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"The robbery at the Vatican Archives vault was only made public in error and it caused a sensation in the world's press and magazines. It even managed to get 'the Virus' off the news headlines! The Pope had to make a statement that nothing of real value or historical significance had been taken - apparently the burglars had been disturbed. But that was far from the truth and Jericho Tibbs is tasked by Angel Margret to assist Papal investigators - From the 'Prayer of Liberty' department of the Vatican - to recover a very important artefact - the legendary and almost mythical; 'Tablet of Creation'. This holy piece of clay holds the key to Humanity's very existence and its destruction!"
Average reading time: 75 Minutes.
Episode can be found in BOOK SERIES 5.
Gregorian Calendar: CDXLV
Muslim Calendar: 0000 - 0000 [AH]
Hebrew Calendar: 4205 - 4206
Christian Calendar: 0445AD
"JERICHO TIBBS AND THE TABLET OF CREATION.” The original drawing for this episode was created by the author, as was this episode which was also conceived and written by him. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams.[1] Contains anti-religious sentiments which may upset some readers.
[2]
The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE BEGINNING MACHINE.’
[3]
A ‘Jericho Tibbs’ original story.
[4]
There is NO Alexandra adult extended version
available.
[5] Illustration is an original drawing created by the author and is Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.
Concept
date: 4th October 2019
First
published: 12th December 2019
Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.
Revisions: 3 [last revised January 2020]
Version: Extended - Final.
Published Episode No. 46
Previous
episode: “The mysterious paintings of Cranfield Sommers.”
Next
episode: “Alice Albright's automation writes the future.”
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Mission: 12 - 374100 - 10 - 2020
"JERICHO TIBBS AND THE TABLET OF CREATION."
1. JERUSALEM: 445AD.
The old man struggled to keep up with his young companion as they walked quickly and with some purpose, towards the street of Silversmiths. Both were wrapped in dark cloaks, the hoods pulled over their heads; they avoided any contact with the few people that were scattered around the almost deserted streets of the great city. Night was creeping in and most people were hurrying home. The streets were not that safe during the hours of darkness - despite the city guard being out in force.
Essius had to stop several times to allow his old friend Capus to catch up. Capus leaned upon his staff and took several breaths, but clutched the little box tightly to his chest, hidden beneath his thick cloak. Essius gently gripped the old man's shoulder with some affection. "It cannot be more than a few more minutes and we will be there." He spoke softly and constantly looked about. Capus nodded a few times and regained his breath and a little strength. "We will know the lady by her skin colour; dark like the night itself....she will show a wooden crucifix and ask if we're from him.” He panted. The young man smiled; "You have now told me four times my old friend. Calm yourself, we'll be there soon."
The pair walked on and Essius gripped his friends arm, they passed three servant women hurrying home; carrying clothes and clay pots. They said nothing, but stared at the two men. Essius watched them disappear into the gathering gloom of the night. "Come on." He urged Capus and they turned into the street of the Silversmiths and saw the tall young woman standing in a closed shop's doorway. She gestured to them to come quickly.
They drew close to her and could see that she was an African woman of
some obvious beauty. Essius smiled to himself; the Empress was known
to have several such maids in her service. The men bowed a little, but remained
silent. The woman lifted the hood of her cloak and smiled; "Are you from
him?" She asked and held up a small, plain wooden crucifix. Both men
nodded and the three disappeared into the dark shadows of the doorway.
The woman dragged a goatskin bag from under her cloak and pulled it open;
"Place the box in here - quickly. The guards patrol this street just after
sunset."
Capus nodded and with some reluctance produced the small wooden box and with trembling hands, placed it carefully into the small sack. He crossed himself [as did Essius] "You must tell your lady to never to actually handle it. For the power it contains will end everything, Do you understand - the end of everything?" The woman nodded and closed up her bag. She turned to go, when Capus with surprising speed, grabbed her arm; "She must never allow any humans to discover it; never - you must tell her that."
The woman pulled away and muttered; "I promise. Now go before you’re found
out." The pair watched her walk quickly from the doorway and disappears
down a nearby alley. Both stood in silence for a minute or so; their task done.
Capius crossed himself again and whispered; "God help the Empress if she
disobeys the sacred texts." Both men looked about and make their way back
down the now deserted street.
Walking slowly and much relieved, they turned into the street of Winemakers and
suddenly found a group of darkly dressed men standing before them. A tall,
strong looking man stepped from the group and smiled. Essius could see a silver
breastplate hidden below the black cloak and the last thing the young man saw
was the bright sword. He managed to shout; "Sweet Jesus!...Help us!"
But no help came and both lay in the dirt, little pools of thick red blood
gathering around their still bodies.
Marcus [the tall guard] wiped his blade upon Capus's cloak, as did two of his
men. "It's done. He said and gestured for his men to follow him, looking
about the group vanished into the dark night. The bodies lay in the dirt for
about an hour before being found by the city guard, who immediately searched
the bodies and took anything of value from the dead men. They then called for a
wagon to remove the corpses from the street.
