"In Kalorama Heights...
Inside the house Kathereine Solomon was feeling stronger with every passing moment. The infusion of lactated Ringer's solution had successfully raised her blood pressure and quelled her throbbing headache.
She was resting now...Her nerves felt fryed, and she was increasingly anxious for news about her brother...
The CIA forensic team had not arrived, and the agent who stayed behind was still searching the premises...
Unable to sit idly, Katherine pulled herself to her feet...
She found Bellamy in the study.
The Architect was standing at an open drawer, his back to her...
She walked up behind him...The old man lurched and turned, quickly shutting the drawer...
"What's wrong?!" She glanced down at the drawer.
"What's in the drawer?"
Bellamy's tear-filled eyes held hers for a long, sorrowful moment.
Finally he spoke.
"You and I wondered why ...this man seemed to hate your family...
"I just found the answer"
(TLS 443).
************************************************** ********
"In the chamber at the top of the House of the Temple..."
"Mal`akh stood before the great alter and gently massaged the virgin skin atop his head...
The final ingredient had been found at last...
The time had come...
Mal`akh retrieved the vial of Peter's darkened blood and uncorked it. with his captive looking on, he dipped the nib of the crows feather into the crimson tincture and raised it to the sacred circle of flesh atop his head...
His great transformation was finally at hand.
When the Lost Word is written on the mind of man, he is then ready to recieve unimaginable power...
He needed no mirror...only...his minds eye.
Slowly, meticulously, he began inscribing the Lost Word inside the circular ouroboros on his scalp.
Peter Solomon looked on with an expression of horror.
When Mal`akh finished, he closed his eyes...
For the first time in his life, he felt a sensation he had never known...
I am at one...a true masterpiece.
Perfect and complete.
I gave you what you asked for. Peter's voice intruded.
"Send help to Katherine. And stop that file."
Mal`akh...smiled.
"You and I are not quite finished."
He turned to the alter and picked up the sacrificial knife, running his fingers across the sleek blade"
(TLS 444-5).
"This ancient knife was commissioned by God, for use in a human sacrifice"...
The account appears in Holy Scripture...
It was believed to be the exact knife used by Abraham at the Aledah~
the near sacrifice of his son...as depicted in Genesis....
Tonight, the Akedah knife would fulfill its destiny"
"Mal`akh...crouched down... to sever the ropes binding Peter to his wheelchair...Peter whinced...
"why are you doing this to me?
What do you think this will accomplish?"
"You of all people should understand," Mal`akh replied.
"You study the ancient ways...the power of the mysteries relies on the sacrifice...on releasing a human soul from its body.
It has been this way since the beginning."
"You know nothing of sacrifice, Peter said, his voice seething...
Excellent, Mal`akh thought. Feed your hatred. It will only make this easier...
"You consider me a sacred offering?"
Mal`akh now laugh..."you really don't understand yet, do you?"
Peter gave him an odd look.
"Do you know why I have a deprivation tank in my home?"
Mal`akh placed his hands on his hips and flexed his elaborately decorated body...
"I have been practicing...preparing...when I am only mind...
when I am released from this mortal shell...
when I have offered up this beautiful body to the gods in sacrifice....
I am the pure white lamb!"
Peter's mouth fell open but no words came out...
"Don't you see...Peter...I am the gift."
(TLS 445-6).
"Mal`akh reached down and grasped Peter Solomon's left hand, pressing the handle of the Akedah knife into his palm.
The left hand serves the darkness.
This too, had been planned...
Mal`akh could fathom no sacrifice more potent and symbolic...
performed on this alter, by this man, with this knife, plunged into the heart of an offering whose mortal flesh was wrapped...
in a shround of mystical symbols"
(TLS 445-7).