Chapter 3: Imminent Disaster

By noon Jacob’s living room was littered with open books and loose papers. So immersed in reading the material on his laptop, he didn’t hear the knocking on the door. After an interval, the door handle jiggled. Finding the door unlocked, the caller opened the door and peered in. Cautiously stepping over a book the visitor looked around in wonder.

“What on earth is all this?”

Startled, Jacob jumped and the laptop crashed to the floor, knocking papers off the coffee table as it fell. He spun around and faced his company, a young blond woman in her twenties, dressed in jeans and wearing a long sleeve button down shirt beneath a jean jacket. Over one shoulder was slung a worn messenger bag.

“I wasn’t expecting you.” Sputtered Jacob addressing his assistant from the university. Embarrassed, he made a vain attempt to straighten up a stack of papers that immediately slid to the floor.

“We are supposed to be working together on Illumination texts this afternoon?” ventured the woman. “I thought we could walk over together to the lab.”

“Um, I can’t, with the event and everything.” Jacob replied, running his hand through his disheveled brown hair. He tried to remember if he had even brushed his teeth.

“Well, nothing seems to be going on except the construction on the hill, so I thought we might be back on.”

“Look Rach, I’m really sorry, but I gotta keep at this. I can’t go to the lab right now.”

“What exactly is all of this? Rachel stepped around a stack of books and leaned over to pick up the laptop.

“Well,” started Jacob, but before he could continue, the door opened once more. A man poked his head into the room.

“This Jacob Bell’s house?”

“Um, yes.” answered Jacob nervously.

“Oh good, thought I might have the wrong place. You’re missing some of the numbers on the address plate.”

“Who are you?” Rachel asked with apparent interest.

“Alexander.” The young man smiled broadly as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He was of athletic build, strong muscles framed beneath a denim shirt casually worn over a white tee. At his narrow hips he wore a belt that holstered a phone next to dagger with a jeweled hilt sheathed in tooled leather. His strong handsome features and brilliant blue eyes were framed by wavy, shoulder length hair tied back with a leather queue. It was as if a modern version of an ancient Greek God had stepped into the dingy living room. Rachel gave an appreciative smile.

“Alexander?” Jacob was at a loss.

“I’m Rachel.” Jacob’s assistant held out her hand by way of introduction.

“Alexander.” repeated the stranger striding in the room and taking the young lady’s hand in his own. He turned it over and raised it to his lips in a kiss. “Please, call me Alex.”

The pair stood smiling at each other. Jacob wasn’t sure they still registered his presence. He cleared his throat. “Um, Alex, what can we do for you?”

Releasing Rachel’s hand, the young man turned his intent blue eyes on Jacob and flashed him a blinding smile. “Dad said you might be able to help us find an illumination that portrays the original Welsh Dinefwr Castle built in the 800s by Rhodri the Great. He has the architectural plans, but there is a disagreement with the builders on the color aesthetics for the tower. He thought the illumination might help.”

“Your dad?” asked Jacob warily.

“Yes, I believe you met him briefly this morning. He was sorry he didn’t come down for breakfast, but castles don’t build themselves you know.”

“That castle sure is going up fast.” remarked Rachel. “Did you see it Jacob? They already have a curtain wall around the grounds. And you said you have documents on the original Dinefwr Castle? Are you serious?”

“Absolutely. I take it you have an interest?” Alex turned back to Rachel. “The bailey is nearly finished too. It’s a remarkable blend of Medieval and Renaissance craftsmanship.”

“An interest would be an understatement.” breathed Rachel.

“Would you like to see it?” Alex asked.

“Oh man, could I?” Rachel eyes glittered hungrily.

“Absolutely. I can give you a tour myself.” beamed Alex. “But I don’t dare go back without the illumination.”

“No, I don’t imagine you would.” muttered Jacob.

“Well I think we can help.” pronounced Rachel. “We have been working on Illuminations this past month and I think I recall seeing some unusual ones that contained drawings of castles.”

“Help?” sputtered Jacob. He was suddenly aware that he did not like where the conversation was headed.

“Here, give me the laptop, I am sure we have it in our archives.” continued Rache pushing aside a book and sitting on the couch. She propped the laptop up on her knees. “Doesn’t look like you broke it.” she said tapping away at the keys. “Jacob, which file did we put the Welsh Illuminations in.”

“I don’t think they go back that far.” said Jacob drily. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans as he scanned the contents of the room. He hoped Alexander didn’t look too closely or ask any questions.

