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Authors: Kathleen McGowan
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elders of the Church approve of your cousin makes no difference. The undeniable fact is that her visions have led her to achievements that are unmatched. I believe that someone is using her as a result—to find the book that is referenced in that document. And once it is found, I don’t believe they will want her around to tell the tale of its existence. She must take extreme care, and so must you.”
The old priest sat deep in thought, eyes closed, for so long that Peterfeared he had fallen asleep. When he opened his ancient eyes finally, they were clear and bright with intention.
“Peter, I need you to keep me posted on your cousin’s movements in relation to this document, and certainly inform me if she has any further contact from this…source. I promise you, it is for her own protection. And yours.”
Peter assured him that he would do so. But the old priest’s words of warning had rattled him and he was anxious to get out of there and call Maureen, who would be arriving in France momentarily.
“Now go with God, my boy. And may his blessed mother watch over you on your journey.”
C HAPTER T HREE
The Languedoc
France, present day
M aureen was starting to feel the tension rising in her body as they drew closer to their destination. The drive took well over an hour, allowing time for her to catch up with Tammy on all the events and their mutual research over the past few days. They talked through clues and theorized on possible sources for the documents.
“Bérenger is very uneasy about all of this,” Tammy explained. “As fascinating as it is, he doesn’t like feeling that he is out of control of this situation, and it concerns him that none of us have been able to come up with a substantial theory as to who is leading this heretical scavenger hunt.”
“Whoever it is knows a lot about both Bérenger and me. That’s certainly disconcerting. But they also know what’s occurring in my dreams, which is completely beyond explanation. Therefore, it’s either something divinely inspired…”
“Or something truly sinister.”
“Yeah, thanks for that reassurance. Because I wasn’t nervous enough already.”
Even without the recent, unexplainable events, returning to Arques today had Maureen on edge. This was where she had discovered theMagdalene Gospel, where she had both endured and enjoyed an adventure that was beyond the imagination of most. But it was also the home of Bérenger Sinclair, and that fact brought with it a whole series of complications.
Tammy took a detour through Montségur for lunch because she knew that Maureen loved this part of France. It was one of the earth’s great places of spirit, and the location of the last stand of the Cathar people against the armies of a Church determined to exterminate the entire culture. Maureen knew this story well, having spent some memorable hours learning about the legacy of Montségur on her last visit to France.
By the end of 1243 the Cathars had suffered nearly fifty years of torture by the Inquisition. The populations of entire cities had been eradicated until the streets very literally ran red with the blood of these innocent people. One of the last Cathar strongholds left in France was Montségur, the castle located forty miles or so from where the Château des Pommes Bleues was located in Arques. For nearly half a year, the last French Cathars were sequestered together in the fortress of Montségur.
Languedoc legend said that four members of the Cathar party were able to escape Montségur two days before the remaining population were captured and burned alive for heresy. It was told that one of these, a young girl called La Paschalina , “the little Paschal Lamb,” carried a priceless object strapped to her body—the Book of Love. This girl was instrumental in the protection of the most sacred treasure of their people. She was also Maureen’s ancestor, and the source whence the name Paschal came.
As they took their leave of the
The old priest sat deep in thought, eyes closed, for so long that Peterfeared he had fallen asleep. When he opened his ancient eyes finally, they were clear and bright with intention.
“Peter, I need you to keep me posted on your cousin’s movements in relation to this document, and certainly inform me if she has any further contact from this…source. I promise you, it is for her own protection. And yours.”
Peter assured him that he would do so. But the old priest’s words of warning had rattled him and he was anxious to get out of there and call Maureen, who would be arriving in France momentarily.
“Now go with God, my boy. And may his blessed mother watch over you on your journey.”
C HAPTER T HREE
The Languedoc
France, present day
M aureen was starting to feel the tension rising in her body as they drew closer to their destination. The drive took well over an hour, allowing time for her to catch up with Tammy on all the events and their mutual research over the past few days. They talked through clues and theorized on possible sources for the documents.
“Bérenger is very uneasy about all of this,” Tammy explained. “As fascinating as it is, he doesn’t like feeling that he is out of control of this situation, and it concerns him that none of us have been able to come up with a substantial theory as to who is leading this heretical scavenger hunt.”
“Whoever it is knows a lot about both Bérenger and me. That’s certainly disconcerting. But they also know what’s occurring in my dreams, which is completely beyond explanation. Therefore, it’s either something divinely inspired…”
“Or something truly sinister.”
“Yeah, thanks for that reassurance. Because I wasn’t nervous enough already.”
Even without the recent, unexplainable events, returning to Arques today had Maureen on edge. This was where she had discovered theMagdalene Gospel, where she had both endured and enjoyed an adventure that was beyond the imagination of most. But it was also the home of Bérenger Sinclair, and that fact brought with it a whole series of complications.
Tammy took a detour through Montségur for lunch because she knew that Maureen loved this part of France. It was one of the earth’s great places of spirit, and the location of the last stand of the Cathar people against the armies of a Church determined to exterminate the entire culture. Maureen knew this story well, having spent some memorable hours learning about the legacy of Montségur on her last visit to France.
By the end of 1243 the Cathars had suffered nearly fifty years of torture by the Inquisition. The populations of entire cities had been eradicated until the streets very literally ran red with the blood of these innocent people. One of the last Cathar strongholds left in France was Montségur, the castle located forty miles or so from where the Château des Pommes Bleues was located in Arques. For nearly half a year, the last French Cathars were sequestered together in the fortress of Montségur.
Languedoc legend said that four members of the Cathar party were able to escape Montségur two days before the remaining population were captured and burned alive for heresy. It was told that one of these, a young girl called La Paschalina , “the little Paschal Lamb,” carried a priceless object strapped to her body—the Book of Love. This girl was instrumental in the protection of the most sacred treasure of their people. She was also Maureen’s ancestor, and the source whence the name Paschal came.
As they took their leave of the
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