The Skull by Bruce Savage by Bruce Savage

The Skull Bruce Savage

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT BRUCE SAVAGE BOOKS BY BRUCE SAVAGE DISCLAIMER COPYRIGHT QUOTES PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

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CHAPTER 5

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FROM THE AUTHOR

GET THESE OTHER GREAT STORIES BY BRUCE SAVAGE!

About Bruce Savage THE WRITER...THE MADMAN...THE ARTIST!

BRUCE SAVAGE SHORT BIO: Bruce Savage was born in Lewiston, Maine in 1967, the youngest son of 16 brothers and sisters to Winfield Strout and Blanche Strout. He published his first successful work when he was 10 years old in Boy's Life magazine. The publication paid him $1 for a joke he wrote. So excited about his accomplishment and seeing his name published he pursued the art of writing for the next 40 years. In 1984 he enlisted in the United States Army and served his country in Germany. In 1999 he graduated from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Information Systems. He held several positions with several fortune 500 companies until

2002 when he jumped head first and full time into the world of writing and publishing. Since then he has produced 13 novels and counting. Casualties of War, was his first novel followed by Psycho. He is currently working on many other novels that will be available soon as well as the screenplay for Russian Games. He currently lives in Florida and the Philippines with his wife Julie and his daughter. He frequently enjoys making donations and contributions to ending poverty and supporting those less fortunate.

Bruce Savage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE SKULL

Books by Bruce Savage The Novels: GODS ASSASSIN NO MERCY FOR THE DEAD THE SKULL SHORT SCARY STORIES MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES EUROPA'S CHILD RUSSIAN GAMES CASUALTIES OF WAR ORIGIN PSYCHO QUEST FOR THE TABLET KNOW YOUR ENEMY For previews and information about the author: Visit http://www.brucesavage.com.

Disclaimer THE SKULL By Bruce Savage Copyright © 2018 THE SKULL Paperback edition This paperback is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This paperback may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this paperback and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite paperback retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without the express permission in writing by the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. First Edition 1.0 Bruce Savage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE SKULL

Visit: http://www.brucesavage.com or your favorite bookseller to order additional copies. THE SKULL – BRUCE SAVAGE

THE SKULL BRUCE SAVAGE

Quotes GOD said to Adam, "I have ordained on this earth days and years, and thou and thy seed shall dwell and walk in it, until the days and years are fulfilled; when I shall send the Word that created thee, and against which thou hast transgressed, the Word that made thee come out of the garden and that raised thee when thou wast fallen. 2 Yea, the Word that will again save thee when the five days and a half are fulfilled." - The Forgotten Books of Eden, by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr., [1926] Ezekiel 28:13-19 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in

gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created, they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire, you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you... Isaiah 14:12-15 â&#x20AC;&#x153;How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid

the nations low! You said in your heart, â&#x20AC;&#x17E;I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.â&#x20AC;&#x; But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

King James Bible And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Prologue

Vatican City 1936,

Antonio Rossi struck a match and lit the kerosene lantern he was holding and then slung a heavy bag over his shoulder filled with explosives and hand tools he and his partner Marco Esposito would need to do the job they were hired to do. Marco and he had

BRUCE SAVAGE known each other their whole life growing up in Rome together and learned the tricks of the trade of being a thief at an early age. They started out as pickpockets and running scams on people when they were barely ten years old and by their teens, they were breaking into houses while the occupants were away and relieving them of any valuables they had that could be sold to tourist, pawn shops or private collectors. The only life they knew was a life of crime and they were good at it. They trusted each other and knew each other well. They were more like brothers to each other than friends. Both of their fathers had left at an early age leaving them to find a way to make money to survive or starve to death on the street. A friend of a friend had set up this job for them. The client, a very important and powerful man wanted

THE SKULL them to steal something from the Vatican vault. It was something that was of extreme value and was held in secrecy for centuries. It was the biggest job of their lives and it was a job that had to remain completely secret. They already received half of the payment for doing the job, fifty thousand Lira up front and another fifty thousand once the job was finished and they had found what they were hired to find and steal. It was a lot of money to them. Money that could help them establish a more organized crime syndicate that would produce even more money and power for them. Marco stopped for a moment and took out the map that had been drawn for them from the original. Antonio held up the lantern so that they could see the direction they needed to go in. It was a map of an ancient underground

