CS 01 The Grail Conspiracy by Lynn Sholes Read Free Book Online Page B

lifelong work to be scoffed at. It's hard for anyone
to take him seriously. He claimed to have deciphered writing on the
plate that gave the location of the Grail, but who knows? Most
thought he was over the edge, and the plate probably had no value
other than being an interesting artifact."
    "You don't think he could have really gone on to find the Grail?"
    "Hasn't made the headlines, yet," John said. "In my opinion, the
Holy Grail is more religious folklore than fact. I like to think of it as a
state of mind more than a real object-something in our lives we
strive for but may never find."
    Cotten frowned. "What is Archer's theory?"
    "There are plenty of scenarios-Archer's being one of many. Tradition has it that the Cup from the Last Supper was also used the next
day to collect Christ's blood at the Crucifixion. According to numerous stories, Joseph of Arimathea, who was present at the Crucifixion
and supplied Christ's burial tomb, was the Cup's first owner. Most
historians believe he eventually took the Cup to the Isles of Avalon in
Britain-the basis of the Arthurian Legend which most of us are
familiar with. But Archer proposes a different scheme. He says Joseph
traveled with Saint Paul on the apostle's first mission to Antioch. He
took along the Cup as a symbol for newly baptized Christians to venerate. After Paul moved on, Joseph stayed in Antioch. When he died,
the Cup disappeared-presumably buried with him.
    "From what I've read, Archer then says that the Cup resurfaced
around the middle of the third century and was put on display by the Bishop of Antioch. Then it was lost again-in an earthquake, I think
around A.D. 526. Then it was found again some fifty or so years later.
All the stories of the Grail have that same element in common-it's
found, it's lost, then found again. Adds to the mystery, I guess."

    John watched Cotten's expressions, so animated and telltale. He
continued. "Archer claimed his research led him to believe that during the last Crusade, a fellow named Geoffrey Bisol took the Cup and
fled south. He and a small band of Crusaders were captured near
Nineveh in northern Iraq. Bisol maintained that he buried his dead
comrades in some of the ancient ruins nearby before making his way
to Jerusalem. He didn't have the Cup with him when he arrived in the
Holy Land, but swore he knew where it was hidden. Over the years,
many groups have extensively excavated the ruins around Nineveh.
No one has ever claimed to have found anything that would support
Gabriel Archer's theory."
    Cotten closed her eyes. She shivered.
    "Are you all right?" John asked.
    "Just a chill."

     

SINCLAIR

    "Do YOU RENOUNCE SATAN?"
    "We do."
    "And all his works?"
    "We do."
    The priest recited the vows, then reached into the water in the
Baptismal font, scooping up enough to flow over the crown of the
baby's head. "I baptize you in the name of the Father ..:'
    When the water touched the sleeping infant's skin, she awoke
crying.
    and of the Son ..."
    Her cries grew louder.
    11
... and of the Holy Spirit."
    Tears welled in the mother's eyes as she looked down at the infant.
    Charles Sinclair stood close by watching the christening of his
only granddaughter. His wife clung to his arm. In his early fifties, Sinclair was tall and lean in his tailored double-breasted suit. Thick eyebrows and a generous amount of black hair sprinkled with sterling
softened his hard-edged features. His jet eyes peered out from an olive complexion and mirrored a mind that seemed to be working at
high speed.

    Light poured in through the stained glass windows of historic St.
Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. The cries of Sinclair's granddaughter filled the church.
    While the priest continued, Sinclair's mind wandered, and his
gaze drifted to the magnificent frescos adorning the arched ceiling.
He should have received some word by now, he thought. Concern
creased his forehead. A gentle nudge from his wife brought him