chapter seven

Kepker closed his eyes and tried to come to terms with his powerlessness. He could do nothing to save himself. Nor could Nefer do anything. That left only a certain man whose superior he was. This man was also the principle object of the pursuit Nefer had mentioned on the radio. And was the man to be accused in the imminent trial. No prayer he knew seemed appropriate. He opened his eyes and saw Nefer moving his head to look past him.

Nefer made a gesture of greeting and Kepker looked round. Kheb had returned with three men, all wearing suits - Italian or French tailoring Kepker guessed. Kepker surmised that one of them must be the man known as Germany. A man who had been brought in from a foreign lodge as an impartial judge - a step taken only in cases of the most serious misdemeanour.

Nefer stood up on his mat, then took a deliberate step forward off the mat. The three newcomers stood a pace from the mat on which Kheb had been sitting, Kheb stood with them. They did not put down the sports bags they carried.

Nefer introduced himself by speaking his name “Nefer” and making a gesture.

One of the three newcomers said “Germany” making the same gesture. He paused, dropping his hand, then raised the hand again to make a different gesture. “I am come to judge this matter. I am Usser.” He held the gesture until Nefer repeated the new name “Usser”. As he dropped his hand and turned around everyone began moving.

Nefer picked up the radio. “We are now in session. No more messages. I will call again when we are intending to enter the room.”

“Understood, sir.”

chapter eight

The men who had been waiting on the roof returned to their mats and sat down. The new arrivals busied themselves with their bags. They took out mats, candles, several wooden half-masks and two wooden cases. Usser opened one case and took out an ornate metal bowl, and a similar bottle. Taking a small mat and the bottle and bowl with him, he walked to another part of the roof. His companions picked up the candles and watched him.

Finding a suitable place, Usser dropped the mat on the floor. Then he took a compass from his pocket and adjusted the alignment of the mat. When satisfied he beckoned his companions over.

Indicating the approximate direction with his outstretched right arm Usser instructed the movements of one assistant. Once the man was close, he crouched down to sight along a line embroidered on the mat, still giving directions as before. The assistant carefully placed the candle, which was in a simple holder, on the roof and adjusted its position according to Usser’s silent instructions. Once the placing was exact, the man took a lighter from his pocket and lit the wick of the candle. Three more candles were placed in this way, forming the four corners of a square.

Usser made final sightings, then set the bowl on the mat and poured water from the bottle into it. A mat for sitting was placed within the square, as well as five more candles.

Once all this was complete, Usser took his position sitting on the mat, and with the masks and the second case beside him on the roof. His assistants placed a second small mat in front of Usser, and within the square. They placed a third mat, larger than the other two, on the roof outside the square. All this done, they sat on the third mat.

Usser whispered a short prayer in Latin, asking for his judgement to be true. He took a mask and solemnly placed it over his eyes. The mask had no fastenings, but sat on his head, which he kept level. Then he undid a button on the breast of his shirt and drew out a pendant on a chain. All the others on the roof likewise unbuttoned and drew pendants out.

Usser opened the wooden case next to him. Slowly he took from the case a cloth-wrapped item, roughly one foot long and three inches in diameter, when wrapped. Usser carefully unwrapped a small staff, shaped like a shepherd’s crook, which he laid on his lap. He folded the wrapping and put it in the lid of the case. Usser repeated this procedure for another two Egyptian staffs, placing them in his lap also. The next items he took out and unwrapped were representations of the Masonic tools: a set square, a level, a rule and a pair of dividers. These Usser placed around his knees on the mat, in plain view of whoever would sit on the other mat. Two wrapped objects remained in the case.

Usser arranged the three Egyptian staves between the fingers of his left hand.

The trial began. All proceedings, questions and answers were whispered. Usser called Nefer first.

chapter nine

Nefer stood and walked to the mat in front of Usser. He sat calmly: he had expected to be called first as he was the formal instigator of the trial.

