The Blade of Gilgamesh. Jeff Edwards

much. The company had insurance. It was more the loss of client confidence that hurt.’

      ‘Well it’s over now, and your father can’t do any more damage,’ Judith sighed.

      ***

      At the river bank Lew Reynolds moved off the well-worn path and took a much less travelled track down to the water’s edge. Here, there was a small clearing open to the sky which was created when a large willow had fallen down some years before.

      Now the dead tree’s weathered and moss-covered bulk stretched across the glade and Lew sat on a patch of the trunk that had been worn bare by his regular visits to the site.

      This was his most favourite part of the river bank because the fallen tree allowed an uninterrupted view up and down the river’s length, while its seclusion allowed him the peace and quiet to contemplate his current predicament, and his doubtful future.

      Suddenly a name popped into his head. Elizabeth!

      The young woman in his house was his daughter Elizabeth! Now it was all coming back to him!

      She was his only child, and married to John Landers. John was employed in the family’s accountancy firm and would probably be chosen to take over from him as a partner in the company.

      John was also a fellow member of the Freemason Lodge in which he and his brother Anthony had attained the most senior ranking. Here again Lew was aware that John hoped to emulate the other members of the family.

      This new thought brought a frown to Lew’s forehead and turned his mind to an entirely new topic. A topic of such great importance that he knew he had to concentrate with all his might.

      What was to be done? After the fiasco at their accountancy firm would anyone believe him? No, probably not.

      He had to do something, especially after the German woman had come to ask questions. He had refused to answer them of course, realizing that his refusal would only serve to confirm her suspicions, and if she knew enough to ask her questions then there would surely be others who knew the secret as well.

      My friends and I have already hidden the precious objects and now that they are gone it’s up to me to decide who should be trusted with their safekeeping.

      Lew knew that he could no longer rely on the old ways because it was obvious that someone within the lodge must have betrayed them, and while he had his suspicions, he couldn’t be positive, and that meant that none of them could be relied on. Not even his brother Anthony. He had to find someone else, someone outside the circle? But who?

      There was one other person, but Lew wasn’t sure he would be willing to undertake the task. The person he was thinking of would be more than capable of succeeding but was not the sort of individual who considered ancient mysticism of any worth.

      ‘I have to do it in such a way that he will be given no choice but to undertake the task. Matters can’t be allowed to remain as they are. The danger is too great. There must be changes.’

      Nodding to himself, Lew began to make plans. ‘It must be done now and it must be done quickly,’ he thought to himself, ‘I can’t take the risk of my condition taking a dramatic turn for the worst.’

      Lew’s unseeing eyes turned to the flowing river before him while his mind churned through the plan that was formulating within his deteriorating mind.

      Suddenly there was a tap on his shoulder, and he jumped at the shock.

      ‘Sorry! Did I frighten you?’

      ‘John!’ exclaimed Lew, ‘I was a million miles away and didn’t hear you. Have you been there long? How did you find me?’

      ‘I just arrived. Judith told me where you were and sent me to find you. Supper is ready.’

      Lew nodded, ‘Well, we had better not keep the ladies waiting, besides I need to apologise to Elizabeth.’

      Chapter 2

      Doctor Heidi Schmidt concluded her lecture on the role of King Cyrus of Babylonia in the history of the Israeli nation and turned off the PowerPoint display that had been projected on the screen behind her.

      She moved with the casual grace of a desert leopard, and her recent expedition in the far eastern regions of Turkey had bronzed her skin to a hue that most women would have spent a fortune in achieving by other means.

      The young male students in the class ogled her lithe form and enjoyed the single dream of one day sharing her tent on some future expedition.

      Heidi Schmidt was used to the stares and employed her looks to her advantage without ever holding out to her students the smallest hint that they would achieve their desires.

      Even so, the questions now aimed at her from the class, were, she suspected, more to keep her cleavage in view than to clarify the current topic.

      ***

      From her seat at the rear of the lecture hall Raya Khan was less than impressed with the woman.

      A small twist of her lips betrayed her thoughts as she watched the way Heidi stood on the stage above them. Her legs were slightly apart and the trousers she wore were tight across her buttocks, while her blouse was unbuttoned immodestly.

      Khan, too, could see the way the male students devoured the woman with their eyes.

      Raya Khan conveniently forgot that she too had been taught to use her own luscious figure to distract men and achieve her own ends at their expense.

      ***

      Finally, the lecture was ended, and the students began to gather up their computers and books and file out of the hall.

      Even so a few remained and approached Heidi with still more questions.

      She answered each of them in turn, and was finally able to collect her briefcase and make her way out toward the door.

      As she did so Heidi noted that there was a dark and extremely athletic young woman in a fashionable business suit, still seated by the door.

      She stood up as Heidi approached.

      ‘Dr Schmidt,’ she began, holding out her hand, ‘I was wondering if I might have a few minutes of your time.’

      Accepting her greeting, Heidi was impressed with what she saw. The stranger was almost a head taller than her, with broad shoulders and thick curly black hair. As she shook the woman’s hand, she looked Heidi directly in the eye which seemed to disconcert the teacher for a moment.

      ‘My name is Raya Khan.’

      ‘The same Ms Raya Khan who has left numerous messages on my message bank?’

      ‘The same,’ nodded Khan.

      Heidi smiled, ‘I must apologise most profusely Ms Khan for my laxness. You see I only returned from Turkey two days ago, and my priority was to my students. There were essays to mark and lectures to prepare. I had every intention of returning your calls this afternoon.’

      Khan nodded, ‘Your dedication to your students is admirable. The mark of a true leader is their dedication to the people in their care. I have the honour of working for such a man.’

      ‘Thank you for your understanding. I hope I haven’t caused you any trouble.’

      ‘Trouble? No. A small delay perhaps,’ she shrugged, ‘However the matter I wish to discuss with you has been an ongoing investigation for several years now, and a delay of several days is inconsequential, provided the desired goal is obtained.’

      Heidi smiled, ‘Well then Ms Khan, I think we should return to my office and you can explain what your goal is, and how I can be of assistance.’

      ***

      Once she had her guest seated in the cluttered cubbyhole she called an office, Heidi insisted on making them both a mug of coffee before discussing business.

      Khan pretended to sip at the hot mug but its contents