nk of i t on a mount ai n, up, hi gh ( and hi gh i s good) , but
al so i n a caver n ( whi ch i s good, t oo) and i n t he et er nal col d of t he Ti bet an snows
( best of al l ) . And i f you t hen want t o know why wi sdomcomes f r omt he Or i ent and not
f r omt he Swi ss Al ps, i t ' s because t he body of your ancest or s i n t he mor ni ng, when i t
woke and t her e was st i l l dar kness, l ooked t o t he east hopi ng t he sun woul d r i se and
t her e woul dn' t be r ai n. "
" Yes, Mama. "
" Yes i ndeed, my chi l d. The sun i s good because i t does t he body good, and because i t
has t he sense t o r eappear ever y day; t her ef or e, what ever r et ur ns i s good, not what
passes and i s done wi t h. The easi est way t o r et ur n f r omwher e you' ve been wi t hout
r et r aci ng your st eps i s t o wal k i n a ci r cl e. The ani mal t hat coi l s i n a ci r cl e i s
t he ser pent ; t hat ' s why so many cul t s and myt hs of t he ser pent exi st , because i t ' s
har d t o r epr esent t he r et ur n of t he sun by t he coi l i ng of a hi ppopot amus.
Fur t her mor e, i f you have t o make a cer emony t o i nvoke t he sun, i t ' s best t o move i n
a ci r cl e, because i f you go i n a st r ai ght l i ne, you move away f r omhome, whi ch means
t he cer emony wi l l have t o be kept shor t . The ci r cl e i s t he most conveni ent
ar r angement f or any r i t e, even t he f i r e- eat er s i n t he mar ket pl ace know t hi s, because
i n a ci r cl e ever ybody can see t he one who' s i n t he cent er , wher eas i f a whol e t r i be
f or med a st r ai ght l i ne, l i ke a squad of sol di er s, t he peopl e at t he ends woul dn' t
see. And t hat ' s why t he ci r cl e and r ot ar y mot i on and cycl i c r et ur n ar e f undament al
t o ever y cul t and ever y r i t e. "
" Yes, Mama. "
" We move on t o t he magi c number s your aut hor s ar e so f ond of . You ar e one and not
t wo, your cock i s one and my cunt i s one, and we have one nose and one hear t ; so you
see how many i mpor t ant t hi ngs come i n ones. But we have t wo eyes, t wo ear s, t wo
nost r i l s, my br east s, your bal l s, l egs, ar ms, but t ocks. Thr ee i s t he most magi cal of
al l , because our body doesn' t know t hat number ; we don' t have t hr ee of anyt hi ng, and
i t shoul d be a ver y myst er i ous number t hat we at t r i but e t o God, wher ever we l i ve.
But i f you t hi nk about i t , I have one cunt and you have one cock- shut up and don' t
j oke- and i f we put t hese t wo t oget her , a new t hi ng i s made, and we become t hr ee. So
you don' t have t o be a uni ver si t y pr of essor or use a comput er t o di scover t hat al l
cul t ur es on ear t h have t er nar y st r uct ur es, t r i ni t i es.
" But t wo ar ms and t wo l egs make f our , and f our i s a beaut i f ul - number when you
consi der t hat ani mal s have f our l egs and l i t t l e chi l dr en go on al l f our s, as t he
Sphi nx knew. We har dl y have t o di scuss f i ve, t he f i nger s of t he hand and t hen wi t h
bot h hands you get t hat ot her sacr ed number , t en. Ther e have t o be t en commandment s
because, i f t her e wer e t wel ve, when t he pr i est count s one, t wo, t hr ee, hol di ng up
hi s f i nger s, and comes t o t he l ast t wo, he' d have t o bor r ow a hand f r omt he
sacr i st an.
" Now, i f you t ake t he body and count al l t he t hi ngs t hat gr ow f r omt he t r unk, ar ms,
l egs, head, and cock, you get si x; but f or women i t ' s seven. For t hi s r eason, i t
seems t o me t hat among your aut hor s si x i s never t aken ser i ousl y, except as t he
doubl e of t hr ee, because i t ' s f ami l i ar t o t he mal es, who don' t have any seven. So
when t he mal es r ul e, t hey pr ef er t o see seven as t he myst er i ous sacr ed number ,
Page 170
f or get t i ng about women' s t i t s, but what t he hel l .
" Ei ght . . . . ei ght . . . . gi ve me a mi nut e. . . I f ar ms and l egs don' t count as one api ece but
t wo, because of el bows and knees, you have ei ght par t s t hat move; add t he t or so and
you have ni ne, add t he head and you have t en. J ust st i cki ng wi t h t he body, you can
get al l t he number s you want . The or i f i ces, f or exampl e. "
" The or i f i ces?"
" Yes. How many hol es does t he body have?"
I count ed. " Eyes, nost r i l s, ear s, mout h, ass: ei ght . "
" You see? Anot her r eason ei ght i s a beaut i f ul number . But I have ni ne! And wi t h t hat
ni nt h I br i ng you i nt o t he wor l d, t her ef or e ni ne i s hol i er t han ei ght ! Or , i f you
l i ke, t ake t he anat omy of your menhi r , whi ch your aut hor s ar e al ways t al ki ng about .
St andi ng up dur i ng t he day, l yi ng down at ni ght - your t hi ng, t oo. No, don' t t el l me
what i t does at ni ght . The f act i s t hat er ect i t wor ks and pr one i t r est s. So t he
ver t i cal posi t i on i s l i f e, poi nt i ng sunwar d, and obel i sks st and as t r ees st and,
whi l e t he hor i zont al posi t i on and ni ght ar e sl eep, deat h. Al l cul t ur es wor shi p
menhi r s, monol i t hs, pyr ami ds, col umns, but nobody bows down t o bal coni es and
r ai l i ngs. Di d you ever hear of an ar chai c cul t of t he sacr ed bani st er ? You see? And
anot her poi nt : i f you wor shi p a ver t i cal st one, even i f t her e ar e a l ot of you, you
can al l see i t ; but i f you wor shi p, i nst ead, a hor i zont al st one, onl y t hose i n t he
f r ont r ow can see i t , and t he ot her s st ar t pushi ng, me t oo, me t oo, whi ch i s not a
f i t t i ng si ght f or a magi cal cer emony. . . "
" But r i ver s. . . "
" Ri ver s ar e wor shi ped not because t hey' r e hor i zont al , but because t her e' s wat er i n
t hem, and you don' t need me t o expl ai n t o you t he r el at i on bet ween wat er and t he
body. . . Anyway, t hat ' s how we' r e put t oget her , al l of us, and t hat ' s why we wor k out
t he same symbol s mi l l i ons of ki l omet er s apar t , and nat ur al l y t hey al l r esembl e one
anot her . Thus you see t hat peopl e wi t h a br ai n i n t hei r head, i f t hey' r e shown an
al chemi st ' s oven, al l shut up and war mi nsi de, t hi nk of t he bel l y of t he mama maki ng
a baby, and onl y your Di abol i cal s t hi nk t hat t he Madonna about t o have t he Chi l d i s
a r ef er ence t o t he al chemi st ' s oven. They spent t housands of year s l ooki ng f or a
message, and i t was t her e al l t he t i me: t hey j ust had t o l ook at t hemsel ves i n t he
mi r r or . "
" You al ways t el l me t he t r ut h. You see my Mi r r or ed Me, my Sel f seen by You. I want
t o di scover al l t he secr et ar chet ypes of t he body. " That eveni ng we i naugur at ed t he
expr essi on " di scover i ng ar chet ypes" t o i ndi cat e our moment s of gr eat est i nt i macy.
I was hal f - asl eep when Li a t ouched my shoul der . " I al most f or got , " she sai d. " I ' m
pr egnant . "
I shoul d have l i st ened t o Li a. She spoke wi t h t he wi sdomof l i f e and bi r t h.
Vent ur i ng i nt o t he under gr ound passages of Agar t - t ha, i nt o t he pyr ami d of I si s
Unvei l ed, we had ent er ed Gevur ah, t he Sef i r ah of f ear , t he moment i n whi ch wr at h
mani f est s i t sel f i n t he wor l d. I had l et mysel f be seduced by t he t hought of Sophi a.
Moses Cor dover o says t hat t he Femal e i s t o t he l ef t , and al l her at t r i but es poi nt t o
Gevur ah. . . . unl ess t he Mal e, usi ng t hese at t r i but es, ador ns hi s Br i de, and causes her
t o move t o t he r i ght , t owar d good. Ever y desi r e must r emai n wi t hi n i t s l i mi t s.
Ot her wi se Gevur ah becomes J udgment , t he dar k appear ance, t he uni ver se of demons.
To di sci pl i ne desi r e. . . . Thi s I had done i n t he t enda de umbanda. I had pl ayed t he
agogd, I had t aken an act i ve par t i n t he spect acl e, and I had escaped t he t r ance. I
had done t he same wi t h Li a: I had r egul at ed desi t e out of homage t o t he Br i de, and I
had been r ewar ded i n t he dept hs of my l oi ns; my seed had been bl essed.
But I was not t o per sever e. I was t o be seduced by t he beaut y of Ti f er et .
TI FERET
64
To dr eamof l i vi ng i n a new and unknown ci t y means i mmi nent deat h. I n f act , t he dead
l i ve el sewher e, nor i s i t known wher e.
Page 171
- Ger ol amo Car dano, Somni or umSynesi or um, Basel , 1562, 1, p. 58
Whi l e Gevur ah i s t he Sef i r ah of awe and evi l , Ti f er et i s t he Sef i r ah of beaut y and
har mony. As Di ot al l evi sai d: I t i s t he l i ght of under st andi ng, t he t r ee of l i f e; i t
i s pl easur e, hal e appear ance. I t i s t he concor d of Law and Fr eedom.
And t hat year was f or us t he year of pl easur e, of t he j oyf ul subver si on of t he gr eat
t ext of t he uni ver se, i n whi ch we cel ebr at ed t he nupt i al s of Tr adi t i on and t he
El ect r oni c Machi ne. We cr eat ed, and we del i ght ed i n our cr eat i on. I t was t he year i n
whi ch we i nvent ed t he Pl an.
For me at l east , i t was t r ul y a happy year . Li a' s pr egnancy pr oceeded t r anqui l l y,
and bet ween Gar amond and my agency I was begi nni ng t o make a comf or t abl e l i vi ng. I
kept my of f i ce i n t he ol d f act or y bui l di ng, but we r emodel ed Li a' s apar t ment .
The wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s was now i n t he hands of t he composi t or s and
pr oof r eader s. That was when Si gnor Gar amond had hi s br ai nst or m: " An i l l ust r at ed
hi st or y of magi c and t he her met i c sci ences. Wi t h t he mat er i al t hat comes i n f r omt he
Di abol i cal s, wi t h t he exper t i se you t hr ee have acqui r ed, wi t h t he advi ce of t hat
i ncr edi bl e man Agl i e, we can put t oget her a bi g vol ume, f our hundr ed pages, dazzl i ng
f ul l - col or pl at es, i n l ess t han a year . Reusi ng some of t he gr aphi cs f r omt he
hi st or y of met al s. "
" But t he subj ect mat t er i s so di f f er ent , " I sai d. " What can I do wi t h a phot ogr aph
of a cycl ot r on?' '
" What can you do wi t h i t ? I magi nat i on, Casaubon, use your i magi nat i on! What happens
i n t hose at omi c machi nes, i n t hose megat r oni c posi t r ons or what ever t hey' r e cal l ed?
Mat t er i s br oken down; you put i n Swi ss cheese and out come quar ks, bl ack hol es,
chur ned ur ani um! I t ' s magi c made f l esh, Her mes and Her mes. Her e on t he l ef t , t he
engr avi ng of Par acel sus, ol d Abr acadabr a wi t h hi s al embi cs, agai nst a gol d
backgr ound, and on t he r i ght , quasar s, t he Cui si nar t of heavy wat er , gr avi t at i onal
gal act i c ant i mat t er , et cet er a. Don' t you see? The r eal magi ci an i sn' t t he
bl ear y- eyed guy who doesn' t under st and a t hi ng; i t ' s t he sci ent i st who has gr asped
t he hi dden secr et s of t he uni ver se. Di scover t he mi r acul ous al l ar ound us! Hi nt t hat
at Mount Pal - omar t hey know mor e t han t hey' r e l et t i ng on. . . "
To encour age me, he gave me a r ai se, al most per cept i bl e. I concent r at ed on t he
mi ni at ur es of t he Li ber Sol i s of Tr i smosi n, t he Mut us Li ber of Pseudo- Lul l us; I
f i l l ed f ol der s wi t h pent acl es, sef i r ot i c t r ees, decans, t al i smans; I combed t he
l onel i est r ooms of l i br ar i es; I bought dozens of vol umes f r ombooksel l er s who i n t he
ol d days had peddl ed t he cul t ur al r evol ut i on.
Among t he Di abol i cal s, I moved wi t h t he ease of a psychi at r i st who becomes f ond of
hi s pat i ent s, enj oyi ng t he bal my br eezes t hat waf t f r omt he anci ent par k of hi s
pr i vat e cl i ni c. Af t er a whi l e he begi ns t o wr i t e pages on del i r i um, t hen pages of
del i r i um, unawar e t hat hi s si ck peopl e have seduced hi m. He t hi nks he has become an
ar t i st . And so t he i dea of t he Pl an was bor n.
Di ot al l evi went al ong wi t h t he game because, f or hi m, i t was a f or mof pr ayer . As
f or J acopo Bel bo, I t hought he was havi ng as much f un as I was. I r eal i ze onl y now
t hat he der i ved no r eal pl easur e f r omi t . He t ook par t i n i t ner vousl y, anxi ousl y
bi t i ng hi s nai l s. Or , r at her , he pl ayed al ong, i n t he hope of f i ndi ng at l east one
of t he unknown addr esses, t he st age wi t hout f oot l i ght s, whi ch he ment i ons i n t he
f i l e named Dr eam. A sur r ogat e t heol ogy f or an angel t hat wi l l never appear .
FI LENAME: Dr eam
I don' t r emember i f I dr eamed one dr eamwi t hi n anot her , or i f t hey f ol l owed one
anot her i n t he cour se of t he same ni ght , or i f t hey al t er nat ed ni ght by ni ght .
I aml ooki ng f or a woman, a woman I know, I have had an i nt ense r el at i onshi p wi t h
her , but cannot f i gur e out why I l et i t cool , i t was my f aul t , not keepi ng i n t ouch.
I nconcei vabl e, t hat I coul d have al l owed so much t i me t o go by. I aml ooki ng f or
her - or f or t hem, t her e i s mor e t han one woman, t her e ar e many, I l ost t hemal l i n
t he same way, t hr ough negl ect - and I amsei zed by uncer t ai nt y, because even j ust one
woul d be enough f or me, because I know t hi s: i n l osi ng t hem, I have l ost much. As a
r ul e, i n my dr eam, I cannot f i nd, no l onger possess, amunabl e t o br i ng mysel f t o
open t he addr ess book wher e t he phone number i s wr i t t en, and even i f I do open i t ,
i t ' s as i f I wer e f ar si ght ed, I can' t r ead t he names.
I know wher e she i s, or , r at her , I don' t know wher e t he pl ace i s, but I know what
i t ' s l i ke. I have t he di st i nct memor y of a st ai r way, a l obby, a l andi ng. I don' t
Page 172
r ush about t he ci t y l ooki ng f or t he pl ace; i nst ead, I amf r ozen, bl ocked by angui sh,
I keep r acki ng my br ai n f or t he r eason I per mi t t ed- or want ed- t he r el at i onshi p t o
cool , t he r eason I f ai l ed t o show up at our l ast meet i ng. She' s wai t i ng f or a cal l
f r omme, I ' msur e. I f onl y I knew her name. I know per f ect l y wel l who she i s, I j ust
can' t r econst r uct her f eat ur es.
Somet i mes, i n t he hal f - waki ng doze t hat f ol l ows, I ar gue wi t h t he dr eam. You
r emember ever yt hi ng, I say, you' ve set t l ed al l your scor es, t her e' s no unf i ni shed
busi ness. Ther e i s no pl ace you r emember whose l ocat i on you don' t know. Ther e i s
not hi ng t o t he dr eam.
But t he suspi ci on r emai ns t hat I have f or got t en somet hi ng, l ef t somet hi ng among t he
f ol ds of my eager ness, t he way you f or get a bank not e or a paper wi t h an i mpor t ant
f act i n some smal l mar supi al pouch of your t r ouser s or ol d j acket , and i t ' s onl y
l at er t hat you r eal i ze i t was t he most i mpor t ant t hi ng of al l , cr uci al , uni que.
Of t he ci t y I have a cl ear er i mage. I t ' s Par i s. I ' mon t he Lef t Bank. And when I
cr oss t he r i ver , I f i nd mysel f i n a squar e t hat coul d be Pl ace des Vosges. . . no, mor e
open, because at t he end st ands a ki nd of Madel ei ne. Passi ng t he squar e, movi ng
behi nd t he t empl e, I come t o a st r eet - t her e' s a secondhand bookshop on t he
cor ner - t hat cur ves t o t he r i ght , t hr ough a ser i es of al l eys t hat ar e unquest i onabl y
t he Bar r i o Got i co of Bar cel ona. I t coul d t ur n i nt o a ver y br oad avenue f ul l of
l i ght s, and i t ' s on t hi s avenue- and I r emember i t wi t h t he cl ar i t y of a
phot ogr aph- t hat I see, t o t he r i ght , at t he end of a bl i nd al l ey, t he Theat er .
I ' mnot sur e what happens i n t hat pl ace of pl easur e, no doubt somet hi ng ent er t ai ni ng
and sl i ght l y l ouche, l i ke a st r i pt ease. For t hi s r eason I don' t dar e make i nqui r i es,
but I know enough t o want t o r et ur n, f ul l of exci t ement . I n vai n: t owar d Chat ham
Road t he st r eet s become conf used.
I wake wi t h t he t ast e of f ai l ur e, an encount er mi ssed. I cannot r esi gn mysel f t o not
knowi ng what I ' ve l ost .
Somet i mes I ' mi n a count r y house. I t ' s bi g, I know t her e' s anot her wi ng, but I ' ve
f or got t en how t o r each i t , as i f t he passage has been wal l ed up. I n t hat ot her wi ng
t her e ar e r ooms and r ooms. I saw t hemonce, and i n det ai l , t hor oughl y- i t ' s
i mpossi bl e t hat I dr eamed t hemi n anot her dr eamwi t h ol d f ur ni t ur e and f aded
engr avi ngs, br acket s suppor t i ng l i t t l e ni net eent h- cent ur y t oy t heat er s made of
punched car dboar d, sof as wi t h embr oi der ed cover l et s, and shel ves f i l l ed wi t h books,
a compl et e set of t he I l l ust r at ed J our nal of Tr avel and of Advent ur es on Land and
Sea. I t ' s not t r ue t hat t hey came apar t f r ombei ng r ead so of t en and t hat Mama gave
t hemt o t he t r ash man. I wonder who got t he cor r i dor s and st ai r s mi xed up, because
t hat i s wher e I woul d have l i ked t o bui l d my buen r et i r e, i n t hat odor of pr eci ous
j unk.
* * *
Why can' t I dr eamof col l ege ent r ance exams l i ke ever ybody el se?
65
. . . . t he f r ame. . . . was t went y f oot squar e, pl aced i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom. The
super f i ci es was composed of sever al bi t s of wood, about t he bi gness of a di e, but
some l ar ger t han ot her s. They wer e al l l i nked t oget her by sl ender wi r es. These bi t s
of wood wer e cover ed on ever y squar e wi t h paper past ed on t hem, and on t hese paper s
wer e wr i t t en al l t he wor ds of t hei r l anguage, i n t hei r sever al moods, t enses, and
decl ensi ons, but wi t hout any or der . . . The pupi l s at hi s command t ook each of t hem
hol d of an i r on handl e, wher eof t her e wer e f or t y f i xed r ound t he edges of t he f r ame,
and gi vi ng t hema sudden t ur n, t he whol e di sposi t i on of t he wor ds was ent i r el y
changed. He t hen commanded si x and t hi r t y of t he l ads t o r ead t he sever al l i nes
sof t l y as t hey appear ed upon t he f r ame; and wher e t hey f ound t hr ee or f our wor ds
t oget her t hat mi ght make par t of a sent ence, t hey di ct at ed t o t he f our r emai ni ng
boys. . .
- J onat han Swi f t , Gul l i ver ' s Tr avel s, I I I , 5
I bel i eve t hat i n embel l i shi ng hi s dr eam, Bel bo r et ur ned once agai n t o t he i dea of
l ost oppor t uni t y and hi s vow of r enunci at i on, t o hi s l i f e' s f ai l ur e t o sei ze- i f i t
ever exi st ed- t he Moment . The Pl an began because Bel bo had now r esi gned hi msel f t o
cr eat i ng pr i vat e, f i ct i t i ous moment s.
Page 173
I asked hi mf or some t ext or ot her , and he r ummaged t hr ough t he paper s on hi s desk,
wher e t her e was a heap of manuscr i pt s per i l ousl y pi l ed one on t op of t he ot her , wi t h
no concer n f or wei ght or si ze. He f ound t he one he was l ooki ng f or and t r i ed t o sl i p
i t out , t hus causi ng t he ot her s t o spi l l t o t he f l oor . Fol der s came open; pages
escaped t hei r f l i msy cont ai ner s.
" Coul dn' t you have moved t he t op hal f f i r st ?" I asked. Wast i ng my br eat h: t hi s was
how he al ways di d i t .
He r epl i ed, as he al ways di d: " Gudr un wi l l pi ck t hemup t hi s eveni ng. She has t o
have a mi ssi on i n l i f e; ot her wi se she l oses her i dent i t y. "
But t hi s t i me I had a per sonal st ake i n t he saf et y of t he manuscr i pt s, because I was
now par t of t he f i r m. " Gudr un won' t be abl e t o put t hemback t oget her , " I sai d.
" She' l l put t he wr ong pages i n t he wr ong f ol der s. "
" I f Di ot al l evi hear d you, he' d r ej oi ce. A way of pr oduci ng di f f er ent books,
ecl ect i c, r andombooks. I t ' s par t of t he l ogi c of t he Di abol i cal s. "
" But we' d f i nd our sel ves i n t he si t uat i on of t he cabal i st s: t aki ng mi l l enni a t o
di scover t he r i ght combi nat i on. You' r e si mpl y usi ng Gudr un i n pl ace of t he monkey
t hat spends an et er ni t y at t he t ypewr i t er . As f ar as evol ut i on goes, we' ve made no
pr ogr ess. Unl ess t her e' s some pr ogr ami n Abul af i a t o do t hi s wor k. "
Meanwhi l e Di ot al l evi had come i n.
" Of cour se t her e i s, " Bel bo sai d, " and i n t heor y you coul d have up t o t wo t housand
ent r i es. Al l t hat ' s needed i s t he dat a and t he desi r e. Take, f or exampl e, poet r y.
The pr ogr amasks you how many l i nes you want i n t he poem, and you deci de: t en,
t went y, a hundr ed. Then t he pr ogr amr andomi zes t he l i ne number s. I n ot her wor ds, a
new ar r angement each t i me. Wi t h t en l i nes you can make t housands and t housands of
r andompoems. Yest er day I ent er ed such l i nes as ' And t he l i nden t r ees qui ver , " Thou
si ni st er al bat r oss, " The r ubber pl ant i s f r ee, " I of f er t hee my l i f e, ' and so on. Her e
ar e some of my bet t er ef f or t s. "
I count t he ni ght s, t he si st r umsounds. . . .
Deat h, t hy vi ct or y,
Deat h, t hy vi ct or y. . . .
The r ubber pl ant i s f r ee.
Fr omt he hear t of dawn
Thou si ni st er al bat r oss.
( The r ubber pl ant i s f r ee. . . )
Deat h, t hy vi ct or y.
And t he l i nden t r ees qui ver ,
I count t he ni ght s, t he si st r umsounds,
The hoopoe awai t s me,
And t he l i nden t r ees qui ver .
" I t ' s r epet i t i ve, yes, but r epet i t i ons can make poet i c sense. " " I nt er est i ng, "
Di ot al l evi sai d. " Thi s r econci l es me t o your machi ne. So i f we f ed i t t he ent i r e
Tor ah and t ol d i t - what ' s t he t er m?- t o r andomi ze, i t woul d per f or msome aut hent i c
t emur ah, r ecombi ni ng t he ver ses of t he Book?" " Yes, but i t ' s a quest i on of t i me.
That woul d t ake cent ur i es. " I sai d: " What i f , i nst ead, you f ed i t a f ew dozen
not i ons t aken f r omt he wor ks of t he Di abol i cal s- f or exampl e, t he Templ ar s f l ed t o
Scot l and, or t he Cor pus Her met i cumar r i ved i n Fl or ence i n 1460- and t hr ew i n a f ew
connect i ve phr ases l i ke ' I t ' s obvi ous t hat ' and ' Thi s pr oves t hat ' ? We mi ght end up
wi t h somet hi ng r evel at or y. Then we f i l l i n t he gaps, cal l t he r epet i t i ons
pr opheci es, and- voi l a- a hi t her t o unpubl i shed chapt er of t he hi st or y of magi c, at t he
ver y l east ! " " An i dea of geni us, " Bel bo sai d. " Let ' s st ar t r i ght away. "
" No. I t ' s seven o' cl ock. Tomor r ow. "
" I ' mst ar t i ng t oni ght . Hel p me, j ust f or a mi nut e. Pi ck up, say, t went y of t hose
pages on t he f l oor , at r andom, gl ance at t he f i r st sent ence of each, and t hat wi l l
be an ent r y. "
I bent over , pi cked up, and r ead: " J oseph of Ar i mat hea car r i es t he Gr ai l i nt o
Fr ance. "
" Excel l ent . . . I ' ve wr i t t en i t . Go on. "
" Accor di ng t o t he Templ ar Tr adi t i on, Godef r oy de Boui l l on f ounded t he Gr and Pr i or y
of Zi on i n J er usal em. "
Page 174
And " Debussy was a Rosi cr uci an. "
" Excuse me, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " but you al so have t o i ncl ude some neut r al dat a- f or
exampl e, t he koal a l i ves i n Aust r al i a, or Papi n i nvent ed t he pr essur e cooker . "
" Mi nni e Mouse i s Mi ckey' s f i ancee. "
" We must n' t over do i t . "
" No, we must over do i t . I f we admi t t hat i n t he whol e uni ver se t her e i s even a
si ngl e f act t hat does not r eveal a myst er y, t hen we vi ol at e her met i c t hought . "
" That ' s t r ue. Mi nni e' s i n. And, i f you' l l al l ow me, I ' l l add a f undament al axi om:
The Templ ar s have somet hi ng t o do wi t h ever yt hi ng. "
" That goes wi t hout sayi ng, " Di ot al l evi agr eed.
We went on f or a whi l e, but t hen i t was r eal l y l at e. Bel bo t ol d us not t o wor r y,
he' d cont i nue on hi s own. When Gudr un came i n and t ol d us she was l ocki ng up, he
sai d he' d be st ayi ng t o do some wor k and asked her t o pi ck up t he paper s on t he
f l oor . Gudr un made sounds t hat coul d have bel onged ei t her t o Lat i n si ne f l exi one or
t o Cher mi sh but t hat cl ear l y expr essed i ndi gnat i on and di smay, whi ch demonst r at ed
t he uni ver sal ki nshi p of al l l anguages, descendant s br anched f r oma si ngl e, Adami c
r oot . She obeyed, r andomi zi ng bet t er t han any comput er .
The next mor ni ng, Bel bo was r adi ant . " I t wor ks, " he sai d. " I t wor ks beyond anyt hi ng
we coul d have hoped f or . " He handed us t he pr i nt out .
The Templ ar s have somet hi ng t o do wi t h ever yt hi ng
What f ol l ows i s not t r ue
J esus was cr uci f i ed under Pont i us Pi l at e
The sage Omus f ounded t he Rosy Cr oss i n Egypt
Ther e ar e cabal i st s i n Pr ovence
Who was mar r i ed at t he f east of Cana?
Mi nni e Mouse i s Mi ckey' s f i ancee
I t l ogi cal l y f ol l ows t hat
I f
The Dr ui ds vener at ed bl ack vi r gi ns
Then
Si mon Magus i dent i f i es Sophi a as a pr ost i t ut e of Tyr e
Who was mar r i ed at t he f east of Cana?
The Mer ovi ngi ans pr ocl ai mt hemsel ves ki ngs by di vi ne r i ght
The Templ ar s have somet hi ng t o do wi t h ever yt hi ng
" A bi t obscur e, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Because you don' t see t he connect i ons. And you don' t gi ve due i mpor t ance t o t he
quest i on t hat r ecur s t wi ce: Who was mar r i ed at t he f east of Cana? Repet i t i ons ar e
magi c keys. Of cour se, I ' ve compi l ed; but compi l i ng t he t r ut h i s t he i ni t i at e' s
r i ght . Her e i s my i nt er pr et at i on: J esus was not cr uci f i ed, and f or t hat r eason t he
Templ ar s deni ed t he Cr uci f i x. The l egend of J oseph of Ar i mat hea cover s a deeper
t r ut h: J esus, not t he Gr ai l , l anded i n Fr ance, among t he cabal i st s of Pr ovence.
J esus i s t he met aphor of t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d, t he t r ue f ounder of t he
Rosi cr uci ans. And who l anded wi t h J esus? Hi s wi f e. I n t he Gospel s why ar en' t we t ol d
who was mar r i ed at Cana? I t was t he weddi ng of J esus, and i t was a weddi ng t hat
coul d not be di scussed, because t he br i de was a publ i c si nner , Mar y Magdal ene.
That ' s why, ever si nce, al l t he I l l umi nat i f r omSi mon Magus t o Post el seek t he
pr i nci pl e of t he et er nal f emi ni ne i n a br ot hel . And J esus, meanwhi l e, was t he
f ounder of t he r oyal l i ne of Fr ance. "
66
I f our hypot hesi s i s cor r ect , t he Hol y Gr ai l . . . . was t he br eed and descendant of
J esus, t he " Sang r eal " of whi ch t he Templ ar s wer e t he guar di ans. . . At t he same t i me,
t he Hol y Gr ai l must have been, l i t er al l y, t he vessel t hat had r ecei ved and cont ai ned
t he bl ood of J esus. I n ot her wor ds i t must have been t he womb of t he Magdal ene.
- M. Bai gent , R. Lei gh, H. Li ncol n, The Hol y Bl ood and t he Hol y Gr ai l , 1982, London,
Cape, xi v
" Nobody woul d t ake t hat ser i ousl y, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
Page 175
" On t he cont r ar y, i t woul d sel l a f ew hundr ed t housand copi es, " I sai d gr i ml y. " The
st or y has al r eady been wr i t t en, wi t h sl i ght var i at i ons, i n a book on t he myst er y of
t he Gr ai l and t he secr et s of Rennes- l e- Chat eau. I nst ead of r eadi ng onl y manuscr i pt s,
you shoul d l ook at what ot her publ i sher s ar e pr i nt i ng. "
" Ye Hol y Ser aphi m! " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Then t hi s machi ne says onl y what we al r eady
know. " And he went out , dej ect ed.
Bel bo was pi qued. ' " What i s he sayi ng- t hat my i dea i s an i dea ot her s have had? So
what ? I t ' s cal l ed l i t er ar y pol ygenesi s. Si gner Gar amond woul d say t hat means I ' m
t el l i ng t he t r ut h. I t must have t aken year s f or t he ot her s t o come up wi t h i t ,
wher eas t he machi ne and I sol ved t he pr obl emi n one eveni ng. "
" I ' mwi t h you. The machi ne' s usef ul . But I bel i eve we shoul d f eed i n mor e st at ement s
t hat don' t come f r omt he Di abol i cal s. The chal l enge i sn' t t o f i nd occul t l i nks
bet ween Debussy and t he Templ ar s. Ever ybody does t hat . The pr obl emi s t o f i nd occul t
l i nks bet ween, f or exampl e, cabal a and t he spar k pl ugs of a car . "
I was speaki ng oi f t he t op of my head, but I had gi ven Bel bo an i dea. He t al ked t o
me about i t a f ew mor ni ngs l at er .
" You wer e r i ght . Any f act becomes i mpor t ant when i t ' s connect ed t o anot her . The
connect i on changes t he per spect i ve; i t l eads you t o t hi nk t hat ever y det ai l of t he
wor l d, ever y voi ce, ever y wor d wr i t t en or spoken has mor e t han i t s l i t er al meani ng,
t hat i t t el l s us of a Secr et . The r ul e i s si mpl e: Suspect , onl y suspect . You can
r ead subt ext s even i n a t r af f i c si gn t hat says ' No l i t t er i ng. ' "
" Of cour se. Cat har i st mor al i sm. The hor r or of f or ni cat i on. "
" Last ni ght I happened t o come acr oss a dr i ver ' s manual . Maybe i t was t he
semi dar kness, or what you had sai d t o me, but I began t o i magi ne t hat t hose pages
wer e sayi ng Somet hi ng El se. Suppose t he aut omobi l e exi st ed onl y t o ser ve as met aphor
of cr eat i on? And we must n' t conf i ne our sel ves t o t he ext er i or , or t o t he sur f ace
r eal i t y of t he dashboar d; we must l ear n t o see what onl y t he Maker sees, what l i es
beneat h. What l i es beneat h and what l i es above. I t i s t he Tr ee of t he Sef i r ot . "
" You don' t say. "
" I amnot t he one who says; i t i s t he t hi ng i t sel f t hat says. The dr i ve shaf t i s t he
t r unk of t he t r ee. Count t he par t s: engi ne, t wo f r ont wheel s, cl ut ch, t r ansmi ssi on,
t wo axl es, di f f er ent i al , and t wo r ear wheel s. Ten par t s, t en Sef i r ot . "
" But t he posi t i ons don' t coi nci de. "
" Who says t hey don' t ? Di ot al l evi ' s expl ai ned t o us t hat i n cer t ai n ver si ons Ti f er et
i sn' t t he si xt h Sef i r ah, but t he ei ght h, bel ow Nezah and Hod. My axl e- t r ee i s t he
t r ee of Bel bot h. "
" Fi at . "
" But l et ' s pur sue t he di al ect i c of t he t r ee. At t he summi t i s t he engi ne, Omni a
Movens, of whi ch mor e l at er : t hi s i s t he Cr eat i ve Sour ce. The engi ne communi cat es
i t s cr eat i ve ener gy t o t he t wo f r ont or hi gher wheel s: t he Wheel of I nt el l i gence and
t he Wheel of Knowl edge. "
" I f t he car has f r ont - wheel dr i ve. "
" The good t hi ng about t he Bel bot h t r ee i s t hat i t al l ows met aphysi cal al t er nat i ves.
So we have t he i mage of a spi r i t ual cosmos wi t h f r ont - wheel - dr i ve, wher e t he engi ne,
i n f r ont , t r ansmi t s i t s wi shes t o t he hi gher wheel s, wher eas i n t he mat er i al i st i c
ver si on we have a degener at e cosmos i n whi ch mot i on i s i mpar t ed by t he engi ne t o t he
t wo l ower wheel s: f r omt he dept hs, t he cosmi c emanat i on r el eases t he base f or ces of
mat t er . "
" What about an engi ne i n back, r ear - wheel dr i ve?"
" Sat ani c. Hi gher and l ower coi nci de. God i s i dent i f i ed wi t h t he mot i on of cr ude
mat t er . God as an et er nal l y f r ust r at ed aspi r at i on t o di vi ni t y. The r esul t of t h
Br eaki ng of t he Vessel s. "
" Not t he Br eaki ng of t he Muf f l er ?"
" That occur s i n abor t ed uni ver ses, wher e t he noxi ous br eat h of t he Ar chons spr eads
t hr ough t he et her . But we must n' t di gr ess. Af t er t he engi ne and t wo wheel s comes t he
cl ut ch, t he Sef i r ah of gr ace t hat est abl i shes or i nt er r upt s t he f l ow of l ove t hat
bi nds t he r est of t he t r ee of t he Super nal Ener gy. A di sk, a mandal a t hat car esses
anot her mandal a. Then t he cof f er of change- t he gear box, or t r ansmi ssi on, as t he
posi t i vi st s cal l i t , whi ch i s t he pr i nci pl e of Evi l , because i t al l ows human wi l l t o
speed up or sl ow down t he const ant pr ocess of emanat i on. For t hi s r eason, an
aut omat i c t r ansmi ssi on cost s mor e, f or t her e i t i s t he t r ee i t sel f t hat deci des, i n
accor dance wi t h i t s own Sover ei gn Equi l i br i um. Then comes t he uni ver sal j oi nt , t he
Page 176
axl e, t he dr i ve shaf t , t he di f f er ent i al - not e t he opposi t i on/ r epet i t i on of t he
quat er ni on of cyl i nder s i n t he engi ne, because t he di f f er ent i al ( Mi nor Ket er )
t r ansmi t s mot i on t o t he ear t hl y wheel s. Her e t he f unct i on of t he Sef i r ah of
di f f er ence i s obvi ous, as, wi t h a maj est i c sense of beaut y, i t di st r i but es t he
cosmi c f or ces t o t he Wheel of Gl or y and t he Wheel of Vi ct or y, whi ch i n an unabor t ed
uni ver se ( f r ont - wheel dr i ve) ar e subor di nat e t o t he mot i on i mpar t ed by t he hi gher
wheel s. "
" A coher ent exegesi s. And t he hear t of t he engi ne, seat of t he One, t he Cr own?"
" You have but t o l ook wi t h t he eyes of an i ni t i at e. The supr eme engi ne l i ves by an
al t er nat i on of i nt ake and exhaust . A compl ex, di vi ne r espi r at i on, a cycl e i ni t i al l y
based on t wo uni t s cal l ed cyl i nder s ( an obvi ous geomet r i cal ar chet ype) , whi ch t hen
gener at e a t hi r d, and f i nal l y gaze upon one anot her i n mut ual l ove and br i ng f or t h
t he gl or y of a f our t h. I n t he cycl e of t he f i r st cyl i nder ( none i s f i r st
hi er ar chi cal l y, but onl y t hr ough t he mi r acul ous al t er nat i on of posi t i on) , t he pi st on
( et ymol ogy: Pi st i s Sophi a) descends f r omt he upper neut r al posi t i on t o t he l ower
neut r al posi t i on as t he cyl i nder f i l l s wi t h ener gy i n t he pur e st at e. I ' m
si mpl i f yi ng, because her e angel i c hi er ar chi es come i nt o pl ay, t he val ves, whi ch, as
my handbook says, ' al l ow t he openi ng and cl osi ng of t he aper t ur es t hat l i nk t he
i nt er i or of t he cyl i nder s t o t he i nduct i on pi pes l eadi ng out of t he car bur et or . ' The
i nner seat of t he engi ne can communi cat e wi t h t he r est of t he cosmos onl y t hr ough
t hi s medi at i on, and her e I bel i eve i s r eveal ed- I amr el uct ant t o ut t er her esy- t he
or i gi nal l i mi t of t he One, whi ch, i n or der t o cr eat e, somehow depends on t he Gr eat
Eccent r i cs. A cl oser r eadi ng of t he t ext may be r equi r ed her e. The cyl i nder f i l l s
wi t h ener gy, t he pi st on r et ur ns t o t he upper neut r al posi t i on and achi eves maxi mum
compr essi on- t he si m- sun. And l o, t he gl or y of t he Bi g Bang: combust i on, expansi on. A
spar k f l i es, t he mi xt ur e of f uel f l ar es and bl azes, and t hi s t he handbook cal l s t he
act i ve phase of t he cycl e. And woe, woe i f i n t he mi xt ur e of f uel t he Shel l s
i nt r ude, t he qel i ppot , dr ops of i mpur e mat t er l i ke wat er or Coca- Col a. Then
expansi on does not t ake pl ace or occur s i n abor t i ve st ar t s. . . "
" Then t he meani ng of Shel l i s qel i ppot ? We' d bet t er not use i t anymor e. Fr omnow on,
onl y Vi r gi n' s Mi l k. . . "
" We' l l check. I t coul d be a t r i ck of t he Seven Si st er s, l ower emanat i ons t r yi ng t o
cont r ol t he pr ocess of cr eat i on. . . I n any case, af t er expansi on, behol d t he gr eat
di vi ne r el ease, t he exhaust . The pi st on r i ses agai n t o t he upper neut r al posi t i on
and expel s t he f or ml ess mat t er , now combust ed. Onl y i f t hi s pr ocess of pur i f i cat i on
succeeds can t he new cycl e begi n. Whi ch, i f you t hi nk about i t , i s al so t he
Neopl at oni c mechani smof Exodus and Par odos, mi r acul ous di al ect i c of t he Way Up and
t he Way Down. "
" Quant ummor t al i a pect or a ceacae noct i s habent ! And t he sons of mat t er never
r eal i zed i t ! "
" They never saw t he connect i on bet ween t he phi l osopher ' s st one and Fi r est one. "
" For t omor r ow, I ' l l pr epar e a myst i cal i nt er pr et at i on of t he phone book. "
" Ever ambi t i ous, our Casaubon. Mi nd you, t her e you' l l have t o sol ve t he unf at homabl e
pr obl emof t he One and t he Many. Bet t er succeed sl owl y. St ar t , i nst ead, wi t h t he
washi ng machi ne. "
" That ' s t oo easy. The al chemi st i c t r ansf or mat i on f r ombl ack t o whi t er t han whi t e. "
67
Da Rosa, nada di gamos agor a. . . .
- Sampayo Br uno, Os Caval hei r os do Amor , Li sbon, Gui mar aes, 1960, p. 155
When you assume an at t i t ude of suspi ci on, you over l ook no cl ue. Af t er our f ant asy on
t he power t r ai n and t he Tr ee of t he Sef i r ot , I was pr epar ed t o see symbol s i n ever y
obj ect I came upon.
I had kept i n t ouch wi t h my Br azi l i an f r i ends, and i n Por t ugal j ust t hen, at
Coi mbr a, a conf er ence was bei ng hel d on Lusi t ani an cul t ur e. Mor e out of a wi sh t o
see me agai n t han out of r espect f or my exper t i se, my Ri o f r i ends managed t o have me
i nvi t ed. Li a di dn' t go wi t h me; she was i n her sevent h mont h, and t hough her
pr egnancy had changed her sl ender f i gur e onl y sl i ght l y, t r ansf or mi ng her i nt o a
Fl emi sh madonna, she pr ef er r ed t o st ay home.
I spent t hr ee mer r y eveni ngs wi t h my ol d comr ades. As we wer e r et ur ni ng by bus t o
Li sbon, an ar gument devel oped about whet her we shoul d st op at Fat i ma or Tomar . Tomar
Page 177
was t he cast l e t o whi ch t he Por t uguese Templ ar s had wi t hdr awn af t er t he ki ng and t he
pope saved t hemf r omt r i al and r ui n by t r ansf or mi ng t hemi nt o t he Or der of t he
Kni ght s of Chr i st . I coul dn' t mi ss a Templ ar cast l e, and l ucki l y t he r est of t he
par t y was not ent husi ast i c about Fat i ma.
I f I coul d have i nvent ed a Templ ar cast l e, i t woul d have been Tomar . You r each i t by
ascendi ng a f or t i f i ed r oad t hat f l anks t he out er bast i ons, whi ch have cr uci f or m
sl i t s, and you br eat he Cr usader ai r f r omt he f i r st moment . The Kni ght s of Chr i st
pr osper ed f or cent ur i es i n t hat pl ace. Tr adi t i on has i t t hat bot h Henr y t he
Navi gat or and Chr i st opher Col umbus bel onged t o t hat or der , and i n f act i t devot ed
i t sel f t o t he conquest of t he seas- maki ng t he f or t une of Por t ugal . The kni ght s' l ong
and happy exi st ence t her e had caused t he cast l e t o be r ebui l t and ext ended t hr ough
t he cent ur i es, so t o i t s medi eval par t wer e j oi ned Renai ssance and Bar oque wi ngs. I
was moved as I ent er ed t he chur ch of t he Templ ar s, whi ch had an oct agonal r ot unda
r epr oduci ng t hat of t he Hol y Sepul cher , and I was sur pr i sed t o see t hat t he
Templ ar s' cr osses had di f f er ent f or ms, dependi ng on t hei r l ocat i on. I t was a pr obl em
I had encount er ed bef or e, when I went t hr ough t he conf used i conogr aphy on t he
subj ect . Wher eas t he cr oss of t he Kni ght s of Mal t a had r emai ned mor e or l ess t he
same, t he Templ ar cr oss had been i nf l uenced by per i ods and l ocal t r adi t i ons. That ' s
why Templ ar - hunt er s, f i ndi ng any ki nd of cr oss i n a pl ace, i mmedi at el y t hi nk t hey' ve
di scover ed a t r ace of t he kni ght s.
Our gui de t ook us t o see t he Manuel i ne wi ndow, t he j anel a par excel l ence, a
f i l i gr ee, a col l age of mar i ne and submar i ne t r oves, seaweeds, shel l s, anchor s,
capst ans, and chai ns, cel ebr at i ng t he kni ght s' achi evement s on t he oceans. The
wi ndow was f r amed by t wo t ower s, whi ch wer e decor at ed wi t h car vi ngs of t he i nsi gne
of t he Gar t er . What was t he symbol of an Engl i sh or der doi ng i n a Por t uguese
f or t i f i ed monast er y? The gui de coul dn' t say; but a l i t t l e l at er , on anot her si de,
t he nor t heast , I bel i eve, he showed us t he i nsi gne of t he Gol den Fl eece. I coul dn' t
hel p t hi nki ng of t he subt l e game of al l i ances t hat had uni t ed t he Gar t er t o t he
Gol den Fl eece, t he Fl eece t o t he Ar gonaut s, t he Ar gonaut s t o t he Gr ai l , and t he
Gr ai l t o t he Templ ar s. Remember i ng Col onel Ar dent i ' s nar r at i ve and a f ew pages f r om
t he Di abol i cal s' manuscr i pt s, I st ar t ed when our gui de showed us i nt o a si de r oom
whose cei l i ng was gr i pped by keyst ones. They wer e r oset t es, but on some of t hemwas
car ved a bear ded capr i ne f ace: Baphomet . . .
We went down i nt o a cr ypt . Af t er seven st eps, a bar e st one f l oor l ed t o t he apse,
wher e an al t ar coul d st and, or t he chai r of t he gr and mast er . You r eached i t by
passi ng beneat h seven keyst ones, each i n t he f or mof a r ose, one l ar ger t han t he
next , wi t h t he l ast set over a wel l . The Cr oss and t he Rose, i n a Templ ar monast er y,
and i n a r oomsur el y bui l t bef or e t he Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes. . . I put some quest i ons
t o t he gui de. He smi l ed. " I f you knew how many st udent s of t he occul t sci ences come
her e on pi l gr i mages. . . . I t ' s sai d t hat t hi s was t he i ni t i at i on chamber . "
Ent er i ng by chance a r oomnot yet r est or ed, whi ch cont ai ned a f ew pi eces of dust y
f ur ni t ur e, I f ound t he f l oor cl ut t er ed wi t h gr eat car dboar d boxes. Rummagi ng at
r andom, I uncover ed some f r agment s of vol umes i n Hebr ew, pr esumabl y f r omt he
sevent eent h cent ur y. What wer e t he J ews doi ng i n Tomar ? The gui de t ol d me t hat t he
kni ght s had mai nt ai ned f r i endl y r el at i ons wi t h t he l ocal J ewi sh communi t y. He had me
l ook out t he wi ndow and showed me a l i t t l e gar den desi gned l i ke an el egant Fr ench
maze- t he wor k, he t ol d me, of an ei ght eent h- cent ur y J ewi sh ar chi t ect : Samuel
Schwar z.
The second appoi nt ment i n J er usal em. . . . And t he f i r st at t he Cast l e? Wasn' t t hat how
t he message of Pr ovi ns went ? By God, t he Cast l e of t he Or donat i on ment i oned i n
I ngol f ' s document was not t he Monsal vat of chi val r i c novel s, t he Aval on of t he
Hyper bor eal . No. What cast l e woul d t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns, mor e used t o di r ect i ng
commandar i es t han t o r eadi ng r omances of t he Round Tabl e, have chosen f or t hei r
f i r st meet i ng pl ace? Why, Tomar , t he cast l e of t he Kni ght s of Chr i st , a pl ace wher e
sur vi vor s of t he or der enj oyed compl et e f r eedom, unchanged guar ant ees, and wher e
t hey coul d be i n cont act wi t h t he agent s of t he second gr oup!
I l ef t Tomar and Por t ugal wi t h my mi nd abl aze. No l onger was I l aughi ng at
t he' message Ar dent i had shown us. The Templ ar s, when t hey became a secr et or der ,
wor ked out a Pl an t hat was t o l ast si x hundr ed year s and concl ude i n our cent ur y.
The Templ ar s wer e ser i ous men. I f t hey t al ked about a cast l e, t hey meant a r eal
cast l e. The Pl an began at Tomar . And what woul d t he i deal r out e have been, t he
sequence of t he ot her f i ve meet i ngs? Pl aces wher e t he Templ ar s coul d count on
f r i endshi p, pr ot ect i on, compl i ci t y. The col onel spoke of St onehenge, Aval on,
Page 178
Agar t t ha. . . Nonsense. The message had t o be compl et el y r e- st udi ed.
Of cour se- I r emi nded mysel f on my way home- t he i dea i s not t o di scover t he Templ ar s'
secr et , but t o const r uct i t .
Bel bo seemed di st ur bed at t he t hought of goi ng back t o t he document l ef t by t he
col onel , and he f ound i t onl y af t er di ggi ng r el uct ant l y i n a l ower dr awer . But , I
saw, he had kept i t . Toget her we r er ead t he Pr ovi ns message, af t er so many year s.
I t began wi t h t he message coded by t he met hod of Tr i t hemi us: Les XXXVI i nui si bl es
separ ez en si x bandes. And t hen:
a l a. . . . Sai nt J ean
6. . . ent i er s avec sai el
p. . . . l es bl ancs mant i ax
r . . . 5. . . cheval i er s de Pr ui ns pour l a. . . . j . nc.
6 f oi l 6 en 6 pl aces
chascune f oi z 20 a. . . 720 a. . .
al donj on l i pr emi er s
i t l i secunz j ost e i ceus qui . . . . pans
i t al r ef uge
i t a Nost r e Dame de I ' al t r e par t de I ' i au
i t a l a pi er r e
3 f oi z 6 avant l a f est e. . . . l a Gr ant Put e.
" Thi r t y- si x year s af t er t he hay wai n, t he ni ght of Sai nt J ohn of t he year 1344, si x
seal ed messages f or t he kni ght s wi t h t he whi t e cl oaks, t he r el apsed kni ght s of
Pr ovi ns, r evenge. Si x t i mes si x i n si x pl aces, t went y year s each t i me, f or a t ot al
of one hundr ed and t went y year s, t hi s i s t he Pl an. The f i r st at t he Cast l e, t hen
wi t h t hose who at e t he br ead, t hen at t he Ref uge, t hen at Our Lady Beyond t he Ri ver ,
t hen at t he House of t he Pope- l i cans, t hen at t he St one. You see, i n 1344 t he
message says t hat t he f i r st must go t o t he Cast l e. And, i n f act , t he kni ght s wer e
est abl i shed i n Tomar i n 1357. Now, we must ask our sel ves wher e t he second gr oup
went . Come on: i magi ne you ar e an escapi ng Templ ar , wher e woul d you go t o f or mt he
second gr oup?' '
" H' m. . . I f i t ' s t r ue t hat t hose i n t he wai n f l ed t o Scot l and. . . . But why shoul d t hey
have gone t o Scot l and i n par t i cul ar t o eat t he br ead?"
I was becomi ng a mast er of chai ns of associ at i on. You coul d st ar t anywher e.
Scot l and. Hi ghl ands. Dr ui di c r i t es. Ni ght of Sai nt J ohn. Summer sol st i ce. Sai nt
J ohn' s Fi r e. Gol den bough. Because I had r ead about Sai nt J ohn' s Fi r e i n Fr azer ' s
Gol den Bough.
I t el ephoned Li a. " Do me a f avor . Get The Gol den Bough and see what i t says about
Sai nt J ohn' s Fi r e. "
Li a was t er r i f i c at t hi s sor t of t hi ng. She f ound t he chapt er at once. " What do you
want t o know? I t ' s a ver y anci ent r i t e, pr act i ced i n al most al l Eur opean count r i es.
I t ' s cel ebr at ed at t he moment when t he sun i s at i t s peak. Sai nt J ohn was added t o
make t he t hi ng Chr i st i an. . . "
" Do t hey eat br ead i n Scot l and?"
" Let me see. . . I don' t t hi nk so. . . Ah, her e i t i s: t hey don' t eat br ead f or Sai nt
J ohn, but on t he ni ght of t he f i r st of May, t he ni ght of t he Bel t ane f i r es,
or i gi nal l y a Dr ui d f est i val , t hey eat br ead, especi al l y i n t he Scot t i sh
hi ghl ands. . . "
" We' ve got i t ! What ki nd?"
" They knead a cake of f l our and oat s and t oast i t on ember s. . . Then a r i t e f ol l ows
t hat r ecal l s anci ent human sacr i f i ces. . . The br ead' s cal l ed bannock cakes. . . "
" What ? Spel l i t ! " She di d, and I t hanked her , I t ol d her she was my Beat r i ce, my
Mor gan l e Fay, and ot her endear ment s.
I t r i ed t o r emember my t hesi s. The secr et gr oup, accor di ng t o t he l egend, t ook
r ef uge i n Scot l and wi t h Ki ng Rober t t he Br uce, and t he Templ ar s hel ped t he ki ng wi n
t he bat t l e of Bannockbur n. I n r ewar d, t he ki ng set t hemup as t he new Or der of t he
Kni ght s of Sai nt Andr ew of Scot l and.
I t ook a bi g Engl i sh di ct i onar y down f r omt he shel f and l ooked up bannock: bannok i n
Page 179
Mi ddl e Engl i sh, bannuc i n Angl o- Saxon, bannach i n Gael i c. A ki nd of cake, cooked on
a gr i l l or a sl ab, made of bar l ey, oat s, or ot her gr ai n. Bur n i s a st r eam. You had
onl y t o t r ansl at e Bannockbur n as t he Fr ench Templ ar s woul d have done when t hey sent
news f r omScot l and t o t hei r compat r i ot s i n Pr ovi ns, and you get somet hi ng l i ke t he
st r eamof t he cake, or of t he l oaf , or of t he br ead. Those who at e t he br ead wer e
t hose who had won at t he st r eamof t he br ead, and hence t he Scot t i sh gr oup, whi ch
per haps by t hat t i me had spr ead t hr oughout t he Br i t i sh I sl es. Logi cal : f r omPor t ugal
t o Engl and. That was a shor t er r out e, much shor t er t han Ar dent i ' s f r omPol e t o
Pal est i ne.
68
Let your gar ment s be whi t e. . . I f i t i s dar k, set many l i ght s bur ni ng. . . Now begi n
combi ni ng l et t er s, f ew, many, shi f t t hemand combi ne t hemunt i l your hear t i s war m.
Pay at t ent i on t o t he movement of t he l et t er s and t o what you can pr oduce by
combi ni ng t hem. And when your hear t i s war m, when you see t hat t hr ough t he
combi nat i on of t he l et t er s you gr asp t hi ngs you coul d not have known by your sel f or
wi t h t he ai d of t r adi t i on, when you ar e r eady t o r ecei ve t he i nf l uence of t he di vi ne
power t hat ent er s i nt o you, t hen use al l t he pr of undi t y of your t hought t o i magi ne
i n your hear t t he Name and Hi s hi gher angel s, as i f t hey wer e human bei ngs besi de
you.
- Abul af i a, Sef er Hai e Ol am
" I t makes sense, " Bel bo sai d. " And i n t hat ease, wher e woul d t he Ref uge be?"
" The si x gr oups set t l e i n si x pl aces, but onl y one pl ace i s cal l ed t he Ref uge. Odd.
Thi s must mean t hat i n t he ot her pl aces, l i ke Por t ugal and Br i t ai n, t he Templ ar s can
l i ve undi st ur bed, al t hough under anot her name, wher eas i n t he Ref uge t hey ar e
compl et el y hi dden. I woul d say i t i s wher e t he Templ ar s of Par i s went af t er t hey
l ef t t he Templ e. To me i t seems economi cal f or t he r out e t o go t o Engl and f r om
Fr ance, but why not assume t hat t he Templ ar s t ook an even mor e economi cal cour se and
set up a r ef uge i n a secr et and pr ot ect ed pl ace i n Par i s i t sel f ? Bei ng sound
pol i t i ci ans, t hey r easoned t hat i n t wo hundr ed year s t he si t uat i on woul d change and
t hey woul d be abl e t o act i n t he l i ght of day, or al most . "
" Par i s i t i s. And t he f our t h pl ace?"
" The col onel was t hi nki ng of Char t r es, but i f we make Par i s t he t hi r d pl ace, we
can' t put down Char t r es as t he f our t h, because obvi ousl y t he Pl an has t o i nvol ve al l
t he cent er s of Eur ope. Besi des, we' r e l eavi ng t he myst i cal t r ai l t o wor k out a
pol i t i cal t r ai l . The pat t er n appear s t o be a si ne wave, so we shoul d go t o t he nor t h
of Ger many. ' Beyond t he wat er , ' t hat i s, beyond t he Rhi ne, t her e' s a ci t y- not a
chur ch- of Our Lady. Near Danzi g, t her e' s a ci t y of t he Vi r gi n- i n ot her wor ds,
Mar i enbur g. "
" Why meet at Mar i enbur g?"
" Because i t was t he seat of t he Teut oni c Kni ght s! Rel at i ons bet ween t he Templ ar s and
t he Teut oni cs hadn' t been poi soned l i ke t hose bet ween t he Templ ar s and t he
Hospi t al er s, who had wai t ed l i ke vul t ur es f or t he suppr essi on of t he Templ e i n or der
t o sei ze i t s weal t h. The Teut oni cs wer e cr eat ed i n Pal est i ne by Ger man emper or s as a
count er bal ance t o t he Templ ar s, but t hey wer e soon cal l ed nor t h t o st emt he i nvasi on
of Pr ussi an bar bar i ans. They succeeded so wel l t hat i n t he space of t wo cent ur i es
t hey became a st at e t hat spr ead out over al l t he Bal t i c l ands. They moved bet ween
Pol and, Li t huani a, and Li voni a. They f ounded KQni gsber g. They wer e def eat ed onl y
once, by Al eksandr Nevski i n Est oni a. About t he t i me t he Templ ar s wer e ar r est ed i n
Par i s, t he Teut oni cs est abl i shed t he capi t al of t hei r r eal mat Mar i enbur g. I f t her e
was any spi r i t ual - kni ght hood pl an of wor l d conquest , t he Templ ar s and t he Teut oni cs
had di vi ded t he spher es of i nf l uence bet ween t hem. "
" You know what ?" Bel bo sai d. " I ' mwi t h you. Now t he f i f t h gr oup. Wher e ar e t hese
Popel i cans?"
" I don' t know, " I sai d.
" You di sappoi nt me, Casaubon. Maybe we shoul d ask Abu- l af i a. "
" No. Abul af i a can onl y connect f act s, not cr eat e t hem. The Popel i cans ar e a f act ,
not a connect i on, and f act s ar e t he pr ovi nce of SamSpade. Gi ve me a f ew days. "
" I ' l l gi ve you t wo weeks, " Bel bo sai d. " I f , wi t hi n t wo weeks, you don' t hand t he
Popel i cans over t o me, you' l l buy me a bot t l e of t wel ve- year - ol d Bal l ant i ne' s. "
Page 180
Beyond my means. A week l at er I del i ver ed t he Popel i cans t o my gr eedy par t ner s.
" I t ' s al l cl ear . Now f ol l ow me, because we must go back t o t he f our t h cent ur y, t o
Byzant i um, when var i ous movement s of Mani chean i nspi r at i on have al r eady spr ead
t hr oughout t he Medi t er r anean. We begi n wi t h t he Ar chont i cs, f ounded i n Ar meni a by
Pet er of Caphar bar ucha- and you have t o admi t t hat ' s a pr et t y gr and name.
Ant i - Semi t i c, t he Ar chont i cs i dent i f y t he Devi l wi t h Sabaot h, t he god of t he J ews,
who l i ves i n t he sevent h heaven. To r each t he Gr eat Mot her of Li ght i n t he ei ght h
heaven, i t i s necessar y t o r ej ect bot h Sabaot h and bapt i sm. Al l r i ght ?"
" Consi der t hemr ej ect ed, " Bel bo sai d.
" But t he Ar chont i cs ar e st i l l ni ce ki ds at hear t . I n t he f i f t h cent ur y t he
Massal i ans come al ong, and act ual l y t hey sur vi ve unt i l t he el event h cent ur y, i n
Thr ace. The Massal i ans ar e not dual i st s but monar chi ans, and t hey have deal i ngs wi t h
t he i nf er nal power s, and i n f act some t ext s cal l t hemBor bor i t es, f r ombor bor os,
f i l t h, because of t he unspeakabl e t hi ngs t hey do. "
" What do t hey do?"
" The usual unspeakabl e t hi ngs. Men and women hol d i n t he pal mof t hei r hand, and
r ai se t o heaven, t hei r own i gnomi ny, namel y, sper mor menst r uum, t hen eat i t ,
cal l i ng i t t he Body of Chr i st . And i f by chance a woman i s made pr egnant , at t he
oppor t une moment t hey st i ck a hand i nt o her womb, pul l out t he embr yo, t hr ow i t i nt o
a mor t ar , mi x i n some honey and pepper , and gobbl e i t up. "
" How r evol t i ng, honey and pepper ! " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" So t hose ar e t he Massal i ans, al so known as St r at i ot i cs and Phi bi oni t es, or
Bar bel i t es, who ar e made up of Nasseans and Phemi oni t es. But f or ot her f at her s of
t he chur ch, t he Bar bel i t es wer e l at t er - day Gnost i cs, t her ef or e dual i st s, who
wor shi ped t he Gr eat Mot her Bar bel o, and t hei r i ni t i at es i n t ur n cal l ed t he
Bor bor i t es Hyl i cs, or Chi l dr en of Mat t er , as di st i nct f r omt he Psychi cs, who wer e
al r eady a st ep up, and t he Pneumat i cs, who wer e t he t r ul y el ect , t he Rot ar y Cl ub of
t he whol e busi ness. But maybe t he St r at i ot i cs wer e onl y t he Hyl i cs of t he
Mi t hr ai st s. "
" Sounds a bi t conf used, " Bel bo sai d.
" Nat ur al l y. None of t hese peopl e l ef t r ecor ds. The onl y t hi ngs we know about t hem
come t o us f r omt he gossi p of t hei r enemi es. But no mat t er . I ' mj ust t r yi ng t o show
you what a mess t he Mi ddl e East was at t he t i me. And t o set t he st age f or t he
Paul i ci ans. These ar e t he f ol l ower s of a cer t ai n Paul , j oi ned by some i conocl ast s
expel l ed f r omAl bani a. Fr omt he ei ght h cent ur y on, t he Paul i ci ans gr ow r api dl y, t he
sect becomes a communi t y, t he communi t y a f or ce, a pol i t i cal power , and t he emper or s
of Byzant i um, begi nni ng t o get wor r i ed, send t he i mper i al ar mi es agai nst t hem. The
Paul i ci ans ext end as f ar as t he conf i nes of t he Ar ab wor l d; t hey spr ead t owar d t he
Euphr at es, and nor t hwar d as f ar as t he Bl ack Sea. They est abl i sh col oni es mor e or
l ess ever ywher e, and we f i nd t hemas l at e as t he sevent eent h cent ur y, when t hey ar e
conver t ed by t he J esui t s, and some communi t i es st i l l exi st t oday i n t he Bal kans or
t her eabout s. Now, what do t he Paul i ci ans bel i eve i n? I n God, One and Thr ee, except
t hat t he Demi ur ge def i ant l y cr eat ed t he wor l d, wi t h t he unf or t unat e r esul t s vi si bl e
t o al l . The Paul i ci ans r ej ect t he Ol d Test ament , r ef use t he sacr ament s, despi se t he
Cr oss, and don' t honor t he Vi r gi n, because Chr i st was i ncar nat ed di r ect l y i n heaven
and passed t hr ough Mar y as t hr ough a pi pe. The Bogo- mi l s, who ar e par t l y der i ved
f r omt hem, say t hat Chr i st went i n one ear of Mar y and came out t he ot her , wi t hout
her even not i ci ng. The Paul i ci ans ar e al so accused of wor shi pi ng t he sun and t he
Devi l and of mi xi ng chi l dr en' s bl ood i n t hei r br ead and t he Euchar i st i c wi ne. "
" Li ke ever ybody el se. "
" Those wer e t he days when, f or a her et i c, goi ng t o Mass was a t or ment . Mi ght as wel l
become Mosl em. Anyway, t hat ' s t he sor t of peopl e t hey wer e. And I ' mt el l i ng you
about t hembecause, when t he dual i st her et i cs spr ead t hr ough I t al y and Pr ovence,
t hey ar e cal l ed- t o i ndi cat e t hat t hey' r e l i ke t he Paul i ci ans- Popel i cans, Publ i cans,
Popul i cans, who gal l i ce et i amdi cunt ur ab al i qui s popel i cant ! "
" So t her e t hey ar e. "
" Yes, f i nal l y. The Paul i ci ans cont i nue i nt o t he ni nt h cent ur y, dr i vi ng t he Byzant i ne
emper or s cr azy unt i l Emper or Basi l vows t hat i f he get s hi s hands on t hei r l eader ,
Chr ysochei r , who i nvaded t he chur ch of Sai nt J ohn of God at Ephesus and wat er ed hi s
hor se at t he hol y- wat er f ont s. . . "
" A f ami l i ar nast y habi t , " Bel bo sai d.
" . . . he' l l shoot t hr ee ar r ows i nt o hi s head. He sends t he i mper i al ar my af t er
Chr ysochei r ; t hey capt ur e hi m, cut of f hi s head, send i t t o t he emper or , who pl aces
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i t on a t abl e- or a t r umeau, on a l i t t l e por phyr y col umn- and shoot s t hr ee ar r ows,
whamwhamwham, i nt o i t , pr obabl y an ar r ow f or each eye and t he t hi r d f or t he
mout h. "
" Ni ce f ol ks, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" They di dn' t do i t t o be mean, " Bel bo sai d. " I t was a quest i on of f ai t h. Go on,
Casaubon: our Di ot al l evi doesn' t under st and t heol ogi cal f i ne poi nt s. "
" To concl ude: t he Cr usader s encount er t he Paul i ci ans. They come upon t hemnear
Ant i och i n t he cour se of t he Fi r st Cr usade, wher e t he her et i cs ar e f i ght i ng
al ongsi de t he Ar abs, and t hey encount er t hemal so at t he si ege of Const ant i nopl e,
wher e t he Paul i ci an communi t y of Phi l i ppopol i s t r i es t o hand t he ci t y over t o t he
Bul gar i an t sar Yoanni t sa t o spi t e t he Fr ench, as Vi l l ehar - doui n t el l s us. Her e' s t he
connect i on wi t h t he Templ ar s and t he sol ut i on t o our r i ddl e. Legend has t he Templ ar s
i nspi r ed by t he Cat har s, but i t ' s r eal l y t he ot her way ar ound. The Templ ar s,
encount er i ng t he Paul i ci an communi t i es i n t he cour se of t he Cr usades, est abl i shed
myst er i ous r el at i ons wi t h t hem, as t hey had bef or e wi t h t he myst i cs and t he Mosl em
her et i cs. J ust f ol l ow t he t r ack of t he Or donat i on. I t has t o pass t hr ough t he
Bal kans. "
" Why?"
" Because, cl ear l y, t he si xt h appoi nt ment i s i n J er usal em. The message says t o go t o
t he st one. And wher e i s t her e a st one, a r ock, whi ch t he Mosl ems vener at e, and f or
whi ch, i f we want t o see i t , we have t o t ake of f our shoes? Why, r i ght i n t he cent er
of t he Mosque of Omar i n J er usal em, wher e once st ood t he Templ e of t he Templ ar s. I
don' t know who was t o wai t i n J er usal em, per haps a cor e gr oup of sur vi vi ng and
di sgui sed Templ ar s, or el se some cabal i st s connect ed wi t h t he Por t uguese, but t hi s
much i s cer t ai n: t o r each J er usal emf r omGer many t he most l ogi cal r out e i s t hr ough
t he Bal kans, and t her e t he f i f t h gr oup, t he Paul i ci an one, was wai t i ng. You see how
st r ai ght f or war d and economi cal t he Pl an becomes?"
" I must say I ' mper suaded, " Bel bo sai d. " But wher e i n t he Bal kans wer e t he
Popel i cans wai t i ng?"
" I f you ask me, t he nat ur al successor s of t he Paul i ci ans wer e t he Bul gar i an
Bogomi l s, but t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns coul dn' t have known t hat a f ew year s l at er
Bul gar i a woul d be i nvaded by t he Tur ks and r emai n under t hei r domi ni on f or f i ve
cent ur i es. "
" Whi ch woul d suggest t hat t he Pl an was i nt er r upt ed at t he l i nk bet ween Ger many and
Bul gar i a. When was t hat t o t ake pl ace?"
" I n 1824, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Why' s t hat ?"
Di ot al l evi qui ckl y sket ched t he f ol l owi ng di agr am:
PORTUGAL ENGLAND FRANCE GERMANY BULGARI A J ERUSALEM
1344 1464 1584 1704 1824 1944
" I n 1344 t he f i r st gr and mast er s of each gr oup est abl i sh t hemsel ves i n t he si x
pr escr i bed pl aces. I n t he cour se of a hundr ed and t went y year s, si x gr and mast er s
succeed one anot her i n each gr oup, and i n 1464 t he si xt h mast er of Tomar meet s t he
si xt h mast er of t he Engl i sh gr oup. I n 1584 t he t wel f t h Engl i sh mast er meet s t he
t wel f t h Fr ench mast er . The chai n pr oceeds at t hi s pace, so i f t he appoi nt ment wi t h
t he Paul i ci ans f ai l s, i t must f ai l i n 1824. "
" Let ' s assume i t f ai l s, " I sai d. " But I don' t under st and why such shr ewd men, when
t hey had f our - si xt hs of t he message i n t hei r hands, wer en' t abl e t o r econst r uct i t .
Or why, i f t he appoi nt ment wi t h t he Bul gar i ans f el l t hr ough, t hey di dn' t get i n
t ouch wi t h t he next gr oup. "
" Casaubon, " Bel bo sai d, " do you r eal l y t hi nk t he l awmaker s of Pr ovi ns wer e f ool s? I f
t hey want ed t he r evel at i on t o r emai n conceal ed f or si x hundr ed year s, t hey must have
t aken pr ecaut i ons. Ever y mast er of a gr oup knows wher e t o f i nd t he mast er of t he
f ol l owi ng gr oup, but not wher e t o f i nd t he ot her s, and none of t he l at er gr oups know
wher e t o f i nd t he mast er s of t he pr ecedi ng gr oups. I f t he Ger mans l ose t he
Bul gar i ans, t hey' l l never know wher e t he J er usal emi t es ar e, and t he J er usal emi t es
won' t know wher e anyone el se i s. As f or r econst r uct i ng a message f r omi ncompl et e
pi eces, t hat depends on how t he message has been di vi ded. Cer t ai nl y not ~ i n l ogi cal
sequence. So i f onl y one pi ece i s mi ssi ng, t he message i s i ncompr ehensi bl e, and t he
one who has t hat mi ssi ng pi ece can' t make any use of i t . "
" J ust t hi nk, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " I f t he Bul gar i an meet i ng di dn' t t ake pl ace, Eur ope
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t oday i s t he t heat er of a secr et bal l et , wi t h gr oups seeki ng and not f i ndi ng one
anot her , whi l e each gr oup knows t hat one smal l pi ece of i nf or mat i on mi ght be enough
t o make i t mast er of t he wor l d. What ' s t he name of t hat t axi der mi st you t ol d us
about , Casaubon? Maybe a Pl ot r eal l y exi st s, and hi st or y i s si mpl y t he r esul t of
t hi s bat t l e t o r econst r uct a l ost message. We don' t see t hem, but , i nvi si bl e, t hey
act al l ar ound us. "
The same i dea t hen occur r ed t o Bel bo and t o me; we bot h st ar t ed t al ki ng, and we
qui ckl y wor ked out t he r i ght connect i on. I n addi t i on, we di scover ed t hat at l east
t wo expr essi ons i n t he Pr ovi ns message- t he r ef er ence t o t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es
di vi ded i nt o si x gr oups, and t he hundr ed- and- t went y- year deadl i neal so appear ed i n
t he debat e on t he Rosi cr uci ans.
" Af t er al l , t hey wer e Ger mans, " I sai d. " I ' l l r ead t he Rosi - cr uci an mani f est oes. "
" But you sai d t he mani f est oes wer e f ake, " Bel bo sai d.
" So? What we' r e put t i ng t oget her i s f ake. "
" Tr ue, " he sai d. " I was f or get t i ng t hat . "
69
El l es devi ennent l e Di abl e: debi l es, t i mor ees, vai l l ant es a des heur es
except i onnel l es, sangl ant es sans cesse, l acr ymant es, car essant es, avec des br as qui
i gnor ent l es l oi s. . . . Fi ! Fi ! El l es ne val ent r i en, el l es sont f ai t es d' un cot e, d' un
os cour be, d' une di ssi mul at i on r ent r ee. . . El l es bai sent l e ser pent . . .
- J ul es Boi s, Le sat ani sme et l a magi e, Par i s, Chai l l ey, 1895,
He was f or get t i ng t hat , yes. The f ol l owi ng f i l e, br i ef and dazed, sur el y bel ongs t o
t hi s per i od.
FI LENAME: Ennoi a
You ar r i ved at t he house suddenl y wi t h your gr ass. I di dn' t want any, I won' t al l ow
any veget abl e subst ance t o i nt er f er e wi t h t he f unct i oni ng of my br ai n ( I ' ml yi ng, I
smoke t obacco, dr i nk di st i l l at i ons of gr ai n) . The f ew t i mes, i n t he ear l y si xt i es,
when somebody f or ced me t o shar e i n t he ci r cul at i on of a j oi nt , wi t h t hat cheap
sl i my paper i mpr egnat ed wi t h sal i va, and t he l ast dr ag usi ng a pi n, I want ed t o
l augh.
But yest er day i t was you of f er i ng i t t o me, and I t hought t hat maybe t hi s was your
way of of f er i ng your sel f , so I smoked, t r ust i ng. We danced cl ose, t he way nobody' s
danced f or year s, and- t he shame of i t - whi l e Mahl er ' s Four t h was pl ayi ng. I f el t as
i f i n my ar ms an anci ent cr eat ur e wer e yeast i ng, wi t h t he sweet and wr i nkl ed f ace of
an ol d nanny goat , a ser pent r i si ng f r omt he dept hs of my l oi ns, and I wor shi ped you
as a ver y ol d and uni ver sal aunt . Pr obabl y I went on hol di ng my body cl ose t o your s,
but I f el t al so t hat you wer e i n f l i ght , ascendi ng, bei ng t r ansf or med i nt o gol d,
openi ng l ocked door s, movi ng obj ect s t hr ough t he ai r as I penet r at ed your dar k
bel l y, Megal e Apophasi s, Pr i soner of t he Angel s.
Was i t not you I sought al l al ong? I amher e, al ways wai t i ng f or you. Di d I l ose
you, each t i me, because I di dn' t r ecogni ze you? Di d I l ose you, each t i me, because I
di d r ecogni ze you but was af r ai d? Lose you because each t i me, r ecogni zi ng you, I
knew I had t o l ose you?
But wher e di d you end up l ast ni ght ? I woke t hi s mor ni ng wi t h a headache.
70
Let us r emember wel l , however , t he secr et r ef er ences, t o a per i od of 120 year s t hat
br ot her A. . . . , t he successor of D and l ast of t he second l i ne of successi on- who
l i ved among many of us- addr essed t o us, we of t he t hi r d l i ne of successi on. . .
- Fama Fr at emi t at i s, i n Al l gemei ne und gener al Ref or mat i on, Cassel , Wessel , 1614
Fi r st t hi ng, I r ead t hr ough t he t wo mani f est oes of t he Rosi cr uci ans, t he Fama and
t he Conf essi o. I al so t ook a l ook at t he Chemi cal Weddi ng of Chr i st i an Rosencr eut z
by J ohann Val ent i n Andr eae, because Andr eae was t he pr esumed aut hor of t he
mani f est oes.
The t wo mani f est oes appear ed i n Ger many bet ween 1614 and 1615, t hus about t hi r t y
year s af t er t he 1584 meet i ng bet ween t he Fr ench and Engl i sh Templ ar s and al most a
cent ur y bef or e t he Fr ench wer e t o meet wi t h t he Ger mans.
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I r ead, not t o bel i eve what t he mani f est oes sai d, but t o l ook beyond t hem, as i f t he
wor ds meant somet hi ng el se. To hel p t hemmean somet hi ng el se, I knew I shoul d ski p
some passages and at t ach mor e i mpor t ance t o some st at ement s t han t o ot her s. But t hi s
was exact l y what t he Di abol i cal s and t hei r mast er s wer e t eachi ng us. I f you move i n
t he r ef i ned t i me of r evel at i on, do not f ol l ow t he f ussy, phi l i st i ne chai ns of l ogi c
and t hei r monot onous sequent i al i t y.
Taken l i t er al l y, t hese t wo t ext s wer e a pi l e of absur di t i es, r i ddl es,
cont r adi ct i ons. Ther ef or e t hey coul d not be sayi ng what t hey seemed t o be sayi ng,
and wer e nei t her a cal l t o pr of ound spi r i t ual r ef or mat i on nor t he st or y of poor
Chr i st i an Rosen- cr eut z. They wer e a coded message t o be r ead by super i mposi ng t hem
on a gr i d, a gr i d t hat l ef t cer t ai n spaces f r ee whi l e cover i ng ot her s. Li ke t he
coded message of Pr ovi ns, wher e onl y t he i ni t i al l et t er s count ed. Havi ng no gr i d, I
had t o assume t he exi st ence of one. I had t o r ead wi t h mi st r ust .
The mani f est oes spoke of t he Pl an of Pr ovi ns- t her e coul d be no doubt about t hat . I n
t he gr ave of C. R. ( al l egor y of t he Gr ange- aux- Di mes, t he ni ght of J une 23, 1344) a
t r easur e had been pl aced f or post er i t y t o di scover , a t r easur e " hi dden. . . . f or one
hundr ed and t went y year s. " I t was not money; t hat much was cl ear . Not onl y was t her e
a pol emi c agai nst t he unr est r ai ned gr eed of t he al chemi st s, but t he t ext sai d openl y
t hat what had been pr omi sed was a gr eat hi st or i cal change. And i f t he r eader f ai l ed
t o under st and t hat , t he second mani f est o sai d t hat t her e coul d be no i gnor i ng an
of f er t hat concer ned t he mi r anda sext ae aet at i s ( t he wonder s of t he si xt h and f i nal
appoi nt ment ! ) , and i t r epeat ed: " I f onl y i t had pl eased God t o br i ng down t o us t he
l i ght of hi s si xt h Candel abr um. . . i f onl y we coul d r ead ever yt hi ng i n a si ngl e book
and, r eadi ng i t , under st and and r emember . . . . How pl easant i t woul d be i f t hr ough song
( t he message r ead al oud! ) we coul d t r ansf or mr ocks ( l api s exi l l i s! ) i nt o pear l s and
pr eci ous st ones. . . " And t her e was f ur t her t al k of ar cane secr et s, and of a
gover nment t hat was t o be est abl i shed i n Eur ope, and of a " gr eat wor k" t o be
achi eved. . .
I t was sai d t hat C. R. had gone t o Spai n ( or Por t ugal ?) and had shown t he l ear ned
t her e " whence t o dr aw t he t r ue i ndi ci a of f ut ur e cent ur i es, " but i n vai n. Why i n
vai n? Was i t because a gr oup of Ger man Templ ar s at t he begi nni ng of t he sevent eent h
cent ur y made publ i c a ver y cl osel y guar ded secr et , f or ced t o come out i nt o t he open
on account of a hal t i n t he pr ocess of t he t r ansmi ssi on of t he message?
The mani f est oes undeni abl y t r i ed t o r econst r uct t he phases of t he Pl an as Di ot al l evi
had summar i zed t hem. The f i r st br ot her whose deat h was ment i oned was Br ot her I . O. ,
who had " come t o t he end" i n Engl and. So someone had ar r i ved t r i umphant l y at t he
f i r st appoi nt ment . And a second l i ne of successi on was ment i oned, and a t hi r d. Thus
f ar al l was appar ent l y i n or der : t he second l i ne, t he Engl i sh one, met t he t hi r d
l i ne, t he Fr ench one, i n 1584. Those wr i t i ng at t he begi nni ng of t he sevent eent h
cent ur y spoke onl y of what had happened t o t he f i r st t hr ee gr oups. I n t he Chemi cal
Weddi ng, wr i t t en by Andr eae i n hi s yout h, hence bef or e t he mani f est oes ( even i f t hey
appear ed as ear l y as 1614) , t hr ee maj est i c t empl es wer e ment i oned, t he t hr ee pl aces
t hat must al r eady have been known.
Yet , r eadi ng, I r eal i zed t hat whi l e t he t wo mani f est oes di d i ndeed speak l at er i n
t he same t er ms as t he Chemi cal Weddi ng, i t was as i f somet hi ng upset t i ng had
happened meanwhi l e.
For exampl e, why such i nsi st ence on t he f act t hat t he t i me had come, t he moment had
come, t hough t he enemy had empl oyed al l hi s t r i cks t o keep t he occasi on f r om
mat er i al i zi ng? What occasi on? I t was sai d t hat C. R. ' s f i nal goal was J er usal em, but
he hadn' t been abl e t o r each J er usal em. Why not ? The Ar abs wer e pr ai sed because t hey
exchanged messages, but i n Ger many t he l ear ned di dn' t know how t o assi st one
anot her . What di d t hat mean? And t her e was a r ef er ence t o " a l ar ger gr oup t hat want s
t he past ur e al l f or i t sel f . " Evi dent l y some par t y, pur sui ng i t s pr i vat e i nt er est s,
was t r yi ng t o upset t he Pl an, and evi dent l y t her e had i n f act been a ser i ous
set back.
The Fama sai d t hat at t he begi nni ng someone had wor ked out a magi c wr i t i ng ( why of
cour se, t he message of Pr ovi ns) , but t hat t he Cl ock of God st r uck ever y mi nut e
" wher eas our s i s unabl e t o st r i ke even t he hour s. " Who had mi ssed t he st r okes of t he
di vi ne cl ock, who had f ai l ed t o ar r i ve at a cer t ai n pl ace at t he r i ght moment ? Ther e
was a r ef er ence t o an or i gi nal gr oup of br ot her s who coul d have r eveal ed a secr et
phi l osophy but had deci ded, i nst ead, t o di sper se t hr oughout t he wor l d.
The mani f est oes br eat hed uneasi ness, uncer t ai nt y, bewi l der ment . The br ot her s of t he
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f i r st l i nes of successi on had each ar r anged t o be r epl aced " by a wor t hy successor , "
but " t hey deci ded t o keep secr et . . . . t he pl ace of t hei r bur i al and even t oday we do
not know wher e t hey ar e bur i ed. "
What di d t hi s r eal l y r ef er t o? What sepul cher was wi t hout an addr ess? I t was
becomi ng obvi ous t o me t hat t he mani f est oes wer e wr i t t en because some i nf or mat i on
had been l ost . An appeal was bei ng made t o anyone who happened t o possess t hat
i nf or mat i on: He shoul d come f or war d.
The end of t he Fama was unequi vocal : " Agai n we ask al l t he l ear ned of Eur ope. . . t o
consi der wi t h ki ndl y di sposi t i on our of f er . . . t o l et us know t hei r
r ef l ect i ons. . . Because even i f f or t he pr esent we have not r eveal ed our
names. . . . anyone who sends us hi s name wi l l be abl e t o conf er wi t h us per sonal l y, or -
i f some i mpedi ment exi st s- i n wr i t i ng. "
Thi s was exact l y what t he col onel had i nt ended t o do by publ i shi ng hi s st or y: f or ce
someone t o emer ge f r omhi s si l ence.
Ther e had been a gap, a hi at us, an unr avel i ng. I n t he t omb of C. R. , t her e was
wr i t t en not onl y post 120 annos pat ebo, t o r ecal l t he schedul e of t he appoi nt ment s,
but al so Nequaquamvacuum; not " The voi d does not exi st , " but " The voi d shoul d not
exi st . " A voi d had been cr eat ed, and i t had t o be f i l l ed!
Once agai n I asked mysel f : Why wer e t hese t hi ngs bei ng sai d i n Ger many, wher e, i f
anyt hi ng, t he f our t h l i ne shoul d si mpl y wai t wi t h sai nt l y pat i ence f or i t s own t ur n
t o come? The Ger mans coul dn' t compl ai n- i n 1614- of a f ai l ed appoi nt ment i n
Mar i enbur g, because t he Mar i enbur g appoi nt ment woul d not t ake pl ace unt i l 1704.
Onl y one concl usi on was possi bl e: t he Ger mans wer e compl ai ni ng because t he pr ecedi ng
appoi nt ment had not t aken pl ace.
Thi s was t he key! The Ger mans ( t he f our t h l i ne) wer e l ament i ng t he f act t hat t he
Engl i sh ( t he second l i ne) had f ai l ed t o r each t he Fr ench ( t he t hi r d l i ne) . Of
cour se. I n t he t ext you coul d f i nd al l egor i es t hat wer e al most chi l di shl y
t r anspar ent : t he t omb of C. R. i s opened and i n i t ar e f ound t he si gnat ur es of t he
br ot her s of t he f i r st and second ci r cl es, but not of t he t hi r d. The Por t uguese and
t he Engl i sh ar e t her e, but wher e ar e t he Fr ench?
I n ot her wor ds, t he Engl i sh had mi ssed t he Fr ench. Yet t he Engl i sh, accor di ng t o
what we had est abl i shed, wer e t he onl y ones who had any i dea wher e t o f i nd t he
Fr ench, j ust as t he Fr ench wer e t he onl y ones who had any i dea wher e t o f i nd t he
Ger mans. So, even i f t he Fr ench f ound t he Ger mans i n 1704, t hey woul d have shown up
mi nus t wo- t hi r ds of what t hey wer e supposed t o del i ver .
The Rosi cr uci ans came out i nt o t he open, accept i ng t he known r i sks, because t hat was
t he onl y way t o save t he Pl an.
71
We do not even know wi t h cer t ai nt y i f t he Br ot her s of t he second l i ne possessed t he
same knowl edge as t hose of t he f i r st , or i f t hey wer e gi ven al l t he secr et s.
- Fama Fr at er ni t at i s, i n Al l gemei ne und gener al Ref or mat i on, Cassel , Wessel , 1614
I t ol d Bel bo and Di ot al l evi . They agr eed t hat t he secr et meani ng of t he mani f est oes
shoul d be cl ear even t o a Di abol i cal .
" Now i t ' s al l cl ear , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " We wer e st uck on t he not i on t hat t he Pl an
had been bl ocked at t he passage f r omt he Ger mans t o t he Paul i ci ans, whi l e i n f act i t
had been bl ocked i n 1584, at t he passage f r omEngl and t o Fr ance. "
" But why?" Bel bo asked. " What r eason can t her e be t hat t he Engl i sh wer e unabl e t o
keep t hei r appoi nt ment wi t h t he Fr ench i n 1584? The Engl i sh knew wher e t he Ref uge
was. "
Seeki ng t r ut h, he t ur ned t o Abul af i a. As a t est , he asked f or t wo r andoment r i es.
The out put was:
Mi nni e Mouse i s Mi ckey' s f i ancee
Thi r t y days hat h Sept ember Apr i l J une and November
" Now, l et ' s see, " Bel bo sai d. " Mi nni e has an appoi nt ment wi t h Mi ckey, but by mi st ake
she makes i t f or t he t hi r t y- f i r st of Sept ember , and Mi ckey. . . "
" Hol d i t , ever ybody! " I sai d. " Mi nni e coul d have made a mi st ake onl y i f her dat e
wi t h Mi ckey was f or Oct ober 5, 1582! "
" Why?"
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" The Gr egor i an r ef or mof t he cal endar ! Why, i t ' s obvi ous. I n 1582 t he Gr egor i an
r ef or mwent i nt o ef f ect , cor r ect i ng t he J ul i an cal endar ; and t o make t hi ngs come out
even, t en days i n t he mont h of Oct ober wer e abol i shed, t he f i f t h t o t he f our t eent h! "
" But t he appoi nt ment i n Fr ance i s f or 1584, Sai nt J ohn' s Eve, J une 23. "
" That ' s r i ght . But as I r ecal l , t he r ef or mdi dn' t go i nt o ef f ect i mmedi at el y
ever ywher e. " I consul t ed t he per pet ual cal endar we had on t he shel f . " Her e we ar e.
