CHAPTER X

An Intense Burst of Light

Silence befell the group as they studied the haunting, unfurled fabric before them. They could clearly see on the upper fibrils of the herringbone-patterned linen cloth the extremely faded image of a tortured man, replete with bloodstains. Joe pointed out the distracting parallel burn marks, which he reported from his research was a result of a fire in 1532.

"F-fellows," Chet stammered. "Have we s-stumbled upon SPECTRE's headquarters?"

"That's enough speculation," a voice commanded Chet from the chamber's entrance. "Back away from the relic."

The silhouettes of three figures standing at the bright doorway temporarily blinded the Bayporters. As their eyes became adjusted to the light, they yearned to see who had interrupted them. It was Abbot Andrew, flanked by Cardinal Geraci, and a stooped over, limping Brother Alberto. Abbot Andrew shut the stone entrance to the chamber.

"Uncle Alberto!" Tony called.

"I believe we're owed some explanation?" Iola asked.

"And maybe you can also confirm for us that Doctor Jones is okay?" Frank added.

Abbot Andrew was momentarily taken aback. "Henry Jones?"

Before anyone could answer, Cardinal Geraci, mouth agape, staggered towards the Shroud. "Th-this m-must be the duplicate?! It's just like the original!"

Abbot Andrew sighed, glancing at Brother Alberto, who nodded solemnly. "Eminence," he began, "I'm afraid I owe even you an explanation. I'm afraid that what you see before you is in fact the Holy Shroud itself, brought here by Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. and his son in 1938. It has been in our possession for the last 28 years."

Frank and Joe exchanged dumbfounded glances. Geraci's brow furrowed. "But the report of theft?"

"Brother Alberto and I were the only survivors of Ernst Blofeld gunning down our fellow monks when he invaded the monastery at the end of the war. Nobody refused to tell him where we kept the authentic Holy Shroud. So we gave him the duplicate, and then alerted even the highest ranks in the Vatican he actually took the true relic." Abbot Andrew bowed. "I do not expect you to forgive me of my deceit."

There was complete silence in the chamber. "This whole time," Geraci stammered. "All the worry, all the people who risked their lives combing the earth to find it," he trailed off.

Frank said quietly, "And now SPECTRE knows it has a forged copy. It's not safe here any longer, Abbot."

"Where could it be safe, though?" Callie thought aloud. "SPECTRE won't stop until it's completely in their possession."

"This whole time," Cardinal Geraci muttered again, before finally looking up at the repentant eyes of Abbot Andrew. "Absolutely brilliant, Andrew! Absolutely brilliant."

The abbot's eyes popped. Then he gestured to Alberto. "It was Brother Alberto's idea really."

"That's my great-uncle!" Tony piped up proudly.

"But the young Hardy is right. It's not safe here indeed," the cardinal stated.

Joe confidently said, "We'll take it. We'll take it and we must rescue Doctor Jones. Who knows what they'll do with him. Eminence, may we request three identical trucks, and three identical caskets?" The group looked at Joe, confused. He smiled at Iola.

"Certainly," the tiny Italian cardinal acknowledged. "I will contact the local chancery."

Frank queried, "How do you suppose SPECTRE discovered it was a fake?"

Abbot Andrew said, "Because they probably photographed it. No attempt to duplicate the Turin Shroud has been able to achieve the image visible in the photographic negative."

"So how is it possible that image got onto the cloth before photography in the first place?" Biff inquired. "There are no paints on the image, correct? Was it the image weaved onto the cloth?"

"No," the abbot said. "Because from studying the photographic image, you can see even the metacarpal bones of the man."

Callie then said, "So if we separate the Shroud as a piece of art from a scientific item, how was this image produced?"

"I'll answer that," Cardinal Geraci replied. "At this point, we believe the only way this image could be imprinted on the cloth without scorching it was via an extremely quick but powerful burst of vacuum ultraviolet radiation."

"Say what?" Chet's head was spinning.

"Light," Phil Cohen said simply.

"Right, my son," the cardinal said. "An intense burst of light."

Frank thought a moment. "And that's what exactly what SPECTRE is trying to do."

"I'm still not sure I totally understand," Tony Prito admitted.

"Same here," Joe added grimly. "But that doesn't mean they're not going to stop looking for it."

Outside, in a verdant, obscure part of the monastery, the group gingerly brought the sarcophagus containing the Shroud out of the chamber. In the meanwhile, Cardinal Geraci arranged for the delivery of three nondescript, identical trucks. He also suggested a Swiss Guard escort.

"No," Joe said adamantly. "Too risky. You must trust us, Eminence. But please, might you be able to retain secrecy on this operation?"

"Well, I will have to notify the Holy Father, of course," Geraci replied. "And certainly King Umberto, as it is his rightful possession at the moment."

At that moment, a monk from the monastery bell tower feverishly rang the bell.

"Meal time?" Chet asked with a brightened complexion.

"Joe," Frank said in a low voice. "Where exactly are we transporting the Shroud?"

"Where it belongs," Joe stated. "Back to Turin. It's the best fortified place to protect it form SPECTRE. Swiss Guards and everything."

Biff Hooper and Tony Prito scurried down a hillside towards the Hardys. "Gents," Tony shouted, "You wouldn't believe what's coming up the way!"

"Our trucks?" Frank asked hopefully.

"Not quite," Biff panted. "It's an Alfa Romeo 800, Frank. Huge. It also has an octopus symbol on the side."

Frank and Joe grimaced. Callie, glancing at Chet, spoke up. "We've seen that before."

Chet immediately whirled around. "Eminence!" he shouted. "Where's our trucks?!"