Ursula made her way back to the grand house that stood alone by the newly
rebuilt South wall and entered through the servant’s entrance. The guard on the
door knew the Empress's maid and just nodded. She passed across the hallway and
another two guards watched her pass into the Empress's private apartments -
again without comment. She found her Mistress pacing the floor of her
bedchamber. "You have it?" Was all she asked her loyal maid and
Ursula nodded and placed the bag into her mistress's outstretched hands.
"Check the door and corridor." Empress Aelia Eudokia Augusta spoke
quietly and gently opened the bag, she waited until her maid gave the nod that
all was correct. She slowly pulled the small wooden box from the bag and found
her hands were trembling; "No one must ever find this again." She
whispered and looked up as her maid returned to her side. Ursula looked at the
box and did not smile; The old man said never to....." She didn't finish.
The Empress sighed; "I do know what the ancient scripts warn about this.
No human must ever discover it. I will see that it's lost from human history - forever."
Ursula stared at the box; "Should we take just one little look at
it?" There was real hesitation in her voice and added; "Just to
check that we haven't been deceived?" The Empress nodded and carefully
pulled up the stiff lid and placed it to one side. There was a cloth of gold in
the box and the Empress slowly lifted it. Both women stared at the little
object in absolute silence - both could hear the other breathing. "That is
it." was all the Empress said and carefully replaced the cloth and the
lid.
"Why not just smash it into a thousand pieces and then scatter them - that would surely rid the world of its knowledge and danger?" Ursula asked. The Empress almost smiled - but didn't. "Remember what happened to the children of Israel, when the Commandments were broken?" She said quietly and Ursula slowly nodded. "Well, magnify that a thousand times all across the children of man and you can understand why. God himself decreed that it remains intact."
"Fetch Adam; now." She ordered her maid, who departed quickly. The Empress replaced the box into the old bag and poured herself some wine. She sipped from her gold cup and waited, constantly looking at the goatskin bag. The number of people that had died preserving the secret was ridiculous; she thought to herself and sat upon a gilded chair by the window, to catch a cool evening breeze. No one would ever do so again - if her plan succeeded. She heard footsteps approaching her chamber and Ursula appeared in the doorway; "He's here my Lady." She said softly and Adam slipped past her into the room.
The Empress smiled and told Ursula to fetch Adam some wine. She pulled close to the strapping young man and gripped his arm. He was about six feet tall and broad shouldered with sandy blond hair and piecing green eyes - unusual for a man in this region. "You know your instructions?" She asked. The big man smiled; "Yes my Queen, convey the box to the 'Tin Isles' and our Brothers in the South of that island. Hand the box only to Artorius of Durovernum Cantiacorum and then return by way of the Kingdom of the Franks." The Empress nodded and produced a bag of coin from her dress. "This will see that you travel well."
She released her grip and returned to her chair and finished her wine. Ursula handed the young man a cup of wine with a broad smile. He returned the smile and gulped down the wine. He bowed low to the Empress and threw the dark cloak about his broad shoulders; then snatched up the bag from the table. He said nothing more and was gone.
Ursula placed the empty cup down and sighed; "You have placed much trust in that young man my lady; are you that sure about him?" The Empress stared out the window and muttered; "Only the God's can be sure of anything." She rose from the chair and smiled; "Let us drink a toast to his mission - fetch that Greek wine I have set aside for such an occasion." Ursula grinned and left the room. The Empress placed two goblets upon the table and from her flowing dress pulled out a small silver and black box. She removed a little white pill and dropped it into one of the goblets.
Ursula returned with the wine and the Empress took the flask from her, saying;
"You have served me well my loyal friend, let me pour it for us." The
Empress poured the wine and handed the goblet to her smiling maid. "A
toast to our brothers and sisters." She said and drank down the wine -
Ursula did the same. "Now retire, I need to write some
letters." The Empress waved her maid away and watched her go; a little
sad. She sat at her writing desk and picked up her quill, staring at the blank
parchment before her. The moon was now shinning through the large window and
she sighed; "Ursula will never see another one."
The Empress dipped her pen into the open ink well - shaped like a swan - and worked
for an hour on her correspondence, sealing each letter with her great
seal; pressed into warm, red wax. Finally, she finished and wrapped her arms
about herself - the cold of night had crept upon her. Adam must succeeded she
thought and stared again through the window; so many bloody deaths have
followed that accursed little thing since it had been discovered. It must never
again find its way into human hands - it must remain hidden for the sake of all
humanity. The thoughts played in her head like a revolving wheel.
Aelia felt tiredness sweep over her and she
walked to her bed; tired and a little sad. She would have Ursula buried with
some honour - her maid had saved her life by testing the Greek wine before
serving it to her mistress. Well. that's the story which would cover her death
and end any questions into it. She slumped upon the bed, but lifted herself up
reluctantly, as the commotion in the corridor, signalled the finding of Ursula's
dead body.
The Empress wrapped a cloak of gold cloth about her tired body and made for the
door. The charade must go on she reasoned and prepared herself to weep and
mourn her loyal servant, who had made the ultimate sacrifice for her mistress.
"So many bloody deaths - it must end." She said softly and called loudly
for her guards to explain all the noise at this late hour.
End of Preview.
End of Preview.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.”
CAUTION:
“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”
THE AUTHOR.