The Lafayette Sword by Eric Giacometti Page A

God of his people, a God that seemed so unapproachable and unknow able. Why?
    It was one thing to talk with Christians, Muslims, and members of Islam’s Sufi offshoot. It was entirely another to abandon his own faith and embrace another. But one day he heard about a different path, one reserved for those who would not renounce reason, nor their free will. It was a path that wasn’t constricted by religion. And it held out the promise of revealing the soul, saving the body, and even changin g society.
    In Girona, they were called “followers.” In whispers, people called them “bellows,” because they would keep a fire going continually in order to conduct their experiments. Some people said they were delving into the mysteries of matter to better understand the soul, while others said they were studying the invisible laws of the universe to be more like God. Everyone agreed that they held a secret more fascinating than any other: tha t of gold.
    Flamel was writing feverishly, paying no attention to the woman’s suffering. His fierce curiosity had overcome even his fear of the torturer. Impatient, he waited for Flore de Cenevières to finish her story and reveal Isaac Benserade ’s secret.

34
    Antoine Marcas’s home
    Day of his release from the hospital
    M arcas greeted Guy Andrivaux with a smile and a handshake. He gestured to his second armchair and asked the brother if he wanted something to drink.
    â€œYes, thank you,” Andrivaux answered. “If it’s not too much trouble. I walked over from the lodge, and I didn’t realize how far it was. How are you feeling?”
    â€œBetter,” Marcas said, getting two glasses, a bottle of whiskey for his friend, and a bottle of water for himself. “I’m waiting for the doctors to give me the okay to get back to work.”
    â€œKnowing you, I’m sure that can’t be soon enough,” Andrivaux said, picking up a Masonic blue book on the table next to his armchair. “By the way, your colleague stopped by to ask a few questions. Hodecourt—that’s his name, right? I’m glad he’s a brother, but it would be better if you both attended the sa me lodge.”
    â€œOfficially, he’ll be the lead investigator until I get back. But I’m doing my own work f rom here.”
    â€œSo, do you think the killer had a vengeance degree?” Andriv aux asked.
    â€œThat’s what I understand. It seems he has a real obsession. But we both know that those who hold the degree exact a symbolic vengeance. They never actually kill anyone. Anti-Freemason groups have spread that kind of crap about us for centuries, like the stories of Devil worship.”
    Andrivaux sipped his whiskey while Marcas continued.
    â€œThe degree is all play-acting developed in the eighteenth century by the bourgeoisie so they could feel like they were part of something secret. What we need to find out is how the murders relate to the man’s twisted understanding of th e ritual.”
    â€œWhat about the Templars?”
    Marcas tried to read the grand secretary’s face. “Can you be more precise?”
    â€œA new version of that degree came into existence after the revolution. There was interest in avenging the death of Jacques de Molay, grand master of the Templars.”
    â€œRight,” Mar cas said.
    â€œAs you know, he was burned in Paris in 1314 by order of the king. The day Louis XVI was executed in 1792, somebody jumped onto the scaffold, picked up the king’s head, and shouted, ‘Jacques de Molay, you’ve finally been avenged.’ That was more than four centuries later. To tell the truth, I think some Freemasons who held dear the ideals of the revolution saw the royalty’s destruction of the order of the Temple as a first affront to thos e ideals.”
    â€œThat’s a historical aberration,” Marcas said. But he did agree that the Freemasons had restored