Under the Cathedral

By Raúl Sánchez Quintana

Jaen, Spain. Early morning of July 11, 2006. A young man flees in a hurry from Plaza de Santa María. The corpse of an older man is left lying in front of the facade of the Cathedral, face down, naked, and covered in droppings and pigeon feathers.

Something is hidden under Jaen's Cathedral, and only the members of a clandestine organization, as well as the highest authority of the Vatican, are aware of the secret.

For centuries everything has remained unchanged, but the appearance of a naked corpse in front of the Jaen Cathedral (real news published in 2006) triggered a succession of events that puzzled everyone in the police office. Private detective Carlos Moeckel has the task of finding out who is behind the series of murders that plague the city.

Various events that occurred during the crucifixion of Yeshua the Nazarite intertwine with the novel, with the enigmatic figure of Joseph of Arimathea as a key participant.

"Under the Cathedral" is a frenetic thriller in which fiction and reality continually cross the fine line that separates them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Jun 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667405131

Book preview

.

Jaen. Spain.

2:45 p.m. 07-11-2006

Rushing the last gasps of his breath, he reached the perimeter wall that surrounded the Cathedral. Relieved, he inspired a couple of times to try to regain his lost breath and took the opportunity to cast a look around; he had to make sure that no one was watching him.

The heat of the torrid morning beat hard on his tired body, and his heart seemed not to want to lessen its agitated beating. If it had not been for the important responsibility that his position conferred on him, he would have fallen exhausted on the ground; his old body was no longer prepared for such extreme situations.

With the urgency that pressed him, he inserted a small key in the padlock located on the gate of entry to the cathedral precinct. After turning his wrist, the lock was open. With no time to waste, he passed the iron gate and closed it behind him again.

As fast as he could, he ascended the steps that led him to the north portal, while he observed the effigy of the Immaculate Conception that seemed to watch him from the central niche above said access.

Next, he extracted a key which, due to its large size, he inserted with some difficulty into the lock of the entrance door to the temple. The roar caused by the bolt in its continuous retreat tore the silence that reigned in the early morning. Shaken, he sensed that the rough sound could have been heard throughout the city. Almost groping, he managed to pass the inner door that allowed him to enter the interior of the Cathedral. The embarrassment that had accompanied him outside was replaced by a fabulous sensation of freshness that enveloped his entire body.

At that time of night, the temple was without artificial lighting. Only the clarity that penetrated through the multiple stained-glass windows that adorned the upper part of the walls, and the luminosity that filtered through the eight windows located in the dome that rose above the transept, managed to provide the necessary effulgence with which be able to guide your steps. That strange play of light and shadow, he thought in awe, only increased the degree of intimidation infused by the colossal building.

For a few seconds he was indecisive and expectant. Trying to muster up the courage to move on, he remembered the oath he had taken years ago before the Company. He had promised to guard with his own life the part of the secret that had been entrusted to him; and before any sign of danger, to safeguard the key that had been entrusted to him in the bowels of the city's Jewish quarter. He couldn't fail right then. He tried to cheer himself up. Not at that moment when the secret they had guarded for centuries was in danger of falling into the hands of those who would use it for unsuspected ends.

That last thought encouraged him to take the first steps towards the transept of the Cathedral; not in vain, it was the best lit area. Once this point was reached, he continued advancing in the direction of the nave located on the side of the epistle[1]. After a few seconds, his figure vanished into the play of light and shadow.

***

Disgruntled, he decided to retrace his steps. He was convinced that the elderly man he was following had managed to mislead him through the maze of alleys that made up the old Jewish quarter of the city. To this inconvenience he had to add the suffocating heat of that morning; he could have sworn that such heat came from hell itself. He would never have imagined that the nights of July in that city would become so hot. However, despite the climate inconvenience, he felt the need to continue the mission, his objective was nothing more than an old man - he tried to motivate himself -. He couldn't be very far.

He reached the small alley that, minutes before, he had left behind because it was going away from the Cathedral and, with a brisk step, he entered a narrow alley. He moved swiftly through the firm flagstones until, finally, he came to some arcades in front of which rose the impressive walls of the north facade of the cathedral temple. At that point, he stopped the race. He was exhausted despite his excellent physical shape and a sea of sweat bathed his back.

As he tried to catch his breath, he looked up and down the street. He had not the slightest doubt: that damned old man had managed to mislead him. Furious, he put his hands on his knees and tried to breathe the warm air that seemed to want to burn his throat. In that instant he remembered the words that the previous week, in the city of Rome, his confessor had dedicated to him; the one who just two years ago had become the head of the Congregation:

"It is the most important mission that we face since 1941 when we began the extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world.

