looking at these drawings?”
The superintendent looked impressed.
“That’s the part of the message I’m most sure about,”
responded James.
“That’s an unusual message … a bit like everything else I’ve
encountered here today.” The superintendent looked thoughtful, pursing his lips
as though he didn’t really like what he was hearing. “I made an inquiry to
Bulgaria about Costov. I was reassured that it’s unlikely that his work was the
reason for his murder. He had never really been assigned to any secret projects
or sensitive work.”
“Therefore, the motive could be hidden somewhere in his
personal life,” suggested James.
“The man from the Bulgarian security service I talked to
insisted that this was unlikely, too. It could be a case of mistaken identity.
What if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“That’s definitely not the case,” replied James.
The superintendent looked surprised.
“I’ll explain.” James pointed to the symbols etched onto the
right side of Costov’s corpse. There were three symbols in total, aligned
vertically. The bottom one resembled a big ‘V’ but drawn with zigzag lines.
Above it was the drawing of an open umbrella. The top symbol was a
drawing of eight arrows coming out of the periphery of a circle like sunrays.
“The bottom V-like symbol depicts two human stick figures looking in opposite
directions—”
“Oh yes! I see it now,” exclaimed the superintendent.
“This could be a reference to the world as being in a state
of separation and chaos. The umbrella above it is a symbol often found in the
iconography of many old civilizations. It stands for wise people – the men and
women of science, or meditators. These are the people who lead the world in one
or another direction.”
“And Costov was a man of science. That’s to say, one of
those leading figures,” concluded the superintendent.
James nodded in agreement and continued. “The circle with
the eight arrows represents chaos. It may be that the cult believes that people
like Costov lead the world into chaos, separation and destruction.”
“So those three symbols form a unanimous message.”
“It’s about changing the balance of power in the world.
Costov’s murder is part of the process of putting people back on the right
track.”
“And that track could be?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. It could be many things. A
guess would be that the cult wants to bring back some sort of old way of life
and values. Possibly, a reintroduction of worshiping defunct gods.”
The superintendent continued to write down lots of notes.
His expression changed from wonder to concern. “Yes, I’m with you.”
“If I’m right, there will be more killings. The death of one
scientist won’t be enough to change the world ... That’s all I can really
tell you at this point,” said James.
The superintendent stared at his notebook, his head lowered.
He looked preoccupied. “Well, it’s good enough for a start. Thank you. Anything
we can do to help facilitate your work – you name it.”
“The sooner the cuneiform text on the note is translated the
better.”
“You’ve got it. We can sort out an office for you at MI5’s
building in Brighton. All you need will be there.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ve got to leave now. I’ll have to tell my
fiancée that I’ll be busy for the next few days. She won’t like it.”
James smiled.
“I didn’t know you were engaged,” said the
superintendent as he accompanied James along the corridor on the way to the lift.
“We’re due to be married at Easter.”
“Congratulations. Sorry we interrupted your plans.”
“It’s OK.” James paused before continuing. “There’s one
thing though that has been playing on my mind since we arrived here today—”
“Are you thinking what I am?” the superintendent
interjected. “Why here? Why did they choose a hotel full of people, with lots
of CCTV
The superintendent looked impressed.
“That’s the part of the message I’m most sure about,”
responded James.
“That’s an unusual message … a bit like everything else I’ve
encountered here today.” The superintendent looked thoughtful, pursing his lips
as though he didn’t really like what he was hearing. “I made an inquiry to
Bulgaria about Costov. I was reassured that it’s unlikely that his work was the
reason for his murder. He had never really been assigned to any secret projects
or sensitive work.”
“Therefore, the motive could be hidden somewhere in his
personal life,” suggested James.
“The man from the Bulgarian security service I talked to
insisted that this was unlikely, too. It could be a case of mistaken identity.
What if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“That’s definitely not the case,” replied James.
The superintendent looked surprised.
“I’ll explain.” James pointed to the symbols etched onto the
right side of Costov’s corpse. There were three symbols in total, aligned
vertically. The bottom one resembled a big ‘V’ but drawn with zigzag lines.
Above it was the drawing of an open umbrella. The top symbol was a
drawing of eight arrows coming out of the periphery of a circle like sunrays.
“The bottom V-like symbol depicts two human stick figures looking in opposite
directions—”
“Oh yes! I see it now,” exclaimed the superintendent.
“This could be a reference to the world as being in a state
of separation and chaos. The umbrella above it is a symbol often found in the
iconography of many old civilizations. It stands for wise people – the men and
women of science, or meditators. These are the people who lead the world in one
or another direction.”
“And Costov was a man of science. That’s to say, one of
those leading figures,” concluded the superintendent.
James nodded in agreement and continued. “The circle with
the eight arrows represents chaos. It may be that the cult believes that people
like Costov lead the world into chaos, separation and destruction.”
“So those three symbols form a unanimous message.”
“It’s about changing the balance of power in the world.
Costov’s murder is part of the process of putting people back on the right
track.”
“And that track could be?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. It could be many things. A
guess would be that the cult wants to bring back some sort of old way of life
and values. Possibly, a reintroduction of worshiping defunct gods.”
The superintendent continued to write down lots of notes.
His expression changed from wonder to concern. “Yes, I’m with you.”
“If I’m right, there will be more killings. The death of one
scientist won’t be enough to change the world ... That’s all I can really
tell you at this point,” said James.
The superintendent stared at his notebook, his head lowered.
He looked preoccupied. “Well, it’s good enough for a start. Thank you. Anything
we can do to help facilitate your work – you name it.”
“The sooner the cuneiform text on the note is translated the
better.”
“You’ve got it. We can sort out an office for you at MI5’s
building in Brighton. All you need will be there.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ve got to leave now. I’ll have to tell my
fiancée that I’ll be busy for the next few days. She won’t like it.”
James smiled.
“I didn’t know you were engaged,” said the
superintendent as he accompanied James along the corridor on the way to the lift.
“We’re due to be married at Easter.”
“Congratulations. Sorry we interrupted your plans.”
“It’s OK.” James paused before continuing. “There’s one
thing though that has been playing on my mind since we arrived here today—”
“Are you thinking what I am?” the superintendent
interjected. “Why here? Why did they choose a hotel full of people, with lots
of CCTV
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