BRUCE SAVAGE tunnel system that had been built centuries before there was a Pope in the Vatican. A series of tunnels that had been long forgotten about until the map was discovered by one of Heinrich Himmler’s archaeologist who uncovered it a year before on a dig in Egypt while searching for evidence for Hitler’s fantasy of a master race. Antonio traced a line on the map with his finger and pointed in the direction ahead they should go. Marco shook his head in agreement and the two set out once again on their mission. They didn’t have far to go. The ancient tunnels they were in ran underneath Vatican City. On the map, it looked like a spider’s web but Antonio and Marco were experts at their trade and had the instincts of rats and were confident they were headed in the right direction.

THE SKULL The Vatican vault was massive they knew and contained an inconceivable horde of relics dating back to the beginning of humanity. Enough treasure they knew that would be worth untold riches on the black market. Enough to set them up for several lifetimes. But they were strictly told to only take one thing and to leave the rest behind. There was only one item in the vault the client wanted and hired them to steal. The rest was of no importance no matter how valuable it was. Any deviation from their orders would be handled with extreme prejudice by the client. The client was Heinrich Himmler himself. The leader of the infamous Nazi Secret Police. They came to a fork in the tunnel and took out the map to be certain of the direction they needed to go and decided on the right tunnel and headed in that

BRUCE SAVAGE direction. It would only be a little further they knew and looked for the markings on the wall that would signify they had found the location they needed to be in to begin their work. Some two hundred feet down the tunnel they found the markings they were looking for. It was in ancient Greek. A language they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand. Both of them had only attended school as far as the third grade and could barely read or write. Antonio put down the lantern and the bag of explosive and tools and Marco began preparing for the work they needed to do. First, they would drill holes in the wall with a hand drill and then place the dynamite and run a fuse down the tunnel and then kaboom! They would have access to one of the richest vaults on Earth. They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry about the noise from the explosion. There would be no need.

THE SKULL The tunnels were one hundred feet underground in a location where nobody would be. If anyone heard anything they would think it was from the passing thunderstorm overhead. Marco finished drilling the holes in the wall and Antonio carefully placed the dynamite and ran the fuse as Marco followed after him. Once they were a safe distance Antonio smiled at Marco. “Would you like the honors?” He said to his friend and partner in crime as he handed him a box of matches. Marco took the matches. “Grazie!” Marco beamed at him and then struck the match and lit the fuse. He loved things that went boom! Sparks sputtered from the fuse as it quickly made its way towards the dynamite. Marco and Antonio covered their ears and prepared for what was about to happen. Within seconds there

BRUCE SAVAGE was a large explosion and rock, brick and dust sprayed through the tunnel. Marco and Antonio covered their mouths with a handkerchief to filter out the dust and waited for things to settle down for a moment and then Antonio picked up the lantern and they headed for the opening in the Vatican vault they just made. It was dark as they stepped through the hole in the wall and Antonio held up the lantern to look around and shine the light on the room they were in. There were shelves upon shelves for as far as the eye could see each containing books and wooden boxes and relics from all over the world. An untold treasure revealed itself to the two. A treasure that was tempting to take. Nobody could stop them. They could have whatever they wanted. They knew that the Swiss Guard was at the

THE SKULL entrance to the vault miles away but inside the vault itself was no one and nobody knew about the tunnels that ran along the vault under Vatican City. They could do whatever they wished without worry. But their orders were very clear and direct. There would be no deviation from them whatsoever. Marco and Antonio looked at each other and the look on their face told what they were thinkingâ&#x20AC;Śdisappointment. To be standing in the middle of such a treasure and not being able to take it was a tragedy to them. They were thieves after all. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they did. But these two thieves knew what they were told to take and that was all they would be allowed. Antonio took out another piece of paper. This one had another diagram on it. A diagram of the Vatican vault itself. Laid out on the

