After translating the information about the First Two Ages of Egypt, I once more traveled to that country to see how much of the tale I could confirm. After all, there was the slightest of possibilities that the scrolls could lie, or perhaps even be fiction. If I had not seen the Black Sphinx with my own eyes, I might have had more doubts.
I learned that during the time of the Third Age, the time of the Pharaohs, between what Egyptologists call the Second Dynasty and the Third, that The Mission once more tried to implement change in Egypt to fulfill the original plans of the Guide-Shadows of the First Age. It was with the Third Dynasty of the Third Age that the first pyramids were built. These were built by men, without the assistance of the Airlia, but with the aid of plans drawn up by Osiris and Isis during the First Age.
The first pyramids were practice in studying how to build such structures. I have seen the pyramids of the Third Dynasty at Saqqara in Egypt — the step pyramids of Djoser and Sekhemket. During the Fourth Dynasty, the size increased as the art was being perfected. The bent pyramid of Sneferu at Dahshur was the precursor to the implementation of the plan on Giza.
When the pyramids of Giza were constructed, the Watchers were uncertain why they were built. Indeed, consulting the foremost experts alive today on the subject, I have learned they still are unsure of the reason for such a massive construction project. One of the great mysteries is that there is nothing written about either the pyramids or the stone sphinx in all the writings that have survived from that ancient kingdom. It is as if such a thing was forbidden, which I believe to be the case.
But I learned through one report from a Watcher a most interesting thing. When the Great Pyramid of Khufu was constructed, the capstone was of a different material than the rest. It was red in color.
And that capstone was removed by a flying disk during the Fourth Dynasty of the Third Age, shortly after the Great Pyramid was built as Egypt was reaching the peak of its power and expanding its empire in all directions. These flying disks were mentioned here and there in other Watcher documents. Obviously, they must be a craft of the Airlia.
With the removal of that capstone, it seems as if The Mission faded from influence not only in Egypt, but around the world for a long time. And the kingdom of Egypt slowly began to decline in power also.
I believe this capstone was one of these alien machines. Where it was taken, I do not know.
However, despite the removal of the capstone, the Ark and the Grail remained in Egypt, hidden in the Hall of Records, forgotten by all but the Watchers who guarded it.
I believe from what I have read and seen that The Mission moved its influence to the northern side of the Mediterranean, to Greece and across the Atlantic to the Americas, in Mexico. The rise of the Greek City states and the Olmecs in Mexico foretold the growing influence of The Guides among humans.
There is also the issue of these pyramid machines — it appears several were located at various points on the planet and early civilizations grew up around them.
The Ones Who Wait fought back in a different and disturbing manner. Instead of trying to establish states and armies at this time period, The Ones Who Wait worked at manipulating men across national and regional boundaries through the power of faith.
That this was effective can be seen through the fact that they managed to remove the Ark from Egypt. This event has been recorded, but little significance has ever been placed to it in terms of historical reality.
In 1,200 B.C. a member of an obscure tribe called Israelites managed to secure a place of power in Egypt. There are legends how this occurred, but the fact remains it happened.
One man, Moses, then gained freedom for his people by scouring the land with curses — events which The Ones Who Wait could certainly have helped orchestrate. Or, and this is what makes it so difficult, he could have been a Guide. Or even just a man interfering in things beyond his conception.
I do not mean here to deny the existence of God or his power, but only to tell what I have learned. The truth, which I have searched for all my life, is the truth I have found, not the truth others have found. Perhaps there is a divine power behind all things, even these alien creatures and their followers, but I do not proclaim to know.
Moses gained his people’s freedom, but just as important, he gained possession of the Ark, in which was held the Grail. He took it out of Egypt for the first time in over ten millennia and thus the tale becomes more interesting.
The chapter came to an end.
“Do we have any idea where the master guardian was taken?” Che Lu asked. “If we did, we’d be there,” Turcotte said.
“The grid system I have from Nabinger might have that location,” Che Lu noted.
“But you haven’t been able to align, right?” Turcotte pointed out.
“Not yet.”
“You might want to ask Larry Kincaid for help,” Turcotte said. He checked his watch. It was time to be going. “If you get any more details on the chambers of the tunnels, forward it to me by secure satellite link,” he told Yakov.
“Good luck,” the Russian offered.
The acid drip of adrenaline was coursing through Turcotte’s veins, and burning his stomach. He was ready to go.
CHAPTER 13
Lexina stepped dangerously close to the dark wall. A rounded, black circle of metal had appeared from behind the veil about four feet off the ground. The circle grew larger as the wall slowly withdrew until it was four feet in diameter, then the metal began going straight back, revealing a tube.
“Do you think that is Artad?” Elek asked.
Lexina placed her hand on the end of the tube. “I don’t know. But we will shortly.”
Lexina paced along the black wall trying to control herself. Many lifetimes of waiting were slowly being fulfilled as the wall slid back centimeter by centimeter.
“The world is a very strange place,” Che Lu said. “Who would have thought a year ago there would be a Russian agent and an old Chinese woman sitting inside the most secret place in America?”
She was in the conference room with Yakov. Her attempts to align the grid system with the planet had failed so far, but she felt sure she would eventually get it. When she’d been informed that the next chapter of the manuscript was ready for review, she had put that work on hold. She had not been able to find Larry Kincaid who was meeting with NASA officials over use of the Hubble. She settled down into the chair next to the Russian.
She removed a small leather pouch that was tied to her belt and opened it. Holding it a few inches above the tabletop, she let the contents spill out with a clatter.
“There have been stranger things happen,” Yakov said. “What are those?”
“Oracle bones,” Che Lu said. “They are what led me to Qian-Ling. They were sent to me by a dear friend who is now fighting in Western China.” She picked one up, a piece about six inches long by three wide. “See the markings — a version of High Runes. They were found around Qian-Ling by peasant farmers digging in their fields.”
“And their purpose?” Yakov asked.
“They tell the future,” Che Lu said. She gathered the bones in her wrinkled hands and tossed them.
“What do they say?”
Che Lu gathered them, placed them in the bag and drew the string tight. “They were just a tool used by the Emperor’s soothsayers. I studied them with an old woman — older even than I — who could read them.”
“What did they say?”
“Several things,” Che Lu said sharply.
Yakov chuckled. “So it goes with soothsayers — give several answers and something is bound to come true.”