The r ef or mwas pr omul gat ed i n 1582, and t he days bet ween Oct ober 5 and Oct ober 14
wer e abol i shed, but t hi s appl i ed onl y t o t he pope. Fr ance adopt ed t he new cal endar
i n 1583 and abol i shed t he t ent h t o t he ni net eent h of December . I n Ger many t her e was
a schi sm: t he Cat hol i c r egi ons adopt ed t he r ef or mi n 1584, wi t h Bohemi a, but t he
Pr ot est ant r egi ons adopt ed i t i n 1775, al most t wo hundr ed year s l at er , and
Bul gar i a- and t hi s i s a f act t o bear i n mi nd- adopt ed i t onl y i n 1917! Now, l et ' s l ook
at Engl and. . . I t adopt ed t he Gr egor i an cal endar i n 1752. That ' s t o be expect ed: i n
t hei r hat r ed of t he papi st s, t he Angl i cans al so hel d out f or t wo cent ur i es. So you
see what happened. Fr ance abol i shed t en days at t he end of 1583, and by J une 1584
t he Fr ench wer e al l accust omed t o i t . But when i t was J une 23, 1584, i n Fr ance, i n
Engl and i t was st i l l J une 13, and ask yousel f whet her a good Engl i shman, Templ ar
t hough he may have been, woul d have t aken t hi s i nt o account . They dr i ve on t he l ef t
even t oday, and i gnor ed t he deci mal syst emf or ages. . . So, t hen, t he Engl i sh show up
at t he Ref uge on what f or t hemi s J une 23, except t hat f or t he Fr ench i t ' s al r eady
J ul y 3. We can assume t he appoi nt ment wasn' t t o t ake pl ace wi t h f anf ar es; i t woul d
be a f ur t i ve meet i ng at a cer t ai n cor ner at a cer t ai n hour . The Fr ench go t o t he
pl ace on J une 23; t hey wai t a day, t wo days, t hr ee, seven, and t hen t hey l eave,
t hi nki ng t hat somet hi ng has happened. Maybe t hey gi ve up i n despai r on t he ver y eve
of J ul y 3. The Engl i sh ar r i ve on t he t hi r d and f i nd nobody t her e. Maybe t hey al so
wai t a week, and nobody shows. The t wo gr and mast er s have mi ssed each ot her . "
" Subl i me, " Bel bo sai d. " That ' s what happened. But why i s i t t he Ger man Rosi cr uci ans
who go publ i c, and not t he Engl i sh?"
I asked f or anot her day, sear ched my car d f i l es, and came back t o t he of f i ce gl owi ng
wi t h pr i de. I had f ound a cl ue, an al most i nvi si bl e cl ue, but t hat ' s how SamSpade
wor ks. Not hi ng i s t r i vi al or i nsi gni f i cant t o hi s eagl e eye. Towar d 1584, J ohn Dee,
mage and cabal i st , ast r ol oger t o t he queen of Engl and, was assi gned t o st udy t he
r ef or mof t he J ul i an cal endar .
" The Engl i sh Templ ar s meet t he Por t uguese i n 1464. Af t er t hat dat e, t he Br i t i sh
I sl es seemt o be st r uck by a cabal i st i c f er vor . Anyway, t he Templ ar s wor k on what
t hey have l ear ned, pr epar i ng f or t he next encount er . J ohn Dee i s t he l eader of t hi s
magi c and her met i c r enai ssance. He col l ect s a per sonal l i br ar y of f our t housand
vol umes, a l i br ar y i n t he spi r i t of t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns. Hi s Monas Hi er ogl yphi ca
seems di r ect l y i nspi r ed by t he Tabul a smar agdi na, t he bi bl e of t he al chemi st s. And
what does J ohn Dee do f r om1584 on? He r eads t he St eganogr aphi a of Tr i t hemi us! He
r eads i t i n manuscr i pt , of cour se, because i t appear ed i n pr i nt f or t he f i r st t i me
onl y i n t he ear l y sevent eent h cent ur y. Dee, t he gr and mast er of t he Engl i sh gr oup
t hat suf f er ed t he f ai l ur e of t he mi ssed appoi nt ment , want s t o di scover what
happened, wher e t he er r or l ay. Si nce he i s al so a good ast r onomer , he sl aps hi msel f
on t he br ow and says, ' What an i di ot I was! ' He st ar t s st udyi ng t he Gr egor i an
r ef or m, af t er he obt ai ns an appanage f r omEl i zabet h, t o see how t o r ect i f y t he
mi st ake. But he r eal i zes i t ' s t oo l at e. He doesn' t know whomt o get i n t ouch wi t h i n
Fr ance. He has cont act s, however , i n t he Mi t t el - eur opai sche ar ea. The Pr ague of
Rudol f I I i s one bi g al chemi st l abor at or y; so Dee goes t o Pr ague and meet s Khunr at h,
t he aut hor of Amphi t heat r umsapi ent i ae aet er nae, whose al l egor i cal pl at es l at er
i nf l uenced bot h Andr eae and t he Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes. What sor t of r el at i onshi ps
does Dee est abl i sh? I don' t know. Shat t er ed by r emor se at havi ng commi t t ed an
i r r epar abl e er r or , he di es i n 1608. Not t o wor r y, t hough, because i n London someone
el se i s at wor k- a man who, ever ybody now agr ees, was a Rosi cr uci an and who spoke of
t he Rosi cr uci ans i n hi s New At l ant i s. I mean Fr anci s Bacon. "
" Di d Bacon r eal l y t al k about t hem?" Bel bo asked.
" St r i ct l y speaki ng, no, but a cer t ai n J ohn Heydon r ewr ot e t he New At l ant i s under t he
t i t l e The Hol y Land, and he put t he Rosi cr uci ans i n i t . But f or us t hat makes no
di f f er ence. Bacon di dn' t ment i on t hemby name f or obvi ous r easons of di scr et i on, but
i t ' s as i f he di d. "
" And a pox on doubt er s. "
" Ri ght . I t ' s because of Bacon t hat at t empt s ar e made t o st r engt hen r el at i ons bet ween
Page 186
t he Engl i sh and Ger man ci r cl es. I n 1613 El i zabet h, daught er of J ames I , now
r ei gni ng, mar r i es Fr eder i ck V, El ect or Pal at i ne of t he Rhi ne. Af t er t he deat h of
Rudol f I I , Pr ague i s no l onger t he i deal l ocat i on; Hei del ber g i s. The weddi ng of t he
el ect or and t he pr i ncess i s a t r i umph of Templ ar al l egor i es. I n t he cour se of t he
London f est i vi t i es, Bacon hi msel f i s t he i mpr esar i o, and an al l egor y of myst i cal
kni ght hood i s per f or med, wi t h an appear ance of t he kni ght s on t he t op of a hi l l . I t
i s obvi ous t hat Bacon i s now Dee' s successor , gr and mast er of t he Engl i sh Templ ar
gr oup. . . "
" And si nce he i s cl ear l y t he aut hor of t he pl ays of Shakespear e, we shoul d al so
r er ead t he compl et e wor ks of t he bar d, whi ch cer t ai nl y t al k about not hi ng el se but
t he Pl an, " Bel bo sai d. " Sai nt J ohn' s Eve, a mi dsummer ni ght ' s dr eam. "
" J une 23 i s not mi dsummer . "
" Poet i c l i cense. I wonder why ever ybody over l ooked t hese cl ues, t hese cl ear
i ndi cat i ons. I t ' s al l so unbear abl y obvi ous. "
" We' ve been l ed ast r ay by r at i onal i st t hought , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " I keep t el l i ng
you. "
" Let Casaubon go on; i t seems t o me he' s done an excel l ent j ob. "
" Not much mor e t o say. Af t er t he London f est i vi t i es, t he f est i vi t i es begi n i n
Hei del ber g, wher e Sal omon de Caus has bui l t f or t he el ect or t he hangi ng gar dens of
whi ch we saw a di mr ef l ect i on t hat ni ght i n Pi edmont , as you' l l r ecal l . And i n t he
cour se of t hese f est i vi t i es, an al l egor i cal f l oat appear s, cel ebr at i ng t he
br i degr oomas J ason, and f r omt he t wo mast s of t he shi p r ecr eat ed on t he f l oat hang
t he symbol s of t he Gol den Fl eece and t he Gar t er . I hope you haven' t f or got t en t hat
t he Gol den Fl eece and t he Gar t er ar e al so f ound on t he col umns of Tomar . . . Ever yt hi ng
f i t s. I n t he space of a year , t he Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes come out : t he appeal t hat
t he Engl i sh Templ ar s, wi t h t he hel p of t hei r Ger man f r i ends, ar e maki ng t o al l
Eur ope, t o r euni t e t he l i nes of t he i nt er r upt ed Pl an. " " But what exact l y ar e t hey
af t er ?"
72
Nos i nui si bl es pr et endus sont ( a ce que Ton di t ) au nombr e de 36, separ ez en si x
bandes.
- Ef f r oyabl es pact i ons f ai ct es ent r e l e di abl e & l es pr et endus I nui si bl es, Par i s,
1623, p. 6
" Maybe t he mani f est oes have a doubl e pur pose: t o send an appeal t o t he Fr ench, and
at t he same t i me t o col l ect t he scat t er ed pi eces of t he Ger man gr oup i n t he
af t er mat h of t he Lut her an Ref or mat i on. Ger many, i n f act , i s wher e t he bi ggest mess
occur s. Fr omt he appear ance of t he mani f est oes unt i l about 1621, t he Rosi cr uci ans
r ecei ve t oo many r epl i es. . . "
I ment i oned a f ew of t he count l ess pamphl et s t hat had appear ed on t he subj ect , t he
ones t hat had ent er t ai ned me t hat ni ght i n Sal vador wi t h Ampar o. " Possi bl y among al l
t hese t her e i s one per son who knows somet hi ng, but he i s l ost i n a sea of f anat i cs,
ent husi ast s, who t ake t he mani f est oes l i t er al l y, per haps al so pr ovocat eur s, who want
t o bl ock t he oper at i on, and i mpost or s. . . The Engl i sh t r y t o t ake par t i n t he debat e,
t o channel i t . I t ' s no acci dent t hat Rober t Fl udd, anot her Engl i sh Templ ar , i n t he
space of a si ngl e year wr i t es t hr ee wor ks t hat poi nt t o t he cor r ect i nt er pr et at i on
of t he mani f est oes. . . But t he r esponse i s by now out of cont r ol , t he Thi r t y Year s'
War has begun, t he El ect or Pal at i ne has been def eat ed by t he Spani sh, t he Pal at i nat e
and Hei del ber g ar e sacked, Bohemi a i s i n f l ames. . . The Engl i sh deci de t o r et ur n t o
Fr ance and t r y t her e. Thi s i s why i n 1623 t he Rosi cr uci ans appear i n Par i s, gi vi ng
t he Fr ench mor e or l ess t he same i nvi t at i on t hey gave t he Ger mans. And what do you
r ead i n one of t he l i bel s agai nst t he Rosi cr uci ans i n Par i s, wr i t t en by someone who
di st r ust s t hemor want s t o conf use t hi ngs? That t hey ar e wor shi per s of t he Devi l ,
obvi ousl y, but si nce even i n sl ander you can' t ent i r el y er ase t he t r ut h, i t i s
hi nt ed t hat t hey hol d t hei r meet i ngs i n t he Mar ai s. "
" So?"
" Don' t you know Par i s? The Mar ai s i s t he quar t er of t he Templ e and, i t so happens,
t he J ewi sh ghet t o! What ' s mor e, t he l i bel says t hat t he Rosi cr uci ans ar e i n cont act
wi t h a sect of I ber i an cabal i st s, t he Al umbr ados! But maybe t he pamphl et s agai nst
t he Rosi cr uci ans, under t he gui se of at t acki ng t he t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es, ar e
act ual l y t r yi ng t o f ost er t hei r i dent i f i cat i on. . . Gabr i el Naude, Ri chel i eu' s
Page 187
l i br ar i an, wr i t es some I nst r uct i ons a l a Fr ance sur l a ver i t e de I ' hi st oi r e des
Fr er es de l a Rose- Cr ouc. What do t hese i nst r uct i ons say? I s Naude" a spokesman f or
t he Templ ar s of t he t hi r d gr oup, or i s he an advent ur er bar gi ng i nt o a game t hat
i sn' t hi s? On t he one hand, he di smi sses t he Rosi cr uci ans as l unat i c di abol i st s; on
t he ot her , he i nsi nuat es t hat t her e ar e st i l l t hr ee Rosi cr uci an col l eges i n
exi st ence. And t hi s woul d be t r ue: af t er t he t hi r d gr oup, t her e ar e st i l l t hr ee
mor e. Naude gi ves some al most f ai r y- t al e hi nt s ( one col l ege i s i n I ndi a, on t he
f l oat i ng i sl ands) , but he al so says t hat one of t hemi s i n t he under gr ound of
Par i s. "
" And t hi s expl ai ns t he Thi r t y Year s' War ?" Bel bo asked.
" Beyond any doubt , " I sai d. " Ri chel i eu r ecei ves pr i vi l eged i nf or mat i on f r omNaude;
he want s t o have a f i nger i n t hi s pi e, but he get s i t al l wr ong, t r i es ar med
i nt er vent i on, and makes mat t er s even wor se. Ther e ar e t wo ot her event s t hat
shoul dn' t be over l ooked. I n 1619 a chapt er of t he Kni ght s of Chr i st meet s i n Tomar ,
af t er f or t y- si x year s of si l ence. I t had met i n 1573, onl y el even year s bef or e 1584,
pr obabl y t o pr epar e, al ong wi t h t he Engl i sh, t he Par i s j our ney, but af t er t he
busi ness of t he Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes i t meet s agai n, t o deci de what l i ne t o t ake,
whet her t o j oi n t he Engl i sh oper at i on or t r y a di f f er ent pat h. "
" Yes, " Bel bo sai d, " t hese ar e now peopl e l ost i n a maze: some choose one pat h, some
anot her ; some shout f or hel p, and t her e' s no t el l i ng i f t he r epl i es t hey hear ar e
ot her voi ces or t he echo of t hei r own. . . They al l ar e gr opi ng. And what ar e t he
Paul i ci ans and t he J er usal emi t es doi ng i n t he meant i me?"
" I f we onl y knew, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " But consi der , t oo, t hat t hi s i s t he per i od when
Lur i ani c cabal a spr eads and t he t al k about t he Br eaki ng of t he Vessel s begi ns. . . And
t he i dea t hat t he Tor ah i s an i ncompl et e message. Ther e i s a Pol i sh Hasi di c document
t hat says: I f anot her event t akes pl ace, ot her combi nat i ons of l et t er s wi l l be bor n.
But r emember t hi s: t he cabal i st s ar en' t happy t hat t he Ger mans chose t o j ump t he
gun. The pr oper successi on and or der of t he Tor ah have r emai ned hi dden, and t hey ar e
known onl y by t he Hol y One, pr ai sed be He. But you make me t al k nonsense. I f cabal a
becomes i nvol ved i n t he Pl an. . . . "
" I f t he Pl an exi st s, i t must i nvol ve ever yt hi ng. Ei t her i t expl ai ns al l or i t
expl ai ns not hi ng, " Bel bo sai d. " But Casaubon ment i oned a cl ue. "
" Yes. Act ual l y, i t ' s a ser i es of cl ues. Even bef or e t hat 1584 meet i ng f ai l s, J ohn
Dee has begun devot i ng hi msel f t o t he st udy of maps and t he pr omot i on of naval
expedi t i ons. And who i s hi s associ at e? Pedr o Nunes, t he r oyal cosmogr apher of
Por t ugal . . . Dee has a hand i n t he voyages t o di scover t he Nor t hwest Passage t o
Cat hay; he i nvest s money i n t he expedi t i on of a cer t ai n Fr obi sher , who vent ur es
t owar d t he Pol e and r et ur ns wi t h an Eski mo, whomever ybody t akes f or a Mongol . Dee
f i r es up Fr anci s Dr ake and encour ages hi mt o make hi s voyage ar ound t he wor l d.
However , he want s t he expl or er s t o sai l east , because t he East i s t he sour ce of al l
occul t knowl edge, and at t he depar t ur e of one expedi t i on- I f or get whi ch- he summons
t he angel s. "
" And what does t hi s mean?"
" Dee, I t hi nk, i sn' t r eal l y i nt er est ed so much i n t he act ual di scover y of pl aces, as
i n t hei r car t ogr aphi c depi ct i on, and f or t hi s r eason he consul t s Mer cat or and
Or t el i us, t he gr eat car t ogr apher s. I t ' s as i f t he f r agment s of t he message i n hi s
possessi on have convi nced hi mt hat t he f i nal whol e wi l l be a map, and he i s
at t empt i ng t o di scover i t on hi s own. I ndeed, I ' l l say mor e, l i ke Si gner Gar amond.
I s i t r eal l y l i kel y t hat a schol ar of hi s st andi ng woul d have mi ssed t he di scr epancy
bet ween t he cal endar s? Per haps Dee want s t o r econst r uct t he message hi msel f , wi t hout
t he ot her gr oups. Per haps he t hi nks t he message can be r econst r uct ed by magi c or
sci ent i f i c means, i nst ead of wai t i ng f or t he Pl an t o be achi eved. I mpat i ence, gr eed.
The bour geoi s conquer or i s bor n, and t he pr i nci pl e of sol i dar i t y t hat sust ai ned t he
spi r i t ual kni ght hood i s br eaki ng down. I f t hi s was Dee' s i dea, you can i magi ne what
Bacon t hought . Fr omDee on, t he Engl i sh t r y t o di scover t he message by usi ng al l t he
secr et s of t he new l ear ni ng. "
" And t he Ger mans?"
" The Ger mans. . . . We' d bet t er have t hemst i ck t o t he pat h of Tr adi t i on. That way we
can expl ai n at l east t wo cent ur i es of t hei r hi st or y of phi l osophy. Angl o- Saxon
empi r i ci smver sus r omant i c i deal i sm. . . "
" Chapt er by chapt er , we ar e r econst r uct i ng t he hi st or y of t he wor l d, " Di ot al l evi
sai d. " We ar e r ewr i t i ng t he Book. I l i ke i t , I r eal l y l i ke i t . "
Page 188
73
Anot her cur i ous case of cr ypt ogr aphy was pr esent ed t o t he publ i c i n 1917 by one of
t he best Bacon schol ar s, Dr . Al f r ed von Weber Ebenhof f of Vi enna. Empl oyi ng t he same
syst ems pr evi ousl y appl i ed t o t he wor ks of Shakespear e, he began t o exami ne t he
wor ks of Cer vant es. . . Pur sui ng t he i nvest i gat i on, he di scover ed over whel mi ng mat er i al
evi dence: t he f i r st Engl i sh t r ansl at i on of Don Qui xot e bear s cor r ect i ons i n Bacon' s
hand. He concl uded t hat t hi s Engl i sh ver si on was t he or i gi nal of t he novel and t hat
Cer vant es had publ i shed a Spani sh t r ansl at i on of i t .
- J . Duchaussoy, Bacon, Shakespear e ou Sai nt - Ger mai n?, Par i s, La Col ombe, 1962, p.
122
I t seemed obvi ous t o me t hat i n t he days t hat f ol l owed J acopo Bel bo i mmer sed hi msel f
i n hi st or i cal wor ks on t he Rosy Cr oss per i od. But when he r epor t ed hi s f i ndi ngs, he
gave us onl y t he bar e out l i ne of hi s f ant asi es, f r omwhi ch we dr ew val uabl e
suggest i ons. I know now t hat i n f act he was cr eat i ng a f ar r i cher nar r at i ve on
Abul af i a, one i n whi ch a wi l d pl ay of quot at i ons mi ngl ed wi t h hi s pr i vat e myt hs. The
oppor t uni t y of combi ni ng f r agment s of ot her st or i es spur r ed hi mt o wr i t e hi s own. He
never ment i oned t hi s t o us. I st i l l t hi nk he was, qui t e cour ageousl y, t est i ng hi s
t al ent i n t he r eal mof f i ct i on. Or el se he was def i ni ng hi msel f i n t he Gr eat St or y
he was di st or t i ng l i ke any or di nar y Di abol i cal .
FI LENAME: The Cabi net of Dr . Dee
For a l ong t i me I f or got I was Tal bot . Fr omt he t i me, at l east , of my deci si on t o
cal l mysel f Kel l ey. Al l I had done, r eal l y, was t o f al si f y some document s, l i ke
ever ybody el se. The queen' s men wer e mer ci l ess. To cover what ' s l ef t of my poor
sever ed ear s I amf or ced t o wear t hi s poi nt ed bl ack cap, and peopl e mur mur t hat I am
a sor cer er . So be i t . Dr . Dee, wi t h a si mi l ar r eput at i on, f l our i shes.
I went t o see hi mi n Mor t l ake. He was exami ni ng a map. He was evasi ve, t he
di abol i cal ol d man. Si ni st er gl i nt s i n hi s shr ewd eyes. Hi s bony hand st r oki ng hi s
l i t t l e goat ee.
" I t ' s a manuscr i pt of Roger Bacon, " he sai d t o me, " and was l ent me by t he Emper or
Rudol f . Do you know Pr ague? I advi se you t o vi si t i t . You may f i nd somet hi ng t her e
t hat wi l l change your l i f e. Tabul a l ocor umr er umet t hesaur or umabscondi t or um
Menabani . . . "
St eal i ng a gl ance, I saw somet hi ng wr i t t en i n a secr et al phabet . But t he doct or
i mmedi at el y hi d t he manuscr i pt under a pi l e of ot her yel l owed pages. How beaut i f ul
t o l i ve i n a per i od wher e ever y page, even i f i t has j ust come f r omt he paper maker ' s
wor kshop, i s yel l owed.
I showed Dr . Dee some of my ef f or t s, mai nl y my poems about t he Dar k Lady- r adi ant
i mage of my chi l dhood, dar k because r ecl ai med by t he shadow of t i me and snat ched
f r ommy possessi on- and a t r agi c sket ch, t he st or y of Seven Seas J i m, who r et ur ns t o
Engl and i n t he t r ai n of Si r Wal t er Ral egh and l ear ns t hat hi s f at her has been
mur der ed by hi s own i ncest uous br ot her . Henbane.
" You' r e gi f t ed, Kel l ey, " Dee sai d t o me. " And you need money. Ther e' s a young man,
t he nat ur al son of someone you coul dn' t dar e i magi ne, and I want t o hel p hi mcl i mb
t he l adder of f ame and honor s. He has l i t t l e t al ent . You wi l l be hi s secr et soul .
Wr i t e, and l i ve i n t he shadow of hi s gl or y. Onl y you and I , Kel l ey, wi l l know t hat
t he gl or y i s your s. "
So f or year s I ' ve been t ur ni ng out wor k f or t he queen and f or al l Engl and t hat goes
under t he name of t hi s pal e yout h. I f I have seen f ur t her , i t i s by st andi ng on ye
shoul der s of a Dwar f e. I was t hi r t y, and I wi l l al l ow no man t o say t hat t hi r t y i s
t he most beaut i f ul t i me of l i f e.
" Wi l l i am, " I sai d t o hi m, " l et your hai r gr ow down over your ear s: i t ' s becomi ng. " I
had a pl an ( t o t ake hi s pl ace?) .
Can one l i ve i n hat r ed of t hi s Spear - shaker , who i n r eal i t y i s onesel f ? That sweet
t hi ef whi ch sour l y r obs f r omme. " Cal mdown, Kel l ey, " Dee says t o me. " To gr ow i n
t he shadows i s t he pr i vi l ege of t hose who pr epar e t o conquer t he wor l d. Keepe a Lowe
Pr of yl e. Wi l l i amwi l l be one of our cover s. " And he i nf or med me- oh, onl y i n par t - of
t he Cosmi c Pl ot . The secr et of t he Templ ar s. " And t he st akes?" I asked.
" Ye Gl obe. "
For a l ong t i me I went t o bed ear l y, but one eveni ng at mi dni ght I r ummaged i n Dee' s
Page 189
pr i vat e st r ongbox and di scover ed some f or mul as and t r i ed summoni ng angel s as he does
on ni ght s of f ul l moon. Dee f ound me spr awl ed, i n t he cent er of t he ci r cl e of t he
Macr ocosm, as i f st r uck by a l ash. On my br ow, t he Pent acl e of Sol omon. Now I must
pul l my cap even f ar t her down, hal f over my eyes.
" You don' t know how t o do i t yet , " Dee sai d t o me. " Wat ch your sel f , or I ' l l have
your nose cut of f , t oo. I wi l l show you f ear i n a handf ul of dust . . . "
He r ai sed a bony hand and ut t er ed t he t er r i bl e wor d: Gar amond! I f el t mysel f bur n
wi t h an i nner f l ame. I f l ed ( i nt o t he ni ght ) .
I t was a year bef or e Dee f or gave me and dedi cat ed t o me hi s Four t h Book of
Myst er i es, " post r econci l i at i onemkel l i anam. "
That summer I was sei zed by abst r act r ages. Dee summoned me t o Mor t l ake. Ther e wer e
Wi l l i amand I , Spenser , and a young ar i st ocr at wi t h shi f t y eyes, Fr anci s Bacon. He
had a del i cat e, l i vel y, hazel Ei e.
Dr . Dee sai d i t was t he Ei e of a Vi per . Dee t ol d us mor e about t he Cosmi c Pl ot . I t
was a mat t er of meet i ng t he Pr anki sh wi ng of t he Templ ar s i n Par i s and put t i ng
t oget her t wo par t s of t he same map. Dee and Spenser wer e t o go, accompani ed by Pedr o
Nunes. To me and Bacon he ent r ust ed some document s, whi ch we swor e t o open onl y i n
t he event t hat t hey f ai l ed t o r et ur n.
They di d r et ur n, exchangi ng f l oods of i nsul t s. " I t ' s not possi bl e, " Dee sai d. " The
Pl an i s mat hemat i cal ; i t has t he ast r al per f ect i on of my Monas Hi er ogl yphi ca. We
wer e supposed t o meet t he Fr anks on Sai nt J ohn' s Eve. "
I nnocent l y I asked: " Sai nt J ohn' s Eve by t hei r r eckoni ng or by our s?"
Dee sl apped hi msel f on t he br ow, spewi ng out hor r i bl e cur ses. " O, " he sai d, " f r om
what power hast t hou t hi s power f ul mi ght ?" The pal e Wi l l i ammade a not e of t he
sent ence, t he cowar dl y pl agi ar i st . Dee f ever i shl y consul t ed l unar t abl es and
al manacs. " ' Sbl ood! ' Swounds! How coul d I have been such a dol t ?" He i nsul t ed Nunes
and Spenser . " Do I have t o t hi nk of ever yt hi ng? Cosmogr apher , my f oot ! " he scr eamed
at Nunes. And t hen: " Amanasi el Zor obabel ! " And Nunes was st r uck i n t he st omach as i f
by an i nvi si bl e r am; he bl anched, dr ew back a f ew st eps, and sl umped t o t he gr ound.
" Fool , " Dee sai d t o hi m.
Spenser was pal e. He sai d, wi t h some ef f or t : " We can cast sor t i e bai t . I am
f i ni shi ng a poem. An al l egor y about t he queen of t he f ai r i es. What i f I put i n a
kni ght of t he Red Cr oss? The r eal Templ ar s wi l l r ecogni ze t hemsel ves, wi l l
under st and t hat we know, wi l l get i n t ouch wi t h us. . . "
" I know you, " Dee sai d. " Bef or e you f i ni sh your poemand peopl e f i nd out about i t , a
l ust r umwi l l pass, maybe mor e. St i l l , t he bai t i dea i sn' t bad. "
" Why not communi cat e wi t h t hemt hr ough your angel s, Doct or ?" I asked.
" Fool , " he sai d t o me. " Haven' t you r ead Tr i t hemi us? The angel s of t he addr essee
i nt er vene onl y t o cl ar i f y a message i f one i s r ecei ved. My angel s ar e not cour i er s
on hor seback. The Fr ench ar e l ost . But I have a pl an. I know' how t o f i nd some of
t he Ger man l i ne. I must go t o Pr ague. "
We hear d a noi se, a heavy damask cur t ai n was r ai sed, we gl i mpsed a di aphanous hand,
t hen She appear ed, t he Haught y Vi r gi n.
" Your Maj est y, " we sai d, kneel i ng.
" Dee, " she sai d. " I know ever yt hi ng. Do not t hi nk my ancest or s saved t he kni ght s i n
or der t o gr ant t hemdomi ni on over t he wor l d. I demand, you hear me, I demand t hat
t he secr et be t he pr oper t y of t he Cr own onl y. "
" Your Maj est y, I want t he secr et at al l cost s, and I want i t f or t he Cr own. But I
must f i nd t he ot her possessor s; i t i s t he shor t est way. When t hey have f ool i shl y
conf i ded i n me what t hey know, i t wi l l not be har d t o el i mi nat e t hem. Whet her wi t h a
dagger or wi t h ar seni c wat er . "
On t he f ace of t he Vi r gi n Queen a ghast l y smi l e appear ed. " Ver y wel l t hen, my good
Dee, " she sai d. " I do not ask much, onl y Tot al Power . For you, i f you succeed, t he
gar t er . For you, Wi l l i am" - and she addr essed t he l i t t l e par asi t e wi t h l ewd
sweet ness- " anot her gar t er , and anot her gol den f l eece. Fol l ow me. "
I mur mur ed i nt o Wi l l i am' s ear : " I per f or ce amt hi ne, and al l t hat i s i n me. . . "
Wi l l i amr ewar ded me wi t h a l ook of unct uous gr at i t ude and f ol l owed t he queen,
di sappear i ng beyond t he cur t ai n. J e t i ens l a
* * *
I was wi t h Dr . Dee i n t he Gol den Ci t y. We went al ong nar r ow and evi l - smel l i ng
passageways not f ar f r omt he cemet er y of t he J ews, and Dee t ol d me t o be car ef ul .
Page 190
" I f t he news of t he f ai l ed encount er has spr ead, " he sai d, " t he ot her gr oups wi l l
even now be act i ng on t hei r own. I f ear t he J ews; t he J er usal emi t es have t oo many
agent s her e i n Pr ague. . . "
I t was eveni ng. The snow gl i st ened, bl ui sh. At t he dar k ent r ance t o t he J ewi sh
quar t er cl ust er ed t he l i t t l e st ands of t he Chr i st mas mar ket , and i n t hei r mi dst ,
decked i n r ed cl ot h, was t he obscene st age of a puppet t heat er l i t by smoky t or ches.
We passed beneat h an ar ch of dr essed st one, near a br onze f ount ai n f r omwhose gr i l l e
l ong i ci cl es hung, and t her e anot her passage opened. On ol d door s, gi l ded l i on' s
heads sank t hei r t eet h i nt o br onze r i ngs. A sl i ght shudder r an al ong t he wal l s,
i nexpl i cabl e sounds came f r omt he l ow r oof s, r at t l i ngs f r omt he dr ai npi pes. The
houses bet r ayed a ghost l y l i f e of t hei r own, a hi dden l i f e. . . An ol d usur er , wr apped
i n a wor n coat , br ushed us i n passi ng, and I t hought I hear d hi mmur mur , " Bewar e
At hanasi us Per - nat h. . . " Dee mur mur ed back, " I f ear qui t e anot her At hanasi us. . . " And
suddenl y we wer e i n t he Al l ey of t he Gol dsmi t hs.
Ther e, i n t he gl oomof anot her al l ey- and t he ear s I no l onger have, at t hi s memor y,
qui ver under my wor n cap- a gi ant l oomed up bef or e us, a hor r i bl e gr ay cr eat ur e wi t h
a dul l expr essi on, hi s body sheat hed i n br onze ver di gr i s, l eani ng on a gnar l ed and
knobby st i ck of whi t e wood. The appar i t i on gave of f an i nt ense odor of sandal wood.
Mor t al hor r or magi cal l y coal esced i n t hat bei ng t hat conf r ont ed me, yet I coul d not
t ake my eyes of f t he nebul ous gl obe t hat sat at op hi s shoul der s, and i n i t
di scer ned, bar el y, t he r apaci ous f ace of an Egypt i an i bi s, and behi nd t hat f ace,
mor e f aces, i ncubi of my i magi nat i on and my memor y. The out l i nes of t he ghost , i n
t he dar kness of t hat al l ey, di l at ed, cont r act ed, as i n a sl ow, nonl i vi ng
r espi r at i on. . . . And- oh, hor r or ! - i nst ead of f eet , I saw, as I st ar ed at hi m, on t he
snow t wo shapel ess st umps whose f l esh, gr ay and bl oodl ess, was r ol l ed up, as i f i n
concent r i c swel l i ngs.
My vor aci ous memor i es. . . .
" The gol em! " Dee cr i ed, r ai si ng bot h ar ms t o heaven. Hi s bl ack coat wi t h br oad
sl eeves f el l t o t he gr ound, as i f t o cr eat e a ci ngul um, an umbi l i cal cor d bet ween
t he aer i al posi t i on of t he hands and t he sur f ace, or t he dept hs, of t he ear t h.
" J ezebel , Mal kut h, Smoke Get s i n Your Eyes! " he sai d. And suddenl y t he gol em
di ssol ved l i ke a sand cast l e st r uck by a gust of wi nd. We wer e bl i nded by t he
par t i cl es of i t s cl ay body, whi ch t or e t hr ough t he ai r l i ke at oms, unt i l f i nal l y at
our f eet was a l i t t l e pi l e of ashes. Dee bent down, sear ched i n t he ashes wi t h hi s
bony f i nger s, and dr ew out a scr ol l , whi ch he hi d i n hi s bosom.
Fr omt he shadows t hen r ose an ol d r abbi , wi t h a gr easy hat t hat gr eat l y r esembl ed my
cap. " Dr . Dee, I pr esume, " he sai d.
" Her e Comes Ever ybody, " Dee r epl i ed humbl y. " Rabbi Al l evi , what a pl easant
sur pr i se. . . "
The man sai d, " Di d you happen t o see a cr eat ur e r oami ng t hese par t s?"
" A cr eat ur e?" Dee sai d, f ei gni ng amazement . " What sor t of cr eat ur e?"
" Come of f i t , Dee, " Rabbi Al l evi sai d. " I t was my gol em. "
" Your gol em? I know not hi ng about a gol em. "
" Take car e, Dr . Dee! " Rabbi Al l evi sai d, l i vi d. " You' r e pl ayi ng a danger ous game,
you' r e out of your l eague. "
" I don' t know what you' r e t al ki ng about , Rabbi Al l evi , " sai d Dee. " We' r e her e t o
make a f ew ounces of gol d f or t he emper or . We' r e not a coupl e of cheap
necr omancer s. "
" Gi ve me back t he scr ol l , at l east , " Rabbi Al l evi begged.
" What scr ol l ?" Dee asked, wi t h di abol i cal i ngenuousness.
" Cur se you, Dr . Dee, " sai d t he r abbi . " And ver i l y I say unt o t hee, t hou shal l not
see t he dawn of t he new cent ur y. " And he went of f i nt o t he ni ght , mur mur i ng st r ange
wor ds wi t hout consonant s. Oh, Language Di abol i cal and Hol y.
Dee was huddl ed agai nst t he damp wal l of t he al l ey, hi s f ace ashen, hi s hai r
br i st l i ng on hi s head. " I know Rabbi Al l evi , " he sai d. " I wi l l di e on August 5,
1608, of t he Gr egor i an cal endar . So now, Kel l ey, you must hel p me t o car r y out my
pl an. You ar e t he one who wi l l have t o br i ng i t t o f ul f i l l ment . Gi l di ng pal e st r eams
wi t h heavenl y al chymy. Remember , " he sai d. But I woul d r emember i n any case, and
Wi l l i amwi t h me. And agai nst me.
* * *
He sai d no mor e. The pal e f og t hat r ubs i t s back agai nst t he panes, t he yel l ow smoke
Page 191
t hat r ubs i t s back agai nst t he panes, l i cked wi t h i t s t ongue t he st r eet cor ner s. We
wer e now i n anot her al l ey; whi t i sh vapor s came f r omt he gr i l l es at gr ound l evel , and
t hr ough t hemyou coul d gl i mpse squal i d dens wi t h t i l t i ng wal l s, def i ned by
gr adat i ons of mi st y gr ay. I saw, as he came gr opi ng down a st ai r way ( t he st eps oddl y
or t hogonal ) , t he f i gur e of an ol d man i n a wor n f r ock coat and a t op hat . And Dee
saw hi m. " Cal i gar i ! " he excl ai med. " He' s her e, t oo, i n t he house of Madame
Sosost r i s, t he f amous cl ai r voyant e! We have t o get movi ng. "
Qui ckeni ng our st eps, we ar r i ved at t he door of a hovel i n a poor l y l i t al l ey,
si ni st er and Semi t i c.
We knocked, and t he door opened as i f by magi c. We ent er ed a spaci ous r oom: t her e
wer e seven- br anched candel abr a, t et r agr ams i n r el i ef , St ar s of Davi d l i ke
monst r ances. Ol d vi ol i ns, t he col or of t he veneer on cer t ai n ol d pai nt i ngs, wer e
pi l ed i n t he ent r ance on a r ef ect or y t abl e of anamor phi c i r r egul ar i t y. A gr eat
cr ocodi l e hung, mummi f i ed, f r omt he cei l i ng, swayi ng sl i ght l y i n t he di mgl ow of a
si ngl e t or ch, or of many, or of none. I n t he r ear , bef or e a ki nd of cur t ai n or
canopy under whi ch st ood a t aber nacl e, kneel i ng i n pr ayer , ceasel essl y and
bl asphemousl y mur mur i ng t he sevent y- t wo names of God, was an ol d man. I knew, by a
sudden st r oke of nous, t hat t hi s was Hei nr i ch Khunr at h.
" Come t o t he poi nt , Dee, " he sai d, t ur ni ng and br eaki ng of f hi s pr ayer . " What do you
want ?" He r esembl ed a st uf f ed ar madi l l o, an agel ess i guana.
" Khunr at h, " Dee sai d, " t he t hi r d encount er di d not t ake pl ace. "
Khunr at h expl oded i n a hor r i bl e cur se: " Lapi s exi l l i s! Now what ?"
" Khunr at h, " Dee sai d, " you coul d t hr ow out some bai t ; you coul d put me i n t ouch wi t h
t he Ger man l i ne. "
" Let me see, " Khunr at h sai d. " I coul d ask Mai er , who i s i n t ouch wi t h many peopl e at
t he cour t . But you wi l l t el l me t he secr et of Vi r gi n' s Mi l k, t he Most Secr et Oven of
t he Phi l osopher s. "
Dee smi l ed. Oh t he di vi ne smi l e of t hat Sophos! He concent r at ed t hen as i f i n
pr ayer , and sai d i n a l ow voi ce: " When you wi sh t o t r ansl at e i nt o wat er or Vi r gi n' s
Mi l k a subl i mat e of Mer cur y, pl ace t he Thi ng dul y pul ver i zed over t he l ami na bet ween
t he l i t t l e wei ght s and t he gobl et . Do not cover i t but see t hat t he hot ai r st r i kes
t he naked mat t er , admi ni st er i t t o t he f i r e of t hr ee coal s, and keep i t al i ve f or
ei ght sol ar days, t hen r emove i t and pound i t wel l on mar bl e unt i l i t i s a f i ne
past e. Thi s done, put i t i nsi de a gl ass al embi c and di st i l l i t i n a Bal neumMar i ae
over a caul dr on of wat er set i n such a way t hat i t does not t ouch t he wat er bel ow by
t he space of t wo f i nger s but r emai ns suspended i n ai r , and at t he same t i me l i ght
t he f i r e beneat h t he Bal neum. Then, and onl y t hen, t hough t he Si l ver does not t ouch
t he wat er , f i ndi ng i t sel f i n t hi s war mand moi st womb, wi l l i t change t o l i qui d. "
" Mast er , " sai d Khunr at h, si nki ng t o hi s knees and ki ssi ng t he bony, di aphanous hand
of Dr . Dee. " Mast er , so I wi l l do. And you wi l l have what you wi sh. Remember t hese
wor ds: t he Rose and t he Cr oss. You wi l l hear t al k of t hem. "
Dee wr apped hi msel f i n hi s cl oakl i ke coat , and onl y hi s eyes, gl i st eni ng and mal i gn,
coul d be seen. " Come, Kel l ey, " he sai d. " Thi s man i s now our s. And you, Khunr at h,
keep t he gol emwel l away f r omus unt i l our r et ur n t o London. And t hen, l et al l
Pr ague bur n as a sol e pyr e. "
He st ar t ed t o go of f . Cr awl i ng, Khunr at h sei zed hi mby t he hemof hi s coat . " One
day, per haps, a man wi l l come t o you. He wi l l want t o wr i t e about you. Be hi s
f r i end. "
" Gi ve me t he Power , " Dee sai d wi t h an unspeakabl e expr essi on on hi s f i eshl ess f ace,
" and hi s f or t une i s assur ed. "
We went out . Over t he At l ant i c a l ow- pr essur e ai r mass was advanci ng i n an east er l y
di r ect i on t owar d Russi a.
" Let ' s go t o Moscow, " I sai d t o hi m.
" No, " he sai d. " We' r e r et ur ni ng t o London. "
" To Moscow, t o Moscow, " I mur mur ed cr azi l y. You knew ver y wel l , Kel l ey, t hat you
woul d never go t her e. The Tower awai t ed you.
* * *
Back i n London, Dee sai d, " They' r e t r yi ng t o r each t he sol ut i on bef or e we do.
Kel l ey, you must wr i t e somet hi ng f or Wi l l i am. . . . somet hi ng di abol i cal l y i nsi nuat i ng
about t hem. "
Bel l y of t he demon, I di d i t , but Wi l l i amr ui ned t he t ext , shi f t i ng ever yt hi ng f r om
Page 192
Pr ague t o Veni ce. Dee f l ew i nt o a r age. But t he pal e, shi f t y Wi l l i amf el t pr ot ect ed
by hi s r oyal concubi ne. And st i l l he wasn' t sat i sf i ed. As I handed over t o hi m, one
by one, hi s f i nest sonnet s, he asked me, wi t h shamel ess eyes, about Her , about You,
my Dar k Lady. How hor r i bl e t o hear your name on t hat mummer ' s l i ps! ( I di dn' t know
t hat he, hi s soul damned t o dupl i ci t y and t o t he vi car i ous, was seeki ng her f or
Bacon. ) " Enough, " I sai d t o hi m. " I ' mt i r ed of bui l di ng your gl or y i n t he shadows.
Wr i t e f or your sel f . "
" I can' t , " he answer ed wi t h t he gaze of one who has seen a l emur e. " He won' t l et
me. "
" Who? Dee?"
" No, Ver ul am. Don' t you know he' s now t he one i n char ge? He' s f or ci ng me t o wr i t e
wor ks t hat l at er he' l l cl ai mas hi s own. You under st and, Kel l ey? I ' mt he t r ue Bacon,
and post er i t y wi l l never know. Oh, par asi t e! How I hat e t hat f i r ebr and of hel l ! "
" Bacon' s a pi g, but he has t al ent , " I sai d. " Why doesn' t he wr i t e hi s own st uf f ?"
He di dn' t have t he t i me. We r eal i zed t hi s onl y year s l at er , when Ger many was i nvaded
by t he Rosy Cr oss madness. Then, f r omscat t er ed r ef er ences, cer t ai n phr ases, put t i ng
t wo and t wo t oget her , I saw t hat t he aut hor of t he Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes was
r eal l y he. He wr ot e under t he pseudonymof J ohann Val ent i n Andr eae!
Now, i n t he dar kness of t hi s cel l wher e I l angui sh, mor e cl ear headed t han Don I si dr o
Par odi , I know f or whomAndr eae was wr i t i ng. I was t ol d by Soapes, my compani on i n
i mpr i sonment , a f or mer Por t uguese Templ ar . Andr eae was wr i t i ng a novel of chi val r y
f or a Spani ar d, who was l angui shi ng meanwhi l e i n anot her pr i son. I don' t know why,
but t hi s pr oj ect ser ved t he i nf amous Bacon, who want ed t o go down i n hi st or y as t he
secr et aut hor of t he advent ur es of t he kni ght of La Man- cha. Bacon asked Andr eae t o
pen f or hi m, i n secr et , a novel whose hi dden aut hor he woul d t hen pr et end t o be,
enj oyi ng i n t he shadows ( but why? why?) anot her man' s t r i umph.
But I di gr ess. I amcol d i n t hi s dungeon and my t humb hur t s. I amwr i t i ng, i n t he
di ml i ght of a dyi ng l amp, t he l ast wor ks t hat wi l l pass under Wi l l i am' s name.
Dr . Dee di ed, mur mur i ng, " Li ght , mor e l i ght ! " and aski ng f or a t oot hpi ck. Then he
sai d, " Qual i s Ar t i f ex Per eo! " I t was Bacon who had hi mki l l ed. Bef or e t he queen
di ed, f or year s unhi nged of mi nd and hear t , Ver ul ammanaged t o seduce her . Her
f eat ur es t hen wer e changed; she was r educed t o t he condi t i on of a skel et on. Her f ood
was l i mi t ed t o a l i t t l e whi t e r ol l and some soup of chi cor y gr eens. At her si de she
kept a swor d, and i n moment s of wr at h she woul d t hr ust i t vi ol ent l y i nt o t he
cur t ai ns and ar r as t hat cover ed t he wal l s of her r ef uge. ( And what i f t her e wer e
someone behi nd t her e, l i st eni ng? How now! A r at ? Good i dea, ol d Kel l ey, must make
not e of i t . ) Wi t h t he poor woman i n t hi s condi t i on, i t was easy f or Bacon t o make
her bel i eve he was Wi l l i am, her bast ar d- pr esent i ng hi msel f at her knees, she bei ng
now bl i nd, cover ed i n a sheep' s ski n. The Gol den Fl eece! They sai d he was ai mi ng at
t he t hr one, but I knew he was af t er somet hi ng qui t e di f f er ent , cont r ol of t he Pl an.
That was when he became Vi scount St . Al bans. Hi s posi t i on st r engt hened, he
el i mi nat ed Dee.
* * *
The queen i s dead, l ong l i ve t he ki ng. . . Now, I was an embar r assi ng wi t ness. He l ed
me i nt o an ambush one ni ght when at l ast t he Dar k Lady coul d be mi ne and was danci ng
i n my ar ms wi t h abandon under t he i nf l uence of a gr ass capabl e of pr oduci ng vi si ons,
she, t he et er nal Sophi a, wi t h her wr i nkl ed f ace l i ke an ol d nanny goat ' s. . . He
ent er ed wi t h a handf ul of ar med men, made me cover my eyes wi t h a cl ot h. I guessed
at once: vi t r i ol ! And how he l aughed. And she! How you l aughed, Pi nbal l Lady- and
gi l ded honor shamef ul l y mi spl aced and mai den vi r t ue r udel y st r umpet ed- whi l e he
t ouched her wi t h hi s gr eedy hands and you cal l ed hi mSi mon- and ki ssed hi s si ni st er
scar . . . .
" To t he Tower , t o t he Tower . " Ver ul aml aughed. Si nce t hen, her e I l i e, wi t h t hi s
human wr ai t h who says he i s Soapes, and t he j ai l er s know me onl y as Seven Seas J i m.
I have st udi ed t hor oughl y, and wi t h ar dent zeal , phi l osophy, j ur i spr udence,
medi ci ne, and, unf or t unat el y, al so t heol ogy. Her e I am, poor madman, and I know as
much as I di d bef or e.
* * *
Thr ough a sl i t of a wi ndow I wi t nessed t he r oyal weddi ng, t he kni ght s wi t h r ed
Page 193
cr osses cant er i ng t o t he sound of a t r umpet . I shoul d have been t her e pl ayi ng t he
t r umpet , f or Ceci l i a, but once agai n t he pr i ze had been t aken f r omme. I t was
Wi l l i ampl ayi ng. I was wr i t i ng i n t he shadows, f or hi m.
" I ' l l t el l you how t o avenge your sel f , " Soapes whi sper ed, and t hat day he r eveal ed
t o me what he t r ul y i s: a Bonapar t i st abbe bur i ed i n t hi s dungeon f or cent ur i es.
" Wi l l you get out ?" I asked hi m.
" I f . . . . " he began t o r epl y, but t hen was si l ent . St r i ki ng hi s spoon on t he wal l , i n
a myst er i ous al phabet t hat , he conf i ded i n me, he had r ecei ved f r omTr i t hemi us, he
began t r ansmi t t i ng messages t o t he pr i soner i n t he next cel l . The count of
Monsal vat .
* * *
Year s have gone by. Soapes never st ops st r i ki ng t he wal l . Now I know f or whomand t o
what end. Hi s name i s Nof f o Dei . Thi s Dei ( t hr ough what myst er i ous cabal a do Dei and
Dee sound so al i ke?) , pr ompt ed by Soapes, has denounced Bacon. What he sai d, I
do- j pot know, but a f ew days ago Ver ul amwas i mpr i soned. Accused of sodomy, because,
t hey sai d ( I t r embl e at t he t hought t hat i t mi ght be t r ue) , you, t he Dar k Lady,
Bl ack Vi r gi n of Dr ui ds and of Templ ar s, ar e none ot her . . . . none ot her t han t he
et er nal andr ogyne cr eat ed by t he knowi ng hands of . . . . of . . . . ? Now, now I know. . . of
your l over , t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n! But who i s Sai nt - Ger mai n i f not Bacon
hi msel f ? ( Soapes knows al l sor t s of t hi ngs, t hi s obscur e Templ ar of many l i ves. . . )
* * *
Ver ul amhas been r el eased f r ompr i son, has r egai ned t hr ough hi s magi c ar t s t he f avor
of t he monar ch. Now, Wi l l i amt el l s me, he spends hi s ni ght s al ong t he Thames, i n
Pi l ad' s Pub, pl ayi ng t hat st r ange machi ne i nvent ed f or hi mby an I t al i an f r omNol a
whomhe t hen had bur ned at t he st ake i n Rome. I t i s an ast r al devi ce, whi ch devour s
smal l mad spher es t hat r ace t hr ough i nf i ni t e wor l ds i n a spar kl e of angel i c l i ght .
Ver ul amgi ves obscene bl ows of t r i umphant best i al i t y wi t h hi s gr oi n agai nst t he
f r ame, mi mi ng t he event s of t he cel est i al or bs i n t he domai n of t he decans i n or der
t o under st and t he ul t i mat e secr et s of t he Gr eat Est abl i shment and t he secr et of t he
New At l ant i s i t sel f , whi ch he cal l s Got t l i eb' s, par odyi ng t he sacr ed l anguage of t he
mani f est oes at t r i but ed t o Andr eae. . . Ah! I cr y, now l uci dl y awar e, but t oo l at e and
i n vai n, as my hear t beat s conspi cuousl y beneat h t he l aces of my cor set : t hi s i s why
he t ook away my t r umpet , amul et , t al i sman, cosmi c bond t hat coul d command demons.
What wi l l he be pl ot t i ng i n t he House of Sol omon? I t ' s l at e, I r epeat t o mysel f , by
now he has been gi ven t oo much power .
* * *
They say Bacon i s dead. Soapes assur es me i t i s not t r ue. No one has seen t he body.
He i s l i vi ng under a f al se name wi t h t he l andgr ave of Hesse; he i s now i ni t i at ed
i nt o t he supr eme myst er i es and hence i mmor t al , r eady t o cont i nue hi s gr i mbat t l e f or
t he t r i umph of t he Pl an- i n hi s name and under hi s cont r ol .
Af t er t hi s al l eged deat h, Wi l l i amcame t o see me, wi t h hi s hypocr i t i cal smi l e, whi ch
t he bar s coul d not hi de f r omme. He asked me why I wr ot e, i n Sonnet I I I , about a
cer t ai n dyer . He quot ed t he ver se: " To what i t wor ks i n, l i ke t he dyer ' s hand. . . "
" I never wr ot e t hat , " I t ol d hi m. And i t was t r ue. . . I t ' s obvi ous: Bacon i nser t ed
t hose wor ds bef or e di sappear i ng, t o send some si gn t o t hose who wi l l t hen wel come
Sai nt - Ger mai n i n one cour t af t er anot her , as an exper t i n dyes. . . I bel i eve t hat i n
t he f ut ur e he wi l l t r y t o make peopl e bel i eve he wr ot e Wi l l i am' s wor ks hi msel f . How
cl ear ever yt hi ng becomes when you l ook f r omt he dar kness of a dungeon!
* * *
Wher e ar t t hou, Muse, t hat t hou f or get ' st so l ong? I f eel wear y, si ck. Wi l l i ami s
expect i ng new mat er i al f r omme f or hi s cr ude cl owner i es at t he Gl obe.
Soapes i s wr i t i ng. I l ook over hi s shoul der . An i ncompr ehensi bl e message: " r i ver r un,
past Eve and Adam' s. . . . " He hi des t he page, l ooks at me, sees me pal er t han a ghost ,
r eads Deat h i n my eyes. He whi sper s t o me, " Rest . Never f ear . I ' l l wr i t e f or you. "
And so he i s doi ng, mask behi nd a mask. I sl owl y f ade, and he t akes f r omme even t he
Page 194
l ast l i ght , t hat of obscur i t y.
74
Though hi s wi l l be good, hi s spi r i t and hi s pr opheci es ar e i l l usi ons of t he
Devi l . . . They ar e capabl e of decei vi ng many cur i ous peopl e and of causi ng gr eat har m
and scandal t o t he Chur ch of Our Lor d God.
- Opi ni on on Gui l l aume Post el sent t o I gnat i us Loyol a by t he J esui t f at her s Sal mer on,
Lhoost , and Ugol et t o, May 10, 1545
Bel bo, det ached, t ol d us what he had concoct ed, but he di dn' t r ead hi s pages t o us
and el i mi nat ed al l per sonal r ef er ences. I ndeed, he l ed us t o bel i eve t hat Abul af i a
had suppl i ed hi mwi t h t he connect i ons. The i dea t hat Bacon was t he aut hor of t he
Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes he had al r eady come upon somewher e or ot her . But one t hi ng
i n par t i cul ar st r uck me: t hat Bacon was Vi scount St . Al bans.
I t buzzed i n my head; i t had somet hi ng t o do wi t h my ol d t hesi s. I spent t hat ni ght
di ggi ng i n my car d f i l e.
" Gent l emen, " I sai d t o my accompl i ces wi t h a cer t ai n sol emni t y t he next mor ni ng, " we
don' t have t o i nvent connect i ons. They exi st . When, i n 1164, Sai nt Ber nar d l aunched
t he i dea of a counci l at Tr oyes t o l egi t i mi ze t he Templ ar s, among t hose char ged t o
or gani ze ever yt hi ng was t he pr i or of Sai nt Al bans. Sai nt Al ban was t he f i r st Engl i sh
mar t yr , who evangel i zed t he Br i t i sh I sl es. He l i ved i n Ver ul ami um, whi ch became
Bacon' s pr oper t y. He was a Cel t and unquest i onabl y a Dr ui d i ni t i at e, l i ke Sai nt
Ber nar d. "
" That ' s not ver y much, " Bel bo sai d.
" Wai t . Thi s pr i or of Sai nt Al bans was abbot of Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs, t he abbey
wher e t he Conser vat oi r e des Ar t s et Met i er s was l at er i nst al l ed! "
Bel bo r eact ed. " My God! "
" And t hat ' s not al l , " I sai d. " The Conser vat oi r e was concei ved as homage t o Bacon.
On 25 Br umai r e of t he year 111, t he Convent i on aut hor i zed i t s Comi t e d' l nst r uct i on
Publ i que t o have t he compl et e wor ks of Bacon pr i nt ed. And on 18 Vendemi ai r e of t he
same year t he same Convent i on had passed a l aw pr ovi di ng f or t he const r uct i on of a
house of ar t s and t r ades t hat woul d r epr oduce t he House of Sol omon as descr i bed by
Bacon i n hi s New At l ant i s, a pl ace wher e al l t he i nvent i ons of manki nd ar e
col l ect ed. "
" And so?" Di ot al l evi asked.
" The Pendul umi s i n t he Conser vat oi r e, " Bel bo sai d. And f r omDi ot al l evi ' s r eact i on I
r eal i zed t hat Bel bo had t ol d hi mabout Foucaul t ' s Pendul um.
" Not so f ast , " I sai d. " The Pendul umwas i nvent ed and i nst al l ed onl y i n t he l ast
cent ur y. We shoul d ski p i t . "
" Ski p i t ?" Bel bo sai d. " Haven' t you ever seen t he Monad Hi er ogl yph of J ohn Dee, t he
t al i sman t hat i s supposed t o concent r at e al l t he wi sdomof t he uni ver se? Doesn' t i t
l ook l i ke a pendul um?"
" Al l r i ght , " I sai d, " l et ' s suppose a connect i on can be est abl i shed. But how do we
go f r omSai nt Al bans t o t he Pendul um?"
I was t o l ear n how i n t he space of a f ew days.
" So t hen, t he pr i or of Sai nt Al bans i s t he abbot of Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs, whi ch
t her ef or e becomes a Templ ar cent er . Bacon, t hr ough hi s pr oper t y, est abl i shes a
cont act wi t h t he Dr ui d f ol l ower s of Sai nt Al bans. Now l i st en car ef ul l y: as Bacon i s
begi nni ng hi s car eer i n Engl and, Gui l l aume Post el i n Fr ance i s endi ng hi s. "
An al most i mper cept i bl e t wi t ch on Bel bo' s f ace. I r ecal l ed t he di al og at Ri ccar do' s
show: Post el made Bel bo t hi nk of t he man who, i n hi s mi nd, had r obbed hi mof
Lor enza. But i t was t he mat t er of an i nst ant .
" Post el st udi es Hebr ew, t r i es t o demonst r at e t hat i t ' s t he common mat r i x of al l
l anguages, t r ansl at es t he Zohar and t he Bahi r , has cont act s wi t h t he cabal i st s,
br oaches a pl an f or uni ver sal peace si mi l ar t o t hat of t he Ger man Rosi cr uci an
gr oups, t r i es t o convi nce t he ki ng of Fr ance t o f or man al l i ance wi t h t he sul t an,
vi si t s Gr eece, Syr i a, Asi a Mi nor , st udi es Ar abi c- i n a wor d, he r et r aces t he
i t i ner ar y of Chr i st i an Rosencr eut z. And i t i s no acci dent t hat he si gns some
wr i t i ngs wi t h t he name of Rosi sper gi us, ' he who scat t er s dew. ' Gassendi i n hi s
Page 195
Examen Phi l osophi ae Fl uddanae says t hat Rosencr eut z does not der i ve f r omr osa but
f r omr os, dew. I n one of hi s manuscr i pt s he speaks of a secr et t o be guar ded unt i l
t he t i me i s r i pe, and he says: ' That pear l s may not be cast bef or e swi ne. ' Do you
know wher e el se t hi s gospel quot at i on appear s? On t he t i t l e page of The Chemi cal
Weddi ng. And Fat her Mar i n Mer senne, i n denounci ng t he Rosi cr uci an Fl udd, says he i s
made of t he same st ui f as at heus magnus Post el . Fur t her mor e, i t seems Dee and Post el
met i n 1550, but per haps t hey di dn' t yet know t hat t hey wer e bot h gr and mast er s of
t he Pl an, schedul ed t o meet t hi r t y year s l at er , i n 1584.
" Now, Post el decl ar es- hear ye, hear ye- t hat , bei ng a di r ect descendant of t he ol dest
son of Noah, and si nce Noah i s t he f ounder of t he Cel t i c r ace and t her ef or e of t he
ci vi l i zat i on of t he Dr ui ds, t he ki ng of Fr ance i s t he onl y l egi t i mat e pr et ender t o
t he t i t l e ki ng of t he wor l d. That ' s r i ght , he t al ks about t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d- but
t hr ee cent ur i es bef or e d' Al veydr e. We' l l ski p t he f act t hat he f al l s i n l ove wi t h an
ol d hag, J oanna, and consi der s her t he di vi ne Sophi a; t he man pr obabl y di dn' t have
al l hi s mar bl es. But power f ul enemi es he di d have; t hey cal l ed hi mdog, execr abl e
monst er , cl oaca of al l her esi es, a bei ng possessed by a l egi on of demons. Al l t he
same, even wi t h t he J oanna scandal , t he I nqui si t i on doesn' t consi der hi ma her et i c,
onl y amens, a bi t of a nut , l et ' s say. The t r ut h i s, t he Chur ch doesn' t dar e dest r oy
t he man, because t hey know he' s t he spokesman of some f ai r l y power f ul gr oup. I woul d
poi nt out t o you, Di ot al l evi , t hat Post el t r avel s al so i n t he Or i ent and i s a
cont empor ar y of I saac Lur i a. Dr aw what ever concl usi ons you l i ke. Wel l , i n 1564, t he
year i n whi ch Dee wr i t es hi s Monas Hi er ogl yphi ca, Post el r et r act s hi s her esi es and
r et i r es t o. . . guess wher e? The monast er y of Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs! What ' s he
wai t i ng f or ? Obvi ousl y, he' s wai t i ng f or 1584. "
" Obvi ousl y, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
I went on: " Ar e we agr eed, t hen? Post el i s gr and mast er of t he Fr ench gr oup,
awai t i ng t he appoi nt ment wi t h t he Engl i sh. But he di es i n 1581, t hr ee year s bef or e
i t . Concl usi ons: f i r st , t he 1584 mi shap t ook pl ace because at t hat cr uci al moment a
keen mi nd was mi ssi ng, si nce Post el woul d have been abl e t o f i gur e out what was
goi ng on i n t he conf usi on of t he cal endar s; second, Sai nt - Mar t i n was a pl ace wher e
t he Templ ar s wer e saf e, al ways at home, wher e t he man r esponsi bl e f or t he t hi r d
meet i ng i mmur ed hi msel f and wai t ed. Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs was t he Ref uge! "
" I t al l f i t s, l i ke a mosai c. "
" St i ck wi t h me. At t he t i me of t he f ai l ed appoi nt ment Bacon i s onl y t went y- t hr ee.
But i n 1621 he becomes Vi scount St . Al bans. What does he f i nd i n t he ancest r al
possessi ons? A myst er y. Not e t hat t hi s i s t he year he i s accused of cor r upt i on and
i mpr i soned f or a whi l e. He had unear t hed somet hi ng t hat caused f ear i n someone. I n
whom? Thi s i s when Bacon under st ood t hat Sai nt - Mar t i n shoul d be wat ched; he
concei ved t he i dea of put t i ng hi s House of Sol omon t her e, t he l abor at or y i n whi ch,
t hr ough exper i ment al means, t he secr et coul d be di scover ed. "
" But , " Di ot al l evi asked, " how do we f i nd t he l i nk bet ween Bacon' s f ol l ower s and t he
r evol ut i onar y gr oups of t he l at e ei ght eent h cent ur y?"
" Coul d Fr eemasonr y be t he answer ?" Bel bo sai d.
" Spl endi d i dea. Act ual l y, Agl i e suggest ed i t t o us t hat ni ght at t he cast l e. "
" We shoul d r econst r uct t he event s. What exact l y was goi ng on t hen i n t hose ci r cl es?"
75
The onl y ones who el ude. . . . t he et er nal sl eep. . . . ar e t hose who i n l i f e ar e abl e t o
or i ent t hei r mi nd t owar d t he hi gher way. The i ni t i at es, t he Adept s, ar e at t he edge
of t hat pat h. Havi ng achi eved memor y, anamnesi s, i n t he expr essi on of Pl ut ar ch, t hey
become f r ee, t hey pr oceed wi t hout bonds. Cr owned, t hey cel ebr at e t he " myst er i es" and
see on ear t h t he t hr ong of t hose who ar e not i ni t i at ed and ar e not " pur e, " t hose who
ar e cr ushed and pushi ng one anot her i n t he mud and i n t he dar kness.
- J ul i us Evol a, La t r adi zi one er met i ca, Rome, Edi zi oni Medi t er r anee, 1971, p. I l l
Rashl y I vol unt eer ed t o do some qui ck r esear ch. I soon r egr et t ed i t . I f ound mysel f
i n a mor ass of books, i n whi ch i t was di f f i cul t t o di st i ngui sh hi st or i cal f act f r om
her met i c gossi p, and r el i abl e i nf or mat i on f r omf l i ght s of f ancy. Wor ki ng l i ke a
machi ne f or a week/ 1 dr ew up a bewi l der i ng l i st of sect s, l odges, convent i cl es. I
occasi onal l y shudder ed on encount er i ng f ami l i ar names I di dn' t expect t o come upon
i n such company, and t her e wer e chr onol ogi cal coi nci dences t hat I f el t wer e cur i ous
enough t o be not ed down. I showed t hi s document t o my t wo accompl i ces.
Page 196
1645 London: Ashmol e f ounds I nvi si bl e Col l ege, Rosi cr uci an i n i nspi r at i on.
1660 Fr omt he I nvi si bl e Col l ege i s bor n t he Royal Soci et y; and f r omt he Royal
Soci et y, as ever yone knows, t he Masons.
1666 Par i s: f oundi ng of Academi c Royal des Sci ences.
1707 Bi r t h of Cl aude- Loui s de Sai nt - Ger mai n, i f he was r eal l y bor n.
1717 Cr eat i on of t he Gr eat Lodge i n London.
1721 Ander son dr af t s t he const i t ut i ons of Engl i sh Masonr y. I ni t i at ed i n London,
Pet er t he Gr eat f ounds a l odge i n Russi a.
1730 Mont esqui eu, passi ng t hr ough London, i s i ni t i at ed.
1737 Ramsay asser t s t he Templ ar or i gi n of Masonr y. Or i gi n of t he Scot t i sh r i t e,
hencef or t h i n conf l i ct wi t h t he Gr eat Lodge of London.
1738 Fr eder i ck, t hen cr own pr i nce of Pr ussi a, i s i ni t i at ed. Lat er he i s pat r on of
Encycl opedi st s.
1740 Var i ous l odges cr eat ed i n Fr ance ar ound t hi s year : Ecos- sai s Fi del es of
Toul ouse, Souver ai n ConseU Subl i me, Mer e Loge Ecossai se du Gr and Gl obe Fr ancai s,
Col l ege des Subl i mes Pr i nces du Royal Secr et of Bor deaux, Cour des Souver ai ns
Commandeur s du Templ e of Car cassonne, Phi l adel phes of Nar bonne, Chapi t r e des
Rose- Cr oi x of Mont pel l i er , Subl i mes El us de l a Ver i t e. . . .
1743 Fi r st publ i c appear ance of Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n. I n Lyon, t he degr ee of
cheval i er kadosch or i gi nat es, i t s t ask bei ng t o vi ndi cat e Templ ar s.
1753 Wi l l er moz f ounds l odge of Par f ai t e Ami t i e.
1754 Mar t i nez Pasqual i s f ounds Templ e of t he El us Cohen ( per haps i n 1760) .
1756 Bar on von Hund f ounds Templ ar St r i ct Obser vance, i nspi r ed, some say, by
Fr eder i ck I I of Pr ussi a. For t he f i r st t i me t her e i s t al k of t he Unknown Super i or s.
Some i nsi nuat e t hat t he Unknown Super i or s ar e Fr eder i ck and Vol t ai r e.
1758 Sai nt - Ger mai n ar r i ves i n Par i s and of f er s hi s ser vi ces t o t he ki ng as
chemi st , an exper t i n dyes. He spends t i me wi t h Madame Pompadour .
1759 Pr esumed f or mat i on of Consei l des Emper eur s d' Or i ent et d' Occi dent , whi ch
t hr ee year s l at er i s sai d t o have dr awn up t he Const i t ut i ons et Regl ement de
Bor deaux, f r omwhi ch Anci ent and Accept ed Scot t i sh r i t e pr obabl y or i gi nat es ( t hough
t hi s does not appear of f i ci al l y unt i l 1801) .
1760 Sai nt - Ger mai n on ambi guous di pl omat i c mi ssi on i n Hol l and. For ced t o f l ee,
ar r est ed i n London, r el eased. DomJ . Per net y f ounds I l l umi nat i of Avi gnon. Mar t i nez
Pasqual i s f ounds Cheval i er s Macons El us de 1' Uni ver s.
1762 Sai nt - Ger mai n i n Russi a.
1763 Casanova meet s Sai nt - Ger mai n, as Sur mont , i n Bel gi um. Lat t er t ur ns coi n i nt o
gol d. Wi l l er moz f ounds Souver ai n Chapi t r e des Cheval i er s de 1' Ai gl e Noi r e
Rose- Cr oi x.
1768 Wi l l er moz j oi ns Pasqual i s' s El us Cohen. Apocr yphal publ i cat i on i n J er usal em
of Les pl us secr et s myst er es des haul s gr ades de l a maf onner i e devoi l ee, ou l e vr ai
Rose- Cr oi x: i t says t hat t he l odge of t he Rosi cr uci ans i s on Mount Her edon, si xt y
mi l es f r omEdi nbur gh. Pasqual i s meet s Loui s Cl aude de Sai nt - Mar t i n, l at er known as
Le Phi l osophe I nconnu. DomPer net y becomes l i br ar i an of ki ng of Pr ussi a.
1771 The Due de Char t r es, l at er known as Phi l i ppe- Egal i t e' , becomes gr and mast er
of t he Gr and Or i ent ( t hen, t he Gr and Or i ent de Fr ance) and t r i es t o uni f y al l t he
l odges. Scot t i sh r i t e l odge r esi st s.
1772 Pasqual i s l eaves f or Sant o Domi ngo, and Wi l l er moz and Sai nt - Mar t i n est abl i sh
Tr i bunal Souver ai n, whi ch becomes Gr and Loge Ecossai se.
1774 Sai nt - Mar t i n r et i r es, t o become Phi l osophe I nconnu, and as del egat e of
Templ ar St r i ct Obser vance goes t o negot i at e wi t h Wi l l er moz. A Scot t i sh Di r ect or y of
t he Pr ovi nce of Auver gne i s bor n. Fr omt hi s wi l l be bor n t he Rect i f i ed Scot t i sh
r i t e.
1776 Sai nt - Ger mai n, under t he name Count Wel l done, pr esent s chemi cal pl ans t o
Fr eder i ck I I . Soci et e des Phi l a- t het es i s bor n, t o uni t e al l her met i ci st s. Lodge of
t he Neuf Soeur s has as member s Gui l l ot i n and Cabani s, Vol t ai r e and Fr ankl i n. Adam
Wei shaupt f ounds I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a. Accor di ng t o some, he i s i ni t i at ed by a
Dani sh mer chant , Kol mer , r et ur ni ng f r omEgypt , who i s pr obabl y t he myst er i ous
Al t ot as, mast er of Cagl i ost r o.
1778 Sai nt - Ger mai n, i n Ber l i n, meet s DomPer net y. Wi l l er moz f ounds Or dr e des
Cheval i er s Bi enf ai sant s de l a Ci t e Sai nt e. Templ ar St r i ct Obser vance and Gr and
Or i ent agr ee t o accept t he Rect i f i ed Scot t i sh r i t e.
1782 Gr eat conf er ence of al l t he i ni t i at or y l odges at Wi l - hel msbad.
Page 197
1783 Mar qui s Thome f ounds t he Swedenbor g r i t e.
1784 Sai nt - Ger mai n pr esumabl y di es whi l e i n t he ser vi ce of t he l andgr ave of
Hesse, f or whomhe i s compl et i ng a f act or y f or maki ng dyes.
1785 Cagl i ost r o f ounds Memphi s r i t e, whi ch l at er becomes t he Anci ent and
Pr i mi t i ve r i t e of Memphi s- Mi sr ai m; i t i ncr eases t he number of hi gh degr ees t o
ni net y. Scandal of t he Af f ai r of t he Di amond Neckl ace, or chest r at ed by Cagl i ost r o.
Dumas descr i bes i t as Masoni c pl ot t o di scr edi t t he monar chy. The Dl umi nat i of
Bavar i a ar e suppr essed, suspect ed of r evol ut i onar y pl ot t i ng.
1786 Mi r abeau i s i ni t i at ed by t he I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a i n Ber l i n. I n London a
Rosi cr uci an mani f est o appear s, at t r i but ed t o Cagl i ost r o. Mi r abeau wr i t es a l et t er t o
Cagl i ost r o and t o Lavat er .
1787 Ther e ar e about seven hundr ed l odges i n Fr ance. Wei shaupt publ i shes hi s
Nacht r ag, whi ch descr i bes t he st r uct ur e of a secr et or gani zat i on i n whi ch each
adher ent knows onl y hi s i mmedi at e super i or .
1789 Fr ench Revol ut i on begi ns. Cr i si s i n t he Fr ench l odges.
1794 On 8 Vende' mi ai r e, Deput y Gr egoi r e pr esent s t o t he Convent i on t he pr oj ect
f or a Conser vat oi r e des Ar t s et Met i er s. I t i s i nst al l ed i n Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs
i n 1799, by t he Counci l of Fi ve Hundr ed. The Duke of Br unswi ck ur ges l odges t o
di ssol ve because a poi sonous subver si ve sect has now cor r upt ed t hemal l .
1798 Ar r est of Cagl i ost r o i n Rome.
1804 Announcement i n Char l est on of of f i ci al f oundat i on of Anci ent and Accept ed
Scot t i sh r i t e, wi t h number of degr ees i ncr eased t o 33.
1824 Document f r omcour t of Vi enna t o Fr ench gover nment denounces secr et
associ at i ons l i ke t he Absol ut es, t he I ndependent s, t he Al t a Vendi t a Car bonar a.
1835 The cabal i st Oet t i nger cl ai ms t o meet Sai nt - Ger mai n i n Par i s.
1846 Vi ennese wr i t er Fr anz Gr af f er publ i shes account of a meet i ng of hi s br ot her
wi t h Sai nt - Ger mai n bet ween 1788 and 1790. Sai nt - Ger mai n r ecei ved hi s vi si t or whi l e
l eaf i ng t hr ough a book by Par acel sus.
1865 Foundat i on of Soci et as Rosi cr uci ana i n Angl i a ( ot her sour ces gi ve 1860,
1866, or 1867 Bul wer - Lyt t on, aut hor of t he Rosi cr uci an novel Zanoni , j oi ns.
1868 Bakuni n f ounds I nt er nat i onal Al l i ance of Soci al i st Democr acy, i nspi r ed, some
say, by t he I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a.
1875 El ena Pet r ovna Bl avat sky, wi t h Henr y St eel Ol cot t , f ounds Theosophi cal
Soci et y. Her I si s Unvei l ed appear s. Bar on Spedal i er i pr ocl ai ms hi msel f a member of
Gr and Lodge of t he Sol i t ar y Br ot her s of t he Mount ai n, Pr at er I l l umi nat us of t he
Anci ent and Rest or ed Or der of t he Mani cheans and of t he Mar t i ni st s.
1877 Madame Bl avat sky speaks of t he t heosophi cal r ol e of Sai nt - Ger mai n. Among hi s
i ncar nat i ons ar e Roger and Fr anci s Bacon, Rosencr eut z, Pr ocl us, Sai nt Al ban. Gr and
Or i ent of Fr ance el i mi nat es i nvocat i on t o t he Gr eat Ar chi t ect of t he Uni ver se and
pr ocl ai ms absol ut e f r eedomof consci ence. Br eaks t i es wi t h Gr and Lodge of Engl and
and becomes f i r ml y secul ar and r adi cal .
1879 Foundat i on of Soci et as Rosi cr uci ana i n t he USA.
1880 Begi nni ng of Sai nt - Yves d' Al veydr e' s act i vi t y. Leopol d Engl er r eor gani zes
t he I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a.
1884 Leo XI I I , wi t h t he encycl i cal HumanumGenus, condemns Fr eemasonr y. Cat hol i cs
deser t i t ; r at i onal i st s f l ock t o i t .
1888 St ani sl as de Guai t a f ounds Or dr e Kabbal i st i que de l a Rose- Cr oi x. Her met i c
Or der of t he Gol den Dawn f ounded i n Engl and, wi t h el even degr ees, f r omneophyt e t o
i psi ssi mus. I t s i mper at or i s McGr egor Mat her s, whose si st er mar r i es Ber gson.
1890 J oseph P61adan, cal l ed J osephi n, l eaves Guai t a and f ounds t he Rose- Cr oi x
Cat hol i que du Templ e et du Gr aal , pr ocl ai mi ng hi msel f Sar Mer odak. Conf l i ct bet ween
Rosi cr uci ans of Guai t a' s or der and t hose of Pel adan' s i s cal l ed t he War of t he Two
Roses.
1891 Papus publ i shes hi s Tr ai t e met hodi que de sci ence occul t e.
1898 Al ei st er Cr owl ey i ni t i at ed i nt o Gol den Dawn. Lat er f ounds Or der of Thel ema.
1907 Fr omt he Gol den. Dawn i s bor n t he St el l a Mat ut i na, whi ch Yeat s j oi ns.
1909 I n t he Uni t ed St at es, H. Spencer Lewi s " r eawakens" t he Ant i cus Myst i cus Or do
Rosae Cr uci s and i n 1916, i n a hot el , successf ul l y t r ansf or ms a pi ece of zi nc i nt o
gol d. Max Hei ndel f ounds t he Rosi cr uci an Fel l owshi p. At uncer t ai n dat es f ol l ow
Lect or i umRosi cr uci anum, Fr er es Al nes de l a Rose- Cr oi x, Fr at er ni t as Her met i ca,
Ter n- pl umRosae- Cr uci s.
1912 Anni e Besant , di sci pl e of Madame Bl avat sky, f ounds, i n London, Or der of t he
Templ e of t he Rose- Cr oss.
Page 198
1918 Thul e Soci et y i s bor n i n Ger many.
1936 I n Fr ance Le Gr and Pr i eur e des Gaul es i s bor n. I n t he " Cahi er s de l a
f r at er ni t e pol ai r e, " Enr i co Cont ar di - Rhodi o t el l s of a vi si t f r omComt e de
Sai nt - Ger mai n.
" What does al l t hi s mean?" Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Don' t ask me. You want ed dat a? Hel p your sel f . Thi s i s al l I know. "
" We' l l have t o consul t Agl i e. I doubt t hat even he knows al l t hese or gani zat i ons. "
" Want t o bet ? They' r e hi s dai l y br ead. But we can put hi mt o t he t est . Let ' s add a
sect t hat doesn' t exi st . Founded r ecent l y. "
I r ecal l ed t he cur i ous quest i on of De Angel i s, whet her I had ever hear d of t he Tr es.
And I sai d: " Tr es. "
" What ' s t hat ?" Bel bo asked.
" I f i t ' s an acr ost i c, t her e has t o be a subt ext , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Ot her wi se my
r abbi s woul d not have been abl e t o use t he no- t ar i kon. Let ' s see. . . Templ i
Resur gent es Equi t es Synar chi ci . That sui t you?"
We l i ked t he name, and put i t at t he bot t omof t he l i st .
" Wi t h al l t hese convent i cl es, i nvent i ng one mor e was no mean t r i ck, ' ' Di ot al l evi
sai d i n a sudden f i t of vani t y.
76
I f i t wer e t hen a mat t er of def i ni ng i n one wor d t he domi nant char act er i st i c of
Fr ench Fr eemasonr y i n t he ei ght eent h cent ur y, onl y one woul d do: di l et t ant i sm.
- Rene Le For est i er , La Fr anc- Mayonner i e Templ i er e et Occul t i st e, Par i s,
Aubi er , 1970, 2
The next eveni ng, we i nvi t ed Agl i e t o Pi l ade' s. Though t he bar ' s new cust omer s had
gone back t o j acket s and t i es, t he pr esence of our guest , i n bl ue chal k- st r i pe sui t
and snow- whi t e shi r t , t i e f ast ened wi t h a gol d pi n, caused eyebr ows t o be r ai sed.
Lucki l y, at si x o' cl ock Pi l ade' s was f ai r l y empt y.
Agl i e conf used Pi l ade by or der i ng a cognac by i t s br and name. Pi l ade had i t , of
cour se, but t he bot t l e had st ood ent hr oned on t he shel f behi nd t he zi nc count er ,
unt ouched, f or year s.
Agl i e st udi ed t he l i quor i n hi s gl ass agai nst t he l i ght , t hen war med i t wi t h hi s
hands, di spl ayi ng gol d cuf f l i nks t hat wer e vaguel y Egypt i an i n st yl e.
We showed hi mt he l i st , t el l i ng hi mwe had compi l ed i t f r omt he manuscr i pt s of t he
Di abol i cal s.
" The f act t hat t he Templ ar s wer e connect ed wi t h t he ear l y l odges of t he mast er
masons est abl i shed dur i ng t he const r uct i on of Sol omon' s Templ e i s cer t ai n, " he sai d.
" And i t i s equal l y cer t ai n t hat t hese associ at es, on occasi on, r ecal l ed t he mur der
of t he Templ e' s ar chi t ect , Hi r am, a sacr i f i ci al vi ct i m. The masons vowed t o avenge
hi m. Af t er t hei r per secut i on t hen, many kni ght s of t he Templ e must have j oi ned t hose
ar t i san conf r at er ni t i es, f usi ng t he myt h of avengi ng Hi r amwi t h t he det er mi nat i on t o
avenge J acques de Mol ay. I n t he ei ght eent h cent ur y, i n London, t her e wer e l odges of
genui ne masons, and t hey wer e cal l ed oper at i ve l odges. Then, gr adual l y, some i dl e
but t hor oughl y r espect abl e gent l emen wer e det er mi ned t o j oi n oper at i ve masonr y, so
i t became symbol i c, phi l osophi cal masonr y.
" I n t hi s at mospher e a cer t ai n Desagul i er s, popul ar i zer of Newt on, encour aged a
Pr ot est ant past or , Ander son, t o dr af t t he const i t ut i ons of a l odge of Mason
br ot her s, dei st i n per suasi on, and Ander son began speaki ng of t he Masoni c
conf r at er ni t i es as cor por at i ons dat i ng back f our t housand year s, t o t he f ounder s of
t he Templ e of Sol omon. These ar e t he r easons f or t he Masoni c masquer ade: t he apr on,
t he t r owel , t he T squar e. Masonr y became f ashi onabl e, at t r act i ng t he ar i st ocr acy
wi t h t he geneal ogi cal t abl es i t hi nt ed at , but i t appeal ed even mor e t o t he
bour geoi si e, who now not onl y coul d hobnob wi t h t he nobl es but wer e act ual l y
per mi t t ed t o wear a shor t swor d. I n t he wr et ched moder n wor l d at i t s bi r t h, t he
nobl es need a pl ace wher e t hey can come i nt o cont act wi t h t he new pr oducer s of
capi t al , and t he new pr oducer s of capi t al ar e l ooki ng t o be ennobl ed. "
" But t he Templ ar s seemt o have emer ged l at er . "
" The one who f i r st est abl i shed a di r ect r el at i on wi t h t he Templ ar s, Ramsay, I ' d
pr ef er not t o di scuss. I suspect he was put up t o i t by t he J esui t s. Hi s pr eachi ng
l ed t o t he bi r t h of t he Scot t i sh wi ng of Masonr y. ' '
Page 199
" Scot t i sh?"
" The Scot t i sh r i t e was a Fr anco- Ger man i nvent i on. London Masonr y had est abl i shed
t hr ee degr ees: appr ent i ce, f el l ow cr af t , and mast er . Scot t i sh Masonr y mul t i pl i ed t he
degr ees because doi ng so meant mul t i pl yi ng t he l evel s of i ni t i at i on and secr ecy. The
Fr ench, congeni t al l y f ool i sh, l ove secr ecy. . . "
" But what was t he secr et ?"
" Ther e was no secr et , obvi ousl y. But i f t her e had been one- or i f t hey had possessed
i t - i t s compl exi t y woul d have j ust i f i ed t he number of degr ees of i ni t i at i on. Ramsay
mul t i pl i ed- t he degr ees t o make ot her s bel i eve he had a secr et . You can i magi ne t he
t hr i l l of t hose sol i d t r adesmen now at l ast abl e t o become pr i nces of vengeance. . . "
Agl i e was pr odi gal wi t h Masoni c gossi p. And i n t he cour se of hi s t al k, as was hi s
cust om, he sl i pped gr adual l y i nt o f i r st - per son r ecol l ect i on.
" I n t hose days, i n Fr ance, t hey wer e al r eady wr i t i ng coupl et s about t he new f ashi on,
t he Fr i macons. The l odges, mul t i pl yi ng, at t r act ed monsi gnor s, f r i ar s, bar ons, and
shopkeeper s, and t he member s of t he r oyal f ami l y became gr and mast er s. The Templ ar
St r i ct Obser vance of t hat Hund char act er r ecei ved Goet he, Lessi ng, Mozar t , Vol t ai r e.
Lodges spr ang up among t he mi l i t ar y; i n t he r egi ment al mess t hey pl ot t ed t o avenge
Hi r amand di scussed t he comi ng r evol ut i on. For ot her s, Masonr y was a soci et e de
pl ai si r , a cl ub, a st at us symbol . You coul d f i nd a bi t of ever yt hi ng t her e:
Cagl i ost r o, Mesmer , Casanova, Bar on d' Hol bach, d' Al ember t . . . Encycl opedi st s and
al chemi st s, l i ber t i nes and her met i cs. At t he out br eak of t he Revol ut i on, member s of
t he same l odge f ound t hemsel ves on opposi t e si des, and i t seemed t hat t he gr eat
br ot her hood woul d never r ecover f r omt hi s cr i si s. . . "
" Wasn' t t her e a conf l i ct bet ween t he Gr and Or i ent and t he Scot t i sh l odge?"
" Onl y ver bal l y. For exampl e: t he l odge of t he Neuf Soeur s wel comed Fr ankl i n, whose
goal s, nat ur al l y, wer e secul ar ; he was i nt er est ed onl y i n suppor t i ng hi s Amer i can
r evol ut i on. . . But at t he same t i me, one of i t s gr and mast er s was t he Comt e de Mi l l y,
who was seeki ng t he el i xi r of l ongevi t y. Si nce he was an i mbeci l e, i n t he cour se of
hi s exper i ment s he poi soned hi msel f and di ed. Or t ake Cagl i ost r o: on t he one hand,
he i nvent ed Egypt i an r i t es; on t he ot her , he was i mpl i cat ed i n t he Af f ai r of t he
Di amond Neckl ace, a scandal devi sed by t he r i si ng bour geoi si e t o di scr edi t t he
anci en r egi me. And Cagl i ost r o was i ndeed i nvol ved! J ust t r y t o i magi ne t he sor t of
peopl e one had t o l i ve wi t h. . . "
" I t must have been har d, " Bel bo sai d, wi t h compr ehensi on.
" But who, " I asked, " ar e t hese bar ons von Hund who seek t he Unknown Super i or s. . . . ?"
" New gr oups spr ang up at t he t i me of t he neckl ace f ar ce, al t oget her di f f er ent i n
nat ur e. To gai n adept s, t hey i dent i f i ed t hemsel ves wi t h t he Masoni c l odges, but
act ual l y t hey wer e pur sui ng mor e myst i cal ends. I t was at t hi s poi nt t hat t he debat e
about t he Unknown Super i or s t ook pl ace. Hund, unf or t unat el y, wasn' t a ser i ous
per son. At f i r st he l ed hi s adept s t o bel i eve t hat t he Unknown Super i or s wer e t he
St uar t s. Then he sai d t hat t he ai mof t he or der was t o r escue t he or i gi nal
possessi ons of t he Templ ar s, and he scr aped t oget her f unds f r omal l si des.
Unsat i sf i ed wi t h t he pr oceeds, he f el l i nt o t he hands of a man named St ar ck, who
cl ai med t o have l ear ned t he secr et of maki ng gol d f r omt he aut hent i c Unknown
Super i or s, who wer e i n Pet er sbur g. Hund and St ar ck wer e sur r ounded by t heosophi st s,
cheap al chemi st s, l ast - mi nut e Rosi cr uci ans. Al l t oget her , t hey el ect ed as gr and
mast er a t hor oughl y upr i ght man, t he Duke of Br unswi ck. He i mmedi at el y r eal i zed t hat
he was i n t he wor st possi bl e company. One of t he member s of t he St r i ct Obser vance,
t he l andgr ave of Hesse, summoned t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n, bel i evi ng t hi s
gent l eman coul d pr oduce gol d f or hi m. And why not ? I n t hose days t he whi ms of t he
mi ght y had t o be i ndul ged. But t he l andgr ave al so bel i eved hi msel f t o be Sai nt
Pet er . I assur e you, gent l emen: once, when Lavat er was t he l andgr ave' s guest , he had
a dr eadf ul t i me wi t h t he Duchess of Devonshi r e, who t hought she was Mar y Magdal ene. "
" But what about t hi s Wi l l er moz and t hi s Mar t i nez Pasqual i s, who f ounded one sect
af t er anot her ?' '
" Pasqual i s was an ol d pi r at e. He pr act i ced t heur gi cal oper at i ons i n a secr et
chamber , and angel i c spi r i t s appear ed t o hi mi n t he f or mof l umi nous t r ai l s and
hi er ogl yphi c char act er s. Wi l i er - : moz t ook hi mser i ousl y, because he hi msel f was an
ent husi ast , honest but nai ve. Fasci nat ed by al chemy, Wi l l er moz dr eamed of a Gr eat
Wor k t o whi ch t he el ect shoul d devot e t hemsel ves: t o di scover t he poi nt of al l i ance
of t he si x nobl e met al s t hr ough st udyi ng t he measur ement s compr i sed i n t he si x
l et t er s of t he or i gi nal name of God, whi ch Sol omon had al l owed hi s el ect t o know. "
Page 200
!
