Baphomet's Meteor (1972.DAW No. 35) Read online

  By the dawn of the 14th Century, the Crusaders' Order of the Knights Templar was well on its way to the control of Europe — enormously wealthy, a secret society stronger than many monarchies. By the middle of that century, it was brutally suppressed on the confession of some of its members that it was a conspiracy intending to conquer the world at the orders of a demon named Baphomet.

  That is history as our Earth knows it.

  But the only sort of “demon” enlightened

  modern men would recognize would be an

  extra-terrestrial voyager with the tools of a

  higher technology than medieval men knew.

  And what if Baphomet had been just that?

  Who then would have called the tune?

  BAPHOMET’S METEOR is an enthralling

  excursion into the world that might have

  been—and may still be— somewhere else.

  PIERRE BARBET is the by-line of one of the most popular science fiction writers in France today, and it is also the nom de plume of a distinguished doctor of pharmacology and authority on many branches of medicine. A devoted s-f enthusiast, he is particularly proud of this novel which he regards as his first “historical” and into which he poured a great amount of research. Some of the titles of his recent s-f novels are quite intriguing, although none so far save Baphomet’s Meteor has been made available in English. They include: The Conquistadors of Andromeda, The Secret of the Quasars, Of What Do Cyborgs Dream?, The Agony of the Milky Way, Chimeras of Seginus, Masters of the Pulsars, Stars in Perdition, Azraec of Virgo, etc.

  BAPHOMET’S

  METEOR

  by

  Pierre Barbet

  Translated by

  Bernard Kay

  DAW BOOKS, INC.

  DONALD A. WOLLHEIM, PUBLISHER

  1301 Avenue of the Americas New York, N. Y. 10019

  Published by

  THE NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY

  OF CANADA LIMITED

  Contents :-

  Prologue

  CHAPTER I

  CHAPTER II

  CHAPTER III

  CHAPTER IV

  CHAPTER V

  CHAPTER VI

  CHAPTER VII

  CHAPTER VII

  CHAPTER IX

  Epilogue

  Copyright ©, 1972, by DAW BOOKS, INC.

  Original edition entitled L'Empire du Baphomet,

  Copyright ©, 1972, by Editions Fleuve Noir,

  Paris, France. Published by arrangement with

  Editions Fleuve Noir.

  TRANSLATION BY BERNARD KAY.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  COVER PAINTING BY KAREL THOLE.

  First Printing, December, 1972

  PRINTED IN CANADA

  COVER PRINTED IN U.S.A.

  DEDICATION

  Au docteur Jean-Claude Labur the, historien érudit, dont les conseils m'ont été précieux pour la rédaction de cet ouvrage. En témoinage d'une ancienne et sincère amitié.

  -P.B.

  Prologue

  ☆

  October, 1118 A.D.

  High in the azure sky of Cathay, a meteor left behind a long silvery trail, clearly visible in the bright sunlight.

  Near Troyes, as night fell, a harsh north wind assaulted Grand-Orient Forest, already stripped of its golden finery. Far off, the plaintive yelping of dogs following the scent of some quarry could be heard.

  Suddenly, a black shape rushed from the bramble thickets. It was that sturdy solitary, a wild boar with long, thickset hair, which fled for its life. It appeared exhausted, slaver drooling from its mouth where two sharp tucks gleamed, the cleft of its right forehoof rent by a sharp branch.

  Then quiet returned.

  A few lingering leaves fluttered to the ground. Then from the coppice a horseman charged into view, in full cry, his horse streaming with sweat, its muzzle frosted with foam. In front of him, the dogs—dead tired—kept their noses to the ground, following the still fresh scent of the beast.

  They came from the direction of Beaulieu and made off toward the meres in the heart of the forest, great somber pools of stagnant water filled with rotting leaves. There, the full-grown yet young boar still fled before them but with his pace now slowed. The four hounds, their tongues hanging, gained ground.

  As the hunter glimpsed his prey, a weary smile etched itself on his lips.

  Well now, he thought, not this time will Hugh of Payens again return empty-handed. By my faith, a fine animall I wager he’ll defend his life dearly.

  Watchfully, the hunter lowered his short hunting spear, ready to strike if the boar did an about-face. On his left, the waters of a pond reflected the bloody rays of the setting sun.

  At that instant, a flash of lightning lit up the yellowing leaves that carpeted the ground.

  The dogs howled in terror. The horse, startled, swerved unexpectedly, unseating and throwing its rider. In his fall, his head struck the trunk of an oak tree and he lay motionless on the ground, his arms spread, a little blood running down one cheek, tom by a bramble.

  Long minutes passed.

  Finally Hugh sketched a movement with his right hand, then regained some consciousness and sat up, still half insensible.

  It was already night and the full moon washed the undergrowth with a pale luminescence.

  Suddenly, a wet raspy touch brought him to his senses— one of the dogs licking his wounded cheek.

  With aid of a nearby tree trunk, the horseman got to his feet and ran an exploratory hand over his head, grimacing.

  Apparently nothing was broken.

  Painfully, Hugh of Payens knelt again, made the sign of the cross and gave thanks to God.

