LOST

Rain poured down and drenched the hood of Zachary’s cloak as he stood on the stoop of a small workshop on the outskirts of Geneva. He knocked three times on the mahogany door, then, once, then, three times more. A moment passed and a slide window opened in the door. Zachary saw a pair of eyes that looked left and right.

“Did you bring it?“ A voice whispered from inside.

“Of course, I did,“ Zachary replied. “Now, may I come in? My feet are swimming in my boots.“ He heard the sound of heavy wood grinding on metal, and then, the door creaked open. Stepping inside, he was greeted by the warmth of a crackling fire inside a hearth that was considerable in size compared to the whole of the workshop. “You know, Phillip,“ he said, removing his cloak and hanging it to dry on a rack by the fire, “you bar the door like that, and if you were to catch yourself on fire with one of your experiments, no one will be able to come in and save you. Not without breaking down the door, and by then, it would be too late.“

“Don’t worry about me, my mysterious friend. I am quite capable. Where is the book?“

“Patience is a worthy virtue. You’d do well to find some.“

“The next time I see it for sale in the market, I’ll pick some up. I am paying you for your time. Now… the book… please.“

Zachary lifted the flap on the leather pouch that hung from his shoulder and pulled out an object wrapped in lambskin. Without unfolding its cover, Zachary placed it on the table in front of his colleague. “Phillip, I must tell you, if you share the location or the contents of this book to anyone… if you tell anyone that this book even exists, you will not live to see another sunrise.“

“Understood.“ Phillip grabbed the right edge of the lambskin and brought it over the book, setting it down to the left. He, then, took a corner of the portion that still covered the book and laid it on the right, revealing a beautiful, dark, leather-bound tome. “Amazing,“ he said, gazing at the lettering on the front. “Liber Sacratus,“ he annunciated loudly, as if he were presenting it to the great wizard, Merlin.

“Shh,“ Zachary scolded. “Keep your voice down.“

“My apologies. And you say this is the original manuscript?“

“Yes.“

“It must be worth a fortune.“

“Priceless, actually.“

“Honorius was truly an artist.“

“Yes, he was,“ Zachary said with a sly smile.

“What does it say? This,“ Phillip pointed to the strange writing underneath the title, “on the front.“

“I thought you were in a hurry.“

“I am. But I’m intrigued by the seductive curvature of these symbols. They’re like nothing I’ve ever seen.“

“All right. Even I’m getting impatient now. Where’s the dagger?“

“I’m sorry. Let’s get on with it, shall we? But first… a toast,“ Phillip said leaving the table and went toward a cupboard on the wall.

***

Phillip slowly came to, holding his throbbing temples, and after opening his eyes, he immediately wished he hadn’t. He was certain someone was banging a bass drum nearby and also that his eyes would shoot of his their sockets and across the room if he didn’t close his eyes tight. The pain began to wear off after a few minutes and he was able to look around.

To say that his workshop was in disarray would be putting it very lightly. His desk was turned over, papers were strewn from one wall to the other and there was a pile of books in the fire. Most of them were math books but on top of the flaming heap was the book he so admired just moments before. He leapt up, again, wishing he hadn’t, grabbed the tongs hanging beside the hearth and snatched the book out of the fire and placed it on the floor. He ran to his bed and got a blanket, then covered the book with it, stomping it as carefully as he could. Once he was sure the fire was out, he removed the blanket to survey the damage. He opened it and saw that the pages were blank.

“What is this? A counterfeit? Surely, he must have known that I would find out as soon as I… wait… the dagger.“ He looked at the table where he performed his alchemic miracles—the place where the blade had been. “That damned clever bastard. The price I could have gotten for it. I might go insane if I think too long on it.“ He flopped down on the chair in front of the table in a defeated heap.