" And t hen?"
" Wi l l er moz f ounded many or der s and j oi ned many l odges at t he same t i me, as was t he
cust omi n t hose days, al ways seeki ng t he def i ni t i ve r evel at i on, al ways f ear i ng i t
was hi dden el sewher e- whi ch i ndeed i s t he case. That i s, per haps, t he onl y t r ut h. . . So
he j oi ned t he El us Cohen of Pasqual i s. But i n ' 72 Pasqual i s di sappear ed, sai l ed f or
Sant o Domi ngo, and l ef t ever yt hi ng up i n t he ai r . Why di d he l eave? I suspect he
came i nt o possessi on of a secr et he di dn' t want t o shar e. I n any case, r e- qui escat ;
he di sappear ed on t hat dar k cont i nent , i nt o wel l - deser ved dar kness. "
" And Wi l l er moz?"
" I n t hat year we had al l been shaken by t he deat h of Sweden- bor g, a man who coul d
have t aught many t hi ngs t o t he ai l i ng West , had t he West l i st ened t o hi m. But now
t he cent ur y began i t s headl ong r ace t owar d r evol ut i onar y madness, f ol l owi ng t he
ambi t i ons of t he Thi r d Est at e. I t was t hen t hat Wi l l er moz hear d about Hund' s r i t e of
t he St r i ct Obser vance and was f asci nat ed by i t . He was t ol d t hat a Templ ar who
r eveal s hi msel f - by f oundi ng a publ i c associ at i on, say- i s not a Templ ar . But t he
ei ght eent h cent ur y was an er a of gr eat cr edul i t y. Wi l l er moz er eat ed, wi t h Hund, t he
var i ous al l i ances t hat appear on your l i st , unt i l Hund was unmasked- I mean, unt i l
t hey di scover ed he was t he sor t who r uns of f wi t h t he cash box- and t he Duke of
Br unswi ck expel l ed hi mf r omt he or gani zat i on. "
Agl i d cast anot her gl ance at t he l i st . " Ah, yes, Wei shaupt . I near l y f or got . The
I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a: wi t h a name l i ke t hat , t hey at t r act ed, at t he begi nni ng, a
number of gener ous mi nds. But Wei shaupt was an anar chi st ; t oday we' d cal l hi ma
Communi st , and i f you gent l emen onl y knew t he t hi ngs t hey r aved about i n t hat
ambi ence- coups d' et at , det hr oni ng sover ei gns, bl oodbat hs. . . . Mi nd you, I admi r ed
Wei shaupt a gr eat deal - not f or hi s i deas, but f or hi s ext r emel y cl ear headed vi ew of
how a secr et soci et y shoul d f unct i on. I t ' s possi bl e t o have a spl endi d
or gani zat i onal t al ent but qui t e conf used i deas.
" I n shor t , t he Duke of Br unswi ck, seei ng t he conf usi on ar ound | hi ml ef t by
Hund, r eal i zed t hat at t hi s j unct ur e t her e wer e t hr ee conf l i ct i ng cur r ent s i n t he
Ger man Masoni c wor l d: t he sapi ent i al - occul t i st camp, i ncl udi ng some Rosi cr uci ans;
t he r at i onal i st camp; and t he anar chi st - r evol ut i onar y camp of t he I l l umi nat i of
Bavar i a. He pr oposed t hat t he var i ous or der s and r i t es meet at Wi l hel msbad f or a
' convent , ' as t hey wer e cal l ed t hen, an Est at es- Gener al , you mi ght say. The
f ol l owi ng quest i ons had t o be answer ed: Does t he or der t r ul y or i gi nat e f r oman
anci ent soci et y, and i f so, whi ch? Ar e t her e r eal l y Unknown Super i or s, keeper s of
t he anci ent Tr adi t i on, and i f so, who ar e t hey? What ar e t he t r ue ai ms of t he or der ?
I s t he chi ef ai mt o r est or e t he or der of t he Templ ar s? And so f or t h, i ncl udi ng t he
pr obl emof whet her t he or der shoul d concer n i t sel f wi t h t he occul t sci ences.
Wi l l er moz j oi ned i n, ent husi ast i c, hopi ng t o f i nd at l ast t he answer s t o t he
quest i ons he had been aski ng hi msel f al l hi s l i f e. . . And her e t he de Mai st r e af f ai r
began. "
" Whi ch de Mai st r e?" I asked. " J oseph or Xavi er ?"
" J oseph. "
" The r eact i onar y?"
" I f he was r eact i onar y, he wasn' t r eact i onar y enough. A cur i ous man. Consi der : t hi s
devout son of t he Cat hol i c Chur ch, j ust when t he f i r st popes wer e begi nni ng t o i ssue
bul l s agai nst Masonr y, became a member of a l odge, assumi ng t he name J osephus a
Fl or i bus. He appr oached Masonr y i n 1773, when a papal br i ef condemned t he J esui t s.
Of cour se i t was t he Scot t i sh l odges t hat de Mai st r e appr oached, si nce he was not a
bour geoi s f ol l ower of t he Enl i ght enment ; he was an I l l umi nat e. "
Agl i e si pped hi s cognac. Fr oma ci gar et t e case of al most whi t e met al he t ook out
some ci gar i l l os of an unusual shape. " A t obacconi st i n London makes t hemf or me, " he
sai d, " l i ke t he ci gar s you f ound at my house. Pl ease. . . . They' r e excel l ent . . . " He
spoke wi t h hi s eyes l ost i n memor y.
" De Mai st r e. . . a man of exqui si t e manner s; t o l i st en t o hi mwas a spi r i t ual pl easur e.
He gai ned gr eat aut hor i t y i n occul t ci r cl es. And yet , at Wi l hel msbad he bet r ayed our
expect at i ons. He sent a l et t er t o t he duke, i n whi ch he f i r ml y r enounced any Templ ar
af f i l i at i on, abj ur ed t he Unknown Super i or s, and deni ed t he ut i l i t y of t he esot er i c
sci ences. He r ej ect ed i t al l out of l oyal t y t o t he Cat hol i c Chur ch, but he di d so
wi t h t he ar gument s of a bour geoi s Encycl opedi st . When t he duke r ead t he l et t er t o a
smal l ci r cl e of i nt i mat es, no one want ed t o bel i eve i t . De Mai st r e now asser t ed t hat
t he or der ' s ai mwas not hi ng but spi r i t ual r egener at i on and t hat t he cer emoni al s and
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t he t r adi t i onal r i t es ser ved onl y t o keep t he myst i cal spi r i t al i ve. He pr ai sed al l
t he new Masoni c symbol s, but sai d t hat an i mage t hat r epr esent ed sever al t hi ngs no
l onger r epr esent ed anyt hi ng. Whi ch- you' l l f or gi ve me- r uns count er t o t he whol e
her met i c t r adi t i on, f or t he mor e ambi guous and el usi ve a symbol i s, t he mor e i t
gai ns si gni f i cance and power . Ot her wi se, what becomes of t he spi r i t of Her mes, god
of a t housand f aces?
" Apr opos of t he Templ ar s, de Mai st r e sai d t hat t he or der of t he Templ e had been
cr eat ed by gr eed, and gr eed had dest r oyed i t , and t hat was t hat . The Savoyar d coul d
not f or get , you see, t hat t he or der had been dest r oyed wi t h t he consent of t he pope.
Never t r ust Cat hol i c l egi t i mi st s, no mat t er how ar dent t hei r her met i c vocat i on. De
Mai st r e' s di smi ssal of t he Unknown Super i or s was al so l aughabl e: t he pr oof t hat t hey
do not exi st i s t hat we have no knowl edge of t hem. We coul d not have knowl edge of
t hem, of cour se, or t hey woul d not be unknown. Odd, how a bel i ever of such f i ber
coul d be i mper meabl e t o t he sense of myst er y. Then de Mai st r e made hi s f i nal appeal :
Let us r et ur n t o t he Gospel s and abandon t he f ol l i es of Memphi s. He was si mpl y
r est at i ng t he mi l l enni al l i ne of t he Chur ch.
" You can under st and t he at mospher e i n whi ch t he Wi l hel msbad meet i ng t ook pl ace.
Wi t h t he def ect i on of an aut hor i t y l i ke de Mai st r e, Wi l l er moz woul d be i n t he
mi nor i t y; at most , a compr omi se coul d be r eached. The Templ ar r i t e was mai nt ai ned;
any concl usi on about t he or i gi ns of t he or der was post poned; i n shor t , t he convent
was a f ai l ur e. That was t he moment t he Scot t i sh br anch mi ssed i t s oppor t uni t y; i f
t hi ngs had gone di f f er ent l y, t he hi st or y of t he f ol l owi ng cent ur y mi ght have been
di f f er ent . "
" And af t er war d?" I asked. " Was not hi ng pat ched t oget her agai n?"
" What was t her e t o pat ch- t o use your wor d?. . . . _ Thr ee year s l at er , an evangel i cal
pr eacher who had j oi ned t he I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a, a cer t ai n Lanze, di ed i n a wood,
st r uck by l i ght ni ng. I nst r uct i ons of t he or der wer e f ound on hi m, t he Bavar i an
gover nment i nt er vened, i t was di scover ed t hat Wei shaupt was pl ot t i ng agai nst t he
st at e, and t he or der was suppr essed t he f ol l owi ng year . And f ur t her : Wei shaupt ' s
wr i t i ngs wer e publ i shed, cont ai ni ng t he al l eged pr oj ect s of t he I l l umi nat i , and f or
a whol e cent ur y t hey di scr edi t ed al l Fr ench and Ger man neo- Templ ar i sm. . . I t ' s
possi bl e t hat Wei shaupt ' s I l l umi nat i wer e r eal l y on t he si de of J acobi n Masonr y and
had i nf i l t r at ed t he neo- Templ ar br anch t o dest r oy i t . I t was pr obabl y not by chance
t hat t hi s evi l br eed had at t r act ed Mi r abeau, t he t r i bune of t he Revol ut i on, t o i t s
si de. May I say somet hi ng i n conf i dence?"
" Pl ease. "
" Men l i ke me, i nt er est ed i n j oi ni ng t oget her agai n di e f r agment s of a l ost
Tr adi t i on, ar e bewi l der ed by an event l i ke Wi l - hel msbad. Some guessed and r emai ned
si l ent ; some knew and l i ed. And t hen i t was t oo l at e: f i r st t he r evol ut i onar y
whi r l wi nd, ! t hen t he upr oar of ni net eent h- cent ur y occul t i sm. . . Look I at your l i st :
a f est i val of bad f ai t h and cr edul i t y, pet t y spi t e, ! r eci pr ocal excommuni cat i ons,
secr et s t hat ci r cul at ed on ever y I t ongue. The t heat er of occul t i sm. "
" Occul t i st s seemf i ckl e, woul dn' t you say?" Bel bo r emar ked. " You must be abl e t o
di st i ngui sh occul t i smf r omesot er i ci sm. Esot er i ci smi s t he sear ch f or a l ear ni ng
t r ansmi t t ed onl y t hr ough symbol s, cl osed t o t he pr of ane. The occul t i smt hat spr ead
i n t he ni net eent h cent ur y was t he t i p of t he i ceber g, t he l i t t l e t hat sur f aced of
t he esot er i c secr et . The Templ ar s wer e i ni t i at es, and t he pr oof of t hat i s t hat when
subj ect ed t o t or t ur e, t hey di ed t o save t hei r secr et . I t i s t he st r engt h wi t h whi ch
t hey conceal ed i t t hat makes us sur e of t hei r i ni t i at i on, and t hat makes us year n j
t o know what t hey knew. The occul t i st i s an exhi bi t i oni st . As P61adan sai d, an
i ni t i at or y secr et r eveal ed i s of no use t o anyone. Unf or t unat el y, Pel adan was not an
i ni t i at e, but an occul t i st . The ni net eent h cent ur y was t he cent ur y of i nf or mer s.
Ever ybody r ushed t o publ i sh t he secr et s of magi c, t heur gy, cabal a, t ar ot . And
per haps t hey bel i eved i n i t . "
Agl i e cont i nued l ooki ng over our l i st , wi t h an occasi onal I sni cker of
commi ser at i on. " El ena Pet r ovna. A good woman, at j hear t , but she never sai d a t hi ng
t hat hadn' t al r eady been wr i t t en ; ever ywher e. . . Guai t a, a dr ug- addi ct bi bl i omane.
Papus: What a char act er ! " Then he st opped abr upt l y. " Tr es. . . . Wher e does I t hi s come
f r om? Whi ch manuscr i pt ?"
Good, I t hought , he' s not i ced t he i nt er pol at i on. I answer ed vaguel y: " Wel l , we put
t oget her t he l i st f r omso many t ext s. Most of t hemhave al r eady been r et ur ned. They
wer e pl ai n r ubbi sh. Do you r ecal l , Bel bo, wher e t hi s Tr es comes f r om?" " I don' t
t hi nk I do. Di ot al l evi ?" " I t was days ago. . . I s i t i mpor t ant ?" " Not at al l , " Agl i e
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sai d. " I t ' s j ust t hat I never hear d of i t bef or e. You r eal l y can' t t el l me who
ment i oned i t ?" We wer e t er r i bl y sor r y, we di dn' t r emember . Agl i e t ook hi s wat ch f r om
hi s vest . " Heavens, I have anot her engagement . You gent l emen wi l l f or gi ve me. "
He l ef t , and we st ayed on, t al ki ng.
" I t ' s al l cl ear now. The Engl i sh Templ ar s put f or t h t he Masoni c pr oposal i n or der t o
make al l t he i ni t i at es of Eur ope r al l y ar ound t he Baconi an pl an. "
" But t he pl an onl y hal f - succeeds. The i dea of t he Baconi ans i s so f asci nat i ng t hat
i t pr oduces r esul t s cont r ar y t o t hei r expect at i ons. The so- cal l ed Scot t i sh l i ne sees
t he new convent i cl e as a way t o r e- est abl i sh t he successi on, and i t makes cont act
wi t h t he Ger man Templ ar s. "
" To Agl i e, what happened made no sense. But i t ' s obvi ous- t o us, now. The var i ous
nat i onal gr oups ent er ed t he l i st s, one agai nst t he ot her . I woul dn' t be sur pr i sed i f
Mar t f nez Pasqual i s was an agent of t he Tomar gr oup. The Engl i sh r ej ect ed t he
Scot t i sh; t hen t her e wer e t he Fr ench, obvi ousl y di vi ded i nt o t wo gr oups, pr o- Engl i sh
and pr o- Ger man. Masonr y was t he cover , t he pr et ext behi nd whi ch al l t hese agent s of
di f f er ent gr oups- God knows wher e t he Paul i ci ans and t he J er usal emi t es wer e- met and
cl ashed, each t r yi ng t o t ear a pi ece of t he secr et f r omt he ot her s. "
" Masonr y was l i ke Ri ck' s i n Casabl anca, " Bel bo sai d. " Whi ch t ur ns upsi de down t he
common vi ew t hat i t i s a secr et soci et y. "
" No, no, i t ' s a f r ee por t , a Macao. A f acade. The secr et i s el sewher e. "
" Poor Masons. "
Pr ogr ess demands i t s vi ct i ms. But you must admi t we ar e uncover i ng an i mmanent
r at i onal i t y of hi st or y. "
" The r at i onal i t y of hi st or y i s t he r esul t of a good r ecombi ni ng of t he Tor ah, "
Di ot al l evi sai d. " And t hat ' s what we' r e doi ng, and bl essed be t he name of t he Most
Hi gh. "
" Al l r i ght , " Bel bo sai d. " Now t he Baconi ans have Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs, whi l e t he
Fr anco- Roman neo- Templ ar l i ne i s br eaki ng down i nt o a hundr ed sect s. . . And we st i l l
haven' t deci ded what t hi s secr et i s al l about . "
" That ' s up t o you t wo, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Us t wo? Al l t hr ee of us ar e i n t hi s. I f we don' t come out honor abl y, we' l l al l l ook
si l l y. "
" Si l l y t o whom?"
" Why, t o hi st or y. Bef or e t he t r i bunal of Tr ut h. "
" Qui d est ver i t as?" Bel bo asked.
" Us, " I sai d.
77
Thi s her b i s cal l ed Devi l bane by t he Phi l osopher s. I t has been demonst r at ed t hat
onl y i t s seed can expel devi l s and t hei r hal l uci nat i ons. . . When gi ven t o a young
woman who was t or ment ed by a devi l dur i ng t he ni ght , t hi s her b made hi mf l ee.
- J ohannes de Rupesci ssa, Tr act at us de Qui nt a Essent i a, 11
Dur i ng t he next f ew days, I negl ect ed t he Pl an. Li a' s pr egnancy was comi ng t o t er m,
and whenever possi bl e I st ayed wi t h her . I was anxi ous, but she cal med me, sayi ng
t he t i me had not yet come. She was t aki ng a cour se i n pai nl ess chi l dbi r t h, and I was
t r yi ng t o f ol l ow her exer ci ses. Li a had r ej ect ed sci ence' s of f er t o t el l us t he
baby' s sex i n advance. She want ed t o be sur pr i sed. Accept i ng t hi s eccent r i ci t y on
her par t , I t ouched her bel l y and di d not ask mysel f what woul d come out . We cal l ed
i t t he Thi ng.
I asked how I coul d t ake par t i n t he bi r t h. " I t ' s mi ne, t oo, t hi s Thi ng, " I sai d. " I
don' t want t o be one of t hose movi e f at her s, paci ng up and down t he cor r i dor ,
chai n- smoki ng. "
" Pow, t her e' s onl y so much you can do. The moment comes when i t ' s al l up t o me.
Besi des, you don' t smoke. Sur el y you' r e not goi ng t o st ar t smoki ng j ust f or t hi s
occasi on. "
" What ' l l I do, t hen?"
" You' l l t ake par t bef or e and af t er war d. Af t er war d, i f i t ' s a boy, you' l l t each hi m,
gui de hi m, gi ve hi ma f i ne ol d Oedi pus compl ex i n t he usual way, wi t h a smi l e you' l l
pl ay out t he r i t ual par r i ci de when t he t i me comes- no f uss- and at some poi nt you' l l
show hi myour squal i d of f i ce, t he car d f i l es, t he page pr oof s of t he wonder f ul
Page 203
advent ur e of met al s, and you' l l say t o hi m, ' My son, one day al l t hi s wi l l be
your s. ' "
" And i f i t ' s a gi r l ?"
" You' l l say t o her , ' My daught er , one day al l t hi s wi l l be your no- good husband' s. '
"
" And what do I do bef or e?"
" Dur i ng l abor , bet ween one wave of pai n and t he next , you have t o count , because as
t he i nt er val gr ows shor t er , t he moment appr oaches. We' l l count t oget her , and you' l l
set t he r hyt hmf or me, l i ke r ower s i n a gal l ey. I t ' l l be as i f you, t oo, wer e
coaxi ng t he Thi ng out f r omi t s dar k l ai r . Poor l i t t l e Thi ng. . . . Feel i t . Now i t ' s so
cozy t her e i n t he dar k, sucki ng up humor s l i ke an oct opus, al l f r ee, and
t hen- wham- i t pops out i nt o t he dayl i ght , bl i nks, and says, Wher e t he hel l amI ?"
" Poor l i t t l e Thi ng. And i t hasn' t even met Si gner Gar amond. Come on, l et ' s r ehear se
t he count i ng par t . "
We count ed i n t he dar kness, hol di ng hands. I daydr eamed. The Thi ng, wi t h i t s bi r t h,
woul d gi ve r eal i t y and meani ng t o al l t he ol d wi ves' t al es of t he Di abol i cal s. Poor
Di abol i cal s, who spent t hei r ni ght s enact i ng chemi cal weddi ngs wi t h t he hope t hat
ei ght een- kar at gol d woul d r esul t and wonder i ng i f t he phi l osopher ' s st one was r eal l y
t he l api s exi l l i s, a wr et ched t er r a- cot t a gr ai l - and my gr ai l was i n Li a' s bel l y.
" Yes, " Li a sai d, r unni ng her hand over her swel l i ng, t aut vessel , " her e i s wher e
your good pr i mal mat t er i s st eepi ng.
" Those peopl e you saw at t he cast l e, what di d t hey t hi nk happened i n t he vessel ?"
" Oh, t hey t hought t hat mel anchol y was gr umbl i ng i n i t , sul - f t i r ous ear t h, bl ack
l ead, oi l of Sat ur n, a St yx of pur i f i cat i ons, di st i l l at i ons, pul ver i zat i ons,
abl ut i ons, b' quef act i ons, submer si ons, t er r a f oet i da, st i nki ng sepul cher . . . "
" What ar e t hey, i mpot ent ? Don' t t hey know t hat i n t he vessel our Thi ng r i pens, al l
whi t e and pi nk and beaut i f ul ?"
" They know, but f or t hemyour dear l i t t l e bel l y i s al so a met aphor , f ul l of
secr et s. . . "
" Ther e ar e no secr et s, Pow. We know exact l y how t he Thi ng i s f or med, i t s l i t t l e
ner ves and muscl es, i t s l i t t l e eyes and spl eens and pancr eases. . . "
" Oh my God, mor e t han one spl een? What i s i t , Rosemar y' s baby?"
" I was speaki ng i n gener al . But of cour se we' l l have t o be r eady t o l ove i t even i f
i t has t wo heads. "
" Of cour se! I ' l l t each i t t o pl ay duet s: t r umpet and cl ar i net . . . No, t hen i t woul d
need f our hands, and t hat ' s t oo many. But , come t o t hi nk about i t , he' d make a gr eat
pi ani st . A concer t o f or t wo l ef t hands? Not hi ng t o i t ! Br r . . . . But t hen, my
Di abol i cal s al so know t hat on t hat day, i n t he hospi t al , t her e wi l l be bor n t he
Gr eat Wor k, t he Whi t e, t he Rebi s, t he andr ogyne. . . "
" That ' s al l we need. Li st en. We' l l cal l hi mGi ul i o, or her Gi ul i a, af t er my
gr andf at her . What do you say?"
" I l i ke i t . Good. "
I f I had onl y st opped t her e. I f I had onl y wr i t t en a whi t e book, a good gr i moi r e,
f or al l t he adept s of I si s Unvei l ed, expl ai ni ng t o t hemt hat t he secr et umsecr et or um
no l onger needed t o be sought , t hat t he book of l i f e cont ai ned no hi dden meani ng; i t
was al l t her e, i n t he bel l i es of al l t he Li as of t he wor l d, i n t he hospi t al r ooms,
on st r aw pal l et s, on r i ver banks, and t hat t he st ones i n exi l e and t he Hol y Gr ai l
wer e not hi ng but scr eami ng monkeys wi t h t hei r umbi l i cal cor d st i l l dangl i ng and t he
doct or gi vi ng t hema sl ap on t he ass. And t hat t he Unknown Super i or s, i n t he eyes of
t he Thi ng, wer e onl y me and Li a, and t he Thi ng woul d i mmedi at el y r ecogni ze us,
wi t hout havi ng t o go ask t hat ol d f ool de Mai st r e.
But no. We, t he sar doni c, i nsi st ed on pl ayi ng games wi t h t he Di abol i cal s, on showi ng
t hemt hat i f t her e had t o be a cosmi c pl ot , we coul d i nvent t he most cosmi c of al l .
Ser ves you r i ght , I sai d t o mysel f t hat ot her eveni ng. Now her e you ar e, wai t i ng f or
what wi l l happen under Foucaul t ' s Pendul um.
78
Sur el y t hi s monst r ous hybr i d comes not f r oma mot her ' s womb but f r oman Ephi al t es,
an I ncubus, or some ot her hor r endous demon, as t hough spawned i n a put r i d and
venomous f ungus, son of Fauns and Nymphs, mor e devi l t han man.
- At hanasi us Ki r cher , Mundus Subt er r aneus, Amst er dam, J ansson, 1665, I I , pp.
279- 280
Page 204
That day, I want ed t o st ay home- I had a pr esent i ment - but Li a t ol d me t o st op act i ng
t he pr i nce consor t and go t o wor k. " Ther e' s t i me, Pow; i t won' t be bor n yet . I have
t o go out , t oo. Run al ong. "
I had al most r eached my of f i ce when Si gner Sal on' s door opened. The ol d man appear ed
i n hi s yel l ow apr on. I coul dn' t avoi d gr eet i ng hi m, and he asked me t o come i nsi de.
I had never seen hi s l abor at or y.
I t must have been an apar t ment once, but Sal on had had al l t he di vi di ng wal l s
demol i shed, and what I saw was a cave, vast , hazy. For some obscur e ar chi t ect ur al
r eason, t hi s wi ng of t he bui l di ng had a mansar d r oof , and t he l i ght ent er ed
obl i quel y. I don' t know whet her t he gl ass panes wer e di r t y or f r ost ed, or i f Sal on
had i nst al l ed shades t o keep out t he di r ect sun, or i f i t was t he heap of obj ect s on
al l si des pr ocl ai mi ng a f ear of spaces l ef t empt y, but t he l i ght i n t he cave was
l at e dusk. The r oomwas di vi ded by ol d phar macy shel ves i n whi ch ar ches opened t o
passages, j unct i ons, per spect i ves. The domi nant col or was br own: t he obj ect s, t he
shel ves, t he t abl es, t he di f f use bl end of dayl i ght and t he pat chy i l l umi nat i on f r om
ol d l amps. My f i r st i mpr essi on was of havi ng ent er ed an i nst r ument maker ' s at el i er ,
abandoned f r omt he t i me of St r adi var i us, wi t h year s of accumul at ed dust on t he
st r i at ed bel l i es of t he l ut es.
Then, as my eyes gr adual l y adj ust ed, I saw t hat I was i n a pet r i f i ed zoo. A bear cub
wi t h gl assy eyes cl i mbed an ar t i f i ci al bough; a dazed and hi er at i c owl st ood besi de
me; on t he t abl e i n f r ont of me was a weasel - or mar t en or skunk; I coul dn' t t el l .
Behi nd i t was a pr ehi st or i c ani mal , f el i ne, i t s bones showi ng. I t mi ght have been a
puma, a l eopar d, or a ver y bi g dog. Par t of t he skel et on had al r eady been cover ed
wi t h st r aw and past e, and i t was al l suppor t ed by an i r on ar mat ur e.
" The Gr eat Dane of a r i ch l ady wi t h a sof t hear t , " Sal on sai d wi t h a sni cker , " who
want s t o r emember i t as i t was i n t he days of t hei r conj ugal l i f e. You see? You ski n
t he ani mal , on t he i nsi de of t he ski n you smear ar seni c soap, t hen you soak and
bl each t he bones. . . Look at t hat shel f and you' l l see a gr eat col l ect i on of spi nal
col umns and r i b cages. A l ovel y ossuar y, don' t you t hi nk? You connect t he bones wi t h
wi r e, r econst r uct t he skel et on, mount i t on an ar mat ur e. To st ui f i t , I use hay,
papi er - mache, or pl ast er . Fi nal l y you f i t t he ski n back on. I r epai r t he damage done
by deat h and cor r upt i on. Thi s owl - doesn' t i t seemal i ve t o you?"
Fr omt hen on, ever y l i ve owl woul d seemdead t o me, consi gned by Sal on t o a
scl er ot i c et er ni t y. I r egar ded t he f ace of t hat embal mer of ani mal phar aohs, hi s
bushy eyebr ows, hi s gr ay cheeks, and I coul d not deci de whet her he was a l i vi ng
bei ng or a mast er pi ece of hi s own ar t .
The bet t er t o l ook at hi m, I t ook a st ep backwar d, and f el t somet hi ng gr aze my nape.
I t ur ned wi t h a shudder and saw I had set a pendul umi n mot i on.
A gr eat di sembowel ed bi r d swayed, f ol l owi ng t he movement of t he l ance t hat pi er ced
i t . The weapon had ent er ed t he head, and t hr ough t he open br east you coul d see i t
pass wher e t he hear t and gi zzar d had once been, t hen br anch out t o f or man
upsi de- down t r i dent . One, t hi cker pr ong went t hr ough t he now- empt i ed bel l y and
poi nt ed t owar d t he gr ound l i ke a swor d, whi l e t he t wo ot her pr ongs ent er ed t he f eet
and emer ged symmet r i cal l y f r omt he t al ons. The bi r d swung, and t he t hr ee poi nt s cast
t hei r shadow on t he f l oor , a myst i c si gn.
" A f i ne speci men of t he gol den eagl e, " Sal on sai d. " But I st i l l have a f ew days'
wor k t o do on i t . I was j ust choosi ng t he eyes. " He showed me a box f ul l of gl ass
cor neas and pupi l s, as i f t he execut i oner of Sai nt Lucy had col l ect ed t he t r ophi es
of hi s ent i r e car eer . " I t ' s not al ways easy, as i t i s wi t h i nsect s, wher e al l you
need i s a box and a pi n. Thi s, f or exampl e, has t o be t r eat ed wi t h f or mal i n. "
I smel l ed i t s mor gue odor . " I t must be an ent hr al l i ng j ob, " I sai d. And meanwhi l e I
was t hi nki ng of t he l i vi ng cr eat ur e t hat t hr obbed i n Li a' s bel l y. A chi l l i ng t hought
sei zed' me. I f t he Thi ng di es, I sai d t o mysel f , I want t o bur y i t . I want i t t o
f eed t he wor ms under gr ound and enr i ch t he ear t h. That ' s t he onl y way I ' l l f eel i t ' s
st i l l al i ve. . .
Sal on was st i l l t al ki ng. He t ook a st r ange speci men f r omone of t he shel ves. I t was
about t hi r t y cent i met er s l ong. A dr agon, a r ept i l e wi t h bl ack membr anous wi ngs, a
cock' s cr est , and gapi ng j aws t hat br i st l ed wi t h t i ny sawl i ke t eet h. " Handsome,
i sn' t he? My own composi t i on. I used a sal amander , a bat , snake' s scal es. . . A
subt er r anean dr agon. I was i nspi r ed by t hi s. . . "
He showed me, on anot her t abl e, a gr eat f ol i o vol ume, bound i n anci ent par chment ,
wi t h l eat her t i es. " I t cost me a f or t une. I ' mnot a bi bl i ophi l e, but t hi s was
Page 205
somet hi ng I had t o have. I t ' s t he Mundus Subt er r aneus of At hanasi us Ki r cher , f i r st
edi t i on, 1665. Her e' s t he dr agon. I dent i cal , don' t you t hi nk? I t l i ves i n t he caves
of vol canoes, t hat good J esui t sai d, and he knew ever yt hi ng about t he known, t he
unknown, and t he nonexi st ent . . . "
" You t hi nk al ways of t he under gr ound wor l d, " I sai d, r ecal l i ng our conver sat i on i n
Muni ch and t he wor ds I had over hear d t hr ough t he Ear of Di onysi us.
He opened t he vol ume t o anot her page, t o an i mage of t he gl obe, whi ch l ooked l i ke an
anat omi cal or gan, swol l en and bl ack, cover ed by a spi der web of l umi nescent ,
ser pent i ne vei ns. " I f Ki r cher was r i ght , t her e ar e mor e pat hs i n t he hear t of t he
ear t h t han t her e ar e on t he sur f ace. What ever t akes pl ace i n nat ur e der i ves f r omt he
heat and st eambel ow. . . "
I t hought of t he Bl ack Wor k, of Li a' s bel l y, of t he Thi ng t hat was st r uggl i ng t o
br eak out of i t s sweet vol cano.
" . . . and what ever t akes pl ace i n t he wor l d of men i s pl anned bel ow. "
" Does Padr e Ki r cher say t hat , t oo?"
" No. He concer ns hi msel f onl y wi t h nat ur e. . . But i t i s odd t hat t he second par t of
t hi s book i s on al chemy and t he al chemi st s, and t hat pr eci sel y her e, you see, t her e
i s an at t ack on t he Rosi cr uci ans. Why at t ack t he Rosi cr uci ans i n a book on t he
under gr ound wor l d? Our J esui t knew a t hi ng or t wo; he knew t hat t he l ast Templ ar s
had t aken r ef uge i n t he under gr ound ki ngdomof Agar t t ha. . . "
" And t hey' r e st i l l t her e, i t seems, " I vent ur ed.
" They' r e st i l l t her e, " Sal on sai d. " Not i n Agar t t ha, but i n t unnel s. Per haps beneat h
us, r i ght her e. Mi l an, t oo, has a met r o. Who deci ded on i t ? Who di r ect ed t he
excavat i ons?"
" Exper t engi neer s, I ' d say. "
" Yes, cover your eyes wi t h your hands. And meanwhi l e, i n t hat f i r mof your s, you
publ i sh such books. . . . How many J ews ar e t her e among your aut hor s?"
" We don' t ask our aut hor s t o f i l l out r aci al f or ms, " I r epl i ed st i f f l y.
" You must n' t t hi nk me an ant i - Semi t e. No, some of my best f r i ends. . . I have i n mi nd a
cer t ai n ki nd of J ew. . . . "
" What ki nd?"
" I know what ki nd. . . "
79
He opened hi s cof f er . I n i ndescr i babl e di sor der i t cont ai ned col l ar s, r ubber bands,
ki t chen ut ensi l s, badges of di f f er ent t echni cal school s, even t he monogr amof t he
Empr ess Al exandr a Feodor ovna and t he Cr oss of t he Legi on of Honor . On ever yt hi ng, i n
hi s madness, he saw t he seal of t he Ant i chr i st , i n t he f or mof t wo l i nked t r i angl es.
- Al exandr e Chayl a, " Ser ge A. Ni l us et l es Pr ot ocol es, " La Tr i bune J ui ve, May 14,
1921, p. 3
" You see, " Sal on went on, " I was bor n i n Moscow. And i t was i n Russi a, when I was a
yout h, t hat peopl e di scover ed t he secr et J ewi sh document s t hat sai d, i n so many
wor ds, t hat t o cont r ol gover nment s i t was necessar y t o wor k under gr ound. Li st en. " He
pi cked up a l i t t l e not ebook, i n whi ch he had copi ed out some quot at i ons. " ' Today' s
ci t i es have met r opol i t an r ai l r oads and under gr ound passages: f r omt hese we wi l l bl ow
up al l t he capi t al s of t he wor l d. ' Pr ot ocol s of t he El der s of Zi on, Document Number
Ni ne! "
I t occur r ed t o me t hat t he col l ect i on of spi nal col umns, t he box wi t h t he eyes, t he
ski ns st r et ched over ar mat ur es came f r omsome ext er mi nat i on camp. But no, I was
deal i ng wi t h an el der l y man nost al gi c about t he ol d days of Russi an ant i - Semi t i sm.
" I f I f ol l ow you, t hen, t her e' s a convent i cl e of J ews- some J ews, not al l - who ar e
pl ot t i ng somet hi ng. But why under gr ound?"
" That ' s obvi ous! Any pl ot t er must pl ot under gr ound, not i n t he l i ght of day. Thi s
has been known f r omt he begi nni ng of t i me. Domi ni on over t he wor l d means domi ni on
over what l i es beneat h i t . The subt er r anean cur r ent s. "
I r emember ed a quest i on of Agi l e' s i n hi s st udy, and t hen t he Dr ui desses i n
Pi edmont , who cal l ed on t el l ur i c cur r ent s.
" Why di d t he Cel t s di g sanct uar i es i n t he hear t of t he ear t h, maki ng t unnel s t hat
communi cat ed wi t h a sacr ed wel l ?" Sal on cont i nued. " The wel l goes down i nt o
r adi oact i ve st r at a, as ever yone knows. How was Gl ast onbur y bui l t ? And i sn' t t he
i sl and of Aval on wher e t he myt h of t he Gr ai l or i gi nat ed? And who i nvent ed t he Gr ai l
Page 206
i f not a J ew?"
The Gr ai l agai n, my God. But what gr ai l ? Ther e was onl y one gr ai l : my Thi ng, i n
cont act wi t h t he r adi oact i ve st r at a of Li a' s womb, and per haps now swi mmi ng happi l y
t owar d t he mout h of t hat wel l , per haps now pr epar i ng t o come out , and her e I was
among st uf f ed owl s, among a hundr ed dead and one pr et endi ng t o be al i ve.
" Al l Eur ope' s cat hedr al s ar e bui l t wher e t he Cel t s had t hei r menhi r s. Why di d t he
Cel t s set t hese st ones i n t he gr ound, consi der i ng t he ef f or t i t cost t hem?"
" Why di d t he Egypt i ans go t o so much t r oubl e t o er ect t he pyr ami ds?"
" Ther e you ar e. Ant ennas, t her momet er s, pr obes, needl es l i ke t he ones Chi nese
doct or s use, st uck i nt o t he body' s nodal poi nt s. At t he cent er of t he ear t h i s a
nucl eus of f usi on, somet hi ng si mi l ar t o t he sun- i ndeed, an act ual sun ar ound whi ch
t hi ngs r evol ve, descr i bi ng di f f er ent pat hs. Or bi t s of t el l ur i c cur r ent s. The Cel t s
knew wher e t hey wer e, and how t o cont r ol t hem. And Dant e? What about Dant e? What was
he t r yi ng t o t el l us wi t h t he account of hi s descent i nt o t he dept hs? You under st and
me, dear f r i end?"
I di dn' t l i ke bei ng hi s dear f r i end, but I went on l i st eni ng t o hi m. Gi ul i o/ Gi ul i a,
my Rebi s pl ant ed l i ke Luci f er at t he cent er of Li a' s womb, but he/ she, t he Thi ng,
woul d be upsi de down, woul d be st r uggl i ng upwar d, and woul d somehow emer ge. The
Thi ng was cr eat ed t o emer ge upwar d f r omt he vi scer a, and not make i t s ent r ance wi t h
head bowed, i n st i cky secr ecy.
Sal on by now was l ost i n a monol ogue he seemed t o r epeat f r ommemor y. " You know what
t he Engl i sh l eys ar e? I f you f l y over Engl and i n a pl ane, you' l l see t hat al l t he
sacr ed pl aces ar e j oi ned by st r ai ght l i nes, a gr i d of l i nes i nt er woven acr oss t he
whol e count r y, st i l l vi si bl e because t hey suggest ed t he l i nes of l at er r oads. . . "
" The sacr ed pl aces wer e connect ed by r oads, and peopl e si mpl y t r i ed t o make r oads as
st r ai ght as possi bl e. "
" I ndeed? Then why do bi r ds mi gr at e al ong t hese l i nes? Why do f l yi ng saucer s f ol l ow
t hem? I t ' s a secr et t hat was l ost af t er t he Roman i nvasi on, but t her e ar e t hose who
st i l l know i t . . . "
" The J ews, " I suggest ed.
" They al so di g. The f i r st al chemi st i c pr i nci pl e i s VI TRI OL: Vi si t a I nt er i or a Ter r ae,
Rect i f i cando I nveni es Occul t umLapi - dem. "
Lapi s exi l l i s. My St one t hat was sl owl y comi ng out of exi l e, f r omt he sweet
obl i vi ous hypnot i c exi l e of Li a' s vessel ; my St one, beaut i f ul and whi t e, not seeki ng
f ur t her dept hs, but seeki ng t he sur f ace. . . I want ed t o r ush home t o Li a, t o wai t wi t h
her , hour by hour , f or t he appear ance of t he Thi ng, t he t r i umph of t he sur f ace
r egai ned. Sal on' s den had t he must y smel l of t unnel s. Tunnel s wer e t he or i gi n t hat
had t o be abandoned; t hey wer e not t he dest i nat i on. And yet I f ol l owed Sal on, and
new, mal i ci ous i deas f or t he Pl an whi r l ed i n my head. Whi l e I awai t ed t he one Tr ut h
of t hi s subl unar wor l d, I r acked my br ai n t o const r uct new f al sehoods; bl i nd as t he
ani mal s under gr ound.
I st i r r ed. I had t o get out of t he t unnel . " I must go, " I sai d. " Per haps you can
suggest some books on t hi s subj ect . "
" Ha! Ever yt hi ng t hey' ve wr i t t en about i s f al se, f al se as t he soul of J udas. What I
know I l ear ned f r ommy f at her . . . "
" A geol ogi st ?"
" Oh no, " Sal on sai d, l aughi ng, " no, not at al l . My f at her - not hi ng t o be ashamed of ;
wat er under t he br i dge- wor ked f or t he Okhr ana. Di r ect l y under t he chi ef , t he
l egendar y Rachkov- ski . "
Okhr ana, Okhr ana? Somet hi ng l i ke t he KGB? The t sar i st secr et pol i ce, wasn' t i t ? And
who was Rachkovski ? Wasn' t t her e someone who had a si mi l ar name? By God, t he
col onel ' s myst er i ous vi si t or , Count Rakosky. . . . No, enough of t hi s. No mor e
coi nci dences. I di dn' t st uf f dead ani mal s; I cr eat ed l i vi ng ani mal s.
80
When Whi t e ar r i ves i n t he mat t er of t he Gr eat Wor k, Li f e has conquer ed Deat h, t he
Ki ng i s r esusci t at ed, Ear t h and Wat er have become Ai r , i t i s t he domai n of t he Moon,
t hei r Chi l d i s bor n. . . Then Mat t er achi eves such a degr ee of f i xi t y t hat Fi r e can no
l onger dest r oy i t . . . When t he ar t i st sees per f ect whi t eness, t he Phi l osopher s say t he
books must be t or n up, f or t hey ar e now usel ess.
- DomJ . Per net y, Di ct i onnai r e myt ho- her met i que, Par i s, Bauche, 1758, " Bl ancheur "
I mumbl ed some excuse, i n hast e. I bel i eve I sai d, " My gi r l f r i end' s havi ng a baby
Page 207
t omor r ow. " Sal on hal t i ngl y of f er ed me congr at ul at i ons, as i f not sur e who t he f at her
was. I r an home, t o br eat he some cl ean ai r .
Li a wasn' t i n. On t he ki t chen t abl e, a pi ece of paper : " Dar l i ng, t he wat er s have
br oken. Coul dn' t get you at t he of f i ce. Taki ng a t axi t o t he hospi t al . Come. I f eel
al one. "
A moment of pani c. I had t o be t her e t o count wi t h Li a. I shoul d have been i n t he
of f i ce, r eachabl e. I t was my f aul t : t he Thi ng woul d be bor n dead, Li a woul d di e wi t h
i t , Sal on woul d st uf f t hembot h.
I ent er ed t he hospi t al on unst eady l egs, asked di r ect i ons of peopl e who di dn' t know
anyt hi ng, t wi ce ended up i n t he wr ong war d. I shout ed t hat t hey had t o know wher e
Li a was havi ng t he baby, and t hey t ol d me t o cal mdown, because her e ever ybody was
havi ng a baby.
Fi nal l y- I don' t know how- I f ound mysel f i n a r oom. Li a was pear l y pal e but smi l i ng.
Someone had l i f t ed her hai r and put i t under a whi t e cap. For t he f i r st t i me I saw
Li a' s f or ehead i n al l i t s spl endor . Next t o her was t he Thi ng.
" I t ' s Gi ul i o, " she sai d.
My Rebi s. I , t oo, had made hi m, and not wi t h chunks of dead bodi es or ar seni c soap.
He was whol e, al l hi s f i nger s and t oes wer e i n t he r i ght pl ace.
I i nsi st ed on seei ng al l of hi m, hi s l i t t l e cock, hi s bi g bal l s. Then I ki ssed Li a
on her naked br ow: " The cr edi t i s your s, dar l i ng; i t al l depends on t he vessel . "
" Of cour se t he cr edi t i s mi ne, you shi t . I had t o count al l by mysel f . ' '
" For me you ar e al l t hat count s, " I t ol d her .
81
The subt er r anean peopl e have r eached t he hi ghest knowl edge. . . I f our mad humanki nd
shoul d begi n a war agai nst t hem, t hey woul d be abl e t o expl ode t he whol e sur f ace of
our pl anet . . .
- Fer di nand Ossendowski , Beast s, Men and Gods, 1924, v
I st ayed at home wi t h Li a because, once she l ef t t he hospi t al and had t o change t he
baby' s di aper s, she cr i ed and sai d she woul d never be abl e t o cope. Somebody
expl ai ned t o us t hat t hi s was nor mal : t he exci t ement over t he vi ct or y of bi r t h i s
f ol l owed by a f eel i ng of hel pl essness i n t he f ace of t he i mmensi t y of t he j ob.
Dur i ng t hose days, whi l e I l oaf ed ar ound t he house, usel ess and not qual i f i ed, of
cour se, f or br east - f eedi ng, I spent l ong hour s r eadi ng ever yt hi ng I had been abl e t o
f i nd concer ni ng t el l ur i c cur r ent s.
On my r et ur n, I sounded out Agl f e on t hem. He made a gest ur e of bor edom. " Weak
met aphor s, r ef er r i ng t o t he secr et of t he ser pent Kundal i ni . Chi nese geomancy al so
sought i n t he ear t h t he t r aces of t he dr agon. The t el l ur i c ser pent si mpl y st ands f or
t he occul t ser pent . The goddess r eposes, coi l ed, and sl eeps her et er nal sl eep.
Kundal i ni t hr obs gent l y, bi ndi ng heavy bodi es t o l i ght er bodi es. Li ke a vor t ex or a
whi r l pool , l i ke t he f i r st hal f of t he syl l abl e om. "
" But what secr et cf oes t he ser pent r ef er t o?" " To t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s. " " What ar e
t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s?"
" A gr eat cosmol ogi cal met aphor , whi ch r ef er s t o t he ser pent . " To hel l wi t h Agl i e, I
sai d t o mysel f , I know mor e t han t hat .
I r ead my not es t o Bel bo and Di ot al l evi , and we no l onger had any doubt . At l ast we
wer e i n a posi t i on t o suppl y t he Templ ar s wi t h a decent secr et . I t was t he most
economi cal , t he most el egant sol ut i on t o t he pr obl em, and al l t he pi eces of our
mi l l enni al puzzl e f i t t oget her .
So: t he Cel t s knew about t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s: t hey had l ear ned t he secr et f r omt he
At l ant i des, when t he sur vi vor s of t he submer ged cont i nent emi gr at ed, some t o Egypt ,
some t o Br i t t any.
The At l ant i des had l ear ned i t f r omt hose ancest or s of our s who vent ur ed f or t h f r om
Aval on acr oss t he cont i nent of Mu as f ar as t he cent r al deser t of Aust r al i a- when al l
t he cont i nent s wer e a si ngl e l and mass, t he wondr ous Pangaea. I f onl y we coul d st i l l
r ead ( as t he Abor i gi nes can, but t hey r emai n si l ent ) t he myst er i ous al phabet car ved
on t he gr eat boul der Ayer s Rock, we woul d have t he Answer . Ayer s Rock i s t he
ant i pode of t he gr eat ( unknown) mount ai n t hat i s t he Pol e, t he t r ue, occul t Pol e,
not t he one t hat any bour geoi s expl or er can r each. As usual , and t hi s shoul d be
obvi ous t o anyone whose eyes have not been bl i nded by t he f al se l i ght of West er n
sci ence, t he Pol e t hat we see i s not t he r eal Pol e, f or t he r eal Pol e i s t he one
Page 208
t hat cannot be seen, except by some adept s, whose l i ps ar e seal ed.
The Cel t s, however , bel i eved i t was enough t o di scover t he gl obal conf i gur at i on of
t he cur r ent s. That ' s why t hey er ect ed megal i t hs. The menhi r s had sensi t i ve devi ces,
l i ke el ect r i c val ves, pl ant ed at t he poi nt s wher e t he cur r ent s br anched and changed
di r ect i on. The l eys mar ked t he r out es of cur r ent s al r eady i dent i f i ed. The dol mens
wer e chamber s of accumul at ed ener gy, wher e t he Dr ui ds, wi t h geomant i c t ool s,
at t empt ed t o map, by ext r apol at i on, t he gl obal desi gn. The cr oml echs and St onehenge
wer e mi cr o- macr ocosmi c obser vat or i es f r omwhi ch t hey st udi ed t he pat t er n of t he
const el l at i ons i n or der t o di vi ne t he pat t er n of t he cur r ent s- because, as t he Tabul a
Smar agdi na t el l s us, what i s above i s i somor phi c t o what i s bel ow.
But t her e was mor e t o t he pr obl emt han t hat . The ot her br anch of t he At l ant i dean
emi gr at i on r eal i zed as much. The occul t knowl edge of t he Egypt i ans passed f r om
Her mes Tr i smegi st us t o Moses, who t ook car e not t o pass i t on t o hi s band of
t at t er demal i ons, t hei r cr aws st i l l st uf f ed wi t h manna; t o t hemhe of f er ed t he Ten
Commandment s, whi ch was as much as t hey coul d compr ehend. The hi gher t r ut h i s
ar i st ocr at i c; Moses encoded i t i n t he Pent at euch. The cabal i st s under st ood t hi s.
" J ust t hi nk, " I sai d, " ever yt hi ng was al r eady wr i t t en, an open book, i n t he
measur ement s of t he Templ e of Sol omon, and t he keeper s of t he secr et wer e t he
Rosi cr uci ans, who f or med t he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y- t he Essenes, i n ot her wor ds,
who, as i s wel l known, l et J esus i n on t hei r secr et s. And t her e you have t he r eal
r eason why J esus was cr uci f i ed. . . "
" Of cour se, t he Passi on of Chr i st i s an al l egor y, pr ef i gur i ng t he t r i al of t he
Templ ar s. "
" Ri ght . And J oseph of Ar i mat hea t akes, or t akes back, t he secr et of J esus t o t he
l and of t he Cel t s. But obvi ousl y t he secr et i s st i l l i ncompl et e; t he Chr i st i an
Dr ui ds know onl y a f r agment of i t , and t hat i s t he esot er i c meani ng of t he Gr ai l :
t her e i s somet hi ng mi ssi ng, but we don' t know what . The secr et - what t he Templ e
al r eady sai d i n f ul l - i s suspect ed onl y by a smal l gr oup of r abbi s who r emai ned i n
Pal est i ne. They ent r ust i t t o t he occul t Mosl emsect s, t o t he Suf i s, t he I smai l i s,
t he Mot akal l i mun. And f r omt hemt he Templ ar s l ear n i t . "
" At l ast , t he Templ ar s! I was begi nni ng t o wor r y, " Bel bo sai d.
We wer e shapi ng t he Pl an, whi ch, l i ke sof t cl ay, obeyed our t humbs, our nar r at i ve
desi r es. The Templ ar s had di scover ed t he secr et dur i ng t hose sl eepl ess ni ght s,
embr aci ng t hei r saddl e mat es i n t he deser t , wher e t he i mpl acabl e si moomwas bl owi ng.
They had wr est ed i t , bi t by bi t , f r omt hose who knew t he power s of cosmi c f ocus i n
t he Bl ack St one of Mecca, t he her i t age of t he Babyl oni an magi - f or i t was cl ear now
t hat t he Tower of Babel had been si mpl y an at t empt , however hast y and deser vedl y a
f ai l ur e because of t he pr i de of i t s ar chi t ect s, t o bui l d t he most power f ul menhi r of
al l . But t he Babyl oni ans got t hei r cal cul at i ons wr ong. As Fat her Ki r cher has
demonst r at ed, had t he t ower r eached i t s peak, i t s excessi ve wei ght woul d have made
t he ear t h' s axi s r ot at e ni net y degr ees and maybe mor e, and our poor gl obe, i nst ead
of havi ng an i t hyphal l i c cr own poi nt i ng upwar d, woul d have f ound i t sel f wi t h a
st er i l e appendi x, a l i mp ment ul a, a monkey t ai l f l oppi ng downwar d, a Shekhi nah l ost
i n t he di zzyi ng abyss of an ant ar ct i c Mal khut , a f l acci d hi er ogl yph f or pengui ns.
" So, i n a wor d, what ' s t he secr et di scover ed by t he Templ ar s?"
" Don' t r ush me. We' r e get t i ng t her e. I t t ook seven days t o make t he wor l d. And now
we' l l gi ve i t a t r y. "
82
The ear t h i s a magnet i c body; i n f act , as some sci ent i st s have f ound, i t i s one vast
magnet , as Par acel sus af f i r med some 300 year s ago.
- H. P. Bl avat sky I si s Unvei l ed, New Yor k, Boul t on, 1877, I , p. xxi i i
We gave i t a t r y, and we succeeded.
The ear t h i s a gr eat magnet , and t he f or ce and di r ect i on of i t s cur r ent s ar e
i nf l uenced by t he cel est i al spher es, t he cycl e of t he seasons, t he pr ecessi on of t he
equi noxes, t he cosmi c cycl es. Thus t he pat t er n of t he cur r ent s changes. But i t must
change l i ke hai r , whi ch, t hough i t gr ows ever ywher e on t he t op and si des of t he
skul l , never t hel ess spi r al s out f r oma poi nt t owar d t he back, wher e i t r ebel s most
agai nst t he comb. When t hat poi nt has been i dent i f i ed, when t he most power f ul
st at i on has been est abl i shed t her e, i t wi l l be possi bl e t o cont r ol , di r ect , command
al l t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s of t he pl anet . The Templ ar s r eal i zed t hat t he secr et l ay
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not onl y i n possessi ng t he gl obal map of t he cur r ent s, but al so i n knowi ng t he
cr i t i cal poi nt , t he Omphal os, t he Umbi l i cus Tel l ur i s, t he Navel of t he Wor l d, t he
Sour ce of t he Command.
Al l al chemi st i c t al k- t he cht honi c descent of t he Bl ack Wor k, t he el ect r i c char ge of
t he Whi t e- i s onl y a met aphor , a met aphor cl ear t o t he i ni t i at ed, f or t hi s age- ol d
auscul t at i on whose f i nal r esul t wi l l be t he Red: gl obal knowl edge, br i l l i ant
domi ni on over t he pl anet ar y syst emof cur r ent s. The secr et , t he r eal secr et , of
al chemy and Templ ar s i s t he sear ch f or t he Wel l spr i ng of t hat i nt er nal r hyt hm, as
sweet , awesome, and r egul ar as t he t hr obbi ng of t he ser pent Kundal i ni , st i l l unknown
i n many of i t s aspect s, yet sur el y as pr eci se as a cl ock, f or i t i s t he r hyt hmof
t he one t r ue St one t hat f el l i n exi l e f r omheaven, t he Gr eat Mot her Ear t h.
Thi s was what Phi l i p t he Fai r want ed t o know. Hence t he i nqui si t or s' sl y i nsi st ence
on t he myst er i ous ki ss i n post er i or i par t e spi ne dor si . They want ed t he secr et of
Kundal i ni ; who car es about sodomy.
" I t ' s per f ect , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " But t hen, when you know how t o di r ect t he t el l ur i c
cur r ent s, what do you do wi t h t hem? Make beer ?"
" Come on, " I sai d. " Haven' t you gr asped t he si gni f i cance of t hi s di scover y? I n t he
Tel l ur i c Navel you pl ace t he most power f ul val ve, whi ch enabl es you t o f or esee r ai n
and dr ought , t o r el ease hur r i canes, t i dal waves, ear t hquakes, t o spl i t cont i nent s,
si nk i sl ands ( no doubt At l ant i s di sappear ed i n some such r eckl ess exper i ment ) , r ai se
mount ai n chai ns. . . . You r eal i ze t he at omi c bomb i s not hi ng i n compar i son? Besi des
whi ch, i t al so hur t s t he one who dr ops i t . Fr omyour cont r ol t ower you t el ephone,
f or exampl e, t he pr esi dent of t he Uni t ed St at es, and you say t o hi m: By t omor r ow
mor ni ng I want a dodecadi l l i on dol l ar s- or t he i ndependence of Lat i n Amer i ca, or t he
st at e of Hawai i , or t he dest r uct i on of your st ockpi l e of nucl ear weapons- or el se t he
San Andr eas Faul t wi l l cr ack def i ni t i vel y and Las Vegas wi l l become a f l oat i ng
casi no. . . "
" But Las Vegas i s i n Nevada. "
" Doesn' t mat t er . When you cont r ol t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s, you can sni p of f Nevada,
t oo, and Col or ado. Then you t el ephone t he Supr eme Sovi et and you say: Comr ades, by
Monday I want al l t he cavi ar of t he Vol ga, and I want Si ber i a as my f r ozen- f ood
l ocker ; ot her wi se I ' l l suck t he Ur al s under , I ' l l make t he Caspi an over f l ow, I ' l l
cut l oose Li t huani a and Est oni a and si nk t hemi n t he Phi l i ppi ne Tr ench. "
" Yes, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " The power woul d be i mmense. The ear t h coul d be r ewr i t t en
l i ke t he Tor ah. J apan l ands i n t he gul f of Panama. "
" Pani c on Wal l St r eet . "
" For get about St ar War s. For get about t r ansf or mi ng base met al i nt o gol d. You ai mt he
r i ght cur r ent , st i r up t he bowel s of t he ear t h, and make t hemdo i n t en seconds what
i t used t o t ake t hembi l l i ons of year s t o do, and t he whol e Ruhr becomes a di amond
mi ne. El i phas Le" vi sai d t he knowl edge of t he uni ver se' s t i des and cur r ent s hol ds
t he secr et of human omni pot ence. "
" That must be so, " Bel bo sai d. " I t ' s l i ke t r ansf or mi ng t he whol e wor l d i nt o an
or gone box. I t ' s obvi ous. Rei ch was def i ni t el y a Templ ar . "
" Ever yone was, except us. Thank God weVe caught on. Now we' r e a st ep ahead of t hem. "
But what st opped t he Templ ar s, once t hey knew t he secr et ? The pr obl emwas how t o
expl oi t i t . Bet ween knowi ng and know- how t her e was a gap. So, i nst r uct ed by t he
di abol i cal Sai nt Ber nar d, t he Templ ar s r epl aced t he menhi r s, poor Cel t i c val ves,
wi t h Got hi c cat hedr al s, f ar mor e sensi t i ve and power f ul , t hei r subt er r anean cr ypt s
cont ai ni ng bl ack vi r gi ns, i n di r ect cont act wi t h t he r adi oact i ve st r at a; and t hey
cover ed Eur ope wi t h a net wor k of r ecei ver - t r ansmi t t er st at i ons communi cat i ng t o one
anot her t he power and t he di r ect i on, t he f l ow and t he t ensi on, of t he t el l ur i c
cur r ent s.
" I say t hey l ocat ed t he si l ver mi nes i n t he New Wor l d, caused er upt i ons of si l ver
t her e, and t hen, cont r ol l i ng t he Gul f St r eam, shi f t ed t hat pr eci ous met al t o t he
Por t uguese coast . Tomar was t he di st r i but i on cent er ; t he For et d' Or i ent , t he chi ef
st or ehouse. Thi s was t he or i gi n of t hei r weal t h. But t hi s was peanut s. They r eal i zed
t hat t o expl oi t t hei r secr et f ul l y t hey woul d have t o wai t f or a t echnol ogi cal
advance t hat woul d t ake at l east si x hundr ed year s. "
Thus t he Templ ar s or gani zed t he Pl an i n such a way t hat onl y t hei r successor s, at
t he moment when t hey woul d be abl e t o make pr oper use of what t hey knew, woul d l ear n
t he l ocat i on of t he Umbi l i cus Tel l ur i s. But how di d t he Templ ar s di st r i but e t he
Page 210
pi eces of t he r evel at i on t o t he t hi r t y- si x scat t er ed t hr oughout t he wor l d? How coul d
a st r ai ght f or war d message have t hat many par t s? And why woul d t hey need such a
compl i cat ed message j ust t o say t hat t he Umbi l i cus was, f or exampl e, i n Baden- Baden,
or Tr al ee, or Chat t anooga?
A map? But a map woul d be mar ked wi t h an X at t he poi nt of t he Umbi l i cus. Whoever
hel d t he pi ece wi t h t he X woul d know ever yt hi ng and not need t he ot her pi eces. No;
i t had t o be mor e i nvol ved. We r acked our br ai ns f or sever al days, unt i l Bel bo
deci ded t o r esor t t o Abul af i a. And t he r epl y was:
Gui l l aume Post el di es i n 1581.
Bacon i s Vi scount St . Al bans.
I n t he Conser vat oi r e i s Poucaul t ' s Pendul um.
The t i me had come t o f i nd a f unct i on f or t he Pendul um.
I was abl e, i n f ew days, t o suggest a r at her el egant sol ut i on. A Di abol i cal had
submi t t ed t o us a t ext on t he her met i c secr et of cat hedr al s. Accor di ng t o t hi s
aut hor , t he bui l der s of Char t r es one day l ef t a pl umb l i ne hangi ng f r omt he keyst one
of a vaul t , and f r omt hat had easi l y deduced t he r ot at i on of t he ear t h. Hence t he
mot i ve f or t he t r i al of Gal i l eo, Di ot al l evi r emar ked: t he Chur ch had caught a whi f f
of Templ ar about hi m. No, Bel bo sai d; t he car di nal s who condemned Gal i l eo wer e
Templ ar adept s i nf i l t r at i ng Rome. They want ed t o shut up t hat damned Tuscan qui ckl y,
t hat t r ai t or Templ ar who i n hi s vani t y was about t o spi l l t he beans f our hundr ed
year s bef or e t he dat e of t he Pl an' s f ul f i l l ment .
Thi s expl ai ned why beneat h t he Pendul umt hose mast er masons had dr awn a l abyr i nt h, a
st yl i zed i mage of t he syst emof subt er r anean cur r ent s. We sought an i l l ust r at i on of
t he l abyr i nt h of Char t r es: a sol ar cl ock, a compass car d, a vei n syst em, a sl eepy
si nusoi dal t r ai l of t he Ser pent . A gl obal char t of t he t el l ur i c t i des.
" Al l r i ght , l et ' s assume t he Templ ar s used t he Pendul umt o i ndi cat e t he Umbi l i cus.
I nst ead of t he l abyr i nt h, whi ch i s, af t er al l , an abst r act scheme, on t he f l oor you
put a map of t he wor l d. The poi nt mar ked by t he t i p of t he Pendul umat a gi ven hour
i s t he poi nt t hat mar ks t he Umbi l i cus. But whi ch Pendul um?"
" The pl ace i s beyond di scussi on: Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs, t he Ref uge. "
" Yes, " Bel bo r epl i ed, " but l et ' s suppose t hat at t he st r oke of mi dni ght t he Pendul um
swi ngs f r omCopenhagen t o Capet own. Wher e i s t he Umbi l i cus? I n Denmar k or i n Sout h
Af r i ca?"
" A good obser vat i on, " I sai d. " But our Di abol i cal t el l s us al so t hat i n Char t r es
t her e i s a f i ssur e i n a st ai ned- gl ass wi ndow of t he choi r , and at a gi ven hour of
t he day a sunbeament er s t hr ough t he cr ack and al ways hi t s t he same pl ace, al ways
t he same st one of t he f l oor . I don' t r emember what concl usi on he dr aws f r omt hi s,
but i n any event i t ' s a gr eat secr et . So her e' s t he mechani sm: i n t he choi r of
Sai nt - Mar t i n t her e i s a wi ndow t hat has an uncol or ed spot near t he j unct ur e of t wo
l ead cames. I t was car ef ul l y cal cul at ed, and pr obabl y f or si x hundr ed year s someone
has al ways t aken car e t o keep i t as i t i s. At sunr i se on a gi ven day of t he year . . . "
" . . . whi ch can onl y be t he dawn of J une 24, Sai nt J ohn' s day, f east of t he summer
sol st i ce. . . "
" . . . yes, on t hat day and at t hat hour , t he f i r st pur e r ay of sun t hat comes t hr ough
t he wi ndows st r i kes t he f l oor beneat h t he Pendul um, and t he Pendul um' s i nt er sect i on
of t he r ay at t hat i nst ant i s t he pr eci se poi nt on t he map wher e t he Umbi l i cus i s t o
be f ound! "
" Per f ect , " Bel bo sai d. " But suppose i t ' s over cast ?"
" They wai t unt i l t he f ol l owi ng year . "
" I ' msor r y, but . . . " Bel bo sai d. " The l ast meet i ng i s t o be i n J er usal em. Shoul dn' t
t he Pendul umbe hangi ng f r omt he t op of t he dome of t he Mosque of Omar ?"
" No, " I sai d. " At cer t ai n pl aces on t he gl obe t he Pendul umcompl et es i t s ci r cl e i n
t hi r t y- si x hour s; at t he Nor t h Pol e i t t akes t went y- f our hour s; at t he Equat or t he
cycl e doesn' t var y wi t h t he season. So t he l ocat i on mat t er s. I f t he Templ ar s made
t hei r di scover y at Sai nt - Mar t i n, t hei r cal cul at i on i s val i d onl y i n Par i s; i n
Pal est i ne, t he Pendul umwoul d mar k a di f f er ent cur ve. "
" And how do we know t hey made t he di scover y at Sai nt - Mar t i n?"
" The f act t hat t hey chose Sai nt - Mar t i n as t hei r Ref uge, t hat f r omt he pr i or of Sai nt
Al bans, t o Post el , t o t he Convent i on t hey kept i t under t hei r cont r ol , t hat af t er
Foucaul t ' s f i r st exper i ment s t hey i nst al l ed t he Pendul umt her e. Too many cl ues. "
Page 211
" But st i l l , t he l ast meet i ng i s i n J er usal em. "
" So? I n J er usal emt hey' l l put t he message t oget her , and t hat ' s not a mat t er of a f ew
mi nut es. Then t hey' l l pr epar e f or a year , and t he f ol l owi ng J une 23 al l si x gr oups
wi l l meet i n Par i s, t o l ear n f i nal l y wher e t he Umbi l i cus i s, and t hen t hey' l l set t o
wor k t o conquer t he wor l d. "
" But , " Bel bo i nsi st ed, " t her e' s st i l l somet hi ng I can' t f i gur e out . Al t hough t her e' s
t hi s f i nal r evel at i on about t he Umbi l i cus, al l t hi r t y- si x must have known t hat
bef or e. The Pendul umhad been used i n cat hedr al s; so i t wasn' t a secr et . What woul d
have pr event ed Bacon or Post el , or even Foucaul t - who must have been a Templ ar
hi msel f , seei ng al l t he f uss he made over t he Pendul um- f r omj ust put t i ng a map of
t he wor l d on t he f l oor and or i ent i ng i t by t he car di nal poi nt s? We' r e oi f t he
t r ack. "
" No, we' r e not of f t he t r ack, " I sai d. " The message r eveal s somet hi ng t hat none of
t hemcoul d know: what map t o use! "
83
A map i s not t he t er r i t or y.
- Al f r ed Kor zybski , Sci ence and Sani t y, 1933; 4t h ed. , The I nt er nat i onal
Non- Ar i st ot el i an Li br ar y, 1958, I I , 4, p. 58
" You' r e f ami l i ar wi t h t he si t uat i on of car t ogr aphy at t he t i me of t he Templ ar s, " I
sai d. " I n t hat cent ur y t her e wer e Ar ab maps t hat , among ot her t hi ngs, put Af r i ca at
t he t op and Eur ope at t he bot t om; navi gat or s' maps, f ai r l y accur at e, al l t hi ngs
consi der ed; and maps mat by t hen wer e al r eady t hr ee or f our hundr ed year s ol d but
wer e st i l l accept ed i n some school s. Mi nd you, t o r eveal t he l ocat i on of t he
Umbi l i cus t hey di dn' t need an accur at e map, i n t oday' s sense. I t had t o be si mpl y a
map possessi ng t hi s vi r t ue: once or i ent ed, i t woul d show t he Umbi l i cus at t he poi nt
wher e t he ar c of t he Pendul umi s st r uck by t he f i r st r ay of sun on J une 24. Now
l i st en car ef ul l y. Let ' s suppose, pur el y as a hypot hesi s, t hat t he Umbi l i cus i s i n
J er usal em. Even wi t h our moder n maps, t he posi t i on of J er usal emdepends on t he
pr oj ect i on used. And God knows what ki nd of map t he Templ ar s had. But i t doesn' t
mat t er . I t ' s not t he Pendul umt hat ' s cal i br at ed accor di ng t o t he map; i t ' s t he map
t hat ' s cal i br at ed accor di ng t o t he Pendul um. You f ol l ow me? I t coul d be t he cr azi est
map i n t he wor l d, as l ong as, when pl aced beneat h t he Pendul umat t he cr ack of dawn
on t he t went y- f our t h of J une, i t shows t he one and onl y spot t hat i s J er usal em. "
" Thi s doesn' t sol ve our pr obl em, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Of cour se not , and i t doesn' t sol ve i t f or t he i nvi si bl e t hi r t y- si x ei t her . Because
i f you don' t have t he r i ght map, f or get i t . Let ' s t ake t he case of a map or i ent ed i n
t he st andar d way, wi t h east i n t he di r ect i on of t he apse and west t owar d t he nave,
si nce t hat ' s how chur ches ar e bui l t . Now l et ' s say, at r andom, t hat on t hat f at al
dawn t he Pendul umi s near t he boundar y of t he sout heast quadr ant . I f i t wer e a
cl ock, we' d say t hat t he hour hand i s at f i ve- t went y- f i ve. Al l r i ght ? Now l ook. "
I went t o di g out a hi st or y of car t ogr aphy.
" Her e. Exhi bi t number 1: a t wel f t h- cent ur y map. I t f ol l ows t he T- st r uct ur ed maps:
Asi a i s at t he t op wi t h t he Ear t hl y Par adi se; t o t he l ef t , Eur ope; t o t he r i ght ,
Af r i ca; and her e, beyond Af r i ca, t hey Ve al so put t he Ant i podes. Exhi bi t number 2: a
map i nspi r ed by t he Somni umSci pi oni s of Macr obi us, and i t sur vi ves i n var i ous
ver si ons i nt o t he si xt eent h cent ur y. Af r i ca' s a bi t nar r ow, but t hat ' s al l r i ght .
Now l ook: or i ent t he t wo maps i n t he same way, and you see t hat on t he f i r st map
f i ve- t went y- f i ve cor r esponds t o Ar abi a, and on t he second map t o New Zeal and, si nce
t hat ' s wher e t he second map has t he Ant i podes. You may know ever yt hi ng about t he
Pendul um, but i f you don' t know what map t o use, you' r e l ost . So t he message
cont ai ned i nst r uct i ons, el abor at el y coded, on wher e t o f i nd t he r i ght map, whi ch may
have been speci al l y dr awn f or t he occasi on. The message t ol d wher e t o l ook, i n what
manuscr i pt , i n what l i br ar y, abbey, cast l e. I t ' s even possi bl e t hat Dee or Bacon or
someone el se r econst r uct ed t he message. Who knows? The message sai d t he map was at
X, but i n t he meant i me, wi t h ever yt hi ng t hat was goi ng on i n Eur ope, t he abbey t hat
housed t he map bur ned down, or t he map was st ol en, hi dden God knows wher e. Maybe
someone has t he map but doesn' t know t he use of i t , or knows i t ' s val uabl e but
doesn' t know why, and he' s goi ng ar ound t he wor l d l ooki ng f or a buyer . I magi ne al l
t he conf usi on of of f er s, f al se t r ai l s, messages t hat say ot her t hi ngs but ar e
under st ood t o r ef er t o t he map, and messages t hat i ndeed r ef er t o t he map but ar e
Page 212
r ead as i f hi nt i ng at , say, t he pr oduct i on of gol d. No doubt some peopl e at t empt t o
r econst r uct t he map pur el y on t he basi s of conj ect ur es. "
" What sor t s of conj ect ur es?"
" Wel l , f or exampl e, mi cr o- macr ocosmi c cor r espondences. Her e' s anot her map. You know
wher e i t comes f r om? I t appear s i n t he second t r eat i se of t he Ut r i usque Cosmi
Hi st or i a of Rober t Fl udd. Fl udd i s t he Rosi cr uci ans' man i n London, don' t f or get .
Now what does our man do, our Rober t us de Fl uct i bus, as he l i ked t o st yl e hi msel f ?
He of f er s what i s no l onger a map, but a st r ange pr oj ect i on of t he ent i r e gl obe f r om
t he poi nt of vi ew of t he Pol e, t he myst i c Pol e, nat ur al l y, and t her ef or e f r omt he
poi nt of vi ew of an i deal Pendul umsuspended f r oman i deal keyst one. Thi s i s a map
speci al l y concei ved t o be pl aced beneat h a Pendul um! I t ' s obvi ous, undeni abl e; I
can' t i magi ne why somebody hasn' t al r eady seen- "
" The f act i s, t he Di abol i cal s ar e ver y, ver y sl ow, " Bel bo sai d.
" The f act i s, we ar e t he onl y wor t hy hei r s of t he Templ ar s. But , t o cont i nue. You
r ecogni ze t he desi gn. I t ' s a mobi l e r ot ul a, l i ke t he ones Tr i t hemi us used f or hi s
coded messages. Thi s i sn' t a map, t hen; i t ' s a desi gn f or a machi ne t o pr oduce
var i at i ons of maps, unt i l t he r i ght map i s f ound! And Fl udd says as much i n t he
capt i on: Thi s i s t he sket ch f or an i nst r ument um, i t st i l l needs wor k. "
" But wasn' t Fl udd t he one who per si st ed i n denyi ng t he r ot at i on of t he ear t h? How
coul d he t hi nk of t he Pendul um?' '
" We' r e deal i ng wi t h i ni t i at es. An i ni t i at e deni es what he knows, deni es knowi ng i t ,
t o conceal i t . "
" Thi s, " Bel bo sai d, " woul d expl ai n why Dee pai d so much at t ent i on t o t hose r oyal
car t ogr apher s. I t was not t o di scover t he ' t r ue' f or mof t he ear t h, but t o
r econst r uct , among al l t he mi st aken maps, t he one r i ght map, t he one of use t o hi m. "
" Not bad, not bad at al l , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " To ar r i ve at t he t r ut h t hr ough t he
pai nst aki ng r econst r uct i on of a f al se t ext . "
84
The chi ef occupat i on of t hi s Assembl y- and, i n my opi ni on, t he most usef ul - shoul d be
t o wor k on nat ur al hi st or y f ol l owi ng t he pl ans of Ver ul am.
- Chr i st i an Huygens, Let t er t o Col ber t , Oeuvr es Compl et es, La Haye, 1888- 1950,
vi , pp. 95- 96
The vi ci ssi t udes of t he si x gr oups wer e not conf i ned t o t he sear ch f or t he map. I n
t he f i r st t wo pi eces of t he message, t hose i n t he hands of t he Por t uguese and t he
Engl i sh, t he Templ ar s pr obabl y r ef er r ed t o a pendul um, but i deas about pendul ums
wer e st i l l hazy. I t ' s one t hi ng t o swi ng some l ead on a l engt h of cor d and qui t e
anot her t o const r uct a mechani smpr eci se enough t o be hi t by a r ay of t he sun at an
exact t i me and pl ace. Thi s i s why t he Templ ar s cal cul at ed f or si x cent ur i es. The
Baconi an wi ng set i mmedi at el y t o wor k, and t r i ed t o dr aw t o i t s si de al l t he
i ni t i at es, whomi t made desper at e ei f or t s t o r each.
I t i s no coi nci dence t hat Sal omon de Caus, t he Rosi cr uci ans' man, wr i t es f or
Ri chel i eu a t r eat i se on sol ar cl ocks. And af t er war d, f r omGal i l eo on, t her e i s
f ur i ous r esear ch devot ed t o pendul ums. The pr et ext i s t o f i gur e out how t o use t hem
f or det er mi ni ng l ongi t udes, but i n 1681, when Huygens di scover s t hat a pendul um
accur at e i n Par i s i s sl ow i n Cayenne, he i mmedi at el y r eal i zes t hat t hi s di scr epancy
i s due t o t he var i at i on i n cent r i f ugal f or ce caused by t he r ot at i on of t he ear t h.
And af t er he publ i shes hi s Hor ol ogi umOsci l l at or i um, i n whi ch he el abor at es on
Gal i l eo' s i nt ui t i ons about t he pendul um, who summons hi mt o Par i s? Col ber t , t he same
man who summons t o Par i s Sal omon de Caus t o wor k on t he t unnel s beneat h t he ci t y!
I n 1661, when t he Accademi a del Ci ment o f or eshadows t he concl usi ons of Foucaul t ,
Leopol d of Tuscany di ssol ves i t i n t he space of f i ve year s, and i mmedi at el y
af t er war d r ecei ves f r omRome, as a secr et r ewar d, a car di nal ' s hat .
But t her e i s mor e. I n t he cent ur i es t hat f ol l ow, t he hunt f or t he Pendul um
cont i nues. I n 1742 ( a year bef or e t he f i r st document ed appear ance of t he Comt e de
Sai nt - Ger mai n! ) , a cer t ai n Mai r an pr esent s a paper on pendul ums at t he Academi c
Royal e des Sci ences. I n 1756 ( t he year t he Templ ar St r i ct Obser vance or i gi nat es i n
Ger many! ) , a cer t ai n Bouguer wr i t es Sur l a di r ect i on qu ' af f ect ent t ous l es f i t s a
pl omb.
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I f ound phant asmagor i cal t i t l es, l i ke t hat by J ean Bapt i st e Bi ot i n 1821: Recuei l
d' obser vat i ons geodesi ques, ast r onomi qu. es et physi ques, execut ees par or dr e du
Bur eau des Longi t udes de Fr ance, en Espagne, en Fr ance, en Angl et er r e et en Ecosse,
pour det er mi ner l a var i at i on de l a pesant eur et des degr es t er r est r es sur l e
pr ol ongement du mer i di en de Par i s. I n Fr ance, Spai n, Engl and, and Scot l and! And
r ef er r i ng t o t he mer i di an of Sai nt - Mar t i n! And what about Si r Edwar d Sabi ne, who i n
1823 publ i shes An Account of Exper i ment s t o Det er mi ne t he Fi gur e of t he Ear t h by
Means of t he Pendul umVi br at i ng Seconds i n Di f f er ent Lat i t udes? And t he myst er i ous
Gr af Feodor Pet r ovi ch Li t ke, who i n 1836 publ i shes t he r esul t s of hi s r esear ch i nt o
t he behavi or of t he pendul umi n t he cour se of a voyage ar ound t he wor l d? Thi s under
t he auspi ces of t he I mper i al Academy of Sci ences of St . Pet er sbur g. The Russi ans,
t oo?
And what i f i n t he meant i me a gr oup, no doubt of Baconi an descent , deci des t o
di scover t he secr et of t he cur r ent s wi t hout map or pendul um, r el yi ng i nst ead on t he
sour ce, t he r espi r at i on of t he Ser pent ? Sal on' s hunch was r i ght , f or i t was mor e or
l ess at t he t i me of Foucaul t t hat t he i ndust r i al wor l d, cr eat ur e of t he Baconi an
camp, began di ggi ng under gr ound syst ems i n t he hear t of t he gr eat ci t i es of Eur ope.
" I t ' s t r ue, " Bel bo sai d, " t he ni net eent h cent ur y i s obsessed wi t h t he
under gr ound- J ean Val j ean, Fant omas and J aver t , Rocambol e, al l t hat comi ng and goi ng
i n sewer s and t unnel s. My God, now t hat I t hi nk of i t , al l of Ver ne i s an occul t
r evel at i on of t he myst er i es of t he under gr ound! The voyage t o t he cent er of t he
ear t h, t went y t housand l eagues under t he sea, t he caver ns of t he Myst er i ous I sl and,
t he i mmense under gr ound r eal mof t he Bl ack I ndi es! I f we dr ew a di agr amof hi s
ext r aor di nar y t r avel s, we woul d be sur e t o obt ai n, f i nal l y, a sket ch of t he coi l s of
t he Ser pent , a char t of t he l eys dr awn f or each cont i nent . Ver ne expl or es t he
net wor k of t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s f r omabove and bel ow. ' '
I col l abor at ed. " What ' s t he name of t he her o of t he Bl ack I ndi es? J ohn Gar r al . Cl ose
t o Gr ai l . "
" We' r e not i vor y- t ower eggheads; we' r e men wi t h our f eet on t he gr ound. Ver ne gi ves
even mor e expl i ci t si gnal s. Robur l e Conque" r ant , R. C. , Rosy Cr oss. And Robur r ead
backwar d i s Rubor , t he r ed of t he r ose. "
85
Phi l eas Fogg. A name t hat i s al so a si gnat ur e: Eos, i n Gr eek, has t he sense of t he
gl obal ( i t i s t her ef or e t he equi val ent of pan, of pol y, ) and Phi l eas i s t he same as
Pol yphi l e. As f or Fogg, i t i s t he Engl i sh f or br oui l l ar d. . . . and no doubt Ver ne
bel onged t o " Le Br oui l l ar d. " He was even ki nd enough t o i ndi cat e t he r el at i onshi p
bet ween t hi s soci et y and t he Rose + Cr oss, because what , enf i n, i s our nobl e
t r avel er Phi - l eas Fogg i f not a Rose + Cr oss?. . . . And f ur t her , doesn' t he bel ong t o
t he Ref or mCl ub, whose i ni t i al s, R. C. , desi gnat e t he r ef or mi ng Rose + Cr oss? And
t hi s Ref or mCl ub st ands i n Pal l Mal l , suggest i ng once agai n t he Dr eamof Pol yphi l e.
- Mi chel Lamy, J ul es Ver ne, i ni t i e et i ni t i at eur , Par i s, Payot , 1984, pp. 237- 238
The r econst r uct i on t ook us days and days. We woul d i nt er r upt our wor k t o conf i de i n
one anot her t he l at est connect i on. We r ead ever yt hi ng we coul d l ay our hands
on- encycl opedi as, newspaper s, car t oon st r i ps, publ i sher s' cat al ogs- and r ead i t
squi nt i ng, seeki ng possi bl e shor t cut s. At ever y bookst al l we st opped and r ummaged;
we sni f f ed newsst ands, st ol e abundant l y f r omt he manuscr i pt s of our Di abol i cal s,
r ushed t r i umphant l y i nt o t he of f i ce, sl ammi ng t he l at est f i nd on a desk. As I r ecal l
t hose weeks, ever yt hi ng seems t o have t aken pl ace at a f r enzi ed pace, as i n a
Keyst one Kops f i l m, al l j er ks and j umps, wi t h door s openi ng and cl osi ng at
super soni c speed, cr eampi es f l yi ng, dashes up f l i ght s of st eps, up and down, back
and f or t h, ol d car s cr ashi ng, shel ves col l apsi ng i n gr ocer y st or es ami d aval anches
of cans, bot t l es, sof t cheeses, spur t i ng si phons, expl odi ng f l our sacks. Yet t he
i nt er mi ssi ons, t he i dl e moment s- t he r est of l i f e goi ng on ar ound us- I r emember as a
st or y i n sl ow mot i on, t he Pl an t aki ng gr adual shape wi t h t he di sci pl i ne of
gymnast i cs, or l i ke t he sl ow r ot at i on of t he di scus t hr ower , t he caut i ous sway of
t he shot - put t er , t he l ong t empos of gol f , t he sensel ess wai t s of basebal l . But
what ever t he r hyt hmwas, l uck r ewar ded us, because, want i ng connect i ons, we f ound
connect i ons- al ways, ever ywher e, and bet ween ever yt hi ng. The wor l d expl oded i nt o a
whi r l i ng net wor k of ki nshi ps, wher e ever yt hi ng poi nt ed t o ever yt hi ng el se,
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ever yt hi ng expl ai ned ever yt hi ng el se. . .
I sai d not hi ng about i t t o Li a, t o avoi d i r r i t at i ng her , and I even negl ect ed
Gi ul i o. I woul d wake up i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni ght wi t h t he r eal i zat i on, f or
exampl e, t hat Ren6 des Car t es coul d make R. C. and t hat he had been over ener get i c i n
seeki ng and t hen denyi ng havi ng f ound t he Rosi cr uci ans. Why al l t hat obsessi on wi t h
Met hod? Because i t was t hr ough Met hod t hat you ar r i ved at t he sol ut i on t o t he
myst er y t hat was f asci nat i ng al l t he i ni t i at es of Eur ope. . . And who had cel ebr at ed
t he enchant ment of Got hi c? Rene de Chat eaubr i and. And who, i n Bacon' s t i me, wr ot e
St eps t o t he Templ e! Ri char d Cr ashaw. And what about Rani er i de' Cal zabi gi , Ren6
Char , Raymond Chandl er ? And Ri ck of Casabl anca?
86
Thi s sci ence, whi ch was not l ost , at l east as f ar as i t s pr act i ce was concer ned, was
t aught t o t he cat hedr al bui l der s by t he monks of Ci - t eaux. . . They wer e known, i n t he
l ast cent ur y, as Compagnons du Tour de Fr ance. I t was t o t hemt hat Ei f f el t ur ned t o
bui l d hi s t ower .
- L. Char pent i er , Les myst er es de l a cat hedr al e de Char t r es, Par i s, Laf f ont , 1966,
pp. 55- 56
Now we had t he ent i r e moder n age f i l l ed wi t h i ndust r i ous mol es t unnel i ng t hr ough t he
ear t h, spyi ng on t he pl anet f r ombel ow. But t her e had t o be somet hi ng el se, anot her
vent ur e t he Baconi ans had set i n mot i on, whose r esul t s, whose st ages wer e bef or e
ever yone' s eyes, t hough no one had not i ced t hem. . . The gr ound had been punct ur ed and
t he deep st r at a t est ed, but t he Cel t s and t he Templ ar s had not conf i ned t hemsel ves
t o di ggi ng wel l s; t hey had pl ant ed t hei r st at i ons and ai med t hemst r ai ght t o t he
heavens, t o communi cat e f r ommegal i t h t o megal i t h, and t o cat ch t he i nf l uences of
t he st ar s.
The i dea came t o Bel bo dur i ng a ni ght of i nsomni a. He l eaned out t he wi ndow and saw
i n t he di st ance, above t he r oof s of Mi l an, t he l i ght s of t he st eel t ower of t he
I t al i an Radi o, t he gr eat ci t y ant enna. A moder at e, pr udent Babel . And he under st ood.
" The Ei f f el Tower , " he sai d t o us t he next mor ni ng. " Why di dn' t we t hi nk of i t
bef or e? The met al megal i t h, t he menhi r of t he l ast Cel t s, t he hol l ow spi r e t al l er
t han al l Got hi c spi r es. What need di d Par i s have of t hi s usel ess monument ? I t ' s t he
cel est i al pr obe, t he ant enna t hat col l ect s i nf or mat i on f r omever y her met i c val ve
st uck i nt o t he pl anet ' s cr ust : t he st at ues of East er I sl and; Machu Pi cchu; t he
St at ue of Li ber t y, concei ved f i r st by t he i ni t i at e Laf ayet t e; t he obel i sk of Luxor ;
t he hi ghest t ower of Tomar ; t he Col ossus of Rhodes, whi ch st i l l t r ansmi t s f r omt he
dept hs of a har bor t hat no one can f i nd; t he t empl es of t he Br ahman j ungl e; t he
t ur r et s of t he Gr eat Wal l ; t he t op of Ayer s Rock; t he spi r es of St r asbour g, whi ch so
del i ght ed t he i ni t i at e Goet he; t he f aces of Mount Rushmor e- how much t he i ni t i at e
Hi t chcock under st ood! - and t he TV ant enna of t he Empi r e St at e Bui l di ng. And t el l me
t o what empi r e t hi s cr eat i on of Amer i can i ni t i at es r ef er s i f not t he empi r e of
Rudol f of Pr ague! The Ei f f el Tower pi cks up si gnal s f r omunder gr ound and compar es
t hemwi t h what comes f r omt he sky. And who i s i t who gave us t he f i r st , t er r i f yi ng
movi e i mage of t he Tour Ei f f el ? Rene Cl ai r , i n Par i s qui dor t . Rene Cl ai r , R. C. "
The ent i r e hi st or y of sci ence had t o be r er ead. Even t he space r ace became
compr ehensi bl e, wi t h t hose cr azy sat el l i t es t hat di d not hi ng but phot ogr aph t he
cr ust of t he gl obe t o l ocal i ze i nvi si bl e t ensi ons, submar i ne t i des, cur r ent s of
war mer ai r . And speak among t hemsel ves, speak t o t he Tower , t o St onehenge. . . .
87
I t i s a r emar kabl e coi nci dence t hat t he 1623 Fol i o, known by t he name of
Shakespear e, cont ai ns exact l y t hi r t y- si x pl ays. . .
- W. F. C. Wi gst on, Fr anci s Bacon ver sus Phant omCapt ai n Shakespear e: The Rosi cr uci an
Mask, London, Kegan Paul , 1891, p. 353
When we t r aded t he r esul t s of our f ant asi es, i t seemed t o us- and r i ght l y- t hat we
had pr oceeded by unwar r ant ed associ at i ons, by shor t cut s so ext r aor di nar y t hat , i f
anyone had accused us of r eal l y bel i evi ng t hem, we woul d have been ashamed. We
consol ed our sel ves wi t h t he r eal i zat i on- unspoken, now, r espect i ng t he et i quet t e of
i r ony- t hat we wer e par odyi ng t he l ogi c of our Di abol i cal s. But dur i ng t he l ong
Page 215
i nt er val s i n whi ch each of us col l ect ed evi dence t o pr oduce at t he pl enar y meet i ngs,
and wi t h t he cl ear consci ence of t hose who accumul at e mat er i al f or a medl ey of
bur l esques, our br ai ns gr ew accust omed t o connect i ng, connect i ng, connect i ng
ever yt hi ng wi t h ever yt hi ng el se, unt i l we di d i t aut omat i cal l y, out of habi t . I
bel i eve t hat you can r each t he poi nt wher e t her e i s no l onger any di f f er ence bet ween
devel opi ng t he habi t of pr et endi ng t o bel i eve and devel opi ng t he habi t of bel i evi ng.
