Lemuria by Burt Clinchandhill (most popular novels of all time .txt) 📗

it’s interesting how a drawing of Ernst Haeckel’s vision of evolution, containing an obvious error, ended up in a Peruvian cave of one of the last isolated tribes on Earth?”

“Absolutely fascinating,” Bishop replied. “But I figure the answer to that question will be rather disappointing. Haeckel’s drawing is over one hundred twenty years old. I figure, in the meantime, the cave could have been occupied by several generations of different people, maybe those who’ve been studying the indigenous people.”

“Of course, you could be right,” Ignatowski replied. “But you’re not. The mud on the wall still hadn’t dried completely. We calculated that the mud, given the circumstances in the cave, would take between two and three weeks to dry completely. So, someone else was there and probably in exactly the period that the other tribe members disappeared.”

Bishop raised an eyebrow. “Okay, you got me. Why me?”

“Okay,” Lindsey said. “While researching Haeckel, we came across your paper ‘Evolution, the mathematical probabilities and philosophical implications of proof.’”

“I always thought the title was too long,” Bishop replied with a bright smile.

“Agreed.” Lindsey nodded. “But, in your paper, you refer to Haeckel more than once.”

Bishop nodded. “As I’m sure hundreds of other scientists have done over the decades. For a time, the man was rather popular on the subject.”

“We need your help,” Lindsey admitted. “We think there’s more to the strange disappearing and the link to the Haeckel drawing. Now, we know about your... let’s say, adventure with the coded document a few years ago, and we have the drawing linking to your paper. So, we can use your input on this. We believe the reverse items on the picture have a significant meaning, but we don’t know what.”

Monroe folded his arms. “You mean to say you think it’s some kind of code, but the NSA can’t crack it?”

Lindsey ignored him. She hated it when people acted smug when it came to government services. It was too easy. Most people had really no idea what they were doing or how difficult their jobs really were.

“So, what do you think I can do?” Bishop asked.

“Come with us?” Lindsey asked.

“Come with you, where? To do what?”

“To South America,” she said.

Bishop shook his head. “You’re joking. What the hell am I going to do in South America?”

“Peru, to be precise,” Lindsey added. “We think there’s more to our discovery there, but we need a fresh set of eyes on site.”

“I don’t understand.” Bishop shrugged. “As you said, there was nothing left in the caves. Why would you need another set of eyes there, and why my eyes for that matter?”

Ignatowski took a deep breath. “I told you it would be a tough sell,” he said to Lindsey. Then he addressed Bishop. “We think the male tribe member was trying to communicate something with us, but we couldn’t understand it. And somehow Lindsey believes it’s important, and because of your reputation, well, she thinks you’re the one who could help communicate with the man.”

Lindsey smiled big. In college, she always knew where to find Bishop’s weaknesses. She knew her smile back then could make him study with her until late at night or even into the early morning. Why not try it again? she thought.

Bishop rubbed his eyes with both hands and shook his head.

“Hell with it,” Lindsey said. “When was the last time you spoke with Jennifer Porter?”

“Are you sure?” Ignatowski intervened, shaking his head.

Lindsey ignored his remark.

Bishop now straightened himself on the bench.

A few years ago, Jennifer had been a student at Yale, who came to Bishop for help after her father died, and left her with a rather bizarre legacy. Bishop had agreed to help her, which resulted in the two traveling across the globe in search of an ancient secret and global conspiracy.

“Now, there’s a name,” Bishop replied. “If someone could help you with your communication problem, I suspect it’ll be Jennifer. She studied linguistic anthropology and has a particular interest in evolution. So, why ask me about her?”

“When was the last time you spoke with her?” Lindsey repeated.

“It’s been a few months, I guess. Maybe more. Come to think of it. It was at her dissertation, I think. You?” he addressed Monroe.

“Probably at the same opportunity,” Monroe replied.

“Why?” Bishop asked, now suspecting more behind the question.

“You’re not the first one we contacted for help with this,” Lindsey admitted. “I cannot give you all the details, but we suspect Jennifer is somehow connected to the disappearing tribes.”

“What do you mean ‘connected?’” Bishop asked. “You think she’s somehow responsible?”

“I didn’t say that,” Lindsey replied. “As I said, we can’t give you the details, but trust me when I say there is evidence linking her to it all.”

“So, I figure you asked her,” Bishop said. “What did she have to say about it?”

“We tried.” Ignatowski rubbed his chin. “We tried to contact her, first at her home, then at the university. We even had her tracked down by our agency. She’s nowhere to be found.”

“No one has seen or heard from her in over three months,” Lindsey added.

Bishop stayed silent for a long moment, then squinted his eyes and shook his head profoundly. “From what I know, that’s not unheard of. During the research for her dissertation, Jennifer was known to disappear for weeks at a time, researching some third world country. Listen, even if I believed you, I could not leave the university now. I have classes the day after tomorrow.”

“That has been arranged,” Ignatowski said. “Your schedule has been cleared. It’s only a four-day trip. One day to fly there, two researching the location and one to get back.”

It was quiet around the table for a long moment before Bishop broke the silence. “When would we leave?” he asked, still shaking his head slowly.

“Now,” Lindsey said. “We have a private plane standing by. We would very much appreciate your help.”

Bishop took a deep breath and looked at Monroe.

“Like I said,” Monroe said, “I guess that was the shortest fishing trip ever.”

Bishop smiled. “As if you