The Alchemist’s Secret
FROM THE INCREDIBLE #1 BESTSELLERBEN HOPE LIVES ON THE EDGE.A former élite member of the SAS, Ben is tortured by a tragedy from his past and now devotes his life to finding kidnapped children.When Ben is recruited to locate an ancient manuscript which could save a dying child, he embarks on the deadliest quest of his life.The document is alleged to contain the formula for the elixir of life, discovered by the brilliant alchemist Fulcanelli decades before. But it soon becomes apparent that others are hunting this most precious of treasures - for far more evil ends.When the secrets of alchemy hidden within the pages remain impenetrable, Ben teams up with beautiful American scientist Dr Roberta Ryder to crack the code.It seems that everyone - from the Nazis during WW2 and powerful Catholic organisation Gladius Domini - wants to unearth the secrets of immortality.The trail leads Ben and Roberta from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries…BEN HOPE is one of the most celebrated action adventure heroes ever and SCOTT MARIANI is one of the most successful home grown thriller writers of all time. Join the MILLIONS of readers who get breathless with anticipation when the countdown to the new Ben Hope thriller begins …
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SCOTT MARIANI
The Alchemistâs Secret
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Avon
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
This ebook edition published by HarperCollins Publishers 2016
First published by HarperCollinsPublishers, 2008
Copyright © Scott Mariani 2008
Cover design © Henry Steadman 2016
Scott Mariani asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9781847560797
Ebook Edition © JANUARY 2016 ISBN: 9780007331475 Version: 2018-06-22
To Marco, Miriam and Luca
âSeek, my Brother, without becoming discouraged;the task is hard, I know, but to conquer withoutdanger is to triumph without glory.â
The Alchemist Fulcanelli
Contents
France, October 2001
Father Pascal Cambriel pulled his hat down tight and his coat collar up around his neck to protect against the lashing rain. The storm had ripped open the door to his hen-house and the birds were running amok in a panic. The sixty-four-year-old priest herded them back in with his stick, counting them as they went. What a night!
A flash of lightning illuminated the yard about him and the whole of the ancient stone village. Behind the wall of his cottage garden lay the tenth-century church of Saint-Jean with its simple cemetery, the crumbling headstones and ivy. The roofs of the houses and the rugged landscape beyond were brightly lit by the lightning flash that split the sky, then plunged back into darkness as the crash of the thunder followed a second later. Streaming with rainwater, Father Pascal pushed home the bolt of the hen-house door, locking the squawking birds safely in.
Another bright flash, and something else caught the priestâs eye as he turned to dash back to the cottage. He stopped dead with a gasp.
Visible for just an instant, a tall, thin, ragged figure stood watching him from across the low wall. Then it was gone.
Father Pascal rubbed his eyes with his wet hands. Had he imagined it? The lightning flashed again, and in the instant of flickering white light he saw the strange man running away across the edge of the village and into the woods.
The priestâs natural instinct after all these years as pastor to his community was to try immediately to help any soul in need. âWait!â he shouted over the wind. He ran out of his gate, limping slightly on his bad leg, and up the narrow lane between the houses, towards where the man had disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
Father Pascal soon found the stranger collapsed face down among the brambles and leaves at the edge of the woods. He was shaking violently and clutching at his skinny sides. In the wet darkness the priest could see that the manâs clothes were hanging in tatters. âLord,â he groaned in sympathy, instinctively taking off his coat to wrap around the stranger. âMy friend, are you all right? Whatâs the matter? Please, let me help you.â