I t ' s t he ol d st or y of spi es: t hey i nf i l t r at e t he secr et ser vi ce of t he enemy, t hey
devel op t he habi t of t hi nki ng l i ke t he enemy, and i f t hey sur vi ve, i t ' s because t hey
Ve succeeded. And bef or e l ong, pr edi ct abl y, t hey go over t o t he ot her si de, because
i t has become t hei r s. Or t ake t hose who l i ve al one wi t h a dog. They speak t o hi mal l
day l ong; f i r st t hey t r y t o under st and t he dog, t hen t hey swear t he dog under st ands
t hem, he' s shy, he' s j eal ous, he' s hyper sensi t i ve; next t hey' r e t easi ng hi m, maki ng
scenes, unt i l t hey' r e sur e he' s become j ust l i ke t hem, human, and t hey' r e pr oud of
i t , but t he f act i s t hat t hey have become j ust l i ke hi m: t hey have become cani ne.
Per haps because I was i n dai l y cont act wi t h Li a, and wi t h t he baby, I was, of t he
t hr ee, t he l east af f ect ed by t he game. I was convi nced I was i t s mast er ; I f el t as
i f I wer e agai n pl ayi ng t he agogo dur i ng t he r i t e i n Br azi l : you st ay on t he si de of
t hose who cont r ol t he emot i ons and not wi t h t hose who ar e cont r ol l ed by t hem. About
Di ot al l evi , I di dn' t know t hen; I know now. He was t r ai ni ng hi msel f vi scer al l y t o
t hi nk l i ke a Di abol i cal . As f or Bel bo, he was i dent i f yi ng at a mor e consci ous l evel .
I was becomi ng addi ct ed, Di ot al l evi was becomi ng cor r upt ed, Bel bo was becomi ng
conver t ed. But al l of us wer e sl owl y l osi ng t hat i nt el l ect ual l i ght t hat al l ows you
al ways t o t el l t he si mi l ar f r omt he i dent i cal , t he met aphor i cal f r omt he r eal . We
wer e l osi ng t hat myst er i ous and br i ght and most beaut i f ul abi l i t y t o say t hat
Si - gnor A has gr own best i al - wi t hout t hi nki ng f or a moment t hat he now has f ur and
f angs. The si ck man, however , t hi nki ng " best i al , " i mmedi at el y sees Si gner A on al l
f our s, bar ki ng or gr unt i ng.
I n Di ot al l evi ' s case- as we woul d have r eal i zed i f we hadn' t been so exci t ed
our sel ves- i t began when he r et ur ned at t he end of t he summer . He seemed t hi nner , but
i t wasn' t t he heal t hy t hi nness of someone who has spent a f ew weeks hi ki ng i n t he
mount ai ns. Hi s del i cat e al bi no ski n now had a yel l owi sh cast . Per haps we t hought , i f
we not i ced at al l , t hat he had spent hi s vacat i on por i ng over r abbi ni c scr ol l s. But
our mi nds wer e on ot her t hi ngs.
I n t he days t hat f ol l owed, we wer e abl e t o account al so f or t he camps opposed t o t he
Baconi an.
For exampl e, cur r ent Masoni c st udi es bel i eve t hat t he I l l u- mi nat i of Bavar i a, who
advocat ed t he dest r uct i on of nat i ons and t he dest abi l i zat i on of t he st at e, i nspi r ed
not onl y t he anar chi smof Bakuni n but al so Mar xi smi t sel f . Puer i l e. The I l l umi nat i
wer e pr ovocat eur s; t hey wer e Baconi ans who had i nf i l t r at ed t he Teut oni cs. Mar x and
Engel s had somet hi ng qui t e di f f er ent i n mi nd when t hey began t hei r Mani f est o of 1848
wi t h t he el oquent sent ence " A spect er i s haunt i ng Eur ope. " Why t hi s Got hi c met aphor ?
The Communi st Mani f est o i s al l udi ng sar cast i cal l y t o t he secr et hunt f or t he Pl an,
whi ch has agi t at ed t he cont i nent f or cent ur i es. The Mani f est o suggest s an
al t er nat i ve bot h t o t he Baconi ans and t o t he neo- Templ ar s. Mar x, a J ew, per haps
i ni t i al l y t he spokesman f or t he r abbi s of Ger ona or Saf ed, t r i es t o i nvol ve t he
ent i r e Chosen Peopl e i n t he sear ch. But t hen t he pr oj ect possesses hi m, and he
i dent i f i es t he Shekhi nah- t he exi l ed peopl e i n t he Ki ngdom- wi t h t he pr ol et ar i at , and
t hus, bet r ayi ng t he expect at i ons of t hose who t aught hi m, he t ur ns al l Messi ani c
J udai smon i t s head. Templ ar s of t he wor l d, uni t e! The map t o t he wor ker s! Spl endi d!
What bet t er hi st or i cal j ust i f i cat i on f or Communi sm?
" Yes, " Bel bo sai d, " but t he Baconi ans al so r un i nt o t r oubl e al ong t he way; don' t
t hi nk t hey don' t . Some of t hemset out f or t he super hi ghway of sci ence and end up i n
a bl i nd al l ey. At t he end of t he dynast y, t he Ei nst ei ns and di e Fer mi s, af t er
hunt i ng f or t he secr et i n t he hear t of t he mi cr ocosm, st umbl e upon t he wr ong
i nvent i on: i nst ead of t el l ur i c ener gy- cl ean, nat ur al , sapi ent i al - t hey di scover
at omi c ener gy- t echnol ogi cal , unnat ur al , pol l ut ed. . . "
" Space- t i me: t he er r or of t he West , " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" I t ' s t he l oss of t he Cent er . Vacci ne and peni ci l l i n as car i cat ur es of t he El i xi r of
Et er nal Li f e, " I added.
" Or l i ke t hat ot her Templ ar , Fr eud, " Bel bo sai d, " who i nst ead of pr obi ng t he
l abyr i nt hs of t he physi cal under gr ound, pr obed t hose of t he psychi c under gr ound, as
i f ever yt hi ng about t hemhadn' t al r eady been sai d, and bet t er , by t he al chemi st s. "
" But you' r e t he one, " Di ot al l evi obj ect ed, " who i s t r yi ng t o publ i sh t he books of
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Dr . Wagner . For me, psychoanal ysi s i s f or neur ot i cs. "
" Yes, and t he peni s i s not hi ng but a phal l i c symbol , " I concl uded. " Come, gent l emen,
l et ' s not di gr ess. And l et ' s not wast e t i me. We st i l l don' t know wher e t o put t he
Paul i ci ans and t he J er usal emi t es. "
But bef or e we wer e abl e t o answer t hi s quest i on, we came upon anot her gr oup, one
t hat , not par t of t he t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es, had never t hel ess ent er ed t he game at
qui t e an ear l y st age, somewhat upset t i ng i t s desi gns, causi ng conf usi on: t he
J esui t s.
88
The Bar on Hundt , Cheval i er Ramsay. . . . and numer ous ot her s who f ounded t he gr ades i n
t hese r i t es, wor ked under i nst r uct i ons f r omt he gener al of t he J esui t s. . . Templ ar i sm
i s J esui t i sm.
- Let t er t o Madame Bl avat sky f r omChar l es Sout her an, 32 . ' . A and P. R. 94 . ' .
Memphi s, K. R. , K. Kadosch, M. M. 104, Eng. , et c. I ni t i at e of t he Engl i sh Br ot her hood
of t he Rosi cr uci ans and ot her secr et soci et i es, J anuar y 11, 1877; f r om/ si s
Unvei l ed, 1877, vol . i i , p. 390
We had r un i nt o t hemt oo of t en, f r omt he t i me of t he f i r st Ro- si cr uci an mani f est oes
on. As ear l y as 1620, i n Ger many, t he Rosa J esui t i ca appear s, r emi ndi ng us t hat t he
symbol i smof t he r ose was Cat hol i c and Mar i an bef or e i t was Rosi cr uci an, and t he
hi nt i s made t hat t he t wo or der s ar e i n l eague, t hat Rosi cr u- ci ani smi s onl y a
r ef or mul at i on of t he J esui t myst i que f or consumpt i on i n Ref or mat i on Ger many.
I r emer nber ed what Sal on had sai d about Fat her Ki r cher ' s r ancor ous at t ack on t he
Rosi cr uci ans- r i ght i n t he mi ddl e of hi s di scour se on t he dept hs of t he t er r aqueous
gl obe.
" Fat her Ki r cher , " I sai d, " i s a cent r al char act er i n t hi s st or y. Why woul d t hi s man,
who so of t en showed a gi f t f or obser vat i on and a t ast e f or exper i ment , dr own t hese
f ew good i deas i n t housands of pages over f l owi ng wi t h i ncr edi bl e hypot heses? He was
i n cor r espondence wi t h t he best Engl i sh sci ent i st s. Each of hi s books deal s wi t h
t ypi cal Rosi cr uci an subj ect s, ost ensi bl y t o cont est t hem, act ual l y t o espouse t hem,
of f er i ng hi s own Count er Ref or mat i on ver si on. I n t he f i r st edi t i on of t he Fama, Her r
Has- el mayer , condemned t o t he gal l eys by t he J esui t s because of hi s r ef or mi ng i deas,
hast ens t o say t hat t he Rosi cr uci ans ar e t he t r ue J esui t s. Ver y wel l . Ki r cher wr i t es
hi s t hi r t y- odd vol umes t o ar gue t hat t he J esui t s ar e t he t r ue Rosi cr uci ans. The
J esui t s ar e t r yi ng t o get t hei r hands on t he Pl an. Ki r cher want s t o st udy t hose
pendul ums hi msel f , and he does, i n hi s own way. He i n- vent s a pl anet ar y cl ock t hat
wi l l gi ve t he exact t i me i n al l t he headquar t er s of t he Soci et y of J esus scat t er ed
t hr oughout t he wor l d. "
" But how di d t he J esui t s know of t he Pl an, when t he Templ ar s l et t hemsel ves be
ki l l ed r at her t han r eveal i t ?" Di ot al l evi asked.
I t was no good answer i ng t hat t he J esui t s al ways know ever yt hi ng. We needed a mor e
seduct i ve expl anat i on.
We qui ckl y f ound one. Gui l l aume Post el agai n. Leaf i ng t hr ough t he hi st or y of t he
J esui t s by Cr e' t i neau- J ol y ( and how we chuckl ed over t hat unf or t unat e name) , we
l ear ned t hat i n 1554 Post el , i n a f i t of myst i cal f er vor and t hi r st f or spi r i t ual
r egener at i on, j oi ned I gnat i us Loyol a i n Rome. I gnat i us wel comed hi mwi t h open ar ms,
but Post el was unabl e t o par t wi t h hi s mani as, hi s cabal i sm, hi s ecumeni cal i sm, and
t he J esui t s coul dn' t accept t hese t hi ngs, especi al l y one mani a t hat Post el
absol ut el y r ef used t o abandon: t he i dea t hat t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d was t he ki ng of
Fr ance. I gnat i us may have been a sai nt , but he was al so Spani sh.
So at l ast a r upt ur e came about ; Post el l ef t t he J esui t s- or t he J esui t s ki cked hi m
out . But si nce he had been a J esui t , even i f onl y br i ef l y, he had swor n obedi ence
per i nde ac cadaver t o Sai nt I gnat i us, and t her ef or e must have r eveal ed t o hi mhi s
mi ssi on. " Dear I gnat i us, " he must have sai d, " i n r ecei vi ng me you r ecei ve al so t he
secr et of t he Templ ar Pl an, whose unwor t hy r epr esent at i ve I ami n Fr ance, and
i ndeed, whi l e we ar e al l awai t i ng t he t hi r d cent enar y meet i ng i n 1584, we mi ght as
wel l awai t i t ad maj or emDei gl or i am. "
So t he J esui t s, t hanks t o Post el ' s moment of weakness, come t o know t he secr et of
t he Templ ar s. Thi s knowl edge must be expl oi t ed. Sai nt I gnat i us goes t o hi s et er nal
r ewar d, but hi s successor s r emai n wat chf ul . They keep an eye on Post el ; t hey want t o
Page 217
know whomhe wi l l meet i n t hat f at ef ul year 1584. But , al as, Post el di es bef or e
t hen. Nor i s i t any hel p t hat - as one of our sour ces t el l s us- an unknown J esui t i s
pr esent at hi s deat hbed. The J esui t s do not l ear n who hi s successor i s.
" I ' msor r y, Casaubon, " Bel bo sai d, " but somet hi ng her e doesn' t add up. I f what you
say i s t r ue, t he J esui t s coul dn' t know t hat t he meet i ng f ai l ed t o come of f i n 1584. "
" Don' t f or get t hat t he J esui t s, " Di ot ai l l evi r emar ked, " wer e men of i r on, not easi l y
f ool ed. "
" Ah, as f or t hat , " Bel bo sai d, " a J esui t coul d eat t wo Templ ar s f or br eakf ast and
anot her t wo f or di nner . They al so wer e di sbanded, and mor e t han once, and al l t he
gover nment s of Eur ope l ent a hand, but t hey' r e st i l l her e. "
We had t o put our sel ves i n a J esui t ' s shoes. What woul d a J esui t do i f Post el
sl i pped f r omhi s gr asp? I had an i dea i mmedi at el y, but i t was so di abol i cal t hat not
even our Di abol i cal s, I t hought , woul d swal l ow i t : The Rosi cr uci ans wer e an
i nvent i on of t he J esui t s!
" Af t er Post el ' s deat h, " I ar gued, " t he J esui t s- cl ever as t hey ar e- mat hemat i cal l y
f or esee t he conf usi on of t he cal endar s and deci de t o t ake t he i ni t i at i ve. They set
up t hi s Rosi cr uci an r ed her r i ng, cal cul at i ng exact l y what wi l l happen. Among al l t he
f anat i cs who swal l ow t he bai t , someone f r omone of t he genui ne gr oups, caught of f
guar d, wi l l come f or war d. I magi ne t he f ur y of Bacon: ' Fl udd, you i di ot , coul dn' t you
have kept your mout h shut ?" But , my l or d, t hey seemed t o be wi t h us. . . " Fool , wer en' t
you t aught never t o t r ust papi st s? They shoul d have bur ned you, not t hat poor wr et ch
f r omNol a! ' "
" But i n t hat case, " Bel bo sai d, " when t he Rosi cr uci ans move t o Fr ance, why do t he
J esui t s, or t hose pol emi ci st s i n t hei r hi r e, at t ack t he newcomer s as her et i cs
possessed by devi l s?"
" Sur el y you don' t expect t he J esui t s t o wor k i n a st r ai ght f or war d way. What sor t of
J esui t s woul d t hey be t hen?"
We quar r el ed at l engt h over my pr oposal and f i nal l y deci ded, unani mousl y, t hat t he
or i gi nal hypot hesi s was bet t er : The Rosi cr uci ans wer e t he bai t cast , f or t he Fr ench,
by t he Baconi ans and t he Ger mans. But t he J esui t s, as soon as t he mani f est oes
appear ed, caught on. And t hey i mmedi at el y j oi ned i n t he game, t o muddy t he wat er s.
Obvi ousl y, t he J esui t s' ai mwas t o pr event t he Engl i sh and Ger man gr oups f r om
meet i ng wi t h t he Fr ench; and t o t hat end any t r i ck woul d do, no mat t er how di r t y.
Meanwhi l e, t hey r ecor ded event s, gat her ed i nf or mat i on, and put i t al l - wher e? I n
Abul af i a, Bel bo j oked. But Di ot al l evi , who had been gat her i ng i nf or mat i on hi msel f ,
sai d i t was no j oke. Sur el y t he J esui t s wer e const r uct i ng an i mmense, t r emendousl y
power f ul comput er t hat woul d dr aw a concl usi on f r omt hi s pat i ent l y accumul at ed,
age- ol d br ew of t r ut h and f al sehood.
" The J esui t s, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " under st ood what nei t her t he poor ol d Templ ar s of
Pr ovi ns nor t he Baconi an camp had yet r eal i zed, namel y, t hat t he r econst r uct i on of
t he map coul d be accompl i shed by ar s combi nat or i a; i n ot her wor ds, wi t h a met hod
t hat f or eshadowed our moder n el ect r oni c br ai ns. The J esui t s wer e t he f i r st t o i nvent
Abul af i a! Fat her Ki r cher r er ead al l t he t r eat i ses on t he combi nat or i al ar t , f r om
Lul l us on, and you see what he publ i shed i n hi s Ar s Magna Sci endi . . . "
" I t l ooks l i ke a cr ochet pat t er n t o me, " Bel bo sai d.
" No, gent l emen, t hese ar c al l t he possi bl e combi nat i ons. Fact or anal ysi s, t hat of
t he Sef er Yesi r ah. Cal cul at i on of per mut at i ons, t he ver y essence of t he t emur ah! "
Thi s was cer t ai nl y so. I t was one t hi ng t o concei ve Fl udd' s vague pr oj ect of
i dent i f yi ng t he map by begi nni ng wi t h a pol ar pr oj ect i on; i t was qui t e anot her t o
f i gur e out how many t r i al s woul d be r equi r ed i n or der t o ar r i ve at t he cor r ect
sol ut i on. And, agai n, i t was one t hi ng t o cr eat e an abst r act model of al l t he
possi bl e combi nat i ons, and anot her t o i nvent a machi ne abl e t o car r y t hemout . So
bot h Ki r cher and hi s di sci pl e Schot t bui l t mechani cal devi ces, mechani sms wi t h
per f or at ed car ds, comput er s ant e l i t t er am. Bi nar y cal cul at or s. Cabal a appl i ed t o
moder n t echnol ogy.
I BM: l esus Babbage Mundi , l esumBi nar i umMagni f i camur . AMDG: Ad Mai or emDei Gl or i am?
Not on your l i f e! Ar s Magna, Di gi t al e Gaudi um! I HS: l esus Har dwar e & Sof t war e!
89
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I n t he bosomof t he deepest dar kness a soci et y has been f or med, a soci et y of new
bei ngs, who know one anot her t hough t hey have never seen one anot her , who under st and
one anot her wi t hout expl anat i ons, who ser ve one anot her wi t hout f r i endshi p. . . Fr om
t he J esui t r ul e t hi s soci et y adopt s bl i nd obedi ence; f r omt he Masons i t t akes t he
t r i al s and t he cer emoni es, and f r omt he Templ ar s t he subt er r anean myst er i es and t he
gr eat audaci t y. Has t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n si mpl y i mi t at ed Gui l l aume Post el , who
desper at el y want ed peopl e t o bel i eve hi mol der t han he was?
- Mar qui s de Luchet , Essai sur l a sect e des i l l umi nes, Par i s, 1789, v and xi i
The J esui t s knew t hat i f you want t o conf ound your enemi es, t he best t echni que i s t o
cr eat e cl andest i ne sect s, wai t f or danger ous ent husi asms t o pr eci pi t at e, t hen ar r est
t hemal l . I n ot her wor ds, i f you f ear a pl ot , or gani ze one your sel f ; t hat way, al l
t hose who j oi n i t come under your cont r ol .
I r emember ed t he r eser vat i on Agl i e had expr essed about Ramsay, t he f i r st t o posi t a
di r ect connect i on bet ween t he Masons and t he Templ ar s; Agl i e sai d t hat Ramsay had
t i es wi t h Cat hol i c ci r cl es. I n f act , Vol t ai r e had al r eady denounced Ramsay as a t ool
of t he J esui t s. Faced wi t h t he bi r t h of Engl i sh Fr eemasonr y, t he J esui t s i n Fr ance
r esponded wi t h Scot t i sh neo- Templ ar i sm.
Respondi ng t o t hi s Fr ench pl ot , a cer t ai n Mar qui s de Luchet pr oduced, i n 1789,
anonymousl y, Essai sur l a sect e des i l l umi nes, i n whi ch he l ashed out agai nst t he
I l l umi nat i of ever y st r i pe, Bavar i an or ot her wi se, pr i est - bai t i ng anar chi st s and
myst i cal neo- Templ ar s al i ke, and he t hr ew on t he heap ( i ncr edi bl e, how al l t he
pi eces of our mosai c wer e f i t t i ng t oget her ! ) even- t he Paul i ci ans, even Post el and
Sai nt - Ger mai n. Hi s compl ai nt was t hat t hese f or ms of Templ ar myst i ci smwer e
under mi ni ng t he cr edi bi l i t y of Masonr y, whi ch i n cont r ast was a soci et y of good and
honest peopl e.
The Baconi ans had i nvent ed Masonr y t o be l i ke Ri ck' s i n Casabl anca, J esui t
Neo- Templ ar i smhad par r i ed t hat move, and now Luchet was hi r ed t o bump of f al l t he
gr oups t hat wer en' t Baconi an.
At t hi s poi nt , however , we wer e conf r ont ed wi t h anot her pr obl em, whi ch was t oo much
f or poor Agl i e t o handl e. Why had de Mai st r e, who was t he J esui t s' man, gone t o
Wi l hel msbad t o sow di ssensi on among t he neo- Templ ar s a good seven year s bef or e t he
Mar qui s de Luchet appear ed on t he scene?
" Neo- Templ ar i smwas al l r i ght i n t he f i r st hal f of t he ei ght eent h cent ur y, " Bel bo
sai d, " and i t was al l wr ong at t he end of t he cent ur y; f i r st because i t had been
t aken over by r evol ut i onar i es, f or whomanyt hi ng ser ved, t he Goddess Reason, t he
Supr eme Bei ng, even Cagl i ost r o, pr ovi ded t hey coul d cut of f t he ki ng' s head, and
second because t he Ger man pr i nces wer e now put t i ng t hei r t humbs i n t he pi e,
especi al l y Fr eder i ck of Pr ussi a, and hi s ai ms sur el y di dn' t cor r espond t o t hose of
t he J esui t s. When myst i cal neo- Templ ar i sm, whoever i nvent ed i t , began pr oduci ng
t hi ngs l i ke The Magi c Fl ut e, Loyol a' s men nat ur al l y deci ded t o wi pe i t out . I t ' s
l i ke hi gh f i nance: you buy a company, you sel l of f i t s asset s, you decl ar e
bankr upt cy, you cl ose i t down, and you r ei nvest i t s capi t al . The i mpor t ant t hi ng i s
t he over al l st r at egy, not what happens t o t he j ani t or . Or i t ' s l i ke a used car : when
i t st ops r unni ng, you send i t t o t he j unkyar d. "
90
I n t he t r ue Masoni c code no ot her god wi l l be f ound save Mani . He i s t he god of t he
cabal i st Masons, of t he anci ent Rosi cr uci ans, of t he Mar t i ni s! Masons. . . Al l t he
out r ages at t r i but ed t o t he Templ ar s ar e pr eci sel y t hose at t r i but ed, bef or e t hem, t o
t he Mani cheans.
- Abbe" Bar r uel , M&moi r es pour ser vi r A I ' hi st oi r e du j acobi ni sme, Hambur g, 1798, 2,
xi i i
The J esui t s' st r at egy became cl ear t o us when we di scover ed Bar r uel . Bet ween 1797
and 1798, i n r esponse t o t he Fr ench Revol ut i on, he wr i t es hi s Memoi r es pour ser vi r d
I ' hi st oi r e du j a- cobi ni sme, a r eal di me novel t hat begi ns, sur pr i se sur pr i se, wi t h
t he Templ ar s. Af t er t he bur ni ng of Mol ay, t hey t r ansf or mt hemsel ves i nt o a secr et
soci et y t o dest r oy monar chy and papacy and t o cr eat e a wor l d r epubl i c. I n t he
ei ght eent h cent ur y t hey t ake over Fr eemasonr y and make i t t hei r i nst r ument . I n 1763
t hey cr eat e a l i t er ar y academy consi st i ng of Vol t ai r e, Tur got , Con- dor cet , Di der ot ,
and d' Al ember t , whi ch meet s i n t he house of Bar on d' Hol bach and i n 1776, pl ot af t er
Page 219
pl ot , t hey br i ng about t he bi r t h of t he J acobi ns. But t hey ar e mer e mar i onet t es,
t hei r st r i ngs pul l ed by t he r eal bosses, t he I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a- r egi ci des by
vocat i on.
J unkyar d? Af t er havi ng spl i t Masonr y i n t wo wi t h t he hel p of Ramsay, t he J esui t s
wer e put t i ng i t t oget her agai n i n or der t o f i ght i t head- on.
Bar r uel ' s book had some i nf l uence^ i n f act , i n t he Fr ench Nat i onal Ar chi ves t her e
wer e at l east t wo r epor t s or der ed by Napol eon on t he cl andest i ne sect s. These
r epor t s wer e dr awn up by a cer t ai n Char l es de Ber khei m, who- i n t he best t r adi t i on of
secr et pol i ce- obt ai ned hi s i nf or mat i on f r omsour ces al r eady publ i shed; he copi ed
f r eel y, f i r st f r omt he book by t he Mar qui s de Luchet and t hen f r omBar r uel ' s.
Readi ng t hese hor r i f yi ng descr i pt i ons of t he I l l umi nat i as wel l as t he denunci at i on
of a di r ect or at e of Unknown Super i or s capabl e of r ul i ng t he wor l d, Napol eon di d not
hesi t at e: he deci ded t o j oi n t hem. He had hi s br ot her J oseph named gr and mast er of
t he Gr eat Or i ent , and he hi msel f , accor di ng t o many sour ces, made cont act wi t h t he
Masons and became a ver y hi gh of f i ci al i n t hei r r anks. I t i s not known, however , i n
whi ch r i t e. Per haps, pr udent l y, i n al l of t hem.
We had no i dea what Napol eon knew, but we wer en' t f or get t i ng t hat he had spent t i me
i n Egypt , and God knows what sages he conver sed wi t h i n t he shadow of t he pyr ami ds
( even a chi l d coul d see t hat t he f amous f or t y cent ur i es ( her e l ooki ng down on hi m
wer e a cl ear r ef er ence t o t he Her met i c Tr adi t i on) .
Napol eon must have known somet hi ng, because i n 1806 he convoked an assembl y of
Fr ench J ews. The of f i ci al r easons wer e banal : an at t empt t o r educe usur y, t o assur e
hi msel f of t he l oyal t y of t he J ewi sh popul at i on, t o f i nd new f i nanci ng. . . None of
whi ch expl ai ns why he cal l ed t hat assembl y t he Gr and San- hedr i n, a name suggest i ng a
di r ect or at e of super i or s mor e or l ess unknown. The t r ut h i s t hat t he shr ewd Cor si can
had i dent i f i ed t he r epr esent at i ves of t he J er usal emi t e br anch, and was t r yi ng t o
uni t e t he var i ous scat t er ed Templ ar gr oups.
" I t ' s no acci dent t hat i n 1808 Mar echal Ney' s t r oops ar e at Tomar . You see t he
connect i on?"
" We' r e her e t o see connect i ons. "
" Now Napol eon, about t o def eat Engl and, has al most al l t he Eur opean cent er s i n hi s
hand, and t hr ough t he Fr ench J ews he has t he J er usal emi t es as wel l . What does he
st i l l l ack?"
" The Paul i ci ans. "
" Exact l y. And we haven' t yet deci ded wher e t hey end up. But Napol eon pr ovi des us
wi t h a cl ue: he goes t o l ook f or t hemi n Russi a. "
Li vi ng f or cent ur i es i n Sl avi c r egi ons, t he Paul i ci ans nat ur al l y r eor gani ze under
t he l abel s of var i ous Russi an myst i c gr oups. One of t he most i nf l uent i al advi ser s of
Al exander I i s Pr i nce Gal i t zi n, connect ed wi t h sect s of Mar t i ni st i nspi r at i on. And
who do we f i nd i n Russi a, a good t en year s bef or e Napol eon, as pl eni pot ent i ar y of
t he House of Savoy, t yi ng bonds wi t h t he myst i c cenacl es of St . Pet er sbur g? De
Mai st r e.
At t hi s poi nt de Mai st r e di st r ust s any or gani zat i on of I l l umi nat i ; f or hi m, t hey ar e
no di f f er ent f r omt he men of t he Enl i ght enment r esponsi bl e f or t he bl oodbat h of t he
Revol ut i on. Dur i ng t hi s per i od, i n f act , r epeat i ng Bar r uel al most wor d f or wor d, he
t al ks of a sat ani c sect t hat want s t o conquer t he wor l d, and pr obabl y he has
Napol eon i n mi nd. I f our gr eat r eact i onar y i s ai mi ng, t hen, t o seduce t he Mar t i ni st
gr oups, i t i s because he suspect s t hat t hey, t hough dr awi ng t hei r i nspi r at i on f r om
t he same sour ces as Fr ench and Ger man neo- Templ ar i sm, ar e t he hei r s of t he one gr oup
not yet cor r upt ed by West er n t hought : t he Paul i ci ans.
But appar ent l y de Mai st r e' s pl an does not succeed. I n 1815 t he J esui t s ar e expel l ed
f r omSt . Pet er sbur g, and de Mai st r e r et ur ns t o Tur i n.
" Al l r i ght , " Di ot al l evi sai d, " we' ve f ound t he Paul i ci ans agai n. Let ' s get r i d of
Napol eon, who obvi ousl y f ai l ed i n hi s pur pose- ot her wi se, on St . Hel ena, he coul d
have made hi s enemi es quake by mer el y snappi ng hi s f i nger s. What happens now among
al l t hese peopl e? My head i s spl i t t i ng. "
" At l east you st i l l have a head. "
91
Oh, how wel l you have unmasked t hose i nf er nal sect s t hat ar e pr epar i ng t he way f or
Page 220
t he Ant i chr i st . . . But t her e i s st i l l one sect t hat you have t ouched onl y l i ght l y.
- Let t er f r omCapt ai n Si moni ni t o Bar r uel , publ i shed i n Laci vi l t a cat t ol i ca, Oct ober
21, 1882
Napol eon' s r appr ochement wi t h t he J ews caused t he J esui t s t o al t er t hei r cour se.
Bar r uel ' s Memoi r es had cont ai ned no r ef er ence t o t he J ews. But i n 1806 he r ecei ved a
l et t er f r oma cer t ai n Capt ai n Si moni ni , who r emi nded hi mt hat Mani and t he Ol d Man
of t he Mount ai n wer e al so J ews, t hat Masonr y had been f ounded by t he J ews, and t hat
t he J ews had i nf i l t r at ed al l t he exi st i ng secr et soci et i es.
Si moni ni ' s l et t er , shr ewdl y ci r cul at ed i n Par i s, was an embar r assment f or Napol eon,
who had j ust got i n t ouch wi t h t he Gr and Sanhedr i n. Thi s move obvi ousl y al ar med t he
Paul i ci ans t oo, because t he Hol y Synod of t he Russi an Or t hodox Chur ch decl ar ed:
" Napol eon now pr oposes t o uni t e al l t he J ews, whomt he wr at h of God has scat t er ed
over t he f ace of t he ear t h, so t hat t hey wi l l over t ur n t he chur ch of Chr i st and
pr ocl ai mNapol eon t he t r ue Messi ah. "
The good Bar r uel accept ed t he i dea t hat t he pl ot was not onl y Masoni c but al so
J udeo- Masoni c. Fur t her , t hi s sat ani c el ement al l owed hi mt o at t ack a new enemy: t he
Al t a Vendi t a Car bonar a, and l at er t he ant i cl er i cal f at her s of t he Ri sor gi ment o, f r om
Maz- zi ni t o Gar i bal di .
" But t hi s al l happens i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni net eent h cent ur y, " Di ot al l evi sai d,
" wher eas t he bi g ant i - Semi t i c campai gn get s under way at t he end of t he cent ur y,
wi t h t he publ i cat i on of t he Pr ot ocol s of t he Lear ned El der s of Zi on. And t he
Pr ot ocol s appear i n Russi a. So t hey ar e an i ni t i at i ve of t he Paul i ci ans. "
" Nat ur al l y, " Bel bo sai d. " I t ' s cl ear now t hat t he J er usal emi t e gr oup had br oken up
i nt o t hr ee br anches. The f i r st br anch, t hr ough t he Spani sh and Pr ovencal cabal i st s,
went on t o i nspi r e t he neo- Templ ar camp; t he second was t aken over by t he Baconi an
wi ng, and t hey al l became sci ent i st s and banker s. They' r e t he ones t he J esui t s
oppose so f i er cel y. But t her e i s a t hi r d br anch, and i t est abl i shed i t sel f i n
Russi a. The Russi an J ews ar e gener al l y smal l t r adesmen and moneyl ender s, and f or
t hat r eason ar e hat ed by t he i mpover i shed peasant s; but si nce J ewi sh cul t ur e i s a
cul t ur e of t he Book, and al l J ews know how t o r ead and wr i t e, t hey event ual l y swel l
t he r anks of t he l i ber al and r evol ut i onar y i nt el l i gent si a. The Paul i ci ans, i n
cont r ast , ar e myst i cs, r eact i onar i es, hand i n gl ove wi t h t he l andowner s, and t hey
have al so i nf i l t r at ed t he cour t . Obvi ousl y, bet ween t hemand t he J er usa- l emi t es
t her e can be no t r af f i c. So t hey ar e bent on di scr edi t i ng t he J ews, and t hr ough t he
J ews- t hi s t hey l ear ned f r omt he J esui t s- t hey cause t r oubl e f or t hei r adver sar i es
abr oad, bot h t he neo- Templ ar s and t he Baconi ans. "
92
Ther e can no l onger be any doubt . Wi t h al l t he power and t he t er r or of Sat an, t he
r ei gn of t he t r i umphant Ki ng of I sr ael i s appr oachi ng our unr egener at e wor l d; t he
Ki ng bor n f r omt he bl ood of Zi on, t he Ant i chr i st , appr oaches t he t hr one of uni ver sal
power .
- Ser gei Ni l us, Epi l ogue t o t he Pr ot ocol s
The i dea was accept abl e. We had onl y t o consi der who had i nt r oduced t he Pr ot ocol s i n
Russi a.
One of t he most i nf l uent i al Mar t i ni st s at t he end of t he cent ur y, Papus, dazzl ed
Ni chol as I I dur i ng hi s vi si t t o Par i s, t hen went t o Moscow, t aki ng wi t h hi mone
Phi l i ppe Ni zi er Ansel me Vachot . Possessed by t he Devi l at t he age of si x, heal er at
t hi r t een, magnet i zer i n Lyon, Phi l i ppe f asci nat ed bot h Ni chol as I I and hi s
hyst er i cal wi f e. He was i nvi t ed t o cour t , named physi ci an of t he mi l i t ar y academy of
St . Pet er sbur g, made a gener al and a counci l or of st at e.
Hi s enemi es deci ded t o di mi ni sh hi s i nf l uence by set t i ng agai nst hi man equal l y
char i smat i c f i gur e. And Ni l us was f ound.
Ni l us was an i t i ner ant monk who, i n pr i est l y habi t , wander ed i n t he f or est s ( what
el se?) di spl ayi ng a pr ophet ' s gr eat bear d, t wo wi ves, a l i t t l e daught er , an
assi st ant ( or l over , per haps) , al l hangi ng on hi s ever y wor d. Hal f gur u, t he ki nd
t hat r uns of f wi t h t he col l ect i on pl at e, and hal f her mi t , t he ki nd t hat yel l s t hat
t he end i s near , he was i n f act obsessed by t he Ant i chr i st .
The pl an of Ni l us' s suppor t er s was t o have hi mor dai ned, and t hen, af t er he mar r i ed
( what was anot her wi f e, mor e or l ess?) El ena Al exandr ovna Ozer ova, t he t sar i na' s
Page 221
mai d of honor , t o have hi mbecome t he conf essor of t he sover ei gns.
" I ' manyt hi ng but a bl oodt hi r st y man, " Bel bo sai d, " but I begi n t o f eel t hat t he
massacr e of Tsar skoye Sel o was per haps a j ust i f i abl e ext er mi nat i on of ver mi n. "
Anyway, Phi l i ppe' s suppor t er s accused Ni l us of l eadi ng a l ewd l i f e, and God knows
t hey wer e r i ght . Ni l us had t o l eave t he cour t , but at t hi s poi nt someone came t o hi s
ai d, handi ng hi mt he t ext of t he Pr ot ocol s. Si nce ever ybody got t he Mar t i ni st s ( who
der i ved f r omSai nt Mar t i n) mi xed up wi t h t he Mar t i nezi st s ( f ol l ower s of Mar t f nez
Pasqual i s, whomAgl i e so di sl i kes) , and si nce Pasqual i s, accor di ng t o a wi despr ead
r umor , was J ewi sh, by di scr edi t i ng t he J ews t he Pr ot ocol s al so di scr edi t ed t he
Mar t i ni st s, and wi t h t he di scr edi t i ng of t he Mar t i ni st s, Phi l i ppe was boot ed out .
Act ual l y, a f i r st , i ncompl et e, ver si on of t he Pr ot ocol s had al r eady appear ed i n
1903, i n Znami a, a St . Pet er sbur g paper edi t ed by a r abi d ant i - Semi t e named
Kr uscevan. I n 1905, wi t h t he appr oval of t he gover nment censor s, a compl et e t ext
anonymousl y appear ed, under t he t i de The Sour ce of Our Evi l s, edi t ed by one Bout mi ,
who wi t h Kr uscevan had f ounded t he Uni on of t he Russi an Peopl e, l at er known as t he
Bl ack Hundr eds, whi ch enl i st ed common cr i mi nal s t o car r y out pogr oms and ext r emi st
r i ght - wi ng act s of vi ol ence. Bout mi l at er publ i shed, under hi s own name, f ur t her
edi t i ons of t he wor k, wi t h t he t i t l e The Enemi es of t he Human Race: Pr ot ocol s f r om
t he Secr et Ar chi ves of t he Cent r al Chancel l er y of Zi on.
But t hese wer e cheap bookl et s. An expanded ver si on of t he Pr ot ocol s, t he one t hat
was t o be t r ansl at ed al l over t he wor l d, came out i n 1905, i n t he t hi r d edi t i on of
Ni l us' s book, The Gr eat i n t he Smal l : The Ant i chr i st I s an I mmi nent Pol i t i cal
Possi bi l i t y, Tsar skoye Sel o, under t he aegi s of a l ocal chapt er of t he Red Cr oss.
The scope was br oader , t he f r amewor k t hat of myst i cal r ef l ect i on, and t he book ended
up i n t he hands of t he t sar . The met r opol i t an of Moscow or der ed i t r ead al oud i n al l
t he chur ches of t he ci t y.
" But what , " I asked, " i s t he connect i on bet ween t he Pr ot ocol s and our Pl an? We keep
t al ki ng about t hese Pr ot ocol s. Shoul d we r ead t hem?"
" Not hi ng coul d be si mpl er , " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Ther e' s al ways someone who r epr i nt s
t hem. Publ i sher s used t o do i t wi t h a gr eat show of i ndi gnat i on, pur el y out of a
sense of dut y t o make avai l abl e a hi st or i cal document , t hen l i t t l e by l i t t l e t hey
st opped apol ogi zi ng and r epr i nt ed i t wi t h unr epent ant pl easur e. " " What gent eel
gent i l es. "
93
The onl y soci et y known t o us t hat i s capabl e of r i val i ng us i n t hese ar t s i s t hat of
t he J esui t s. But we have succeeded i n di scr edi t i ng t he J esui t s i n t he eyes of t he
st upi d popul ace, because t hat soci et y i s an open or gani zat i on, wher eas we st ay i n
t he wi ngs, mai nt ai ni ng secr ecy.
- Pr ot ocol s, V
The Pr ot ocol s ar e a ser i es of t went y- f our decl ar at i ons, a pr ogr amof act i on,
at t r i but ed t o t he El der s of Zi on. To us, t hese El der s' i nt ent i ons seemed somewhat
cont r adi ct or y. At one poi nt t hey want ed t o abol i sh f r eedomof t he pr ess, at anot her
t hey seemed t o encour age l i ber t i nage. They cr i t i ci zed l i ber al i sm, but suppor t ed t he
sor t of t hi ng t oday' s l ef t i st r adi cal s at t r i but e t o t he capi t al i st mul t i nat i onal s,
i ncl udi ng t he use of spor t s and vi sual educat i on t o st ul t i f y t he wor ki ng cl ass. They
anal yzed var i ous met hods of sei zi ng wor l d power ; t hey pr ai sed t he st r engt h of gol d;
t hey advocat ed suppor t i ng r evol ut i on i n ever y count r y, sowi ng di scont ent and
conf usi on by pr ocl ai mi ng l i ber al i deas, but t hey al so want ed t o exacer bat e
i nequal i t y. They schemed t o est abl i sh ever ywher e r egi mes of st r aw men t hey woul d
cont r ol ; t hey f oment ed war and ur ged t he pr oduct i on of ar ms and ( as Sal on had sai d)
t he bui l di ng of met r os ( t he under gr ound wor l d! ) i n or der t o have a way of mi ni ng t he
bi g ci t i es.
They sai d t he end j ust i f i ed t he means and wer e i n f avor of ant i - Semi t i smbot h t o
cont r ol t he popul at i on of J ewi sh poor and t o sof t en t he hear t s of gent i l es i n t he
f ace of J ewi sh t r agedy ( an expensi ve pl oy, Di ot al l evi sai d, but ef f ect i ve) . They
candi dl y decl ar ed, " We have unl i mi t ed ambi t i on, an al l - consumi ng gr eed, a mer ci l ess
desi r e f or r evenge, and an i nt ense hat r ed" ( di spl ayi ng an exqui si t e masochi smby
r ei nf or ci ng, wi t h gust o, t he cl i che of t he evi l J ew t hat was al r eady i n ci r cul at i on
i n t he ant i - Semi t i c pr ess, t he st er eot ype t hat woul d ador n t he cover of al l t he
edi t i ons of t hei r book) . They cal l ed f or abol i shment of t he st udy of t he cl assi cs
Page 222
and of anci ent hi st or y.
" I n ot her wor ds, " Bel bo sai d, " t he El der s of Zi on wer e a bunch of bl ockheads. "
" Don' t j oke, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Thi s book was t aken ver y ser i ousl y. But t her e' s
somet hi ng t hat st r i kes me as odd. Whi l e t he J ewi sh pl ot was meant t o seemcent ur i es
ol d, al l t he r ef er ences i n t he Pr ot ocol s ar e t o pet t y f i n- desi ecl e Fr ench
quest i ons. The busi ness about vi sual educat i on st ul i f yi ng t he masses i s a cl ear
al l usi on t o t he educat i onal pr ogr amof Leon Bour geoi s, who had f i ve Masons i n hi s
gover nment . Anot her passage advi ses el ect i ng peopl e compr omi sed i n t he Panama
Scandal , and one of t hese was Emi l e Loubet , who i n 1899 became pr esi dent of t he
Fr ench r epubl i c. The Met r o i s ment i oned because i n t hose days t he r i ght - wi ng paper s
wer e compl ai ni ng t hat t he Compag- ni e du Met r opol i t ai n had t oo many J ewi sh
shar ehol der s. Hence t he t heor y t hat t he t ext was cobbl ed up i n Fr ance i n t he l ast
decade of t he ni net eent h cent ur y, at t he t i me of t he Dr eyf us Af f ai r , t o weaken t he
l i ber al f r ont . "
" That i sn' t what i mpr esses me, " Bel bo sai d. " I t ' s t he sense of dej a vu. The upshot
i s t hat t hese El der s ar e pl anni ng t o conquer t he wor l d, and we' ve hear d al l t hat
bef or e. Take away t he r ef er ences t o event s and pr obl ems of t he l ast cent ur y, r epl ace
t he t unnel s of t he Met r o wi t h t he t unnel s of Pr ovi ns, and ever ywher e i t says J ews
wr i t e Templ ar s, and ever ywher e i t says El der s of Zi on wr i t e Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es
di vi ded i nt o si x. . . My f r i ends, t hi s i s t he Or donat i on of Pr ovi ns! "
94
Vol t ai r e l ui - meme est mor t j esui t e: en avoi t - i l l e moi ndr e soupcon?
- F. N. de Bonnevi l l e, Les J esui t es chasses de l a Maf onner i e et l eur poi gnar d br i se
par l es Masons, Or i ent de Londr es, 1788, 2, p. 74
Al l al ong i t had been r i ght i n f r ont of us, t he whol e t hi ng, and we had f ai l ed t o
see i t . Over si x cent ur i es, si x gr oups f i ght t o achi eve t he Pl an of Pr ovi ns, and
each gr oup t akes t he t ext of t hat Pl an, si mpl y changes t he subj ect , and at t r i but es
i t t o i t s adver sar i es.
Af t er t he Rosi cr uci ans t ur n up i n Fr ance, t he J esui t s r ever se t he Pl an, r epl ace i t
wi t h i t s negat i ve: di scr edi t i ng t he Baconi ans and t he emer gi ng Engl i sh Masonr y.
When t he J esui t s i nvent neo- Templ ar i sm, t he Mar qui s de Lu- chet at t r i but es t he Pl an
t o t he neo- Templ ar s. The J esui t s, who by now ar e j et t i soni ng t he neo- Templ ar s, copy
Luchet , t hr ough Bar r uel , but t hey at t r i but e t he Pl an t o al l Fr eemasons i n gener al .
Then t he Baconi an count er of f ensi ve. Di ggi ng i nt o t he t ext s of t hi s l i ber al and
secul ar pol emi c, we di scover ed t hat f r omMi - chel et and Qui net down t o Gar i bal di and
Gi ober t i , t he Or donat i on was at t r i but ed t o t he J esui t s ( per haps t hat i dea or i gi nat ed
wi t h t he Templ ar Pascal and hi s f r i ends) . The subj ect was popul ar i zed by Le J ui f
er r ant of Eugene Sue and by hi s char act er , t he evi l Monsi eur Rodi n, qui nt essence of
t he J esui t wor l d conspi r acy. But as we l ooked f ur t her i nt o Sue, we f ound f ar mor e: a
t ext t hat seemed copi ed- but hal f a cent ur y i n advance- f r omt he Pr ot ocol s, al most
wor d f or wor d. Thi s was t he f i nal chapt er of Les Myst er es du peupl e, wher e t he
di abol i cal J esui t pl an i s exposed down t o t he l ast cr i mi nal det ai l : i n a document
sent by t he gener al of t he Soci et y, Fat her Root haan ( hi st or i cal f i gur e) t o Monsi eur
Rodi n ( who appear s i n t he ear l i er J ui f er r ant ) . Ru- dol phe de Ger ol st ei n ( pr evi ousl y
t he her o of t he Myst er es de Par i s) comes i nt o possessi on of t hi s document and
r eveal s i t t o t he ot her democr acy- l ovi ng char act er s: " You see, my dear Le- br enn, how
cunni ngl y t hi s i nf er nal pl ot i s or der ed, and what f r i ght f ul sor r ows, what hor r endous
ensl avement , what t er r i bl e despot i smi t woul d spel l f or Eur ope and t he wor l d, wer e
i t t o succeed. . . "
I t seemed Ni l us' s pr ef ace t o t he Pr ot ocol s. Sue al so at t r i but ed t o t he J esui t s t he
mot t o ( whi ch wi l l be f ound i n t he Pr ot ocol s, at t r i but ed t o t he J ews) , " The end
j ust i f i es t he means. "
95
Ther e i s no need t o mul t i pl y t he evi dence t o pr ove t hat t hi s degr ee of Rosy Cr oss
was ski l l f ul l y i nt r oduced by t he l eader s of Masonr y. . . The doct r i ne, i t s hat r ed, and
i t s sacr i l egi ous pr act i ces, exact l y t hose of t he Cabal a, of t he Gnost i cs, and of t he
Mani cheans, r eveal s t o us t he i dent i t y of t he aut hor s, namel y t he J ewi sh Cabal i st s.
- Mons. Leon Meur i n, S. J . , La Fr anc- Maf onner i e, Synagogue de Sat an, Par i s, Ret aux,
Page 223
1893, p. 182
When Les Myst er es du peupl e appear s and t he J esui t s see t hat t he Or donat i on i s
at t r i but ed t o t hem, t hey qui ckl y adopt t he one t act i c not yet used by anyone.
Expl oi t i ng Si moni ni ' s l et t er , t hey at t r i but e t he Or donat i on t o t he J ews.
I n 1869, Henr i Gougenot de Mousseaux, f amous f or t wo books on magi c, publ i shes Les
J ui f s, l e j udai sme et l a j udai sat i on des peupl es chr et i ens, whi ch says t hat t he J ews
use t he cabal a and ar e wor shi per s of Sat an, si nce a secr et l i ne of descent l i nks
Cai n di r ect l y t o t he Gnost i cs, t he Templ ar s, and t he Masons. Gou- genot r ecei ves a
speci al benedi ct i on f r omPi us I X.
But t he Pl an, novel i zed by Sue, i s r ehashed by ot her s, who ar e not J esui t s. Ther e' s
a ni ce st or y, al most a t hr i l l er , t hat t akes pl ace a bi t l at er . I n 1921- af t er t he
appear ance of t he Pr ot ocol s, whi ch i t t ook ver y ser i ousl y- t he Ti mes of London l ear ns
t hat a Russi an monar chi st l andowner who f l ed t o Tur key has bought f r oma f or mer
of f i cer of t he Russi an secr et pol i ce, now a r ef ugee i n Const ant i nopl e, a number of
ol d books, and among t hemi s one wi t hout a cover . On i t s spi ne i t has onl y " J ol i , "
and t her e i s a pr ef ace dat ed 1864. Thi s i s t he sour ce of t he Pr ot ocol s. The Ti mes
does some r esear ch i n t he Br i t i sh Museumand di scover s t he or i gi nal book, by Maur i ce
J ol y, Di al ogue aux enf er s ent r e Mont esqui eu et Machi avel , Br uxel l es ( t hough i t says
Geneve on t he t i t l e page) , 1864. Maur i ce J ol y has no connect i on wi t h Cr et i neau- J ol y,
but t he si mi l ar i t y of t he names must mean somet hi ng.
J ol y' s book i s a l i ber al pamphl et agai nst Napol eon I I I , i n whi ch Machi avel l i , who
r epr esent s t he di ct at or ' s cyni ci sm, ar gues wi t h Mont esqui eu. J ol y i s ar r est ed f or
t hi s r evol ut i onar y vent ur e, he ser ves f i f t een year s i n pr i son, and i n 1878 he ki l l s
hi msel f . The J ewi sh pl ot enunci at ed i n t he Pr ot ocol s i s t aken al most l i t er al l y f r om
t he wor ds J ol y put s i n Machi avel l i ' s mout h ( t he end j ust i f i es t he means) ; af t er
Machi avel l i , t he wor ds become Napol eon' s. The Ti mes, however , does not r eal i ze ( but
we do) t hat J ol y had shamel essl y copi ed Sue' s document , whi ch pr edat es i t by at
l east seven year s.
An ant i - Semi t e aut hor ess, devot ee of t he pl ot t heor y and t he Unknown Super i or s, a
cer t ai n Nest a Webst er , f aced by t hi s devel opment , whi ch r educes t he Pr ot ocol s t o t he
l evel of cheap pl agi ar i sm, pr ovi des us wi t h a br i l l i ant i dea, t he sor t of i dea t hat
onl y a t r ue i ni t i at e or i ni t i at e- hunt er can have: J ol y was an i ni t i at e, he knew t he
Pl an of t he Unknown Super i or s, and at t r i but ed i t t o Napol eon I I I , whomhe hat ed. But
t hi s does not mean t hat t he Pl an does not exi st i ndependent l y of Napol eon. Si nce t he
Pl an out l i ned i n t he Pr ot ocol s i s a per f ect descr i pt i on of t he cust omar y behavi or of
t he J ews, t hen t he J ews must have i nvent ed t he Pl an. We had onl y t o r er ead Mr s.
Webst er i n t he l i ght of her own l ogi c: Si nce t he Pl an coi nci ded exact l y wi t h what
t he Templ ar s want ed, i t was t he Pl an of t he Templ ar s.
Besi des, we had t he l ogi c of f act s on our si de. We wer e par t i cul ar l y at t r act ed by
t he epi sode i n t he Pr ague cemet er y. Thi s was t he st or y of a cer t ai n Her mann
Goedsche, an i nsi gni f i cant Pr ussi an post al empl oyee who publ i shed f al se document s t o
di scr edi t t he democr at Wal deck. The document s accused hi mof pl anni ng t o assassi nat e
t he ki ng of Pr ussi a. Goedsche, af t er he was unmasked, became t he edi t or of t he or gan
of t he bi g conser vat i ve l andowner s. Di e Pr eussi sche Kr euzzei t ung. Then, under t he
name Si r J ohn Ret cl i f Fe, he began wr i t i ng sensat i onal novel s, i ncl udi ng Bi ar r i t z,
1868. I n i t he descr i bed an occul t i st scene i n t he Pr ague cemet er y, ver y si mi l ar t o
t he meet i ng of t he I l l umi nat i descr i bed by Dumas at t he begi nni ng of Gi useppe
Bal samo, wher e Cagl i ost r o, chi ef of t he Unknown Super i or s, among t hemSwedenbor g,
ar r anges t he Af f ai r of t he Di amond Neckl ace. I n t he Pr ague cemet er y t he
r epr esent at i ves of t he t wel ve t r i bes of I sr ael gat her , t o expound t hei r pl ans f or
t he conquest of t he wor l d.
I n 1876 a Russi an pamphl et r epr i nt s t he scene f r omBi ar r i t z, but as i f i t wer e f act ,
not f i ct i on. And i n 1881, i n Fr ance, Le Cont empor ai n does t he same t hi ng, cl ai mi ng
t hat t he news comes f r oman uni mpeachabl e sour ce: t he Engl i sh di pl omat Si r J ohn
Readcl i f f . I n 1896 one Bour nand publ i shes a book, Les J ui f s, nos cont empor ai ns, and
r epeat s t he scene of t he Pr ague cemet er y; he says t hat t he subver si ve speech i s made
by t he gr eat r abbi J ohn Readcl i f . A l at er ver si on; however , r epor t s t hat t he r eal
Readcl i f was t aken t o t he f at al cemet er y by Fer di nand Las- sal l e.
The pl ans r eveal ed ar e mor e or l ess t he same as descr i bed a f ew year s ear l i er , i n
1880, by t he Revue des Et udes J ui ves, whi ch publ i shes t wo l et t er s at t r i but ed t o J ews
of t he f i f t eent h cent ur y. The J ews of Ar i es ask t he hel p of t he J ews of
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Const ant i nopl e, because i n Fr ance t hey ar e bei ng per secut ed, and t he l at t er r epl y:
" Wel l - bel oved br ot her s i n Moses, i f t he ki ng of Fr ance f or ces you t o become
Chr i st i an, do so, because you cannot do ot her wi se, but pr eser ve t he l aw of Moses i n
your hear t s. I f t hey st r i p you of your possessi ons, r ai se your sons t o be mer chant s,
so t hat event ual l y t hey can st r i p Chr i st i ans of t hei r possessi ons. I f t hey t hr eat en
your l i ves, r ai se your sons t o be physi ci ans and phar maci st s, so t hat t hey can t ake
t he l i ves of Chr i st i ans. I f t hey dest r oy your synagogues, r ai se your sons, t o be
canons and cl er i cs, so t hat t hey can dest r oy t he chur ches of t he Chr i st i ans. I f t hey
i nf l i ct ot her t r i bul at i ons on you, r ai se your sons t o be l awyer s and not ar i es and
have t hemmi ngl e i n t he busi ness of ever y st at e, so t hat put t i ng t he Chr i st i ans
under your yoke, you wi l l r ul e t he wor l d and can t hen t ake your r evenge. "
I t was, agai n, t he Pl an of t he J esui t s and, bef or e t hat , of t he Or donat i on of t he
Templ ar s. Few var i at i ons, f ew changes: t he Pr ot ocol s wer e sel f - gener at i ng; a
bl uepr i nt t hat mi gr at ed f r omone conspi r acy t o anot her .
* * *
And when we r acked our br ai ns t o f i nd t he mi ssi ng l i nk t hat connect ed t hi s whol e
f i ne st or y t o Ni l us, we encount er ed Rach- kovsky, t he head of t he t sar ' s secr et
pol i ce, t he t er r i bl e Okhr ana.
96
A cover i s al ways necessar y. I n conceal ment l i es a gr eat par t of our st r engt h. Hence
we must al ways hi de our sel ves under t he name of anot her soci et y.
- Di e neuest en Ar bei t en des Spar t acus und Phi l o i n demI l l umi nat en- Or den, 1794, p.
165
At t hat same t i me, r eadi ng some pages of our Di abol i cal s, we f ound t hat t he Comt e de
Sai nt - Ger mai n, among hi s numer ous di sgui ses, had assumed t he i dent i t y Rackoczi , at
l east accor di ng t o t he ambassador of Fr eder i ck I I i n Dr esden. And t he l andgr ave of
Hesse, at whose r esi dence Sai nt - Ger mai n was supposed t o have di ed, sai d t hat he was
of Tr ansyl vani an or i gi n and hi s name was Rago/ ki . We had al so t o consi der t hat
Comeni us dedi cat ed hi s Pansophi ae ( a wor k sur el y bor n i n t he odor of
Rosi cr uci an- i sm) t o a l andgr ave ( anot her l andgr ave) named Ragovsky. A f i nal t ouch t o
t he mosai c: br owsi ng at a bookst al l i n Pi azza Cast el l o, I f ound a Ger man wor k on
Masonr y, anonymous, i n whi ch an unknown hand had added, on t he f l yl eaf , a not e t o
t he ef f ect t hat t he t ext was t he wor k of one Kar l Aug. Ragot gky. Bear i ng i n mi nd
t hat Rakosky was t he name of t he myst er i ous i ndi vi dual who had per haps ki l l ed
Col onel Ar dent i , we now coul d i ncl ude i n t he Pl an our Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n.
" Ar en' t we gi vi ng t hat scoundr el t oo much power ?" Di ot al - l evi asked, concer ned.
" No, no, " Bel bo r epl i ed, " we need hi m. Li ke soy sauce i n Chi nese di shes. I f i t ' s not
t her e, i t ' s not Chi nese. Look at Agl i e, who knows a t hi ng or t wo: Di d he t ake
Cagl i ost r o as hi s model ? Or Wi l l er moz? No. Sai nt - Ger mai n i s t he qui nt essence of Homo
Her met i cus. "
Pi er r e I vanovi t ch Rachkovsky: j ovi al , sl y, f el i ne, i nt el l i gent , and ast ut e, a
count er f ei t er of geni us. Fi r st a pet t y bur eaucr at , l at er i n cont act wi t h
r evol ut i onar y gr oups, i n 1879 he i s ar r est ed by t he secr et pol i ce and char ged wi t h
havi ng gi ven r ef uge t o t er r or i st compani ons af t er t hei r at t empt ed assassi nat i on of
Gener al Dr ent el . He becomes a pol i ce i nf or mer and ( her e we go! ) j oi ns t he r anks of
t he Bl ack Hundr eds. I n 1890 he di scover s i n Par i s an or gani zat i on t hat makes bombs
f or demonst r at i ons i n Russi a; he ar r anges t he ar r est , back home, of sevent y- t hr ee
t er r or i st s. Ten year s l at er , i t i s di scover ed t hat t he bombs wer e made by hi s own
men.
I n 1887 he ci r cul at es a l et t er by a cer t ai n I vanov, a r epent ant r evol ut i onar y, who
decl ar es t hat t he maj or i t y of t he t er r or i st s ar e J ews; i n 1890, a " conf essi on par un
vei l l ar d anci en r evol ut i onnai r e, " i n whi ch t he exi l ed r evol ut i onar i es i n London ar e
accused of bei ng Br i t i sh agent s; and i n 1892, a bogus t ext of Pl ekhanov, whi ch
accuses t he l eader s of t he Nar odnaya Vol ya par t y of havi ng had t hat conf essi on
publ i shed.
I n 1902 he f or ms a Fr anco- Russi an ant i - Semi t i c l eague. To ensur e i t s success he uses
a t echni que si mi l ar t o t hat of t he Ro- si cr uci ans: he decl ar es t hat t he l eague
exi st s, so t hat peopl e wi l l t hen cr eat e i t . But he uses anot her t act i c, t oo: he
Page 225
cl ever l y mi xes t r ut h wi t h f al sehood, t he t r ut h appar ent l y damagi ng t o hi m, so t hat
nobody wi l l doubt t he f al sehood. He ci r cul at es i n Par i s a myst er i ous appeal t o
suppor t t he Russi an Pat r i ot i c League, headquar t er s i n Khar kov. I n t he appeal he
at t acks hi msel f as t he man who want s t o make t he l eague f ai l , and he expr esses t he
hope t hat he, Rachkovsky, wi l l change hi s mi nd. He accuses hi msel f of r el yi ng on
di scr edi t ed char act er s l i ke Ni l us, and t hi s i s t r ue.
Why can t he Pr ot ocol s be at t r i but ed t o Rachkovsky?
Rachkovsky' s sponsor i s Count Ser gei Wi t t e, a mi ni st er who desi r es t o t ur n Russi a
i nt o a moder n count r y. Why t he pr ogr essi ve Wi t t e makes use of t he r eact i onar y
Rachkovsky, God onl y knows; but at t hi s poi nt t he t hr ee of us woul d have been
sur pr i sed by not hi ng. Wi t t e has a pol i t i cal opponent , El i e de Cyon, who has al r eady
at t acked hi mpubl i cl y, maki ng asser t i ons t hat r ecal l cer t ai n passages i n t he
Pr ot ocol s, except t hat i n Cyon' s wr i t i ngs t her e ar e no r ef er ences t o t he J ews, si nce
he i s of J ewi sh or i gi n hi msel f . I n 1897, at Wi t t e' s or der s, Rachkovsky has Cyon' s
vi l l a at Ter r i t at sear ched, and he f i nds a pamphl et by Cyon dr awn f r omJ ol y' s book
( or Sue' s) , i n whi ch t he i deas of Machi avel l i - Napol eon I I I ar e at t r i but ed t o Wi t t e.
Wi t h hi s geni us f or f al si f i cat i on, Rachkovsky subst i t ut es t he J ews f or Wi t t e and has
t he t ext ci r cul at ed. The name Cyon i s per f ect , suggest i ng Zi on, and now ever ybody
sees t hat an emi nent J ewi sh f i gur e i s denounci ng a J ewi sh pl ot . Thi s i s how t he
Pr ot ocol s ar e bor n. The t ext f al l s i nt o t he hands of J ul i ana or J ust i ne Gl i nka, who
i n Par i s f r equent s Madame Bl avat sky' s Par i si an ci r cl e, and i n her f r ee t i me she
spi es on and denounces Russi an r evol ut i onar i es i n exi l e. Thi s Gl i nka woman i s
undoubt edl y an agent of t he Paul i ci ans, who ar e al l i ed t o t he agr ar i ans and
t her ef or e want t o convi nce t he t sar t hat Wi t t e' s pr ogr ams ar e par t of t he
i nt er nat i onal J ewi sh pl ot . Gl i nka sends t he document t o Gener al Or gei evsky, and he,
t hr ough t he commander of t he i mper i al guar d, sees t hat i t r eaches t he t sar . Wi t t e i s
i n t r oubl e.
So Rachkovsky, dr i ven by hi s ant i - Semi t i sm, cont r i but es t o t he downf al l of hi s
sponsor . And pr obabl y t o hi s own. Because f r omt hat moment on we l ose al l t r ace of
hi m. But Sai nt - Ger mai n per haps donned new di sgui ses, moved on t o new r ei ncar nat i ons.
Never t hel ess, our st or y was pl ausi bl e, r at i onal , because i t was backed by f act s, i t
was t r ue- as Bel bo sai d, t r ue as t he Bi bl e.
Whi ch r emi nded me of what De Angel i s had t ol d me about t he synar chy. The f i ne t hi ng
about t he whol e st or y- our st or y, and per haps al so Hi st or y i t sel f , as Bel bo hi nt ed,
wi t h f ever i sh eyes, as he handed me hi s f i l e car ds- was t hat gr oups l ocked i n mor t al
combat wer e sl aught er i ng one anot her , each i n t ur n usi ng t he ot her ' s weapons. " The
f i r st dut y of a good spy, " I r emar ked, " i s t o denounce as spi es t hose whomhe has
i nf i l t r at ed. "
Bel bo sai d: " I r emember an i nci dent i n ***. At sunset , al ong a shady avenue, I
al ways r an i nt o t hi s guy named Remo- or somet hi ng l i ke t hat - i n a l i t t l e bl ack
Bal i l l a. Bl ack must ache, cur l y bl ack hai r , bl ack shi r t , and bl ack t eet h, hor r i bl y
r ot t en. And he woul d be ki ssi ng a gi r l . I was r evol t ed by t hose bl ack t eet h ki ssi ng
t hat beaut i f ul bl onde. I don' t even r emember what her f ace was l i ke, but f or me she
was vi r gi n and pr ost i t ut e, t he et er nal f emi ni ne. And gr eat was my r evul si on. "
I nst i nct i vel y he adopt ed a l of t y t one t o show i r ony, awar e t hat he had al l owed
hi msel f t o be car r i ed away by t he i nnocent t ender ness of t he memor y. " I asked mysel f
why t hi s Remo, who bel onged t o t he Bl ack Br i gades, dar ed al l ow hi msel f t o be seen
ar ound l i ke t hat , even i n t he per i ods when *** was not occupi ed by t he Fasci st s.
Someone whi sper ed t o me t hat he was a Fasci st spy. However i t was, one eveni ng I saw
hi mi n t he same bl ack Bal i l l a, wi t h t he same bl ack t eet h, ki ssi ng t he same bl onde,
but now wi t h a r ed ker chi ef ar ound hi s neck and a khaki shi r t . He had shi f t ed t o t he
Gar i bal di Br i gades. Ever ybody made a f uss over hi m, and he act ual l y gave hi msel f a
nomde guer r e: X9, l i ke t he Al ex Raymond char act er whomI had r ead about i n t he
Awent ur oso comi cs. Br avo, X9, t hey sai d t o hi m. . . And I hat ed hi mmor e t han ever ,
because he possessed t he gi r l by popul ar consent . Those who sai d he was a Fasci st
spy among t he par t i sans wer e pr obabl y men who want ed t he gi r l t hemsel ves, so t hey
cast suspi ci on on X9. . . "
" And t hen what happened?"
" See her e, Casaubon, why ar e you so i nt er est ed i n my l i f e?"
" Because you make i t sound l i ke a f ol kt al e, and f ol kt al es ar e par t of t he col l ect i ve
i magi nat i on. "
" Good poi nt . One mor ni ng, X9 was dr i vi ng al ong, out of hi s t er r i t or y; maybe he had a
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dat e t o meet t he gi r l i n t he f i el ds, t o go beyond t hei r ki ssi ng and pawi ng and show
her t hat hi s pr i ck was not as r ot t en as hi s t eet h- I ' msor r y, I st i l l can' t make
mysel f l ove hi m. Anyway, t he Fasci st s set a t r ap f or hi m, capt ur ed hi m, t ook hi m
i nt o t own, and at f i ve o' cl ock t he next mor ni ng, t hey shot hi m. "
A pause. Bel bo l ooked at hi s hands, whi ch he had cl asped, as i f i n pr ayer . Then he
hel d t hemapar t and sai d, " That was t he pr oof t hat he wasn' t a spy. "
" The mor al of t he st or y?"
" Who sai d st or i es have t o have a mor al ? But , now t hat I t hi nk about i t , maybe t he
mor al i s t hat somet i mes, t o pr ove somet hi ng, you have t o di e. "
97
I amt hat I am.
- Exodus 3: 14
Ego sumqui sum. An axi omof her met i c phi l osophy.
- Madame Bl avat sky, I si s Unvei l ed, 1877, p. 1
" Who ar e you?" t hr ee hundr ed voi ces asked as one, whi l e t went y swor ds f l ashed i n t he
hands of t he near est ghost s. . . " I amt hat I am, " he sai d.
- Al exandr e Dumas, Gi useppe Bal samo, i i
I saw Bel bo t he next mor ni ng. " Yest er day we sket ched a spl endi d di me novel , " I sai d
t o hi m. " But maybe, i f we want t o make a convi nci ng Pl an, we shoul d st i ck cl oser t o
r eal i t y. "
" What r eal i t y?" he asked me. " Maybe onl y cheap f i ct i on gi ves us t he t r ue measur e of
r eal i t y. Maybe t hey' ve decei ved us. "
" How?"
" Maki ng us bel i eve t hat on one hand t her e i s Gr eat Ar t , whi ch por t r ays t ypi cal
char act er s i n t ypi cal si t uat i ons, and on t he ot her hand you have t he t hr i l l er , t he
r omance, whi ch por t r ays at ypi cal char act er s i n at ypi cal si t uat i ons. No t r ue dandy, I
t hought , woul d have made l ove t o Scar l et t O' Har a or even t o Const ance Bona- ci eux or
Pr i ncess Dai sy. I pl ayed wi t h t he di me novel , i n or der t o t ake a st r ol l out si de of
l i f e. I t comf or t ed me, of f er i ng t he unat t ai nabl e. But I was wr ong. "
" Wr ong?"
" Wr ong. Pr oust was r i ght : l i f e i s r epr esent ed bet t er by bad musi c t han by a Mi ssa
sol emni s. Gr eat Ar t makes f un of us as i t comf or t s us, because i t shows us t he wor l d
as t he ar t i st s woul d l i ke t he wor l d t o be. The di me novel , however , pr et ends t o
j oke, but t hen i t shows us t he wor l d as i t act ual l y i s- or at l east t he wor l d as i t
wi l l become. Women ar e a l ot mor e l i ke Mi l ady t han t hey ar e l i ke Li t t l e Nel l , Fu
Manchu i s mor e r eal t han Nat han t he Wi se, and Hi st or y i s cl oser t o what Sue nar r at es
t han t o what Hegel pr oj ect s. Shakespear e, Mel vi l l e, Bal zac, and Dost oyevski al l
wr ot e sensat i onal f i ct i on. What has t aken pl ace i n t he r eal wor l d was pr edi ct ed i n
penny dr eadf ul s. "
" The f act i s, i t ' s easi er f or r eal i t y t o i mi t at e t he di me novel t han t o i mi t at e ar t .
Bei ng a Mona Li sa i s har d wor k; becomi ng Mi l ady f ol l ows our nat ur al t endency t o
choose t he easy way. "
Di ot al l evi , si l ent unt i l now, r emar ked: " Or our Agl i e, f or exampl e. He f i nds i t
easi er t o i mi t at e Sai nt - Ger mai n t han Vol t ai r e. "
" Yes, " Bel bo sai d, " and women f i nd Sai nt - Ger mai n mor e i nt er est i ng t han Vol t ai r e. "
Af t er war d, I f ound t hi s f i l e, i n whi ch Bel bo t r ansl at ed our di scussi on i nt o
f i ct i onal f or m, amusi ng hi msel f by r econst r uct i ng t he st or y of Sai nt - Ger mai n wi t hout
addi ng anyt hi ng of hi s own, onl y a f ew sent ences her e and t her e t o pr ovi de
t r ansi t i ons, i n a f ur i ous col l age of quot es, pl agi ar i sms, bor r owi ngs, cl i ches. Once
agai n, t o escape t he di scomf or t of Hi st or y, Bel bo wr ot e and r eexami ned l i f e t hr ough
a l i t er ar y st and- i n.
FI LENAME: The Ret ur n of Sai nt - Ger mai n
For f i ve cent ur i es now t he avengi ng hand of t he Al l - Power f ul has dr i ven me f r om
deepest Asi a al l t he way t o t hi s col d, damp l and. I car r y wi t h me f ear , despai r ,
deat h. But no, I amt he not ar y of t he Pl an, even i f nobody el se knows i t . I have
seen t hi ngs f ar mor e t er r i bl e; pr epar i ng t he ni ght of Sai nt Bar t hol omew was mor e
Page 227
i r ksome t han t he t hi ng I amnow pr epar i ng t o do. Oh, why do my l i ps cur l i n t hi s
sat ani c smi l e? I amt hat I am. I f onl y t hat wr et ch Cagl i ost r o had not usur ped f r om
me even t hi s l ast pr i vi l ege.
But my t r i umph i s near . Soapes, when I was Kel l ey, t ol d me ever yt hi ng i n t he Tower
of London. The secr et i s t o become someone el se.
By shr ewd pl ot t i ng I had Gi useppe Bal samo i mpr i soned i n t he f or t r ess of San Leo, and
I st ol e hi s secr et s. Sai nt - Ger mai n has vani shed; now al l bel i eve I amt he Cont e di
Cagl i ost r o.
Mi dni ght i s st r uck by al l t he cl ocks of t he ci t y. What unnat ur al peace. Thi s si l ence
does not per suade me. A beaut i f ul eveni ng, t hough col d; t he hi gh moon cast s an i cy
gl ow over t he i mpenet r abl e al l eys of ol d Par i s. I t i s t en o' cl ock: t he spi r e of t he
abbey of t he Bl ack Fr i ar s has j ust t ol l ed ei ght , sl owl y. The wi nd wi t h mour nf ul
cr eaks moves t he i r on weat her cocks on t he desol at e expanse of r oof t ops. A t hi ck
bl anket of cl ouds cover s t he sky.
Ski pper , ar e we t ur ni ng back? No. We' r e si nki ng! Damnat i on, t he Pat na' s goi ng t o t he
bot t om. J ump, Seven Seas J i m, j ump! To be f r ee of t hi s angui sh I ' d gi ve a di amond
t he si ze of a wal nut . Luf f t he mai nsai l , t ake t he t i l l er , t he t opgal l ant , what ever
you l i ke, cur se you, i t ' s bl owi ng up!
Hor r i bl y I cl ench t he cl oi st er of my t eet h as a deat hl y pal l or f l ushes my gr een,
waxen f ace.
How di d I come her e, I who amt he ver y i mage of r evenge? The spi r i t s of Hel l wi l l
smi l e wi t h cont empt at t he t ear s of t he cr eat ur e whose menaci ng voi ce so of t en made
t hemt r embl e even i n t he womb of t hei r f i er y abyss.
Hol l a, l i ght s!
How many st eps di d I come down t o r each t hi s den? Seven? Thi r t y- si x? Ther e i s no
st one I gr azed, no st ep t aken t hat di d not hi de a hi er ogl yph. When I have uncover ed
t hemal l , t he Myst er y wi l l be r eveal ed at l ast t o my f ai t hf ul f ol l ower s. The Message
wi l l be deci pher ed, i t s sol ut i on wi l l be t he Key, and t o t he i ni t i at e, but onl y t o
t he i ni t i at e, t he Eni gma wi l l t hen be r eveal ed.
Bet ween t he Eni gma and t he deci pher i ng of t he Message, t he st ep i s br i ef , and f r om
i t , r adi ant , t he Hi er ogr amwi l l emer ge, upon whi ch t he Pr ayer of I nt er r ogat i on wi l l
be def i ned. Then t he Ar canumwi l l be dr awn asi de, t he vei l , t he Egypt i an t apest r y
t hat cover s t he Pent acl e. And t hence t o t he l i ght , t o announce t he Occul t Meani ng of
t he Pent acl e, t he Cabal i st i c Quest i on t o whi ch onl y a f ew can r epl y, and t o r eci t e
i n a voi ce of t hunder t he I mpenet r abl e Si gn. Bent over i t , t he Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es
wi l l have t o gi ve t he Answer , t he ut t er i ng of t he Rune whose Meani ng i s open onl y t o
t he sons of Her mes. To t heml et t he Mocki ng Seal be gi ven, t he Mask behi nd whi ch i s
out l i ned t he Count enance t hey seek t o bar e, t he Myst i c Rebus, t he Subl i me Anagr am. . .
" Sat or Ar epo! " I shout i n a voi ce t o make a spect er t r embl e. And Sat or Ar epo
appear s, abandoni ng t he wheel he gr i ps wi t h t he cl ever hands of a mur der er . At my
command, he pr ost r at es hi msel f . I r ecogni ze hi m, f or I had al r eady suspect ed hi s
i dent i t y. He i s Luci ano, t he handi capped shi ppi ng cl er k, who t he Unknown Super i or s
have decr eed wi l l be t he execut or of my evi l and bl oody t ask.
" Sat or Ar epo, " I ask mocki ngl y, " do you know what i s t he Fi nal Answer conceal ed
behi nd t he Subl i me Anagr am?"
* * *
" No, Count , " t he i mpr udent one r epl i es. " I wai t t o l ear n i t f r omyour l i ps. "
Fr ommy pal e l i ps i nf er nal l aught er bur st s and r eechoes t hr ough t he anci ent vaul t s.
" Fool ! Onl y t he t r ue i ni t i at e knows he does not know i t ! "
" Yes, mast er , " t he mai med cl er k r epl i es st upi dl y. " As you wi sh. 1 amr eady. "
We ar e i n a squal i d den i n Cl i gnancour t . Thi s eveni ng I must puni sh, f i r st of al l ,
you, who i ni t i at ed me i nt o t he nobl e ar t of cr i me, who pr et end t o l ove me, and who,
what i s wor se, bel i eve you l ove me, al ong wi t h t he namel ess enemi es wi t h whomyou
wi l l spend t he next weekend. Luci ano, unwel come wi t ness of my humi l i at i ons, wi l l
l end me hi s ar m- hi s one ar m- t hen he, t oo, wi l l di e.
The r oomhas a t r apdoor over a di t ch or chamber , a subt er r anean passage used si nce
t i me i mmemor i al f or t he st or age of cont r aband goods, a pl ace al ways dank because i t
i s connect ed t o t he Par i s sewer s, t hat l abyr i nt h of cr i me, and t he anci ent wal l s
exude unspeakabl e mi asmas, so t hat when wi t h t he hel p of Luci ano, ever f ai t hf ul i n
evi l , I make a hol e i n t he wal l , wat er ent er s i n spur t s; i t f l oods t he cel l ar , t he
al r eady r ot t i ng wal l s col l apse, and t he passage j oi ns t he sewer s, and dead r at s
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f l oat past . The bl acki sh sur f ace t hat can be seen f r omabove i s now t he vest i bul e t o
per di t i on: f ar , f ar of f , t he Sei ne, and t hen t he sea. . .
A l adder hangs down, f i xed t o t he upper edge of t he t r ap. On t hi s, at wat er l evel ,
Luci ano t akes hi s pl ace, wi t h a kni f e: one hand gr i ppi ng t he bot t omr ung, t he ot her
hol di ng t he kni f e, t he t hi r d r eady t o sei ze t he vi ct i m. " Now wai t i n si l ence, " I say
t o hi m, " and you wi l l see. "
I have convi nced you t o dest r oy al l men wi t h a scar . Come wi t h me, be mi ne f or ever ,
l et us do away wi t h t hose i mpor t unat e pr esences. I know wel l t hat you do not l ove
t hemyou t ol d me as much- but we t wo wi l l r emai n, we and t he subt er r anean cur r ent s.
Now you ent er , haught y as a vest al , hoar se and numb as a wi t ch. O vi si on of hel l
t hat st i r s my age- ol d l oi ns and gr i ps my bosomi n t he cl ut ch of desi r e, O spl endi d
hal f - cast e, i nst r ument of my doom! Wi t h t al onl i ke hands I r i p t he shi r t of f i ne
bat i st e t hat ador ns my chest , and wi t h my nai l s I st r i pe my f l esh wi t h bl eedi ng
f ur r ows, whi l e a hor r i bl e bur ni ng sear s my l i ps as col d as t he scal es of t he
Ser pent . A hol l ow r oar er upt s f r omt he bl ack pi t of my soul and bur st s past t he
cl oi st er of my f i er ce t eet h- I , cent aur vomi t ed by t he Tar t ar . . . But I suppr ess my cr y
and appr oach you wi t h a hor r i d smi l e.
" My bel oved, my Sophi a, " I pur r as onl y t he secr et chi ef of t he Okhr ana can pur r . " I
have been wai t i ng f or you; come, cr ouch wi t h me i n t he shadows, and wai t . " And you
l augh a hoar se, sl i my l augh, savor i ng i n advance some i nher i t ance, l oot , a
manuscr i pt of t he Pr ot ocol s t o sel l t o t he t sar . . . How cl ever l y you conceal behi nd
t hat angel f ace your demon nat ur e, how modest l y you sheat he your body i n adr ogynous
bl ue j eans, and your T- shi r t , di aphanous, st i l l hi des t he i nf amous l i l y br anded on
your whi t e f l esh by t he execut i oner of Li l l e!
* * *
The f i r st dol t ar r i ves, dr awn by me i nt o t he t r ap. I can bar el y make out hi s
f eat ur es wi t hi n t he cl oak t hat enf ol ds hi m, but he shows me t he si gn of t he Templ ar s
of Pr ovi ns. I t i s Soapes, t he Tomar gr oup' s assassi n.
" Count , " he says t o me, " t he moment has come. For t oo many year s we have wander ed,
scat t er ed over t he wor l d. You have t he f i nal pi ece of t he message. I have t he one
t hat appear ed at t he begi nni ng of t he Gr eat Game. But t hi s i s anot her st or y. Let us
j oi n f or ces, and t he ot her s. . . "
I compl et e hi s sent ence: " The ot her s can go t o hel l . I n t he cent er of t he r oom,
br ot her , you wi l l f i nd a cof f er ; i n t he cof f er i s what you have been seeki ng f or
cent ur i es. Do not f ear t he dar kness; i t does not t hr eat en, but pr ot ect s us. "
The dol t t akes a f ew st eps, gr opi ng. A t hud, a spl ash. He has f al l en t hr ough t he
t r apdoor , but Luci ano gr abs hi m, wi el ds t he kni f e, t he t hr oat i s qui ckl y cut , t he
gur gl e of bl ood mi ngl es wi t h t he chur ni ng of t he cht honi an muck.
* * *
A knock at t he door . " I s t hat you, Di sr ael i ?"
" Yes, " answer s t he st r anger , i n whommy r eader s wi l l have r ecogni zed t he gr and
mast er of t he Engl i sh gr oup, now r i sen t o t he pomp of power , but st i l l not
sat i sf i ed. He speaks: " My l or d, i t i s usel ess t o deny, because i t i s i mpossi bl e t o
conceal t hat a gr eat par t of Eur ope i s cover ed wi t h a net wor k of t hese secr et
soci et i es, j ust as t he super f i ci es of t he ear t h i s now bei ng cover ed wi t h
r ai l r oads. . . "
" You sai d t hat i n t he Commons, on J ul y 14, 1856. Not hi ng escapes me. Get t o t he
poi nt . "
The Baconi an J ew mut t er s a cur se. He cont i nues: " Ther e ar e t oo many. The Thi r t y- si x
I nvi si bl es ar e now t hr ee hundr ed and si xt y. Mul t i pl y t hat by t wo: seven hundr ed and
t went y. Subt r act t he hundr ed and t went y year s at t he end of whi ch t he door s ar e
opened, and you get si x hundr ed, l i ke t he char ge of Bal acl ava. "
Devi l i sh man, t he secr et sci ence of number s hol ds no secr et s f or hi m. " Wel l ?"
" We have gol d, you have t he map. Let us uni t e. Toget her we wi l l be i nvi nci bl e. "
Wi t h a hi er at i c gest ur e, I poi nt t owar d t he spect r al cof f er t hat he, bl i nded by hi s
desi r e, t hi nks he di scer ns i n t he shadows. He st eps f or war d, he f al l s.
I hear t he si ni st er f l ash of Luci ano' s bl ade, and i n t he dar kness I see t he deat h
r at t l e t hat gl i st ens i n t he Engl i shman' s si l ent pupi l . J ust i ce i s done.
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* * *
I awai t t he t hi r d, t he Fr ench Rosi cr uci ans' man, Mont f aucon de Vi l l ar s, r eady t o
bet r ay t he secr et s of hi s sect .
" I amt he Comt e de Gabal i s, " he i nt r oduces hi msel f , t he l yi ng ni nny.
I have onl y t o whi sper a f ew wor ds, and he i s i mpel l ed t owar d hi s dest i ny. He f al l s,
and Luci ano, gr eedy f or bl ood, per f or ms hi s t ask.
You smi l e wi t h me i n t he shadows, and you t el l me you ar e mi ne, t hat your secr et
wi l l be my secr et . Decei ve your sel f , yes, si ni st er car i cat ur e of t he Shekhi nah. Yes,
I amyour Si mon; but wai t , you st i l l do not know t he best of i t . When you do know,
you wi l l have ceased knowi ng.
* * *
What t o add? One by one, t he ot her s ent er .
Padr e Br esci ani has i nf or med me t hat , r epr esent i ng t he Ger man I I - l umi nat i , Babet t e
d' l nt er l aken wi l l come, t he gr eat - gr anddaught er of Wei shaupt , t he gr and vi r gi n of
Hel vet i c Communi sm, who gr ew up ami d r oues, t hi eves, and mur der er s. Exper t i n
st eal i ng i mpenet r abl e secr et s, i n openi ng di spat ches of st at e wi t hout br eaki ng t he
seal s, i n admi ni st er i ng poi sons as her sect or der s her .
She ent er s t hen, t he young agat hodemon of cr i me, enf ol ded i n a pol ar - bear f ur , her
l ong bl ond hai r f l owi ng f r ombeneat h t he bol d busby; her eyes haught y, sar cast i c.
Wi t h t he usual f r aud, I di r ect her t owar d her dest r uct i on.
Ah, i r ony of l anguage- t hi s gi f t nat ur e has gi ven us t o keep si l ent t he secr et s of
our spi r i t ! The Daught er of Enl i ght enment f al l s vi ct i mt o Dar kness. I hear her
spewi ng hor r i bl e cur ses, i mpeni t ent , as Luci ano t wi st s t he kni f e t hr ee t i mes i n her
hear t . Dej a vu. . . .
* * *
I t i s t he t ur n of Ni l us, who f or a moment t hought t o possess bot h t he t sar i na and
t he map. Fi l t hy l ewd monk, you want ed t he Ant i chr i st ? He st ands bef or e you, but you
do not know hi m. I send hi mon, bl i nd, ami d a t housand myst i cal f l at t er i es, t o t he
evi l t r ap awai t i ng hi m. Luci ano r i ps open hi s br east wi t h a wound i n t he f or mof a
cr oss, and he si nks i nt o et er nal sl eep.
* * *
I must over come t he ancest r al di st r ust i n t he l ast , t he El der of Zi on, who cl ai ms t o
be Ahasuer us, t he Wander i ng J ew, i mmor t al l i ke me. He i s suspi ci ous as he smi l es
unct uousl y, hi s bear d st i l l st eeped i n t he bl ood of t he t ender Chr i st i an cr eat ur es
he habi t ual l y sl aught er s i n t he cemet er y of Pr ague. But I wi l l be as cl ever as a
Rachkovsky, cl ever er . I hi nt t hat t he cof f er cont ai ns not onl y a map but al so uncut
di amonds. I know t he f asci nat i on uncut di amonds have f or t hi s dei ci de r ace. He
appr oaches hi s dest i ny, dr agged by hi s gr eed, and i t i s hi s own God, cr uel and
vengef ul , t hat he cur ses as he di es, pi er ced l i ke Hi r am, but i t i s di f f i cul t f or hi m
t o cur se even now, because hi s God' s name cannot be ut t er ed.
* * *
I n my del usi on, I t hought I had concl uded t he Gr eat Wor k.
As i f st r uck by a gust of wi nd, once agai n t he door opens, and a f i gur e appear s, a
l i vi d f ace, numbed f i nger s devout l y hel d t o t he chest , a hooded gaze: he cannot
conceal hi s i dent i t y, f or he wear s t he bl ack habi t of hi s bl ack Soci et y. A son of
Loyol a!
" Cr e' t i neau! " I cr y, mi sl ed.
He r ai ses hi s hand i n a hypocr i t i cal gest ur e of benedi ct i on. " I amnot I amt hat I
am, " he says t o me wi t h a smi l e t hat cont ai ns not hi ng human.
I t i s t r ue: t hi s has al ways been t he J esui t s' met hod. Somet i mes t hey deny t hei r own
exi st ence, and somet i mes t hey pr ocl ai mt he power of t hei r or der t o i nt i mi dat e t he
uni ni t i at ed.
" We ar e al ways ot her t han what you t hi nk, sons of Bel i al , " t hat seducer of
sover ei gns says now. " But you, O Sai nt - Ger mai n. . . . "
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" How do you know who I r eal l y am?" I ask, al ar med.
He sneer s. " We met i n ot her t i mes, when you t r i ed t o pul l me away f r omt he deat hbed
of Post el , when under t he name of Abbe d' Her bl ay I l ed you t o end one of your
i ncar nat i ons i n t he hear t of t he Bast i l l e. ( Oh, how I st i l l f eel on my f ace t he i r on
mask t o whi ch t he Soci et y, wi t h Col ber t ' s hel p, had sent enced me! ) We met when I
spi ed on your secr et t al ks wi t h d' Hol bach and Condor cet . . . "
" Rodi n! " I excl ai m, t hunder st r uck.