Raising his right hand to present the three staffs, Usser selected one of the Masonic tools with his right hand and passed it to Nefer. Nefer accepted the tool with both hands. Usser took up another tool in his right hand and began his questioning and judgement.

“Nefer, you requested a judgement after a note came to you from the hand of your subordinate. The note was an appointment to meet at a certain place and at a certain time.”

Usser paused long enough for Nefer to make a formal affirmation then proceeded.

“Your subordinate understood the note to be from one of his subordinates. This person is Apep. Your subordinate confessed to you that he and Apep had been engaged on a project of some kind.” Usser stopped: Nefer had gestured that he wished to speak.

Nefer lowered his gesturing hand and raised the hand, holding the Masonic tool. “I understand my subordinate’s rôle to have been that of protector only.” He lowered the tool after speaking.

Usser raised the tool he held, thought for a moment, then made a modified statement: “Your subordinate confessed to you that he had protected Apep whilst Apep had been engaged on a project of some kind.”

Usser paused again for Nefer to make a formal affirmation.

“This protection had consisted, in the final stages of this project, of the use of influence through our brothers, to stop the effective pursuit of eight murder investigations.”

Nefer heard Kepker shift on his mat and felt his gaze. He exerted his self-control and did not turn to look. Nefer gulped and made his formal affirmation, pleased he had only to whisper.

“All of this you have told to me and no more.” Usser said, pronouncing a formal end to the initial statement.

Nefer affirmed for what he thought would be the final time and shifted his legs a little, ready to rise from the mat.

“Have you investigated the case, and do you now have more knowledge?”

“Yes.”

“You have investigated the murders further?”

“No.” Nefer answered without thinking, slightly off-balance at being asked further questions at this stage.

“You have investigated Apep’s private life?”

“No.”

“You have investigated Apep’s professional life?”

“No.”

“What form has your investigation taken?” Usser’s voice had lost none of its ritual tone, but Nefer detected that a direction was being taken. He had no time to think before answering.

“His submitted diary has been read.”

Usser sat completely still and quiet for 3 seconds before responding.

“His diary.” The tone of his voice was subtle. Nefer heard a statement, a question, and an accusation. He panicked and started talking too fast, faster than he was thinking.

“All brothers submit a diary, a continuing diary-” he faltered over his words and started again. “Every month all brothers submit a diary of their experiences and thoughts, as part of their prayers and operations-” Nefer’s voice tailed off. He had lost his thread. All he could think of to say was that he had been prepared to be the one to open the trial with a few questions, as a matter of procedure. Then that he had not been prepared for a critical line of examination. He stopped himself saying this; which meant that he said nothing.

Usser left Nefer just enough time for an uncomfortable pause, but not enough to begin to gather his thoughts, before pursuing. “I am aware of initiation and conduct in our craft. What does Apep’s diary show to you?”

“An insight into his ideas, his state of mind. We must know his psychology to proceed.” Somehow, Nefer had found himself on the defensive; trying to justify his actions before Usser had made any actual criticism. Nefer realised that it was time to start stalling. He decided to say no more now and nodded once to show that these two sentences were his whole answer to Usser’s question.

Usser decided to change tack.

“Investigation of the coroners’ reports on the bodies of the murder victims revealed much. The similarities and the differences both give clues to us.” His tone suggested he was about to begin a long exposition.

Nefer detected Usser’s change of tack, with not a little worry. He had asked for an external judgement to ensure that he would be exonerated of any guilt. But now Nefer felt himself possibly getting involved in the long, messy and difficult work of the actual investigation. Not something he desired.

Then Nefer noticed what Usser had actually been saying. He wondered how Usser could have got access to the autopsy reports? The man was a senior brother, but in France. All the murders had taken place in England. Nefer’s worry increased, but Usser started talking again before he could start thinking properly.