BRUCE SAVAGE paper were directions that would lead them to the item that they were sent to steal and Marco and Antonio began their search for the item they were hired to steal. Some five hundred feet from the hole they blasted in the wall of the vault would be a door with markings on it in Latin. This was a sub-vault that contained relics the Catholic Church wanted to be buried and gave absolutely no access to anyone no matter who they were. Not even the Pope. It housed the churches most secret of secrets and the item that the client wanted desperately. Marco and Antonio stood in front of the door and examined it. It was an ancient wooden door made of ancient beams and iron hinges and a medieval iron lock that dangled from its clasp. It would be a piece of cake to break into for them. Marco pointed at the old lock

THE SKULL and gave out a chuckle. Antonio handed Marco the lantern and reached inside the bag of tools and took out a small sledgehammer and swung at the ancient rusted iron lock and broke it on the first swing. It fell to the ground and made a quiet thud having so easily failed its one and only purpose. Marco reached for the handle on the ancient door and started to pull. The door hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been open for centuries and the hinges were old and rusted. Antonio took hold of the handle and helped as they both pulled with all their strength until finally success. The door opened. Marco picked up the lantern as Antonio pushed the door open wide enough for them to enter as the hinges made a loud creaking noise. There was a smell in the room. An ancient, old musty smell, which stung their nostrils. Nobody had been in this room for

BRUCE SAVAGE centuries. They stepped inside and Antonio looked at the diagram again as he lined it up with the room. What they were looking for would be in an old chest on the far wall. The room itself was not that big. Only a few hundred feet in diameter lined with old wooden shelves that held more books and chest and artifacts covered in dust and cobwebs. Some made of solid gold Marco could tell as the light from the lantern reflected off of them. There were solid gold crosses adorned with rubies and sapphires and chalices made of gold and silver. He wanted to cry knowing the wealth he was leaving behind and could never be his. All they were supposed to steal was what was in the chest at the back of the room and nothing else. They found the chest that was described in their instructions and

THE SKULL examined it. It was covered in a thick layer of dust and ancient dating back to Emperor Constantine. It was made of wood and decorated with gold and a variety of jewels. The chest alone was worth millions of Lira Marco and Antonio estimated. They lifted the lid of the chest and held the lantern over it to see what it was that they came here to steal. Inside was a book wrapped in a silk cloth. An ancient book. A book made out of papyrus and animal skins that held information that the client desperately wanted. They both looked at each other with a comical confused look on their face. Wondering what was so important about a book knowing either of them could barely read at a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level. Antonio picked it up and un-wrapped it. It was written in a language that they never had seen before or understood. Its pages were

BRUCE SAVAGE made from papyrus that was delicate and fragile. He decided to not mess with it or damage it. There was no telling what Himmler would do if it was damaged. He wrapped it back up in the silk cloth and took out an empty bag and placed it in it and slung it over his shoulder. Antonio took the lantern in his hand and held it up and gazed at all the wealth that was there before him and none of it would be his or Marcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. They looked at each other for a moment knowing what the other would be thinking. What if they just took one other thing? Something smallâ&#x20AC;Śwho would know? They nodded at each other and searched the shelves for a small trinket for themselves and stuffed it into their bag and headed out of the vault and back down the ancient tunnel and home. Tomorrow they would meet

THE SKULL with their clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representative and hand over the book and collect their final payment for the job. Unfortunately, Himmler had given orders that would make sure they would never get to spend the money. Marco and Antonio would be killed. Both would be shot in the head and left in the woods outside Rome after Himmler took possession of that which he desired so desperately.

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Chapter 1 Frankfurt Germany, Present day…

The black Mercedes Maybach pulled up to the entrance way of Heinrich Hirsch’s mansion and stopped. A middle-aged smart looking well-groomed man stood waiting for the occupant of the limousine as the chauffeur got out and opened his passenger’s door. A man in his late

BRUCE SAVAGE 30’s stepped out of the limo dressed in jeans and a polo shirt and held out his hand as he approached the man that stood waiting. The man stretched out his hand in response and took the man’s hand. “Welcome Professor Jenkins. It’s good to see you again. Mr. Hirsch is waiting for you.” Heinrich Hirsch’s assistant Marcus Weber said to the man. “Marcus, it’s been a long time. How have you been?” Professor Jenkins said. “I’ve been terrific Professor Jenkins. How about yourself?” Marcus said as he beamed a smile at him as he firmly grasped his hand. “I’m doing alright. Busy as always. Never a dull moment searching the world for the past.” Professor Jenkins replied as the two walked up the