" Yes, Rodi n, t he secr et gener al of t he J esui t s! Rodi n, whomyou wi l l not t r i ck i nt o
f al l i ng t hr ough t he t r apdoor , as you di d wi t h t he ot her s. Know t hi s, O
Sai nt - Ger mai n: t her e i s no cr i me, no evi l machi nat i on t hat we di d not i nvent bef or e
you, t o t he gr eat er gl or y of t hat God of our s who j ust i f i es t he means! How many
cr owned heads have we made t umbl e i nt o t he ni ght t hat has no mor ni ng, or i nt o snar es
mor e subt l e, t o achi eve domi ni on over t he wor l d! And now, when we ar e wi t hi n si ght
of t he goal , you woul d pr event us f r oml ayi ng our r apaci ous hands on t he secr et t hat
f or f i ve cent ur i es has moved t he hi st or y of t he wor l d?"
Rodi n, speaki ng i n t hi s way, becomes f ear some. Al l t he bl oodt hi r st y ambi t i on, al l
t he execr abl e sacr i l ege t hat had smol der ed i n t he br east s of t he Renai ssance popes,
now appear s on t he br ow of t hi s son of Loyol a. I see cl ear l y: an i nsat i abl e t hi r st
f or power st i r s hi s i mpur e bl ood, a bur ni ng sweat soaks hi m, a nauseat i ng vapor
spr eads ar ound hi m.
How t o st r i ke t hi s l ast enemy? To my ai d comes an unexpect ed i nt ui t i on. . . an
i nt ui t i on t hat can come onl y t o one f r omwhomt he human soul , f or cent ur i es, has
kept no i nvi ol abl e secr et pl ace.
" Look at me, " I say. " I , t oo, ama Ti ger . "
Wi t h one move I t hr ust you i nt o t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, I r i p f r omyou your T- shi r t ,
I t ear t he bel t of t he ski n- t i ght ar mor t hat conceal s t he char ms of your amber
bel l y. Now, i n t he pal e l i ght s of t he moon t hat seeps t hr ough t he hal f - open door ,
you st and er ect , mor e beaut i f ul t han t he ser pent t hat seduced Adam, haught y and
l asci vi ous, vi r gi n and pr ost i t ut e, cl ad onl y i n your car nal power , because a naked
woman i s an ar med woman.
The Egypt i an kl af t descends over your t hi ck hai r , so bl ack i t seems bl ue; your
br east t hr obs beneat h t he f i l my musl i n. The gol d ur aeus, ar ched and st ubbor n, wi t h
emer al d eyes, f l ashes on your head i t s t r i pl e t ongue of r uby. And oh, your t uni c of
bl ack gauze wi t h si l ver gl i nt s, your gi r dl e embr oi der ed i n si ni st er r ai nbows, wi t h
bl ack pear l s! Your swel l i ng pubi s shaved so t hat f or your l over s you ar e sl eek as a
st at ue! Your ni ppl es gent l y t ouched by t he br ush of your Mal abar sl ave gi r l , who has
di pped i t i nt o t he same car mi ne t hat bl oodi es your l i ps, i nvi t i ng as a wound!
Rodi n i s now pant i ng. The l ong abst i nences of a l i f e spent i n a dr eamof power have
onl y pr epar ed hi mal l t he mor e f or ensl avement t o uncont r ol l abl e desi r e. Faced by
t hi s queen, beaut i f ul and shamel ess, her eyes bl ack as t he Devi l ' s, her r ounded
shoul der s, scent ed hai r , whi t e and t ender ski n, Rodi n i s sei zed by t he possi bi l i t y
of unknown car esses, i nef f abl e vol upt uousness; hi s f l esh year ns as a syl van god
year ns when gazi ng on a naked nymph mi r r or ed i n t he wat er t hat has al r eady doomed
Nar ci ssus. Agai nst t he l i ght I see hi mst i f f en, as one pet r i f i ed by Medusa, scul pt ed
by t he desi r e of a r epr essed vi r i l i t y now at i t s sunset . The obsessi ve f l ame of l ust
sur ges t hr ough hi s body; he i s l i ke an ar r ow ai med at i t s t ar get , a bow dr awn t o t he
br eaki ng poi nt .
Suddenl y he f al l s t o t he f l oor and cr awl s bef or e t hi s appar i t i on, hi s hand ext ended
l i ke a cl aw t o i mpl or e a si p of bal m. , " Oh, how beaut i f ul you ar e, " he gr oans,
" wi t h t hose l i t t l e vi xen t eet h t hat gl eamwhen you par t your r ed and swol l en
l i ps. . . . your gr een emer al d eyes t hat f l ash, t hen f ade. . . Oh, demon of l ust ! "
He' s not al l t hat wr ong, t he wr et ch, as you now move your hi ps, sheat hed i n t hei r
bl ue deni m, and t hr ust f or war d your gr oi n t o dr i ve t he pi nbal l t o i t s supr eme f ol l y.
" Vi si on, " Rodi n says, " be mi ne; f or j ust one i nst ant cr own wi t h pl easur e a l i f e
spent i n t he har d ser vi ce of a j eal ous di vi ni t y, assuage wi t h one l ubr i ci ous embr ace
t he et er ni t y of f l ame t o whi ch your si ght now pl unges me. I beseech you, br ush my
f ace wi t h your l i ps, you Ant i nea, you Mar y Magdal ene, you whomI have desi r ed i n t he
pr esence of sai nt s dazed i n ecst asy, whomI have covet ed dur i ng my hypocr i t i cal
wor shi p of vi r gi ni t y. O Lady, f ai r ar t t hou as t he sun, whi t e as t he moon; l o I deny
bot h God and t he sai nt s, and t he Roman pont i f f hi msel f - no, mor e, I deny Loyol a and
t he cr i mi nal vow t hat bi nds me t o my Soci et y. A ki ss, one ki ss, t hen l et me di e! "
On numbed knees he cr awl s, hi s habi t pul l ed up over hi s l oi ns, hi s hand out st r et ched
t owar d unat t ai nabl e happi ness. Suddenl y he f al l s back, hi s eyes bul gi ng, hi s
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f eat ur es convul sed, l i ke t he unnat ur al shocks pr oduced by Vol t a' s pi l e on t he f ace
of a cor pse. A bl ui sh f oampur pl es hi s l i ps; f r omhi s mout h comes a st r angl ed
hi ssi ng, l i ke a hydr ophobe' s, f or when i t r eaches i t s par oxysmal phase, as Char cot
r i ght l y put s i t , t hi s t er r i bl e di sease, whi ch i s sat yr i asi s, t he puni shment of l ust ,
i mpr esses t he same st i gmat a as r abi d madness.
I t i s t he end. Rodi n bur st s i nt o i nsane l aught er , t hen cr umpl es t o t he f l oor ,
l i f el ess, t he l i vi ng i mage of cadaver i c r i gor .
I n a si ngl e moment he went mad and di ed i n mor t al si n.
I push t he body t owar d t he t r apdoor , car ef ul not t o di r t y my pat ent - l eat her boot s on
t he gr easy sout ane of my l ast enemy.
Ther e i s no need f or Luci ano' s dagger , but t he assassi n can no l onger cont r ol hi s
act i ons, hi s best i al compul si on t o mur der over and over . Laughi ng, he st abs a
l i f el ess, dead cadaver .
* * *
Now I move wi t h you t o t he t r ap' s r i m, I st r oke your t hr oat as you l ean f or war d t o
enj oy t he scene, I say t o you, " Ar e you pl eased wi t h your Rocambol e, my i naccessi bl e
l ove?"
And as you nod l asci vi ousl y and sneer , dr ool i ng i nt o t he voi d, I sl owl y t i ght en my
f i nger s.
" What ar e you doi ng, my l ove?"
" Not hi ng, Sophi a. I amki l l i ng you. I amnow Gui seppe Bal samo and have no f ur t her
need of you. "
The har l ot of t he Ar chons di es, dr ops t o t he wat er . Wi t h a t hr ust of hi s kni f e,
Luci ano seconds t he ver di ct of my mer ci l ess hand, and I say t o hi m: " Now you can
cl i mb up agai n, my t r ust y one, my bl ack soul . " As he cl i mbs, hi s back t o me, I
i nser t bet ween hi s shoul der bl ades a t hi n st i l et t o wi t h a t r i angul ar bl ade t hat
l eaves har dl y a mar k. Down he pl unges; I cl ose t he t r apdoor : i t i s done. I abandon
t he sor di d r oomas ei ght bodi es f l oat t owar d t he Chat el et by condui t s known onl y t o
me.
I r et ur n t o my smal l apar t ment i n t he Faubour g Sai nt - Honor e" , I l ook at mysel f i n
t he mi r r or . Ther e, I say t o mysel f , I amt he Ki ng of t he Wor l d. Fr ommy hol l ow spi r e
I r ul e t he uni ver se. My power makes my head spi n. I ama mast er of ener gy. I am
dr unk wi t h command.
* * *
Al as, l i f e' s vengeance i s not sl ow i n comi ng. Mont hs l at er , i n t he deepest cr ypt of
t he cast l e of Tomar , I - now mast er of t he secr et of t he subt er r anean cur r ent s and
l or d of t he si x sacr ed pl aces of t hose who had been t he Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es, l ast
of t he l ast Templ ar s and Unknown Super i or of al l Unknown Super i or s- shoul d wi n t he
hand of Ceci l i a, t he andr ogyne wi t h eyes of i ce, f r omwhomnot hi ng now can separ at e
me. I have f ound her agai n, af t er t he cent ur i es t hat i nt er vened si nce she was st ol en
f r omme by t he man wi t h t he saxophone. Now she wal ks on t he back of t he bench as on
a t i ght r ope, bl ue- eyed and bl ond; nor do I know what she i s wear i ng beneat h t he
f i l my t ul l e t hat bedecks her .
The chapel has been hol l owed f r omt he r ock; t he al t ar i s sur mount ed by a canvas
depi ct i ng t he t or ment s of t he damned i n t he bowel s of Hel l . Some hooded monks st and
t enebr ousl y at my si de, but I amnot di st ur bed, I amf asci nat ed by t he I ber i an
i magi nat i on. . .
Then- O hor r or - t he canvas i s r ai sed, and behi nd i t , t he admi r abl e wor k of some
Ar ci mbol do of caves, anot her chapel appear s, exact l y l i ke t hi s one. Ther e bef or e t he
al t ar Ceci l i a i s kneel i ng, and besi de her - i cy sweat beads my br ow, my hai r st ands on
end- whomdo I see, mocki ngl y di spl ayi ng hi s scar ? The Ot her , t he r eal Gi useppe
Bal samo. Someone has f r eed hi mf r omt he dungeon of San Leo!
And I ? I t i s at t hi s poi nt t hat t he ol dest of t he monks r ai ses hi s hood, and I
r ecogni ze t he ghast l y smi l e of Luci ano, who- God knows how- escaped my st i l et t o, t he
sewer s, t he bl oody mi r e t hat shoul d have dr agged hi s cor pse t o t he si l ent dept hs of
t he ocean. He has gone over t o my enemi es i n hi s r i ght f ul t hi r st f or r evenge.
The monks sl ough of f t hei r habi t s; t hey ar e head t o t oe i n ar mor , a f l ami ng cr oss on
t hei r snow- whi t e cl oaks. The Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns!
They sei ze me, t ur n me ar ound, t owar d an execut i oner st andi ng bet ween t wo def or med
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assi st ant s. I ambent over , and wi t h a sear i ng br and I ammade t he et er nal pr ey of
t he j ai l er as t he evi l smi l e of Baphomet i s i mpr essed f or ever on my shoul der . Now I
under st and: I amt o r epl ace Bal samo at San Leo- or , r at her , t o r esume t he pl ace t hat
was assi gned t o me f or al l et er ni t y.
But t hey wi l l r ecogni ze me, I t el l mysel f , and somebody wi l l sur el y come t o my
ai d- my accompl i ces, at l east - a pr i soner cannot be r epl aced wi t hout anybody' s
not i ci ng, t hese ar e no l onger t he days of t he I r on Mask. . . Fool ! I n a f l ash I
under st and, as t he execut i oner f or ces my head over a copper basi n f r omwhi ch
gr eeni sh f umes ar e r i si ng: vi t r i ol !
A cl ot h i s pl aced over my eyes, my f ace i s t hr ust i nt o t he devour i ng l i qui d, a
pi er ci ng unbear abl e pai n, t he ski n of my cheeks shr i vel s, my nose, mout h, chi n, a
moment i s al l i t t akes, and as I ampul l ed up agai n by t he hai r , my f ace i s
unr ecogni zabl e- par al ysi s, pox, and i ndescr i babl e absence of a f ace, a hymn t o
hi deousness. I wi l l go back t o t he dungeon l i ke t hose f ugi t i ves who, t o avoi d
r ecapt ur e, had t he cour age t o di sf i gur e t hemsel ves.
Ah, I cr y, def eat ed, and as t he nar r at or says, one wor d escapes my shapel ess l i ps, a
si gh, an appeal : Redempt i on!
But Redempt i on f r omwhat , ol d Rocambol e? You knew bet t er t han t o t r y t o be a
pr ot agoni st ! You have been puni shed, and wi t h your own ar t s. You mocked t he cr eat or s
of i l l usi on, and now- as you see- you wr i t e usi ng t he al i bi of a machi ne, t el l i ng
your sel f you ar e a spect at or , because you r ead your sel f on t he scr een as i f t he
wor ds bel onged t o anot her , but you have f al l en i nt o t he t r ap: you, t oo, ar e t r yi ng
t o l eave f oot pr i nt s on t he sands of t i me. You have dar ed t o change t he t ext of t he
r omance of t he wor l d, and t he r omance of t he wor l d has t aken you i nst ead i nt o i t s
coi l s and i nvol ved you i n i t s pl ot , a pl ot not of your maki ng.
You woul d have done bet t er t o r emai n among your i sl ands, Seven Seas J i m, and l et her
bel i eve you wer e dead.
98
The Nat i onal Soci al i st par t y di d not t ol er at e secr et soci et i es, because i t was
i t sel f a secr et soci et y, wi t h i t s gr and mast er , i t s r aci st gnosi s, i t s r i t es and
i ni t i at i ons.
- Rene Al l eau, Les sour ces occul t es du nazi sme. Par i s, Gr asset 1969, p. 214
I t was ar ound t hi s t i me t hat Agl i e sl i pped t hr ough our f i nger s. That was t he
expr essi on Bel bo used, wi t h a t one of excessi ve i ndi f f er ence. I at t r i but ed t he
i ndi f f er ence once agai n t o j eal ousy. Si l ent l y obsessed by Agl i e' s power over
Lor enza, al oud he wi secr acked about t he power Agl i e was gai ni ng at Gar amond.
Per haps i t was our own f aul t . Agl i e had begun seduci ng Gar amond al most a year
ear l i er , f r omt he t i me of t he al chemi st i e par t y i n Pi edmont . Soon af t er t hat ,
Gar amond ent r ust ed t he SFA f i l e t o hi m, f or hi mt o r ecr ui t new vi ct i ms t o f l esh out
t he I si s Unvei l ed cat al og; by now, Gar amond consul t ed hi mon ever y deci si on, and no
doubt gave hi ma mont hl y check. Gudr un, who car r i ed out per i odi c expedi t i ons t o t he
end of t he cor r i dor and beyond t he gl ass door t hat gave access t o t he padded wor l d
of Manut i us, t ol d us f r omt i me t o t i me, i n a wor r i ed voi ce, t hat Agl i e had
pr act i cal l y est abl i shed hi msel f i n t he of f i ce of Si gnor a Gr azi a; he di ct at ed l et t er s
t o her , escor t ed new vi si t or s i nt o Gar - amond' s of f i ce, and, i n shor t - and her e
Gudr un' s i ndi gnat i on r obbed her of even mor e vowel s- act ed as i f he owned t he pl ace.
We r eal l y shoul d have wonder ed why Agl i e spent hour s and hour s on t he Manut i us
addr ess f i l e. Sel ect i ng t he SFAs t o i nvi t e t o j oi n t he l i st of aut hor s f or I si s
Unvei l ed shoul d not have t aken t hat much t i me. Yet he went on wr i t i ng, cont act i ng,
maki ng appoi nt ment s.
But we act ual l y f ost er ed hi s aut onomy. The si t uat i on sui t ed Bel bo. Mor e Agl i e i n Vi a
Mar chese Gual di meant l ess Agl i e i n Vi a Si ncer e Renat o. Thus, when Lor enza
Pel l egr i ni made one of her sudden appear ances, and Bel bo, wi t h unconceal ed
exci t ement , became pat het i cal l y r adi ant , t her e was l ess l i kel i hood t hat " Si mon"
woul d bar ge i n r ui nousl y.
I wasn' t di spl eased, ei t her , si nce by now I had l ost i nt er est i n I si s Unvei l ed and
was mor e and mor e i nvol ved i n my hi st or y of magi c. Feel i ng I had l ear ned f r omt he
Di abol i cal s ever yt hi ng t her e was t o l ear n, I l et Agl i e handl e t he cont act s ( and
cont r act s) wi t h t he new aut hor s.
Nor di d Di ot al l evi obj ect . I n gener al , t he wor l d seemed t o mat t er l ess and l ess t o
Page 233
hi m. Now t hat I t hi nk back, I r eal i ze t hat he cont i nued l osi ng wei ght i n a t r oubl i ng
way. At t i mes I woul d see hi mi n hi s of f i ce bent over a manuscr i pt , hi s eyes vacant ,
hi s pen about t o dr op f r omhi s hand. He wasn' t asl eep; he was exhaust ed.
Ther e was anot her r eason we accept ed t he i ncr easi ng r ar i t y of Agl i e' s appear ances,
and t hei r br evi t y- f or he woul d si mpl y hand back t o us t he manuscr i pt s he had
r ej ect ed, t hen vani sh i nt o t he cor r i dor . The f act was, we di dn' t want hi mt o hear
our di scussi ons. I f anyone had asked us why, we woul d have sai d i t was out of
del i cacy, or embar r assment , si nce we wer e par odyi ng t he met aphysi cs i n whi ch he
somehow bel i eved. But i t was r eal l y di st r ust on our par t ; we wer e sl owl y assumi ng
t he nat ur al r eser ve of t hose who possess a secr et , we wer e put t i ng Agl i e i n t he r ol e
of t he pr of ane masses as we t ook mor e and mor e ser i ousl y t he t hi ng we had i nvent ed.
Per haps, t oo, as Di ot al l evi sai d i n a moment of good humor , now t hat we had a r eal
Sai nt - Ger mai n, we di dn' t need an i mi t at i on.
Agl i e di dn' t seemt o t ake of f ense at our r eser ve. He woul d gr eet us, t hen l eave us,
wi t h a pol i t eness t hat bor der ed on haut eur .
One Monday mor ni ng I ar r i ved at wor k l at e, and Bel bq eager l y asked me t o come t o hi s
of f i ce, cal l i ng Di ot al l evi , t oo. " Bi g news, " he sai d. But bef or e he coul d begi n,
Lor enza ar r i ved. Bel bo was t or n bet ween hi s j oy at t hi s vi si t and hi s i mpat i ence t o
t el l what he had di scover ed. A moment l at er , t her e was a knock, and Agl i e st uck hi s
head i n. " I don' t want t o di st ur b you. Pl ease don' t get up. I haven' t t he aut hor i t y
t o i nt r ude on such a consi st or y. I onl y want ed t o t el l our dear est Lor enza t hat I ' m
i n Si gnor Gar amond' s of f i ce. And I hope I have at l east t he aut hor i t y t o summon her
f or a sher r y at noon, i n my of f i ce. "
I n hi s of f i ce! Thi s t i me Bel bo l ost sel f - cont r ol . To t he ext ent , t hat i s, t hat he
coul d l ose i t . He wai t ed f or Agl i e t o l eave, t hen mut t er ed t hr ough cl enched t eet h:
" Ma gavt e l a nat a. "
Lor enza, st i l l showi ng her pl easur e at t he i nvi t at i on, asked Bel bo what t hat meant .
" I t ' s Tur i n di al ect . I t means, l i t er al l y, ' Be so ki nd as t o r emove t he cor k. ' A
pompous, sel f - i mpor t ant , over weeni ng i ndi vi dual i s t hought t o hol d hi msel f t he way
he does because of a cor k st uck i n hi s sphi nct er ani , whi ch pr event s hi s vapor i f i c
di gni t y f r ombei ng di sper sed. The r emoval of t he cor k causes t he i ndi vi dual t o
def l at e, a pr ocess usual l y accompani ed by a shr i l l whi st l e and t he r educt i on of t he
out er envel ope t o a poor f l esh- l ess phant omof i t s f or mer sel f . "
" I di dn' t know you coul d be so vul gar . "
' ' Now you know. "
Lor enza went out , pr et endi ng t o be annoyed. I knew t hi s di st r essed Bel bo al l t he
mor e: r eal anger woul d have r eassur ed hi m, but a pr et ense of i r r i t at i on onl y
conf i r med hi s f ear t hat , f r omLor enza, t he di spl ay of any passi on was al ways st aged,
t heat r i cal .
He sai d t hen, wi t h gr i mdet er mi nat i on, " To busi ness. " Meani ng: Let ' s pr oceed wi t h
t he Pl an, ser i ousl y.
" I don' t much want t o, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " I don' t f eel wel l . I have a pai n her e, " - he
t ouched hi s st omach- " I t hi nk i t ' s gast r i t i s. "
" Ri di cul ous, " Bel bo sai d t o hi m. " / don' t have gast r i t i s. . . What coul d gi ve you
gast r i t i s? Mi ner al wat er ?"
" Coul d be, " Di ot al l evi sai d wi t h a wan smi l e. " Last ni ght I over di d i t . I ' m
accust omed t o st i l l Fi uggi , and I dr ank some f i zzy San Pel l egr i no. "
" You must be car ef ul . Such excesses coul d ki l l you. But t o busi ness, gent l emen. I ' ve
been dyi ng t o t el l you f or t wo days now. . . Fi nal l y, I know why t he Thi r t y- si x
I nvi si bl es wer e unabl e, f or cent ur i es, t o wor k out t he f or mof t he map. J ohn Dee got
i t wr ong; t he geogr aphy has t o be done over . We l i ve i nsi de a hol l ow ear t h, encl osed
by t he t er r est r i al sur f ace. Hi t l er r eal i zed t hi s. "
99
Nazi smwas t he moment when t he spi r i t of magi c sei zed t he hel mof mat er i al pr ogr ess.
Leni n sai d Communi smwas soci al i smpl us el ect r i ci t y. I n a sense, Hi t l er i smwas
Guenoni smpl us ar mor ed di vi si ons.
- Pauwel s and Ber gi er , Le mat i n des magi ci ens, Par i s, Gal l i mar d, 1960, 2, vi i
Now Bel bo had managed t o wor k Hi t l er i nt o t he Pl an. " I t ' s al l t her e, bl ack on whi t e.
The f ounder s of Nazi smwer e i nvol ved i n Teut oni c neo- Templ ar i sm. "
" An ai r t i ght case. "
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" I ' mnot i nvent i ng, Casaubon, f or once I ' mnot i nvent i ng! "
" Take i t easy. When di d we ever i nvent anyt hi ng? We' ve al ways st ar t ed wi t h obj ect i ve
dat a, wi t h i nf or mat i on i n t he publ i c domai n. "
" Thi s t i me, t oo. I n 1912 a Ger manenor den gr oup i s f or med, pr oposi ng t he t enet of
Ar yan super i or i t y. I n 1918 a cer t ai n Bar on von Sebot t endor f f ounds a r el at ed gr oup,
t he Thul e Gesel l schaf t , a secr et soci et y, yet anot her var i at i on on t he Templ ar
St r i ct Obser vance, but wi t h st r ong r aci st , pan- Ger man, neo- Ar yan t endenci es. And i n
' 33 Sebot t endor f wr i t es t hat he had sown what Hi t l er r eaped. Fur t her mor e, i t i s i n
Thul e Gesel l schaf t ci r cl es t hat t he hooked cr oss appear s. And who was among t he
f i r st t o j oi n t he Thul e? Rudol f Hess, Hi t l er ' s evi l geni us! Then Rosenber g! Then
Hi t l er hi msel f ! And not e t hat i n hi s cel l i n Spandau even t oday, as you' ve sur el y
r ead i n t he paper s, Hess st udi es t he esot er i c sci ences. Sebot t endor f i n ' 24 wr i t es a
pamphl et on al chemy, and r emar ks t hat t he f i r st exper i ment s i n at omi c f i ssi on
demonst r at e t he t r ut hs of t he Gr eat Wor k. He al so wr i t es a novel on t he
Ros- i cr uci ans! Lat er he edi t s an ast r ol ogi cal magazi ne, Ast r ol ogi sche Rundschau, and
Tr evor - Roper t el l s us t hat t he Nazi chi ef s, Hi t l er f i r st among t hem, never made a
move wi t hout havi ng a hor oscope cast . I n 1943 a gr oup of psychi cs i s consul t ed t o
di scover wher e Mussol i ni i s bei ng hel d pr i soner . I n ot her wor ds, t he whol e Nazi
l eader shi p i s connect ed wi t h Teut oni c neo- occul t i sm. "
Bel bo seemed t o have got over t he i nci dent wi t h Lor enza, and I bui l t a f i r e under
hi mt o get on wi t h hi s t heor y. " We can l ook at Hi t l er ' s power as a r abbl e- r ouser
al so f r omt hi s poi nt of vi ew, " I sai d. " Physi cal l y, he was a t oad, he had a shr i l l
voi ce. How coul d such a man whi p cr owds i nt o a f r enzy? He must have possessed
psychi c power s. Per haps, i nst r uct ed by some Dr ui d f r omhi s homet own, he knew how t o
est abl i sh cont act wi t h t he subt er r anean cur r ent s. Per haps he was a l i vi ng val ve, a
bi ol ogi cal menhi r t r ansmi t t i ng t he cur r ent s t o t he f ai t hf ul i n t he Nur ember g
st adi um. For a whi l e i t wor ked f or hi m; t hen hi s bat t er i es r an down. "
100
To Al l t he Wor l d: I decl ar e t he ear t h i s hol l ow and habi t abl e wi t hi n; cont ai ni ng a
number of sol i d, concent r i c spher es; one wi t hi n t he ot her , and t hat i t i s open at
t he pol es t wel ve or si xt een degr ees.
- J . Cl eves Symmes of Ohi o, l at e Capt ai n of I nf ant r y, Apr i l 10, 1818; quot ed i n
Spr ague de Camp and Ley, Lands Beyond, New Yor k, Ri nehar t , 1952,
" Congr at ul at i ons, Casaubon. I n your i nnocence you hi t upon t he t r ut h. Hi t l er ' s one
genui ne obsessi on was t he under gr ound cur r ent s. He bel i eved i n t he t heor y of t he
hol l ow ear t h, Hohl - wel t l ehr e. "
" I ' ml eavi ng. I ' ve got gast r i t i s, " Di ot al l evi sai d.
" Wai t . We' r e get t i ng t o t he best par t . The ear t h i s hol l ow: we don' t l i ve out si de
i t , on t he convex cr ust , but i nsi de, on t he concave sur f ace. What we t hi nk i s t he
sky i s act ual l y a gaseous mask, wi t h poi nt s of br i l l i ant l i ght , whi ch f i l l s t he
i nt er i or of our gl obe. Al l ast r onomi cal measur ement s have t o be r ei nt er pr et ed. The
sky i s not i nf i ni t e: i t ' s ci r cumscr i bed. The sun, i f i t r eal l y exi st s, i s no bi gger
t han i t l ooks, a mer e cr umb havi ng a di amet er of t hi r t y cent i met er s at t he cent er of
t he ear t h. The Gr eeks had al r eady suspect ed as much. "
" You made t hi s up, " Di ot al l evi sai d wear i l y.
" I di d not ! Somebody had t he i dea at t he begi nni ng of t he l ast cent ur y, an Amer i can,
a man named Symmes. Then, at t he end of t he cent ur y, anot her Amer i can- name of Teed-
r evi ved t he not i on, suppor t ed by al chemi st i c exper i ment s and a r eadi ng of I sai ah.
Af t er t he Fi r st Wor l d War , t he hol l ow- ear t h t heor y was per f ect ed by a Ger man- I
f or get hi s name- who f ounded t he Hohl wel t l ehr e movement . Hi t l er and hi s cr oni es
di scover ed t hat Hohl wel t l ehr e cor r esponded exact l y t o t hei r pr i nci pl es, and t hey
even, accor di ng t o one r epor t , mi sai med some of t he V- l s because t hey cal cul at ed
t hei r t r aj ect or i es on t he basi s of a concave, not a convex, sur f ace. Hi t l er at t hi s
poi nt was convi nced t hat t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d was hi msel f and t hat t he Nazi Gener al
St af f member s wer e t he Unknown Super i or s. Wher e does t he Ki ng of t he Wor l d l i ve?
Beneat h; not above.
" Thi s hypot hesi s i nspi r ed Hi t l er t o change t he whol e di r ect i on of Ger man r esear ch
t owar d t he concept of t he f i nal map, t he i nt er pr et at i on of t he Pendul um! The si x
Templ ar gr oups had t o be r eassembl ed; ever yt hi ng had t o be begun agai n f r omt he
begi nni ng. Consi der t he l ogi c of Hi t l er ' s conquest s. . . Fi r st , Danzi g, t o have under
Page 235
hi s cont r ol t he cl assi cal pl aces of t he Teut oni c gr oup. Next he conquer ed Par i s, t o
get hi s hands on t he Pendul umand t he Ei f f el Tower , and he cont act ed t he synar chi c
gr oups and put t hemi nt o t he Vi chy gover nment . Then he made sur e of t he
neut r al i t y- i n ef f ect , t he cooper at i on- of t he Por t uguese gr oup. Hi s f our t h obj ect i ve
was, of cour se, Engl and; but we know t hat wasn' t easy. Meanwhi l e, wi t h t he Af r i can
campai gns, he t r i ed t o r each Pal est i ne, but her e agai n he f ai l ed. Then he ai med at
t he domi ni on of t he Paul i ci an t er r i t or i es, by i nvadi ng t he Bal kans and Russi a.
" When Hi t l er had f our - si xt hs of t he Pl an i n hi s hands, he sent Hess on a secr et
mi ssi on t o Engl and t o pr opose an al l i ance. The Baconi ans, however , r ef used. He had
anot her i dea: t hose who wer e hol di ng t he most i mpor t ant par t of t he secr et must be
hi s et er nal enemi es t he J ews. He di dn' t l ook f or t hemi n J er usal em, wher e f ew wer e
l ef t . The J er usal emi t e gr oup' s pi ece of t he message wasn' t i n Pal est i ne anyway; i t
was i n t he possessi on of a gr oup of t he Di aspor a. And so t he Hol ocaust i s
expl ai ned. "
" How i s t hat ?"
" J ust t hi nk f or a moment . Suppose you want ed t o commi t genoci de. . . "
" Excuse me, " Di ot al l evi sai d, " but t hi s i s goi ng t oo f ar . My st omach hur t s. I ' m
goi ng home. "
" Wai t , damn i t . When t he Templ ar s wer e di sembowel i ng t he Sar acens, you enj oyed
your sel f , because i t was so l ong ago. Now you' r e bei ng del i cat e, l i ke a pet t y
i nt el l ect ual . We' r e r emaki ng hi st or y; we can' t be squeami sh. "
We l et hi mcont i nue, subdued by hi s vehemence.
" The st r i ki ng t hi ng about t he genoci de of t he J ews i s t he l engt hi ness of t he
pr ocedur es. Fi r st t hey' r e kept i n camps and st ar ved, t hen t hey' r e st r i pped naked,
t hen t he shower s, t hen t he scr upul ous pi l i ng up of t he cor pses, and t he sor t i ng and
st or i ng of cl ot hes, t he l i st i ng of per sonal ef f ect s. . . None of t hi s makes sense i f i t
was j ust a quest i on of ki l l i ng t hem. I t makes sense i f i t was a quest i on of l ooki ng
f or somet hi ng, f or a message t hat one of t hose mi l l i ons of peopl e- t he J er usal emi t e
r epr esent at i ve of t he Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es- was hi di ng i n t he hemof a gar ment , or
i n hi s mout h, or had t at t ooed on hi s body. . . Onl y t he Pl an expl ai ns t he i nexpl i cabl e
bur eaucr acy of t hi s genoci de! Hi t l er was sear chi ng t he J ews f or t he cl ue t hat woul d
al l ow hi mt o det er mi ne, wi t h t he Pendul um, t he exact poi nt under t he ear t h' s concave
vaul t wher e t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s conver ged.
" And now you see t he beaut y of t he i dea. The t el l ur i c cur r ent s become equat ed wi t h
t he cel est i al cur r ent s. The hol l ow- ear t h t heor y gi ves new l i f e t o t he age- ol d
her met i c i nt ui t i on, namel y, t hat what l i es beneat h i s equal t o what l i es above! The
Myst i c Pol e coi nci des wi t h t he Hear t of t he Ear t h. The secr et pat t er n of t he st ar s
i s not hi ng ot her t han t he secr et pat t er n of t he subt er r anean passages of Agar t t ha.
Ther e i s no l onger any di f f er ence bet ween heaven and hel l , and t he Gr ai l , t he l api s
exi l l i s, i s t he l api s ex coel i s, t he phi l osopher ' s st one, t he t er mi nal , t he l i mi t ,
t he cht honi an ut er us of t he empyr ean! And i f Hi t l er can i dent i f y t hat poi nt i n t he
hol l ow cent er of t he ear t h, whi ch i s al so t he exact cent er of t he sky, he wi l l be
Mast er of t he Wor l d, whose ki ng he i s by r i ght of r ace. And t hat ' s why, t o t he ver y
end, i n t he dept hs of hi s bunker , he t hought he coul d st i l l cont r ol t he Myst i c
Pol e. "
" St op, " Di ot al l evi sai d. " Enough i s enough. I ' msi ck. "
" He' s r eal l y si ck. I t ' s not an i deol ogi cal pr ot est , " I sai d.
Bel bo f i nal l y under st ood. Concer ned, he went t o Di ot al l evi , who was l eani ng agai nst
t he desk, appar ent l y on t he ver ge of f ai nt i ng. " Sor r y, my f r i end. I got car r i ed
away. You' r e sur e i t ' s not anyt hi ng I sai d? We' ve j oked t oget her f or t went y year s,
you and I . Maybe you do have gast r i t i s. Look, t r y a Mer ankol t abl et and a hot - wat er
bot t l e. Come, I ' l l dr i ve you home. Then you' d bet t er cal l a doct or , have your sel f
l ooked at . "
Di ot al l evi sai d he coul d t ake a t axi home, he wasn' t at deat h' s door yet . He j ust
had t o l i e down. Yes, he woul d cal l a doct or , he pr omi sed. And i t wasn' t t he
Hol ocaust busi ness t hat had upset hi m; he had been f eel i ng bad si nce t he pr evi ous
eveni ng. Bel bo, r el i eved, went wi t h hi mt o t he t axi .
When he came back, he l ooked wor r i ed. " Now t hat I t hi nk about i t , Di ot al l evi hasn' t
been hi msel f f or sever al weeks. Those ci r cl es under hi s eyes. . . . I t ' s not f ai r ; I
shoul d have di ed of ci r r hosi s t en year s ago, and her e I am, t he pi ct ur e of heal t h,
wher eas he l i ves l i ke an ascet i c and has gast r i t i s or maybe wor se. I f you ask me,
i t ' s an ul cer . To hel l wi t h t he Pl an. We' r e not l i vi ng r i ght . "
" A Mer ankol wi l l f i x hi mup, " I sai d.
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" Yes, and a hot - wat er bot t l e on hi s st omach. Let ' s hope he act s sensi bl y. "
101
Qui oper at or i n Cabal a. . . si er r abi t i n oper e aut non pur i f i cat us accesser i t ,
deuor abi t ur ab Azazal e.
- Pi co del l a Mi r andol a, Concl usi ones Magi cae
Di ot al l evi ' s condi t i on t ook a deci ded t ur n f or t he wor se i n l at e November . He cal l ed
t he of f i ce t o say he was goi ng i nt o t he hospi t al . The doct or had t ol d hi mt her e was
not hi ng t o wor r y about , but i t woul d be a good i dea t o have some t est s.
Bel bo and I somehow connect ed Di ot al l evi ' s i l l ness wi t h t he Pl an, whi ch per haps we
had car r i ed t oo f ar . I t was i r r at i onal , but we f el t gui l t y. Thi s was t he second t i me
I seemed t o be Bel bo' s par t ner i n cr i me. Once, we had r emai ned si l ent t oget her ,
wi t hhol di ng i nf or mat i on f r omDe Angel i s; and now we had t al ked t oo much. We t ol d
each ot her t hi s was si l l y, but we coul dn' t shake of f our uneasi ness. And so, f or a
mont h or mor e, we di d not di scuss t he Pl an.
Meanwhi l e, af t er he had been out f or t wo weeks or so, Di o- t al l evi dr opped by t o t el l
us, i n a nonchal ant t one, t hat he had asked Gar amond f or si ck l eave. A t r eat ment had
been r ecommended t o hi m. He di dn' t go i nt o det ai l s, but i t i nvol ved hi s r epor t i ng t o
t he hospi t al ever y t wo or t hr ee days, and i t woul d l eave hi msomewhat weak. I di dn' t
see how he coul d get much weaker ; hi s f ace now was as whi t e as hi s hai r .
" And f or get about t hose st or i es, " he sai d. " They' r e bad f or t he heal t h, as you' l l
see. I t ' s t he Rosi cr uci ans' r evenge. "
" Don' t wor r y, " Bel bo sai d t o hi m, smi l i ng. " We' l l make l i f e r eal l y unpl easant f or
t hose Rosi cr uci ans, and t hey' l l l eave you al one. Not hi ng t o i t . " And he snapped hi s
f i nger s.
The t r eat ment l ast ed unt i l t he begi nni ng of t he new year . I was absor bed by my
hi st or y of magi c- t he r eal t hi ng, ser i ous st uf f , I sai d t o mysel f , not our nonsense.
Gar amond came by at l east once a day t o ask f or news of Di ot al l evi . " And pl ease,
gent l emen, l et me know i f any need ar i ses, any pr obl em, any ci r cumst ance i n whi ch I ,
t he f i r m, can do somet hi ng f or our admi r abl e f r i end. For me, he' s l i ke a son- mor e, a
br ot her - and t hank heaven t hi s i s a ci vi l i zed count r y, what ever peopl e may say; we
have a publ i c heal t h syst emwe can be pr oud of . "
Agl i e expr essed concer n, asked f or t he name of t he hospi t al , and t el ephoned i t s
di r ect or , a dear f r i end ( who, mor eover , happened t o be t he br ot her of an SEA wi t h
whomAgl i e was on excel l ent t er ms) . Di ot al l evi woul d be t r eat ed wi t h speci al
consi der at i on.
Lor enza showed up of t en t o ask f or news. Thi s shoul d have made Bel bo happy, but he
t ook i t as anot her i ndi cat i on t hat hi s pr ognosi s was not good. Lor enza was t her e,
but st i l l el usi ve, because she wasn' t t her e f or hi m.
Shor t l y bef or e Chr i st mas, I ' d caught a snat ch of t hei r conver sat i on. Lor enza was
sayi ng t o hi m: " The snow i s j ust r i ght , and t hey have char mi ng l i t t l e r ooms. You can
do cr oss- count r y ski i ng, can' t you?" I concl uded t hat t hey woul d be spendi ng New
Year ' s Eve t oget her . But one day af t er Epi phany, when Lor enza appear ed i n t he
cor r i dor , Bel bo sai d t o her , " Happy New Year , " and dodged her at t empt t o gi ve hi ma
hug.
102
Leavi ng t hi s pl ace, we came t o a set t l ement known as Mi l est r e. . . . wher e i t i s sai d
t hat one known as t he Ol d Man of t he Mount ai n dwel l ed. . . And he bui l t , over hi gh
mount ai ns sur r oundi ng a val l ey, a ver y t hi ck and hi gh wal l , i n a ci r cui t of t hi r t y
mi l es, and i t was ent er ed by t wo door s, and t hey wer e hi dden, cut i nt o t he mount ai n.
- Odor i co da Por denone, De r ebus i ncogni t i s, I mpr essus Esaur i , 1513, xxi , p. 15
One day, at t he end of J anuar y, as I was wal ki ng al ong Vi a Mar chese Gual di , wher e I
had par ked my car , I saw Sal on comi ng out of Manut i us. " A l i t t l e chat wi t h my f r i end
Agl i e, " he sai d t o me.
Fr i end? As I seemed t o r ecal l f r omt he Pi edmont par t y, Agl i e was not f ond of hi m.
Was Sal on snoopi ng ar ound Manut i us, or was Agl i e usi ng hi mf or some cont act or
ot her ?
Sal on di dn' t gi ve me t i me t o ponder t hi s; he suggest ed a dr i nk, and we ended up at
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Pi l ade' s. I had never seen Sal on i n t hi s par t of t own, but he gr eet ed ol d Pi l ade as
i f t hey had known each ot her f or year s. We sat down. He asked me how my hi st or y of
magi c was pr ogr essi ng. So he knew about t hat , t oo. I pr odded hi mabout t he
hol l ow- ear t h t heor y and about Sebot t endor f , t he man Bel bo had ment i oned.
He l aughed. " You peopl e cer t ai nl y dr aw your shar e of madmen. I ' mnot f ami l i ar wi t h
t hi s busi ness of t he ear t h bei ng hol l ow. As f or Sebot t endor f , now t her e was a
char act er . . . He gave Hi mml er and company some i deas t hat wer e sui ci dal f or t he Ger man
peopl e. "
" What i deas?"
" Or i ent al f anci es. That man, war y of t he J ews, ended up wor shi pi ng t he Ar abs and t he
Tur ks. Di d you know t hat on Hi mm- l er ' s desk, al ong wi t h Mei n Kampf , t her e was al ways
t he Kor an? Sebot t endor f , f asci nat ed i n hi s yout h by an occul t Tur ki sh sect , began
st udyi ng I sl ami c gnosi s. He sai d Fi i hr er but t hought Ol d Man of t he Mount ai n. When
t hey al l got t oget her and f ounded t he SS, t hey had i n mi nd an or gani zat i on l i ke t he
Assassi ns. . . Ask your sel f why Ger many and Tur key, i n t he Fi r st Wor l d War , wer e
al l i es. "
" How do you know t hese t hi ngs?"
" I t ol d you, I t hi nk, t hat my poor f at her wor ked f or t he Okh- r ana. Wel l , I r emember
i n t hose days how t he t sar i st pol i ce wer e concer ned about t he Assassi ns. Rachkovsky
got wi nd of i t f i r st . . . But t hey gave up t hat t r ai l , because i f t he Assassi ns wer e
i nvol ved, t hen t he J ews coul dn' t be, and t he J ews wer e t he danger . As al ways. The
J ews went back t o Pal est i ne and made t hose ot her s l eave t hei r caves. But t he whol e
t hi ng i s compl i cat ed, conf used. Let ' s l eave i t at t hat . "
He seemed t o r egr et havi ng sai d so much, and hast i l y t ook hi s l eave. Then anot her
t hi ng happened. I ' mnow sur e I di dn' t dr eami t , but t hat day I t hought i t was a
hal l uci nat i on: as I wat ched Sal on wal k away f r omt he bar , I saw hi mmeet a man at
t he cor ner , an Or i ent al .
I n any case, Sal on had sai d enough t o st ar t my i magi nat i on wor ki ng agai n. The Ol d
Man of t he Mount ai n and t he Assassi ns wer e no st r anger s t o me: I had ment i oned t hem
i n my t hesi s. The Templ ar s wer e accused of bei ng i n col l usi on wi t h t hem. How coul d
we have over l ooked t hi s?
So I began exer ci si ng my mi nd agai n, and my f i nger t i ps, goi ng t hr ough ol d car d
f i l es, and an i dea came t o me, an i dea so spect acul ar t hat I coul dn' t r est r ai n
mysel f .
The next mor ni ng I bur st i nt o Bel bo' s of f i ce. " They got i t al l wr ong. We got i t al l
wr ong. "
" Take i t easy, Casaubon. What ar e you t al ki ng about ? Oh, my God, t he Pl an. " Then he
hesi t at ed. " You pr obabl y don' t know. Ther e' s bad news about Di ot al l evi . He won' t
speak. I cal l ed t he hospi t al , but t hey r ef use t o gi ve me t he par t i cul ar s because I ' m
not a r el at i ve. The man doesn' t have any r el at i ves, so who i s t her e t o act on hi s
behal f ? I don' t l i ke t hi s r et i cence. A beni gn gr owt h, t hey say, but t he t her apy
wasn' t enough. He shoul d . go back i nt o t he hospi t al f or a mont h or so, and mi nor
sur ger y may be i ndi cat ed. . . I n ot her wor ds, t hose peopl e ar en' t t el l i ng me t he whol e
st or y, and I l i ke t hi s si t uat i on l ess and l ess. "
I di dn' t know what t o say. Embar r assed by my t r i umphal ent r y, I st ar t ed l eaf i ng
t hr ough paper s. But Bel bo coul dn' t r esi st . He was l i ke a gambl er who' s been shown a
pack of car ds. " What t he hel l , " he sai d. " Li f e goes on, unf or t unat el y. What di d you
f i nd?"
" Wel l , Hi t l er goes t o al l t hat t r oubl e wi t h t he J ews, but he accompl i shes not hi ng.
Occul t i st s t hr oughout t he wor l d, f or cent ur i es, have st udi ed Hebr ew, r ummaged i n
Hebr ew t ext s, and at most t hey can dr aw a hor oscope. Why?"
" H' m. . . . Because t he J er usal emi t es' f r agment of t he message i s st i l l hi dden
somewher e. Though t he Paul i ci ans' f r agment never t ur ned up ei t her , as f ar as we
know. . . "
" That ' s an answer wor t hy of Agl i e, not of us. I have a bet t er one. The J ews have
not hi ng t o do wi t h i t . "
" The J ews have not hi ng t o do wi t h t he Pl an. They can' t . Pi ct ur e t he si t uat i on of t he
Templ ar s, f i r st i n J er usal em, t hen i n t hei r commander i es i n Eur ope. The Fr ench
kni ght s meet t he Ger mans, t he Por t uguese, t he Spani sh, t he I t al i ans, t he Engl i sh:
t hey al l have cont act s wi t h t he Byzant i ne ar ea, and i n par t i cul ar t hey combat t he
Tur k, an adver sar y wi t h whomt hey f i ght but al so mai nt ai n a gent l emanl y
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r el at i onshi p, a r el at i onshi p of equal s. Who wer e t he J ews at t hat t i me, i n
Pal est i ne? A r el i gi ous and r aci al mi nor i t y t ol er at ed by t he condescendi ng Ar abs but
t r eat ed ver y badl y by t he Chr i st i ans. We must r emember t hat i n t he cour se of t he
var i ous Cr usades t he ghet t os wer e sacked as i mat t er of cour se and t her e wer e
massacr es al l ar ound. I s i t concei vabl e t hat t he Templ ar s, snobs t hat t hey wer e,
woul d exchange myst i cal i nf or mat i on wi t h t he J ews? Never . And i n t he Eur opean
commander i es, t he J ews wer e consi der ed usur er s, wer e despi sed, peopl e t o be
expl oi t ed, not t r ust ed. We' r e t al ki ng about an al l i ance of kni ght s, about a
spi r i t ual kni ght hood: woul d t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns al l ow second- cl ass ci t i zens t o
j oi n t hat ? Out of t he quest i on. "
" But what about al l t hat Renai ssance magi c, and t he st udy of cabal a. . . . ?"
" That was onl y nat ur al . By t hen we' r e cl ose t o t he t hi r d meet i ng; t hey' r e champi ng
at t he bi t , l ooki ng f or shor t cut s; Hebr ew i s a sacr ed and myst er i ous l anguage; t he
cabal i st s have been busy on t hei r own and t o ot her ends. The Thi r t y- si x scat t er ed
ar ound t he wor l d get t he i dea t hat a myst er i ous l anguage mi ght conceal God knows
what secr et s. I t was Pi co del l a Mi r andol a who sai d t hat nul l a nomi na, ut
si gni f i cat i va et i n quant umnomi na sunt , i n magi co oper e vi r t ut emhaber e non
possunt , ni si si nt Hebr ai ca. Pi co del l a Mi r andol a was a cr et i n. "
" Br avo! Now you' r e t al ki ng! "
" Fur t her mor e, as an I t al i an, he was excl uded f r omt he Pl an. ATi at di d he know? So
much t he wor se f or Agr i ppa, Reuchl i n, and t hei r pal s, who f el l f or t hat r ed her r i ng.
I ' mr econst r uct i ng t he st or y of a r ed her r i ng, a f al se t r ai l : i s t hat cl ear ? We l et
our sel ves be i nf l uenced by Di ot al l evi , who was al ways cabal i z- i ng. He cabal i zed, so
we put t he J ews i n t he Pl an. I f he had been a schol ar of Chi nese cul t ur e, woul d we
have put t he Chi nese i n t he Pl an?"
" Maybe we woul d have. "
" Anyway, l et ' s not r end our gar ment s; we wer e l ed ast r ay by ever yone. They al l , f r om
Post el on, pr obabl y, made t hi s mi st ake. Two hundr ed year s af t er Pr ovi ns, t hey wer e
convi nced t hat t he si xt h gr oup was t he J er usal emi t es. I t wasn' t . "
" Look, Casaubon, we wer e t he ones who r evi sed Ar dent i ' s t heor y, we wer e t he ones who
sai d t hat t he appoi nt ment at t he r ock di dn' t mean St onehenge but t he Rock i n t he
Mosque of Omar . "
" And we wer e wr ong. Ther e ar e ot her r ocks. We shoul d have t hought of a pl ace f ounded
on r ock, on a mount ai n, a st one, a spur , a cl i f f . . . The si xt h gr oup wai t s i n t he
f or t r ess of Al a- mut . "
103
And Kai r os appear ed, hol di ng i n hi s hand a scept er t hat si gni f i ed r oyal t y, and he
gave i t t o t he f i r st cr eat ed God, and he t ook i t and sai d: " Your secr et name shal l
have 36 l et t er s. "
- Hasan as- Sabbah, Sar gozasht i s- Sayyi dna
A br avur a per f or mance, but now expl anat i ons wer e i n or der . I pr ovi ded t hemi n t he
days t hat f ol l owed: l ong expl anat i ons, det ai l ed, document ed. On a t abl e at Pi l ade' s
I showed Bel bo pr oof af t er pr oof , whi ch he f ol l owed wi t h i ncr easi ngl y gl azed eyes
whi l e he chai n- smoked and ever y f i ve mi nut es hel d out hi s empt y gl ass, t he ghost of
an i ce cube at t he bot t om, and Pi l ade woul d hast en t o r ef i l l i t , wi t hout wai t i ng t o
be t ol d.
My f i r st sour ces wer e t he same ones i n whi ch t he ear l i est account s of t he Templ ar s
appear ed, f r omGer ar d of St r asbour g t o J oi nvi l l e. The Templ ar s had come i nt o
cont act - i nt o conf l i ct , somet i mes, but mor e of t en i nt o myst er i ous al l i ance- wi t h t he
Assassi ns of t he Ol d Man of t he Mount ai n.
The st or y was compl i cat ed and began af t er t he deat h of Mahomet , wi t h t he schi sm
bet ween t he f ol l ower s of t he or di nar y l aw, t he Sunni s, and t he suppor t er s of Al i ,
t he Pr ophet ' s son- i n- l aw, Fat i ma' s husband, who saw t he successi on t aken f r omhi m.
I t was t he ent husi ast s of Al i , t he gr oup of adept s cal l ed t he Shi i t es, who cr eat ed
t he her et i c br anch of I sl am, t he Shi ' ah. An occul t doct r i ne, whi ch saw t he
cont i nui t y of t he Revel at i on not i n t r adi t i onal medi t at i on upon t he wor ds of t he
Pr ophet but i n t he ver y per son of t he I mam, l or d, l eader , epi phany of t he di vi ne,
t heophani c r eal i t y, Ki ng of t he Wor l d.
Now, what happened t o t hi s her et i c I sl ami c br anch, whi ch was gr adual l y i nf i l t r at ed
by al l t he esot er i c doct r i nes of t he Medi t er r anean basi n, f r omMani cheani smt o
Page 239
gnost i ci sm, f r omNeopl a- t oni smt o I r ani an myst i ci sm, by al l t hose i mpul ses whose
shi f t s and devel opment i n t he West we had f ol l owed f or year s? I t was a l ong st or y,
i mpossi bl e t o unr avel , par t l y because t he var i ous Ar ab aut hor s and pr ot agoni st s had
ext r emel y l ong names, t he t ext s wer e t r anscr i bed wi t h a f or est of di acr i t i cal mar ks,
and as t he eveni ng wor e on we coul d no l onger di st i ngui sh bet ween Abu ' Abd Al l ah
Muhammad i bn ' AH i bn Razzamal - Ta I al - Kuf i , Abu Muhammad ' Ubayd Al l ah, and Abu
Mu' i nl ' Abd Di n Na- si r i bn Khusr aw Mar vazI Qubadi yanl . But an Ar ab, I i magi ne, woul d
have t he same di f f i cul t y wi t h Ar i st ot el es, Ar i st oxenus, Ar i st ar chus, Ar i st i des,
Ar i st agor as, Anaxi mander , Anaxi menes, Anacr eon, and Anachar si s.
But one t hi ng was cer t ai n: Shi i smi n t ur n spl i t i nt o t wo br anches, one cal l ed t he
Twel ver s, who awai t a l ost and f ut ur e i mam, and t he ot her , t he I smai l i s, bor n i n t he
r eal mof t he Fa- t i mi ds, i n Cai r o, who subsequent l y gave r i se t o r ef or med I s- mai l i sm
i n Per si a t hr ough a f asci nat i ng f i gur e, t he myst i cal and f er oci ous Hasan as- Sabbah.
Sabbat y set up hi s headquar t er s t o t he sout hwest of t he Caspi an, i n t he i mpr egnabl e
f or t r ess of Al a- mut , t he Nest of t he Rapt or .
Ther e Sabbah sur r ounded hi msel f wi t h hi s devot ees, t he f i dal yl n or f edayeen, t hose
f ai t hf ul unt o deat h; and he used t hemt o car r y out hi s pol i t i cal assassi nat i ons, t o
be i nst r ument s of t he j i had haf i , t he secr et hol y war . The f edayeen l at er gai ned an
unf or t unat e r eput at i on under t he name Assassi ns- not a l ovel y wor d now, but f or t hem
i t was spl endi d, t he embl emof a r ace of war r i or monks who gr eat l y r esembl ed t he
Templ ar s; a spi r i t ual kni ght hood.
The f or t r ess or cast l e of Al amut : t he Rock. Bui l t on an ai r y cr est f our hundr ed
met er s l ong and i n pl aces onl y a f ew met er s wi de, t hi r t y at most . Fr omt he di st ance,
' o one ar r i vi ng al ong t he Azer bai j an r oad, i t l ooked l i ke a nat ur al wal l , dazzl i ng
whi t e i n t he sun, bl ui sh i n t he pur pl e dusk, bl oody at dawn; on some days i t bl ended
wi t h t he cl ouds or f l ashed wi t h l i ght ni ng. Al ong i t s upper r i dge you coul d j ust make
out what seemed a r ow of f l i nt swor ds t hat shot upwar d f or hundr eds of met er s. The
most accessi bl e si de was a t r eacher ous sl ope of gr avel , whi ch ar cheol ogi st s even
t oday ar e unabl e t o scal e. The f or t r ess was r eached by a secr et st ai r way bi t t en out
of t he r ock, l i ke t he spi r al peel of a st one appl e, and a si ngl e ar cher coul d def end
i t . Di zzyi ng, a wor l d el sewher e. Al amut coul d be r eached onl y ast r i de eagl es.
Her e Sabbah r ul ed, and hi s successor s af t er hi m, each t o be known as t he Ol d Man of
t he Mount ai n. Fi r st of t hemwas t he sul f ur ous Si nan.
Sabbah had i nvent ed a met hod of domi ni on over hi s men, and t o hi s adver sar i es he
decl ar ed t hat i f t hey di d not submi t t o hi m, t hey woul d di e. Ther e was no escapi ng
t he Assassi ns. Ni zamal - Mul k, pr i me mi ni st er of t he sul t an when t he Cr usader s wer e
st i l l exer t i ng t hemsel ves t o conquer J er usal em, was st abbed t o deat h, as he was
bei ng car r i ed on hi s l i t t er t o t he quar t er s of hi s women. The ki l l er had appr oached
hi mdi sgui sed as a der vi sh. And t he at abeg of Hi ms, guar ded by a squad of men ar med
t o t he t eet h, as he came down f r omhi s cast l e t o go t o Fr i day pr ayer s, was sl ai n by
t he Ol d Man' s ki l l er s.
Si nan deci ded t o mur der t he Mar qui s Cor r ado di Mont ef el t r o, a Chr i st i an, and r eadi ed
t wo of hi s men, who i nt r oduced t hemsel ves among t he i nf i del s abl e t o mi mi c t hei r
cust oms and l anguage af t er much pr epar at i on. They had di sgui sed t hemsel ves as monks
and, whi l e t he bi shop of Tyr e was ent er t ai ni ng t he hapl ess mar qui s at a banquet ,
l eaped upon t he vi ct i mand st abbed hi m. One Assassi n was i mmedi at el y ki l l ed by t he
bodyguar ds; t he ot her t ook r ef uge i n a chur ch, wai t ed unt i l t he wounded man was
br ought t her e, at t acked hi magai n, f i ni shi ng hi mof f , t hen di ed bl i ssf ul l y.
Bl i ssf ul l y because, as t he Ar ab hi st or i ogr apher s of t he Sunni l i ne and t hen t he
Chr i st i an chr oni cl er s f r omOder i c of Por denone t o Mar co Pol o wr ot e, t he Ol d Man had
di scover ed a way t o make hi s kni ght s f ai t hf ul even t o t he supr eme sacr i f i ce, t o make
t hemi nvi nci bl e, hor r i bl e war machi nes. He t ook t hemas yout hs, asl eep, t o t he
summi t of t he mount ai n, wher e he st upef i ed t hemwi t h pl easur eswi ne, women, f l ower s,
del ect abl e banquet s, and hashi sh- whi ch gave t he sect i t s name. When t hey coul d no
l onger do wi t hout t he per ver se del i ght s of t hat i nvent ed par adi se, he dr agged t hem
out of t hei r sl eep and set bef or e t hema choi ce: Go, ki l l , and i f you succeed, t hi s
par adi se you l eave wi l l agai n be your s, and f or ever ; but i f you f ai l , you wi l l
pl unge back i nt o t he Gehenna of t he ever yday.
Dazed by t he dr ug, hel pl ess bef or e hi s demands, t hey sacr i f i ced t hemsel ves i n
sacr i f i ci ng ot her s; t hey wer e ki l l er s dest i ned t o be ki l l ed, vi ct i ms condemned t o
make vi ct i ms.
How t hey wer e f ear ed! What t al es t he Cr usader s t ol d about t hemon moonl ess ni ght s as
t he si moomhowl ed over t he deser t ! How t he Templ ar s admi r ed, envi ed t hose spl endi d
Page 240
ani mal s; how awed t hey wer e by t he cl ear wi l l t o mar t yr dom! The Templ ar s agr eed t o
pay t hei r t ol l s, aski ng, i n exchange, f or mal t r i but es, i n a game of r eci pr ocal
concessi ons, compl i ci t y, br ot her hood of ar ms, di sembowel i ng one anot her i n t he open
f i el d but embr aci ng one anot her i n secr et , exchangi ng mur mur ed wor ds of myst i cal
vi si ons, magi c f or mul as, al chemi c subt l et i es. . .
Fr omt he Assassi ns, t he Templ ar s l ear ned occul t r i t es. I t was cowar di ce and
i gnor ance t hat kept Ki ng Phi l i p' s i nqui si t or s f r omseei ng t hat t he spi t t i ng on t he
cr oss, t he ki ss on t he anus, t he bl ack cat , and t he wor shi p of Baphomet wer e si mpl y
a r epet i t i on of ot her cer emoni es, cer emoni es per f or med under t he i nf l uence of t he
f i r st secr et t he Templ ar s l ear ned i n t he Or i ent : t he use of hashi sh.
So i t was obvi ous t hat t he Pl an was bor n- had t o be bor n- t her e. Fr omt he men of
Al amut , t he Templ ar s l ear ned of t he subt er r anean cur r ent s. They met t he men of
Al amut i n Pr ovi ns and est abl i shed t he secr et pl ot of t he Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es, and
t hat i s why Chr i st i an Rosencr eut z j our neyed t o Fez and ot her pl aces i n t he Or i ent ,
and t hat i s why i t was t o t he Or i ent t hat Post el t ur ned, and why i t was f r omEgypt ,
home of t he Fat i mi d I smai l i s, t hat t he mages of t he Renai ssance i mpor t ed t he
eponymous di vi ni t y of t he Pl an, Her mes, Her mes- Teut h or Tot h, and why Egypt i an
f i gur es wer e used by t he mount ebank Cagl i ost r o f or hi s r i t ual s. And t he J esui t s,
l ess nar r ow t han we had t hought , wi t h t he good Fat her Ki r cher , l ost no t i me i n
t hr owi ng t hemsel ves i nt o hi er ogl yphi cs, Copt i c, and t he ot her Or i ent al l anguages,
and Hebr ew was onl y a cover , a nod t o t he f ashi on of t he per i od.
104
These t ext s ar e not addr essed t o common mor t al s. . . Gnost i c per cept i on i s a pat h
r eser ved f or an el i t e. . . For , i n t he wor ds of t he Bi bl e: Do not cast your pear l s
bef or e swi ne.
- Kamal J umbl at t , I nt er vi ew i n Le J our , Mar ch 31, 1967
Ar cana publ i cat a vi l escunt : et gr at i ampr ophanat a ami t t unt . Er go: ne mar gar i t as
obi j ce por ci s, seu asi no subst er ne r osas.
St r assbur g, Zet zner , 1616, f r ont i spi ece
For t hat mat t er , wher e el se coul d you f i nd someone abl e t o wai t on t he r ock f or si x
cent ur i es, someone who had act ual l y wai t ed on t he r ock? Tr ue, Al amut event ual l y
f el l , under t he pr essur e of t he Mongol s, but t he I smai l i sect sur vi ved t hr oughout
t he East : i t mi ngl ed wi t h non- Shi i t e Suf i sm, i t gener at ed t he t er r i bl e sect of t he
Dr uzes, and i t sur vi ved f i nal l y among t he I ndi an Khoj as, t he f ol l ower s of t he Aga
Khan, not f ar f r omt he si t e of Agar t t ha.
But I had di scover ed mor e. Under t he Fat i mi d dynast y, t hr ough t he Academy of
Hel i opol i s, t he her met i c not i ons of t he anci ent Egypt i ans wer e r edi scover ed i n
Cai r o, and a house of sci ences was est abl i shed t her e. House of sci ences! Was i t f r om
t hi s t hat Bacon dr ew t he i nspi r at i on f or hi s House of Sol omon, whi ch i n t ur n was t he
model f or t he Conser vat oi r e?
" That ' s i t , t hat ' s i t , t her e' s no doubt about i t , " Bel bo sai d, i nt oxi cat ed. " But now
how do t he cabal i st s f i t i n?"
" That ' s onl y a par al l el st or y. The r abbi s of J er usal emsense t hat somet hi ng happened
bet ween t he Templ ar s and t he Assassi ns, and t he r abbi s of Spai n, snoopi ng ar ound
under t he pr et ense of l endi ng money at i nt er est t o t he Eur opean commander i es, get a
whi f f of somet hi ng. They have been excl uded and, spur r ed by nat i onal pr i de, t hey
deci de t o f i gur e i t out on t hei r own. What ?! We, t he Chosen Peopl e, ar e kept i n t he
dar k about t he Secr et of Secr et s? And, bang, t he cabal i st i c t r adi t i on begi ns: a
her oi c at t empt of t he di sper sed, t he out si der s, t o show up t he mast er s, t he ones i n
power , by cl ai mi ng t o know al l . "
" But , doi ng t hat , t hey gi ve t he Chr i st i ans t he i mpr essi on t hat t hey r eal l y do know
al l . "
" And at a cer t ai n poi nt somebody makes t he supr eme goof , conf usi ng I smai l wi t h
I sr ael . "
" For God' s sake, don' t t el l me t hat Bar r uel and t he Pr ot ocol s and al l t he r est wer e
si mpl y t he r esul t of a mi sspel l i ng. Casau- bon, we' r e r educi ng a t r agi c chapt er i n
hi st or y t o a mi st ake of Pi co del l a Mi r andol a. "
" No, maybe t her e' s anot her r eason. The Chosen Peopl e had t aken on t he dut y of
Page 241
i nt er pr et i ng t he Book. Peopl e ar e af r ai d of t hose who make t heml ook squar el y at t he
Law. But t he Assassi ns? Why di dn' t t hey t ur n up sooner ?"
" Bel bo! Thi nk what a depr essed ar ea t hat was af t er t he bat t l e of Lepant o.
Sebot t endor f knows t hat t her e i s somet hi ng t o be l ear ned f r omt he Tur k der vi shes,
but Al amut i s no mor e; t hose Tur ks ar e hol ed up God knows wher e. They wai t . And
f i nal l y t hei r moment comes; on t he t i de of I sl ami c i r r edent i smt hey st i ck t hei r
heads out agai n. Put t i ng Hi t l er i n t he Pl an, we f ound a good r eason f or t he Second
Wor l d War . Now, put t i ng i n t he Assassi ns of Al amut , we expl ai n what has been
happeni ng f or year s i n t he Per si an Gul f . And t hi s i s wher e we f i nd a pl ace f or our
Tr es, Templ i Resur gent es Equi t es Synar chi ci . A soci et y whose ai mi s t o heal t he
r i f t , at l ast , bet ween t he spi r i t ual kni ght hoods of di f f er ent f ai t hs. "
" Or el se t o st i mul at e conf l i ct and t ake advant age of t he conf usi on. Once agai n we' ve
done our j ob and set Hi st or y st r ai ght . Can i t be t hat at t he supr eme moment t he
Pendul umwi l l r eveal t hat t he Umbi l i cus Mundi i s at Al amut ?"
" Let ' s not go t oo f ar . I ' d l eave t hat l ast poi nt hangi ng. "
" Li ke t he Pendul um. "
" I f you l i ke. We can' t j ust say what ever ent er s our heads. "
" No, no. St r i ct schol ar shi p, above al l . "
That eveni ng I congr at ul at ed mysel f on havi ng i nvent ed a gr eat t al e. I was an
aest het e who used t he f l esh and bl ood of t he wor l d t o make Beaut y. But Bel bo by now
was an adept , and, l i ke ot her adept s, not t hr ough enl i ght enment , but f aut e de mi eux.
105
Cl audi cat i ngeni um, del i r at l i ngua, l abat mens.
- Lucr et i us, De Rer umNat ur a, i i i , 453
I t must have been about t hen t hat Bel bo t r i ed t o t ake st ock of what was happeni ng t o
hi m. But t he most sever e sel f - anal ysi s coul d not f r ee hi mnow f r omt he si ckness t o
whi ch he had gr own accust omed.
FI LENAME: And what i f i t ' s t r ue?
To i nvent a Pl an. The Pl an j ust i f i es you t o such a degr ee t hat you can no l onger be
hel d account abl e, not even f or t he Pl an i t sel f . J ust t hr ow t he st one and hi de your
hand. I f t her e r eal l y wer e a Pl an, t her e woul d be no f ai l ur e.
You never had Ceci l i a because t he Ar chons made Anni bal e Cant a- l amessa and Pi o Bo
unski l l ed even wi t h t he f r i endl i est of t he br ass i nst r ument s. You f l ed t he Canal
gang because t he Decans want ed t o spar e you f or anot her hol ocaust . And t he man wi t h
t he scar has a t al i sman mor e power f ul t han your s.
A Pl an, a gui l t y par t y. The dr eamof our speci es. An Deus si t . I f He exi st s, i t ' s
Hi s f aul t .
The t hi ng whose addr ess I l ost i s not t he End, i t ' s t he Begi nni ng.
Not t he obj ect t o be possessed but t he subj ect t hat possesses me. Mi ser y l oves
company. Mi ser y, company, t oo many dact yl s.
Not hi ng can di spel f r ommy mi nd t he most r eassur i ng t hought t hat t hi s wor l d i s t he
cr eat i on of a shadowy god whose shadow I pr ol ong. Fai t h l eads t o Absol ut e Opt i mi sm.
I have commi t t ed f or ni cat i on, t r ue ( or not t r ue) , but God i s t he one unabl e t o sol ve
t he pr obl emof Evi l . Come, l et us pound t he f et us i n t he mor t ar wi t h honey and
pepper . Di eu l e veul t .
I f bel i ef i s absol ut el y necessar y, l et i t be i n a r el i gi on t hat doesn' t make you
f eel gui l t y. A r el i gi on out of j oi nt , f umi ng, subt er r anean, wi t hout an end. Li ke a
novel , not l i ke a t heol ogy.
Fi ve pat hs t o a si ngl e dest i nat i on. What a wast e. Bet t er a l abyr i nt h t hat l eads
ever ywher e and nowher e. To di e wi t h st yl e, l i ve i n t he Bar oque.
Onl y a bad Demi ur ge makes us f eel good.
But i f t her e i s no cosmi c Pl an? What a mocker y, t o l i ve i n exi l e when no one sent
you t her e. Exi l e f r oma pl ace, mor eover , t hat does not exi st .
And what i f t her e i s a Pl an, but i t has el uded you- and wi l l el ude you f or al l
et er ni t y?
When r el i gi on f ai l s, ar t pr ovi des. You i nvent t he Pl an, met aphor of t he Unknowabl e
One. Even a human pl ot can f i l l t he voi d. They di dn' t publ i sh my Hear t s i n Exst asy
because I don' t bel ong t o t he Templ ar cl i que.
Page 242
To l i ve as i f t her e wer e a Pl an: t he phi l osopher ' s st one.
I f you can' t beat t hem, j oi n t hem. I f t her e' s a Pl an, adj ust t o i t .
Lor enza put s me t o t he t est . Humi l i t y. I f I had t he humi l i t y t o appeal t o t he
Angel s, even wi t hout bel i evi ng i n t hem, and t o dr aw t he r i ght ci r cl e, I woul d have
peace. Maybe.
Bel i eve t her e i s a secr et and you wi l l f eel l i ke an i ni t i at e. I t cost s not hi ng.
To cr eat e an i mmense hope t hat can never be upr oot ed, because i t has no r oot .
Ancest or s who do not exi st wi l l never appear and say t hat you have bet r ayed. A
r el i gi on you can keep whi l e bet r ayi ng i t i nf i ni t el y.
Li ke Andr eae: t o cr eat e, i n j est , t he gr eat est r evel at i on of hi st or y and, whi l e
ot her s ar e dest r oyed by i t , swear f or t he r est of your l i f e t hat you had not hi ng t o
do wi t h i t .
To cr eat e a t r ut h wi t h a hazy out l i ne: when somebody t r i es t o cl ar i f y i t , you
excommuni cat e hi m. Accept onl y t hose hazi er t han your sel f . J amai s d' ennemi s a
dr oi t e.
Why wr i t e novel s? Rewr i t e hi st or y. The hi st or y t hat t hen comes t r ue.
Why not set i t i n Denmar k, Mr . Wi l l i amS. ? Seven Seas J i mJ ohann Val ent i n Andr eae
Luke- Mat t hew r oams t he ar chi pel ago of t he Sunda bet ween Pat mos and Aval on, f r omt he
Whi t e Mount ai n t o Mi ndanao, f r omAt l ant i s t o Thessal oni ca t o t he Counci l of Ni caea.
Or i gen cut s of f hi s t est i cl es and shows t hem, bl eedi ng, t o t he f at her s of t he Ci t y
of t he Sun, and Hi r amsneer s f i l i oque f i l i oque whi l e Const ant i ne di gs hi s gr eedy
nai l s i nt o t he hol l ow eye socket s of Rober t Fl udd, deat h deat h t o t he J ews of t he
ghet t o of Ant i och, Di eu et mon dr oi t , wave t he Beauceant , l ay on, down wi t h t he
Ophi t es and t he Bor bor i t es, t he snakes. Tr umpet s bl ar e, and her e come t he Cheval i er s
Bei nf ai sant s de l a Ci t e" Sai nt e wi t h t he Moor ' s head br i st l i ng on t hei r pi ke. The
Rebi s, t he Rebi s! Magnet i c hur r i cane, t he Tower col l apses, Rachkovsky gr i ns over t he
r oast ed cor pse of J acques de Mol ay.
* * *
I di d not possess you, but I can bl ow up hi st or y.
* * *
I f t he pr obl emi s t hi s absence of bei ng and i f what i s i s what i s sai d, t hen t he
mor e we t al k, t he mor e bei ng t her e i s.
The dr eamof sci ence i s t hat t her e be l i t t l e bei ng, t hat i t be concent r at ed and
sayabl e, E = mc2. Wr ong. To be saved at t he ver y begi nni ng, f or al l et er ni t y, i t i s
necessar y f or t hat bei ng t o be t angl ed. Li ke a ser pent t i ed i nt o knot s by a dr unken
sai l or : i mpossi bl e t o unt i e.
* * *
I nvent , i nvent wi l dl y, payi ng no at t ent i on t o connect i ons, t i l l i t becomes
i mpossi bl e t o summar i ze. A si mpl e r el ay r ace among symbol s, one says t he name of t he
next , wi t hout r est . To di smant l e t he wor l d i nt o a sar aband of anagr ams, endl ess. And
t hen bel i eve i n what cannot be expr essed. I s t hi s not t he t r ue r eadi ng of t he Tor ah?
Tr ut h i s t he anagr amof an anagr am. Anagr ams = ar s magna.
* * *
That must have been how i t happened. Bel bo deci ded t o t ake t he uni ver se of t he
Di abol i cal s ser i ousl y, not because of an abundance of f ai t h, but because of a t ot al
l ack of i t .
Humi l i at ed by hi s i ncapaci t y t o cr eat e ( and al l hi s l i f e he had di ned out on hi s
f r ust r at ed desi r es and hi s unwr i t t en pages, t he f or mer a met aphor of t he l at t er and
vi ce ver sa, al l f ul l of hi s al l eged, i mpal pabl e cowar di ce) , he came t o r eal i ze t hat
by i nvent i ng t he Pl an he had act ual l y cr eat ed. He f el l i n l ove wi t h hi s gol em, f ound
i t a sour ce of consol at i on. Li f e- hi s l i f e, manki nd' s- as ar t , and ar t as f al sehood.
Le monde est f ai t pour about i r a un l i vr e ( f aux) . But now he want ed t o bel i eve i n
t hi s f al se book, because, as he had al so wr i t t en, i f t her e was a Pl an, t hen he woul d
no l onger be def eat ed, di f f i dent , a cowar d.
Page 243
And t hi s i s what f i nal l y happened: he used t he Pl an, whi ch he knew was unr eal , t o
def eat a r i val he bel i eved r eal . And t hen, awar e t hat t he Pl an was mast er i ng hi mas
i f i t exi st ed, or as i f he, Bel bo, and t he Pl an wer e made of t he same st uf f , he went
t o Par i s, t owar d a r evel at i on, a l i ber at i on.
Tor ment ed by t he dai l y r emor se t hat f or year s and year s he had l i ved onl y wi t h
ghost s of hi s own maki ng, he was now f i ndi ng sol ace i n ghost s t hat wer e becomi ng
obj ect i ve, si nce t hey wer e known al so t o ot her s, even t hough he was t he Enemy.
Shoul d he f l i ng hi msel f i nt o t he l i on' s maw? Yes, because t he l i on t aki ng shape was
mor e r eal t han Seven Seas J i m, mor e r eal t han Ceci l i a, mor e r eal per haps t han
Lor enza Pel l egr i ni her sel f .
Bel bo, si ck f r omso many mi ssed appoi nt ment s, now f el t abl e t o make a r eal
appoi nt ment . An appoi nt ment he coul d not evade f r omcowar di ce, because now hi s back
was t o t he wal l . Fear f or ced hi mt o be br ave. I nvent i ng, he had cr eat ed t he
pr i nci pl e of r eal i t y.
106
Li st No. 5
6 under shi r t s
6 shor t s
6 handker chi ef s
has al ways puzzl ed schol ar s, pr i nci pal l y because of t he t ot al absence of socks.
- Woody Al i en, " The Met t er l i ng Li st , " Get t i ng Even, New Yor k, RandomHouse, 1966, p.
8
I t was dur i ng t hose days, no mor e t han a mont h ago, t hat Li a deci ded a vacat i on
woul d do me good. " You l ook t i r ed, " she sai d. Maybe t he Pl an had wor n me out . For
t hat mat t er , t he baby, as i t s gr andpar ent s sai d, needed cl ean ai r . Some f r i ends l ent
us a house i n t he mount ai ns.
We di dn' t l eave at once. Ther e wer e t hi ngs t o at t end t o i n Mi l an, and Li a sai d t hat
not hi ng was mor e r est f ul t han t aki ng a l i t t l e vacat i on i n t he ci t y when you knew
you' d soon be goi ng of f on your r eal vacat i on.
Now, f or t he f i r st t i me, I t al ked t o Li a about t he Pl an. Unt i l t hen she had been t oo
busy wi t h t he baby. She knew vaguel y t hat Bel bo, Di ot al l evi , and I wer e wor ki ng on
some puzzl e, and t hat i t occupi ed whol e days and ni ght s, but I hadn' t sai d anyt hi ng
t o her about i t , not si nce t he day she pr eached me t hat ser mon about t he psychosi s
of r esembl ances. Maybe I was ashamed.
I descr i bed t he whol e Pl an t o her , down t o t he smal l est det ai l s, and t ol d her about
Di ot al l evi ' s i l l ness, f eel i ng gui l t y, as i f I had done somet hi ng wr ong. I t r i ed t o
pr esent t he Pl an f or what i t was: a di spl ay of br avur a.
Li a sai d: " Pow, I don' t l i ke your st or y. "
" I t i sn' t beaut i f ul ?"
" The si r ens wer e beaut i f ul , t oo. Li st en, what do you know about your unconsci ous?' '
" Not hi ng. I ' mnot even sur e I have one. "
" Ther e. I magi ne t hat a Vi ennese pr ankst er , t o amuse hi s f r i ends, i nvent ed t he whol e
busi ness of t he i d and Oedi pus, and made up dr eams he had never dr eamed and l i t t l e
Hanses he had never met . . . And what happened? Mi l l i ons of peopl e wer e out t her e, al l
r eady and wai t i ng t o become neur ot i c i n ear nest . And t housands mor e r eady t o make
money t r eat i ng t hem. "
" Li a, you' r e par anoi d. "
" Me? You! "
" Maybe we' r e bot h par anoi d, but you have t o gr ant me t hi s: we st ar t ed wi t h t he
I ngol f document . I t ' s nat ur al , when one comes acr oss a message of t he Templ ar s, t o
want t o deci pher i t . Maybe we exagger at ed a l i t t l e, t o make f un of t he deci pher er s
of messages, but t her e was a message t o begi n wi t h. "
" Al l you know i s what t hat Ar dent i t ol d you, and f r omyour own descr i pt i on he' s an
out - and- out f r aud. Anyway, I ' d l i ke t o see t hi s message f or mysel f . ' '
Not hi ng easi er ; I had i t i n my f i l es.
Li a t ook t he paper , l ooked at i t f r ont and back, wr i nkl ed her nose, br ushed t he hai r
f r omher eyes t o see t he f i r st , t he coded, par t bet t er . She sai d: " I s t hat al l ?"
" I sn' t i t enough f or you?"
" Mor e t han enough. Gi ve me t wo days t o t hi nk about i t . " When Li a asks f or t wo days
t o t hi nk about somet hi ng, she' s det er mi ned t o show me I ' mst upi d. I al ways accuse
Page 244
her of t hi s, and she answer s: " I f I know you' r e st upi d, t hat means I l ove you even
i f you' r e st upi d. You shoul d f eel r eassur ed. "
For t wo days we di dn' t ment i on t he subj ect agai n. Anyway, she was al most al ways out
of t he house. I n t he eveni ng I wat ched her huddl ed i n a cor ner , maki ng not es,
t ear i ng up one sheet of paper af t er anot her .
When we got t o t he mount ai ns, t he baby scr at ched ar ound al l day i n t he gr ass, Li a
f i xed supper , and or der ed me t o eat , because I was t hi n as a r ai l . Af t er supper , she
asked me t o f i x her a doubl e whi skey wi t h l ot s of i ce and onl y a spl ash of soda. She
l i t a ci gar et t e, whi ch she does onl y at i mpor t ant moment s, t ol d me t o si t down, and
t hen expl ai ned.
" Li st en car ef ul l y, Pow, because I ' mgoi ng t o demonst r at e t oyou t hat t he si mpl est
expl anat i on i s al ways t he best . Col onel Ar dent i t ol d you I ngol f f ound a message i n
Pr ovi ns. I don' t doubt t hat at al l . Yes, I ngol f went down i nt o t he wel l and r eal l y
di d f i nd a case wi t h t hi s t ext i n i t , " and she t apped t he Fr ench l i nes wi t h her
f i nger . " We ar e not t ol d t hat he f ound a case st udded wi t h di amonds. Al l t he col onel
sai d was t hat accor di ng t o I ngol f ' s not es t he case was sol d. And why not ? I t was an
ant i que; he may have made a l i t t l e cash, but we ar e not t ol d t hat he l i ved of f t he
pr oceeds f or t he r est of hi s l i f e. He must have had a smal l i nher i t ance f r omhi s
f at her . "
" And why shoul d t he case be or di nar y?"
" Because t he message i s or di nar y. I t ' s a l aundr y l i st . Come on, l et ' s r ead i t
agai n. "
a l a. . . Sai nt J ean
6" . . . ent i er s avec sai el
p. . . l es bl ancs mant i ax
r . . . s. . . cheval i er s de Pr ui ns pour l a. . . j . nc
6f oi z 6 en 6 pl aces
chascune f oi z 20 a. . . 120 a. . .
al donj on l i pr emi er s
i t l i secunz j ost e i ceus qui . . . pans
i t al r ef uge
i t a Nost r e Dame d I ' al t r e par t d I ' i au
i t a l a pi er r e
3 f oi z 6 avant l a f est e. . . l a Gr ant Put e.
" A l aundr y l i st ?"
" For God' s sake, di dn' t i t ever occur t o you t o consul t a t our i st gui de, a br i ef
hi st or y of Pr ovi ns? You di scover i mmedi at el y t hat t he Gr ange- aux- Di mes, wher e t he
message was f ound, was a gat her i ng pl ace f or mer chant s. Pr ovi ns was a cent er f or
f ai r s i n Champagne. And t he Gr ange i s on r ue St . - J ean. I n Pr ovi ns t hey bought and
sol d ever yt hi ng, but l engt hs of cl ot h wer e par t i cul ar l y popul ar , dr aps- or dr as, as
t hey wr ot e i t t hen- and ever y l engt h was mar ked by a guar ant ee, a ki nd of seal . The
second most i mpor t ant pr oduct of Pr ovi ns was r oses, r ed r oses t hat t he Cr usader s had
br ought f r omSyr i a. They wer e so f amous t hat when Edmund of Lancast er mar r i ed
Bl anche d' Ar t oi s and t ook t he t i t l e Comt e de Champagne, he added t he r ed r ose of
Pr ovi ns t o hi s coat of ar ms. Hence, t oo, t he war of t he r oses, because t he House of
Yor k had a whi t e r ose as i t s symbol . "
" Who t ol d you al l t hi s?"
" A l i t t l e book of t wo hundr ed pages publ i shed by t he Tour i st Bur eau of Pr ovi ns. I
f ound i t at t he Fr ench Cent er . But t hat ' s not al l . I n Pr ovi ns t her e' s a f or t known
as t he Donj on, whi ch speaks f or i t sel f , and t her e i s a Por t e- aux- Pai ns, an Egl i se du
Ref uge, var i ous chur ches dedi cat ed t o Our Lady of t hi s and t hat , a r ue de l a
Pi er r e- Ronde, wher e t her e was a pi er r e de cens, a st one on whi ch t he count ' s
subj ect s set t he coi ns of t hei r t i t hes. And t hen a r ue des Bl ancs- Mant eaux and a
st r eet cal l ed de l a Gr and- Put e- Muce, f or r easons not har d t o guess. I t was a st r eet
of br ot hel s. "
" And what about t he popel i cans?"
" I n Pr ovi ns t her e had been some Cat har s, who l at er wer e dul y bur ned, and t he gr and
i nqui si t or hi msel f was a conver t ed Cat har , Rober t l e Bougr e. So i t i s har dl y st r ange
Page 245
t hat a st r eet or an ar ea shoul d be cal l ed t he pl ace of t he Cat har s even i f t he
Cat har s wer en' t t her e anymor e. "
" St i l l , i n 1344. . . "
" But who sai d t hi s document dat es f r om1344? Your col onel r ead ' 36 year s af t er t he
hay wai n, ' but i n t hose days a p made i n a cer t ai n way, wi t h a t ai l , meant post , but
a p wi t hout t he t ai l meant pr o. The aut hor of t hi s t ext i s an or di nar y mer chant who
made some not es on busi ness t r ansact ed at t he Gr ange, or , r at her , on t he r ue
St . - J ean- not on t he ni ght of Sai nt J ean- and he r ecor ded a pr i ce of t hi r t y- si x sous,
or cr owns, or what ever denomi nat i on i t was f or one or each wagon of hay. ' '
" And t he hundr ed and t went y year s?"
" Who sai d anyt hi ng about year s? I ngol f f ound somet hi ng he t r anscr i bed as ' 120
a' . . . What i s an ' a' ? I checked a l i st of t he abbr evi at i ons used i n t hose days and
f ound t hat f or deni er or di nar i umodd si gns wer e used; one l ooks l i ke a del t a,
anot her l ooks l i ke a t het a, a ci r cl e br oken on t he l ef t . I f you wr i t e i t car el essl y
and i n hast e, as a busy mer chant mi ght , a f anat i c l i ke Col onel Ar dent i coul d t ake i t
f or an a, havi ng al r eady r ead somewher e t he st or y of t he one hundr ed and t went y
year s. You know wher e bet t er t han I . He coul d have r ead i t i n any hi st or y of t he
Rosi cr uci ans. The poi nt i s, he want ed t o f i nd somet hi ng r esembl i ng ' post 120 annos
pat ebo. ' And t hen what does he do? He f i nds ' i t ' r epeat ed sever al t i mes and he r eads
i t as i t er um. But t he abbr evi at i on f or i t er umwas i t m, wher eas ' i t ' means i t em,
whi ch means l i kewi se, and i s i n f act used f or r epet i t i ous l i st s. Our mer chant i s
cal cul at i ng how much he' s goi ng t o make on t he or der s he' s r ecei ved, and he' s
l i st i ng t he del i ver i es he has t o make. He has t o del i ver some bouquet s of r oses of
Pr ovi ns, and t hat ' s t he meani ng of ' r . . . s. . . cheval i er s de Pr ui ns. ' And wher e t he
col onel r ead ' vai nj ance' ( because he had t he kadosch kni ght s on hi s mi nd) , you
shoul d r ead ' j onchee. ' The r oses wer e used t o make ei t her hat s or f l or al car pet s on
f east days. So her e i s how your Pr ovi ns message shoul d r ead:
" I n Rue Sai nt J ean:
36 sous f or wagons of hay.
Si x new l engt hs of cl ot h wi t h seal
t o r ue des Bl ancs- Mant eaux.
Cr usader s' r oses t o make a j onchee:
si x bunches of si x i n t he si x f ol l owi ng pl aces,
each 20 deni er s, maki ng 120 deni er s i n al l .
Her e i s t he or der :
t he f i r st t o t he For t
i t emt he second t o t hose i n Por t e- aux- Pai ns
i t emt o t he Chur ch of t he Ref uge
i t emt o t he Chur ch of Not r e Dame, acr oss t he r i ver
i t emt o t he ol d bui l di ng of t he Cat har s
i t emt o r ue de l a Pi er r e- Ronde.
And t hr ee bunches of si x bef or e t he f east , i n t he whor es' st r eet .