It is the Will of God that we continue to develop our educational work in the Faith of Jesus Christ; however, our future is unsettling. The Church is governed by those who see a threatening attitude in our work; by those who think that our expansion may limit their power. Undoubtedly, it is time for you to know that the Vatican, like any other state, is no stranger to political tensions and that, since time immemorial, there have been groups that have maintained a silent struggle for power.

Yes, son, yes, we are men and we cannot prevent greed from clouding our souls. For this reason, I have summoned you here today. Those who currently govern the designs of the Church, and fear losing the privileges they enjoy, seek to limit our evangelizing work.

If everything continues as planned, the Holy Father will shortly announce the beginning of apostolic visits to[2] our Congregation, and we cannot allow it. There is no need for me to explain the loss of prestige of being the subject of such inspections. The enemy is our own brother, but for this reason, we must not avoid defending ourselves against his attacks.

Without a doubt, God is on our side; since the Congregation has had access to privileged information that can change the course of events. For now, I regret that I cannot reveal its content to you. You must understand, it is top secret.

After weighing up who might be the most suitable brother to carry out this outstanding mission, I have concluded that you could be the one who is blessed in fulfilling the Will of God.

From this moment you are dispensed with all sin or lack that in the development of this important task you are forced to complete; including that of taking the life of others, since the Will of God must be fulfilled; above everything and anyone.

He will know how to reward your effort, and I am sure that you will achieve a privileged place in the Kingdom of Heaven."

After sensing that he had failed in his first assignment, a feeling of anger began to invade his entire body. He could not understand how he had let an old man escape who, according to appearances, might be three times his age.

Disappointed with himself, he straightened up again and, in a last and desperate attempt, tried to capture some detail with which to recover the trace of his persecuted, but he was only able to appreciate the overwhelming solitude of the hot morning, as well as the monotonous sound of air conditioners. Trying to lessen the pressure that was beginning to bend him, he chose to loosen the collar that seemed to limit the passage of warm air through his larynx, while his mind tried to imagine the moment in which he would communicate to his superior that he had failed to achieve the first objective.

The whole Congregation depends on me, he pressed himself. The Will of God, the salvation of thousands, of millions of souls..., and I have failed them.

Suddenly, a rough sound that was familiar reached his ears. He was sure that the noise he had just heard was coming from a lock like the ones on the old doors of Catholic temples. Sharpening his senses, he tried to locate the origin of the sound and soon he concluded that it came from a few meters higher, behind the stone wall that made up the perimeter of the north facade of the Cathedral that rose in front of him.

With renewed hope, he hurried across the cobbled street and approached the iron gate that allowed access to the interior of the temple. Surprised, he checked how the padlock was open and took the opportunity to gently push the right wing of the iron gate to enter inside the confines of the enclosure.

Once he ascended the staircase that saved the existing level with the north portal, he decided to take a few seconds of reflection.

The place he had entered had two huge gates. It was then that he remembered the plan of the temple that he had memorized a few days before traveling to the city. According to it, the entrance to the Sagrario Church was to his left, and in front of him was the north portal access to the Cathedral. Knowing that he did not have much time, he chose to go to the large door corresponding to the Sagrario Church and pushed the door of century-old wood; he barely managed to run it a few millimeters. It was clear - he conjectured - that the sound of the bolt that he had perceived minutes before had not come from that place. Next, he went to the huge door that made up the north portal of the entrance to the temple. With extreme delicacy, he moved the small door that remained embedded in the right wing of the great entrance gate. This time the door that he was pushing did respond to his slight challenge. Seconds later he had managed to access the interior of the Cathedral.

Although he had contemplated various photographs of the interior of the cathedral temple a few days before traveling to Jaen, he never thought that the direct vision before him could surprise him in that way. Probably, he wanted to suppose, the gloom that enveloped him favored the shudder that was gripping his entire body at that moment, and he could not help but feel insignificant in front of the slender and elegant cruciform pillars that, like stone giants, rose dozens of meters above his head until they were crowned by vaulted ceilings that divided the hall-like floor of the temple into three naves.

With some care, he tried to observe everything that the low clarity allowed him to glimpse. However, after his initial inspection, he did not see any sign of the old man.

In a subtle way, and avoiding causing the slightest of sounds, he decided to advance close to the chapels located on the side of the gospel[3], leaving the transept on his right. He wandered among the series of benches arranged in front of the left side of the presbytery, being extremely cautious; in that place, the clarity diminished considerably. With a careful stride, he managed to approach the rear of the high altar to halt his advance once he had positioned himself behind the tabernacle.

He sharpened his ears, for he supposed it was the sense of which he could obtain the most benefit in that gloomy place; and he tried to appreciate any sound, no matter how small, that gave him a clue to where to turn. But in this immense place, the most forceful of silences seemed to be even more disturbing than the lack of clarity.