THE SKULL walkway and entered the mansion. Professor Jenkins looked around to enjoy the beauty of the place. It was listed as one of the most beautiful mansions in the world valued at over 100 million dollars and that didn’t include the millions of dollars in precious and rare art that decorated it. Heinrich spared no expense in its construction. There was Italian marble floors, gold leaf trimming along the walls, and the most expensive and rare art that money could buy. He could afford it after all being a billionaire. “I forgot how grand this place was. Is that what I think it is?” Professor Jenkins said pointing to a Picasso that was hanging on the wall of the entryway. “Yes, its Picasso’s Nude, Green leaves, and bust. Mr. Hirsch acquired it several months ago and thought it

BRUCE SAVAGE would look nice there.” Marcus replied as he crossed his arms and admired the painting. “You would think he would have armed guards standing around watching it at what he must have paid for it.” Professor Jenkins said. “You know how he is. He doesn’t worry about such things. He’s in the study waiting for you. I’ll show you the way.” Marcus said as he held out his hand and escorted him to the study. Marcus opened the door to the study and escorted Professor Jenkins in. Heinrich was at his desk examining some documents when he looked up to find his old friend standing before him. “Richard!” Heinrich said as he stood up and headed for Professor Jenkins to shake his hand. “Heinrich…you look great for a man pushing seventy. I see time has been

THE SKULL good to you.” Richard said as Heinrich motioned for them to a leather couch. “Yes, time has been good. That will be all Marcus. Thank you. Oh, please bring in some coffee for Richard and me. You still take two sugars and black?” Heinrich said. “Yes, still. Thank you.” Richard replied. “Very good sir, I’ll only be a moment.” Marcus said as he left the study. “So tell me…how are you old friend?” Heinrich asked. “Things have been great. Oxford has been great. I just finished a dig in Africa. Found some very interesting artifacts dating back to the ancient Roman occupation.” Richard replied. “Wonderful. You’ll have to show me what you found some time. I would love to see.”

BRUCE SAVAGE “So Heinrich, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about. You brought me here on your private jet all the way from England and I’m sure it wasn’t just to find out how I’ve been. A phone call or an email would have taken care of that. You brought me here because of something important. You found something didn’t you?” Richard said. Heinrich produced a grin on his face that told the truth. He found something spectacular. “You know me so well Richard. As always you are extremely insightful. Yes, I did find something. Something that I believe will turn the archaeological and religious world upside down.” “Well, tell me. Don’t leave me hanging in suspense old shoe.” Richard said as Marcus entered the room carrying a silver tray with coffee

THE SKULL and condiments on it and sat it down on the coffee table and handed each of the men a cup. “Where shall I begin? You know I’ve always had an interest in your work and pride myself on being a collector of rare artifacts.” Heinrich said as he took a sip from his coffee. Marcus excused himself and turned and left the men alone to talk in the study. “Yes, you’ve been very generous over the years and your collection is breathtaking,” Richard replied. “Let me start at the beginning, Richard. A long, long, time ago when I was but a boy I heard a story. A story that had stuck with me for years. You know I have a bit of obsession with religious artifacts. Anyway…the story that I was told was about the fall of Satan. The version I heard didn’t coincide with the version that we all

BRUCE SAVAGE know in the Bible. I set out long ago from time to time to find out if the story was true. After years of digging, I finally uncovered and came into possession of something that not only verifies the story but leads to actual evidence that may prove Satan is in fact real.” Heinrich said as he placed his coffee cup on the table. “The biblical version of the story says that there was a war in heaven and Lucifer was cast out and fell to Earth. After that, there are only brief references about him after the Garden of Eden. What version did you hear?” Richard asked. Heinrich sat back on the couch and looked at Richard with wide eyes. “The story I’m about to tell you, Richard, you must tell to no one and when I’m finished I’ll prove to you without a doubt that what I’ve said is

THE SKULL true,â&#x20AC;? Heinrich said as he leaned towards Richard with a look on his face of utter seriousness and placed his hand on his old friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoulder.