  After that he felt better and took brief stock of his situation. The dogs surrounded him, watching with almost human expressions and whining uneasily. The horse grazed placidly on the sparse grass at the edge of the pool.

  The hunter frowned as a strange object caught his eye. An enormous, rusty metal sphere emerged from the black waters and, wonder of wonders, its upper dome seemed to rotate slowly.

  Hugh crossed himself again without effect. The vision did not disappear. Then, as the dome continued its movement, a distinct groove appeared in the metal surface. Abruptly all movement ceased and, as the sphere rocked gently, a circular opening from which a scarlet glow emanated was disclosed.

  Prepared for anything, Hugh seized the dagger fixed at his belt. The enraged dogs snarled, showing their fangs, but they kept at a respectful distance as though realizing they lacked the size to confront the unknown peril which the roseate opening represented.

  Step by step, they retreated, contenting themselves with challenging growls. Instinct warned them of the approach of some mysterious danger.

  Then a strange silhouette, not clearly visible in the pale moonlight, emerged from the sphere.

  Horrified, Hugh of Payens finally made out the diabolic figure. He rubbed his bulging eyes with his left hand as if to assure himself that it was no more than the question of a nightmare.

  But, no! He was not dreaming. A few steps in front of him was a deformed, bearded being with a smooth, hairless cranium that bore two short horns. Clawlike fingers still gripped the. metal edges of the opening.

  The monstrous dwarf was obviously stark naked. Two womanish breasts swelled on his chest. Short wings stood out behind his shoulders.

  Exactly like the pictures in the missals! A demon incubus vomited up from hell to tempt the souls of Christians. ...

  Again Hugh crossed himself and mumbled prayers, but the being would not be exorcised. Instead he emerged even further from the orifice of his strange habitation.

  Two eyes, glittering like live co
als, fixed the knight, who could scarcely bear the unwavering gaze. He had an impression that the malefic pupils emitted flames that pierced his brain, having access to his most secret thoughts.

  Futilely, he tried to dismiss the whole thing as some kind of nightmare but the monstrous creature was all too real.

  After seconds that seemed like centuries, he felt the unclean spirit pervading his being. Strange thoughts imposed themselves on his mind. The demon was speaking to him!

  “Fear nothing, you miserable creature, riveted to this backward planet, I am not Satan. ... I come from beyond immeasureable reaches of space, and from a world much more highly evolved than yours. Unfortunately, an ion storm crippled my spacecraft while it was orbiting close to your star. And here am I, shipwrecked on this minute planet in an unsalvageable vessel, without a means of communicating with my own kind. . . . Still, you have no reason to fear me. On the contrary, if you will agree to follow my instructions, you will become rich and powerful, and you will command even kings themselves.”

  “Your speech is the same as that with which the Prince of Darkness tempted our Lord on the mountain in the desert. May you not be the angel, Lucifer, the fallen one who desires only to lead men to their ruin?”

  “Come now, let’s leave fairy tales to little children. If I were the evil one, I would seek to lead your king astray, not some obscure knight. No, Hugh of Payens, I am only a living being, come from the stars after a long and difficult voyage. Nearly all the delicate mechanisms of my small spacecraft have been destroyed by this catastrophic landing. However, I still possess powerful weapons that would allow me to destroy you without difficulty. See for yourself. . . .”

  On these words, the creature pointed a gray tube toward a huge oak. Hugh could not say from whence it came, but when a blue-green flame sprang from the humid trunk, he shuddered in terror as though lightning had just struck close beside him.'

  “Well, what do you say to that, knight? This tube could reduce you. to ashes, you and ten like you, but I would never use it against you for you can render me an inestimable service.”

  “Speak. If what you want in no way puts my immortal soul in peril, I shall obey you.”

  Hugh was beginning to relax.

  After all, this strange creature seemed in no way troubled by his signs of the cross. Besides, did he not wear about his neck a venerable relic that would suffice to make all the demons in hell flee, braying like asses?

  “There is substantial recompense,” continued his interlocutor. “We will reach an agreement. All the more because I ask very little: each day your manservants must place provisions near this pool. Then they must leave and not return. I, for my part, am ready to make you and those who follow your instructions masters of the world.”

  “Bahl You are poking fun at me. . . .”

  “Not at all. I will give you gold: for me the dream of your alchemists is a reality. With this metal you can buy

  lands, impose your will on kings. And even, should you so desire, raise armies to do battle under your command.” Hugh felt temptation growing inside him.

  If this creature spoke the truth, he, poor knight of the House of Champagne, would acquire riches and renown ... a petty nobleman could not hope for an equal piece of good luck. Gone would be the bleak winter nights when one counted the bushels of wheat, asking oneself if there would be enough bread until the next harvest. Over and done with the hard labor around the ramshackle familial manor. No more coats worn threadbare, nor tattered doublets. From the very moment he could be done with hunting to assure a roast for the meager seignorial table. He could have serfs and game-beaters for his own pleasure. And yet, the torture with red-hot pincers for all eternity! If this creature were lying, if he were indeed the demon tempter . . . then Hugh of Payens would lose his immortal soul!