Suddenly, a disturbing sense of loneliness began to eat away at his mood, and a strange feeling of dread took over his entire being.

What should I be afraid of? He tried to calm himself down. I am in the house of God. What better place to be than this.

However, he knew that his conscience, for a week, had not remained entirely clear. He was aware that the members of that secret company were not going to make things easier for him, so he would be forced to exert force against them, and some could even die trying. And although he had obtained the dispensation from the person in charge of the Congregation, and with it the exemption on any attempt against the life of others, it was no less true than in that immense church in which he was located, so close to the Eyes of God, his interior seemed to want to rebel and convince him that the life of a brother was too valuable to sacrifice in search of any treasure, however valuable it was.

He tried to get rid of those thoughts that seemed to spring uncontrollably from within, and tried to impose the logic that the spiritual confessors had instilled in him since he entered the Congregation at the age of fourteen: It is God's Will and it must be carried out, no discussion, no debate, whatever the cost.

Suddenly, a strange sound from the end opposite the chancel reached his ears. He could have sworn that it had been produced by the movement of one of the many benches that were located in the transept, between the main altar and the choir. He walked a few steps to his right until he had a full view of the nave located next to the north façade. He sharpened his vision, and despite the fact that the existing gloom barely allowed him a vision of no more than twenty meters, he managed to see a figure embedded in the shadows that was heading too quickly towards the exit door.

Trying to maintain the silence that he had sought since entering that holy place, he directed his steps towards the newly discovered silhouette, advancing stealthily, waiting to fall on it unnoticed. But the darkness that prevailed in that area of the temple, together with the excitement at having found the target again, made him lower his guard and with his right foot, he struck one of the many benches located next to the presbytery.

Damn! He exclaimed to himself, at the same time as he saw how the thick-shaped figure he was approaching towards, directed its gaze towards him. That individual had discovered him long before he wanted, although this time he was not going to let him escape. He was sure that God, in His own house, had offered him that second chance; he couldn't let him down. He picked up his pace and felt his legs dart across the checkerboard floor, as he watched his target run as well.

Without excessive effort, he managed to reach the door located on the north facade. He stepped outside and appreciated how the guy he was following had barely had time to get past the iron gate that facilitated the exit from the cathedral perimeter. Ten meters separated them.

Following the old man's trail, he ascended Campanas Street, which ran parallel to the north façade and, once he had passed the walls that delimited the temple enclosure, he turned to his left to access Santa María Square, in front of which the impressive main frontispiece of the monumental Jaen church was located.

The distance between them had been reduced to just over six feet; This circumstance allowed him to appreciate the rapid breathing of his target, as well as the abundant sweat that emanated from his shiny bald head. This time, he thought, he wouldn't have such luck. One last effort and he would catch up.

As soon as he passed a series of small trees[4], the guy he was trying to catch turned his gaze back to check the distance between them, this circumstance prevented him from seeing the beginning of the iron ramp that had been installed in front of the Door of the Faithful to facilitate access for people with disabilities. Unable to avoid it, the man tripped over the ramp and fell forward, with such misfortune that his head slammed violently against the steel bar used as a handrail.

Everything happened in just a few seconds. The body of his target collapsed on the floor, and he was lying in front of the main facade of the great Cathedral that, immutable, towered tens of meters above the fallen one.

Faced with that unforeseen event, he remained motionless and expectant, waiting for the old man to offer some sign of life; but the seconds passed and he only managed to observe how a stain of blood began to expand around his head.   With a slow step, he approached the body and tried to locate his pulse. Unconsciously he shook his head and symbolized a cross on the forehead of the corpse, while his mind began to work on this new and unexpected situation. He knew that he had to move quickly, as nothing prevented any passer-by or vehicle from entering the square at any moment and discovering him prostrate on a bloodied and lifeless body. He had no time to waste and, with some desperation, he began to go through the clothes of the guy in front of whom he had knelt.

The recording had barely begun, when the sound of voices coming from the same street he had just traveled, reached his ears.

Damn you, Satan! He yelled desperately at this new inconvenience. Let your brother work!

Aware that he would not have enough time to check the old man's clothes, he chose to undress the body and take his clothes to be able to review them later.

In a hurry, he tugged hard on the plaid shirt worn by the corpse until he managed to pop each and every one of its buttons. Then he violently turned the body to the right and left, until he managed to get hold of it.

His ears appreciated how the sound of those voices was getting closer and closer; in a few moments, several people would enter the square. He couldn't take much longer.

Not knowing what to do with the shirt in his hands, he decided to put it on his clothes, that way, he thought, it would attract less attention than if he was caught with a bundle of clothes in his arms.