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Chapter 2 Heinrich took his hand off Richardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoulder and smiled at him as he got up and went to his desk and picked up his pipe and lit it and took a few puffs before returning to the couch. Richard looked at him in anticipation to hear this story he had to tell let alone could prove without a doubt. He had been an archaeologist for most of his life and had heard many, many, stories about the past. Some were true others

BRUCE SAVAGE were myths. Heinrich and he had been friends for many years and he knew that if Heinrich had a story to tell that story was the truth. “As I said before my friend when I was a boy long ago growing up in Nazi Germany I was told a story about the fall of Satan. You see the person that told me that story was none other the Himmler himself! I, like many German children at the time, was enlisted in the Nazi Youth movement. We really didn’t have a choice in the matter, our parents were more than happy to send us off to learn the Nazi ideology and afraid at the same time knowing full well what would happen if they refused. You know I’m sure that you know that Himmler was in charge of Hitler’s archaeology expeditions and had a bug up his ass so to speak about religious artifacts. He wanted to prove

THE SKULL that Germans were the master race and above all other races and religions. He on occasion would stop by to check on the progress of the Nazi Youth and their education and so forth and every now and then he would tell stories to the children. We would all be gathered around a great big bonfire and everyone would be silent as Himmler told his stories. The story that I was present to hear was about the fall of Satan from heaven and how it really happened.” Heinrich said as he stopped for a moment to take a sip from his coffee. “Fascinating, I didn’t know Himmler was a storyteller. I knew he was a liar though and a sociopath. He had no problem with murdering people especially Jews.” Richard said. “Yes, he was a monster. But I assure you the story I heard is very true.” Heinrich said.

BRUCE SAVAGE “OK. I‟m listening.” “It goes a little something like this. Long ago when there was a war in heaven. Lucifer who was God’s most trusted and admired angel as you may know decided that he wanted to overthrow God and take his place. He wanted to rise above God. God could not allow this of course and a war broke out. Those angels that were loyal to Lucifer were eventually defeated and cast out along with Lucifer and banished to the Earth. At the time Adam and Eve were the only humans on Earth and as you know the story Lucifer deceived Eve and got her to eat from the tree of knowledge and then Adam. God who was angry and disappointed in them cast them out of Eden now that they had knowledge of evil. From there Lucifer who was bitter and angry still, and the angels that

THE SKULL followed him, were cast out of heaven and set out to corrupt and destroy God’s most beloved creation. Humans. The descendants of Adam and Eve. For many Generations, God sat and watched as Lucifer on Earth turned brother against brother teaching them the ways of sin. For generations, God watched as Lucifer’s fallen followers took human women as wives and created offspring that were an abomination until God had finally had enough. He sent his archangels to Earth to slay the angels that followed Lucifer and put a stop to their evildoing and he sent Michael, God’s greatest warrior angel to slay Lucifer. God’s angels were victorious and killed Lucifer and his followers and cut off their heads and hid their skulls in various locations around the world. Never to be found. None of them could

BRUCE SAVAGE ever be allowed to walk the Earth again. They took their bodies and brought them to Sheol the land of the dead and chained them up where they would secretly remain headless for all eternity never to walk the Earth. As for Lucifer, Michael presented Adam with Lucifer’s head as a symbol of justice for what Lucifer had done to him when he tricked Eve. Adam decreed that Lucifer’s head would be guarded for eternity by his blood and he shall never find his body again and be allowed to walk the Earth again. Adam took the skull of Lucifer and buried it in a tomb somewhere near the Garden of Eden where his descendants to this day are supposedly still guarding it.” Heinrich said and took a draw from his pipe. “So what you are telling me is that the skull of Lucifer himself is buried someplace as well as his followers,”

THE SKULL Richard said. Heinrich smiled at him before speaking. “My friend the skulls of Lucifer’s most loyal followers have been found…all 13 of them. Come with me.” Heinrich said smiling as he got up from the couch and motioned for the door. Richard stood up and followed him out of the study and down a hallway to a door with a camera at the top of it and a keypad mounted on the side wall. Heinrich punched in a code and opened the door and motioned Richard to come in. “This is my private vault, my friend. It’s where I keep the rarest of rare artifacts that I’ve collected over the years.” Heinrich said as he stepped into the room. The lights turned on controlled by motion sensors and a display of artifacts from all over the world surrounded them.

