The Columbus Code Read Online Free PDF

strong, the force behind them invincible. But at times the voice itself became breathless, as if he, too, were fading off into the centuries.
    â€œNow,” Abaddon continued as the thirteen leaned in to hear, “the dreams dreamed ages ago and the plans made by past generations will come to fruition. Now!”
    He had managed to summon up a sonorous tone and several of the men jerked back in surprise. Tejada remained still. He’d learned to flow with Abaddon’s fluctuations.
    â€œYou are privileged not only to see it but to participate in establishing it.” Abaddon’s eyes, dimmed by age and the darkness in which he preferred to dwell, swept the circle. “Count it as the privilege of your lives.” He nodded at Tejada. “You have the orders I have asked you to pass down?”
    â€œI do, Abaddon,” Tejada said.
    â€œPlease proceed.” Abaddon closed his eyes.
    Tejada guessed speaking those few sentences had exhausted Abaddon. He hated to think that this abrupt move to put the plan into place was linked to Abaddon’s fading energy. The man was of some indeterminable age above ninety and until recently had been as robust as Tejada himself. It was difficult to think of him any other way, or to think of him not there at all.
    â€œEmilio?” Abaddon said, eyes still closed.
    â€œYes,” Tejada answered and turned to the twelve sitting before him—his brothers of
el Grupo de Barcelona
. If they resented this delegation of Abaddon’s authority to him, they didn’t show it. He met no resistance as he gave them their individual instructions.

    The sun had begun to spread its pinks and oranges over the Mediterranean when the meeting concluded with another chorus of the vow. Each man kissed the hand of the venerated Abaddon and took his leave. Tejada was last, and when he grasped the old man’s fingers in his, Abaddon held on. His frail voice notwithstanding, his grip was still powerful.
    â€œStay a moment,” he whispered. “Sit here.”
    Tejada pulled his cushion closer to Abaddon’s chair and lowered himself onto it. Abaddon leaned forward, so that his face was almost level with Tejada’s. Emilio could barely see it in the gathering darkness.
    â€œYou think the meeting went well?”
    â€œYes, Lord Abaddon,” Tejada said. “I think it went very well.”
    â€œGood. I would hate to know that the others would take the pledge and not follow through.”
    Tejada felt his brow lift in surprise. “Why would you think that? Didn’t you sense their agreement? Their unity of purpose?”
    The old man nodded and twisted the ring on his left hand, mumbling the Greek letters across the top, “
Chi, rho, omicron
,” and the inscription beneath them, “
Ferrens
.” He looked sideways at Tejada. “You remember the day you took the ring?”
    Tejada had no idea where this was going. “Yes I do,” he said.
    â€œI installed you myself, and do you know why?”
    Tejada shook his head, although at times he’d been sure he did know.
    â€œI gave you all my power.”
    Only the society’s principle of maintaining complete aplomb kept Tejada from crying out. He’d known it, yes, but to hear it from Abaddon was another matter entirely.
    â€œI did that for a purpose.” Abaddon’s voice seemed to be gaining strength now that the others were gone. It had its original rough, gravelly texture. “Do you know what that purpose was?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œThen do not forget it.”
    Tejada stirred uneasily on the cushion.
    â€œYou’re troubled,” Abaddon said, eyes closed again. “Why?”
    â€œDo you suspect that there is something afoot to thwart us?”
    â€œNot some
thing
, Emilio. Some
one.”
His eyes opened and met Tejada’s. “Be alert, and report any deviation to me immediately.”
    Tejada agreed, though he couldn’t