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“I haven’t really found myself,” he replied, “but it mentions here that you’re supposed to use ‘powder dark as suit for thenigredoand powder white as snow for thealbedo.”
“Does it say anything about bodies?”
“It says that the shapes must be exact for the ritual to work. No mention of bodies, but we’ve found thinner connections before and made them work.” Seeing Faith’s skeptical look, he said, “It’s something to do while we’re waiting for a more promising lead.”
She sighed. “Okay, well, how do we follow up on this Magnum Opus?”
“Well, I found this manuscript on the website of the University of Chicago Library. It gives Professor Harold Cranston as the translator. If I look him up… he still works at the University as a Professor of Antiquities.”
“That’s a thing?”
“I guess so? It says it in his bio.”
Faith shrugged. “I guess a shot in the dark is still a shot. Let’s go talk to Professor Cranston.”
CHAPTER SIX
They called the university’s Division of the Humanities and learned that Professor Cranston was in the middle of a lecture but would meet with them as soon as the lecture was over. They took the bus and picked up their cruiser, then drove to the University.
They reached the hall where Cranston was lecturing just in time to catch his closing remarks. The professor was addressing a crowd of mostly bored students about the importance of symbolism. His piercing blue eyes blazed with passion, and his voice projected far more powerfully than was suggested by his diminutive build.
“You see, humans are unique among animals in that we inhabit both a physical realm—that which is composed of things we can see, touch, taste and feel—and a metaphysical realm composed of our ideas, concepts, understanding, emotions. These symbols help us understand this metaphysical realm by connecting it to the physical realm. Ever since humans developed consciousness, symbolism has been a critical means to understanding those things that exist beyond what our senses can tell us. Indeed, many researchers believe that the first sign of civilization is represented by symbols that prehistoric peoples created to embody such concepts as life, birth, death, and fertility. As you take this class, whether it be out of curiosity, passion, or just because you need to check off the Humanities requirement, I hope that all of you will gain a greater understanding of symbols and their importance in your life and in human society as a whole.”
The flame in his eyes died out, and he said in a far more businesslike voice. "If you haven't yet received a syllabus, please take one from the end of this table. If you need an add slip,please come see me. If you have not purchased the textbook, it's Harris, third edition, and yes, it has to be the third edition. Buy it from collegetexts-dot-com unless you like paying the forty percent markup at the bookstore, but please don't tell Dean Winters I said that."
Faith heard Michael chuckle and turned to him. “Reminds me of the good old days,” he explained. “Damn, I miss college.”
“Really? You never talk about it.”
“Well, it’s not real life. I only miss it when I happen to be on a campus hearing a professor tell students to remember to pick up a syllabus.” He turned to Faith. “You never went to college, did you?”
“Nope. I enlisted the day I turned eighteen.”
Before Faith joined the FBI, she was in the Marine Corps. Turk, coincidentally, was also a Marine, though he served many years later than Faith. Their time in the service was done, and soon, Turk’s time in the FBI would come to an end.
As for Faith? Well, she still didn’t know.
The agents waited until the students filed out of the classroom before approaching Dr. Cranston. When he saw them, he flashed them a brilliant grin and shook their hands with the peculiar energy that seemed reserved for academics and public speakers.
“My office told me you had some questions for me. Am I correct in assuming that this conversation should take place away from listening ears?”
“You are correct,” Faith said.
“I thought as much. Follow me.”
He led them from the lecture hall into the building. “The lovely thing about tenure is that you get an office located near your lecture hall. That seems like it wouldn’t matter, but the older I get, the more I appreciate not having to walk acrosscampus every time I need to teach a class. Did you enjoy the lecture?”
“We only caught the last minute or two,” Faith said, “but I’m hoping your expertise with symbolism can help us out.”
“I will certainly do my best.”
He ushered them into an office that Faith thought was surprisingly cramped for a tenured professor. Then again, she’d never gone to college, so how would she know?
He sat behind a desk, somehow managing to look small in spite of the cramped space. Michael and Faith sat almost cheek to cheek in the two small chairs in front of his desk. Turk looked around for a place to sit and eventually settled for sitting underneath their chairs.
Dr. Cranston folded his hands on top of his desk and asked, “So, how can I help you?”
Michael set the case file on the desk and started to open it, then paused. “I’m going to warn you, these are hard to look at.”
