The Prophecy - 19. Chapter 19

"All right," Jason said after a moment of silence. Gary and Leonard's eyes were still resting on him. "All right, we must stop researching on the past. Researching on the order’s origin will take us nowhere. We must find out about Lambert’s group instead."

Gary and Leonard nodded.

"How is the order structured? How does it operate? Who are the members? What is their plan?" Jason asked. "A nuclear attack, a terrorist attack? What are they capable of? I need information and I need it quick."

"Right," Gary said. "The faster we proceed, the better."

"We must research on Antoine Lambert, occult orders and sects, and attack strategies and weapons that would cause a global disaster," Jason said.

"I’m going to research on Antoine Lambert," Gary replied. "Leonard, you can research on occult orders and sects."

Leonard agreed with a nod.

"I'll research about attack strategies and weapons. I need your notebook, Gary," Jason said. He looked at his watch. "Half past nine. I suggest we present our results at eleven o’clock and then we’ll discuss on how to proceed, based on our findings."

Gary and Leonard nodded. Leonard went to the bookshelves and pulled a few books out. Gary brought a pile of history magazines. The three men worked quietly and highly focused. They ended their session at eleven o'clock.

Jason leaned back in his chair and looked at the others. "All right, let me hear your results," he said.

Leonard took two sheets of paper and started to read.

"A secret society is an organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members," he said. "The societies are organized conspiracies working in secret to achieve a hidden agenda. Members use secrecy to protect themselves and their movement. Critics view secret societies as malevolent organizations working against the general will of mankind. There are quite a number of secret societies."

He cleared his throat.

"Ordo Templi Orientis, for instance, is a mystic organization that was started in the early twentieth century. The group was established along the same lines as the less secretive Freemasons. One of their practices is the group’s fixation on the sexual. There are many societies, some more modern like The Fenians, The Black Hand, Ku Klux Klan, and Opus Dei. Freemasonry is an older society. It's a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th century. Rosicrucianism was founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine built on esoteric truths which provide insight into nature, the physical universe and the spiritual realm. Another secret society, The Bavarian Illuminati, was founded in 1776."

Leonard looked up.

"And we all know the Knights Templars," he said. "The organisation existed for nearly two centuries during the Middle Ages. Their existence was tied closely to the Crusades. When the Holy Land was lost, support for the order faded. Rumours about the Templars' secret initiation ceremony created mistrust, and King Philip IV of France took advantage of the situation. In 1307, many of the order's members in France were arrested, tortured, and then burned at the stake."

Leonard placed the papers on the desk. "The societies have certain elements in common. A strong chain of authority, a hierarchy, and the members are divided in classes," he said. "They are effective and they often operate globally."

"Like a modern company," Jason said.

"There’s always an inner circle that holds a secret or insights that are concealed from the public," Leonard continued.

"I guess this describes Lambert’s group pretty well. I doubt, however, Antoine Lambert is the grandmaster of the order himself," Gary said.

"Why not?" Jason asked.

Gary pointed at a magazine. "Antoine Lambert. I found a brief biography. A classical academic career. He was a renowned scientist and specialist in his field. He published in many acknowledged journals. A man of the highest credit until 2001 when he published a rather polemic and unfounded article on Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society," he said. "His reputation suffered somewhat. He left university a couple of months after the article had been published. He was offered a job as a strategic consultant by a company."

"A strategic consultant?" Jason asked in disbelief. "He’s a church historian. Which company?"

"No real surprise,” Gary said. "Lefèvre Industries."

"His fiancée of twenty years lent a helping hand," Leonard said drily.

Jason leaned forward and seized the notebook. He opened Google, typed the company's name, and then surfed to the company's website.

"A pharmaceutical company, operating globally. Corporate headquarter in Paris. Company strategies: Grow a diversified global business. Deliver more products of value. Simplify the operating model,” he read. Jason clicked a button. "Board of Directors: Alexandre Lefèvre, Geraldine Lefèvre, and Robert Guilmant."

"The inner circle, so to speak," Gary said. "The successors of the three monks who fled Buckfast Abbey."

Jason opened Google and searched the names. "Alexandre Lefèvre is Geraldine’s father," he said. "Robert Guilmant is Alexandre’s son-in-law. He married Nicole Lefèvre, Geraldine’s elder sister. Nicole died in a car accident in 2001."

Gary folded his arms in front of his chest. "I think we have found the order and the group’s potential weapon. Lefèvre Industries. A pharmaceutical company," he said.

"Goodness, yes," Leonard said. "It's plain to see."

Jason nodded and seized a piece of paper. "I've researched on attack strategies and weapons that would cause a global disaster. Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These agents may be lethal or non-lethal, and may be targeted against a single individual, a group of people, or even an entire population. Bioterrorism," he said.

"The deliberate release of viruses and bacteria," Gary said.

Jason nodded. "Terrorists want to use these agents because they are extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, cannot. They are categorized A, B or C. Category C agents are emerging pathogens that might be engineered for mass dissemination, the Nipah virus and the Hantavirus, for instance, SARS, H1N1, and HIV/AIDS."

They looked at each other.

"The apocalyptic plagues," Gary said.

"H1N1 caused a flu pandemic a couple of years ago, if I remember correctly," Leonard said.

"If I were them, I'd pick that too," Jason said drily.

"What can we do now?" Leonard asked.

"Stop the distribution of the viruses," Jason said. "It's plain to see."