Christopher Golde
“As the circle of light increases so does the circumference 0f the darkness around it.”
Albert Einstein
Date: 20th December 1934
Location: Grand Central Station – New York
The distinguished gentleman in the double-breasted tweed suit looked impatiently at the fob watch he had withdrawn from his vest pocket. His name was Johannes Methuselah King and he was waiting for his wife Junice. Around him were small gatherings of people meeting, talking, watching and pointing. He was standing in the great hall of Grand Central Station. They had moments before arrived on the 10.20 from Springfield and were due at the port by midday to check-in for their vessel bound for New Zealand. The port was not far from Grand Central but they were yet to collect their luggage from the nearby freighter and Johannes was not of patient mind this day. Much was in his thoughts and he was not comfortable with this relocation to such a faraway land, the second dramatic move in little under a year.
Junice had excused herself, telling her husband she had some business to attend to nearby that must be complete before they depart. She moved spritely through the lines gathering for train tickets. She looked back in the direction of her waiting husband. Funnels of light streamed down from the windows in the high roof of the great hall and she could see him standing alone looking from side to side at the very far end of the building. She knew she did not have too long to spare before he would storm off and leave her there, but this was something she knew she must do. It was half the reason she was about to travel to the other side of the world.
She looked up at the hands of the clock on top of the rotunda in the centre of the station hall and it was thirty seconds before eleven in the morning. She was in the right place and now it was the right time. She knew Harlan Pierce would be right on time. Her heartbeat a little faster at the thought of seeing him and she was surprised.
Junice was a fiercely independent woman, born of Muslim father and Japanese mother in Jordan and brought up during the First World War in the Middle East. She had learned she must be independent to survive. Her father had arranged the marriage with the wealthy Johannes Methuselah King five years ago too, as he explained to her, ‘give her a more secure future’. She was sure she had wanted love more than security but her father was a wise man and she married the wealthy banker to make him happy. Life with Johannes had not been too bad she thought and she had learned to love him in a special kind of way.
When she had met Harlan Pierce for the first time it was by an introduction from a mutual friend and she had been very surprised how comfortable she had felt with a complete stranger. Evidently, she had found out later, Mr Pierce had requested to be introduced by their mutual friend. That was now over a month ago and they had met twice since then. That is when she had discovered Harlan Pierce’s secret and the reason he had asked for the introduction.
Harlan had spent the last ten years living in Europe exploring for antiquities. During their meetings he had described to her the many romantic locations he had journeyed and how, about two years previous, he had discovered the most remarkable treasure of all. A treasure he believed held within it the key to the destiny of mankind. The former owner of this treasure had given him clear instruction in return for possession. It was a ‘condition of ownership’, Harlan had said.
“I know you will find this most unbelievable Mrs King,” he had told her, “but my clear instruction, the ‘condition of my ownership’, was to eventually pass this treasure to a lady with green eyes that I would meet in my future travels, that would also be the owner of the initials JK.”
Junice King had the most startling green eyes you would ever behold and when Harlan Pierce had been told of this half Asian lady with the sparkling emerald green eyes living in Springfield, he had asked for her name. On hearing her name he had immediately begun planning their meeting. What he found when he met her amazed him even more. She turned out to be the most beautiful creature he had ever met and in those emerald green eyes, he found an attraction so deep he was immediately convinced they should be together. He, of course, did not announce this to Junice but it was obvious to anyone who would observe them that there was a hidden bond. Most people on first meeting assumed they were a couple, he enjoyed it, and she did not, although Junice would never protest.
Now, she stood next to the rotunda with the big round clock on top, as she had arranged with the mysterious Mr Pierce. A column of light speared down right onto the roof of the small round room as if highlighting the time. It was now ten seconds before eleven and she felt excited at the thought of seeing Harlan Pierce, or maybe it was his treasure? In that very moment, a child ran by a cap in hand, long duffle coat, shorts and long socks drawn down around the top of well-worn brown leather boots. He was running directly into one of the cascading light beams when it happened. It had happened before, but not very often, and rarely in public places like this. Everything stopped. The boy in mid-stride, a mother wiping her daughter’s face, an old man shuffling past, even a dove fluttering through the upper regions of light in the great hall. There was no sound; even the air seemed to freeze.