BRUCE SAVAGE “This is absolutely astounding Heinrich. I knew you were a collector and a good one but I had no idea your collection was this extensive. You have items here that the archaeological world has been searching centuries for.” Richard said. “Yes…but that’s not why I brought you here. I want to show you proof that the story I told you is true.” Heinrich said as he walked over to a wall with a safe built into it and punched in another code. He opened the safe and took out an item that was wrapped in silk and motion to Richard to join him at a nearby table. “This, my old friend is the original book of Adam and Eve. The true story of creation. It was one of the many books of the Bible that were presented to be included at the Council at Nicea. As you know many of the books

THE SKULL presented were rejected and destroyed. But this one was too important to allow its destruction and was taken into secrecy by fanatics and hidden for many centuries until it found its way into the Vatican vault at the time of the first Pope. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had it carbon dated and tested every which way it can be tested and it is authentic. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the original book of Adam and Eve and it tells the story that I just told you and much, much, more.â&#x20AC;? Heinrich said. Richard reached into his shirt pocket and took out his glasses and put them on and examined the book. It was written in Aramaic on papyrus just as it would be centuries ago and the covering of the book was made of animal skin most likely sheep. It looked authentic to him and if Heinrich said it was then it was. He trusted Heinrich explicitly.

BRUCE SAVAGE “How did you come into possession of this Heinrich if it was in the Vatican vault? It’s nearly impossible to get into that place and only by invitation by the Pope and there is no way of getting anything out of there.” Richard asked. “How indeed? You see Himmler took great pride in telling his stories because he had firsthand knowledge of how the story went. He hired a couple of thieves to break into the Vatican vault back in 1936 and steal this book. Unfortunate for the thieves they were murdered in the woods outside Rome after handing the book over to Himmler. Himmler was searching for proof that the German race was the master race and believed that the truth was in those lost books of the Bible that were excluded at the Council of Nicea. Thankfully there was nothing in the book that could help substantiate his

THE SKULL claim for a master race and tucked the book away in his personal collection. After the war family members took possession of it until a private collector like myself came to me wanting to sell it. And without a thought, I bought it several months ago.” Heinrich said. “This is remarkable,” Richard said as he put on a pair of white gloves and started to carefully examine the pages. “This is remarkable. But what I have to show you behind that door will really impress you, my friend.” Heinrich said as he motioned to a door several feet away. Richard followed after him as Heinrich put another code into a keypad and opened the door. “This my friend is all 13 known crystal skulls. The 13 skulls of the fallen angels and followers of Lucifer. The ones that commanded his army.” Heinrich said as the lights in the room

BRUCE SAVAGE came on and the skulls made of different materials started to glisten in the light as they sat in a circle upon their separate pedestals. There was one pedestal that didn’t have a skull on it. It was empty. The pedestal in the middle. The fourteenth pedestal. “My God! The Mitchell Hedges skull from Belize, the Sha Na Ra skull from Mexico, ET from Guatemala, Ami from Mexico, Max from Guatemala, Synergy from Micronesia, the Einstein skull from Mexico, the Mayan skull from Honduras, Mahasamatman from Brazil, Amar from Tibet, the British Museum skull from Europe, the Paris Musee de l’Homme skull from Mexico and the Smithsonian skull from Mexico. You have them all. How?” “Money my dear friend can do wonders. Along with having friends in the right places. But this is only 13

THE SKULL skulls. There are 14 pedestals as you can plainly see.” Heinrich said. “I thought there were only 13 skulls. Are you trying to tell me there is one more?” Richard asked. “You haven't been paying attention, my friend. These are the original 13 skulls found all over the world just like the story my friend. The 13 followers of Lucifer. The ones you see in the museums are highly crafted fakes. The 14th skull belongs to Lucifer himself buried somewhere in Eden and guarded by one of Adams decedents.” Heinrich said. “I take it you didn’t bring me here and show me all this just for the sake of bragging rights to your collection old friend,” Richard said as he looked at the crystal skulls on their pedestals. “You are so perceptive Richard. I’ve always admired that about you. I