“No, you remember that set that was out of place in that damaged book from 1500? We determined that they had been added to the manuscript at a later time and looked far older than the rest of the work. You said yourself that they could date as far back as 7 or 800 if you weren’t mistaken. It was the style work that stood out.” Rachel scanned file names in the list she had pulled up.

“I did?” Jacob looked over Rachel’s shoulder. Alex moved behind the couch so he could see as well.

“There.” she said selecting a file. “Life of Caradoc from the twelfth century, Wales.”

“Oh, those are nice.” Alex peered more closely at the images. “Open up that one.” he said tapping on the screen as he reached around Rachel. Rachel opened the file.

“That is one of two.” she beamed. “The artwork was in great shape when we came across these illuminations. They scanned really well.”

“Can you share those files with me?” asked Alex pulling out his mobile.

“That is university property.” Jacob noted tartly. “It is restricted to the university archives. The documents have not been released for publication yet.” Rachel looked crestfallen.

“I am sure it’s nothing a donation in the right place can’t fix.” Smiled Alex. “Give me a moment.” He moved into the kitchen area of the small house.

Jacob scooted closer to Rachel. “We can’t give him those drawings.”

“Why not? If the university agrees to release them, then we should be in the clear.” Rachel whispered back.

“Because then they will build that castle.”

“Hello, they are already building the castle. Or hadn’t you noticed all the construction noise down the block?” retorted Rachel.

“I noticed.” Jacob said sullenly. “But we can’t let them finish it. If they do, it will be the beginning of the end!”

“The end of what?” asked Rachel. Annoyance and confusion laced her voice and expressed itself in small wrinkles along her otherwise smooth forehead.

“The end of what? Haven’t you been paying attention to what has been going on today?”

“Don’t take that tone with me.” Rachel snapped. Alex looked in their direction, but continued his phone conversation.

“Sorry.” Jacob lowered his voice once more. “I’m just nervous. It was my findings that started all of this and I need to see if there is a way to stop it.”

“Sorry, but I still don’t understand.”

“Those documents we found.”

“What about them?”

“They spell out what is going to happen to all of us if we don’t find a way to stop these events.”

“And?”

“Don’t you get it? Those documents I uncovered are about the end of the world.”

“They contain interesting elements of prophecy with an unusual correlation to current events, but the end of the world?” Rachel shook her head. “It makes for great PR, nothing more.”

“It is something more.” Jacob urged. “I’m telling you, if we don’t find a way to stop the unfolding of events, we will be facing the end of the world.”

“I thought you were mad at the University for saying exactly that about your findings.”

“I was. It made me look like some kind of doomsday crackpot.”

Rachel stared at Jacob for several long moments. “And now you sound like one. Those papers are an interesting study of ancient texts. Nothing more. Your words.”

“Things have changed. We have to stall them. At least the paperwork will slow things down. It takes forever for the university to release documents for publication.” Jacob said thoughtfully.

“Done!” Alex clapped his hands gleefully as he returned to the living room. “The university has graciously accepted a donation and has agreed to release the document files in advance of the filing of the customary paperwork. If you check your email, you should have the green light to share them.”

Rachel stuck her tongue out at Jacob and opened his email. “You really need to clean this out.” she commented as she scanned. “Ah, here it is, approval to release illuminations.”

“What?” Jacob grabbed the laptop.

“Right here.” Rachel snatched the laptop back from Jacob and read the email. “It says that approval has been granted for research and architectural review of illuminations. Usual paperwork and permits to follow the immediate release of illumination files to Warwick Corporation for continued evaluation.”

“Great. Can you email them to me?” asked Alex.

“Don’t suppose you have a Google account? They’re big files. It would be easier to share them directly.”

“Oh sure, here, I will type info in for you.” He reached his muscular arms around Rachel and keyed his user name in.

“Perfect. You are all set then.” responded Rachel as she hit the enter key. Jacob felt slightly nauseated.

"So when can I take you on that tour?” Alex straightening.

“Well, it doesn’t look like I am working this afternoon,” Rachel glowered at Jacob. “So I am free anytime.”

“How about lunch, then we head up.” Alex held out his arm. “My uncle suggested this diner in town that serves terrific food.”

“Great!” Rachel jumped up from the couch and handed Jacob the laptop. “I’ll call you later so we can reschedule the manuscript work.”

Rachel threaded her way through the books and papers and took the proffered arm. As the pair closed the front door behind them, Jacob’s laptop ran out of power leaving him to stare at a blank screen.