“All the victims were women. All had the same blood group, admittedly a common one, and also certain tissue type similarities. All had recently given birth. There was difficulty in identifying all the bodies, but for different reasons: wounds sustained during the murder, mutilation of the corpse, water damage, decomposition and so. Different methods were used in all cases. This prevented any connection being made by the police. All the women were single or separated, and none had been reported as missing. Usser paused to examine the man seated before him. His discomfort was clear. Usser left unstated that Nefer had discovered none of the information he had just recited and continued his triumphant onslaught.

“As to Apep himself now. You know his profession at least?”

“A surgeon, I believe.”

“The term anatomist would perhaps be more correct, or do I make a mistake in my English?”

“I don’t really know enough to comment.”

“Well, a person whose primary work is as a researcher at a university, who teaches and publishes papers in medical and scientific journals, as opposed to a person who performs operations on the sick would be more properly described as an anatomist than as a surgeon. Yes?”

“Yes.”

“Good. To review Apep’s career, then, I have consulted his papers, published under his common name, and the reviews of his peers.”

A cold sweat had been gathering in Nefer’s armpits. Now he felt a drop trickle down his right side. Usser had found out who Apep was. This should have been a secret from everyone except his immediate superior, although some of his close brothers could be expected to know.

“Apep appears to have attained, and kept, his university post on the basis of his work dissecting the human head and neck. He was no genius but his papers were generally regarded as good, solid work. One was even included in a book.

“He seems to have been productive, in a regular way, up until about two years ago. Could it be that, at that point, Apep chose a different direction to work in? It seems that he completed a paper just six months ago that was not published. Further, the paper was not even put forward for publication. The decision not to apply for publication was taken by Apep’s boss at the university, who would have had to approve all submitted papers. The reason given was a lack of evidence, that the paper was too much speculative.

“The paper, entitled ‘Towards an anatomical basis of morphic resonance’ is indeed highly speculative. But, it does reach conclusions, conclusions regarding glandular function mostly. And they are most speculative. Not what one would expect from the solid worker Apep appears to have been. And I don’t believe it.

“Oh, I believe it is his work. But I don’t believe it is pure speculation. I believe Apep would not reach such conclusions without proof. Apep would make experiments, it is his character. The paper, viewed as practical, rather than theoretical as it is presented, leaves little doubt as to the nature of the experiments.

“Such phrases as ‘partially formed’, ‘growing’, and, ‘immature’ are used through-”

“Oh Jesus. I didn’t know ..... I mean ..... you’re talking about children, babies. If I’d known-”

“Silence!” Usser raised his voice, and his left hand, to stop Kepker’s interruption. Then he repeated the word in a whisper. “Silence.” The man’s outburst was over and he resumed.

“Such phrases as ‘partially formed’, ‘growing’, and, ‘immature’ are used throughout the paper. Clearly Apep refers to the glands of new-borns.

“This, in conjunction with the fact that Apep has murdered eight recent mothers leaves us without doubt that a most serious crime has been committed. And perhaps is continuing.” Usser closed his exposition, and dismissed Nefer with a gesture. Then he called for a pause for a moment of silent prayer.

As Nefer went to sit, Kepker caught his eye. Each saw a reflection of their inner state in the other’s expression.

Kepker cursed himself and reflected on how he had reached the sad situation in which he found himself. It was true that he had let the one now known as Apep go too far. But it had all crept up on him rather, little by little. That could happen to anyone. Finally he had gone to Nefer. At first he had thought that Nefer would help him. When Nefer had called on a foreign lodge to provide a judge, Kepker had been assured that this would be the best way to bring the matter to a swift conclusion. Yes there would be some damage, but better to admit some guilt and to make attrition sooner rather than let the matter go further and get even worse. However, not much later it had become clear to Kepker that he was being made the scapegoat. Just when he had thought it could not get worse, the foreign judge had arrived. He had his own ideas it seemed. Even Nefer was not coming out unscathed. And whatever happened to Nefer, something worse would have to happen to Kepker. The exact wording of some of the more grisly oaths he had sworn in his time with the Freemasons started to call themselves to his memory.