Junice King was the only creature that moved and she turned slowly around looking for what she knew must now come. As if from dust on the floor and out of the shadows she saw it grow; a large figure born of darkness and familiar to her since childhood. The immense human shape glided across the floor until it was looking down on her.
‘Junice,’ the voice in her head said, ‘how good to see you.’
‘Such small talk, you always see me don’t you?’
‘Always and forever, but it was meant as a courtesy’, came back the expressionless voice in her head.
‘Well hello then,’ she thought and smiled, ‘what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected meeting?’
‘You will soon take possession of a document that in the wrong hands could threaten the future of humanity. The current bearer has shown good sense in bringing it away from the searching talons of the German Eagle, for theirs is a plan of pure evil.’
‘I presume you mean Adolf Hitler?’
‘Yes, the newly appointed Fuhrer of Germany has the monster in his heart and knows only too well of the existence of this precious document and its power.’
‘And for what reason would you have Mr Pierce give this precious document to me if indeed it is so important?’
‘It is the destiny of your kind to bear this knowledge until it is time to fulfil the prophecy and where you are going will be the safest place on Earth over the coming years of unrest. I would ask you to keep it safe until it is time.’
“And how will I know when it is time,” asked Junice, this time out loud?
“What was that,” asked a voice from behind her?
Junice spun around and as she did, she noticed that everyone was moving just as before. The dove was once again in full flight, its wings beating frantically, the light once more moved with sparkling particles of dust and the little boy was running to his mother’s arms. She was looking directly into the face of Harlan Pierce and he, directly into hers. She glanced back over her shoulder but of course, the dark giant was gone.
She looked back at Harlan and smiled. She hesitated but only for a brief second, enough time to gather a thought.
“I said it is about time,” she gave him a cheeky smile and his heart raced.
“But I am not late, look its right on eleven now.”
She looked up at the big clock to see that less than ten seconds had passed while she had been talking to the darkness. As a little girl that is what she had called the giant who visited her each night, sharing the secrets of the universe with her.
“Oh, yes it is, then I will let you off,” she said cheekily.
He smiled; he always smiled in her presence.
“Anyway, Merry Christmas Mrs King,” he said pulling a large bouquet of flowers from behind his back and presenting them to her. She gasped. How beautiful they were and how rare was it for her to receive such a compliment. She flushed and took them from him knowing she could not possibly keep them.
“And Merry Christmas to you Mr Pierce,” she said as she smelt a bright red rose in the bunch.
She looked at him and her emerald green eyes sparkled in the sunlight from the great hall windows. His heart was in his mouth and he did all he could to not just reach over and kiss her.
“We have not got much time,” she said, breaking the moment between them, “my husband is waiting at the other end of the station and we must soon leave to meet our ship.”
His heart sank at the thought.
“Yes of course,” he said, “we must first just go somewhere private.”
He looked over his shoulder as if expecting someone was watching them.
“But where,” she asked, “I have so little time and the station is so crowded?”
He grabbed her gently by the arm and turned.
“Come quick, I know the Station Master, he is a member of my Masonic Lodge, he has given us a small room to use quickly.”
Without asking, he pulled her along towards a row of ticketing windows that said ‘Hartford Line’ along the top. She could not resist so she just followed. She tried to glance back in an attempt to see her husband but could not make him out through the growing crowd.
Soon they came to a door and Harlan pulled out a key and unlocked it. He looked again from side to side, then opened the door and pulled her in behind him, closing and locking it. They were in a small room with no windows, one table and one chair, sparse of any other furniture or decoration.
He turned to her and offered her to sit which she did.
“I am sorry to drag you away like this but what I have to give you is so important I must make sure no-one sees you take it and I wanted the chance to explain why. She sat and looked up at him. His cheeks were bright red with a fair complexion of clean skin and strong masculine features. His fair hair had a wave at the front and then curled over the top of his head. He had attractive large sideburns and his smile was healthy and kind.