With desperate movements, he loosened the belt around the deceased's waist and, after releasing the button on his pants, he pulled hard with such force that he even took the deceased's underpants with him. Then he got rid of the sandals that prevented him from getting hold of the clothes he was trying to wear and left the body naked.

The voices seemed to have stopped. In all likelihood, he thought, relieved, it was a young couple who had decided to stop along the way to sin slightly. That obscene act, which stained his mind just by thinking about it, had given him the seconds necessary to complete his work.

At the same time, he wiped away the sweat that came from his forehead, he looked around trying to find something with which to transport the clothes that still remained next to the corpse. His eyes fell on a bag full of some debris near the trunk of one of the trees. After taking it, he returned again to the lifeless body.

The couple that seconds before had stopped their advance, approached again, as their voices returned to his ears with greater clarity. The meeting seemed imminent.

The extreme urgency that compelled him took hold of his actions. This caused him to pull violently on the knot that connected the handles of the bag instead of trying to undo it. In his desperate attempt, one of the handles ended up breaking and the contents of the bag were scattered over the corpse. In a hurry, he introduced the pants with underpants included. After taking a last look at the naked body, he crossed himself with some haste and ran in the opposite direction from the place where a young couple was entering Santa María Square at that very moment.

In his career he heard how a male voice reproached him for stopping his advance; but turning a deaf ear, he continued his flight until he reached the steps that saved the existing gap with the street that ran parallel to the eastern facade of the Cathedral. After descending the steps in a hasty manner, he headed swiftly towards the firm cobbled alley that ran between the high walls of the temple and those of the Cobaleda Palace, then turned towards a narrow alley that separated this last building from the Velez Palace. Finally, he accessed another street of greater width, also paved, at the end of which he managed to appreciate San Francisco Palace, the official seat of the Provincial Council.

Once he sensed that he was safe, he stripped off the plaid shirt that he was still wearing over his black clothing and put it in the bag along with the rest of the belongings obtained from the corpse.

Avoiding the main thoroughfares of that area of the city, he went to the small apartment that the Congregation had rented for him next to Saint Ildefonso’s church - a XIV century temple, with the appearance of a fortress, located in the heart of the ancestral neighborhood of its same name, and where the Renaissance Andrés de Vandelvira, the main architect of the cathedral whose interior he had just visited, was buried.

As soon as he had reached his eventual residence, and after calming the fire that burned his throat with water, he proceeded to review each and every one of the objects seized from the first victim of the new crusade that seemed to have started in that city.

II

Jerusalem. Year 33 of our era.

The darkness began to take over the lower area of Jerusalem. This motivated the torches and skylights, strategically located on the facades of the houses, to begin to illuminate the streets of the Holy City. However, despite the inexorable advance of twilight, the many artisans who gathered in the various bazaars located under the arcades that made up that wide street remained mired in anxious deals with potential buyers whose transit, despite the imminent sunset, continued incessantly. At the same time, the smell of fried foods, spices, and various perfumes was mixed with the continuous shouting, laughter and commercial announcements uttered loudly.

Through one of the many alleys that made up the intricate labyrinth connecting the upper area of the city with the lower or old area, an old man who should have been in his seventies entered the wide street of the market, and with a rapid step he headed between the crowd, toward one of the many stalls located under the porticoes adorned with thick columns.

The noblest and most respected professionals in Jerusalem had settled in the old part of the city; while those considered as impure provided their services in the upper area of the city.

The old man traveled twenty meters until he stopped in front of one of the many bazaars that lined the main street. After looking both ways and making sure that no one had followed in his footsteps, he entered a stall dedicated to the sale of iron and bronze objects.

The young man who was attending the business observed the luxurious woolen cloak that covered the man's body and sensed that this new client belonged to the prosperous class of the city, and imagining a succulent sale he chose, in a hurry, to approach the newcomer.

Welcome to my humble home. How may I be of service, sir?

I'm looking for your father. He has a commission for me.

Who do I tell my lord father is looking for him?

Tell him Joseph of Arimathea has come for his jewel box.

The young man, with no time to lose, went to the back room. Seconds later, a sturdy man of height above the average of the Jews, made an appearance between the esparto curtain that separated the stall from the back room. In his hands, he carried a strange oval-shaped object, with four small legs that served as a seat.

Here's your jewel box, the burly merchant reported briskly. It has been manufactured as indicated. Its structure is made up of the hardest of steel, and as you can see, the exterior has been coated with gold. Its opening is completely normal; however, added the merchant, lowering the tonality of his words, "In order to gain access to the special compartment you indicated, you must insert this slim key through the slot at one of its ends, which as you can see, I have tried to hide in the best possible way. I can guarantee