BRUCE SAVAGE brought you here to ask you to do something for me.” “You want me to find the fourteenth skull. Lucifer’s skull, in order to complete your collection, don’t you?” Richard said. “Yes!” Heinrich replied as Richard crossed his arms and paced back and forth for a moment before responding. “Archaeologist have been looking for the Garden of Eden for as long as anyone can remember, old friend. Nobody has ever found it.” Richard said. “What if I told you that you stand a better chance than anyone else in history of finding it, Richard? What if I showed you something that would convince you that the Garden was real and its location today?” Heinrich said. “Then I would have to accept your offer old friend. I would be a fool to

THE SKULL turn down the greatest archaeological discovery in human history.” “Come with me,” Heinrich said as they exited the rooms and closed the doors.

BRUCE SAVAGE

THE SKULL

Chapter 3 Richard followed Heinrich as he led him up a flight of stairs to another room with several computer terminals and monitors set up. It looked like a small version of a control room for satellites. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As you know I own an aerospace companyâ&#x20AC;ŚHirsch Aerospace. One of my many holdings. We manufacture satellites for telecommunication companies, NASA and the Russian Space Agency. I have the privilege of being able to use one of the NASA satellites that they have been using for

BRUCE SAVAGE surveying the Earth. The satellite is capable of seeing underground and determining geological features such as ancient river beds and such. I’ve been able to piece together the possible location of Eden from the book and with the help of the satellite have found what I believe to be the location of the Garden of Eden. The biblical birthplace of humanity.” Heinrich said as he punched keys on a keyboard and pulled up a satellite image on one of the monitors. “You found the Garden of Eden?” Richard said intrigued. “I believe so Richard. It’s right there in front of you located at the intersection of the river Pishon in Havilah, the river Gihon in Cush, Tigris river in Asshur and the fourth river is the Euphrates just like the story in the Bible. Four rivers representing the four

THE SKULL corners of the Earth and at the center the location for the Garden of Eden buried for thousands of years. Of course, I took into account time and natural factors such as erosion and possible course changes the rivers would have made over the years to pinpoint the true location.” “Absolutely brilliant Heinrich. Do you have any idea how many archaeologists would kill for this information? Do you have any idea what a breakthrough this could mean to the archaeological and religious worlds?” Richard said. “Yes, well I didn’t do it for them, old friend. I did it to find the fourteenth skull. The only way to find it is to find the Garden of Eden and the tomb where Adam buried it.” “Yes of course. Unfortunately, there is a problem. From what it looks like

BRUCE SAVAGE on your map the Garden of Eden is in Iran and the last time I checked westerners weren’t allowed to dig in Iran. No exceptions. The Ayatollah has been pretty strict about it.” Richard said. “That won’t be a problem, Richard. I have a close friendship with the President of Iran. I’m confident he’ll let you into the country so you can find the skull. What better propaganda for Iran than to tell the world they possess the Garden of Eden. They don’t need to know about the skull though. That remains between me and you. There’s no way the Iranians will allow that skull to leave the country if they find out you have it.” Heinrich said. “I’d like to examine the book some more and the skulls. And I’m going to need equipment and a crew for the dig.” Richard said.

THE SKULL â&#x20AC;&#x153;You shall have all that you wish my friend. You will be my guest here Richard for as long as you need. Just find that skull for me.â&#x20AC;? Heinrich said as they stood staring at the map on the screen. This was the beginning of events that would change the course of humanity or end with humanities destruction.

BRUCE SAVAGE

THE SKULL

From the Author Thank you all for reading The Skull! I hope you enjoyed it. Please feel free to leave a review wherever you buy books.

- Bruce Savage

BRUCE SAVAGE

THE SKULL

Get these other great stories by Bruce Savage! GODS ASSASSIN NO MERCY FOR THE DEAD THE SKULL SHORT SCARY STORIES MORE SHORT SCARY STORIES EUROPA'S CHILD RUSSIAN GAMES CASUALTIES OF WAR ORIGIN PSYCHO QUEST FOR THE TABLET KNOW YOUR ENEMY For previews and information about the author: Visit http://www.brucesavage.com.