  Suddenly an inspiration swept away his scruples. These riches, promised to him alone, why not consecrate them to a noble cause and thus assure his salvation? The deliverance of the Holy Sepulchre, for which legions of Crusaders had given their lives, was a thing accomplished, but King Baldwin needed assistance to defend Jerusalem against the assaults of the infidels....

  Since 1113, the Hospitalers had fought at the side of knights of all nations, but with resources insufficient for the task. Why not assist them? Better still, why not found a new monastic order that would have as its sole reason for being the defense of the Temple of Jerusalem?

  Yes! He would set up monasteries in France and in neighboring countries. He would recruit and train knights who would consecrate their lives to the struggle in the Holy Land, who would go to Jerusalem to offer assistance to King Baldwin II. Surely Geoffroy of Saint-Omar, Andre of Montbart and other knights would support such a project with enthusiasm.

  That settled it. He would accept “Well, knight, you have decided?”

  “I will gladly feed you as long as you wish. On the condition, you understand, that you do not ask the impossible of me. Tell me your name and put your hand in mine: thus we will seal our agreement forever.”

  "Call me Baphomet!” The dwarf laughed derisively and extended a scaly palm.

  Hugh felt a deadly cold seize him on contact with the stranger. Without doubt this being was real. He felt the grasp of a hand....

  “It is good,” declared the knight, crossing himself. “By the Lord Jesus, who died for us on the Cross, I swear to obey your orders scrupulously.”

  “Excellent To begin, you are going to give me your water bottle and the provisions you have in your saddlebag. My food synthesizer was destroyed and I must content myself with frightful nourishment After that you will go and gather around you eight companions, gentle knights like yourself. You will betake yourselves to Jerusalem, abandoning your wives and children. The gold you leave behind will console them during your absence. The king will agree to entrust you with guarding the route taken by the pilgrims, which passes through Jaffa. He will also bestow on you the freehold of a part of his palace located on the exact site of the ancient Temple of King Solomon. There you will establish the rules of your Order before the Patriarch of Jerusalem. After that, an illustrious knight, Hugh, Count of Champagne, will join you.”

  “How can you already know my desires and be so well-informed about our Holy Land, you who claim to be a stranger?”

  “Fortunately, not all the equipment in my ship was destroyed. I still have a device linked directly with my brain which permits me—within limits—to see the future. Your thoughts are known to me, of course. But that is not all. In eleven-twenty-eight you will return to France. From here, you will go to England to enlist new recruits. The Council of Troyes will definitely confirm the rules of the Order of the Temple. Finally, a saintly man, Bernard, will lend you his assistance. Your power will then be great and the white mantle of your knights will be saluted with respect. In due course, you will return to the Holy Land, paying your respects to the Bishop of Avignon on the way, after which, in the company of Fulk of Anjou and his forces, you will engage in many a hard-fought battle. The glory will reflect on the Order and your converts will become innumerable.”

  “Lord!” cried the knight, quite dazzled. “What have I ever done to deserve anything so marvelous?”

  “You have gladly helped a creature in need. God is rewarding you for it by my agency. Listen to me a little longer. Near here, you will set up several Commanderies for the purpose of protecting this forest: at Beaulieu, Pinay, Royson and Bouy. On your death, the date of which I will not reveal to you, you will bequeath our secret to your successor, the Grand Master of the Order, who must swear to carry out every point of your agreement and, like you, jealously guard knowledge of my existence. Wherever you may go, you will take with you a kind of magical statue which will allow you to communicate with me, even when you are in the Holy Land. Bear well in mind that its existence, too, must be kept absolutely secret, for it will destroy itself, if the gaze of one unauthorized should fall on it. I have said enough to you. Later on, I shall place at the disposal
of the Grand Masters other devices, powerful weapons and subtle machines which will allow you to overcome all adversaries. For the moment, content yourself with this gold; you might turn the destructive engines that I possess against me.

  Hugh could say or do nothing. His head reeled, his eyesight blurred. Was he, after all, dreaming? And yet, Baphomet was holding out to him a block of yellow metal, as promised.

  With a mechanical gesture, he detached his water bottle, flung down the saddlebag containing his provisions, then seized the ingot. Its weight surprised him, but its luster was that of good alloy. This creature from another world kept his word.

  “Do not forget,” warned the dwarf. “Tomorrow, at the same hour, those who serve you must place food and drink beside this pool. I need strength to undertake repairs on my ship.”

  “I shall take care always that you want for nothing,” the knight stammered.

  “It is well. Before you leave for the Holy Land, come back here to get the effigy which will allow you to stay in communication with me. And, above all, be discreet. . . .”

  With these words, Baphomet reentered his curious abode.

  The cover slid across the opening, sealing it. Then the sphere sank slowly under the black waters of the t^.

  Thoughtfully, the knight placed the precious ingot in a leather pocket of his saddle, then mounted his steed and, following the dogs, disappeared in the night mist.

  Thus, Baphomet, an explorer lost in the galaxy without hope of return, because a space-time tornado had cast him far from his homeland, had established the basis for an empire of which he intended to be the sole master.

  The robot-images introduced into each Commandery would be the means of ensuring his hold on humanity through the intermediation of the Templars.