Usser announced the continuation of proceedings. Dread and helplessness welled up in Kepker. He thought about throwing himself off the roof. He waited to be called but, instead, one of Nefer’s men said “It’s time”.

“The rendezvous? Very well.” Usser acknowledged. With a few ritual phrases, he suspended proceedings. Again, everybody except Kepker had something with which to busy themselves.

“We’re coming down now.” Nefer was on the radio again.

“It’s OK, sir. They’ve gone into the bedroom.” the watcher replied. “But they’re not asleep.”

The “soldiers” were occupied taking things from their bags and checking them. Kepker noticed handcuffs, coshes and other close-quarters pacifiers, as he had expected, but was surprised to see two of the Frenchmen with what looked like tins of paint and paintbrushes.

Although they would be taking a certain amount of the Masonic paraphernalia with them, some was to be left in place on the roof. One of Nefer’s men was therefore to stay behind as a guard. Once everything had been checked the other men began to leave the roof by a service door.

“Nefer. Do I really have to go down?” Kepker had no wish to face Apep, his junior brother, whom he felt he was betraying.

“He has asked to meet you. It is proper that you are there.” It was Usser who answered, but Nefer nodded agreement.

chapter ten

One of Nefer’s men stayed in the stairwell - a good place to hide. The rest of the party, going by the address written on the piece of paper Kepker had brought with him, went to the door of Charlotte’s flat.

Quietly, one of Nefer’s men picked the lock and opened the door. They all crept in.

The angle poise lamp on the table, and the computer, were still switched on. The bedroom door was closed, and this muffled the sounds of music and frenzied love-making emanating from there.

Usser sat down on the sofa. Kepker followed when he was beckoned. Nefer pulled back the curtain and gave a quick wave to the man outside with the stethoscope, then he too sat down. The other three men busied themselves making the room ready.

One lit some candles and placed them around the room. The other two took the tins and brushes they had brought down and went to the bedroom door. First one, and then the other painted a broad line around the door. As the second man applied his layer a pale foam bubbled up. When they had finished, the sounds from the bedroom could no longer be heard.

With the room ready, and with about ten minutes to spare before the appointed time, the three soldiers took up stations. Two waited just behind the door, one held his cosh ready, the other a pair of handcuffs. The other stood behind Kepker, making him nervous.

Kepker had been surprised when he had read the address at which Apep wanted to meet him. Surprised because he had never been there before, nor even heard of it. He had told this to Nefer, whose own researches had also found nothing special about the place. Now they were there, in an ex-council low-rise block of flats and still there was no clue as to the reasons for Apep’s choice.

As the exact time approached, the silence in the room grew tense. Nefer fingered the radio. Would it crackle into life with a message about Apep’s approach from one of the several external lookouts? Would that be their first warning? Perhaps the man on the window would see him first? Failing either of these, a primary observation would be the herald. Would it be the sound of the lift? Maybe footsteps on the stairs? Or just outside the door? The rattle of a key in the lock, even?

Everybody in the room was shocked when, from nowhere, Apep stepped onto the coffee table.

On his feet he wore plain black shoes, which made no noise on the table. His tall, heavy but fit, body was clothed in overalls like a factory worker’s. They were dark blue in colour but reflected light strangely. The overalls’ hood was down and the top part of the chest was unzipped. A black cotton shirt was revealed on Apep’s chest, but it was to his neck that all eyes in the room were drawn. Apep’s neck was bandaged, and the bandages extended to a bulge the size of a grapefruit resting on his left shoulder. From within the bandaged lump two wires emerged. The wires were plugged into a tiny personal stereo which Apep held in his left hand. His right hand was in a pocket of the overalls, and his face wore a pained expression.

The pain lessened slightly as Apep pressed the stop button on the stereo.

He cast a quick look around at his startled audience and then stepped off the table.