Snippet #1657648

Just as Roy had finished reading the letter, three people, a woman and two guards, entered the room. The guards took his backpack and laptop away before he could object, leaving only the letter in his hands. The woman pulled the other chair towards her and sat down. She was of Latino descent, probably in her early thirties. What did she say? Dangerous situation? He had thought that this place was some set-up by the Historian, but never that it was dangerous. Her questions didn’t really make sense either. Did she or did she not work for this Historian? Not really trying to hide his confusion, he pondered the question for a moment.

“Look, I’m only here because of this letter.” He showed it and then pushed it towards her. “It directed me to a telephone number, where an answering machine told me to go to this place. I know I must seem like a crazy person to just hop on a plane and travel all around the world, just because some voice told me. To be honest, I’m not really sure why I’m here either.” He looked at his hands for a moment, then stared directly into her eyes.

“But you see, I had an uncle who was an archaeologist.” Roy wasn’t sure if she knew he was an archaeologist as well, though she probably did. Roy continued: “He told me that symbols are the only things capable of connecting humans through time and space, as each and every one of us understands a symbol on some basic level. Not the exact meaning of course, but it provokes the same feelings.” He pointed towards the letter. “Take the eye that sits in the pyramid for example. It’s called the Eye of Providence or the All-Seeing Eye, and nowadays best known as something that appears on the US one-dollar bill. However, the Eye has been used by many societies. The oldest known example is the Egyptian Eye of Horus, the god of the sky. The eye itself is personified as the goddess Wadjet, the protector of Egypt. Thus, it was an often used symbol by the pharaohs. Though known under different names, the eye has been used in Buddhism, Christianity and by the Freemasons as well. And of course, the most interesting given the letter, the third eye of Shiva, although I must admit I’m not that familiar with Hinduism. Anyway, in all these religions and societies, the Eye evokes the same basic feeling: the one of an omnipresent power, that makes you feel insignificant. Whoever sees the symbol of the Eye, no matter where you come from, can’t help but feel like he or she is being watched. No wonder certain intelligence agencies use the symbol as well.”

Roy suddenly realized that he was lecturing, and felt embarrassed. The woman doesn’t want to know all that, you idiot. “Sorry, I’m rambling. Must be the nerves.” Though that was a lie. He wasn’t nervous anymore. More like enthusiastic, but it probably wasn’t the right moment to admit that.

Only then it occurred to him to ask the question: “Who are you, anyway?”