Игорь Патанин – The Whisper of Submerged Sanctuaries (страница 4)

"This." He placed the medallion on the table between them. "According to my grandfather's diary, this artifact was found during the expedition to Issyk-Kul in 1954. Your grandfather, then just a boy, helped with the expedition and seems to have been somehow connected to this find."

Dinara examined the medallion with evident interest, but without touching it.

"My grandfather did indeed often talk about the 1954 expedition. He lived with his parents in a village near the excavation site and helped the scientists as a guide." She raised her eyes to Alexei. "But he never mentioned any medallion."

Alexei nodded.

"In my grandfather's diary, there's an entry where he decided to hide the find from his superiors. And that your grandfather said the medallion 'wanted to stay' with him."

Dinara smiled slightly.

"That sounds like my grandfather. He always had a special sense for ancient things. He said they 'spoke' to him."

The kettle clicked off. Dinara stood to prepare the tea. Her movements were fluid and precise, like someone accustomed to working with fragile artifacts.

"Did you open it?" she asked without turning around.

"Yes," Alexei replied. "Inside was a parchment with an inscription in Latin and something like a fragment of a map. 'Lux in aqua, aqua in luce. Clavis Salomonis aperiet viam.' Light in water, water in light. Solomon's key will open the way."

Dinara froze for a moment, then slowly turned to him. Her face had become serious.

"Solomon's key," she repeated. "That's interesting. In our region, there are legends about sacred artifacts hidden in the waters of Issyk-Kul. Some of them are connected to the Nestorians who fled from the Mongols in the 13th century." She placed a cup of tea in front of Alexei. "But I've never heard of a 'Solomon's Key' in this context."

Alexei sipped the hot tea—strong and sweet, as is customary in Central Asia.

"I studied this matter before my trip. The 'Key of Solomon' in Western tradition is a grimoire, a book of spells attributed to King Solomon. But judging by the context, this refers to some physical object."

"Perhaps it's a metaphor," Dinara suggested. "Or…" she fell silent, as if contemplating something.

"Or?" Alexei prompted.

"Or it's indeed some artifact, so valuable that our grandfathers chose to conceal its existence from the authorities."

She finally took the medallion and began to study it carefully, turning it in her hands.

"Undoubtedly Nestorian work. The cross is of a characteristic shape, and the ornament is also typical of their art. But the symbols on the reverse side…" she frowned. "They resemble Syriac script, but with elements I cannot identify. Possibly some secret code or font known only to initiates."

She placed the medallion back on the table.

"I need to show this to my uncle Ermek. He's the custodian of the nature reserve on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, right where the excavations took place in 1954. And he's a great specialist in local folklore and history."

"That would be great," Alexei nodded. "When can we meet him?"

Dinara glanced at her watch.

"I can call him right now. If everything works out, we could head to the lake tomorrow morning. It's about a four-hour drive from Bishkek."

She took out her phone and stepped into the corridor to talk. Alexei remained alone in the office. He looked around, examining the books on the shelves and the photographs on the walls. In one of them, Dinara stood next to a tall middle-aged man with the characteristic appearance of local residents—presumably the uncle Ermek.

Alexei's gaze fell on a stack of documents on Dinara's desk. On top lay some printout in Kyrgyz with a logo resembling a coat of arms or emblem. He couldn't read the text but noticed that several lines had been highlighted with a marker.

Next to the computer lay a small voice recorder. The red indicator on it was blinking, showing that it was recording. Alexei frowned. Why was Dinara recording their conversation? And why hadn't she told him about it?

He quietly approached the desk and turned off the recorder, then returned to the sofa just as the door opened and Dinara re-entered the office.

"Good news," she said with a smile. "Uncle Ermek will be happy to see us. He's currently in Cholpon-Ata, a town on the northern shore of the lake. We can leave early tomorrow morning and be there by lunchtime."

Alexei nodded, trying not to show his concern about the recorder.

"Great. What about your grandfather? Will we be able to meet him?"

Dinara frowned slightly.

"Grandfather isn't feeling very well right now. Age is taking its toll. But I asked Uncle Ermek, and he thinks a visit might be possible if Grandfather feels better."

She sat down opposite Alexei again, taking her cup of tea.

"Now it's your turn," she said. "Tell me more about how you found the medallion and what else was in your grandfather's archive."

Alexei gave a detailed account of the folder's contents, the diary, photographs, and the note his grandfather had left specifically for him. He omitted only his suspicions about the voice recorder—first, he needed to understand what was happening.

"It's strange that your grandfather kept this secret for so many years," Dinara remarked when he finished. "Apparently, he believed the medallion might be dangerous or lead to something dangerous."

"Yes, and that concerns me," Alexei admitted. "My grandfather wasn't prone to exaggeration or mysticism. If he felt it necessary to warn me, he must have had serious reasons."

Dinara thoughtfully twirled her cup in her hands.

"There are many legends about cursed treasures and mysterious artifacts at Issyk-Kul. The lake holds many secrets." She placed her cup on the table. "But as scientists, we should approach such stories skeptically, right?"

Alexei nodded, though deep down he felt there was something more to this story than just local legends.

"Of course. But I'd like to know what was so special about this medallion that my grandfather concealed it his entire life."

Dinara looked at him intently.

"Did you really come here solely out of scientific interest? Or is there something else?"

The question caught Alexei off guard. He hesitated, choosing his words.

"I… don't know. It's probably a combination of factors. Scientific interest, certainly. Respect for my grandfather's memory. The chance to see you again…" he faltered, unsure whether it was appropriate to mention their past relationship. "And, honestly, some financial difficulties. An archaeologist's salary in Russia leaves much to be desired."

Dinara nodded, as if his answer confirmed her suspicions.

"I understand. Many come to Issyk-Kul hoping to find treasures. Legends of sunken cities and immense riches attract fortune seekers from all over the world."

Alexei thought he detected a slight disappointment in her voice, and he felt the need to defend himself.

"I'm not a treasure hunter, Dinara. I want to understand what my grandfather found and why it was so important to him."

She sighed and softened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you. It's just… I've seen how treasure hunting changes people, and not always for the better."

They sat in silence for a while. The sun had begun to set, and shadows gradually deepened in the office. Finally, Dinara stood up.

"It's getting late. I'll drive you to the hotel. And tomorrow early morning, we'll head to the lake. It's quite a journey, so I advise you to rest well."

Alexei also rose, discreetly returning the medallion to his inner pocket.

"Thank you again, Dinara. Really."

She smiled faintly.

"You're welcome. After all, our grandfathers were connected by this secret. Perhaps we're destined to solve it together."

They left the museum, and Alexei suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if someone was watching them. He looked around but noticed nothing suspicious among the passersby and parked cars.

When they got into Dinara's car, he asked:

"By the way, who else knows about my arrival and the medallion?"

Dinara fastened her seatbelt and started the car.

"Only Uncle Ermek. I told him you came with some find related to the 1954 expedition, but without details." She drove out of the parking lot. "Why do you ask?"

Alexei shrugged, looking in the side mirror.

"Just a strange feeling. As if we're being watched."