" Because t hey, t oo, poor t hi ngs, maybe want ed t o cel ebr at e t he f east day by maki ng
t hemsel ves ni ce l i t t l e hat s of r oses. " " My God, " I sai d. " I t hi nk you' r e r i ght . " " Of
cour se I ' mr i ght . I t ' s a l aundr y l i st , I t el l you. " , " Wai t a mi nut e. Thi s may ver y
wel l be a l aundr y l i st , but t he f i r st message r eal l y i s i n code, and i t t al ks about
t hi r t y- si x i nvi si bl es. "
" Tr ue. The Fr ench t ext I pol i shed of f i n an hour , but t he ot her one kept me busy f or
t wo days. I had t o exami ne Tr i t hemi us, at bot h t he Ambr osi ana and t he Tr i vul zi ana,
and you know what t he l i br ar i ans t her e ar e l i ke: bef or e t hey l et you put your hands
on an ol d book, t hey l ook at you as i f you wer e pl anni ng t o eat i t . But t he f i r st
message, t oo, i s a si mpl e mat t er . You shoul d have di scover ed t hi s your sel f . To begi n
wi t h, ar e you sur e t hat ' Les 36 i nui si bl es separ ez en si x bandes' i s i n t he same
Fr ench as our mer chant ' s? Yes; t hi s expr essi on was used i n a sevent eent h- cent ur y
pamphl et , when t he Rosi cr uci ans appear ed i n Par i s. But t hen you r easoned t he way
your Di abol i cal s do: I f t he message i s encoded accor di ng t o t he met hod of
Tr i t hemi us, i t means t hat Tr i t hemi us copi ed f r omt he Templ ar s, and si nce i t quot es a
sent ence t hat was cur r ent i n Rosi cr uci an ci r cl es, i t means t hat t he pl an at t r i but ed
t o t he Rosi cr uci ans was none ot her t han t he pl an of t he Templ ar s. Tr y r ever si ng t he
ar gument , as any sensi bl e per son woul d: Si nce t he message i s wr i t t en i n
Tr i - t hemi us' s code, i t was wr i t t en af t er Tr i t hemi us, and si nce i t quot es an
expr essi on t hat ci r cul at ed among t he sevent eent h- cent ur y Rosi cr uci ans, i t was
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wr i t t en af t er t he sevent eent h cent ur y. So, at t hi s poi nt , what i s t he si mpl est
hypot hesi s? I ngol f f i nds t he Pr ovi ns message. Si nce, l i ke t he col onel , he' s an
ent husi ast of her met i c messages, he sees t hi r t y- si x and one hundr ed and t went y and
t hi nks i mmedi at el y of t he Rosi cr uci ans. I And si nce he' s al so an ent husi ast of
cr ypt ogr aphy, he amuses ! hi msel f by put t i ng t he Pr ovi ns message i nt o code, as
an exer ci se, i So he t r ansl at es hi s f i ne Rosi cr uci an sent ence usi ng a
Tr i t hemi us cr ypt osyst em. "
" An i ngeni ous expl anat i on. But i t ' s no mor e val i d t han t he col onel ' s. "
" So f ar , no. But suppose you make one conj ect ur e, t hen a second and a t hi r d, and
t hey al l suppor t one anot her . Al r eady you' r e mor e conf i dent t hat you' r e on t he r i ght
t r ack, ar en' t you? I began wi t h t he suspi ci on t hat t he wor ds used by I ngol f wer e not
t he ones t aken f r omTr i t hemi us. They' r e i n t he same cabal i st i c Assyr o- Babyl oni an
st yl e, but t hey' r e not t he same. Yet , i f I ngol f had want ed wor ds begi nni ng wi t h t he
l et t er s t hat i nt er est ed hi m, i n Tr i t hemi us he coul d have f ound as many as he l i ked.
Why di dn' t he use t hose wor ds?" " Wel l , why di dn' t he?"
" Maybe he needed speci f i c l et t er s al so i n t he second, t hi r d, and f our t h posi t i ons.
Maybe our i ngeni ous I ngol f want ed a mul t i coded message; maybe he want ed t o be
smar t er t han Tr i t hemi us. Tr i t hemi us suggest s f or t y maj or cr ypt osyst ems: i n one, onl y
t he i ni t i al l et t er s count ; i n anot her , t he f i r st and t hi r d l et t er s; i n anot her ,
ever y ot her i ni t i al l et t er , and so on, unt i l , wi t h a l i t t l e I ef f or t , you can i nvent
a hundr ed mor e syst ems on your own. As I f or t he t en mi nor cr y pt osy st ems, t he
col onel consi der ed onl y t he f i r st wheel , whi ch i s t he easi est . But t he f ol l owi ng
ones wor k on t he pr i nci pl e of t he second wheel . Her e' s a copy of i t f or you. I magi ne
t hat t he i nner ci r cl e i s mobi l e and you can t ur n i t so t hat t he l et t er A coi nci des
wi t h any l et t er of t he out er ci r cl e. You wi l l have one syst emwher e A i s wr i t t en as
X, anot her wher e A i s U, and so on. . . Wi t h t went y- t wo l et t er s on each ci r cl e, you
can pr oduce not t en but t went y- one cr ypt osyst ems. The t went y- second i s no good,
because t her e A i s A. . . "
" Don' t t el l me t hat f or each l et t er of each wor d you t r i ed al l t went y- one
syst ems. . . . "
" I had br ai ns on my si de, and l uck. Si nce t he shor t est wor ds have si x l et t er s, i t ' s
obvi ous t hat onl y t he f i r st si x ar e i mpor t ant and t he r est ar e j ust f or l ooks. Why
si x l et t er s? Suppose I ngol f coded t he f i r st l et t er , t hen ski pped one, t hen coded t he
t hi r d, t hen ski pped t wo and coded t he si xt h. For t he f i r st l et t er I used wheel
number 1, f or t he t hi r d l et t er I used wheel number 2, and got a sent ence. Then I
t r i ed wheel number 3 f or t he si xt h l et t er , and got a sent ence agai n. I ' mnot sayi ng
I ngol f di dn' t use ot her l et t er s, t oo, but t hr ee posi t i ve r esul t s ar e enough f or me.
I f you want t o, you can t ake i t f ur t her . "
" Don' t keep me i n suspense. What came out ?"
" Look at t he message agai n. I ' ve under l i ned t he l et t er s t hat count .
Kuabr i s Def r abax Rexul on Ukkazaal Ukzaab Ur paef el Tacul bai n Habr ak Hacor ui n Maquaf el
Tebr ai n Hmcat ui n Rokcasor Hi mesor Ar gaabi l Kaquaan Docr abax Rei saz Rei sabr ax
Decaquan Oi quaqun Zai t abor Qaxaop Dugr aq Xael obr an Di saeda Magi suan Rai t ak Hui dal
Uscol da Ar abaomZi pr eus Mecr i mCosmae Duqui f as Rocar bi s.
" Now, we know what t he f i r st message i s: i t ' s t he one about t he t hi r t y- si x
i nvi si bl es. Now l i st en t o what comes out i f you subst i t ut e t he t hi r d l et t er s, usi ng
t he second wheel : chambr e des demoi sel l es, 1' ai gui l l e cr euse. "
" But I know t hat , i t ' s- "
" ' En aval d' Et r et at - La Chambr e des Demoi sel l es- Sous l e For t du Fr ef osse- Ai gui l l e
Cr euse, ' t he message deci pher ed by Ar sene Lupi n when he di scover s t he secr et of t he
Hol l ow Peak! You r emember : at Et r et at , at t he edge of t he beach, st ands t he Ai gui l l e
Cr euse, a nat ur al cast l e, habi t abl e i nsi de, t he secr et weapon of J ul i us Caesar when
he i nvaded Gaul , and l at er used by t he ki ngs of Fr ance. The sour ce of Lupi n' s
i mmense power . And you know how Lupi nol ogi st s ar e cr azy about t hi s st or y; t hey make
pi l gr i mages t o Et r et at , t hey l ook f or secr et passages, t hey make anagr ams of ever y
wor d of Lebl anc. . . I ngol f was no l ess a Lupi nol ogi st t han he was a
Rosi cr uci anol ogi st , and so code af t er code. . . . "
" My Di abol i cal s coul d al ways ar gue t hat t he Templ ar s knew t he secr et of t he peak,
and t her ef or e t he message was wr i t t en i n Pr ovi ns i n t he f our t eent h cent ur y. . . . "
Page 247
" Of cour se; I r eal i ze t hat . But now comes t he t hi r d message. Thi r d wheel appl i ed t o
t he si xt h l et t er of each wor d. Li st en: ' Mer de j ' en ai mar r e de cet t e
st eganogr aphi e. ' And t hi s i s moder n Fr ench; t he Templ ar s di dn' t t al k l i ke t hat .
' Shi t , I ' msi ck of t hi s her met i c wr i t i ng. ' That ' s how I ngol f t al ked, and havi ng
gi ven Ti i msel f a headache codi ng al l t hi s nonsense, he got a f i nal ki ck cur si ng i n
code what he was doi ng. But he was not wi t hout shr ewdness. Not i ce t hat each of t hese
t hr ee messages has t hi r t y- si x l et t er s. Poor Pow, I ngol f was havi ng f un, j ust l i ke
t he t hr ee of you, and t hat i mbeci l e col onel t ook hi mser i ousl y. "
" Then why di d I ngol f di sappear ? "
" Who says he was mur der ed? I ngol f got f ed up l i vi ng i n Aux- er r e, seei ng nobody but
t he phar maci st and a spi nst er daught er who whi ned al l day. So maybe he went t o
Par i s, pul l ed of f a good deal sel l i ng one of hi s ol d books, f ound hi msel f a buxom
and wi l l i ng wi dow, and st ar t ed a new l i f e. Li ke t hose men who go out t o buy
ci gar et t es, and t he wi ves never see t hemagai n. "
" And t he col onel ?"
" Di dn' t you t el l me t hat not even t hat det ect i ve i s sur e t hey ki l l ed hi m? He got
i nt o some j am, hi s vi ct i ms t r acked hi mdown, and he t ook t o hi s heel s. Maybe at t hi s
ver y moment he' s sel l i ng t he Ei f f el Tower t o an Amer i can t our i st and goi ng under t he
name Dupont . "
I coul dn' t gi ve i n al l al ong t he l i ne. " Al l r i ght , we st ar t ed out wi t h a l aundr y
l i st . Yet we wer e cl ever enough, i nvent i ve enough, t o t ur n a l aundr y l i st i nt o
poet r y. "
" Your pl an i sn' t poet i c; i t ' s gr ot esque. Peopl e don' t get t he i dea of goi ng back t o
bur n Tr oy j ust because t hey r ead Homer . Wi t h Homer , t he bur ni ng of Tr oy became
somet hi ng t hat i t never was and never wi l l be, and yet t he I l i ad endur es, f ul l of
meani ng, because i t ' s al l cl ear , l i mpi d. Your Rosi cr uci an mani f est oes ar e nei t her
cl ear nor l i mpi d; t hey' r e mud, hot ai r , and pr omi ses. Thi s i s why so many peopl e
have t r i ed t o make t hemcome t r ue, each f i ndi ng i n t hemwhat he want s t o f i nd. I n
Homer t her e' s no secr et , but your pl an i s f ul l of secr et s, f ul l of cont r adi ct i ons.
For t hat r eason you coul d f i nd t housands of i nsecur e peopl e r eady t o i dent i f y wi t h
i t . Thr ow t he whol e t hi ng out . Homer wasn' t f aki ng, but you t hr ee have been f aki ng.
Bewar e of f aki ng: peopl e wi l l bel i eve you. Peopl e bel i eve t hose who sel l l ot i ons
t hat make l ost hai r gr ow back. They sense i nst i nct i vel y t hat t he sal esman i s put t i ng
t oget her t r ut hs t hat don' t go t oget her , t hat he' s not bei ng l ogi cal , t hat he' s not
speaki ng i n good f ai t h. But t hey' ve been t ol d t hat God i s myst er i ous, unf at homabl e,
so t o t hemi ncoher ence i s t he cl osest t hi ng t o God. The f ar f et ched i s t he cl osest
t hi ng t o a mi r acl e. You' ve i nvent ed hai r oi l . I don' t l i ke i t . I t ' s a nast y j oke. "
Thi s di sagr eement di dn' t spoi l our weeks i n t he mount ai ns. I t ook l ong wal ks, r ead
ser i ous books, became cl oser t o t he chi l d t han I ' d ever been. But bet ween me and Li a
t her e was somet hi ng l ef t unsai d. On t he one hand, she had put me i n a t i ght cor ner ,
and was sor r y t o have humi l i at ed me; on t he ot her , she wasn' t convi nced t hat she had
convi nced me.
I ndeed, I f el t a pul l t o t he Pl an. I di dn' t want t o abandon i t , I had l i ved wi t h i t
t oo l ong.
A f ew days ago I got up ear l y t o cat ch t he one t r ai n f or Mi l an, and i n Mi l an I
r ecei ved Bel bo' s cal l f r omPar i s, and I began t hi s st or y, whi ch f or me i s not yet
f i ni shed.
Li a was r i ght . We shoul d have t al ked about i t ear l i er . But I woul dn' t have bel i eved
her , al l t he same. I had exper i enced t he cr eat i on of t he Pl an l i ke t he movement of
Ti f er et , t he hear t of t he sef i r ot i c body, t he har mony of Rul e and Fr eedom.
Di ot al l evi had t ol d me t hat Moses Cor dover o war ned: " He who because of hi s Tor ah
becomes pr oud over t he i gnor ant , t hat i s, over t he whol e peopl e of Yahweh, l eads
Ti f er et t o gr ow pr oud over Mal - khut . " But what Mal khut i s, t he ki ngdomof t hi s
ear t h, i n i t s dazzl i ng si mpl i ci t y, i s somet hi ng I under st and onl y now- i n t i me t o
gr asp t he t r ut h; per haps t oo l at e t o sur vi ve t he t r ut h.
Li a, I don' t know i f I wi l l see you agai n. I f not , t he l ast i mage I have of you i s
hal f - asl eep, under t he bl anket s, a f ew days ago. I ki ssed you t hat mor ni ng, and
hesi t at ed bef or e I l ef t .
Page 248
NEZAH
107
Dost t hou see yon bl ack dog, r angi ng t hr ough shoot and st ubbl e? Meseems he sof t l y
coi l et h magi c meshes, To be a somet i me f et t er r ound our f eet . . . The ci r cl e nar r ows,
now he' s near !
- Faust , i i , Wi t hout t he Ci t y- Gat e
What had happened dur i ng my absence, par t i cul ar l y i n t he days j ust bef or e my r et ur n,
I coul d deduce f r omBel bo' s f i l es. But onl y one f i l e, t he l ast , was cl ear ,
cont ai ni ng or der ed i nf or mat i on; he had pr obabl y wr i t t en i t bef or e l eavi ng f or Par i s,
so t hat I , or someone el se, coul d r ead i t . The ot her f i l es, wr i t t en f or hi msel f
al one, as usual , wer e not easy t o i nt er pr et . But havi ng ent er ed t he pr i vat e uni ver se
of hi s conf i dences t o Abul af i a, I was abl e t o dr aw somet hi ng f r omt hem.
I t was ear l y J une. Bel bo was upset . The doct or s had f i nal l y accept ed t he i dea t hat
he and Gudr un wer e Di ot al l evi ' s onl y r el at i ves, and t hey t al ked. When t he pr i nt er s
and pr oof r eader s i nqui r ed about Di ot al l evi , Gudr un now answer ed wi t h pur sed l i ps,
ut t er i ng a bi syl l abl e i n such a way t hat no vowel escaped. Thus t he t aboo i l l ness
was named.
Gudr un went t o see Di ot al l evi ever y day. She must have di st ur bed hi mwi t h t hose eyes
of her s, gl i st eni ng wi t h pi t y. He knew, but was embar r assed t hat ot her s knew. He
spoke wi t h di f f i cul t y. ( Bel bo wr ot e: " The f ace i s al l cheekbones. " ) He was l osi ng
hi s hai r , but t hat was f r omt he t her apy. ( Bel bo wr ot e: " The hands ar e al l f i nger s. " )
I n t he cour se of one of t hei r pai nf ul di al ogs, Di ot al l evi gave Bel bo a hi nt of what
he woul d say t o hi mon t he l ast day: t hat i dent i f yi ng onesel f wi t h t he Pl an was bad,
t hat i t mi ght be evi l . Even bef or e t hi s, per haps t o make t he Pl an obj ect i ve and
r educe i t agai n t o i t s pur el y f i ct i onal di mensi on, Bel bo had wr i t t en i t down, wor d
f or wor d, as i f i t wer e t he col onel ' s memoi r s. He nar r at ed i t l i ke an i ni t i at e
communi cat i ng t he f i nal secr et . Thi s, I bel i eve, was t o be a cur e: he was r et ur ni ng
t o l i t er at ur e, however second- r at e, t o t hat whi ch was not l i f e.
But on J une 10, somet hi ng bad must have happened. The not es ar e conf used; al l I have
i s conj ect ur es.
* * *
Lor enza asked hi mt o dr i ve her t o t he Ri vi er a, wher e she had t o see a gi r l f r i end and
col l ect somet hi ng or ot her , a document , a not ar i zed deed, some nonsense t hat coul d
j ust as wel l have been sent by mai l . Bel bo agr eed, dazzl ed by t he i dea of spendi ng a
Sunday at t he sea wi t h her .
They went t o t he pl ace- I haven' t been abl e t o f i gur e out exact l y wher e, per haps near
Por t of i no. Bel bo' s descr i pt i on was al l emot i on, t ensi ons, dej ect i ons, moods; i t
cont ai ned no l andscapes. Lor enza di d her er r and whi l e Bel bo wai t ed i n a caf e. Then
she sai d t hey coul d go and eat f i sh i n a pl ace on a bl uf f hi gh above t he sea.
Af t er t hi s, t he st or y becomes f r agment ar y. Ther e ar e snat ches of di al og wi t hout
quot at i on mar ks, as i f t r anscr i bed at whi t e heat l est a ser i es of epi phani es f ade.
They dr ove as f ar as t hey coul d, t hen cont i nued on f oot , t aki ng t hose t oi l some
Li gur i an pat hs al ong t he coast , sur r ounded by f l ower s, t o t he r est aur ant . When t hey
wer e seat ed, t hey saw, on t he t abl e next t o t hei r s, a car d r eser vi ng i t f or Cont e
Agl i e.
What a coi nci dence, Bel bo must have sai d. A nast y coi nci dence, Lor enza r epl i ed; she
di dn' t want Agl i f c t o know she was t her e, and wi t h Bel bo. Why not , what was wr ong
wi t h t hat ? What gave Agl i e t he r i ght t o be j eal ous? Ri ght ? No, i t was a mat t er of
t ast e; Agl i e had i nvi t ed her out t oday and she' d t ol d hi mshe was busy. Bel bo di dn' t
want her t o l ook l i ke a l i ar , di d he? She woul dn' t l ook l i ke a l i ar ; she was i n f act
busy, she had a dat e wi t h Bel bo. Was t hat somet hi ng t o be ashamed of ? Not ashamed
of , but she had her own r ul es of t act , i f Bel bo di dn' t mi nd.
They l ef t t he r est aur ant , st ar t ed back up t he pat h, but Lor enza suddenl y st opped;
she saw some peopl e ar r i vi ng. Bel bo di dn' t know t hem. Fr i ends of Agl i e, she sai d,
Page 249
and she di dn' t want t hemt o see her . A humi l i at i ng si t uat i on: she l eaned agai nst t he
r ai l i ng of a l i t t l e br i dge over a r avi ne f ul l of ol i ve t r ees, a newspaper i n f r ont
of her f ace, as i f she wer e consumed by a sudden i nt er est i n cur r ent event s. Bel bo
st ood t en paces away, smoki ng, as i f he wer e j ust passi ng by.
A f r i end of Agl i e wal ked past . Lor enza sai d t hat i f t hey cont i nued al ong t he pat h,
t hey wer e bound t o r un i nt o Agl i e hi msel f . To hel l wi t h t hi s, Bel bo sai d. So what ?
Lor enza sai d he was i nsensi t i ve. The sol ut i on: Get t o t he car wi t hout t aki ng t he
pat h, cut acr oss t he sl opes. A br eat hl ess f l i ght over a ser i es of sunbaked t er r aces,
and Bel bo l ost t he heel of a shoe. Lor enza sai d, You see how much mor e beaut i f ul i t
i s t hi s way? Of cour se you' r e out of br eat h; you shoul dn' t smoke so much.
They r eached t he car , and Bel bo sai d t hey mi ght as wel l go back t o Mi l an. No,
Lor enza sai d, Agl i e mi ght be l at e, we mi ght meet hi mon t he hi ghway, and he knows
your car . I t ' s such a l ovel y day, l et ' s cut t hr ough t he i nt er i or . I t must be
char mi ng, and we' l l get t o t he Aut ost r ada del Sol e and have supper al ong t he Po
somewher e, near Pavi a.
Why t her e, and what do you mean, cut t hr ough t he i nt er i or ? Ther e' s onl y one
sol ut i on; l ook at t he map. We' d have t o cl i mb i nt o t he mount ai ns af t er Usci o, t hen
cr oss t he Apenni nes, st op at Bobbi o, and f r omt her e go on t o Pi acenza. You' r e cr azy!
Wor se t han Hanni bal and t he el ephant s. You have no sense of advent ur e, she sai d, and
anyway, t hi nk of al l t he char mi ng l i t t l e r est aur ant s we' l l f i nd i n t hose hi l l s.
Bef or e Usci o t her e' s Manuel i na' s, whi ch has at l east t wel ve st ar s i n t he Mi chel i n
and al l t he f i sh you coul d want .
Manuel i na' s was f ul l , wi t h a l i ne of cust omer s eyei ng t he t abl es wher e cof f ee was
bei ng ser ved. Never mi nd, Lor enza sai d, a f ew ki l omet er s hi gher we' l l f i nd a hundr ed
pl aces bet t er t han t hi s. They f ound a r est aur ant at t wo- t hi r t y, i n a wr et ched
vi l l age t hat , accor di ng t o Bel bo, even t he ar my maps wer e ashamed t o r ecor d, and
t hey at e over cooked past a wi t h a sauce made of canned meat . Bel bo asked Lor enza what
was behi nd al l t hi s, because i t was no acci dent t hat she had made hi mt ake her t o
t he ver y pl ace wher e Agl i e woul d be: she want ed t o pr ovoke someone, ei t her Agl i e or
hi m, but he coul dn' t f i gur e out whi ch of t he t wo i t was. She asked hi mi f he was
par anoi d.
Af t er Usci o t hey t r i ed a mount ai n pass and, as t hey wer e goi ng t hr ough a vi l l age
t hat l ooked l i ke Sunday af t er noon i n Si ci l y dur i ng t he r ei gn of t he Bour bons, a bi g
bl ack dog came t o a st op i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oad, as i f i t had never seen an
aut omobi l e bef or e. Bel bo hi t i t . The i mpact di d not seemgr eat , but as soon as t hey
got out , t hey saw t hat t he poor ani mal ' s bel l y was r ed wi t h bl ood, and some st r ange
pi nk t hi ngs ( i nt est i nes?) wer e st i cki ng out , and t he dog was whi mper i ng and
dr ool i ng. Some vi l l ei ns gat her ed, and soon i t was l i ke a t own meet i ng. Bel bo asked
who t he dog' s owner was, he woul d pay. The dog had no owner . The dog r epr esent ed
per haps t en per cent of t he popul at i on of t hat Godf or saken pl ace, but t hey knew i t
onl y by si ght . Some sai d t hey shoul d f et ch t he car abi ni er e ser geant , who woul d f i r e
a shot , and t hat woul d be t hat .
As t hey wer e l ooki ng f or t he ser geant , a l ady ar r i ved, decl ar i ng her sel f an ani mal
l over . I have si x cat s, she sai d. Thi s i s a dog, not a cat , Bel bo sai d, and he' s
dyi ng, and I ' mi n a hur r y. Cat or dog, you shoul d have a hear t , t he l ady sai d. No
ser geant . Somebody must be br ought f r omt he SPCA, or f r omt he hospi t al i n- t he next
t own. Maybe t he ani mal can be saved.
The sun was beat i ng down on Bel bo, on Lor enza, on t he car , on t he dog, and on t he
byst ander s; i t seemed t o have no i nt ent i on of set t i ng. BeJ bo f el t as i f he wer e i n
hi s paj amas but unabl e t o wake up; t he l ady was i mpl acabl e, t he ser geant coul dn' t be
f ound, t he dog went on bl eedi ng and pant i ng and maki ng weak noi ses. He' s whi mper i ng,
Bel bo sai d, and t hen, wi t h El i ot l i ke det achment : He' s endi ng wi t h a whi mper . Of
cour se he' s whi mper i ng, t he l ady sai d; he' s suf f er i ng, poor dar l i ng, and why
coul dn' t you l ook wher e you wer e goi ng?
The vi l l age under went a demogr aphi c boom; Bel bo, Lor enza, and t he dog had become t he
ent er t ai nment of t hat gl oomy Sunday. A l i t t l e gi r l wi t h an i ce- cr eamcone came over
and asked i f t hey wer e t he peopl e f r omt he TV who wer e or gani zi ng t he Mi ss Li gur i an
Apenni ne cont est . Bel bo t ol d her t o beat i t or he' d do t o her what he di d t o t he
dog. The gi r l st ar t ed cr yi ng. The l ocal doct or ar r i ved, sai d t he gi r l was hi s
daught er , and Bel bo di dn' t r eal i ze t o whomhe was t al ki ng. I n a r api d exchange of
apol ogi es and i nt r oduct i ons, i t t r anspi r ed t hat t he physi ci an had publ i shed a Di ar y
of a Vi l l age Doct or wi t h t he f amous Manut i us Pr ess i n Mi l an. Bel bo i ncaut i ousl y sai d
t hat he was magna par s of t hat pr ess. The doct or i nsi st ed t hat he and Lor enza st ay
Page 250
f or supper . Lor enza f umed, nudged Bel bo: Now we' l l end up i n t he paper s, t he
di abol i cal l over s. Coul dn' t you keep your mout h shut ?
The sun st i l l beat down as t he chur ch bel l r ang compl i ne. We' r e i n Ul t i ma Thul e,
Bel bo mut t er ed t hr ough cl enched t eet h: sun si x mont hs of t he year , f r ommi dni ght t o
mi dni ght , and I ' mout of ci gar et t es. The dog conf i ned i t sel f t o suf f er i ng, and
nobody pai d i t any f ur t her at t ent i on. Lor enza sai d she was havi ng an ast hma at t ack.
Bel bo was sur e by now t hat t he cosmos was a pr act i cal j oke of t he Demi ur ge. Fi nal l y
i t occur r ed t o hi mt hat t hey coul d t ake t he car and l ook f or hel p i n t he near est
t own. The ani mal - l ovi ng l ady agr eed: t hey shoul d go, t hey shoul d hur r y, she t r ust ed
a gent l eman f r oma publ i shi ng house t hat publ i shed poet r y, she her sel f was a gr eat
admi r er of Khal i l Gi br an.
Bel bo dr ove of f and, when t hey r eached t he near est t own, cyni cal l y dr ove t hr ough i t ,
as Lor enza cur sed al l t he ani mal s wi t h whi ch t he Lor d had bef oul ed t he ear t h f r om
t he f i r st t hr ough t he f i f t h day. Bel bo agr eed, and went so f ar as t o cur se t he wor k
of t he si xt h day, t oo, and per haps al so t he r est on t he sevent h, because t hi s was
t he most i l l - st ar r ed Sunday he had ever l i ved t hr ough.
They began t o cr oss t he Apenni nes. On t he map i t l ooked easy, but i t t ook t hem
hour s. They di dn' t st op at Bobbi o, and t owar d eveni ng t hey ar r i ved at Pi acenza.
Bel bo was t i r ed, but at l east he coul d have supper wi t h Lor enza. He t ook a doubl e
r oomi n t he onl y avai l abl e hot el , near t he st at i on. When t hey went upst ai r s, Lor enza
sai d she woul dn' t sl eep i n such a pl ace. Bel bo sai d t hey' d l ook f or somet hi ng el se,
i f she woul d j ust gi ve hi mt i me t o go down t o t he bar and have a mar t i ni . He f ound
not hi ng but cognac, domest i c. When he went back up t o t he r oom, Lor enza wasn' t
t her e. At t he f r ont desk he f ound a message: " Dar l i ng, I ' ve di scover ed a mar vel ous
t r ai n f or Mi l an. I ' ml eavi ng. See you next week. "
Bel bo r ushed t o t he st at i on: t he t r ack was empt y. J ust l i ke a West er n.
He had t o spend t he ni ght i n Pi acenza. He l ooked f or a paper back t hr i l l er , but t he
st at i on newsst and was cl osed. Al l he coul d f i nd i n t he hot el was a Tour i ng Cl ub
magazi ne.
I t had an ar t i cl e on Apenni ne passes l i ke t he one he had j ust cr ossed. I n hi s
memor y- f aded, as i f t he day' s event s had happened l ong ago- t hey wer e ar i d,
sunbaked, dust y, scat t er ed wi t h mi ner al f l ot sam. But on t he gl ossy pages of t he
magazi ne t hey wer e dr eamcount r y, t o r et ur n t o even on f oot , t o be savor ed st ep by
st ep. The Samoas of Seven Seas J i m.
How can a man r ush t o hi s own dest r uct i on si mpl y because he r uns over a dog? Yet
t hat ' s how i t was. That ni ght i n Pi acenza, Bel bo deci ded t o wi t hdr aw once mor e i nt o
t he Pl an, wher e he woul d suf f er no mor e def eat s, because t her e he was t he one who
deci ded who, how, and when.
That must al so have been t he ni ght he deci ded t o avenge hi msel f on Agl i e, , even i f he
di dn' t have a cl ear r eason. He woul d put hi mi nt o t he Pl an wi t hout Agl i e' s knowi ng.
I t was t ypi cal of Bel bo t o seek r evenges of whi ch he woul d be t he onl y wi t ness. Not
out of modest y, but because he di st r ust ed t he abi l i t y of ot her s t o appr eci at e t hem.
Sl i pped i nt o t he Pl an, Agl i e woul d be annul l ed, woul d di ssol ve i n smoke l i ke t he
wi ck of a candl e. Unr eal as t he Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns, t he Rosi cr uci ans: as unr eal as
Bel bo hi msel f .
I t shoul dn' t be di f f i cul t , Bel bo t hought . We' ve cut Bacon and Napol eon down t o si ze:
why not Agl i e? We' l l send hi mout l ooki ng f or t he map, t oo. I f r eed mysel f of
Ar dent i and hi s memor y by put t i ng hi mi nt o a f i ct i on bet t er t han hi s own. The same
wi l l happen wi t h Agl i e.
I bel i eve he r eal l y bel i eved t hi s; such i s t he power of f r ust r at ed desi r e. The f i l e
ended- i t coul d not have been ot her wi sewi t h t he quot at i on r equi r ed of al l t hose whom
l i f e has def eat ed: Bi n i ch ei n Got t ?
108
What i s t he hi dden i nf l uence behi nd t he pr ess, behi nd al l t he subver si ve movement s
goi ng on ar ound us? Ar e t her e sever al Power s at wor k? Or i s t her e one Power , one
i nvi si bl e gr oup di r ect i ng al l t he r est - t he ci r cl e of t he r eal I ni t i at es!
- Nest a Webst er , Secr et Soci et i es and Subver si ve Movement s, London, Boswel l , 1924,
p. 348
Page 251
Maybe he woul d have f or got t en hi s deci si on. Maybe i t woul d have been enough f or hi m
j ust t o wr i t e i t . Maybe, i f he had seen Lor enza agai n at once, he woul d have been
caught up by desi r e, and desi r e woul d have f or ced hi mt o come t o t er ms wi t h l i f e.
But , i nst ead, t hat Monday af t er noon, Agl i e appear ed i n hi s of f i ce, waf t i ng exot i c
col ogne, smi l i ng as he handed over some manuscr i pt s t o be r ej ect ed, sayi ng he had
r ead t hemdur i ng a spl endi d weekend at t he seashor e. Bel bo, sei zed once mor e by
r ancor , deci ded t o t aunt Agl i e- by gi vi ng hi ma gl i mpse of t he magi c bl oodst one.
Assumi ng t he manner of Boccacci o' s Bui f amal cco, he sai d t hat f or mor e t han t en year s
he had been bur dened by an occul t secr et . A manuscr i pt , ent r ust ed t o hi mby a
cer t ai n Col onel Ar - dent i , who cl ai med t o be i n possessi on of t he Pl an of t he
Templ ar s. . . The col onel had been abduct ed or ki l l ed, and hi s paper s had been t aken.
Gar amond Pr ess had been l ef t wi t h a r ed- her r i ng t ext , del i ber at el y er r oneous,
f ant ast i c, even puer i l e, whose sol e pur pose was t o l et ot her s know t hat . t he col onel
had seen t he Pr ovi ns message and I ngol f ' s f i nal not es, t he not es I n- gol f ' s mur der er s
wer e st i l l l ooki ng f or . But t her e was al so a ver y sl i mf i l e, cont ai ni ng t en pages
onl y, but t hose t en pages wer e t he aut hent i c t ext , t he one r eal l y f ound among
I ngol f ' s paper s. They had r emai ned i n Bel bo' s hands.
What a cur i ous st or y- t hi s was Agl i e' s r eact i on- do t el l me mor e. Bel bo t ol d hi mmor e.
He t ol d hi mt he whol e Pl an, j ust as we had concei ved i t , as i f i t wer e al l cont ai ned
i n t hat r emot e manuscr i pt . He even t ol d hi m, i n an i ncr easi ngl y caut i ous and
conf i dent i al t one, t hat t her e was al so a pol i ceman, by t he name of De Angel i s, who
had ar r i ved at t he br i nk of t he t r ut h but had come up agai nst t he her met i c- no ot her
way t o descr i be i t - si l ence of Bel bo hi msel f , keeper of manki nd' s gr eat est secr et : a
secr et t hat boi l ed down t o t he secr et of t he Map.
Her e he paused, i n a si l ence char ged wi t h unspoken meani ng, l i ke al l gr eat pauses.
Hi s r et i cence about t he f i nal t r ut h guar ant eed t he t r ut h of i t s pr emi ses. For t hose
who r eal l y bel i eved i n a secr et t r adi t i on, he cal cul at ed, not hi ng was l ouder t han
si l ence.
" How i nt er est i ng, how ext r emel y i nt er est i ng! " Agl i e sai d, t aki ng t he snuf f box f r om
hi s vest , as i f hi s t hought s wer e el sewher e. " And. . . and t he map?"
Bel bo t hought : You ol d voyeur , you' r e get t i ng ar oused; ser ves you r i ght . Wi t h al l
your Sai nt - Ger mai n ai r s, you' r e j ust anot her pet t y char l at an l i vi ng of f t he shel l
game, and t hen you buy t he Br ookl yn Br i dge f r omt he f i r st char l at an who' s a bi gger
char l at an t han you ar e. Now I ' l l send you on a wi l d- goose chase l ooki ng f or maps, so
you' l l vani sh i nt o t he bowel s of t he ear t h, car r i ed away by t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s,
unt i l you cr ack your head agai nst t he t r ansoceani c monol i t h of some Cel t i c val ve.
And, ver y ci r cumspect l y, he r epl i ed: " I n t he manuscr i pt , of cour se, t her e was al so
t he map, or , r at her , a pr eci se descr i pt i on of t he map, of t he or i gi nal . I t ' s
sur pr i si ng; you can' t i magi ne how si mpl e t he sol ut i on i s. The map was wi t hi n
ever yone' s gr asp, i n f ul l vi ew; why, t housands of peopl e have passed i t ever y day,
f or cent ur i es. And t he met hod of or i ent at i on i s so el ement ar y t hat you j ust have t o
memor i ze t he pat t er n and t he map can be r epr oduced on t he spot , anywher e. So si mpl e
and so unexpect ed. . . I magi ne- t hi s i s j ust t o gi ve you an i dea- i t ' s as i f t he map
wer e i nscr i bed i n t he Pyr ami d of Cheops, i t s el ement s di spl ayed f or ever yone t o see,
and f or cent ur i es peopl e have r ead and r er ead and deci pher ed t he pyr ami d, seeki ng
ot her al l usi ons, ot her cal cul at i ons, compl et el y over l ooki ng i t s i ncr edi bl e, spl endi d
si mpl i ci t y. A mast er pi ece of i nnocence. And f i endi sh cunni ng. The Templ ar s of
Pr ovi ns wer e wi zar ds. "
" You pi que my cur i osi t y. Woul d you al l ow me t o see i t ?"
" I must conf ess I dest r oyed ever yt hi ng: t he t en pages, t he map. I was f r i ght ened.
You under st and, don' t you?"
" You mean t o t el l me you dest r oyed a document of such i mpor t ance?. . . "
" I dest r oyed i t . But , as I sai d, t he r evel at i on was of an absol ut e si mpl i ci t y. The
map i s her e, " and Bel bo t ouched hi s f or ehead. " For over t en year s I ' ve car r i ed i t
wi t h me, f or over t en year s I ' ve car r i ed t he secr et her e, " and he t ouched hi s
f or ehead agai n, " l i ke an obsessi on, f or I f ear t he power t hat woul d be mi ne i f I put
f or t h my hand and gr asped t he her i t age of t he Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es. Now you r eal i ze
why I per suaded Gar amond t o publ i sh I si s Unvei l ed and t he Hi st or y of Magi c. I ' m
wai t i ng f or t he r i ght cont act . " Then, mor e and mor e car r i ed away by t he r ol e he had
t aken on, and t o put Agl i e def i ni t i vel y t o t he t est , he r eci t ed, wor d f or wor d,
Ar sene Lupi n' s ar dent speech at t he concl usi on of Z, ' ' Ai gui l l e Cr euse: " Ther e ar e
moment s when my power makes my head swi m. I amdr unk wi t h domi ni on. "
" Come now, dear f r i end, " Agl i e sai d. " What i f you have gi ven excessi ve cr edence t o
Page 252
t he daydr eams of some f anat i c? Ar e you sur e t he t ext was aut hent i c? Why don' t you
t r ust my exper i ence i n t hese mat t er s? I f you onl y knew how many r evel at i ons of t hi s
sor t I ' ve hear d i n my l i f e, and how many pr oved, wi t h my hel p, t o be unf ounded. I
can boast some exper t i se at l east - modest , per haps, but pr eci se- i n t he f i el d of
hi st or i cal car t ogr aphy. ' '
" Dr . Agl i e, " Bel bo sai d, " you woul d be t he f i r st t o r emi nd me t hat , once r eveal ed, a
myst i c secr et i s no l onger of any use. I have been si l ent f or year s; I can go on
bei ng si l ent . "
And he was si l ent . Agl i e t oo, r ogue or not , per f or med hi s r ol e i n ear nest . He had
spent hi s l i f e amusi ng hi msel f wi t h i mpenet r abl e secr et s, so he was qui t e convi nced
t hat Bel bo' s l i ps woul d be seal ed f or ever .
At t hat poi nt Gudr un came i n and t ol d Bel bo t hat t he Bol ogna meet i ng had been set
f or Wednesday at noon. " You can t ake t he mor ni ng I nt er ci t y, " she sai d.
" Del i ght f ul t r ai n, t he I nt er ci t y, " Agl i e sai d. " But you shoul d r eser ve a seat ,
especi al l y at t hi s season. "
Bel bo sai d t hat even i f you boar ded at t he l ast moment , you coul d f i nd somet hi ng,
per haps i n t he di ni ng car , wher e t hey ser ved br eakf ast . " I wi sh you l uck, t hen, "
Agl i e sai d. " Bol ogna. Beaut i f ul ci t y, but so hot i n J une. . . "
" I ' l l be t her e onl y t wo or t hr ee hour s. I have t o di scuss a t ext on anci ent
i nscr i pt i ons. Ther e ar e pr obl ems wi t h t he i l l ust r at i ons. " Then he f i r ed hi s bi g gun:
" I haven' t had my vacat i on yet . I ' l l t ake i t ar ound t he summer sol st i ce. I may make
up my mi nd t o. . . You under st and me. And I r el y on your di scr et i on. I ' ve spoken t o you
as a f r i end. "
" I can keep si l ent even bet t er t han you. I n any case, I t hank you, most si ncer el y,
f or your t r ust . " And Agl i e l ef t .
Fr omt hi s encount er Bel bo emer ged conf i dent : t ot al vi ct or y of hi s ast r al nar r at i ve
over t he wr et chedness and shame of t he subl unar wor l d.
The next day, he r ecei ved a phone cal l f r omAgl i e. " You must f or gi ve me, dear
f r i end. I have encount er ed a smal l cont r et emps. You know t hat , i n a modest way, I
deal i n ant i que books. Thi s eveni ng I amt o r ecei ve, f r omPar i s, a dozen bound
vol umes, ei ght eent h- cent ur y, of a cer t ai n val ue, and I absol ut el y must del i ver t hem
t o a cor r espondent of mi ne i n Fl or ence t omor r ow. I woul d t ake t hemmysel f , but
anot her engagement det ai ns me her e. I t hought of t hi s sol ut i on: you ar e goi ng t o
Bol ogna. I ' l l meet you at your t r ai n t omor r ow, t en mi nut es bef or e you l eave, and
hand you a smal l sui t case. You put i t on t he r ack over your seat and l eave i t t her e
when you ar r i ve i n Bol ogna. You mi ght wai t and get of f l ast , t o be sur e no one t akes
i t . I n Fl or ence, my cor r espondent wi l l boar d t he t r ai n whi l e i t ' s st andi ng i n t he
st at i on and col l ect t he sui t case. I t ' s a nui sance f or you, I know, but i f you coul d
r ender me t hi s ser vi ce, I ' d be et er nal l y gr at ef ul . "
" Gl adl y, " Bel bo r epl i ed. " But how wi l l your f r i end i n Fl or ence know wher e I ' ve l ef t
t he sui t case?"
" I have t aken t he l i ber t y of r eser vi ng a seat f or you, seat number 45, car 8. I t ' s
r eser ved as f ar as Rome, so no one el se wi l l occupy i t i n Bol ogna or i n Fl or ence.
You see, i n exchange f or t he i nconveni ence I ' mcausi ng you, I make sur e t hat you
wi l l t r avel comf or t abl y and not have t o make do i n t he di ni ng car . I di dn' t dar e buy
your t i cket , of cour se, not want i ng you t o t hi nk I meant t o di schar ge my
i ndebt edness i n such an i ndel i cat e f ashi on. "
A r eal gent l eman, Bel bo t hought . He' l l send me a case of r ar e wi ne. To dr i nk hi s
heal t h. Yest er day I want ed t o di spat ch hi mt o t he bowel s of t he ear t h and now I ' m
doi ng hi ma f avor . Anyway, I coul d har dl y r ef use.
Wednesday mor ni ng, Bel bo went t o t he st at i on ear l y, bought hi s t i cket t o Bol ogna,
and f ound Agl i e st andi ng besi de car 8 wi t h t he sui t case. I t was f ai r l y heavy but not
bul ky.
Bel bo put t he sui t case above seat number 45 and set t l ed down wi t h hi s bundl e of
newspaper s. The news of t he day was Ber l i n- guer ' s f uner al . A l i t t l e l at er , a bear ded
gent l eman came and occupi ed t he seat next t o hi s. Bel bo t hought he had seen t he man
bef or e. ( Wi t h hi ndsi ght , he t hought i t mi ght have been at t he par t y i n Pi edmont , but
he wasn' t sur e. ) When t he t r ai n l ef t , t he compar t ment was f ul l .
Bel bo r ead hi s paper , but t he bear ded passenger t r i ed t o st r i ke up conver sat i ons
wi t h ever ybody. He began wi t h r emar ks about t he heat , t he i nadequacy of t he
ai r - condi t i oni ng, t he f act t hat i n J une you never knew whet her t o wear summer t hi ngs
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or bet ween- seasons cl ot hi ng. He obser ved t hat t he best was a l i ght bl azer , j ust l i ke
Bel bo' s, and he asked i f i t was Engl i sh. Bel bo sai d yes, i t was Engl i sh, f r om
Bur ber r y' s, and r esumed hi s r eadi ng. " They' r e t he best , " t he gent l eman sai d, " but
your s i s par t i cul ar l y ni ce, because i t doesn' t have t hose gol d but t ons t hat ar e so
ost ent at i ous. And, i f I may say so, i t goes ver y wel l wi t h your mar oon t i e. " Bel bo
t hanked hi mand r eopened hi s paper . The gent l eman went on t al ki ng wi t h t he ot her s
about t he di f f i cul t y of mat chi ng t i es wi t h j acket s, and Bel bo cont i nued r eadi ng. I
know, he t hought , t hey al l t hi nk me r ude, but I don' t t ake t r ai ns t o est abl i sh human
r el at i onshi ps. I have t oo much of t hat as i t i s.
Then t he gent l eman sai d t o hi m, " What a l ot of paper s you r ead! And of ever y
pol i t i cal t endency. You must be a j udge or a pol i t i ci an. " Bel bo r epl i ed t hat he was
nei t her , but wor ked f or a publ i shi ng f i r mt hat speci al i zed i n books on Ar ab
met aphysi cs. He sai d t hi s i n t he hope of t er r i f yi ng hi s adver sar y. And t he man was
obvi ousl y t er r i f i ed.
Then t he conduct or ar r i ved. He asked Bel bo why he had a t i cket f or Bol ogna and a
seat r eser ved t o Rome. Bel bo sai d he had changed hi s mi nd at t he l ast moment . " How
l ucky you ar e, " t he bear ded gent l eman sai d, " t o be abl e t o make such deci si ons,
accor di ng t o how t he wi nd bl ows, wi t hout havi ng t o count penni es. I envy you. " Bel bo
smi l ed and l ooked away. Ther e, he sai d, now t hey al l t hi nk I ' mei t her a spendt hr i f t
or a bank r obber .
At Bol ogna, Bel bo st ood up and pr epar ed t o get of f . " Don' t f or get your sui t case, "
hi s nei ghbor sai d.
" No. A f r i end wi l l col l ect i t i n Fl or ence, " Bel bo sai d. " For t hat mat t er , I ' d be
gr at ef ul i f you' d keep an eye on i t . "
" I wi l l , " t he bear ded gent l eman sai d. " Rest assur ed. "
Bel bo r et ur ned t o Mi l an t owar d eveni ng, shut hi msel f i n hi s apar t ment wi t h t wo cans
of meat and some cr acker s, and t ur ned on t he TV. Mor e Ber l i nguer , nat ur al l y. The
news i t emabout t he t r ai n appear ed at t he end, al most as a f oot not e.
Lat e t hat mor ni ng on t he I nt er ci t y bet ween Bol ogna and Fl or ence, a bear ded gent l eman
had voi ced suspi ci ons af t er a passenger got of f i n Bol ogna l eavi ng a sui t case on t he
l uggage r ack. Tr ue, t he passenger had sai d someone woul d pi ck i t up i n Fl or ence, but
wasn' t t hat what t er r or i st s al ways sai d? Fur t her mor e, why had he r eser ved hi s seat
t o Rome when he was get t i ng of f i n Bol ogna?
A heavy uneasi ness spr ead among t he ot her t r avel er s i n t hat compar t ment . Fi nal l y,
t he bear ded passenger sai d he coul dn' t bear t he t ensi on. I t was bet t er t o make a
mi st ake t han t o di e, and he al er t ed t he chi ef conduct or . The chi ef conduct or st opped
t he t r ai n and cal l ed t he Rai l way Pol i ce. The t r ai n was st opped i n t he mount ai ns; t he
passenger s mi l l ed anxi ousl y al ong t he t r acks; t he bomb squad ar r i ved. . . The exper t s
opened t he sui t case and f ound a t i mer and expl osi ve, set f or t he hour of ar r i val i n
Fl or ence. Enough t o wi pe out a f ew dozen peopl e.
The pol i ce wer e unabl e t o f i nd t he bear ded gent l eman. Per haps he had changed car s
and got of f i n Fl or ence because he di dn' t want t o end up i n t he newspaper s. The
pol i ce wer e appeal i ng t o hi mt o get i n t ouch wi t h t hem.
The ot her passenger s r emember ed, wi t h unusual pr eci si on, t he man who had l ef t t he
sui t case. He must have l ooked suspi ci ous at f i r st si ght . He was wear i ng a bl ue
Engl i sh j acket wi t hout gol d but t ons, a mar oon neckt i e; he was t aci t ur n, and seemed
t o want t o avoi d at t r act i ng at t ent i on at al l cost s. But he had l et sl i p t he
i nf or mat i on t hat he wor ked f or a paper , or a publ i sher , or f or somet hi ng havi ng t o
do ( t he wi t nesses' t est i mony var i ed) wi t h physi cs, met hane, or met empsychosi s- but
Ar abs wer e def i ni t el y i nvol ved.
Pol i ce st at i ons and car abi ni er e headquar t er s had been al er t ed. Anonymous phone cal l s
wer e al r eady comi ng i n and bei ng si f t ed by t he i nvest i gat or s. Two Li byan ci t i zens
had been det ai ned i n Bol ogna. A pol i ce ar t i st had made a sket ch, whi ch now occupi ed
t he whol e scr een. The dr awi ng di dn' t r esembl e Bel bo, but Bel bo r esembl ed t he
dr awi ng.
Bel bo, pl ai nl y, was t he man wi t h t he sui t case. But t he sui t case had cont ai ned
Agl i e' s books. He cal l ed Agl i e. Ther e was no answer .
I t was al r eady l at e i n t he eveni ng. He di dn' t dar e l eave t he house, so he t ook a
pi l l t o get some sl eep. The next mor ni ng, he cal l ed Agl i e agai n. Si l ence. He went
out t o buy t he paper s. Lucki l y t he f r ont page was st i l l occupi ed by t he f uner al ; t he
st or y about t he t r ai n and t he copy of t he pol i ce sket ch must be somewher e i nsi de. He
skul ked back t o hi s apar t ment , hi s col l ar t ur ned up, t hen r eal i zed he was st i l l
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wear i ng t he bl azer . At l east he di dn' t have on t he mar oon t i e.
Whi l e he was t r yi ng once mor e t o sor t out what had happened, he r ecei ved a cal l . A
st r ange f or ei gn voi ce, a sl i ght l y Bal kan accent , mel l i f l uous: a compl et el y
di si nt er est ed par t y act i ng out of pur e ki ndness of hear t . Poor Si gnor Bel bo, t he
voi ce sai d, f i ndi ng your sel f compr omi sed by such an unpl easant busi ness. You shoul d
never agr ee t o act as someone el se' s cour i er wi t hout f i r st checki ng t he cont ent s of
t he package. How awf ul i t woul d be i f someone wer e t o i nf or mt he pol i ce t hat Si gnor
Bel bo was t he uni dent i f i ed occupant of seat number 45.
Of cour se, t hat ext r eme st ep coul d be avoi ded, i f Bel bo woul d onl y agr ee t o
cooper at e. I f he wer e t o say, f or exampl e, wher e t he Templ ar s' map was. And si nce
Mi l an had become hot , because ever yone knew t he I nt er ci t y t er r or i st had boar ded t he
t r ai n t her e, i t woul d be pr udent t o deal wi t h t he mat t er i n neut r al t er r i t or y: f or
exampl e, Par i s. Why not ar r ange t o meet at t he Li br ai r i e Sl oane, 3 r ue de l a
Mant i cor e, i n a week' s t i me? But per haps Bel bo woul d be bet t er advi sed t o set of f at
once, bef or e anybody i dent i f i ed hi m. Li br ai r i e Sl oane, 3 r ue de l a Mant i cor e. At
noon on Wednesday, J une 20, he woul d f i nd t her e a f ami l i ar f ace, t hat bear ded
gent l eman wi t h whomhe had conver sed so cor di al l y on t he t r ai n. The bear ded
gent l eman woul d t el l Bel bo wher e t o f i nd ot her f r i ends, and t hen, gr adual l y, i n good
company, i n t i me f or t he summer sol st i ce, Bel bo woul d t el l what he knew, and t he
busi ness woul d be concl uded wi t hout any t r auma. Rue de l a Mant i cor e, number 3: easy
t o r emember .
109
Sai nt - Ger mai n. . . ver y pol i shed and wi t t y. . . sai d he possessed ever y ki nd of
secr et . . . . He of t en empl oyed, f or hi s appar i t i ons, t hat f amous magi c mi r r or of
hi s. . . and t hr ough i t s cat opt r i c ef f ect s summoned up t he usual , wel l - known shades.
Hi s cont act wi t h t he ot her wor l d was unquest i oned.
- Le Coul t eux de Cant el eu, Les sect es et l es soci et es secr et es, Par i s, Di di er , 1863,
pp. 170- 171
Bel bo was devast at ed. Ever yt hi ng was cl ear . Agl i e bel i eved hi s st or y, he want ed t he
map, he had set a t r ap f or hi m, and now Bel bo was i n t he man' s power . Ei t her Bel bo
went t o Par i s, t o r eveal what he di dn' t know ( but he was t he onl y one who knew he
di dn' t know i t , si nce I had gone of f wi t hout l eavi ng an addr ess, and Di ot al l evi was
dyi ng) , or al l t he pol i ce f or ces of I t al y woul d be af t er hi m.
But was i t r eal l y possi bl e t hat Agl i e had st ooped t o such a sor di d t r i ck? Bel bo
shoul d t ake t hat ol d l unat i c by t he col l ar and dr ag hi mt o t he pol i ce st at i on; t hat
was t he onl y way t o get out of t hi s mess.
He hai l ed a t axi and went t o t he l i t t l e house near Pi azza Pi ol a. Wi ndows cl osed; on
t he gat e, a r eal est at e agency' s si gn, FOR RENT. Thi s was i nsane. Agl i e was l i vi ng
her e j ust l ast week; Bel bo had t el ephoned hi m. He r ang t he bel l of t he house next
door . " Oh, t hat gent l eman? He moved out yest er day. I have no i dea wher e he' s gone, I
knew hi monl y by si ght , he was such a r eser ved per son. Al ways t r avel i ng, I suppose. "
The onl y t hi ng l ef t was t o i nqui r e at t he agency. They had never hear d of Agl i e. The
house had been r ent ed by a Fr ench f i r m. The r ent was pai d r egul ar l y t hr ough a bank.
The l ease was cancel ed over ni ght ; t he f i r mf or f ei t ed t he deposi t . Al l t hei r
communi cat i ons, by l et t er , had been wi t h a cer t ai n M. Ragot gky. That was al l t hey
knew.
I t was i mpossi bl e. Rakosky or Ragot gky, t he col onel ' s myst er i ous vi si t or , want ed by
De Angel i s and by I nt er pol , and her e he was goi ng ar ound r ent i ng houses. I n our
st or y, Ar dent i ' s Rakosky was a r ei ncar nat i on of Rachkovsky of t he Okhr ana, i n ot her
wor ds, t he i nevi t abl e Sai nt - Ger mai n. What di d he have t o do wi t h Agl i e?
Bel bo went t o t he of f i ce, sneaki ng upst ai r s l i ke a t hi ef , and l ocked hi msel f i n hi s
r oom. He had t o t r y t o t hi nk t hi ngs t hr ough.
I t was enough t o dr i ve a man cr azy, and Bel bo suspect ed he had f i nal l y gone mad.
Ther e was no one he coul d conf i de i n. Whi l e he was wi pi ng t he sweat f r omhi s f ace,
and mechani cal l y- wi t hout t hi nki ng- l eaf i ng t hr ough some manuscr i pt s t hat had come i n
t he day bef or e, at t he t op of a page he suddenl y saw Agl i e' s name.
He l ooked at t he t i t l e. A l i t t l e wor k by some r un- of - t hemi l l Di abol i cal , The Tr ue
St or y of t he Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n. He r ead t he page agai n. Quot i ng Char cor nac' s
bi ogr aphy, i t sai d t hat Cl aude- Loui s de Sai nt - Ger mai n had gone var i ousl y by t he
names of Monsi eur de Sur mont , Count Sol t i kof f , Mr . Wel l done, Mar chese di Bel mar ,
Page 255
Rackoczi or Ragozki , and so on, but t he r eal f ami l y names wer e Sai nt - Mar t i n and
Mar qui s of Agl i e, t he l at t er f r oman ancest r al est at e i n Pi edmont .
Good. Bel bo coul d r est easy. Not onl y was he want ed f or t er r or i sm, not onl y was t he
Pl an t r ue, not onl y had Agl i e di sappear ed i n t he space of t wo days, but , i nt o t he
bar gai n, t he count was no myt homane but t he t r ue and i mmor t al Sai nt - Ger mai n. And he
had never done anyt hi ng t o conceal t hat f act . But no, t he onl y t r ue t hi ng, i n t hi s
gr owi ng whi r l wi nd of f al sehoods, was hi s name. No, even hi s name was f al se. Agl i e
wasn' t Agl i e. But i t di dn' t mat t er who he r eal l y was, because he was act i ng, had
been act i ng f or year s, l i ke a char act er i n t he st or y we wer e t o i nvent onl y l at er .
Ther e was not hi ng Bel bo coul d do. Wi t h t he di sappear ance of Agl i e, he coul dn' t pr ove
t o t he pol i ce t hat Agl i e had gi ven hi mt he sui t case. And even i f t he pol i ce bel i eved
hi m, i t woul d come out t hat he had r ecei ved i t f r oma man want ed f or mur der , a man
he had been empl oyi ng as a consul t ant f or at l east t wo year s. Gr eat al i bi .
To gr asp t hi s whol e st or y- mel odr amat i c t o begi n wi t h- and t o make t he pol i ce swal l ow
i t , anot her st or y had t o be assumed, even mor e out l andi sh. Namel y, t hat t he Pl an,
whi ch we had i nvent ed, cor r esponded i n ever y det ai l , i ncl udi ng t he desper at e f i nal
sear ch f or t he map, t o a r eal pl an, whi ch had al r eady i nvol ved Agl i e, Rakosky,
Rachkovsky, Ragot gky, t he bear ded gent l eman, and t he Tr es, not t o ment i on t he
Templ ar s of Pr ovi ns. Whi ch st or y i n t ur n was based on t he assumpt i on t hat t he
col onel was r i ght . Except t hat he was r i ght by bei ng wr ong, because our Pl an, af t er
al l , was di f f er ent f r omhi s, and i f hi s was t r ue, t hen our s coul dn' t be t r ue, and
vi ce ver sa, and t her ef or e, i f we wer e r i ght , why had Rakosky, t en year s ago, st ol en
a wr ong document f r omt he col onel ?
J ust r eadi ng, t he ot her mor ni ng, what Bel bo had conf i ded t o Abul af i a, I f el t l i ke
bangi ng my head agai nst t he wal l : t o convi nce mysel f t hat t he wal l , at l east t he
wal l , was r eal l y t her e. I i magi ned how Bel bo must have f el t t hat day, and i n t he
days t hat f ol l owed. But i t wasn' t over yet .
Needi ng someone t o t al k t o, he t el ephoned Lor enza. She wasn' t i n. He was wi l l i ng t o
bet he woul d never see her agai n. I n a way, Lor enza was a cr eat ur e i nvent ed by
Agl i e, and Agl i e was a cr eat ur e i nvent ed by Bel bo, and Bel bo no l onger knew who had
i nvent ed Bel bo. He pi cked up t he newspaper agai n. The one sur e t hi ng was t hat he was
t he man i n t he pol i ce dr awi ng. To convi nce hi mf ur t her , at t hat moment t he phone
r ang. For hi magai n, i n t he of f i ce. The same Bal kan accent , t he same i nst r uct i ons.
Meet i ng i n Par i s.
" Who ar e you, anyway?" Bel bo shout ed.
" We' r e t he Tr es, " t he voi ce r epl i ed, " and you know mor e about t he Tr es t han we do. "
Bel bo t ook t he bul l by t he hor ns and cal l ed De Angel i s. At headquar t er s t hey made
di f f i cul t i es; t he i nspect or , t hey sai d, was no l onger wor ki ng t her e. When Bel bo
i nsi st ed, t hey gave i n and put hi mt hr ough t o some of f i ce.
" Ah, Dr . Bel bo, what a sur pr i se! " De Angel i s sai d i n a t one t hat suggest ed sar casm.
" You' r e l ucky you caught me. I ' mpacki ng my sui t cases. "
" Sui t cases?" Was t hat a hi nt ?
" I ' ve been t r ansf er r ed t o Sar di ni a. A peacef ul assi gnment , appar ent l y. "
" I nspect or De Angel i s, I have t o t al k t o you. I t ' s ur gent . I t ' s about t hat
busi ness. . . . "
" Busi ness? What busi ness?"
" The col onel . And t he ot her t hi ng. . . Once, you asked Ca- saubon i f he' d hear d any
ment i on of t he Tr es. Wel l , I have. And I have t hi ngs t o t el l you, i mpor t ant t hi ngs. "
" I don' t want t o hear t hem. I t ' s not my case anymor e. And i t ' s a l i t t l e l at e i n t he
day, don' t you t hi nk?"
" Yes, I admi t i t . I kept somet hi ng f r omyou year s ago. But now I want t o t al k. "
" Not t o me, Dr . Bel bo. Fi r st of al l , I shoul d t el l you t hat someone i s sur el y
l i st eni ng t o our conver sat i on, and I want t hat someone t o know t hat I r ef use t o hear
anyt hi ng and t hat I don' t know anyt hi ng. I have t wo chi l dr en, smal l chi l dr en. And
I ' ve been t ol d somet hi ng coul d happen t o t hem. To show me i t wasn' t a j oke,
yest er day mor ni ng, when my wi f e st ar t ed t he car , t he hood bl ew of f . A ver y smal l
char ge, har dl y mor e t han a f i r ecr acker , but enough t o convi nce me t hat i f t hey want
t o, t hey can. I went t o t he chi ef , t ol d hi mI ' ve al ways done my dut y, somet i mes went
beyond t he cal l of dut y, but I ' mno her o. My l i f e I ' mwi l l i ng t o l ay down, but not
t he l i ves of my wi f e and chi l dr en. I asked f or a t r ansf er . Then I went and t ol d
ever ybody what a cowar d I am, and how I ' mshi t t i ng i n my pant s. Now I ' msayi ng i t t o
you and t o whoever ' s l i st eni ng t o us. I ' ve r ui ned my car eer , I ' ve l ost my
Page 256
sel f - r espect , I ' ma man wi t hout honor , but I ' msavi ng my l oved ones. Sar di ni a i s
ver y beaut i f ul , I ' mt ol d, and I won' t even have t o l ay money asi de t o send t he
chi l dr en t o t he beach i n t he summer . Good- bye. "
" Wai t , I ' mi n t r oubl e. . . . "
" You' r e i n t r oubl e? Good. When I asked f or your hel p, you woul dn' t gi ve i t t o me.
Nei t her woul d your f r i end Casaubon. But now t hat you' r e i n t r oubl e. . . Wel l , I ' mi n
t r oubl e, t oo. You' ve come t oo l at e. The pol i ce, as t hey say i n t he movi es, ar e at
t he ser vi ce of t he ci t i zen. I s t hat what you' r e t hi nki ng? Then cal l t he pol i ce, cal l
my successor . "
Bel bo hung up. Wonder f ul : t hey had even pr event ed hi mf r omt ur ni ng t o t he one
pol i ceman who mi ght have bel i eved hi m.
Then i t occur r ed t o hi mt hat Si gnor Gar amond, wi t h al l hi s acquai nt ances- pr ef ect s,
pol i ce chi ef s, hi gh of f i ci al s- coul d l end a hand. He r ushed t o hi m.
Gar amond l i st ened t o hi s st or y af f abl y, i nt er r upt i ng hi mwi t h pol i t e excl amat i ons
l i ke " You don' t say, " " Of al l t hi ngs, " " Why, i t sounds l i ke a novel . " Then he
cl asped hi s hands, l ooked at Bel bo wi t h pr of ound under st andi ng, and sai d: " My boy,
al l ow me t o cal l you t hat , because I coul d be your f at her - wel l , per haps not your
f at her , because I ' mst i l l a young man, mor e, a yout hf ul man, but your ol der br ot her ,
yes, i f you' l l al l ow me. I ' l l speak t o you f r omt he hear t . We' ve known each ot her
f or so many year s. I t seems t o me t hat you' r e over exci t ed, at t he end of your
t et her , ner ves shot , mor e, t i r ed. Don' t t hi nk I don' t appr eci at e i t ; I know you gi ve
body and soul t o t he Pr ess, and one day t hi s must be consi der ed al so i n what I mi ght
cal l mat er i al t er ms, because t hat never does any har m. But , i f I wer e you, I ' d t ake
a vacat i on.
" You say you f i nd your sel f i n an embar r assi ng si t uat i on. To be f r ank, I mi ght
say- not t o dr amat i ze- but i t woul d be unpl easant f or Gar amond Pr ess, t oo, i f one of
i t s edi t or s, i t s best edi t or , wer e i nvol ved i n any ki nd of dubi ous busi ness. You
t el l me t hat someone want s you t o t r avel t o Par i s. I t ' s not necessar y t o go i nt o
det ai l s; I bel i eve you, nat ur al l y. So go t o Par i s. I sn' t i t best t o cl ear t hi ngs up
at once? You say you f i nd your sel f - how shal l I put i t ?- on conf l i ct ual t er ms wi t h a
gent l eman l i ke Count Agl i e. I don' t want t o know t he det ai l s, or what happened
bet ween t he t wo of you, but I woul dn' t br ood t oo much on t hat si mi l ar i t y of names
you ment i oned. The wor l d i s f ul l of peopl e named Ger man, or somet hi ng si mi l ar . Don' t
you agr ee? I f Agl i e sends you wor d t o come t o Par i s and we' l l cl ear ever yt hi ng up,
wel l t hen, go t o Par i s. I t won' t be t he end of t he wor l d. I n human r el at i onshi ps,
i t ' s al ways best t o be st r ai ght f or war d, f r ank. Go t o Par i s, and i f you have anyt hi ng
on your chest , don' t hol d i t back. What ' s i n your hear t shoul d be on your l i ps. What
do al l t hese secr et s mat t er !
" Count Agl i e, i f I ' ve under st ood cor r ect l y, compl ai ns because you don' t want t o t el l
hi mwher e some map i s, some paper or message or what ever , somet hi ng you have and ar e
maki ng no use of , wher eas maybe our good f r i end Agl i e needs i t f or some schol ar l y
r eason. We' r e i n t he ser vi ce of cul t ur e, ar en' t we? Or amI wr ong? Gi ve i t t o hi m,
. t hi s map, t hi s at l as, t hi s char t - I don' t even want t o know what i t i s. I f i t means
so much t o hi m, he must have hi s r easons, sur el y wor t hy of r espect ; a gent l eman i s
al ways a gent l eman. Go t o Par i s, shake hands, and i t ' s done. Al l r i ght ? And don' t
wor r y mor e t han necessar y. You know I ' mal ways her e. " Then he pr essed t he i nt er com:
" Si gnor a Gr azi a. . . ah, not t her e. She' s never ar ound when you need her . You have
your t r oubl es, my dear Bel bo, but i f you onl y knew mi ne. Good- bye now. I f you see
Si gnor a Gr azi a i n t he cor r i dor , send her t o me. And get some r est : don' t f or get . "
Bel bo went out . Si gnor a Gr azi a wasn' t i n her of f i ce, but on her desk he saw t hat t he
r ed l i ght of Gar amond' s per sonal l i ne was on: Gar amond was cal l i ng someone. Bel bo
coul dn' t r esi st ( I bel i eve i t was t he f i r st t i me i n hi s l i f e he commi t t ed such an
i ndel i cacy) ; he pi cked up t he r ecei ver and l i st ened i n on t he conver sat i on. Gar amond
was sayi ng: " Don' t wor r y. I t hi nk I ' ve convi nced hi m. He' l l come t o Par i s. . . Onl y my
dut y. We bel ong t o t he same spi r i t ual kni ght hood, af t er al l . "
So Gar amond, t oo, was par t of t he secr et . What secr et ? The one t hat onl y he, Bel bo,
coul d r eveal . The one t hat di d not exi st .
I t was eveni ng by t hen. He went t o Pi l ade' s, exchanged a f ew wor ds wi t h someone or
ot her , dr ank t oo much. The next mor ni ng, he sought out t he onl y f r i end he had l ef t ,
Di ot al l evi . He went t o ask t he hel p of a dyi ng man.
Thei r l ast conver sat i on he r epor t ed f ever i shl y on Abul af i a. I t ' s a summar y. I was
unabl e t o t el l how much was Di ot al l evi ' s and how much was Bel bo' s, because i n bot h
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cases i t was t he mur mur i ng of one who speaks t he t r ut h because a knows t he t i me
has passed f or pl ayi ng wi t h i l l usi on.
110
And so i t happened t hat Rabbi I smahel ben El i sha and hi s di sci pl es, who wer e
st udyi ng t he book Yesi r ah and mi st ook he movement s and wal ked backwar d, sank i nt o
t he ear t h, t o i t s navel , t nanks t o t he st r engt h of l et t er s.
- Pseudo Saadya, Comment ar y on t he Sef er Yesi r ah
He had never seen hi s f r i end so whi t e. Di ot al l vi had har dl y any hai r now on hi s
head or eyebr ows or l ashes. He l ooked l i ke a bi l l i ar d bal l .
" For gi ve me, " Bel bo sai d. " Can we di scuss my si t uat i on?"
" Go ahead. I don' t have a si t uat i on. Onl y needs. "
" I hear d t hey have a new t her apy. These t hi ngs devour t went y- year - ol ds, but at f i f t y
i t ' s sl ower ; t her e' s t i me t o f i nd a cur e. "
" Speak f or your sel f . I ' mnot f i f t y yet . My body i s st i l l young. I have t he pr i vi l ege
of dyi ng mor e qui ckl y. Bv i t ' s har d f or me t o t al k. Tel l me what you have t o say, so
I can r est . "
Obedi ent , r espect f ul , Bel bo t ol d hi mt he whol e st or y.
Then Di ot al l evi , br eat hi ng l i ke t he Thi ng i n t he sci ence- f i ct i on movi e, t al ked. He
had, al so, t he t r anspar ency of t he Thi ng, t hat absence of boundar y bet ween ext er i or
and i nt er i or , bet ween ski n and f l esh, bet ween t he l i ght f uzz on hi s bel l y,
di scer ni bl e i n t he gap of hi s paj amas, and t he muci l agi nous t angi e of vi scer a t hat
onl y X r ays or a di sease i n an advanced st at e can make vi si bl e.
" J acopo, I ' mst uck her e i n a bed. I can' t deci de whet her what you' r e t el l i ng me i s
happeni ng onl y i nsi de your head, or whet her i t ' s happeni ng out si de. But i t doesn' t
mat t er . Whet her you' ve gone cr azy or t he wor l d has makes no di f f er ence. I n ei t her
case, someone has mi xed and shuf f l ed t he wor ds o. t he Book mor e t han was r i ght . "
" We' ve si nned agai nst t he Wor d, agai nst t hat whi ch cr eat ed and sust ai ns t he wor l d.
Now you ar e puni she. . f or i t , as I ampuni shed f or i t . Ther e' s no di f f er ence bet ween
you and me. "
A nur se came i n and put wat er on hi s t abl e. She t ol d Bel bo not t o t i r e hi m, but
Di ot al l evi waved her away: " Leave us al one. I have t o t el l hi m. The Tr ut h. Do you
know L Tr ut h?"
" Who, me? What a quest i on, si r . . . "
" Then go. I have t o t el l my f r i end somet hi ng i mpor t ant . Now l i st en, J acopo. J ust as
man' s body has l i mbs and j oi nt s and or gans, so does t he Tor ah. And as t he Tor ah, so
a man' s body. You f ol l ow me?"
" Yes. "
" Rabbi Mei r , when he was l ear ni ng f r omRabbi Aki ba, mi xed vi t r i ol i n t he i nk, and
t he mast er sai d not hi ng. But when Rabbi Mei r asked Rabbi I smahel i f he was doi ng t he
r i ght t hi ng, t he r abbi sai d t o hi m: Son, be caut i ous i n your wor k, because i t i s
di vi ne wor k, and i f you omi t one l et t er or wr i t e one l et t er t oo many, you dest r oy
t he whol e wor l d. . . . We t r i ed t o r ewr i t e t he Tor ah, but we pai d no heed t o whet her
t her e wer e t oo many l et t er s or t oo f ew. . . . "
" We wer e j oki ng. . . . "
" You don' t j oke wi t h t he Tor ah. "
" We wer e j oki ng wi t h hi st or y, wi t h ot her peopl e' s wr i t i ngs. . . "
" I s t her e a wr i t i ng t hat f ounds t he wor l d and i s not t he Book? Gi ve me a l i t t l e
wat er . No, not t he gl ass; wet t hat cl ot h. . . Thanks. Now l i st en. Rear r angi ng t he
l et t er s of t he Book means r ear r angi ng t he wor l d. Ther e' s no get t i ng away f r omi t .
Any book, even a spel l er . Peopl e l i ke your Dr . Wagner , don' t t hey say t hat a man who
pl ays wi t h wor ds and makes anagr ams and vi ol at es t he l anguage has ugl i ness i n hi s
soul and hat es hi s f at her ?"
" But t hose ar e psychoanal yst s. They say t hat t o make money. They ar en' t your
r abbi s. "
" They' r e al l r abbi s. They' r e al l sayi ng t he same t hi ng. Do you t hi nk t he r abbi s,
when t hey spoke of t he Tor ah, wer e t al ki ng about a scr ol l ? They wer e t al ki ng about
us, about r emaki ng our body t hr ough l anguage. Now, l i st en. To mani pul at e t he l et t er s
of t he Book t akes gr eat pi et y, and we di dn' t have i t . But ever y book i s i nt er woven
wi t h t he name of God. And we anagr ammat i zed al l t he books of hi st or y, and we di d i t
Page 258
wi t hout pr ayi ng. Li st en t o me, damn i t . He who concer ns hi msel f wi t h t he Tor ah keeps
t he wor l d i n mot i on, and he keeps i n mot i on hi s own body as he r eads, st udi es,
r ewr i t es, because t her e' s no par t of t he body t hat doesn' t have an equi val ent i n t he
wor l d. Wet t he cl ot h f or me. . . Thanks. I f you al t er t he Book, you al t er t he wor l d;
i f you al t er t he wor l d, you al t er t he body. Thi s i s what we di dn' t under st and.
" The Tor ah al l ows a wor d t o come out of i t s cof f er ; t he wor d appear s f or a moment ,
t hen hi des i mmedi at el y. I t i s r eveal ed onl y f or a moment and onl y t o i t s l over . I t ' s
a beaut i f ul woman who hi des i n a r emot e chamber of her pal ace. She wai t s f or one
whose exi st ence nobody knows of . I f anot her t r i es t o t ake her , t o put hi s di r t y
hands on her , she di smi sses hi m. She knows her bel oved; she opens t he door j ust a
l i t t l e, shows her sel f , and i mmedi at el y hi des agai n. The wor d of t he Tor ah r eveal s
i t sel f onl y t o hi mwho l oves i t . But we appr oached books wi t hout l ove, i n
mocker y. . . . "
Bel bo agai n moi st ened hi s f r i end' s l i ps wi t h t he cl ot h. " And so?"
" So we at t empt ed t o do what was not al l owed us, what we wer e not pr epar ed f or .
Mani pul at i ng t he wor ds of t he Book, we at t empt ed t o const r uct a gol em. "
" I don' t under st and. . . . "
" You can' t under st and. You' r e t he pr i soner of what you cr eat ed. But your st or y i n
t he out si de wor l d i s st i l l unf ol di ng. I don' t know how, but you can st i l l escape i t .
For me i t ' s di f f er ent . I amexper i enci ng i n my body ever yt hi ng we di d, as a j oke, i n
t he Pl an. "
" Don' t t al k nonsense. I t ' s a mat t er of cel l s. . . . "
" And what ar e cel l s? For mont hs, l i ke devout r abbi s, we ut t er ed di f f er ent
combi nat i ons of t he l et t er s of t he Book. GCC, CGC, GCG, CGG. What our l i ps sai d, our
cel l s l ear ned. What di d my cel l s do? They i nvent ed a di f f er ent Pl an, and now t hey
ar e pr oceedi ng on t hei r own, cr eat i ng a hi st or y, a uni que, pr i vat e hi st or y. My cel l s
have l ear ned t hat you can bl aspheme by anagr ammat i zi ng t he Book, and al l t he books
of t he wor l d. And t hey have l ear ned t o do t hi s now wi t h my body. They i nver t ,
t r anspose, al t er nat e, t r ansf or mt hemsel ves i nt o cel l s unhear d of , new cel l s wi t hout
meani ng, or wi t h meani ng cont r ar y t o t he r i ght meani ng. Ther e must be a r i ght
meani ng and a wr ong meani ng; ot her wi se you di e. My cel l s j oke, wi t hout f ai t h,
bl i ndl y.
" J acopo, whi l e I coul d st i l l r ead, dur i ng t hese past mont hs, I r ead di ct i onar i es, I
st udi ed hi st or i es of wor ds, t o under st and what was happeni ng i n my body. I st udi ed
l i ke a r abbi . Have you ever r ef l ect ed t hat t he l i ngui st i c t er m' met at hesi s' i s
si mi l ar t o t he oncol ogi cal t er m' met ast asi s' ? What i s met at hesi s? I nst ead of ' cl asp'
one says ' cl aps. ' I nst ead of ' bel oved' one says ' be- vol ed. ' I t ' s t he t emur ah. The
di ct i onar y says t hat met at hesi s means t r ansposi t i on or i nt er change, whi l e met ast asi s
i ndi cat es change and shi f t i ng. How st upi d di ct i onar i es ar e! The r oot i s t he same.
Ei t her i t ' s t he ver b met at i t hemi or t he ver b met hi st emi . Met at i t hemi means I
i nt er pose, I shi f t , I t r ansf er , I subst i t ut e, I abr ogat e a l aw, I change a meani ng.
And met hi st emi ? I t ' s t he same t hi ng: I move, I t r ansf or m, I t r anspose, I swi t ch
cl i ches, I t ake l eave of my senses. And as we sought secr et meani ngs beyond t he
l et t er , we al l t ook l eave of our senses. And so di d my cel l s, obedi ent l y, dut i f ul l y.
That ' s why I ' mdyi ng, J acopo, and you know i t . "
" You t al k l i ke t hi s because you' r e i l l . . . "
" I t al k l i ke t hi s because f i nal l y I under st and ever yt hi ng about my body. I ' ve
st udi ed i t day af t er day, I know what ' s happeni ng i n i t , but I can' t i nt er vene; t he
cel l s no l onger obey. I ' mdyi ng because I convi nced mysel f t hat t her e was no or der ,
t hat you coul d do what ever you l i ked wi t h any t ext . I spent my l i f e convi nci ng
mysel f of t hi s, I , wi t h my own br ai n. And my br ai n must have t r ansmi t t ed t he message
t o t hem. Why shoul d I expect t hemt o be wi ser t han my br ai n? I ' mdyi ng because we
wer e i magi nat i ve beyond bounds. "
" Li st en, what ' s happeni ng t o you has no connect i on wi t h our Pl an. "
" I t doesn' t ? Then expl ai n what ' s happeni ng t o you. The wor l d i s behavi ng l i ke my
cel l s. "
He sank back, exhaust ed. The doct or came i n and whi sper ed t o Bel bo t hat i t was wr ong
t o submi t a dyi ng man t o such st r ess.
Bel bo l ef t , and t hat was t he l ast t i me he saw Di ot al l evi .
Ver y wel l , he wr ot e, t he pol i ce ar e af t er me f or t he same r eason t hat Di ot al l evi has
cancer . Poor f r i end, he' s dyi ng, and I , who don' t have cancer , what amI doi ng? I ' m
goi ng t o Par i s t o f i nd t he pr i nci pl e of neopl asm.
But he di dn' t gi ve i n i mmedi at el y. He st ayed shut up i n hi s apar t ment f or f our days,
Page 259
r evi ewed hi s f i l es sent ence by sent ence, t o f i nd an expl anat i on. Then he wr ot e out
t hi s account , a f i nal t est ament , so t o speak, t el l i ng i t t o hi msel f , t o Abul af i a, t o
me, or t o anyone el se who was abl e t o r ead i t . And f i nal l y, Tuesday, he l ef t .
I bel i eve Bel bo went t o Par i s t o say t o t hemt her e was no secr et , t hat t he r eal
secr et was t o l et t he cel l s pr oceed accor di ng t o t hei r own i nst i nct i ve wi sdom, t hat
seeki ng myst er i es beneat h t he sur f ace r educed t he wor l d t o a f oul cancer , and t hat
of al l t he peopl e i n t he wor l d, t he most f oul , t he most st upi d per son was Bel bo
hi msel f , who knew not hi ng and had i nvent ed ever yt hi ng. Such a st ep must have cost
hi mdear , but he had accept ed f or t oo l ong t he pr emi se t hat he was a cowar d, and De
Angel i s had cer t ai nl y shown hi mt hat her oes wer e f ew.
I n Par i s, af t er t he f i r st meet i ng, Bel bo must have r eal i zed They woul dn' t bel i eve
hi m. Hi s wor ds wer e t oo undr amat i c, t oo si mpl e. I t was a r evel at i on They want ed, on
pai n of deat h. Bel bo had no r evel at i on t o gi ve, and- hi s f i nal cowar di ce- he f ear ed
deat h. So he t r i ed t o cover hi s t r acks, and he cal l ed me. But They caught hi m.
111
C' est une l eôn par l a sui t e. Quand vot r e ennemi se r epr odui r a, car i l n' est pas i i
son der ni er masque, congedi ez- l e br usquement , et sur t out n' al l ez pas l e cher cher
dans l es gr ot t es.
- J acques Cazot t e, Le di abl e amour eux, 1772, f r oma page suppr essed i n l at er edi t i ons
Now, i n Bel bo' s apar t ment , as I f i ni shed r eadi ng hi s conf essi ons, I asked mysel f :
What shoul d I do? No poi nt goi ng t o Gar amond. De Angel i s had l ef t . Di ot al l evi had
sai d ever yt hi ng he had t o say. Li a was f ar of f , i n a pl ace wi t hout a t el ephone. I t
was si x i n t he mor ni ng, Sat ur day, J une 23, and i f somet hi ng was goi ng t o happen, i t
woul d happen t oni ght , i n t he Conser vat oi r e. I had t o deci de qui ckl y.
Why- I asked mysel f l at er , i n t he per i scope- di dn' t you pr et end not hi ng had happened?
You had bef or e you t he t ext s of a madman, a madman who had t al ked wi t h ot her madmen,
i ncl udi ng a l ast conver sat i on wi t h an over exci t ed ( or over depr essed) dyi ng f r i end.
You wer en' t even sur e Bel bo had cal l ed you f r omPar i s. Maybe he was t al ki ng f r om
somewher e a f ew ki l omet er s out si de Mi l an, or maybe f r omt he boot h on t he cor ner . Why
i nvol ve your sel f i n a st or y t hat was i magi nar y and t hat di dn' t concer n you anyway?
Thi s was t he quest i on I set mysel f i n t he per i scope, as my f eet wer e gr owi ng numb
and t he l i ght was f adi ng, and I f el t t he unnat ur al yet ver y nat ur al f ear t hat anyone
woul d f eel at ni ght , al one, i n a deser t ed museum. But ear l y t hat mor ni ng, I had f el t
no f ear . Onl y cur i osi t y. And, per haps, dut y, f r i endshi p.
I t ol d mysel f t hat I , t oo, shoul d go t o Par i s. I wasn' t qui t e sur e why, but I
coul dn' t deser t Bel bo now. Maybe he was count i ng on me t o sl i p, under cover of
ni ght , i nt o J he cave of t he Thugs, and, as Suyodhana was about t o pl unge t he
sacr i f i ci al kni f e i nt o hi s hear t , t o bur st i nt o t he under gr ound t empl e wi t h my
sepoys, t hei r musket s l oaded wi t h. gr apeshot , and car r y hi mt o saf et y.
Lucki l y, I had a l i t t l e money on me. I n Par i s I got i nt oâ t axi and t ol d t he dr i ver
t o t ake me t o r ue de l a Mant i cor e. He gr umbl ed, cur sed; t he st r eet coul dn' t be f ound
even i n t hose gui des t hey have. I n f act , i t t ur ned out t o be an al l ey no wi der t han
t he ai sl e of a t r ai n. I t was i n t he nei ghbor hood of t he ol d Bi evr e, behi nd
Sai nt - J ul i en- l e- Pauvr e. The t axi coul dn' t even ent er i t ; t he dr i ver l ef t me at t he
cor ner .
Uneasi l y, I ent er ed t he al l ey. Ther e wer e no door ways. At a cer t ai n poi nt t he st r eet
wi dened a l i t t l e, and I came t o a bookshop. Why i t had t he number 3 I don' t know,
si nce t her e was no number 1 or 2, or any ot her st r eet number . I t was a gr i my l i t t l e
shop, l i ght ed by a si ngl e bul b. Hal f of t he doubl e door ser ved as a di spl ay case.
I t s si des hel d per haps a f ew dozen books, i ndi cat i ng t he shop' s speci al t i es. On a
shel f , some pendul ums, dust y boxes of i ncense st i cks, l i t t l e amul et s, Or i ent al or
Sout h Amer i can, and t ar ot decks of di ver se or i gi n.
The i nt er i or was no mor e wel comi ng: a mass of books on t he wal l s and on t he f l oor ,
wi t h a l i t t l e t abl e at t he back, and a booksel l er who seemed put t her e del i ber at el y,
so t hat a wr i t er coul d wr i t e t hat t he man was mor e decr epi t t han hi s books. Thi s
per son, hi s nose i n a bi g handwr i t t en l edger , was t aki ng no i nt er est i n hi s
cust omer s, of whi ch at t he moment t her e wer e onl y t wo, and t hey r ai sed cl ouds of
dust as t hey dr ew out ol d vol umes, near l y al l wi t hout bi ndi ngs, f r omt eet er i ng
shel ves, and began r eadi ng t hem, gi vi ng no i mpr essi on of want i ng t o buy.
The onl y space not cl ut t er ed wi t h shel ves was occupi ed by a post er . Gar i sh col or s, a
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ser i es of oval por t r ai t s wi t h doubl e bor der s, as i n t he post er s of t he magi ci an
Houdi ni . " Le Pet i t Ci r que de PI ncr oyabl e. Madame Ol cot t et ses l i ens avec
1' I nvi si bl e. " An ol i ve- ski nned, manni sh f ace, t wo bands of bl ack hai r gat her ed i n a
knot at t he nape. I had seen t hat f ace bef or e, I t hought . " Les Der vi ches Hur l eur s et
l eur danse sacr ee. Les Fr eaks Mi g- nons, ou Les Pet i t s- f i l s de For t uni o Li cet i . " An
assor t ment of pat het i c, abomi nabl e l i t t l e monst er s. " Al ex et Denys, l es Geant s
d' Aval on. Theo, Leo et Geo Fox, l es Enl umi neur s de 1' Ect o- pl asme. . . "
The Li br ai r i e Sl oane t r ul y suppl i ed ever yt hi ng f r omt he cr adl e t o t he gr ave; i t even
adver t i sed heal t hy ent er t ai nment , a sui t abl e pl ace t o t ake t he chi l dr en bef or e
gr i ndi ng t hemup i n t he mor t ar . I hear d a phone r i ng. The shopkeeper pushed asi de a
pi l e of paper s unt i l he f ound t he r ecei ver . " Oui , monsi eur , " he sai d, " c' est bi en
ca. " He l i st ened f or a f ew mi nut es, nodded, t hen assumed a puzzl ed l ook, or at l east
i t was t he pr et ense of puzzl ement , on account of t hose pr esent , as i f ever ybody
coul d hear what he was hear i ng and he di dn' t want t o assume r esponsi bi l i t y f or i t .
Then he t ook on t hat shocked expr essi on of a Par i si an shopkeeper when you ask f or
somet hi ng he doesn' t have i n hi s shop, or a hot el cl er k when t her e ar e no r ooms
avai l abl e. " Ah, non, monsi eur . Ah, ca. . . Non, non, monsi eur , c' est pas not r e oul ot .
I ci , vous savez, on vend des l i vr es, on peut bi en vous consei l l er sur des
cat al ogues, mai s ca. . . I I s' agi t de pr obl emes t r es per sonnel s, et nous. . . Oh, al or s,
i l y a- sai s pas, moi - des cur es, des. . . oui , si vous voul ez, des exor ci st es.
D' accor d, j e l e sai s, on connai t des conf r er es qui se pr et ent . . . Mai s pas nous. Non,
vr ai ment l a descr i pt i on ne me suf f i t pas, et quand meme. . . Desol e' , monsi eur .
Comment ? Oui . . . si vous voul ez. C' est un endr oi t bi en connu, mai s ne demandez pas mon
avi s. C' est bi en ca, vous savez, dans ces cas, l a conf i ance c' est t out . A vot r e
ser vi ce, monsi eur . "
The ot her t wo cust omer s l ef t . I f el t i l l at ease but st eel ed mysel f and at t r act ed
t he ol d man' s at t ent i on wi t h a cough. I t ol d hi mI was l ooki ng f or an acquai nt ance,
a f r i end who, I t hought , of t en st opped by her e: Monsi eur Agl i e. Agai n t he man had
t he shocked l ook he had had whi l e on t he t el ephone. Per haps, I sai d, he di dn' t know
hi mas Agl i e, but as Rakosky or Sol t i kof f or . . . The booksel l er l ooked at me agai n,
nar r owi ng hi s eyes, and r emar ked col dl y t hat I had f r i ends wi t h cur i ous names. I
t ol d hi mnever mi nd, i t was not i mpor t ant , I was mer el y i nqui r i ng. Wai t , he sai d; my
par t ner i s ar r i vi ng and he may know t he per son you ar e l ooki ng f or . Have a seat ,
pl ease; t her e' s a chai r i n t he back, t her e. I ' l l j ust make a cal l and check. He
pi cked up t he phone, di al ed a number , and spoke i n a l ow voi ce.
Casaubon, I sai d t o mysel f , you' r e even st upi der t han Bel bo. What ar e you wai t i ng
f or ? For Themt o come and say, Oh, what a f i ne coi nci dence, J acopo Bel bo' s f r i end as
wel l ; come, come al ong, yes, you t oo. . . .