“Please Harlan, we must hurry,” she said.
He could see she was obviously concerned that her husband was waiting and that was to be expected. Not wishing to cause her trouble, he quickly pulled out a black cylinder from under his double-breasted coat and unscrewed the lid on it, extracting a compendium of papers.
“I assume you have heard of Galileo Galilei?”
Without waiting to hear her answer he continued.
“He lived around the middle of the second millennium, nearly five hundred years ago. Among his many achievements, he was in part, with Copernicus, responsible for changing the beliefs of mankind that the world was the centre of the universe. For this and other things the church put him on trial and for the second half of his life he was considered a blasphemer and placed under house arrest by the Vatican.”
He could see the concentration furrow on her beautiful brow. It almost distracted him.
“There was much more to this house arrest than met the eye. The Vatican had wanted a secret document kept safe so badly that they had confided in Galileo and eventually struck a deal that would see him care for the document in absolute privacy under the guise of guarded house arrest. Brilliant really, Galileo could continue his research with all the support he needed, he would be lightly guarded and no-one would be suspicious why. For the rest of his life, he protected these documents.”
Harlan unfolded the handwritten parchment to reveal a manuscript that was obviously much older than five hundred years.
“It is said, this manuscript was passed on to the Vatican by the leader of the Knights Templar, who thereafter, were all systematically killed off by the Vatican, or so the legend goes. When Galileo read the parchment he knew exactly to whom it should be passed but it was way too early so he kept it until just before his death when in secret he made sure it was passed to the rightful recipient and eventually from trusted person to trusted person it is here this day and now I am to pass it to you.”
He looked at her expecting great surprise but saw none. He was somewhat perplexed and she could tell. She spoke to ease his mind and at the same time expedite the process.
“My dear Mr Pierce, you did not expect that considering your specific instruction was to find me and pass it to me, that I would not be expecting it, of course, I was and we are very grateful to you.”
He thought carefully and then with complete resignation.
“I guess that is only logical.”
Junice King stood and walked the one step to Harlan Pierce. Harlan rolled up the parchment returned it to the black tube and screwed back on the lid.
He looked at her and smiled.
“Bit of an anticlimax really but I am glad it is you.”
She smiled sweetly held out a gloved hand and took hold of the tube. He quickly pulled it towards him, she looked up with surprise and he kissed her. Their lips touched just so perfect and it held for such a brief second. To them both, it seemed like an eternity.
Junice could feel her legs almost fall out from beneath her and her heart seemed to beat so loudly in her chest, she was sure he would be able to feel it. She pulled back slowly.
She said softly.
“Mr Pierce, you know I am married!”
Harlan smiled.
“I don’t mind, it was a moment I shall never regret, or forget Mrs King.”
He let go of the cylinder and she pulled it to her chest then dropped her head and turned.
“We must go,” she said.
Harlan passed her and went to the door unlocking it. He opened it and looked outside discreetly. Seeing that no-one was paying any attention, he opened the door fully and turned to bid her pass.
“Goodbye Junice,” he said as she passed.
She shot a glimpse up at him and he could see the emerald green eyes sparkle more than ever before. It could have been just the light shining down from the great hall roof, but he was convinced it was what she felt for him that caused them to shine so brightly.
“Goodbye Mr Pierce, I mean, Harlan, make sure you have a good life.”
With that said, she looked away and did not look back walking off into the now growing crowd of the station. Harlan stood there and watched, a sombre feeling of regret mixed with one of elation for having at least kissed the woman he knew he had fallen in love with.
He also knew he would probably never see her again and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Then he thought, ‘how strange it was that the whole meeting with her was about the parchment which was so important to the world and yet at that moment, it seemed so insignificant compared to the lost love of two people destiny had pulled together’.
‘How strange life was,’ thought Harlan Pierce as he pulled the door shut and locked it?
He would now return the key to his friend and then he was off on a journey himself. He would depart that day on another vessel bound for Singapore. Another adventure he expected but now his life would somehow be about finding another Junice King.
‘I wonder how hard that will be.'
He suspected it would be very hard.
Chapter seven
The Station