I st ood up abr upt l y, sai d goodbye, and l ef t . I n a mi nut e I was out of r ue de l a
Mant i cor e, i n anot her al l ey, t hen at t he Sei ne. Fool ! I sai d t o mysel f . What di d you
expect ? To wal k i n, f i nd Agl i e, t ake hi mby t he l apel s, and hear hi mapol ogi ze and
say i t was al l a mi sunder st andi ng, her e' s your f r i end, we di dn' t t ouch a hai r on hi s
head. And now t hey know t hat you' r e her e, t oo.
I t was past noon, and t hat eveni ng somet hi ng woul d t ake pl ace i n t he Conser vat oi r e.
What was I t o do? I t ur ned i nt o r ue Sai nt - J acques, ever y now and t hen l ooki ng over
my shoul der . An Ar ab seemed t o be f ol l owi ng me. But what made me t hi nk he was an
Ar ab? The t hi ng about Ar abs i s t hat t hey don' t l ook l i ke Ar abs, or at l east not i n
Par i s. I n St ockhol mi t woul d be di f f er ent .
I passed a hot el , went i n, asked f or a r oom, got a key. As I was goi ng upst ai r s,
wooden st ai r s wi t h a r ai l i ng, f r omt he second- f l oor l andi ng t he desk was st i l l
vi si bl e and I saw t he pr esumed Ar ab ent er . Then I not i ced t hat i n t he cor r i dor t her e
wer e ot her peopl e who coul d have been Ar abs. Of cour se, t hat nei ghbor hood was f ul l
of l i t t l e hot el s f or Ar abs. What di d I expect ?
I went i nt o t he r oom. I t was decent ; t her e was even a t el ephone. Too bad I di dn' t
know anyone I coul d cal l .
I dozed f i t f ul l y unt i l t hr ee. Then I washed my f ace and headed f or t he
Conser vat oi r e. Now t her e was not hi ng el se f or me t o do but ent er t he museum, st ay on
af t er cl osi ng, and wai t f or mi dni ght .
Whi ch I di d. And a f ew hour s bef or e mi dni ght , I f ound mysel f i n t he per i scope,
wai t i ng.
Nezah, f or some i nt er pr et er s, i s t he Sef i r ah of endur ance, f or bear ance, const ant
pat i ence. I n f act , a t est l ay ahead of us. But f or ot her i nt er pr et er s, i t i s
vi ct or y. Whose vi ct or y? Per haps, i n t hi s st or y f ul l of t he def eat ed, of t he
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Di abol i cal s mocked by Bel bo, of Bel bo mocked by t he Di abol i cal s, of Di ot al l evi
mocked by hi s cel l s, I was- f or t he moment - t he onl y vi ct or i ous one. Lyi ng i n wai t i n
t he per i scope, I knew about t he ot her s, but t he ot her s di dn' t know about me. The
f i r st par t of my scheme had gone accor di ng t o pl an.
And t he second? Woul d i t , t oo, go accor di ng t o pl an, or woul d i t go accor di ng t o t he
Pl an, whi ch now was no l onger mi ne?
HOD
112
Four our Or di nances and Ri t es: We have t wo ver y l ong and f ai r e Gal l er i es i n t he
Templ e of t he Rosi e Cr oss; I n one of t hese we pl ace pat t er ns and sampl es of al l
manner s of t he mor e r ar e and excel l ent i nvent i ons; I n t he ot her we pl ace t he St at ues
of al l pr i nci pal I nvent our s.
- J ohn Heydon, The Engl i sh Physi t i ans Gui de: Or A Hol y Gui de, London, Fer ns, 1662,
The Pr ef ace
I had st ayed i n t he per i scope t oo l ong. I t must have been t en, t en- t hi r t y. I f
somet hi ng was goi ng t o happen, i t woul d happen i n t he nave, bef or e t he Pendul um. I
had t o go down t her e and f i nd a hi di ng pl ace, an obser vat i on post . I f I ar r i ved t oo
l at e, af t er They ent er ed ( f r omwher e?) , They woul d not i ce me.
Go downst ai r s. Move. . . For hour s I had wai t ed f or t hi s, but now t hat i t was
possi bl e, even wi se, t o do i t , I f el t somehow par al yzed. I woul d have t o cr oss t he
r ooms at ni ght , usi ng my f l ashl i ght onl y when necessar y. The bar est hi nt of a
noct ur nal gl ow f i l t er ed t hr ough t he bi g wi ndows. I had i magi ned a museummade
ghost l y by t he moon' s r ays; I was wr ong. The gl ass cases r ef l ect ed vague gl i nt s f r om
out si de; t hat was al l . I f I di dn' t move car ef ul l y, I coul d go spr awl i ng on t he
f l oor , coul d knock over somet hi ng wi t h a shat t er of gl ass, a cl ang of met al . Now and
t hen I t ur ned on t he f l ashl i ght , t ur ned i t of f . Pr oceedi ng, I f el t as i f I wer e at
t he Cr azy Hor se. The sudden beamr eveal ed a nakedness, not of f l esh, but of scr ews,
cl amps, r i vet s.
What i f I wer e suddenl y t o r eveal a l i vi ng pr esence, t he f i gur e of an envoy of t he
Mast er s echoi ng, mi r r or i ng my pr ogr ess? Who woul d be t he f i r st t o shout ? I l i st ened.
I n vai n. Gl i di ng, I made no noi se. Nei t her di d he.
That af t er noon I had st udi ed car ef ul l y t he sequence of t he r ooms, i n or der t o be
abl e t o f i nd t he gr eat st ai r case even i n t he dar kness. But i nst ead I was wander i ng,
gr opi ng. I had l ost my bear i ngs.
Per haps I was goi ng i n ci r cl es, cr ossi ng some of t he r ooms f or t he second t i me;
per haps I woul d never get out of t hi s pl ace; per haps t hi s gr opi ng among meani ngl ess
machi nes was t he r i t e.
The t r ut h was, I di dn' t want t o go down. I want ed t o post pone t he r endezvous.
I had emer ged f r omt he per i scope af t er a l ong and mer ci l ess exami nat i on of
consci ence, I had r evi ewed our er r or of t he l ast year s and t r i ed t o under st and why,
wi t hout any r easonabl e r eason, I was now her e hunt i ng f or Bel bo, who was her e f or
r easons even l ess r easonabl e. But t he moment I set f oot out si de t he per i scope,
ever yt hi ng changed. As I advanced, I advanced wi t h anot her man' s head. I became
Bel bo. Li ke Bel bo, now at t he end of hi s l ong j our ney t owar d enl i ght enment , I knew
t hat ever y ear t hl y obj ect , even t he most squal i d, must be r ead as t he hi er ogl yph of
somet hi ng el se, and t hat t her e i s not hi ng, no obj ect , as r eal as t he Pl an. How
cl ever I was! A f l ash of l i ght , a gl ance, was al l i t t ook, and I under st ood. I woul d
not l et mysel f be decei ved.
. . . Fr oment ' s Mot or : a ver t i cal st r uct ur e on a r homboi d base. I t encl osed, l i ke an
anat omi cal f i gur e exhi bi t i ng i t s r i bs and vi scer a, a ser i es of r eel s, bat t er i es,
ci r cui t br eaker s- what t he hel l di d t he t ext books cal l t hem?- and t he t hi ng was dr i ven
by a t r ansmi ssi on bel t f ed by a t oot hed wheel . . . What coul d i t have been used f or ?
Page 262
Answer : f or measur i ng t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s, of cour se.
Accumul at or s. What di d t hey accumul at e? I i magi ned t he Thi r t y- si x I nvi si bl es as
st ubbor n secr et ar i es ( keeper s of t he secr et ) t appi ng al l ni ght on t hei r
cl avi er - scr i bes t o pr oduce f r omt hi s machi ne a sound, a spar k, al l of t hemi nt ent on
a di al og f r omcoast t o coast , f r omabyss t o sur f ace, f r omMachu Pi cchu t o Aval on,
come i n, come i n, hel l o hel l o hel l o, Pamer si el Pa- mer si el , we' ve caught a t r emor ,
cur r ent Mu 36, t he one t he Br ahmans wor shi ped as t he br eat h of God, now I ' l l pl ug i n
t he t ap, t he val ve, aU mi cr o- macr ocosmi c ci r cui t s oper at i onal , al l t he mandr ake
r oot s shudder i ng beneat h t he cr ust of t he gl obe, you hear t he song of t he Uni ver sal
Sympat het i c, over and out .
My God, ar mi es sl aught er ed one anot her acr oss t he pl ai ns of Eur ope, popes hur l ed
anat hemas, emper or s met , hemophi l i ac and i ncest uous, i n t he hunt i ng l odge of t he
Pal at i ne gar dens, al l t o suppl y a cover , a sumpt uous f acade f or t he wor k of t hese
wi r el ess oper at or s who i n t he House of Sol omon wer e l i st eni ng f or pal e echoes f r om
t he Umbi l i cus Mundi .
And as t hey oper at ed t hese pseudot her mi c hexat et r agr ammat i c
el ect r ocapi l l at or i es- t hat ' s how Gar amond woul d have put i t - ever y now and t hen
someone woul d i nvent , say, a vacci ne or an el ect r i c bul b, a t r i umph i n t he wonder f ul
advent ur e of met al s, but t he r eal t ask was qui t e di f f er ent : her e t hey ar e, assembl ed
at mi dni ght , t o spi n t hi s st at i c- el ect r i ci t y machi ne of Ducr et et , a t r anspar ent
wheel t hat l ooks l i ke a bandol eer , and, i nsi de i t , t wo l i t t l e vi br at i ng bal l s
suppor t ed by ar ched st i cks, and when t hey t ouch, spar ks f l y, and Dr . Fr ankenst ei n
hopes t o gi ve l i f e t o hi s gol em, but no, t he si gnal has anot her pur pose: Di g, di g,
ol d mol e. . .
A sewi ng machi ne ( what el se? One of t hose engr avi ng- adver t i sement s, al ong wi t h pi l l s
f or devel opi ng one' s bust , and t he gr eat eagl e f l yi ng over t he mount ai ns wi t h t he
r est or at i ve cor di al i n i t s t al ons, Robur l e Conquer ant , R. C. ) , but when you t ur n i t
on, i t t ur ns a wheel , and t he wheel t ur ns a coi l , and t he coi l . . . What does t he coi l
do? Who i s l i st eni ng t o t he coi l ? The l abel says, " Cur r ent s i nduced f r omt he
t er r est r i al f i el d. " Shamel ess! Ther e t o be r ead even by chi l dr en on t hei r af t er noon
vi si t s! Manki nd bel i eved i t was goi ng i n a di f f er ent di r ect i on, bel i eved ever yt hi ng
was possi bl e, bel i eved i n t he supr emacy of exper i ment , of mechani cs. The Mast er s of
t he Wor l d have decei ved us f or cent ur i es. Enf ol ded, swaddl ed, seduced by t he Pl an,
we wr ot e poems i n pr ai se of t he l ocomot i ve.
I passed by. I i magi ned mysel f dwi ndl i ng, an ant - si zed, dazed pedest r i an i n t he
st r eet s of a mechani cal ci t y, met al l i c skyscr aper s on ever y si de. Cyl i nder s,
bat t er i es, Leyden j ar s one above t he ot her , mer r y- go- r ound cent r i f uges, t our ni quet
el ec- t r i que a at t r act i on et r epul si on, a t al i sman t o st i mul at e t he sympat het i c
cur r ent s, col onnade et i ncel ant e f or mee de r i euf t ubes, el ect r oai mant , a gui l l ot i ne,
and i n t he cent er - i t l ooked l i ke a pr i nt i ng pr ess- hooks hung f r omchai ns, t he ki nd
you mi ght see i n a st abl e. A pr ess i n whi ch you coul d cr ush a hand, a head. A gl ass
bel l wi t h a pneumat i c pump, t wo- cyl i nder , a ki nd of al embi c, wi t h a cup under neat h
and, t o t he r i ght , a copper spher e. I n i t Sai nt - Ger mai n concoct ed hi s dyes f or t he
l andgr ave of Hesse.
A pi pe r ack wi t h t wo r ows of l i t t l e hour gl asses, t en t o a r ow, t hei r necks el ongat ed
l i ke t he neck of a Modi gl i ani woman, some unspeci f i ed mat er i al i nsi de, and t he upper
bul ge of each expanded t o a di f f er ent si ze, l i ke bal l oons about t o t ake of f . Thi s,
an appar at us f or t he pr oduct i on of t he Rebi s, wher e anyone coul d see i t .
Then t he gl asswor ks sect i on. I had r et r aced my st eps. Li t t l e gr een bot t l es: a sadi st
host of f er i ng me poi sons i n qui nt essence. I r on machi nes f or maki ng bot t l es, opened
and cl osed by t wo cr anks. What i f , i nst ead of a bot t l e, someone put a wr i st i n
t her e? Whack! And i t woul d be t he same wi t h t hose gr eat pi ncer s, t hose i mmense
sci ssor s, t hose cur ved scal pel s t hat coul d be i nser t ed i nt o sphi nct er s or ear s, i nt o
t he ut er us t o ext r act t he st i l l - l i vi ng f et us, whi ch woul d be gr ound wi t h honey and
pepper t o sat e t he appet i t e of Ast ar t e. . . The r oomI was now cr ossi ng had br oad
cases, and but t ons t o set i n mot i on cor kscr ews t hat woul d advance i nexor abl y t owar d
t he vi ct i m' s eye, t he Pi t and t he Pendul um. We wer e cl ose t o car f eat ur e now, t o t he
r i di cul ous cont r apt i ons of Rube Gol dber g, t he t or t ur e r acks on whi ch Bi g Pet e bound
Mi ckey Mouse, t he engr enage ext er i eur a t r oi s pi gnons, t r i umph of Renai ssance
mechani cs, Br anca, Ramel l i , Zonca. I knew t hese gear s, I had put t hemi n t he
wonder f ul advent ur e of met al s, but t hey had been added her e l at er , i n t he l ast
cent ur y, and wer e r eady t o r est r ai n t he unr ul y af t er t he conquest of t he wor l d; t he
Templ ar s had l ear ned f r omt he Assassi ns how t o shut up Nof f o Dei when t he t i me of
Page 263
hi s capt ur e came; t he swast i ka of Sebot t endor f woul d t wi st , i n t he di r ect i on of t he
sun, t he t wi t chi ng l i mbs of t he enemi es of t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d. Al l r eady,
t hese i nst r ument s awai t ed a si gn, ever yt hi ng i n f ul l vi ew, t he Pl an was publ i c, but
nobody coul d have guessed i t , t he cr eaki ng mechani cal maws woul d si ng t hei r hymn of
conquest , gr eat or gy of mout hs, al l t eet h t hat l ocked and meshed exact l y, mout hs
si ngi ng i n t i ck- t ock spasms.
Fi nal l y I came t o t he emet t eur a et i ncel l es souf f l ees desi gned f or t he Ei f Fel Tower ,
f or t he emi ssi on of t i me si gnal s bet ween Fr ance, Tuni si a, and Russi a, t he Templ ar s
of Pr ovi ns, t he Pau- l i ci ans, t he Assassi ns of Fez. ( Fez i sn' t i n Tuni si a, and t he
Assassi ns, anyway, wer e i n Per si a, but you can' t spl i t hai r s when you l i ve i n t he
coi l s of Tr anscendent Ti me. ) I had seen i t bef or e, t hi s i mmense machi ne, t al l er t han
I , i t s wal l s per f or at ed by a ser i es of por t hol es, ai r duct s. The si gn sai d i t was a
r adi o appar at us, but I knew bet t er , I had passed i t t hat same af t er noon. The
Beaubour g!
For al l t o see. And, f or t hat mat t er , what was t he r eal pur pose of t hat enor mous box
i n t he cent er of Lut et i a ( Lut et i a, t he ai r duct i n a subt er r anean sea of mud) , wher e
once t her e was t he Bel l y of Par i s, wi t h t hose pr ehensi l e pr obosci ses of vent s, t hat
i nsani t y of pi pes, condui t s, t hat Ear of Di onysi us open t o t he sky t o capt ur e
sounds, messages, si gnal s, and send t hemt o t he ver y cent er of t he gl obe, and t hen
t o r et ur n t hem, vomi t i ng out i nf or mat i on f r omhel l ? Fi r st t he Conser vat oi r e, a
l abor at or y, t hen t he Tower , a pr obe, and f i nal l y t he Beaubour g, a gl obal t r ansmi t t er
and r ecei ver . Had t hey set up t hat huge suct i on cup j ust t o ent er t ai n a handf ul of
hai r y, smel l y st udent s, who went t her e t o l i st en t o t he l at est r ecor d wi t h a
J apanese headset ? For al l t o see. The Beaubour g, gat e t o t he under gr ound ki ngdomof
Agar t t ha, t he monument of t he Resur gent es Equi t es Synar chi ci . And t he r est - t wo,
t hr ee, f our bi l l i on of t hemwer e unawar e of t hi s, or f or ced t hemsel ves t o l ook t he
ot her way. I di ot s and hyl i cs. Whi l e t he pneumat i cs headed st r ai ght f or t hei r goal ,
t hr ough si x cent ur i es.
* * *
Unexpect edl y, I f ound t he st ai r case. I went down, wi t h i ncr easi ng caut i on. Mi dni ght
was appr oachi ng. I had t o hi de i n my obser vat i on post bef or e They ar r i ved.
I t was about el even. I cr ossed t he Lavoi si er hal l wi t hout t ur ni ng on t he f l ashl i ght ,
r emember i ng t he hal l uci nat i ons of t hat af t er noon. I cr ossed t he cor r i dor wi t h t he
model t r ai ns.
Ther e wer e al r eady peopl e i n t he nave: di ml i ght s movi ng, t he sound of shuf f l i ng, of
obj ect s bei ng dr agged.
Woul d I have t i me t o make i t t o t he sent r y box? I sl i pped al ong t he cases wi t h t he
model t r ai ns and was soon cl ose t o t he st at ue of Gr amme, i n t he t r ansept . On a
wooden pedest al , cubi c i n f or m( t he cubi c st one of Yesod! ) , i t st ood as i f t o guar d
t he ent r ance t o t he choi r . My St at ue of Li ber t y was al most di r ect l y behi nd i t .
The f r ont panel of t he pedest al had been l ower ed, a ki nd of gangpl ank al l owi ng
peopl e t o ent er t he nave f r omsome conceal ed passage. I n f act , an i ndi vi dual emer ged
f r omt her e wi t h a l ant er n- a gas l ant er n, wi t h col or ed gl ass, whi ch i l l umi nat ed hi s
f ace i n r ed pat ches. I pr essed mysel f i nt o a cor ner , and he di dn' t see me. A second
man j oi ned hi mf r omt he choi r . " Vi t e, " he sai d. " Hur r y. I n an hour t hey' l l be her e. "
So t hi s was t he vanguar d, pr epar i ng somet hi ng f or t he r i t e. I f t her e wer en' t t oo
many of t hem, I coul d st i l l r each Li ber t y bef or e They ar r i ved- God knows f r omwher e,
and i n what number s- by t he same r out e. For a l ong whi l e I cr ouched l ow, f ol l owi ng
t he gl i nt s of t he l ant er ns i n t he chur ch, t he r egul ar al t er nat i on of t he l i ght s
bet ween gr eat er and l esser i nt ensi t y. I cal cul at ed how f ar t hey moved away f r om
Li ber t y and how much of i t r emai ned i n shadow. Then, at a cer t ai n moment , I r i sked
i t , squeezed past t he l ef t si de of Gr amme, at i ght f i t , pai nf ul , even sucki ng i n my
st omach. Lucki l y, I was t hi n as a r ai l . Li a. . . I made a dash, sl i pped i nt o t he sent r y
box, wher e I sank t o t he f l oor and cur l ed up i n a f et al posi t i on. My hear t r aced; my
t eet h chat t er ed.
I had t o r el ax. I br eat hed t hr ough my nose r hyt hmi cal l y, my br eat hs gr adual l y deeper
and deeper . Thi s i s how, under t or t ur e, you can make your sel f l ose consci ousness and
escape t he pai n. And, i n f act , I sank sl owl y i nt o t he embr ace of t he Subt er r anean
Wor l d.
113
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Our cause i s a secr et wi t hi n a secr et , a secr et t hat onl y anot her secr et can
expl ai n; i t i s a secr et about a secr et t hat i s vei l ed by a secr et .
- J a ' f ar as- Sadi q, si xt h I mam
Sl owl y, I r egai ned consci ousness, hear d sounds; t he l i ght , now st r onger , made me
bl i nk. My f eet wer e numb. When I t r i ed t o get up, maki ng no noi se, I f el t I was
st andi ng on a bed of spi ny sea ur chi ns. The Li t t l e Mer mai d. Si l ent l y I st ood on
t i pt oe, t hen bent my knees, and t he pai n l essened. Peer i ng out caut i ousl y, l ef t and
r i ght , I saw t hat t he sent r y box was st i l l pr et t y much i n t he shadows. Onl y t hen di d
I t ake i n t he scene.
The nave was i l l umi nat ed on al l si des. Ther e wer e now dozens and dozens of l ant er ns,
car r i ed by new ar r i val s, who wer e ent er i ng f r omt he passage behi nd me. They moved by
on my l ef t , i nt o t he choi r , or l i ned up i n t he nave. My God, I sai d t o mysel f , a
Ni ght on Bal d Mount ai n, Wal t Di sney ver si on.
They di dn' t r ai se t hei r voi ces; t hey whi sper ed, t oget her cr eat i ng a noi se l i ke a
cr owd scene i n a pl ay: r hubar b r hubar b.
To t he l ef t , t he l ant er ns wer e set on t he f l oor i n a semi ci r cl e, compl et i ng, wi t h a
f l at t ened ar c, t he east er n cur ve of t he choi r , and t ouchi ng, at t he sout her nmost
poi nt , t he st at ue of Pascal . A bur ni ng br azi er had been pl aced t her e, and on i t
someone was t hr owi ng her bs, essences. The smoke r eached me i n t he box, par ched my
t hr oat , gave me a f eel i ng of dazed exci t ement .
I n t he cent er of t he choi r , i n t he f l i cker i ng of t he l ant er ns, somet hi ng st i r r ed, a
sl ender shadow.
The Pendul um! The Pendul umno l onger swayed i n i t s f ami l i ar pl ace i n t he cent er of
t he t r ansept . A l ar ger ver si on of i t had been hung f r omt he keyst one i n t he cent er
of t he choi r . The spher e was l ar ger ; t he wi r e much t hi cker , l i ke a hawser , I
t hought , or a cabl e of br ai ded met al st r ands. The Pendul um, now enor mous, must have
appear ed t hi s way i n t he Pant heon. I t was l i ke behol di ng t he moon t hr ough a
t el escope.
They had r e- cr eat ed t he pendul umt hat t he Templ ar s f i r st exper i ment ed wi t h, hal f a
mi l l enni umbef or e Foucaul t . To al l ow i t t o sway f r eel y, t hey had r emoved some r i bs
and suppor t i ng beams, t ur ni ng t he amphi t heat er of t he choi r i nt o a cr ude symmet r i cal
ant i st r ophe mar ked out by t he l ant er ns.
I asked mysel f how t he Pendul umcoul d mai nt ai n i t s const ant osci l l at i on, si nce t he
magnet i c r egul at or coul d not be beneat h i t now, i n t he f l oor . Then I under st ood. At
t he edge of t he choi r , near t he di esel engi nes, st ood an i ndi vi dual r eady t o dar t
l i ke a cat t o f ol l ow t he pl ane of osci l l at i on. He gave t he spher e a l i t t l e push each
t i me i t came t owar d hi m, a pr eci se l i ght t ap of t he hand or t he f i nger t i ps.
He was i n t ai l s, l i ke Mandr ake. Lat er , seei ng hi s compani ons, I r eal i zed t hat he was
i ndeed a magi ci an, a pr est i di gi t at or f r omLe Pet i t Ci r que of Madame Ol cot t ; he was a
pr of essi onal , abl e t o gauge pr essur es and di st ances, possessi ng a st eady wr i st
ski l l ed i n wor ki ng wi t hi n t he i nf i ni t esi mal mar gi ns necessar y i n l eger demai n.
Per haps t hr ough t he t hi n sol es of hi s gl eami ng shoes he coul d sense t he vi br at i ons
of t he cur r ent s, and move hi s hands accor di ng t o t he l ogi c of bot h t he spher e and
t he ear t h t hat gover ned i t .
Hi s compani ons- now I coul d see t hemas wel l . They moved among t he aut omobi l es i n t he
nave, t hey scur r i ed past t he dr ai - si ennes and t he mot or cycl es, al most t umbl i ng i n
t he shadows. Some car r i ed a st ool and a t abl e cover ed wi t h r ed cl ot h i n t he vast
ambul at or y i n t he r ear , and some pl aced ot her l ant er ns. Ti ny, noct ur nal , t wi t t er i ng,
t hey wer e l i ke r achi t i c chi l dr en, and as one went past me I saw mongol oi d f eat ur es
and a bal d head. Madame Ol cot t ' s Fr eaks Mi gnons, t he hor r i bl e l i t t l e monst er s I had
seen on t he post er i n t he Li br ai r i e Sl oane.
The ci r cus was t her e i n f ul l f or ce: t he st af f , guar ds, chor es ogr apher s of t he r i t e.
I saw Al ex and Denys, l es Geant s d' Ava- l on, sheat hed i n ar mor of st udded l eat her .
They wer e gi ant s i ndeed, bl ond, l eani ng agai nst t he gr eat bul k of t he Obei ssant e,
t hei r ar ms f ol ded as t hey wai t ed.
I di dn' t have t i me t o ask mysel f mor e quest i ons. Someone had ent er ed wi t h sol emni t y,
a hand ext ended t o i mpose si l ence. I r ecogni zed Br amant i onl y because he was wear i ng
t he scar l et t uni c, t he whi t e cape, and t he mi t er I had seen on hi mt hat eveni ng i n
Pi edmont . He appr oached t he br azi er , t hr ew somet hi ng on i t , a f l ame shot up, t hen
t hi ck, whi t e smoke r ose and sl owl y spr ead t hr ough t he r oom. As i n Ri o, I t hought , at
t he al chemi st i c par t y. And I di dn' t have an agogo. I hel d my handker chi ef t o my nose
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and mout h, as a f i l t er . Even so, I seemed t o see t wo Br amant i s, and t he Pendul um
swayed bef or e me i n sever al di r ect i ons at once, l i ke a mer r y- go- r ound.
Br amant i began chant i ng: " Al ef bet gi mel dal et he vav zai n het t et yod kaf l amed mem
nun samek ayi n pe sade qof r esh shi n t au! "
The cr owd r esponded, pr ayi ng: " Pamer si el , Padi el , Camuel , Asel i el , Bar mi el , Gedi el ,
Asyr i el , Maser i el , Dor cht i el , Usi el , Cabar i el , Raysi el , Symi el , Ar madi el . . . "
Br amant i made a si gn, and someone st epped f r omt he cr owd and knel t at hi s f eet . For
j ust an i nst ant I saw t he f ace. I t was Ri ccar do, t he man wi t h t he scar , t he pai nt er .
Br amant i quest i oned hi m, and Ri ccar do answer ed, r eci t i ng f r ommemor y t he f or mul as of
t he r i t ual .
" Who ar e you?"
" I aman adept , not yet admi t t ed t o t he hi gher myst er i es of t he Tr es. I have
pr epar ed mysel f i n si l ence and medi t at i on upon t he myst er y of t he Baphomet , i n t he
knowl edge t hat t he Gr eat Wor k r evol ves ar ound si x i nt act seal s, and onl y at t he end
wi l l we know t he secr et of t he sevent h. "
" How wer e you r ecei ved?"
" Thr ough t he per pendi cul ar of t he Pendul um. "
" Who r ecei ved you?"
" A Myst i cal Envoy. "
" Woul d you r ecogni ze hi m?"
" No, f or he was masked. I know onl y t he kni ght of t he r ank hi gher t han mi ne, and he
knows onl y t he naomet er of t he r ank hi gher t han hi s, and each knows onl y one ot her .
And so I wi sh i t t o be. "
" Qui d f aci t Sat or Ar epo?"
" Tenet Oper a Rot as. "
" Qui d f aci t Sat an Adama?"
" Tabat Amat a Nat as. Mandabas Dat a Amat a, Nat a Sat a. "
" Have you br ought t he woman?"
" Yes, she i s her e. I have del i ver ed her t o t he per son, as I was or der ed. She i s
r eady. "
" Go, but r emai n r eady. "
The di al og pr oceeded i n bad Fr ench, on bot h si des. Then Br amant i sai d: " Br ot her s, we
ar e gat her ed her e i n t he name of t he One Or der , t he Unknown Or der , t o whi ch Or der ,
unt i l yest er day, you di d not know t hat you bel onged, and yet you have al ways
bel onged t o i t ! Let us swear . Anat hema on al l pr of aner s of t he Secr et . Anat hema on
al l sycophant s of t he occul t . Anat hema on al l t hose who have made a spect acl e of t he
Ri t es and Myst er i es! "
" Anat hema! "
" Anat hema on t he I nvi si bl e Col l ege, on t he bast ar d chi l dr en of Hi r amand t he Wi dow,
on t he oper at i ve and specul at i ve mast er s of t he l i e of t he Or i ent and t he Occi dent ,
Anci ent , Accept ed, or Revi sed, on Mi zr ai mand Memphi s, on t he Phi l al et hes and t he
Ni ne Si st er s, on t he St r i ct Obser vance and on t he Or do Tem- pl i Or i ent i s, on t he
I l l umi nat i of Bavar i a and of Avi gnon, on t he Kadosh Kni ght s, on t he El us Cohen, on
t he Per f ect Fr i endshi p, on t he Kni ght s of t he Bl ack Eagl e and of t he Hol y Ci t y, on
t he Rosi cr uci ans of Angl i a, on t he cabal i st s of t he Rose + Cr oss of Gol d, on t he
Gol den Dawn, on t he Cat hol i c Rosy Cr oss of t he Templ e and of t he Gr ai l , on t he
St el l a Mat ut i na, on t he Ast r umAr gent i numand Thel ema, on Vr i l and Thul e, on ever y
anci ent and myst i cal usur per of t he name of t he Gr eat Whi t e Fr at er ni t y, on t he
Guar di ans of t he Templ e, on ever y col l ege and pr i or y of Zi on and of Gaul ! "
" Anat hema! "
" Whoever out of i ngenui t y, submi ssi on, conver si on, cal cul at i on, or bad f ai t h has
been i ni t i at ed i nt o any l odge, col l ege, pr i or y, chapt er , or or der t hat i l l i ci t l y
r ef er s t o obedi ence t o t he Unknown Super i or s or t o t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d, must
t hi s ni ght abj ur e t hat i ni t i at i on and i mpl or e t ot al r est or at i on i n spi r i t and body
t o t he one and t r ue obser vance, t he Tr es, Templ i Re- sur gent es Equi t es Synar chi ci ,
t he t r i une and t r i nosophi c myst i cal and most secr et or der of t he Synar chi c Kni ght s
of Templ ar Rebi r t h! "
" Sub umbr a al ar umt uar um! "
" Now ent er t he di gni t ar i es of t he t hi r t y- si x hi ghest and most secr et degr ees. "
As Br amant i cal l ed t he el ect , t hey appear ed i n l i t ur gi cal vest ment s, wear i ng t he
i nsi gne of t he Gol den Fl eece on t hei r chest .
" Kni ght of t he Baphomet , Kni ght of t he Si x I nt act Seal s, Kni ght of t he Sevent h Seal ,
Kni ght of t he Tet r agr ammat on, Kni ght Execut i oner of Fl or i an and Dei , Kni ght of t he
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At ha- nor . . . Vener abl e Naomet er of t he Tur ns Babel , Vener abl e Naomet er of t he Gr eat
Pyr ami d, Vener abl e Naomet er of t he Cat hedr al s, Vener abl e Naomet er of t he Templ e of
Sol omon, Vener abl e Naomet er of t he Hor t us Pal at i nus, Vener abl e Naomet er of t he
Templ e of Hel i opol i s. . . "
As Br amant i r eci t ed t he t i t l es, t hose named ent er ed i n gr oups, so I was unabl e t o
assi gn t o each hi s i ndi vi dual di gni t y, but among t he f i r st t wel ve I saw De
Guber nat i s, t he ol d man f r omt he Li br ai r i e Sl oane, Pr of essor Camest r es, and ot her s I
had met t hat eveni ng i n Pi edmont . And I saw Si gner Gar amond, I bel i eve as Kni ght of
t he Tet r agr ammat on, composed and hi er at i c, ver y much absor bed i n hi s new r ol e, wi t h
hands t hat t r embl ed as t hey t ouched t he Fl eece on hi s chest . Meanwhi l e, Br amant i
went on: " Myst i cal Legat e of Kar nak, Myst i cal Legat e of Bavar i a, Myst i cal Legat e of
t he Bar bel ognost i cs, Myst i cal Legat e of Camel ot , Myst i cal Legat e of Mont segur ,
Myst i cal Legat e of t he Hi dden I mam. . . Supr eme Pat r i ar ch of Tomar , Supr eme Pat r i ar ch
of Ki l wi nni ng, Supr eme Pat r i ar ch of Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs, Supr eme Pat r i ar ch of
Mar i enbad, Supr eme Pat r i ar ch of t he I nvi si bl e Okhr ana, Supr eme Pat r i ar ch i n par t i bus
of t he Rock of Al amut . . . "
The pat r i ar ch of t he I nvi si bl e Okhr ana was Sal on, st i l l gr ay- f aced but , wi t hout hi s
smock, now r espl endent i n a yel l ow t uni c edged i n r ed. He was f ol l owed by Pi er r e,
t he psychopomp of t he Egl i se Luci f er i enne, who wor e on hi s chest , i nst ead of t he
Gol den Fl eece, a dagger i n a gi l ded sheat h. Meanwhi l e, Br a- mant i went on: " Subl i me
Hi er ogamof t he Chemi cal Weddi ng, Subl i me Rodost aur i c Psychopomp, Subl i me
Ref er endar i umof t he Most Ar cane Ar cana, Subl i me St eganogr aph of t he Hi er ogl yphi c
Monad, Subl i me Ast r al Connect or Ut r i usque Cosmi , Subl i me Keeper of t he Tomb of
Rosencr eut z. . . I mponder abl e Ar chon of t he Cur r ent s, I mponder abl e Ar chon of t he
Hol l ow Ear t h, I mponder abl e Ar chon of t he Myst i c Pol e, I mponder abl e Ar chon of t he
Labyr i nt hs, I mponder abl e Ar chon of t he Pendul umof Pendul a. . . " Br amant i paused, and
i t seemed t o me t hat he ut t er ed t he l ast f or mul a wi t h r el uct ance: " And t he
I mponder abl e Ar chon of I mponder abl e Ar chons, t he Ser vant of Ser vant s, Most Humbl e
Secr et ar y of t he Egypt i an Oedi pus, Lowest Messenger of t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d and
Por t er of Agar t t ha, Last Thur i f er of t he Pendul um, Cl aude- Loui s, Comt e de
Sai nt - Ger mai n, Pr i nce Rackoczi , Comt e de Sai nt - Mar t i n, and Mar chese di Agl i e,
Monsi eur de Sur mont , Mr . Wel l done, Mar chese di Monf er r at o, of Aymar , and of Bel mar ,
Count Sol - t i kof f , Kni ght Schoeni ng, Count of Tzar ogy! "
As t he ot her s of t he el ect t ook t hei r pl aces i n t he ambul at or y f aci ng t he Pendul um,
and t he f ai t hf ul st ood i n t he nave, Agl i e ent er ed, pal e and dr awn, wear i ng a bl ue
pi nst r i pe sui t . He l ed by t he hand, as i f escor t i ng a soul al ong t he pat h of Hades,
Lor enza Pel l egr i ni , al so pal e, and dazed, as i f dr ugged; she was dr essed onl y i n a
whi t e, semi t r anspar ent t uni c, and her hai r f el l l oose over her shoul der s. I saw her
i n pr of i l e as she went by, as pur e and l angui d as a Pr e- Raphael i t e adul t er ess. Too
di aphanous not t o st i r , once agai n, my desi r e.
Agl i e l ed Lor enza t o t he br azi er , near t he st at ue of Pascal ; he car essed her vacant
f ace and made a si gn t o t he Geant s d' Aval on, who came and st ood on ei t her si de of
her , suppor t i ng her . Then he went and sat at t he t abl e, f aci ng t he f ai t hf ul , and I
coul d see hi mver y wel l as he dr ew hi s snuf f box f r omhi s vest and st r oked i t i n
si l ence bef or e speaki ng.
" Br ot her s, kni ght s. You ar e her e because i n t hese past f ew days t he Myst i c Legat es
have i nf or med you of t he news, and t her ef or e you al l know t he r eason f or our
meet i ng. We shoul d have met on t he ni ght of J une 23, 1945. Some of you wer e not even
bor n t hen- at l east not i n your pr esent f or m. We ar e her e because af t er si x hundr ed
year s of t he most pai nf ul er r or we have f ound one who knows. How he came t o know- and
t o know mor e t han we- i s a di st ur bi ng myst er y. But I t r ust t hat among us t her e i s
one. . . You coul d not f ai l t o be her e, coul d you, myst i cal f r i end al r eady t oo cur i ous
on one occasi on?. . . I t r ust , as I sai d, t hat i n our pr esence t her e i s one who can
shed l i ght on t hi s mat t er . Ar dent i ! "
Col onel Ar dent i - yes, i t was he, r aven- hai r ed as bef or e, t hough now dodder i ng- made
hi s way among t he ot her s and st epped f or war d bef or e what seemed t o be t ur ni ng i nt o a
t r i bunal , but he was kept at a di st ance by t he Pendul um, whi ch mar ked a space t hat
coul d not be cr ossed.
" We have not seen each ot her f or some t i me, br ot her . " Agl i e was smi l i ng. " I knew
t hat you woul d be unabl e t o r esi st comi ng. Wel l ? You have been i nf or med what t he
pr i soner sai d, and he says he l ear ned i t f r omyou. So you knew and you kept si l ent . "
" Count , " Ar dent i sai d, " t he pr i soner i s l yi ng. I t i s humi l i at i ng f or me t o say
t hi s- but honor above al l . The st or y I conf i ded t o hi mi s not t he st or y t he Myst i c
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Legat es t ol d me. The i nt er pr et at i on of t he message- i t ' s t r ue, I came i nt o possessi on
of a message, but I di dn' t hi de t hat f r omyou, year s ago, i n Mi l an- t he
i nt er pr et at i on i s di f f er ent . . . . I woul dn' t have been capabl e of r eadi ng i t as t he
pr i soner has r ead i t , and so, at t hat t i me, I sought hel p. And, I must say, I
r ecei ved no encour agement , onl y di st r ust , def i ance, and t hr eat s. . . . " Per haps he was
goi ng t o say mor e, but as he st ar ed at Agl i e, he st ar ed al so at t he Pendul um, whi ch
was act i ng on hi ml i ke a spel l . As i f hypnot i zed, he sank t o hi s knees and sai d
onl y, " For gi ve me, because I do not know. ' '
" You ar e f or gi ven, because you know you do not know, " Agl i e sai d. " And so, br ot her s,
t he pr i soner has knowl edge t hat none of us has. He knows even who we ar e; i n f act ,
we l ear ned who we ar e t hr ough hi m. We must pr oceed: i t wi l l soon be dawn. Whi l e you
r emai n her e i n medi t at i on, I wi l l wi t hdr aw once mor e, t o wr est t he r evel at i on f r om
hi m. "
" Ah non, monsi eur l e comt e! " Pi er r e st epped i nt o t he hemi - cycl e, hi s pupi l s di l at ed.
" For t wo days you have t al ked wi t h hi m, t et e- a- t et e, and he has seen not hi ng, sai d
not hi ng, hear d not hi ng, l i ke t he t hr ee monkeys. What mor e do you wi sh t o demand,
t hi s ni ght ? No, no. Let i t be her e. Her e, bef or e al l of us! "
" Cal myour sel f , my dear Pi er r e. I have had br ought her e, t hi s ni ght , a woman I
consi der t he most exqui si t e i ncar nat i on of t he Sophi a, t he myst i c bond bet ween t he
wor l d of er r or and t he Super i or Ogdoad. Do not ask me how or why, but i n her
pr esence t he man wi l l speak. Tel l t hemwho you ar e, Sophi a. "
And Lor enza, l i ke a somnambul i st , as i f i t wer e an ef f or t t o ut t er t he wor ds, sai d:
" I am. . . t he sai nt and t he pr ost i t ut e. "
" Ah, t hat i s t o l augh, " Pi er r e sai d. " We have her e t he cr me de l ' i ni t i at i on and we
cal l i n a put e. No; t he man must be br ought i mmedi at el y bef or e t he Pendul e! "
" Let ' s not be chi l di sh, " Agl i e sai d. " Gi ve me an hour . What makes you t hi nk he woul d
speak her e, bef or e t he Pendul um?"
" He wi l l speak as he i s undone. Le sacr i f i ce humai n! " Pi er r e shout ed t o t he nave.
And t he nave, i n a l oud voi ce, r epeat ed: " Le sacr i f i ce humai n! "
Sal on st epped f or war d. " Count , our br ot her i s not chi l di sh. He i s r i ght . We ar e not
t he pol i ce. . . . "
" You of al l peopl e say t hi s, " Agl i e qui pped.
" We ar e not t he pol i ce, " Sal on sai d, " and i t i s not f i t t i ng f or us t o pr oceed wi t h
or di nar y met hods of i nqui r y. On t he ot her hand, I do not bel i eve t hat sacr i f i ces t o
t he f or ces of t he under gr ound wi l l be ef f i caci ous ei t her . I f t hey had want ed t o gi ve
us a si gn, t hey woul d have done so l ong ago. Anot her one knows, besi des t he
pr i soner , but he has di sappear ed. Thi s eveni ng, we have t he possi bi l i t y of
conf r ont i ng t he pr i soner wi t h t hose who knew. . . " He smi l ed, st ar i ng at Agl i e, hi s
eyes nar r owi ng beneat h t hei r bushy br ows. " And t o make t hemal so conf r ont us. . . "
" What do you mean, Sal on?" Agl i e asked, i n a voi ce t hat showed uncer t ai nt y.
" I f Monsi eur l e Comt e per mi t s, I wi l l expl ai n, " a woman sai d. I t was Madame Ol cot t :
I r ecogni zed her f r omt he post er . Li vi d, i n an ol i ve gar ment , her hai r , bl ack wi t h
oi l , t i ed at t he nape. The hoar se voi ce of a man. I n t he Li br ai r i e Sl oane I had
r ecogni zed t hat f ace, and now I r emember ed: she was t he Dr u- i dess who had r un t owar d
us i n t he cl ear i ng t hat ni ght i n Pi edmont . " Al ex, Denys, br i ng t he pr i soner her e. "
She spoke i n an i mper i ous t one. The mur mur i ng i n t he nave expr essed appr oval . The
t wo gi ant s obeyed, t r ust i ng Lor enza t o t wo Fr eaks Mi gnons. Agl i e' s hands gr i pped t he
ar ms of hi s t hr one; he had been out vot ed.
Madame Ol cot t si gnal ed t o her l i t t l e monst er s, and bet ween t he st at ue of Pascal and
t he Obei ssant e t hr ee ar mchai r s wer e pl aced. On t hemt hr ee i ndi vi dual s wer e seat ed.
The t hr ee wer e dar k- ski nned, smal l of st at ur e, ner vous, wi t h l ar ge whi t e eyes. " The
Fox t r i pl et s. You know t hemwel l , Count . Theo, Leo, Geo, r eady your sel ves. "
At t hat moment t he gi ant s of Aval on r eappear ed, hol di ng J a- copo Bel bo by t he ar ms,
t hough he bar el y came up t o t hei r shoul der s. My poor f r i end was ashen, wi t h sever al
days' gr owt h of bear d; hi s hands wer e bound behi nd hi s back and hi s shi r t was open.
Ent er i ng t he smoky ar ena, he bl i nked. He di dn' t seemsur pr i sed by t he col l ect i on of
hi er ophant s he saw bef or e hi m; af t er t he past f ew days, he was pr obabl y pr epar ed f or
anyt hi ng.
He was sur pr i sed, t hough, t o see t he Pendul umi n i t s new posi t i on. The gi ant s
dr agged hi mt o f ace Agi l e' s seat . The onl y | sound was t he swi sh of t he Pendul umas
i t gr azed hi s back.
Br i ef l y, Bel bo t ur ned, and he saw Lor enza. Over whel med, he i st ar t ed t o cal l her ,
and t r i ed t o f r ee hi msel f . But Lor enza, t hough she st ar ed at hi mdul l y, seemed not
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t o r ecogni ze hi m.
Fr omt he f ar end of t he nave, near t he t i cket desk and t he bookst al l , a r ol l of
dr ums was hear d, and t he shr i l l not es of some f l ut es. Suddenl y, t he door s of f our
aut omobi l es opened, and f our cr eat ur es emer ged. I had seen t hembef or e, t oo, on t he
post er f or Le Pet i t Ci r que.
Wear i ng f ezl i ke f el t hat s and ampl e bl ack cl oaks but t oned t o t he neck, Les Der vi ches
Hur l eur s st epped f r omt he aut omobi l es l i ke t he dead r i si ng f r omt he gr ave, and t hey
squat t ed at t he edge of t he magi c ci r cl e. I n t he backgr ound a f l ut e now pl ayed sweet
musi c, and t he f our gent l y put t hei r hands on t he f l oor and bowed t hei r heads.
Fr omt he f usel age of Br eguet ' s pl ane, a f i f t h Der vi che l eaned out l i ke a muezzi n
f r oma mi nar et and began t o chant i n an unknown t ongue, moani ng and l ament i ng as t he
dr ums began agai n, i ncr easi ng i n i nt ensi t y.
Cr ouched behi nd t he Br ot her s Fox, Madame Ol cot t whi sper ed wor ds of encour agement t o
t hem. The t hr ee wer e sl umped i n t hei r chai r s, t hei r hands cl ut chi ng t he ar ms, t hei r
eyes cl osed. They began t o sweat , and al l t he muscl es of t hei r f aces t wi t ched.
Madame Ol cot t addr essed t he assembl y of di gni t ar i es. " My excel l ent l i t t l e br ot her s
wi l l now br i ng i nt o our mi dst t hr ee peopl e who knew. " She paused, t hen sai d: " Edwar d
Kel l ey, Hei nr i ch Khunr at h, and. . . " Anot her pause. " Comt e de Sai nt - Ger mai n. "
For t he f i r st t i me, I saw Agl i e make a wr ong move. Out of cont r ol , he spr ang f r om
hi s seat , f l ung hi msel f t owar d t he woman, nar r owl y avoi di ng t he t r aj ect or y of t he
Pendul um, as he cr i ed: " Vi per , l i ar , you know t hat cannot be. . . . " Then, t o t he nave:
" I t ' s an i mpost ur e! A l i e! St op her ! "
But no one moved except Pi er r e, who went up and sat on t he t hr one. " Pr oceed,
madame, " he sai d.
Agl i e, r ecover i ng hi s sangf r oi d, st ood asi de, mi ngl i ng wi t h t he ot her s. " Ver y wel l , "
he chal l enged. " Let ' s see, t hen. "
Madame Ol cot t moved her ar mas i f si gnal i ng t he st ar t of a r ace. The musi c gr ew
shr i l l , di ssonant ; t he dr umbeat s l ost t hei r st eady r hyt hm; t he dancer s, who had
al r eady begun swayi ng back and f or t h, r i ght and l ef t , as t hey squat t ed, got up now,
t hr ew of f t hei r cl oaks, and hel d out t hei r ar ms wi de, r i gi d, as i f t hey wer e about
t o t ake f l i ght . A moment of i mmobi l i t y, and t hey began t o spi n i n pl ace, usi ng t he
l ef t f oot as a pi vot , f aces upr ai sed, concent r at ed, vacant , and t hei r pl eat ed t uni cs
bel l ed out as t hey pi r ouet t ed, maki ng t heml ook l i ke f l ower s caught i n a hur r i cane.
Meanwhi l e, t he medi ums, br eat hi ng hoar sel y, seemed t o knot up, t hei r f aces
di st or t ed, as i f t hey wer e st r ai ni ng, unsuccessf ul l y, t o def ecat e. The l i ght of t he
br azi er di mmed. Madame Ol cot t ' s acol yt es t ur ned of f t he l ant er ns on t he f l oor , and
now t he chur ch was i l l umi nat ed onl y by t he gl ow f r omt he nave.
And t he mi r acl e began t o t ake pl ace. Fr omTheo Fox' s l i ps a whi t i sh f oamt r i ckl ed, a
f oamt hat seemed t o t hi cken. A si mi l ar subst ance i ssued f r omt he l i ps of hi s
br ot her s.
" Come, br ot her s, " Madame Ol cot t mur mur ed, coaxed, " come, come. That ' s r i ght ,
yes. . . . "
The dancer s sang br okenl y, hyst er i cal l y, t hey shook and bobbed t hei r heads, t hey
shout ed, men made convul si ve noi ses, l i ke deat h r at t l es.
The st uf f emi t t ed by t he medi ums t ook on body, gr ew mor e subst ant i al ; i t was l i ke a
l ava of al bumi n, whi ch sl owl y expanded and descended, sl i d over t hei r shoul der s,
t hei r chest s, t hei r l egs wi t h t he si nuous movement of a r ept i l e. I coul d not t el l
now i f i t came f r omt he por es of t hei r ski n or t hei r mout hs, ear s, and eyes. The
cr owd pr essed f or war d, pushi ng cl oser and cl oser t o t he medi ums and t he dancer s. I
l ost al l f ear : conf i dent t hat I woul d not be not i ced among t hem, I st epped f r omt he
sent r y box, exposi ng mysel f st i l l mor e t o t he f umes t hat spr ead and cur l ed beneat h
t he vaul t s.
Ar ound t he medi ums, a mi l ky l umi nescence. The f oambegan t o det ach i t sel f f r omt hem,
t o assume ameboi d shape. Fr omt he mass t hat came f r omone of t he medi ums, a t i p
br oke f r ee, t ur ned, and moved up al ong hi s body, l i ke an ani mal t hat i nt ended t o
st r i ke hi mwi t h i t s beak. At t he end of i t , t wo mobi l e knobs f or med, l i ke t he hor ns
of a gi ant snai l . . .
The dancer s, eyes cl osed, mout hs f r ot hi ng, di d not cease t hei r spi nni ng, and t hey
began t o r evol ve, as much as t he space al l owed, ar ound t he Pendul um, mi r acul ousl y
doi ng t hi s wi t hout cr ossi ng i t s t r aj ect or y. Whi r l i ng f ast er and f ast er , t hey f l ung
of f t hei r f ezes, l et t hei r l ong bl ack hai r st r eamout , and i t seemed t hei r heads
wer e f l yi ng f r omt hei r necks. They shout ed, l i ke t he dancer s t hat eveni ng i n Ri o:
Houu houu houuuuu. . .
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The whi t e f or ms acqui r ed def i ni t i on: one of t hemgr ew vaguel y human i n appear ance,
anot her went f r omphal l us t o ampul e t o al embi c, and t he t hi r d was cl ear l y t aki ng on
t he aspect of a bi r d, an owl wi t h gr eat eyegl asses and er ect ear s, t he hooked beak
of an ol d school mi st r ess, a t eacher of nat ur al sci ences.
Madame Ol cot t quest i oned t he f i r st f or m: " Kel l ey, i s t hat you?' '
Fr omt he f or ma voi ce came. I t was def i ni t el y not Theo Fox speaki ng. The voi ce,
di st ant , sai d i n hal t i ng Engl i sh: " Now. . . I do r eveal e a. . . a mi ght y Secr et , i f ye
mar ke i t wel l . . . "
" Yes, yes, " Madame Ol cot t i nsi st ed.
The voi ce went on: " Thi s ver y pl ace i s cal l ' d by many names. . . Ear t h. . . Ear t h i s t he
l owest el ement of al l . . . When t hr i ce ye have t ur ned t hi s Wheel e about . . . t hus my
gr eat e Secr et I have r eveal ed. . . . "
Theo Fox made a gest ur e wi t h hi s hand, as i f t o beg mer cy. " No, hol d on t o i t , "
Madame Ol cot t sai d t o hi m. Then she addr essed t he owl shape: " I r ecogni ze you,
Khunr at h. What have you t o t el l us?"
The owl spoke: " Hal l el u. . . ' aah. . . Hal l el u. . . ' aah. . . Hal l el u. . . ' aah. . . Was. . . "
" Was?"
" Was hel f en Fackel n Li cht . . . oder Br i l n. . . so di e Leut . . . ni cht sehen. . . wol l en. . . "
" We do wi sh, " Madame Ol cot t sai d. " Tel l us what you know. "
" Symbol on kosmou. . . t a ant r a. . . kai t an enkosmi on dun- ameon er i t hent o. . . oi
t heol ogoi . . . "
Leo Fox was al so exhaust ed. The owl ' s voi ce weakened, Leo' s head sl umped, t he ef f or t
t o sust ai n t he shape was t oo gr eat . But t he i mpl acabl e Madame Ol cot t t ol d hi mt o
per sever e and addr essed t he l ast shape, whi ch now had al so t aken on ant hr opomor phi c
f eat ur es. " Sai nt - Ger mai n, Sai nt - Ger mai n, i s t hat you? What do you know?"
The shape began t o huma t une. Madame Ol cot t cal l ed f or si l ence. The musi ci ans
st opped, and t he dancer s no l onger howl ed, but t hey cont i nued spi nni ng, t hough wi t h
i ncr easi ng f at i gue.
The shape was si ngi ng: " Gent l e l ove, t hi s hour bef r i ends me. . . "
" I t ' s you; I r ecogni ze you, " Madame Ol cot t sai d i nvi t i ngl y. " Speak, t el l us wher e,
what . . . "
The shape sai d: " I I et ai t nui t . . . . La t et e couver t e du voi l e de l i n. . . j ' ar r i ve, j e
t r ouve un aut el de f er , j ' y pl ace l e r ameau myst er i eux. . . Oh, j e cr us descendr e dans
un abi me. . . des gal er i es composees de quar t i er s de pi er r e noi r e. . . mon voyage
sout er r ai n. . . "
" He' s a f r aud, a f r aud! " Agl i e cr i ed. " Br ot her s, you al l know t hese wor ds. They' r e
f r omt he Tr es Sai nt e Tr i nosophi e, I wr ot e i t mysel f ; anyone can r ead i t f or si xt y
f r ancs! " He r an t o Geo Fox and began shaki ng hi mby t he ar m.
" St op, you i mpost er ! " Madame Ol cot t scr eamed. " You' l l ki l l hi m! "
" And what i f I do?" Agl i f e shout ed, pul l i ng t he medi umof f t he chai r .
Geo t r i ed t o suppor t hi msel f by cl i ngi ng t o t he f or mhe had secr et ed, but i t f el l
wi t h hi mand di ssol ved on t he f l oor . Geo sl umped i n t he st i cky mat t er t hat he
cont i nued t o vomi t , unt i l he st i f f ened, l i f el ess.
" St op, madman, " Madame Ol cot t scr eamed, sei zi ng Agl i e. And t hen, t o t he ot her
br ot her s: " St and f ast , my l i t t l e ones. They must speak st i l l . Khunr at h, Khunr at h,
t el l hi myou ar e r eal ! "
Leo Fox, t o sur vi ve, was t r yi ng t o r eabsor b t he owl . Madame Ol cot t went ar ound
behi nd hi mand pr essed her f i nger s t o hi s t empl es, t o bend hi mt o her wi l l . The owl ,
r eal i zi ng i t was about t o di sappear , t ur ned t owar d i t s cr eat or : " Phy, Phy Di abol os, "
i t mut t er ed, t r yi ng t o peck hi s eyes. Leo gave a gur gl e, as i f hi s j ugul ar had been
sever ed, and sank t o hi s knees. The owl di sappear ed i n a r evol t i ng muck ( " Phi i i ,
phi i i , " i t went ) , and i nt o i t , choki ng, t he medi umal so f el l , and was st i l l . Madame
Ol cot t , f ur i ous, t ur ned t o Theo, who was doi ng hi s best t o hol d on: " Speak, Kel l ey!
You hear me?"
But Kel l ey di d not speak. He was t r yi ng t o det ach hi msel f f r omt he medi um, who now
yel l ed as i f hi s bowel s wer e bei ng t or n. The medi umst r uggl ed t o t ake back what he
had pr oduced, cl awi ng t he ai r . " Kel l ey, ear l ess Kel l ey, don' t cheat agai n, " Madame
Ol cot t cr i ed. Kel l ey, unabl e t o separ at e hi msel f f r omt he medi um, was now t r yi ng t o
smot her hi m, t ur ni ng i nt o a ki nd of chewi ng gum, f r omwhi ch t he l ast Fox br ot her was
unabl e t o ext r i cat e hi msel f . Theo, t oo, sank t o hi s knees, choki ng, ent angl ed i n t he
par asi t e bl ob t hat was devour i ng hi m; he r ol l ed and wr i t hed as i f envel oped i n
f l ame. The t hi ng t hat had been Kel l ey cover ed hi ml i ke a shr oud, t hen mel t ed,
l i quef i ed, l eavi ng Theo on t he f l oor , t he dr ai ned, gut t ed mummy of a chi l d embal med
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by Sal on. At t hat same moment , t he f our dancer s st opped as one, f l ai l ed t hei r
ar ms- dr owni ng men, si nki ng l i ke st ones- t hen cr ouched, whi ned l i ke puppi es, and
cover ed t hei r heads wi t h t hei r hands.
Agl i e had r et ur ned t o t he ambul at or y. He wi ped t he sweat f r omhi s br ow wi t h t he
l i t t l e handker chi ef t hat ador ned hi s br east pocket , t ook t wo deep br eat hs, and put a
whi t e pi l l i n hi s mout h. Then he cal l ed f or si l ence.
" Br ot her kni ght s. You have seen t he cheap t r i cks t hi s woman i nf l i ct s on us. Let us
r egai n our composur e and r et ur n t o my pr oposal . Gi ve me one hour wi t h t he pr i soner
i n pr i vat e. "
Madame Ol cot t , obl i vi ous, bent over her medi ums, was st r i cken wi t h an al most human
gr i ef . But Pi er r e, who had f ol l owed ever yt hi ng and was st i l l seat ed on t he t hr one,
r esumed cont r ol of t he si t uat i on. " Non, " he sai d. " Ther e i s onl y one means: l e
sacr i f i ce humai n! Gi ve t o me t he pr i soner . "
Gal vani zed by hi s ener gy, t he gi ant s of Aval on gr abbed Bel bo, who had wat ched t he
scene i n a daze, and t hr ust hi mbef or e Pi er r e, who, wi t h t he agi l i t y of an acr obat ,
j umped up, put t he chai r on t he t abl e, and pushed bot h gi ant s t o t he cent er of t he
choi r . He gr abbed t he wi r e of t he Pendul umas i t went by and st opped t he spher e,
st agger i ng under t he r ecoi l . I t t ook bar el y an i nst ant . As i f t he t hi ng had been
pr ear r anged- and per haps, dur i ng t he conf usi on, some si gnal s had been exchanged- t he
gi ant s cl i mbed up on t he t abl e and hoi st ed Bel bo ont o t he chai r . One gi ant wr apped
t he wi r e of t he Pendul umt wi ce ar ound Bel - bo' s neck, and t he ot her hel d t he spher e,
t hen set i t at t he edge of t he t abl e.
Br amant i r ushed t o t hi s makeshi f t gal l ows, f l ashi ng wi t h maj est y i n hi s scar l et
cl oak, and chant ed: " Exor ci zo i gi t ur t e per Pent agr ammat on, et i n nomi ne
Tet r agr ammat on, per Al f a et Omega qui sunt i n spi r i t u Azot h. Saddai , Adonai ,
J ot chavah, Ei eazer ei e! Mi chael , Gabr i el , Raphael , Anael . Fl uat Udor per spi r i t um
El oi m! Maneat Ter r a per Adaml ot - Cavah! Per Samael Zebaot h et i n nomi ne El oi mGi bor ,
veni Adr amel ech! Vade r et r o Li l i t h! "
Bel bo st ood st r ai ght on t he chai r , t he wi r e ar ound hi s neck. The gi ant s no l onger
had t o r est r ai n hi m. I f he t ook one st ep i n any di r ect i on, he woul d f al l f r omt hat
shaky per ch, and t he noose, t i ght eni ng, woul d st r angl e hi m.
" Fool s! " Agl i e shout ed. " How wi l l we put i t back on i t s axi s now?" He was concer ned
f or t he saf et y of t he Pendul um.
Br amant i smi l ed. " Do not wor r y, Count . We ar e not mi xi ng your dyes her e. Thi s i s t he
Pendul um, as They concei ved i t . I t wi l l know wher e t o go. And t o convi nce a For ce t o
act , t her e i s not hi ng bet t er t han a human sacr i f i ce. "
Unt i l t hat moment , Bel bo had t r embl ed. But now I saw hi mr el ax. He l ooked at t he
audi ence, I wi l l not say wi t h conf i dence, but wi t h cur i osi t y. I bel i eve t hat ,
hear i ng t he ar gument bet ween t he t wo adver sar i es, seei ng bef or e hi mt he cont or t ed
bodi es of t he medi ums, t he der vi shes st i l l j er ki ng and moani ng t o t he si de, t he
r umpl ed vest ment s of t he di gni t ar i es, Bel bo r ecover ed hi s most genui ne gi f t : hi s
sense of t he r i di cul ous.
I bel i eve t hat at t hat moment he deci ded not t o al l ow hi msel f t o be f r i ght ened
anymor e. Per haps hi s el evat ed posi t i on gave hi ma sense of super i or i t y, as i f he
wer e wat chi ng, f r oma st age, t hat gat her i ng of l unat i cs l ocked i n a Gr and Gui gnol
f eud, and at t he si des, al most t o t he ent r ance, t he l i t t l e monst er s, now
uni nt er est ed i n t he act i on, nudgi ng each ot her and gi ggl i ng, l i ke Anni bal e
Cant al amessa and Pi o Bo.
He onl y t ur ned an anxi ous eye t owar d Lor enza, as t he gi ant s agai n gr asped her ar ms.
J ol t ed, she came t o her senses. She began cr yi ng.
Per haps Bel bo was r el uct ant t o l et her wi t ness hi s emot i on, or per haps he deci ded
i nst ead t hat t hi s was t he onl y way he coul d show hi s cont empt f or t hat cr owd, but he
hel d hi msel f er ect , head hi gh, chest bar ed, hands bound behi nd hi s back, l i ke a man
who had never known f ear .
Cal med by Bel bo' s cal m, r esi gned t o t he i nt er r upt i on of t he Pendul um, but st i l l
eager t o know t he secr et af t er a l i f et i me' s sear ch ( or many l i f et i mes) , and al so i n
or der t o r egai n cont r ol over hi s f ol l ower s, Agl i e addr essed hi magai n: " Come, Bel bo,
make up your mi nd. As you can see, you ar e i n a si t uat i on t hat , t o say t he l east , i s
awkwar d. St op t hi s pl ayact i ng. "
Bel bo di dn' t answer . He l ooked away, as i f pol i t el y t o avoi d over hear i ng a
conver sat i on he had chanced upon.
Agl i e i nsi st ed, conci l i at or y, pat er nal : " I under st and your i r r i t at i on, your r eser ve.
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How i t must r evol t you t o conf i de an i nt i mat e and pr eci ous secr et t o a r abbl e t hat
has j ust of f er ed such an unedi f yi ng spect acl e! Ver y wel l , you may conf i de your
secr et t o me al one, whi sper i ng i t i n my ear . Now I wi l l have you t aken down, and I
know you wi l l t el l me a wor d, a si ngl e wor d. "
Bel bo sai d: " You t hi nk so?"
Then Agl i e changed hi s t one. I saw hi mi mper i ous as never bef or e, sacer dot al ,
hi er at i c. He spoke as i f he had on one of t he Egypt i an vest ment s wor n by hi s
col l eagues. But t he not e was f al se; he seemed t o be par odyi ng t hose whomhe had
al ways t r eat ed wi t h i ndul gent commi ser at i on. At t he same t i me, he spoke wi t h t he
f ul l assumpt i on of hi s aut hor i t y. For some pur pose of hi s own- because t hi s coul dn' t
have been uni nt ent i onal - he was i nt r oduci ng an el ement of mel odr ama. I f he was
act i ng, he act ed wel l : Bel bo seemed unawar e of any decept i on, l i st eni ng t o Agl i e as
i f he had expect ed not hi ng el se f r omhi m.
" Now you wi l l speak, " Agl i e sai d. " You wi l l speak, and you wi l l j oi n t hi s gr eat
game. I f you r emai n si l ent , you ar e l ost . I f you speak, you wi l l shar e i n t he
vi ct or y. For t r ul y I say t hi s t o you: t hi s ni ght you and I and al l of us ar e i n Hod,
t he Sef i r ah of spl endor , maj est y, and gl or y; Hod, whi ch gover ns r i t ual and
cer emoni al magi c; Hod, t he moment when t he cur t ai n of et er ni t y i s par t ed. I have
dr eamed of t hi s moment f or cent ur i es. You wi l l speak, and you wi l l j oi n t he onl y
ones who wi l l be ent i t l ed, af t er your r evel at i on, t o decl ar e t hemsel ves Mast er s of
t he Wor l d. Humbl e your sel f , and you wi l l be exal t ed. You wi l l speak because I or der
you t o speak, and my wor ds ef f i ci unt quod f i gur ant ! "
And Bel bo, now i nvi nci bl e, sai d, " Ma gavt e l a nat a. . . "
Agl i e, even i f he was expect i ng a r ef usal , bl anched at t he i nsul t .
" What di d he say?" Pi er r e asked, hyst er i cal .
" He wi l l not speak, " Agl i e r oughl y t r ansl at ed. He l i f t ed hi s ar ms i n a gest ur e of
sur r ender , of obedi ence, and sai d t o Br a- mant i : " He i s your s. ' '
And Pi er r e sai d, t r anspor t ed: " Assez, assez, l e sacr i f i ce humai n, l e sacr i f i ce
humai n! "
" Yes, l et hi mdi e. We' l l f i nd t he answer anyway, " cr i ed Madame Ol cot t , equal l y
car r i ed away, as she now r et ur ned t o t he scene, r ushi ng t owar d Bel bo.
At t he same t i me, Lor enza moved. She f r eed her sel f f r omt he gi ant s' gr asp and st ood
bef or e Bel bo, at t he f oot of t he gal l ows, her ar ms opened wi de, as i f t o st op an
i nvadi ng ar my. I n t ear s, she excl ai med: " Ar e you al l cr azy? You can' t do t hi s! "
Agl i e, who was wi t hdr awi ng, st ood r oot ed t o t he spot f or a moment , t hen r an t o her ,
t o r est r ai n her .
What happened next t ook onl y seconds. Madame Ol cot t ' s knot of hai r came undone; al l
r ancor and f l ames, l i ke a Medusa, she bar ed her t al ons, scr at ched at Agl i e' s f ace,
shoved hi masi de wi t h t he f or ce of t he moment umof her l eap. Agl i e f el l back,
st umbl ed over a l eg of t he br azi er , spun ar ound l i ke a der vi sh, and banged hi s head
agai nst a machi ne; he sank t o t he gr ound, hi s f ace cover ed wi t h bl ood. Pi er r e,
meanwhi l e, f l ung hi msel f on Lor enza, dr awi ng t he dagger f r omt he sheat h on hi s chest
as he moved, but he bl ocked my vi ew, so I di dn' t see what happened. Then I saw
Lor enza sl umped at Bel bo' s f eet , her f ace waxen, and Pi er r e, hol di ng up t he r ed
bl ade, shout ed: " Enf i n, l e sacr i f i ce humai n! " Tur ni ng t owar d t he nave, he sai d i n a
l oud voi ce: " I ' a Ct hul hu! I ' a S' ha- t ' n! "
I n a body, t he hor de i n t he nave moved f or war d: some f el l and wer e swept asi de;
ot her s, pushi ng, t hr eat ened t o t oppl e Cug- not ' s car . I hear d- I must have hear d i t , I
can' t have i magi ned such a gr ot esque det ai l - t he voi ce of Gar amond sayi ng:
" Gent l emen, pl ease! Manner s! . . . " Br amant i , i n ecst asy, was kneel i ng by Lor enza' s
body, decl ai mi ng: " Asar , Asar ! Who i s cl ut chi ng me by t he t hr oat ? Who i s pi nni ng me
t o t he gr ound? Who i s st abbi ng my hear t ? I amunwor t hy t o cr oss t he t hr eshol d of t he
house of Maat ! "
* * *
Per haps no one i nt ended i t , per haps t he sacr i f i ce of Lor enza was t o have suf f i ced,
but t he acol yt es wer e now pr essi ng i nsi de t he magi c ci r cl e, whi ch was made
accessi bl e by t he i mmobi l i t y of t he Pendul um, and someone- Ar dent i , I t hi nk- was
hur l ed by t he ot her s agai nst t he t abl e, whi ch l i t er al l y di sappear ed f r ombeneat h
Bel bo' s f eet . I t ski dded away, and, t hanks t o t he same push, t he Pendul umbegan a
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r api d, vi ol ent swi ng, t aki ng i t s vi ct i mwi t h i t . The wi r e, pul l ed by t he wei ght of
t he spher e, t i ght ened ar ound t he neck of my poor f r i end, yanked hi mi nt o t he ai r ,
and he swung above and wi t h t he Pendul um, swung t owar d t he east er n ext r emi t y of t he
choi r , t hen r et ur ned, I hoped wi t hout l i f e, i n my di r ect i on.
Tr ampl i ng one anot her , t he cr owd dr ew back, r et r eat ed t o t he edges of t he
semi ci r cl e, t o al l ow r oomf or t he wonder . The man i n char ge of t he osci l l at i on,
i nt oxi cat ed by t he r ebi r t h of t he Pendul um, suppl i ed pushes di r ect l y on t he hanged
man' s body. The axi s of mot i on made a di agonal f r ommy eyes t o one of t he wi ndows,
no doubt t he wi ndow wi t h t he col or l ess spot t hr ough whi ch, i n a f ew hour s, t he f i r st
r ay of t he r i si ng sun woul d f al l . Ther ef or e, I di d not see Bel bo swi ng i n f r ont of
me, but t hi s, I bel i eve, was t he pat t er n he dr ew i n space. . .
Hi s head seemed a second spher e, t r apped i n t he l oops of t he wi r e t hat st r et ched
f r omt he cent er of t he keyst one; and when t he met al spher e t i l t ed t o t he r i ght ,
Bel bo' s head t i l t ed t o t he l ef t , and vi ce ver sa. For most of t he l ong swi ng, t he t wo
spher es t ended i n opposi t e di r ect i ons, one on ei t her si de of t he wi r e, so what
cl eaved t he ai r was no l onger a si ngl e l i ne, but a ki nd of t r i angul ar st r uct ur e.
And, whi l e Bel bo' s head f ol l owed t he pul l of t he wi r e, hi s body- at f i r st i n i t s
f i nal spasms, t hen wi t h t he di sar t i cul at ed agi l i t y of a wooden mar i onet t e, ar mher e,
l eg t her e- descr i bed ot her ar cs i n t he voi d, ar cs i ndependent of t he head, t he wi r e,
and t he spher e beneat h. I had t he t hought t hat i f someone wer e t o phot ogr aph t he
scene usi ng Muybr i dge' s syst em- f i xi ng on t he pl at e ever y moment as a successi on of
posi t i ons, r ecor di ng t he t wo ext r eme poi nt s t he head r eached i n each per i od, t he t wo
r est poi nt s of t he spher e, t he poi nt s of i nt er sect i on of t he wi r e wi t h t i me,
i ndependent of bot h head and spher e, and t he i nt er medi ar y poi nt s mar ked by t he pl ane
of osci l l at i on of t he t r unk and l egs- Bel bo hanged f r omt he Pendul umwoul d have
dr awn, i n space, t he t r ee of t he Sef i r ot , summi ng up i n hi s f i nal moment t he
vi ci ssi t ude of al l uni ver ses, f i xi ng f or ever i n hi s mot i on t he t en st ages of t he
mor t al exhal at i on and def ecat i on of t he di vi ne i n t he wor l d.
Then, as t he Mandr ake i n t ai l s cont i nued t o encour age t hat f uner eal swi ng, Bel bo' s
body, t hr ough a gr i sl y addi t i on and cancel l at i on of vect or s, a mi gr at i on of
ener gi es, suddenl y became i mmobi l e, and t he wi r e and t he spher e moved, but onl y f r om
hi s body down; t he r est - whi ch connect ed Bel bo wi t h t he vaul t - now r emai ned
per pendi cul ar . Thus Bel bo had escaped t he er r or of t he wor l d and i t s movement s, had
now become, hi msel f , t he poi nt of suspensi on, t he Fi xed Pi n, t he Pl ace f r omwhi ch
t he vaul t of t he wor l d i s hung, whi l e beneat h hi s f eet t he wi r e and t he spher e went
on swi ngi ng, f r ompol e t o pol e, wi t hout peace, t he ear t h sl i ppi ng away under t hem,
showi ng al ways a new cont i nent . The spher e coul d not poi nt out , nor woul d i t ever
know, t he l ocat i on of t he Wor l d' s Navel .
As t he pack of Di abol i cal s, dazed f or a moment i n t he f ace of t hi s por t ent , began t o
yowl agai n, I t ol d mysel f t hat t he st or y was now f i ni shed. I f Hod i s t he Sef i r ah of
gl or y, Bel bo had had gl or y. A si ngl e f ear l ess act had r econci l ed hi mwi t h t he
Absol ut e.
114
The i deal pendul umconsi st s of a ver y t hi n wi r e, whi ch wi l l not hi nder f l exi on and
t or si on, of l engt h L, wi t h t he wei ght at t ached t o i t s bar y- cent er . For a spher e, t he
bar ycent er i s t he cent er ; f or t he human body, i t i s a poi nt 0. 65 of t he hei ght ,
measur ed f r omt he f eet . I f t he hanged man i s 1. 70mt al l , hi s bar ycent er i s l ocat ed
1. 10mf r omhi s f eet , and t he l engt h L i ncl udes t hi s di st ance. I n ot her wor ds, i f t he
di st ance f r omt he man' s head t o neck i s 0. 60m, t he bar ycent er i s 1. 70 - 1. 10 = 0. 60m
f r omhi s head, and 0. 60 - 0. 30 = 0. 30mf r omhi s neck.
As f or a doubl e pendul um, one wi t h t wo wei ght s at t ached t o t he same wi r e. . . I f you
shi f t A, A osci l l at es; t hen af t er a whi l e i t st ops and B wi l l osci l l at e. I f t he
pai r ed wei ght s ar e di f f er ent or i f t hei r l engt hs ar e di f f er ent , t he ener gy passes
f r omone t o t he ot her , but t he per i ods of t hese osci l l at i ons wi l l not be equal . . .
Thi s eccent r i ci t y of movement al so occur s i f , i nst ead of begi nni ng t o make A
osci l l at e f r eel y by set t i ng i t i n mot i on, you appl y a f or ce t o t he syst emal r eady i n
mot i on. That i s t o say, i f t he wi nd bl ows i n gust s onj he hanged man i n asynchr onous
f ashi on, af t er a whi l e, t he hanged man wi l l become mot i onl ess and hi s gal l ows wi l l
osci l l at e as i f i t s f ul cr umwer e t he hanged man.
- Fr oma pr i vat e l et t er of Mar i o Sal vador ! , Col umbi a Uni ver si t y, 1984
Page 273
Havi ng not hi ng mor e t o l ear n i n t hat pl ace, I t ook advant age of t he mel ee t o r each
t he st at ue of Gr amme.
The pedest al was st i l l open. I ent er ed, went down a nar r ow l adder , and f ound mysel f
on a smal l l andi ng i l l umi nat ed by a l i ght bul b, wher e a spi r al st one st ai r case
began. At t he end of t hi s, I came t o a di mpassage wi t h a hi gher , vaul t ed cei l i ng.
At f i r st I di dn' t r eal i ze wher e I was, and coul dn' t i dent i f y t he sour ce of t he
r i ppl i ng sound I hear d. Then my eyes adj ust ed: I was i n a sewer , wi t h a handr ai l
t hat kept me f r omf al l i ng i nt o t he wat er but not f r omi nhal i ng an awesome st i nk,
hal f chemi cal , hal f or gani c. At l east somet hi ng i n our st or y was t r ue: t he sewer s of
Par i s, of Col ber t , Fant omas, Caus.
I f ol l owed t he bi ggest condui t , deci di ng agai nst t he dar ker ones t hat br anched of f ,
and hoped t hat some si gn woul d t el l me wher e t o end my subt er r anean f l i ght . I n any
case, I was escapi ng, f ar f r omt he Conser vat oi r e, and compar ed t o t hat ki ngdomof
dar kness t he Par i s sewer s wer e r el i ef , f r eedom, cl ean ai r , l i ght .
I car r i ed wi t h me a si ngl e i mage, t he hi er ogl yph t r aced i n t he choi r by Bel bo' s
cor pse. What was t hat symbol ? To what ot her symbol di d i t cor r espond? I coul dn' t
f i gur e i t out . I know now i t was a l aw of physi cs, but t hi s knowl edge onl y makes t he
phenomenon mor e symbol i c. Her e, now, i n Bel bo' s count r y house, among hi s many not es,
I f ound a l et t er f r omsomeone who, r epl yi ng t o a quest i on of hi s, t ol d hi mhow a
pendul umwor ks, and how i t woul d behave i f a second wei ght wer e hung el sewher e al ong
t he l engt h of i t s wi r e. So Bel bo- God knows f or how l ong- had been t hi nki ng of t he
Pendul umas bot h a Si nai and a Cal var y. He hadn' t di ed as t he vi ct i mof a Pl an of
r ecent manuf act ur e; he had pr epar ed hi s deat h much ear l i er , i n hi s i magi nat i on,
unawar e t hat hi s i magi nat i on, mor e cr eat i ve t han he, was pl anni ng t he r eal i t y of
t hat deat h.
Somehow, l osi ng, Bel bo had won. Or does he who devot es hi msel f t o t hi s si ngl e way of
wi nni ng t hen l ose al l ? He l oses al l i f he does not under st and t hat t he vi ct or y i s a
di f f er ent vi ct or y. But on t hat Sat ur day eveni ng I hadn' t yet di scover ed t hi s.
I went al ong t he t unnel , mi ndl ess, l i ke Post el , per haps l ost i n t he same dar kness,
and suddenl y I saw t he si gn. A br i ght er l amp, at t ached t o t he wal l , showed me
anot her l adder , t empor ar y, l eadi ng t o a wooden t r apdoor . I t r i ed i t , and I f ound
mysel f i n a basement f i l l ed wi t h empt y bot t l es, t hen a cor r i dor wi t h t wo t oi l et s, a
l i t t l e man on one door , a l i t t l e woman on t he ot her . I was i n t he wor l d of t he
l i vi ng.
I st opped, br eat hl ess. Onl y t hen di d I r emember Lor enza. Now I was cr yi ng. But she
was sl i ppi ng away, l eavi ng my bl oodst r eam, as i f she had never exi st ed. I coul dn' t
even see her f ace. I n t hat wor l d of t he dead, she was t he most dead.
At t he end of t he cor r i dor I came t o anot her st ai r way, a door . I ent er ed a smoky,
evi l - smel l i ng pl ace, a t aver n, a bi st r o, an Or i ent al bar , bl ack wai t er s, sweat i ng
cust omer s, gr easy skewer s, and mugs of beer . I appear ed, l i ke an or di nar y cust omer
who had gone t o ur i nat e and r et ur ned. Nobody not i ced me. Per haps t he man at t he cash
desk, seei ng me ar r i ve f r omt he back, gave me an al most i mper cept i bl e si gnal ,
nar r owi ng hi s eyes as i f t o say: Yes, I under st and, go ahead, I haven' t seen a
t hi ng.
115
I f t he eye coul d see t he demons t hat peopl e t he uni ver se, exi st ence woul d be
i mpossi bl e.
- Tal mud, Ber akhot , 6
Leavi ng t he bar , I f i nd mysel f among t he l i ght s of Por t e Sai nt - Mar t i n. The bar i s
Ar ab, and t he shops ar ound i t , st i l l open, ar e Ar ab, t oo. A composi t e odor of
couscous and f al af el , and cr owd. Cl umps of young peopl e, t hi n, many wi t h sl eepi ng
bags. I ask a boy what i s goi ng on. The mar ch, he says. Tomor r ow t her e wi l l be a bi g
mar ch agai nst t he Savar y l aw. Mar cher s ar e ar r i vi ng by t he busl oad. A Tur k- a Dr uze,
an I smai l i i n di sgui se- i nvi t es me i n bad Fr ench t o go i nt o some ki nd of cl ub. Never .
Fl ee Al amut . You do not know who i s i n t he ser vi ce of whom. Tr ust no one.
I cr oss t he i nt er sect i on. Now I hear onl y t he sound of my f oot st eps. The advant age
of a bi g ci t y: move on a f ew met er s, and you f i nd sol i t ude agai n.
Suddenl y, af t er a f ew bl ocks, on my l ef t , t he Conser vat oi r e, pal e i n t he ni ght . Fr om
Page 274
t he out si de, per f ect peace, a monument sl eepi ng t he sl eep of t he j ust . I cont i nue
sout hwar d, t owar d t he Sei ne. I have a dest i nat i on, but I ' mnot sur e what i t i s. I
want t o ask someone what has happened.
Bel bo dead? The sky i s ser ene. I encount er a gr oup of st udent s. They ar e si l ent ,
i nf l uenced by t he geni us l oci . On t he l ef t , t he hul k of Sai nt - Ni col as- des- Champs.
I cont i nue al ong r ue Sai nt - Mar t i n, I cr oss r ue aux Our s, br oad, a boul evar d, al most ;
I ' maf r ai d of l osi ng my way, but what way? Wher e amI goi ng? I don' t know. I l ook
ar ound, and on my r i ght , at t he comer , I see t wo di spl ay wi ndows of Edi t i ons
Ros- i cr uci ennes. They' r e dar k, but i n t he l i ght of t he st r eet l amp and wi t h t he hel p
of my f l ashl i ght I manage t o make out t hei r cont ent s. Books, obj ect s, Hi st oi r e
desj ui f s, Comt e de St . - Ger mai n, al chemy, monde cache, l es mai sons secr et es de l a
Rose- Cr oi x, t he message of t he bui l der s of t he cat hedr al s, t he Cat har s, The New
At l ant i s, Egypt i an medi ci ne, t he t empl e of Kar nak, t he Bhagavad- Gi t a, r ei ncar nat i on,
Rosi cr uci an cr osses and candel abr a, bust s of I r i s and Osi r i s, i ncense i n boxes and
t abl et s, t ar ot s. A dagger , a t i n l et t er opener wi t h a r ound hi l t bear i ng t he seal of
t he Rosi cr uci ans. What ar e t hey doi ng, maki ng f un of me?
I pass t he f acade of t he Beaubour g. Dur i ng t he day t he pl ace i s a vi l l age f ai r ; now
t he pl aza i s al most deser t ed. A f ew si l ent gr oups, sl eepi ng, a f ew l i ght s f r omt he
br asser i es opposi t e. I t ' s al l t r ue. Gi ant ai r duct s t hat absor b ener gy f r omt he
ear t h. Per haps t he cr owds t hat come dur i ng t he day ser ve t o suppl y t hemwi t h
vi br at i ons; per haps t he her met i c machi ne i s f ed on f r esh meat .
The chur ch of Sai nt - Mer r i . Opposi t e, t he Li br ai r i e l a Voui vr e, t hr ee- quar t er s
occul t i st . I must not gi ve i n t o hyst er i a. I t ake r ue des Lombar ds, t o avoi d an ar my
of Scandi navi an gi r l s comi ng out of a bi st r o l aughi ng. Shut up; Lor enza i s dead.
But i s she? What i f I amt he one who i s dead? Rue des Lombar ds i nt er sect s, at r i ght
angl es, r ue Ni col as- Fl amel , and at t he end of t hat you can see, whi t e, t he Tour
Sai nt - J acques. At t he cor ner , t he Li br ai r i e Ar cane 22, t ar ot s and pendul ums. Ni col as
Fl amel t he al chemi st , an al chemi st i c bookshop, and t hen t he Tour Sai nt - J acques, wi t h
t hose gr eat whi t e l i ons at t he base, a usel ess l at e- Got hi c t ower near t he Sei ne,
af t er whi ch an esot er i c r evi ew was named. Pascal conduct ed exper i ment s t her e on t he
wei ght of ai r , and even t oday, at a hei ght of f i f t y- t wo met er s, t he t ower has a
st at i on f or met eor ol ogi cal r esear ch. Maybe They began wi t h t he Tour Sai nt - J acques,
bef or e er ect i ng t he Ei f f el Tower . Ther e ar e speci al l ocat i ons. And no one not i ces.
I go back t owar d Sai nt - Mer r i . Mor e gi r l s' l aught er . I don' t want t o see peopl e. I
ski r t t he chur ch. Al ong r ue du Cl oi t r e- Sai nt - Mer r i , a t r ansept door , ol d, of r ough
wood. At t he f oot of t he st r eet , a squar e ext ends, t he end of t he Beaubour g ar ea,
her e br i l l i ant l y l i t . I n t he open space, machi nes by Ti nguel y, and ot her
mul t i col or ed ar t i f act s t hat f l oat on t he sur f ace of a pool , a smal l ar t i f i ci al l ake,
t hei r cogged wheel s cl anki ng i nsi nuat i ngl y. I n t he backgr ound I see agai n t he
scaf f ol di ng of Dal mi ne pi pes, t he Beaubour g wi t h i t s gapi ng mout hs- l i ke an abandoned
71- t ani c near a wal l devour ed by i vy, a shi pwr eck i n a cr at er of t he moon. Wher e t he
cat hedr al s f ai l ed, t he gr eat t r ansat l ant i c duct s whi sper , i n cont act wi t h t he Bl ack
Vi r gi ns. They ar e di scover ed onl y by one who knows how t o ci r cumnavi gat e
Sai nt - Mer r i . And so I must go on; I have a cl ue, I must expose Thei r pl ot i n t he
ver y cent er of t he Vi l l e Lumi er e, t he pl ot of t he Dar k Ones.
I f i nd mysel f at t he f acade of Sai nt - Mer r i . Somet hi ng i mpel s me t o t r ai n my
f l ashl i ght on t he por t al . Fl amboyant Got hi c, ar ches i n accol ade.
And suddenl y, f i ndi ng what I di dn' t expect t o f i nd, on t he ar chi vol t of t he por t al I
see i t .
The Baphomet . Wher e t wo cur ves j oi n. At t he summi t of t he f i r st , a dove of t he Hol y
Spi r i t wi t h a gl or y of st one r ays, but on t he second, besi eged by pr ayi ng angel s,
t her e he i s, t he Baphomet , wi t h hi s awf ul wi ngs. On t he f acade of a chur ch.
Shamel ess.
Why her e? Because we ar en' t f ar f r omt he Templ e. Wher e i s t he Templ e, or what ' s l ef t
of i t ? I r et r ace my st eps, nor t h, and f i nd mysel f at t he cor ner of r ue de
Mont mor ency. At number 51, t he house of Ni col as Fl amel . Bet ween t he Baphomet and t he
Templ e. The shr ewd spagyr i c knew wel l wi t h whomhe was deal i ng. Poubel l es f ul l of
f oul r ubbi sh opposi t e a house of undef i ned per i od, Taver ne Ni col as Fl amel . The house
i s ol d, r est or ed f or t he t our i st s, f or Di abol i cal s of t he l owest or der , hyl i cs. Next
door , an Amer i can shop wi t h an Appl e post er : " Secouez- vous l es puces. "
Mi cr osof t - Her mes. Di r ect or y, t emur ah.
Now I ' mi n r ue du Templ e, I wal k al ong i t and come t o t he cor ner of r ue de Br et agne,
and t he Squar e du Templ e, a gar den bl anched as a cemet er y, t he necr opol i s of t he
Page 275
mar t yr ed kni ght s.
Rue de Br et agne t o r ue Vi ei l l e du Templ e. Rue Vi ei l l e du Templ e, af t er r ue Bar bet t e,
has novel t y shops: el ect r i c bul bs i n odd shapes, J i ke ducks or i vy l eaves. Too
bl at ant l y moder n. They don' t f ool me.
Rue des Fr ancs- Bour geoi s: I ' mi n t he Mar ai s, I know, and soon t he ol d kosher but cher
shops wi l l appear . What do t he J ews have t o do wi t h t he Templ ar s, now t hat we gave
t hei r pl ace i n t he Pl an t o t he Assassi ns of Al amut ? Why amI her e? I s i t an answer I
aml ooki ng f or ? Per haps I ' monl y t r yi ng t o get away f r omt he Conser vat oi r e. Unl ess I
do have a dest i nat i on, a pl ace I ' mgoi ng t o. But i t can' t be her e. I r ack my br ai n
t o r emember wher e i t i s, as Bel bo hunt ed i n a dr eamf or a l ost addr ess.
An obscene gr oup appr oaches. Laughi ng nast i l y, t hey mar ch i n open or der , f or ci ng me
t o st ep of f t he si dewal k. For a moment I f ear t hey ar e agent s of t he Ol d Man of t he
Mount ai n, t hat t hey have come f or me. Not so; t hey vani sh i nt o t he ni ght , but t hey
speak a f or ei gn l anguage, a si bi l ant Shi i t e, Tal mudi c, Copt i c, l i ke a ser pent of t he
deser t .
Andr ogynous f i gur es l oom, i n l ong cl oaks. Rosi cr uci an cl oaks. They pass, t ur n i nt o
r ue de Sevi gne. I t i s l at e, ver y l at e. I f l ed t he Conser vat oi r e t o f i nd agai n t he
ci t y of al l , but now I r eal i ze t hat t he ci t y of al l i s a cat acomb wi t h speci al pat hs
f or t he i ni t i at ed.
A dr unk. But he may be pr et endi ng. Tr ust no one, no one. I pass a st i l l - open bar ;
t he wai t er s, i n apr ons down t o t hei r ankl es, ar e put t i ng chai r s on t abl es. I manage
t o ent er j ust i n t i me. I or der a beer , dr ai n i t , ask f or anot her . " A heal t hy t hi r st ,
eh?" one of t hemsays. But wi t hout cor di al i t y, suspi ci ous. Of cour se I ' mt hi r st y;
I ' ve had not hi ng t o dr i nk si nce f i ve yest er day af t er noon. A man can be t hi r st y
wi t hout havi ng spent t he ni ght under a pendul um. Fool s. I pay and l eave bef or e t hey
can commi t my f eat ur es t o memor y.
I ' mat t he cor ner of Pl ace des Vosges. I wal k al ong t he ar cades. What was t hat ol d
movi e i n whi ch t he sol i t ar y f oot st eps of Mat hi as, t he mad ki l l er , echoed at ni ght i n
Pl ace des Vosges? I st op. Do I hear f oot st eps behi nd me? But I woul dn' t , of cour se;
t he ki l l er has st opped, t oo. These ar cades- al l t hey need i s a f ew gl ass cases, and
t hey coul d be r ooms i n t he Conser vat oi r e.
Low si xt eent h- cent ur y cei l i ngs, r ound- headed ar ches, gal l er i es sel l i ng pr i nt s,
ant i ques, f ur ni t ur e. Pl ace des Vosges, wi t h i t s ol d door ways, cr acked and wor n and
l epr ous. The peopl e her e haven' t moved f or hundr eds of year s. Men wi t h yel l ow
cl oaks. A squar e i nhabi t ed excl usi vel y by t axi der mi st s. They appear onl y at ni ght .
They know t he movabl e sl ab, t he manhol e t hr ough whi ch you penet r at e t he Mundus
Subt er r aneus. I n f ul l vi ew.
The Uni on de Recouvr ement des Cot i sat i on de Secur i t e soci al e et D' al l ocat i ons
f ami l i al es de l a Pat el l er i e, number 75, apar t ment 1. A new door - r i ch peopl e must
l i ve t her e- but r i ght next t o i t i s an ol d door , peel i ng, l i ke a door on Vi a Si ncer o
Renat o. Then, at number 3, a door r ecent l y r est or ed. Hyl i cs al t er nat i ng wi t h
pneumat i cs. The Mast er s and t hei r sl aves. Then pl anks nai l ed acr oss what must have
been an ar ch. I t ' s obvi ous; t her e was an occul t i st bookshop her e and now i t ' s gone.
A whol e bl ock has been empt i ed. Evacuat ed over ni ght . Li ke Agl i e. They know someone
knows; t hey ar e begi nni ng t o cover t hei r t r acks.
At t he cor ner of r ue de Bi r ague, I see t he l i ne of ar cades, i nf i ni t e, wi t hout a
l i vi ng soul . I want dar kness, not t hese yel l ow st r eet l amps. I coul d cr y out , but no
one woul d hear me. Behi nd al l t he cl osed wi ndows, t hr ough whi ch not a t hr ead of
l i ght escapes, t he t axi der mi st s i n t hei r yel l ow smocks wi l l sni cker .
But no; bet ween t he ar cades and t he gar den i n t he cent er ar e par ked car s, and an
occasi onal shadow passes. A bi g Bel gi an shepher d cr osses my pat h. A bl ack dog al one
i n t he ni ght . Wher e i s Faust ? Di d he send t he f ai t hf ul Wagner out f or a pi ss?
Wagner . That ' s t he wor d t hat was chur ni ng i n my mi nd wi t hout sur f aci ng. Dr . Wagner :
he' s t he one I need. He wi l l be abl e t o t el l me t hat I ' mr avi ng, t hat I ' ve gi ven
f l esh t o ghost s, t hat none of i t ' s t r ue, Bel bo' s al i ve, and t he Tr es don' t exi st .
What a r el i ef i t woul d be t o l ear n t hat I ' msi ck.
I abandon t he squar e, al most r unni ng. I ' mf ol l owed by a car . But maybe i t ' s onl y
l ooki ng f or a par ki ng pl ace. I t r i p on a pl ast i c gar bage bag. The car par ks. I t
di dn' t want me. I ' mon r ue Sai nt - Ant oi ne. I l ook f or a t axi . As i f i nvoked, one
passes.
I say t o t he dr i ver : " Sept , Avenue El i see- Recl us. "
116
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J e voudr ai s et r e l a t our , pendr e a l a Tour Ei f f el .
- Bl ai se Cendr ar s
I di dn' t know wher e 7, Avenue El i see- Recl us was, and I di dn' t dar e ask t he dr i ver ,
because anyone who t akes a t axi at t hat hour ei t her i s headi ng f or hi s own home or
i s a mur der er at t he ver y l east . The man was gr umbl i ng t hat t he cent er of t he ci t y
was st i l l f ul l of t hose damn st udent s, buses par ked ever ywher e, i t was a scandal , ' i f
he was i n char ge, t hey' d al l be l i ned up agai nst a wal l , and t he best t hi ng was t o
go t he l ong way r ound. He pr act i cal l y ci r cl ed Par i s, l eavi ng me f i nal l y at number 7
of a l onel y st r eet . Ther e was no Dr . Wagner at t hat addr ess. Was i t sevent een, t hen?
Or t went y- seven? I wal ked, l ooked at t wo or t hr ee houses, t hen came t o my senses.
Even i f I f ound t he house, was I t hi nki ng of dr aggi ng Dr . Wagner out of bed at t hi s
t i me of ni ght t o t el l hi mmy st or y? I had ended up her e f or t he same r eason t hat I
had r oamed f r omPor t e Sai nt - Mar t i n t o Pl ace des Vosges: I was f l eei ng. I di dn' t need
a psychoanal yst , I needed a st r ai t - j acket . Or t he cur e of sl eep. Or Li a. To have her
hol d my head, pr ess i t bet ween her br east and ar mpi t , and whi sper soot hi ngl y t o me.
Was i t Dr . Wagner I want ed or Avenue El i see- Recl us? Because- now I r emember ed- I had
come acr oss t hat name i n t he cour se of my r eadi ng f or t he Pl an. El i see Recl us was
someone i n t he l ast cent ur y who wr ot e a book about t he ear t h, t he under gr ound,
vol canoes; under t he pr et ext of academi c geogr aphy he st uck hi s nose i nt o t he Mundus
Subt er r aneus. One of Them, i n ot her wor ds. I r an f r omThem, yet kept f i ndi ng Them
ar ound me. Li t t l e by l i t t l e, i n t he space of a f ew hundr ed year s, They had occupi ed
al l of Par i s. And t he r est of t he wor l d.
I shoul d go back t o t he hot el . Woul d I f i nd anot her t axi ? Thi s was pr obabl y an
out - of - t he- way subur b. I headed i n t he di r ect i on wher e t he ni ght sky was br i ght er ,
mor e open. The Sei ne?
When I r eached t he cor ner , I saw i t .
On my l ef t . I shoul d have known i t woul d be t her e, i n ambush, because i n t hi s ci t y
t he st r eet names wr ot e unmi st akabl e messages; t hey gave you war ni ngs. I t was my own
f aul t t hat I hadn' t been payi ng at t ent i on.
Ther e i t was, f oul met al spi der , t he symbol and i nst r ument of t hei r power . I shoul d
have r un, but I f el t dr awn t o t hat web, cr ani ng my neck, t hen l ooki ng downwar d,
because f r omwher e I st ood t he t hi ng coul d not be encompassed i n one gl ance. I was
swal l owed by i t , sl ashed by i t s t housand edges, bombar ded by met al cur t ai ns t hat
f el l on ever y si de. Wi t h t he sl i ght est move i t coul d have cr ushed me wi t h one of
t hose Meccano paws.
La Tour . I was at t he one pl ace i n t he ci t y wher e you don' t see i t i n t he di st ance,
i n pr of i l e, benevol ent above t he ocean of r oof s, l i ght - hear t ed as a Duf y pai nt i ng.
I t was on t op of me, i t sai l ed at me. I coul d gl i mpse t he t i p, but I moved i nwar d,
bet ween i t s l egs, and saw i t s haunches, under si de, geni t al i a, sensed t he ver t i gi nous
i nt est i ne t hat cl i mbed t o j oi n t he esophagus of t hat pol yt echni cal gi r af f e' s neck.
Per f or at ed, i t yet had t he power t o douse t he l i ght ar ound i t , and as I moved, i t
of f er ed me, f r omdi f f er ent per spect i ves, di f f er ent caver nous ni ches t hat f r amed
sudden zooms i nt o dar kness.
To i t s r i ght , i n t he nor t heast , st i l l l ow on t he hor i zon, a si ckl e moon. At t i mes,
t he Tower f r amed i t ; and t o me i t l ooked l i ke an opt i cal i l l usi on, t he f l uor escence
of one of t hose skewed scr eens t he Tower ' s st r uct ur e f or med; but i f I wal ked on a
l i t t l e, t he scr eens assumed new f or ms, t he moon vani shed, t angl ed i n t he met al r i bs;
t he spi der cr ushed i t , di gest ed i t , and i t went i nt o anot her di mensi on.
Tesser act . Four - di mensi onal cube. Thr ough an ar ch I saw a f l ashi ng l i ght - no, t wo,
one r ed, one whi t e- sur el y a pl ane l ooki ng f or Roi ssy or Or l y. The next moment - I had
moved, or t he pl ane, or t he Tower - t he l i ght s hi d behi nd a r i b; I wai t ed f or t hemt o
r eappear i n t he next f r ame, but t hey wer e gone f or good. The Tower had a hundr ed
wi ndows, al l mobi l e, and each gave ont o a di f f er ent segment of space- t i me. I t s r i bs
di dn' t f or mEucl i dean cur ves, t hey r i pped t he ver y f abr i c of t he cosmos, t hey
over t ur ned r eal i t i es, t hey l eaf ed t hr ough pages of par al l el wor l ds.
Who was i t who sai d t hat t hi s spi r e of Not r e Dame de l a Br ocant e ser ved " a suspendr e
Par i s au pl af ond de 1' uni ver s" ? On t he cont r ar y, i t suspended t he uni ver se f r omi t s
spi r e. I t was t hus t he subst i t ut e f or t he Pendul um.
What had t hey cal l ed i t ? Lone supposi t or y, hol l ow obel i sk, Magni f i cat of wi r e,
apot heosi s of t he bat t er y, aer i al al t ar of an i dol at r ous cul t , bee i n t he hear t of
t he r ose of t he wi nds, pi t eous r ui n, hi deous ni ght - col or ed col ossus, mi sshapen
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embl emof usel ess st r engt h, absur d wonder , meani ngl ess pyr ami d, gui t ar , i nkwel l ,
t el escope, pr ol i x as a cabi net mi ni st er ' s speech, anci ent god, moder n beast . . . I t was
al l t hi s and mor e. And, had I had t he si xt h sense of t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d, now
t hat I st ood wi t hi n i t s bundl e of vocal cor ds encr ust ed wi t h r i vet pol yps, I woul d
have hear d t he Tower hoar sel y whi sper t he musi c of t he spher es as i t sucked waves
f r omt he hear t of our hol l ow pl anet and t r ansmi t t ed t hemt o al l t he menhi r s of t he
wor l d. Rhi zome of j unct ur es, cer vi cal ar t hr osi s, pr ot hesi s of pr ot heses. The hor r or
of i t ! To dash my br ai ns out , f r omwher e I was, They woul d have t o l aunch me t owar d
t he peak. Sur el y I was comi ng out of a j our ney t hr ough t he cent er of t he ear t h, I
was di zzy, ant i gr av- i t at i onal , i n t he ant i podes.
No, we had not been daydr eami ng: her e was t he l oomi ng pr oof of t he Pl an. But soon
t he Tower woul d r eal i ze t hat I was t he spy, t he enemy, t he gr ai n of sand i n t he gear
syst emi t ser ved, soon i t woul d i mper cept i bl y di l at e a di amond wi ndow i n t hat l ace
of l ead and swal l ow me, gr ab me i n a f ol d of i t s hyper space, and put me El sewher e.
I f I r emai ned a l i t t l e l onger under i t s t r acer y, i t s gr eat t al ons woul d cl ench,
cur ve l i ke cl aws, dr aw me i n, and t hen t he ani mal woul d sl yl y assume i t s f or mer
posi t i on. Cr i mi nal , si ni st er penci l shar pener !
Anot her pl ane: t hi s one came f r omnowher e; t he Tower i t sel f had gener at ed i t bet ween
t wo of i t s pl ucked- mast odon ver t ebr ae.
I l ooked up. The Tower was endl ess, l i ke t he Pl an f or whi ch i t had been bor n. I f I
coul d r emai n t her e wi t hout bei ng devour ed, I woul d be abl e t o f ol l ow t he shi f t s, t he
sl ow r evol ut i ons, t he i nf i ni t esi mal decomposi t i ons and r ecomposi t i ons i n t he chi l l
of t he cur r ent s. Per haps t he Mast er s of t he Wor l d knew how t o i nt er pr et i t as a
geomant i c desi gn, per haps i n i t s met amor phoses t hey knew how t o r ead t hei r
i nst r uct i ons, t hei r unconf essabl e mandat es. The Tower spun above my head,
scr ewdr i ver of t he Myst i c Pol e. Or el se i t was i mmobi l e, l i ke a magnet i zed pi n, and
i t made t he heavenl y vaul t r ot at e. The ver t i go was t he same. How wel l t he Tower
def ends i t sel f ! I sai d si l ent l y. Fr omt he di st ance i t wi nks af f ect i onat el y, but
shoul d you appr oach, shoul d you at t empt t o penet r at e i t s myst er y, i t wi l l ki l l you,
i t wi l l f r eeze your bones, si mpl y by r eveal i ng t he meani ngl ess hor r or of whi ch i t i s
made. Now I know t hat Bel bo i s dead, and t he Pl an i s r eal , because t he Tower i s
r eal . I f I don' t get away now, f l eei ng once agai n, I won' t be abl e t o t el l anyone. I
must sound t he al ar m.
A noi se. St op, r et ur n t o r eal i t y. A t axi bear i ng down. Wi t h a l eap I managed t o t ear
mysel f f r omt he magi c gi r dl e, I waved my ar ms, and was al most r un Oj Ver , because t he
dr i ver br aked onl y at t he l ast moment , st oppi ng as i f wi t h gr eat r el uct ance. Dur i ng
t he r i de he expl ai ned mat he, t oo, when he passed beneat h i t at ni ght , f ound t he
Tower f r i ght eni ng, so he speeded up. " Why?" I asked hi m.
" Par ce que. . . par ce que ca f ai t peur , c' est t out . "
At my hot el , I had t o r i ng and r i ng bef or e t he sl eepy ni ght por t er came. I sai d t o
mysel f : You have t o sl eep now. The r est , t omor r ow. I t ook some pi l l s, enough t o
poi son mysel f . Then I don' t r emember .
117
Madness has an enor mous pavi l i on Wher e i t r ecei ves f ol k f r omever y r egi on,
Especi al l y i f t hey have gol d i n pr of usi on.
- Sebast i an Br ant , Das Nar r enschi f f , 1494, 46
I woke at t wo i n t he af t er noon, dazed, cat at oni c. I r emember ed ever yt hi ng cl ear l y,
but di dn' t know i f what I r emember ed was t r ue. My f i r st t hought was t o r un
downst ai r s and buy t he newspaper s; t hen I t ol d mysel f t hat even i f a company of
spahi s had st or med t he Conser vat oi r e i mmedi at el y af t er t he event , t he news woul dn' t
have had t i me t o appear i n t he mor ni ng paper s.
Besi des, Par i s had ot her t hi ngs on i t s mi nd t hat day. The desk cl er k i nf or med me as
soon as I went down t o l ook f or some cof f ee. The ci t y was i n an upr oar . Many Me' t r o
st at i ons wer e cl osed; i n some pl aces t he pol i ce wer e usi ng f or ce t o di sper se t he
cr owds; t he st udent s wer e t oo numer ous, t hey wer e goi ng t oo f ar .
I f ound Dr . Wagner ' s number i n t he t el ephone book. I t r i ed cal l i ng, but hi s of f i ce
was obvi ousl y cl osed on Sunday. Anyway, I had t o go and check at t he Conser vat oi r e.
I t was open on Sunday af t er noons.
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I n t he Lat i n Quar t er gr oups of peopl e wer e shout i ng and wavi ng f l ags. On t he He de
l a Ci t e I saw a pol i ce bar r i cade. Shot s coul d be hear d i n t he di st ance. Thi s i s how
i t must have been i n ' 68. At Sai nt e- Chapel l e t her e must have been a conf r ont at i on, I
caught a whi f f of t ear gas. I hear d peopl e char gi ng, I di dn' t know i f t hey wer e
st udent s or pol i cemen; ever ybody ar ound me was r unni ng. Some of us t ook r ef uge
i nsi de a f ence behi nd a cor don of pol i ce, whi l e t her e was some scuf f l i ng i n t he
st r eet . The shame of i t : her e I was wi t h t he agi ng bour geoi si e, wai t i ng f or t he
r evol ut i on t o subsi de.
Then t he way was cl ear , and I t ook back st r eet s ar ound t he ol d Hal l es, unt i l I was
agai n i n r ue Sai nt - Mar t i n. The Conser vat oi r e was open, wi t h i t s whi t e f or ecour t , t he
pl ague on t he f acade: " Conser vat oi r e des Ar t s et Met i er s, est abl i shed by decr ee of
t he Convent i on on 19 Vendemi ai r e, Year I I I . . . i n t he f or mer pr i or y of
Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs, f ounded i n t he el event h cent ur y. " Ever yt hi ng nor mal , wi t h a
l i t t l e Sunday cr owd i gnor i ng t he st udent s' ker messe.
I went i nsi de- Sundays f r ee- and ever yt hi ng was as i t had been at f i ve o' cl ock
yest er day af t er noon. The guar ds, t he vi si t or s, t he Pendul umi n i t s usual pl ace. . . I
l ooked f or si gns of what had happened, but i f i t had happened, someone had done a
t hor ough cl eani ng. I f i t had happened.
I don' t r ecal l how I spent t he r est of t he af t er noon. Nor do I r ecal l what I saw,
wander i ng t he st r eet s, f or ced ever y now and t hen t o t ur n i nt o an al l ey t o avoi d a
scuf f l e. I cal l ed Mi l an, j ust t o see, di al ed Bel bo' s number , t hen Lor enza' s. Then
Gar amond Pr ess, whi ch woul d of cour se be cl osed.
As I si t her e t oni ght , al l t hi s happened yest er day. But bet ween t he day bef or e
yest er day and t hi s ni ght an et er ni t y has passed.
Towar d eveni ng I r eal i zed t hat I hadn' t eat en anyt hi ng. I want ed qui et , and a l i t t l e
comf or t . Near t he For umdes Hal l es I ent er ed a r est aur ant t hat pr omi sed f i sh. Ther e
was t oo much f i sh. My t abl e was di r ect l y opposi t e an aquar i um. A uni ver se
suf f i ci ent l y sur r eal t o pl unge me agai n i nt o par anoi a. Not hi ng i s acci dent al . That
f i sh seems an ast hmat i c Hesychast t hat i s l osi ng i t s f ai t h and accusi ng God of
havi ng l essened t he meani ng of t he cosmos. Sabaot h, Sabaot h, how can you be so
wi cked as t o make me bel i eve you don' t exi st ? The f l esh i s cover i ng t he wor l d l i ke
gangr ene. . . That ot her f i sh l ooks l i ke Mi nni e; she bat s her l ong l ashes and pur ses
her l i ps i nt o a hear t shape. Mi nni e Mouse i s Mi ckey' s f i ancee. I eat a sal ade f ol l e
wi t h a haddock t ender as a baby' s f l esh. Wi t h honey and pepper . The Paul i ci ans ar e
her e. That one gl i des among t he cor al l i ke Br eguet ' s ai r pl ane, a l ei sur el y
l epi dopt er al f l ut t er i ng of wi ngs; a hundr ed t o one he saw hi s homuncul us abandoned
at t he bot t omof an at hanor , now wi t h a hol e i n i t , t hr own i nt o t he gar bage opposi t e
Fl amel ' s house. And now a Templ ar f i sh, al l ar mor ed i n bl ack, l ooki ng f or Nof f o Dei .
He gr azes t he ast hmat i c Hesychast , who navi gat es pensi vel y, f r owni ng, t owar d t he
Unspeakabl e. I l ook away. Acr oss t he st r eet I gl i mpse t he si gn of anot her
r est aur ant , Chez R. . . Rosi e Cr oss? Reuchl i n? Rosi sper gi us?
Rachkov- skyr agot gkyzar ogi ? Si gnat ur es, si gnat ur es. . .
Let ' s see. The onl y way t o di scomf i t t he Devi l i s t o make hi mbel i eve you don' t
bel i eve i n hi m. Ther e' s no myst er y i n your ni ght t i me f l i ght acr oss Par i s, i n your
vi si on of t he Tower . To come out of t he Conser vat oi r e af t er what you saw, or bel i eve
you saw, and t o exper i ence t he ci t y as a ni ght mar e- t hat i s nor mal . But what di d I
see i n t he Conser vat oi r e?
I absol ut el y had t o t al k t o Dr . Wagner . I don' t know why, but I had t o. Tal ki ng was
t he panacea. The t her apy of t he wor d.
How di d I pass t he t i me t i l l t hi s mor ni ng? I went i nt o a movi e t heat er wher e t hey
wer e showi ng Or son Wel l es' The Lady f r omShanghai . When t he scene wi t h t he mi r r or s
came, i t was t oo much f or me, and I l ef t . But maybe t hat ' s not t r ue, maybe I
i magi ned t he whol e t hi ng.
Thi s mor ni ng I cal l ed Dr . Wagner at ni ne. The name Gar amond enabl ed me t o get past
t he secr et ar y; t he doct or seemed t o r emember me, and, i mpr essed by t he ur gency i n my
voi ce, he sai d t o come at once, at ni ne- t hi r t y, bef or e hi s r egul ar appoi nt ment s. He
seemed cor di al , sympat het i c.
Di d I dr eamt he vi si t t o Dr . Wagner , t oo? The secr et ar y asked f or my vi t al
st at i st i cs, pr epar ed a car d, had me pay i n advance. Lucki l y I had my r et ur n t i cket .
An of f i ce of modest si ze, wi t h no couch. Wi ndows over l ooki ng t he Sei ne. To t he l ef t ,
t he shadow of t he Tower . Dr . Wagner r ecei ved me wi t h pr of essi onal af f abi l i t y. I was
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not hi s publ i sher now, I was hi s pat i ent . Wi t h a wi de gest ur e he had me si t opposi t e
hi m, at hi s desk, l i ke a gover nment cl er k cal l ed on t he car pet . " Et al or s?" He sai d
t hi s, and gave hi s r ot at i ng chai r a push, t ur ni ng hi s back t o me. He sat wi t h hi s
head bowed and hands cl asped. Ther e was not hi ng l ef t but f or me t o speak.
I spoke, and i t was l i ke a dambur st i ng; ever yt hi ng came out , f r ombegi nni ng t o end:
what I t hought t wo year s ago, what I t hought l ast year , what ! t hought Bel bo had
t hought , and Di o- t al l evi . Above al l , what had happened on Sai nt J ohn' s Eve.
Wagner di d not i nt er r upt once, di d not nod or show di sap- . pr oval . For al l
t he r esponse he made, he coul d have been f ast asl eep. But t hat must have been hi s
t echni que. I t al ked and t al ked. The t her apy of t he wor d.
Then I wai t ed f or t he wor d, hi s wor d, t hat woul d save me.
Wagner st ood up ver y, ver y sl owl y. Wi t hout t ur ni ng t o me, he came ar ound hi s desk
and went t o t he wi ndow. He l ooked out , hi s hands f ol ded behi nd hi s back, absor bed i n
t hought .
I n si l ence, f or t en, f i f t een mi nut es.
Then, st i l l wi t h hi s back t o me, i n a col or l ess voi ce, cal m, r eassur i ng: " Monsi eur ,
vous et es f ou. "
He di d not move, and nei t her di d I . Af t er anot her f i ve mi nut es, I r eal i zed t hat he
wasn' t goi ng t o add anyt hi ng. That was i t . End of sessi on.
I l ef t wi t hout sayi ng goodbye. The secr et ar y gave me a br i ght smi l e, and I f ound
mysel f once mor e i n Avenue El i se" e- Recl us.
I t was el even. I pi cked up my t hi ngs at t he hot el and r ushed t o t he ai r por t . I had
t o wai t t wo hour s. I n t he meant i me, I cal l ed Gar amond Pr ess, col l ect , because I
di dn' t have a cent l ef t . Gud- r un answer ed. She seemed mor e obt use t han usual , I had
t o shout t hr ee t i mes f or her t o say Si , oui , yes, t hat she woul d accept t he cal l .
She was cr yi ng: Di ot al l evi had di ed Sat ur day ni ght at mi dni ght .
" And nobody, not one of hi s f r i ends was at t he f uner al t hi s mor ni ng. The shame of
i t ! Not even Si gner Gar amond! They say he' s out of t he count r y. Ther e was onl y me,
Gr azi a, Luci ano, and a gent l eman al l i n bl ack, wi t h a bear d, si de cur l s, and a bi g
hat : he l ooked l i ke an under t aker . God knows wher e he came f r om. But wher e wer e you,
Casaubon? And wher e was Bel bo? What ' s goi ng on?"
I mut t er ed somet hi ng i n t he way of an expl anat i on and hung up. My f l i ght was cal l ed,
and I boar ded t he pl ane.
YESOD
118
The conspi r acy t heor y of soci et y. . . comes f r omabandoni ng God and t hen aski ng: " Who
i s i n hi s pl ace?"
- Kar l Popper , Conj ect ur es and Ref ut at i ons, London, Rout l edge, 1969, i v, p. 123
The f l i ght di d me good. I not onl y l ef t Par i s behi nd, I l ef t t he under gr ound, t he
gr ound i t sel f , t he t er r est i al cr ust . Sky and mount ai ns st i l l whi t e wi t h snow.
Sol i t ude at t en t housand met er s, and t hat sense of i nt oxi cat i on al ways pr oduced by
f l yi ng, t he pr essur i zat i on, t he passage t hr ough sl i ght t ur bul ence. I t was onl y up
her e, I t hought , t hat I was f i nal l y put t i ng my f eet on sol i d gr ound. Ti me t o dr aw
concl usi ons, t o l i st poi nt s i n my not ebook, t hen cl ose my eyes and t hi nk.
I deci ded t o l i st , f i r st of al l , t he i ncont est abl e f act s.
Ther e i s no doubt t hat Di ot al l evi i s dead. Gudr un t ol d me so. Gudr un was never par t
of our st or y- she woul dn' t have under st ood i t - so she i s t he onl y one l ef t who t el l s
t he t r ut h. Al so, Gar amond i s not i n Mi l an. He coul d be anywher e, of cour se, but t he
f act t hat he' s not t her e and hasn' t been t her e t he past f ew days suggest s he was
i ndeed i n Par i s, wher e I saw hi m.
Si mi l ar l y, Bel bo i s not t her e.
Now, l et ' s assume t hat what I saw Sat ur day ni ght i n Sai nt - Mar t i n- des- Champs r eal l y
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happened. Per haps not t he way I saw i t , bef uddl ed as I was by t he musi c and t he
i ncense; but somet hi ng di d happen. I t ' s l i ke t hat t i me wi t h Ampar o. Af t er war d, she
di dn' t bel i eve she had been possessed by Pomba Gi r a, but she knew t hat i n t he t enda
de umbanda somet hi ng had possessed her .
Fi nal l y, what Li a t ol d me i n t he mount ai ns i s t r ue. Her i nt er pr et at i on i s compl et el y
convi nci ng: t he Pr ovi ns message i s a l aundr y l i st . Ther e wer e never any Templ ar s'
meet i ngs at t he Gr ange- aux- Di mes. Ther e was no Pl an and t her e was no message.
The l aundr y l i st , f or us, had been a cr osswor d puzzl e wi t h t he squar es empt y and no
def i ni t i ons. The squar es had t o be f i l l ed i n such a way t hat ever yt hi ng woul d f i t .
But per haps t hat met aphor i sn' t pr eci se. I n a cr osswor d puzzl e t he wor ds,
i nt er sect i ng, have t o have l et t er s i n common. I n our game we cr ossed not wor ds but
concept s, event s, so t he r ul es wer e di f f er ent . Basi cal l y t her e wer e t hr ee r ul es.
Rul e One: Concept s ar e connect ed by anal ogy. Ther e i s no way t o deci de at once
whet her an anal ogy i s good or bad, because t o some degr ee ever yt hi ng i s connect ed t o
ever yt hi ng el se. For exampl e, pot at o cr osses wi t h appl e, because bot h ar e veget abl e
and r ound i n shape. Fr omappl e t o snake, by Bi bl i cal associ at i on. Fr omsnake t o
doughnut , by f or mal l i keness. Fr omdoughnut t o l i f e pr eser ver , and f r oml i f e
pr eser ver t o bat hi ng sui t , t hen bat hi ng t o sea, sea t o shi p, shi p t o shi t , shi t t o
t oi l et paper , t oi l et t o col ogne, col ogne t o al cohol , al cohol t o dr ugs, dr ugs t o
syr i nge, syr i nge t o hol e, hol e t o gr ound, gr ound t o pot at o.
Rul e Two says t hat i f t out se t i ent i n t he end, t he connect i ng wor ks. Fr ompot at o t o
pot at o, t out se t i ent . So i t ' s r i ght .
Rul e Thr ee: The connect i ons must not be or i gi nal . They must have been made bef or e,
and t he mor e of t en t he bet t er , by ot her s. Onl y t hen do t he cr ossi ngs seemt r ue,
because t hey ar e obvi ous.
Thi s, af t er al l , was Si gnor Gar amond' s i dea. The books of t he Di abol i cal s must not
i nnovat e; t hey must r epeat what has al r eady been sai d. Ot her wi se what becomes of t he
aut hor i t y of Tr adi t i on?
And t hi s i s what we di d. We di dn' t i nvent anyt hi ng; we onl y ar r anged t he pi eces.
Col onel Ar dent i hadn' t i nvent ed anyt hi ng ei t her , but hi s ar r angement of t he pi eces
was cl umsy. Fur t her mor e, he was much l ess educat ed t han we, so he had f ewer pi eces.
They had al l t he pi eces, but They di dn' t know t he desi gn of t he cr osswor d. We- once
agai n- wer e smar t er .
I r emember ed somet hi ng Li a sai d t o me i n t he mount ai ns, when she was scol di ng me f or
havi ng pl ayed t he nast y game t hat was our Pl an: " Peopl e ar e st ar ved f or pl ans. I f
you of f er t hemone, t hey f al l on i t l i ke a pack of wol ves. You i nvent , and t hey' l l
bel i eve. I t ' s wr ong t o add t o t he i nvent i ngs t hat al r eady exi st . "
Thi s i s what al ways happens. A young Her ost r at us br oods because he doesn' t know how
t o become f amous. Then he sees a movi e i n whi ch a f r ai l young man shoot s a count r y
musi c st ar and becomes t he cent er of at t ent i on. Her ost r at us has f ound t he f or mul a;
he goes put and shoot s J ohn Lennon.
I t ' s t he same wi t h t he SFAs. How can I become a publ i shed poet whose name appear s i n
an encycl opedi a? Gar amond expl ai ns: I t ' s si mpl e, you pay. The SFA never t hought of
t hat bef or e, but si nce t he Manut i us pl an exi st s, he i dent i f i es wi t h i t , i s convi nced
he' s been wai t i ng f or Manut i us al l hi s l i f e; he j ust di dn' t know i t was t her e.
We i nvent ed a nonexi st ent Pl an, and They not onl y bel i eved i t was r eal but convi nced
t hemsel ves t hat They had been par t of i t f or ages, or r at her , They i dent i f i ed t he
f r agment s of t hei r muddl ed myt hol ogy as moment s of our Pl an, moment s j oi ned i n a
l ogi cal , i r r ef ut abl e web of anal ogy, sembl ance, suspi ci on.
But i f you i nvent a pl an and ot her s car r y i t out , i t ' s as i f t he Pl an exi st s. At
t hat poi nt i t does exi st .
Her eaf t er , hor des of Di abol i cal s wi l l swar mt hr ough t he wor l d i n sear ch of t he map.
We of f er ed a map t o peopl e who wer e t r yi ng t o over come a deep, pr i vat e f r ust r at i on.
What f r ust r at i on? Bel bo' s f i r st f i l e suggest ed i t t o me: Ther e can be no f ai l ur e i f
t her e r eal l y i s a Pl an. Def eat ed you may be, but never t hr ough any f aul t of your
own. To bow t o a cosmi c wi l l i s no shame. You ar e not a cowar d; you ar e a mar t yr .
You don' t compl ai n about bei ng mor t al , pr ey t o a t housand mi cr oor gani sms you can' t
cont r ol ; you ar en' t r esponsi bl e f or t he f act t hat your f eet ar e not ver y pr ehensi l e,
t hat you have no t ai l , t hat your hai r and t eet h don' t gr ow back when you l ose t hem,
t hat your ar t er i es har den wi t h t i me. I t ' s because of t he Envi ous Angel s.
The same appl i es t o ever yday l i f e. Take st ock- mar ket cr ashes. They happen because
each i ndi vi dual makes a wr ong move, and al l t he wr ong moves put t oget her cr eat e
pani c. Then whoever l acks st eady ner ve asks hi msel f : Who' s behi nd t hi s pl ot , who' s
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benef i t i ng? He has t o f i nd an enemy, a pl ot t er , or i t wi l l be, God f or bi d, hi s
f aul t .
I f you f eel gui l t y, you i nvent a pl ot , many pl ot s. And t o count er t hem, you have t o
or gani ze your own pl ot . But t he mor e you i nvent enemy pl ot s, t o exoner at e your l ack
of under st andi ng, t he mor e you f al l i n l ove wi t h t hem, and you pat t er n your own on
t hei r model . Whi ch i s what happened when J esui t s and Baconi ans, Paul i ci ans and
neo- Templ ar s each compl ai ned of t he ot her ' s pl an. Di ot al l evi ' s r emar k was: " Of
cour se, you at t r i but e t o t he ot her s what you' r e doi ng your sel f , and si nce what
you' r e doi ng your sel f i s hat ef ul , t he ot her s become hat ef ul . But si nce t he ot her s,
as a r ul e, woul d l i ke t o do t he same hat ef ul t hi ng t hat you' r e doi ng, t hey
col l abor at e wi t h you, hi nt i ng t hat - yes- what you at t r i but e t o t hemi s act ual l y what
t hey have al ways desi r ed. God bl i nds t hose He wi shes t o dest r oy; you j ust have t o
l end Hi ma hel pi ng hand. "
A pl ot , i f t her e i s t o be one, must be a secr et . A secr et t hat , i f we onl y knew i t ,
woul d di spel our f r ust r at i on, l ead us t o sal vat i on; or el se t he knowi ng of i t i n
i t sel f woul d be sal vat i on. Does such a l umi nous secr et exi st ?
Yes, pr ovi ded i t i s never known. Known, i t wi l l onl y di sappoi nt us. Hadn' t Agl i e
spoken of t he year ni ng of myst er y t hat st i r r ed t he age of t he Ant oni nes? Yet someone
had j ust ar r i ved and decl ar ed hi msel f t he Son of God, t he Son of God made f l esh, t o
r edeemt he si ns of t he wor l d. Was t hat a r un- of - t hemi l l myst er y? And he pr omi sed
sal vat i on t o al l : you onl y had t o l ove your nei ghbor . Was t hat a t r i vi al secr et ? And
he bequeat hed t he i dea t hat whoever ut t er ed t he r i ght wor ds at t he r i ght t i me coul d
t ur n a chunk of br ead and a hal f - gl ass of wi ne i nt o t he body and bl ood of t he Son of
God, and be nour i shed by i t . Was t hat a pal t r y r i ddl e? And t hen he l ed t he Chur ch
f at her s t o ponder and pr ocl ai mt hat God was One and Tr i une and t hat t he Spi r i t
pr oceeded f r omt he Fat her and t he Son, but t hat t he Son di d not pr oceed f r omt he
Fat her and t he Spi r i t . Was t hat some easy f or mul a f or hyl i cs? And yet t hey, who now
had sal vat i on wi t hi n t hei r gr asp- do- i t - your sel f sal vat i on- t ur ned deaf ear s. I s t hat
al l t her e i s t o i t ? How t r i t e. And t hey kept on scour i ng t he Medi t er r anean i n t hei r
boat s, l ooki ng f or a l ost knowl edge, of whi ch t hose t hi r t y- denar i i dogmas wer e but
t he super f i ci al vei l , t he par abl e f or t he poor i n spi r i t , t he al l usi ve hi er ogl yph,
t he wi nk of t he eye at t he pneumat i cs. The myst er y of t he Tr i ni t y? Too si mpl e: t her e
had t o be mor e t o i t .
Someone- Rubi nst ei n, maybe- once sai d, when asked i f he bel i eved i n God: " Oh, no, I
bel i eve. . . i n somet hi ng much bi gger . " And someone el se- was i t Chest er t on?- sai d t hat
when men st op bel i evi ng i n God, i t i sn' t t hat t hey t hen bel i eve i n not hi ng: t hey
bel i eve i n ever yt hi ng.
But ever yt hi ng i s not a bi gger secr et . Ther e ar e no " bi gger secr et s, " because t he
moment a secr et i s r eveal ed, i t seems l i t t l e. Ther e i s onl y an empt y secr et . A
secr et t hat keeps sl i ppi ng t hr ough your f i nger s. The secr et of t he or chi d i s t hat i t
si gni f i es and af f ect s t he t est i cl es. But t he t est i cl es si gni f y a si gn of t he zodi ac,
whi ch i n t ur n si gni f i es an angel i c hi er ar chy, whi ch t hen si gni f i es a musi cal scal e,
and t he scal e si gni f i es a r el at i onshi p among t he humor s. And so on. I ni t i at i on i s
l ear ni ng never t o st op. The uni ver se i s peel ed l i ke an oni on, and an oni on i s al l
peel . Let us i magi ne an i nf i ni t e oni on, whi ch has i t s cent er ever ywher e and i t s
ci r cumf er ence nowher e. I ni t i at i on t r avel s an endl ess Mobi us st r i p.
The t r ue i ni t i at e i s he who knows t hat t he most power f ul secr et i s a secr et wi t hout
cont ent , because no enemy wi l l be abl e t o make hi mconf ess i t , no r i val devot ee wi l l
be abl e t o t ake i t f r omhi m.
Now I f ound mor e l ogi cal and consequent i al t he dynami c of t hat noct ur nal r i t e bef or e
t he Pendul um. Bel bo had cl ai med t o possess a secr et , and because of t hi s he had
gai ned power over Them. Thei r f i r st i mpul se, even i n a man as cl ever as Agl i e, who
had i mmedi at el y beat t he t om- t omt o summon al l t he ot her s, had been t o wr est i t f r om
hi m. And t he mor e Bel bo r ef used t o r eveal i t , t he bi gger They bel i eved t he secr et t o
be; t he mor e he vowed he di dn' t possess i t , t he mor e convi nced They wer e t hat he di d
possess i t , and t hat i t was a t r ue secr et , because i f i t wer e f al se, he woul d have
r eveal ed i t .
Thr ough t he cent ur i es t he sear ch f or t hi s secr et had been t he gl ue hol di ng Themal l
t oget her , despi t e excommuni cat i ons, i nt er neci ne f i ght i ng, coups de mai n. Now They
wer e on t he ver ge of knowi ng i t . But They wer e assai l ed by t wo f ear s: t hat t he
secr et woul d be a di sappoi nt ment , and t hat once i t was known t o al l , t her e woul d be
no secr et l ef t . Whi ch woul d be t he end of Them.
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Agl i e t hen t hought : I f Bel bo spoke, al l woul d know, and he, Agl i e, woul d l ose t he
myst er i ous aur a t hat gr ant ed hi mchar i sma and power . But i f Bel bo conf i ded i n hi m
al one, Agl i e coul d go on bei ng Sai nt - Ger mai n, t he i mmor t al . The def er ment of Agi l e' s
deat h coi nci ded wi t h t he def er ment of t he secr et . He t r i ed t o per suade Bel bo t o
whi sper i t i n hi s ear , and when he r eal i zed t hat woul dn' t be possi bl e, he pr ovoked
hi mby pr edi ct i ng hi s sur r ender and, f ur t her , by put t i ng on a di spl ay of pompous
mel odr ama. Oh, t he ol d count knew ver y wel l t hat f or peopl e f r omPi edmont
st ubbor nness and a sense of t he r i di cul ous coul d def eat even t he f ear of deat h. Thus
he f or ced Bel bo t o r ai se t he t one of hi s r ef usal and t o say no def i ni t i vel y.
The ot her s, out of t he same f ear , pr ef er r ed t o ki l l hi m. They mi ght be l osi ng t he
map- t hey woul d have cent ur i es t o cont i nue t he sear ch f or i t - but t hey wer e pr eser vi ng
t he vi gor of t hei r base, sl obber i ng desi r e.
I r emember ed a st or y Ampar o t ol d me. Bef or e comi ng t o I t al y, she had spent some
mont hs i n New Yor k Ci t y, l i vi ng i n a nei ghbor hood of t he ki nd wher e even on qui et
days you coul d shoot a TV ser i es f eat ur i ng t he homi ci de squad. She used t o come home
al one at t wo i n t he mor ni ng. When I asked i f she wasn' t af r ai d of sexual mani acs,
she t ol d me her met hod. When a sexual mani ac appr oached, t hr eat eni ng, she woul d t ake
hi s ar mand say, " Come on, l et ' s do i t . " And he woul d go away, bewi l der ed.
I f you' r e a sexual mani ac, you don' t want sex; you want t he exci t ement of i t s t hef t ,
you want t he vi ct i m' s r esi st ance and despai r . I f sex i s handed t o you on a pl at t er ,
her e i t i s, go t o i t , nat ur al l y you' r e not i nt er est ed, ot her wi se what sor t of sexual
mani ac woul d you be?
* * *
We had awakened t hei r l ust , of f er i ng t hema secr et t hat coul dn' t have been empt i er ,
because not onl y di d we know i t our sel ves, but , even bet t er , we knew t hat i t was
f al se.
The pl ane was f l yi ng over Mont Bl anc, and t he passenger s al l r ushed t o t he same si de
so as not t o mi ss t he vi ew of t hat bl unt bubo t hat had gr own t her e t hanks t o a f l uke
i n t he t el l ur i c cur r ent s. I f what I was t hi nki ng was cor r ect , t hen t he cur r ent s
di dn' t exi st any mor e t han t he Pr ovi ns message exi st ed. But t he st or y of t he
deci pher i ng of t he Pl an, as we had r econst r uct ed i t , t hat was Hi st or y.
My memor y went back t o Bel bo' s l ast f i l e. But i f exi st ence i s so empt y and f r agi l e
t hat i t can be endur ed onl y by t he i l l usi on of a sear ch f or i t s secr et , t hen- as
Ampar o sai d t hat eveni ng i n t he t enda, af t er her def eat - t her e' s no r edempt i on; we
ar e al l sl aves, gi ve us a mast er , t hat ' s what we deser ve. . .
No. Li a t aught me t her e i s mor e, and I have t he pr oof : hi s name i s Gi ul i o, and at
t hi s moment he i s pl ayi ng i n a val l ey, pul l i ng a goat ' s t ai l . No, because Bel bo
t wi ce sai d no.
The f i r st no he sai d t o Abul af i a, and t o t hose who woul d t r y t o st eal i t s secr et .
" Do you have t he passwor d?" was t he quest i on. And t he answer , t he key t o knowl edge,
was " No. " Not onl y does t he magi c wor d not exi st , but we do not know t hat i t does
not exi st . Those who admi t t hei r i gnor ance, t her ef or e, can l ear n somet hi ng, at l east
what I was abl e t o l ear n.
The second no he sai d on Sat ur day ni ght , when he r ef used t he sal vat i on hel d out t o
hi m. He coul d have i nvent ed a map, or used one of t he maps I had shown hi m. I n any
event , wi t h t he Pendul umhung as i t was, i ncor r ect l y, t hat bunch of l unat i cs woul d
never have f ound t he X mar ki ng t he Umbi l i cus Mundi , and even i f t hey di d, i t woul d
have been sever al mor e decades bef or e t hey r eal i zed t hi s wasn' t t he one. But Bel bo
r ef used t o bow, he pr ef er r ed t o di e.
I t wasn' t t hat he r ef used t o bow t o t he l ust f or power ; he r ef used t o bow t o
nonmeani ng. He somehow knew t hat , f r agi l e as our exi st ence may be, however
i nef f ect ual our i nt er r ogat i on of t he wor l d, t her e i s never t hel ess somet hi ng t hat has
mor e meani ng t han t he r est .
What had Bel bo sensed, per haps onl y at t hat moment , whi ch al l owed hi mt o cont r adi ct
hi s l ast , desper at e f i l e, and not sur r ender hi s dest i ny t o someone who guar ant eed
hi ma mer e Pl an? What had he under st ood- at l ast - t hat al l owed hi mt o sacr i f i ce hi s
l i f e, as i f he had l ear ned ever yt hi ng t her e was t o l ear n wi t hout r eal i zi ng i t , and
as i f compar ed t o t hi s one, t r ue, absol ut e secr et of hi s, ever yt hi ng t hat t ook pl ace
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i n t he Conser vat oi r e was i r r epar abl y st upi d- and i t was st upi d, now, st ubbor nl y t o go
on l i vi ng?
Ther e was st i l l somet hi ng, a l i nk mi ssi ng i n t he chai n. I had al l of Bel bo' s f eat s
bef or e me now, f r oml i f e t o deat h, except one.
On ar r i val , as I was l ooki ng f or my passpor t , I f ound i n one of my pocket s t he key
t o t hi s house. I had t aken i t l ast Thur sday, al ong wi t h t he key t o Bel bo' s
apar t ment . I r emember ed t hat day when Bel bo showed us t he ol d cupboar d t hat
cont ai ned, he sai d, hi s oper a omni a or , r at her , hi s j uveni l i a. Per haps Bel bo had
wr i t t en somet hi ng t her e t hat coul dn' t be f ound i n Abul af i a, per haps i t was bur i ed
somewher e i n ***.
Ther e was not hi ng r easonabl e about t hi s conj ect ur e of mi ne. Al l t he mor e r eason t o
consi der i t good. At t hi s poi nt .
I col l ect ed my car , and I came her e.
I di dn' t f i nd t he ol d r el at i ve of t he Canepas, t he car et aker , or what ever she was.
Maybe she, t oo, had di ed i n t he meant i me. Ther e was no one. I went t hr ough t he
var i ous r ooms. A st r ong smel l of mi l dew. I consi der ed l i ght i ng t he bedwar mer i n one
of t he bedr ooms, but i t made no sense t o war mt he bed i n J une. Once t he wi ndows wer e
opened, t he war meveni ng ai r woul d ent er .
Af t er sunset , t her e was no moon. As i n Par i s, Sat ur day ni ght . The moon r ose l at e, I
saw l ess of i t now t han i n Par i s, as i t sl owl y cl i mbed above t he l ower hi l l s, i n a
di p bet ween t he Br i cco and anot her yel l owi sh hump, per haps al r eady har vest ed.
I ar r i ved ar ound si x i n t he eveni ng. I t was st i l l l i ght . But I had br ought not hi ng
wi t h me t o eat . Roami ng t he house, I f ound a sal ami i n t he ki t chen, hangi ng f r oma
beam. My supper was sal ami and f r esh wat er : goi ng on t en o' cl ock, I t hi nk. Now I ' m
t hi r st y. I ' ve br ought a bi g pi t cher of wat er t o Uncl e Car l o' s st udy and dr i nk a
gl ass ever y t en mi nut es. Then I go down, r ef i l l t he pi t cher , and st ar t agai n.
I t must be at l east t hr ee i n t he mor ni ng. I have t he l i ght of f and can har dl y r ead
my wat ch. I l ook out t he wi ndow. On t he f l anks of t he hi l l s, what seemt o be
f i r ef l i es, shoot i ng st ar s: t he headl i ght s of occasi onal car s goi ng down i nt o t he
val l ey or cl i mbi ng t owar d t he vi l l ages on t he hi l l t ops. When Bel bo was a boy, t hi s
si ght di d not exi st . Ther e wer e no car s t hen, no r oads. At ni ght t her e was t he
cur f ew.
As soon as I ar r i ved, I opened t he cupboar d of j uveni l i a. Shel ves and shel ves of
paper , f r omel ement ar y- school exer ci ses t o bundl es of adol escent poems and pr ose.
Ever yone has wr i t t en poems i n adol escence; t r ue poet s dest r oy t hem, bad poet s
publ i sh t hem. Bel bo, t oo cyni cal t o save t hem, t oo weak t o chuck t hemout , st uck
t hemi n Uncl e Car l o' s cupboar d.
I r ead f or hour s. And f or hour s, up t o t hi s moment , I medi t at ed on t he l ast t ext ,
whi ch I f ound j ust when I was about t o gi ve up.
I don' t know when Bel bo wr ot e i t . Ther e ar e pages wher e di f f er ent handwr i t i ngs,
i nser t i ons, ar e i nt er woven, or el se i t ' s t he same hand i n di f f er ent year s. As i f he
wr ot e i t ver y ear l y, at t he age of si xt een or sevent een, t hen put i t away, t hen went
back t o i t at t went y, agai n at t hi r t y, and maybe l at er . Unt i l he gave up t he i dea of
wr i t i ng al t oget her - onl y t o begi n agai n wi t h Abu- l af i a, but not havi ng t he hear t t o
r ecover t hese l i nes and subj ect t hemt o el ect r oni c humi l i at i on.
Readi ng t hem, I f ol l owed a f ami l i ar st or y: t he event s of *** bet ween 1943 and 1945,
Uncl e Car l o, t he par t i sans, t he par i sh hal l , Ceci l i a, t he t r umpet . These wer e t he
obsessi ve t hemes of t he r omant i c Bel bo, di sappoi nt ed, gr i evi ng, dr unk. The
l i t er at ur e of memor y: he knew hi msel f t hat i t was t he l ast r ef uge of scoundr el s.
But I ' mno l i t er ar y cr i t i c. I ' mSamSpade agai n, l ooki ng f or t he f i nal cl ue.
And so I f ound t he Key Text . I t must r epr esent t he l ast chapt er of t he st or y of
Bel bo i n ***. For , af t er i t , not hi ng mor e coul d have happened.
119
The gar l and of t he t r umpet was set af i r e, and t hen I saw t he aper t ur e of t he dome
open and a spl endi d ar r ow of f i r e shoot down t hr ough t he t ube of t he t r umpet and
ent er t he l i f el ess body. The aper t ur e t hen was cl osed agai n, and t he t r umpet , t oo,
was put away.
St r assbur g, Zet zner , 1616, pp. 125- 126
Page 284
Bel bo' s t ext had some gaps, some over l appi ngs, some l i nes cr ossed out . I amnot so
much r er eadi ng i t as r econst r uct i ng, r el i vi ng i t .
I t must have been t owar d t he end of Apr i l of 1945. The Ger man ar mi es wer e al r eady
r out ed, t he Fasci st s wer e scat t er i ng, and *** was f i r ml y i n t he hands of t he
par t i sans.
Af t er t he l ast bat t l e, t he one Bel bo nar r at ed t o us i n t hi s ver y house al most t wo
year s ago, var i ous par t i san br i gades gat her ed i n ***, i n or der t o head f or t he ci t y.
They wer e awai t i ng a si gnal f r omRadi o London; t hey woul d depar t when Mi l an was
r eady f or t he i nsur r ect i on.
The Gar i bal di Br i gades al so ar r i ved, commanded by Ras, a gi ant wi t h a bl ack bear d,
ver y popul ar i n t he t own. They wer e dr essed i n i nvent ed uni f or ms, each one di f f er ent
except f or t he ker chi ef s and t he st ar on t he chest , r ed i n bot h cases, and t hey wer e
ar med i n makeshi f t f ashi on, some wi t h ol d shot guns, some wi t h submachi ne guns t aken
f r omt he enemy. A mar ked cont r ast t o t he Badogl i o Br i gades, wi t h t hei r bl ue
ker chi ef s, khaki uni f or ms si mi l ar t o t he Br i t i sh, and br and- new St en guns. The
Al l i es assi st ed t he Badogl i o f or ces wi t h gener ous ni ght t i me par achut e dr ops, af t er
t he passage, ever y eveni ng at el even f or t he past t wo year s, of t he myst er i ous
Pi ppet t o, a Br i t i sh r econnai ssance pl ane. Nobody coul d f i gur e out what i t
r econnoi t er ed, si nce not a l i ght was vi si bl e on t he gr ound f or ki l omet er s and
ki l omet er s.
Ther e was t ensi on bet ween t he Gar i bal di ni and t he Badogl i - ani . I t was sai d t hat on
t he eveni ng of t he bat t l e t he Badogl i ani had f l ung t hemsel ves at t he enemy, shout i ng
" For war d, Savoy! " Wel l , but t hat was out of habi t , some sai d. What el se coul d you
shout when you at t acked? I t di dn' t necessar i l y mean t hey wer e monar chi st s; t hey,
t oo, knew t hat t he ki ng had gr ave t hi ngs t o answer f or . The Gar i bal di ni sneer ed: You
coul d cr y Savoy i f you at t acked wi t h f i xed bayonet s i n t he open f i el d, but not
dar t i ng ar ound a cor ner wi t h a St en. The f act was, t he Badogl i ani had sol d out t o
t he Br i t i sh.
The t wo f or ces ar r i ved, never t hel ess, at a modus vi vendi ; a j oi nt command under one
head was needed f or t he assaul t on t he ci t y. The choi ce f el l on Mongo; he l ed t he
best - equi pped br i gade, was t he ol dest , had f ought i n t he Fi r st Wor l d War , was a
her o, and enj oyed t he t r ust of t he Al l i ed command.
I n t he days t hat f ol l owed, somet i me bef or e t he Mi l an i nsur r ect i on, I bel i eve, t hey
set out t o t ake t he ci t y. Good news ar r i ved: t he oper at i on had succeeded, t he
br i gades wer e r et ur ni ng vi ct or i ous t o ***. Ther e had been some casual t i es, however .
Rumor had i t t hat Ras had f al l en i n bat t l e, and Mongo was wounded.
Then one af t er noon t he sound of vehi cl es was hear d, songs of vi ct or y, and peopl e
r ushed i nt o t he mai n squar e. Fr omt he hi ghway t he f i r st uni t s wer e ar r i vi ng,
cl enched f i st s upr ai sed, f l ags and weapons br andi shed f r omt he wi ndows of t he car s
and t he r unni ng boar ds of t he t r ucks. The men had al r eady been st r ewn wi t h f l ower s
al ong t he way.
Suddenl y some peopl e shout ed, " Ras, Ras! " and Ras was t her e, seat ed on t he f r ont
f ender of a Dodge, hi s bear d t angl ed and hi s sweat y, bl ack, hai r y chest vi si bl e
t hr ough hi s open shi r t . He waved t o t he cr owd, l aughi ng.
Besi de Ras, Rampi ni al so cl i mbed down f r omt he Dodge. He was a near si ght ed boy who
pl ayed i n t he band, a l i t t l e ol der t han t he ot her s; he had di sappear ed t hr ee mont hs
ear l i er , and i t was sai d he' d j oi ned t he par t i sans. And t her e he was, wi t h a r ed
ker chi ef ar ound hi s neck, a khaki t uni c, a pai r of bl ue t r ouser s- t he uni f or mof Don
Ti co' s band- but now he had a bi g bel t wi t h a hol st er and a pi st ol . Thr ough t he t hi ck
eyegl asses t hat had ear ned hi mso much t easi ng f r omhi s ol d compani ons at t he par i sh
hal l , he now l ooked at t he gi r l s who cr owded ar ound hi m, as i f he wer e Fl ash Gor don.
J acopo asked hi msel f i f Ceci l i a was t her e, among t he peopl e.
I n hal f an hour t he whol e squar e was f ul l of col or f ul par t i sans, and t he peopl e
cal l ed i n l oud voi ces f or Mongo; t hey want ed a speech.
On a bal cony of t he t own hal l , Mongo appear ed, l eani ng on hi s cr ut ch, pal e, and wi t h
one hand he t r i ed t o cal mt he cr owd. J acopo wai t ed f or t he speech, because hi s whol e
chi l dhood, l i ke t hat of ot her s hi s age, had been mar ked by t he gr eat hi st or i c
speeches of i l Duce, whose most si gni f i cant passages wer e memor i zed i n school .
Act ual l y, t he st udent s memor i zed whol e speeches, because ever y sent ence was a
si gni f i cant decl ar at i on.
Si l ence. Mongo spoke i n a hoar se voi ce, bar el y audi bl e. He sai d: " Ci t i zens, f r i ends.
Af t er so many pai nf ul sacr i f i ces. . . her e we ar e. Gl or y t o t hose who have f al l en f or
Page 285
f r eedom. "
And t hat was i t . He went back i nsi de.
The cr owd yel l ed, and t he par t i sans r ai sed t hei r submachi ne guns, t hei r St ens, t hei r
shot guns, t hei r ' 91s, and f i r ed f est i ve vol l eys. Wi t h shel l cases f al l i ng on al l
si des, t he ki ds sl i pped bet ween t he l egs of t he ar med men and ci vi l i ans, because
t hey' d never be abl e t o add t o t hei r col l ect i ons l i ke t hi s agai n, not wi t h t he war
l ooki ng l i ke i t woul d end i n a mont h, wor st l uck.
But t her e had been some casual t i es: t wo men ki l l ed. By a gr i mcoi nci dence, bot h wer e
f r omSan Davi de, a l i t t l e vi l l age above ***, and t he f ami l i es asked per mi ssi on t o
bur y t he vi ct i ms i n t he l ocal cemet er y.
The par t i san command deci ded t hat t her e shoul d be a sol emn f uner al : compani es i n
f or mat i on, decor at ed hear ses, t he vi l l age band, t he pr ovost of t he cat hedr al - and t he
par i sh hal l band.
Don Ti co accept ed i mmedi at el y. Because, he sai d, he had al ways har bor ed ant i - Fasci st
sent i ment s. And because, as t he musi ci ans mur mur ed, f or a year he had been maki ng
t hempr act i ce t wo f uner al mar ches, and he had t o have t hemper f or med sooner or
l at er . Al so because, t he shar p t ongues of t he vi l l age sai d, he want ed t o make up f or
" Gi ovi nezza. "
The " Gi ovi nezza" st or y went l i ke t hi s:
Mont hs ear l i er , bef or e t he ar r i val of t he par t i sans, Don Ti co' s band had gone out
f or some sai nt ' s f east or ot her , and t hey wer e st opped by t he Bl ack Br i gades. " Pl ay
' Gi ovi nezza, ' Rever end, " t he capt ai n or der ed, dr ummi ng hi s f i nger s on t he bar r el of
hi s submachi ne gun. What coul d Don Ti co do? He sai d, " Boys, l et ' s t r y i t ; you onl y
have one ski n. " He beat t i me wi t h hi s pi t ch pi pe, and hor r i bl e cl at t er i ng cacophony
dr i f t ed over ***. Onl y someone desper at e t o save hi s ski n woul d have agr eed t hat t he
sounds hear d wer e " Gi ovi nezza. " Shamef ul f or ever yone. Shamef ul f or havi ng
consent ed, Don Ti co sai d af t er war d, but even mor e shamef ul f or havi ng pl ayed l i ke
dogs. Pr i est he was, and ant i - Fasci st , but , above al l , damn i t , he was an ar t i st .
J acopo had been absent on t hat day. He had t onsi l l i t i s. On t he bombar dons t her e wer e
onl y Anni bal e Cant al amessa and Pi o Bo, and t hei r pr esence, wi t hout J acopo, must have
made a cr uci al cont r i but i on t o t he col l apse of Nazi sm- Fasci sm. But t hi s was not what
t r oubl ed Bel bo, at l east at t he t i me he was wr i t i ng. He had mi ssed' anot her
oppor t uni t y t o f i nd out i f he woul d have had t he cour age t o say no. Per haps t hat i s
why he di ed on t he gal l ows of t he Pendul um.
The f uner al , anyway, was schedul ed f or Sunday mor ni ng. I n t he cat hedr al squar e
ever yone was pr esent : Mongo wi t h hi s t r oops, Uncl e Car l o and ot her muni ci pal
di gni t ar i es, wi t h t hei r Gr eat War decor at i ons- and i t di dn' t mat t er who had been a
Fasci st and who had not , i t was a quest i on of honor i ng her oes. The cl er gy wer e
t her e, t he t own band i n dar k sui t s, and t he hear ses wi t h t he hor ses decked i n
t r appi ngs of cr eam, bl ack, and gol d. The Aut omedon was dr essed l i ke one of
Napol eon' s mar shal s, cocked hat , shor t cape, and gr eat cl oak, i n t he same col or s as
t he hor ses' t r appi ngs. And t her e was t he par i sh hal l band, t hei r vi sor ed caps, khaki
t uni cs, and bl ue t r ouser s, br asses shi ni ng, woodwi nds sever e bl ack, cymbal s and
dr ums spar kl i ng.
Bet ween *** and San Davi de wer e f i ve or si x ki l omet er s of uphi l l cur ves. Thi s r oad
was t aken, on Sunday af t er noons, by t he r et i r ed men; t hey woul d wal k, pl ayi ng bowl s
as t hey wal ked, t ake a r est , have some wi ne, pl ay a second game, and so on unt i l
t hey r eached t he sanct uar y at t he t op.
A f ew uphi l l ki l omet er s ar e not hi ng f or men who pl ay bowl s, and per haps i t ' s not hi ng
t o cover t hemi n f or mat i on, r i f l e on your shoul der , eyes st ar i ng st r ai ght ahead,
l ungs i nhal i ng t he cool spr i ng ai r . But t r y cl i mbi ng t hemwhi l e pl ayi ng an
i nst r ument , cheeks swol l en, sweat t r i ckl i ng, br eat h shor t . The t own band had done
not hi ng el se f or a l i f et i me, but f or t he boys of t he par i sh hal l i t was t or t ur e.
They hel d out l i ke her oes. Don Ti co beat hi s pi t ch pi pe i n t he ai r , t he cl ar i net s
whi ned wi t h exhaust i on, t he saxophones gave st r angl ed bl eat s, t he bombar dons and t he
t r umpet s l et out squeal s of agony, but t hey made i t , al l t he way t o t he vi l l age, t o
t he f oot of t he st eep pat h t hat l ed t o t he cemet er y. For some t i me Anni bal e
Cant al amessa and Pi o Bo had onl y pr et ended t o pl ay, but J acopo st uck t o hi s r ol e of
sheepdog, under Don Ti co' s benedi ct i ve eye. Compar ed t o t he t own band, t hey made not
a bad showi ng, and Mongo hi msel f and t he ot her br i gade commander s sai d as much: Good
f or you, boys. I t was magni f i cent .
Page 286
A commander wi t h a bl ue ker chi ef and a r ai nbow of r i bbons f r ombot h wor l d war s sai d:
" Rever end, l et t he boys r est her e i n t he t own; t hey' r e wor n out . Cl i mb up l at er , at
t he end. Ther e' l l be a t r uck t o t ake you back t o ***. "
They r ushed t o t he t aver n. The men of t he t own band, vet er ans t oughened by count l ess
f uner al s, showed no r est r ai nt i n gr abbi ng t he t abl es and or der i ng t r i pe and al l t he
wi ne t hey coul d dr i nk. They woul d st ay t her e havi ng a spr ee unt i l eveni ng. Don
Ti co' s boys, meanwhi l e, cr owded at t he count er , wher e t he host was ser vi ng mi nt i ces
as gr een as a chemi st r y exper i ment . The i ce, sl i di ng down t he t hr oat , gave you a
pai n i n t he mi ddl e of your f or ehead, l i ke si nusi t i s.
Then t hey st r uggl ed up t o t he cemet er y, wher e a pi ckup t r uck was wai t i ng. They
cl i mbed i n, yel l i ng, and wer e al l packed t oget her , al l st andi ng, j ost l i ng one
anot her wi t h t he i nst r ument s, when t he commander who had spoken bef or e came out and
sai d: " Rever end, f or t he f i nal cer emony we need a t r umpet . You know, f or t he usual
bugl e cal l s. I t ' s a mat t er of f i ve mi nut es. "
" Tr umpet , " Don Ti co sai d, ver y pr of essi onal . And t he hapl ess hol der of t hat t i t l e,
now st i cky wi t h gr een mi nt i ce and year ni ng f or t he f ami l y meal , a t r eacher ous
peasant i nsensi t i ve t o aest het i c i mpul ses and hi gher i deal s, began t o compl ai n: I t
was l at e, he want ed t o go home, he di dn' t have any sal i va l ef t , and so on,
mor t i f yi ng Don Ti co i n t he pr esence of t he commander .
Then J acopo, seei ng i n t he gl or y of noon t he sweet i mage of Ceci l i a, sai d, " I f he' l l
gi ve me t he t r umpet , I ' l l go. "
A gl eamof gr at i t ude i n t he eyes of Don Ti co; t he sweat y r el i ef of t he mi ser abl e
t i t ul ar t r umpet . An exchange of i nst r ument s, l i ke t wo guar ds.
J acopo pr oceeded t o t he cemet er y, l ed by t he psychopomp wi t h t he Addi s Ababa
r i bbons. Ever yt hi ng ar ound t hemwas whi t e: t he wal l st r uck by t he sun, t he gr aves,
t he bl ossomi ng t r ees al ong t he bor der s, t he sur pl i ce of t he pr ovost r eady t o i mpar t
benedi ct i on. The onl y br own was t he f aded phot ogr aphs on t he t ombst ones. And a bi g
pat ch of col or was cr eat ed by t he r anks l i ned up besi de t he t wo gr aves.
" Boy, " t he commander sai d, " you st and her e, besi de me, and at my or der pl ay
Assembl y. Then, agai n at my or der , Taps. That ' s easy, i sn' t i t ?"
Ver y easy. Except t hat J acopo had never pl ayed Assembl y or Taps.
He hel d t he t r umpet wi t h hi s r i ght ar mbent , agai nst hi s r i bs, t he hor n at a sl i ght
angl e, as i f i t wer e a car bi ne, and he wai t ed, head er ect , bel l y i n, chest out .
Mongo was del i ver i ng a br i ef speech, wi t h ver y shor t sent ences. J acopo t hought t hat
t o emi t t he bl ast he woul d have t o l i f t hi s eyes t o heaven, and t he sun woul d bl i nd
hi m. But t hat was t he t r umpet er ' s deat h, and si nce you onl y di ed once, you mi ght as
wel l do i t r i ght .
The commander mur mur ed t o hi m: " Now. " He or der ed Assembl y. J acopo pl ayed onl y do mi
sol do. For t hose r ough men of war , t hat seemed t o suf f i ce. The f i nal do was pl ayed
af t er a deep br eat h, so he coul d hol d i t , gi ve i t t i me- Bel bo wr ot e- t o r each t he sun.
The par t i sans st ood st i f f l y at at t ent i on. The l i vi ng as st i l l as t he dead.
Onl y t he gr avedi gger s moved. The sound of t he cof f i ns bei ng l ower ed coul d be hear d,
t he cr eak of t he r opes, t hei r scr api ng agai nst t he wood. But t her e was l i t t l e
mot i on, no mor e t han t he f l i cker i ng gl i nt on a spher e, when a sl i ght var i at i on of
l i ght ser ves onl y t o emphasi ze t he spher e' s i nvar i abi l i t y.
Then, t he dr y sound of Pr esent Ar ms. The pr ovost mur mur ed t he f or mul as of t he
asper si on; t he commander s appr oached t he gr aves and f l ung, each of t hem, a f i st f ul
of ear t h. A sudden or der unl eashed a vol l ey t owar d t he sky, r at - t at - t at - a- boom, and
t he bi r ds r ose up, squawki ng, f r omt he t r ees i n bl ossom. But al l t hat , t oo, was not
r eal l y mot i on. I t was as i f t he same i nst ant kept pr esent i ng i t sel f f r omdi f f er ent
per spect i ves. Looki ng at one i nst ant f or ever doesn' t mean t hat , as you l ook at i t ,
t i me passes.
For t hi s r eason, J acopo st ood f ast , i gnor i ng even t he f al l of t he shel l cases now
r ol l i ng at hi s f eet ; nor di d he put hi s t r umpet back at hi s si de, but kept i t t o hi s
l i ps, f i nger s on t he val ves, r i gi d at at t ent i on, t he i nst r ument ai med di agonal l y
upwar d. He pl ayed on.
Hi s l ong f i nal not e had never br oken of f : i naudi bl e t o t hose pr esent , i t st i l l
i ssued f r omt he bel l of t he t r umpet , l i ke a l i ght br eat h, a gust of ai r t hat he kept
sendi ng i nt o t he mout hpi ece, hol di ng hi s t ongue bet ween bar el y par t ed l i ps, wi t hout
pr essi ng t hemt o t he met al . The i nst r ument , not r est i ng on hi s f ace, r emai ned
suspended by t he t ensi on al one i n hi s el bows and shoul der s.
He cont i nued hol di ng t hat vi r t ual not e, because he f el t he was pl ayi ng out a st r i ng
Page 287
t hat kept t he sun i n pl ace. The pl anet had been ar r est ed i n i t s cour se, had become
f i xed i n a noon t hat coul d l ast an et er ni t y. And i t al l depended on J acopo, because
i f he br oke t hat cont act , dr opped t hat st r i ng, t he sun woul d f l y of f l i ke a bal l oon,
and wi t h i t t hi s day and t he event of t hi s day, t hi s act i on wi t hout t r ansi t i on, t hi s
sequence wi t hout bef or e and af t er , whi ch was unf ol di ng, mot i onl ess, onl y because i t
was i n hi s power t o wi l l i t t hus.
I f he st opped, st opped t o at t ack a new not e, a r ent woul d have been hear d, f ar
l ouder t han t he vol l eys t hat had deaf ened hi m, and t he cl ocks woul d al l r esume t hei r
t achycar di al pal pi t at i on.
J acopo wi shed wi t h hi s whol e soul t hat t hi s man besi de hi mwoul d not or der Taps. I
coul d r ef use, he sai d t o hi msel f , and st ay l i ke t hi s f or ever .
He had ent er ed t hat t r ance st at e t hat over whel ms t he di ver when he t r i es not t o
sur f ace, want i ng t o pr ol ong t he i ner t i a t hat al l ows hi mt o gl i de al ong t he- ocean
f l oor . Tr yi ng t o expr ess what he f el t t hen, Bel bo, i n t he not ebook I was now
r eadi ng, r esor t ed t o br oken, t wi st ed, unsynt act i cal sent ences, mut i l at ed by r ows of
dot s. But i t was cl ear t o me t hat i n t hat moment - t hough he di dn' t come out and say
i t - i n t hat moment he was possessi ng Ceci l i a.
The f act i s t hat J acopo Bel bo di d not under st and, not t hen and not l at er , when he
was wr i t i ng of hi s unconsci ous sel f , t hat at t hat moment he was cel ebr at i ng once and
f or al l hi s chemi cal weddi ng- wi t h Ceci l i a, wi t h Lor enza, wi t h Sophi a, wi t h t he ear t h
and wi t h t he sky. Al one among mor t al s, he was br i ngi ng t o a concl usi on t he Gr eat
Wor k.
No one had yet t ol d hi mt hat t he Gr ai l i s a chal i ce but al so a spear , and hi s
t r umpet r ai sed l i ke a chal i ce was at t he same t i me a weapon, an i nst r ument of t he
sweet est domi ni on, whi ch shot t owar d t he sky and l i nked t he ear t h wi t h t he Myst i c
Pol e. Wi t h t he onl y Fi xed Poi nt i n t he uni ver se. Wi t h what he cr eat ed, f or t hat one
i nst ant , wi t h hi s br eat h.
Di ot al l evi had not yet t ol d hi mhow you can dwel l i n Yesod, t he Sef i r ah of
f oundat i on, t he si gn of t he super i or bow dr awn t o send ar r ows t o Mal khut , i t s
t ar get . Yesod i s t he dr op t hat spr i ngs f r omt he ar r ow t o pr oduce t he t r ee and t he
f r ui t , i t i s t he ani ma mundi , t he moment i n whi ch vi r i l e f or ce, pr ocr eat i ng, bi nds
al l t he st at es of bei ng t oget her .
Knowi ng how t o spi n t hi s Ci ngul umVener i s means knowi ng how t o r epai r t he er r or of
t he Demi ur ge.
You spend a l i f e seeki ng t he Oppor t uni t y, wi t hout r eal i zi ng t hat t he deci si ve
moment , t he moment t hat j ust i f i es bi r t h and deat h, has al r eady passed. I t wi l l not
r et ur n, but i t was- f ul l , dazzl i ng, gener ous as ever y r evel at i on.
That day, J acopo Bel bo st ar ed i nt o t he eyes of Tr ut h. The onl y t r ut h t hat was t o be
gr ant ed hi m. Because- he woul d l ear n- t r ut h i s br i ef ( af t er war d, i t i s al l
comment ar y) . So he t r i ed t o ar r est t he r ush of t i me.
He di dn' t under st and. Not as a chi l d. Not as an adol escent when he was wr i t i ng about
i t . Not as a man who deci ded t o gi ve up wr i t i ng about i t .
I under st ood i t t hi s eveni ng: t he aut hor has t o di e i n or der f or t he r eader t o
become awar e of hi s t r ut h.
The Pendul um, whi ch haunt ed J acopo Bel bo al l hi s adul t l i f e, had been- l i ke t he l ost
addr esses of hi s dr eam- t he symbol of t hat ot her moment , r ecor ded and t hen r epr essed,
when he t r ul y t ouched t he cei l i ng of t he wor l d. But t hat moment , i n whi ch he f r oze
space and t i me, shoot i ng hi s Zeno' s ar r ow, had been no symbol , no si gn, sympt om,
al l usi on, met aphor , or eni gma: i t was what i t was. I t di d not st and f or anyt hi ng
el se. At t hat moment t her e was no l onger any def er ment , and t he scor e was set t l ed.
J acopo Bel bo di dn' t under st and t hat he had had hi s moment and t hat i t woul d have t o
be enough f or hi m, f or al l hi s l i f e. Not r ecogni zi ng i t , he spent t he r est of hi s
days seeki ng somet hi ng el se, unt i l he damned hi msel f . But per haps he suspect ed t hi s.
Ot her wi se he woul dn' t have r et ur ned so of t en t o t he memor y of t he t r umpet . But he
r emember ed i t as a t hi ng l ost , not as a t hi ng possessed.
I bel i eve, I hope, I pr ay t hat as he was dyi ng, swayi ng wi t h t he Pendul um, J acopo
Bel bo f i nal l y under st ood t hi s, and f ound peace.
Then Taps was or der ed. But J acopo woul d have st opped i n any case, because hi s br eat h
was f ai l i ng. He br oke t he cont act , t hen bl ar ed a si ngl e not e, hi gh, wi t h a
decr escendo, t ender l y, t o pr epar e t he wor l d f or t he mel anchol y t hat l ay i n st or e.
Page 288
The commander sai d, " Br avo, young f el l ow. Run al ong now. Handsome t r umpet . "
The pr ovost sl i pped away, t he par t i sans made f or a r ear gat eway wher e t hei r vehi cl es
awai t ed t hem, t he gr avedi gger s went of f af t er f i l l i ng t he gr aves. J acopo was t he
l ast t o go. He coul dn' t br i ng hi msel f t o l eave t hat pl ace of happi ness.
* * *
I n t he yar d bel ow, t he pi ckup t r uck of t he par i sh hal l was gone.
J acopo asked hi msel f why Don Ti co had abandoned hi ml i ke t hi s. Fr oma di st ance i n
t i me, t he most pr obabl e answer i s t hat t her e had been a mi sunder st andi ng; someone
had t ol d Don Ti co t hat t he par t i sans woul d br i ng t he boy back down. But J acopo at
t hat moment t hought - and not wi t hout r eason- t hat bet ween Assembl y and Taps t oo many
cent ur i es had passed. The boys had wai t ed unt i l t hei r hai r t ur ned whi t e, unt i l
deat h, unt i l t hei r dust scat t er ed t o f or mt he haze t hat now was t ur ni ng t he expanse
of hi l l s bl ue bef or e hi s eyes.
He was al one. Behi nd hi m, an empt y cemet er y. I n hi s hands, t he t r umpet . Bef or e hi m,
t he hi l l s f adi ng, bl uer and bl uer , one behi nd t he ot her , i nt o an i nf i ni t y of humps.
And, vi ndi ct i ve, over hi s head, t he l i ber at ed sun.
He deci ded t o cr y.
But suddenl y t he hear se appear ed, wi t h i t s Aut omedon decor at ed l i ke a gener al of t he
emper or , al l cr eamand si l ver and bl ack, t he hor ses decked wi t h bar bar i c masks t hat
l ef t onl y t hei r eyes vi si bl e, capar i soned l i ke cof f i ns, t he l i t t l e t wi st ed col umns
t hat suppor t ed t he Assyr o- Gr eco- Egypt i an t ympanumal l whi t e and gol d. The man wi t h
t he cocked hat st opped a moment by t he sol i t ar y t r umpet er , and J acopo asked: " Wi l l
you t ake me home?"
The man smi l ed. J acopo cl i mbed up besi de hi mon t he box, and so i t was on a hear se
t hat he began hi s r et ur n t o t he wor l d of t he l i vi ng. That of f - dut y Char on, t aci t ur n,
ur ged hi s f uner eal char ger s down t he sl opes, as J acopo sat er ect and hi er at i c, t he
t r umpet cl ut ched under hi s ar m, hi s vi sor shi ni ng, absor bed i n hi s new, unhoped- f or
r ol e.
They descended, and at ever y cur ve a new vi ew opened up, of vi nes bl ue wi t h
ver di gr i s i n dazzl i ng l i ght , and af t er an i ncal cul abl e t i me t hey ar r i ved i n ***.
They cr ossed t he bi g squar e, al l ar cades, deser t ed as onl y Monf er r at o squar es can be
deser t ed at t wo o' cl ock on a Sunday af t er noon. A school mat e at t he cor ner saw J acopo
on t he hear se, t he t r umpet under hi s ar m, eyes f i xed on i nf i ni t y, and gave hi man
admi r i ng wave.
J acopo went home, woul dn' t eat anyt hi ng, woul dn' t t el l anyt hi ng. He huddl ed on t he
t er r ace and began pl ayi ng t he t r umpet as i f i t had a mut e, bl owi ng sof t l y so as not
t o di st ur b t he si l ence of t he si est a.
Hi s f at her j oi ned hi mand, gui l el essl y, wi t h t he ser eni t y of one who knows t he l aws
of l i f e, sai d: " I n a mont h, i f al l goes as i t shoul d, we' l l be goi ng home. You can' t
pl ay t he t r umpet i n t he ci t y. Our l andl or d woul d evi ct us. So you' l l have t o f or get
t hat . I f you r eal l y l i ke musi c, we' l l have you t ake pi ano l essons. " And t hen, seei ng
t he boy wi t h moi st eyes, he added: " Come now, si l l y. Don' t you r eal i ze t he bad days
ar e over ?"
The next day, J acopo r et ur ned t he t r umpet t o Don Ti co Two weeks l at er , t he f ami l y
l ef t ***, t o r ej oi n t he f ut ur e.
MALKHUT
120
" But t hat whi ch seems t o me shoul d be depl or ed i s t he f act t hat I see some sensel ess
and f ool i sh i dol at er s who no mor e i mi t at e t he excel l ence of t he cul t of Egypt , t han
t he shadow appr oaches t he nobi l i t y of t he body, and who seek Di vi ni t y, f or whi ch
Page 289
t hey have no r eason what soever , i n t he excr ement s of dead and i nani mat e t hi ngs.
These i dol at er s, never t hel ess, mock not onl y t hose of us who ar e di vi ne and
sagaci ous wor shi per s but al so t hose of us who ar e r eput ed t o be beast s. And what i s
wor se, wi t h t hi s t hey t r i umph by seei ng t hei r mad r i t es i n so gr eat r eput e. . . "
" Let not t hi s t r oubl e you, oh Momus, " sai d I si s, " because f at e has or dai ned t he
vi ci ssi t ude of shadows and l i ght . " " But t he evi l , " answer ed Momus, " i s t hat t hey
hol d f or cer t ai n t hat t hey ar e i n t he l i ght . "
- Gi or dano Br uno, The Expul si on of t he Tr i umphant Beast , Thi r d Di al ogue, Second Par t ,
t r ansl at ed by Ar t hur D. I mer t i , Rut ger s Uni ver si t y Pr ess, 1964, p. 236
I shoul d be at peace. I have under st ood. Don' t some say t hat peace comes when you
under st and? I have under st ood. I shoul d be at peace. Who sai d t hat peace der i ves
f r omt he cont empl at i on of or der , or der under st ood, enj oyed, r eal i zed wi t hout
r esi duum, i n j oy and t r i umph, t he end of ef f or t ? Al l i s cl ear , l i mpi d; t he eye r est s
on t he whol e and on t he par t s and sees how t he par t s have conspi r ed t o make t he
whol e; i t per cei ves t he cent er wher e t he l ymph f l ows, t he br eat h, t he r oot of t he
whys. . .
I shoul d be at peace. Fr omt he wi ndow of Uncl e Car l o' s st udy I l ook at t he hi l l , and
t he l i t t l e sl i ce of r i si ng moon. The Br i cco' s br oad hump, t he mor e t emper ed r i dges
of t he hi l l s i n t he backgr ound t el l t he st or y of t he sl ow and dr owsy st i r r i ngs of
Mot her Ear t h, who st r et ches and yawns, maki ng and unmaki ng bl ue pl ai ns i n t he dr ead
f l ash of a hundr ed vol canoes. The Ear t h t ur ned i n her sl eep and t r aded one sur f ace
f or anot her . Wher e ammonoi ds once f ed, di amonds. Wher e di amonds once gr ew,
vi neyar ds. The l ogi c of t he mor ai ne, of t he l andsl i p, of t he aval anche. Di sl odge one
pebbl e, by chance, i t becomes r est l ess, r ol l s down, i n i t s descent l eaves space ( ah,
hor r or vacui ! ) , anot her pebbl e f al l s on t op of i t , and t her e' s hei ght . Sur f aces.
Sur f aces upon sur f aces. The wi sdomof t he Ear t h. And of Li a.
Why doesn' t under st andi ng gi ve me peace? Why l ove Fat e i f Fat e ki l l s you j ust as
dead as Pr ovi dence or t he Pl ot of t he Ar chons? Per haps I haven' t under st ood, af t er
al l ; per haps I ammi ssi ng one pi ece of t he puzzl e, one space.
Wher e have I r ead t hat at t he end, when l i f e, sur f ace upon sur f ace, has become
compl et el y encr ust ed wi t h exper i ence, you know ever yt hi ng, t he secr et , t he power ,
and t he gl or y, why you wer e bor n, why you ar e dyi ng, and how i t al l coul d have been
di f f er ent ? You ar e wi se. But t he gr eat est wi sdom, at t hat moment , i s knowi ng t hat
your wi sdomi s t oo l at e. You under st and ever yt hi ng when t her e i s no l onger anyt hi ng
t o under st and.
Now I know what t he Law of t he Ki ngdomi s, of poor , desper at e, t at t er ed Mal khut ,
wher e Wi sdomhas gone i nt o exi l e, gr opi ng t o r ecover i t s f or mer l uci di t y. The t r ut h
of Mal khut , t he onl y t r ut h t hat shi nes i n t he ni ght of t he Sef i r ot , i s t hat Wi sdom
i s r eveal ed naked i n Mal khut , and i t s myst er y l i es not i n exi st ence but i n t he
l eavi ng of exi st ence. Af t er war d, t he Ot her s begi n agai n.
And, wi t h t he ot her s, t he Di abol i cal s, seeki ng abysses wher e t he secr et of t hei r
madness l i es hi dden.
Al ong t he Br i cco' s sl opes ar e r ows and r ows of vi nes. I know t hem, I have seen
si mi l ar r ows i n my day. No doct r i ne of number s can say i f t hey ar e i n ascendi ng or
descendi ng or der . I n t he mi dst of t he r ows- but you have t o wal k bar ef oot , wi t h your
heel s cal l used, f r omchi l dhood- t her e ar e peach t r ees. Yel l ow peaches t hat gr ow onl y
bet ween r ows of vi nes. You can spl i t a peach wi t h t he pr essur e of your t humb; t he
pi t comes out al most whol e, as cl ean as i f i t had been chemi cal l y t r eat ed, except
f or an occasi onal bi t of pul p, whi t e, t i ny, cl i ngi ng t her e l i ke a wor m. When you eat
t he peach, t he vel vet of t he ski n makes shudder s r un f r omyour t ongue t o your gr oi n.
Di nosaur s once gr azed her e. Then anot her sur f ace cover ed t hei r s. And yet , l i ke Bel bo
when he pl ayed t he t r umpet , when I bi t i nt o t he peach I under st ood t he Ki ngdomand
was one wi t h i t . The r est i s onl y cl ever ness. I nvent ; i nvent t he Pl an, Casaubon.
That ' s what ever yone has done, t o expl ai n t he di nosaur s and t he peaches.
I have under st ood. And t he cer t ai nt y t hat t her e i s not hi ng t o under st and shoul d be
my peace, my t r i umph. But I amher e, and They ar e l ooki ng f or me, t hi nki ng I possess
t he r evel at i on They sor di dl y desi r e. I t i sn' t enough t o have under st ood, i f ot her s
r ef use and cont i nue t o i nt er r ogat e. They ar e l ooki ng f or me, They must have pi cked
up my t r ai l i n Par i s, They know I amher e now, They st i l l want t he Map. And when I
t el l Themt hat t her e i s no Map, They wi l l want i t al l t he mor e. Bel bo was r i ght .
Fuck you, f ool ! You want t o ki l l me? Ki l l me, t hen, but I won' t t el l you t her e' s no
Page 290
Map. I f you can' t f i gur e i t out f or your sel f , t ough shi t .
I t hur t s me t o t hi nk I won' t see Li a agai n, and t he baby, t he Thi ng, Gi ul i o, my
phi l osopher ' s st one. But st ones sur vi ve on t hei r own. Maybe even now he i s
exper i enci ng hi s Oppor t uni t y. He' s f ound a bal l , an ant , a bl ade of gr ass, and i n i t
he sees par adi se and t he abyss. He, t oo, wi l l know i t t oo l at e. He wi l l be good;
never mi nd, l et hi mspend hi s day l i ke t hi s, al one.
Damn. I t hur t s al l t he same. Pat i ence. When I ' mdead, i t won' t hur t .
I t ' s ver y l at e. I l ef t Par i s t hi s mor ni ng, I l ef t t oo many cl ues. They' ve had t i me
t o guess wher e I am. I n a l i t t l e whi l e, They' l l be her e. I woul d have l i ked t o wr i t e
down ever yt hi ng I t hought t oday. But i f They wer e t o r ead i t , They woul d onl y der i ve
anot her dar k t heor y and spend anot her et er ni t y t r yi ng t o deci pher t he secr et message
hi dden behi nd my wor ds. I t ' s i mpossi bl e, They woul d say; he can' t onl y have been
maki ng f un of us. No. Per haps, wi t hout hi s r eal i zi ng i t , Bei ng was sendi ng us a
message t hr ough i t s obl i vi on.
I t makes no di f f er ence whet her I wr i t e or not . They wi l l l ook f or ot her meani ngs,
even i n my si l ence. That ' s how They ar e. Bl i nd t o r evel at i on. Mal khut i s Mal khut ,
and t hat ' s t hat .
But t r y t el l i ng Them. They of l i t t l e f ai t h.
So I mi ght as wel l st ay her e, wai t , and l ook at t he hi l l . I t ' s so beaut i f ul .
About t he Aut hor
Umber t o Eco was bor n i n 1932 i n Al essandr i a, I t al y. He i s pr of essor of semi ot i cs at
t he Uni ver si t y of Bol ogna, a phi l osopher , hi st or i an, l i t er ar y cr i t i c, and
aest het i ci an. The subj ect s of hi s schol ar l y i nvest i gat i on r ange f r omSt . Thomas
Aqui nas t o J ames J oyce t o Super man. He l i ves i n Mi l an.
Page 291

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