The Samaritans fearless crew, after pulling Albert from the clutches of an icy, watery grave, searched the surrounding area but unable to find the rest of Rodneys crew.
Mariners are superstitious and Albert, now fearing the Bataviers treasure cursed, never touched the gold for decades.
Albert lived in his home in Grimsby throughout his life. He and his wife had a son, Keith, who had a son, named John.
Losing the Rodney and its crew devastated Albert, although he continued to skipper trawlers until he hung up his oilskins and retired from fishing at 65 years old. Hed seen the decline of the industry he loved over the next ten years and with his wife dying a few years earlier, he knew his end drew near. He wanted to leave his family something of value. One night, he was watching a T.V. program on the BBC about a treasure unearthed in England. The program mentioned that the finders kept all the proceeds. Albert knew then what he must do. Even though he feared the gold cursed, he felt that maybe the curse would lift if he passed it on to help others. At least proceeds from the sale would come in handy for his grandson John and his family, with him being out of work and a new baby on the way.
Albert wrote to the admiralty and various government departments. The government responded by writing him a letter, informing him about the vessel: Steam Ship SS.Batavia V, which sank in May 1916, along with its cargo of gold, rice, etc. The letter explained about the vessel and its contents insured by a Swiss company, so with no one salvaging the wreck or its contents, the gold legally belonged to him.
On receiving the letter, Albert dug the boxes the following day. Unfortunately, the fickle finger of fate stepped in, and Albert suffered a fatal heart attack. He died before his planned excavation.
I would like you to help my grandson John find the gold, said Albert and gave Church instructions and relevant information he thought useful.
Good luck Church, said Granny Pearl, as her and Alberts spirits faded, and the portal closed. Church read his notes and called his parents.
The following day, Church borrowed his mothers battered, second-hand Ford Escort car and drove the four hours to the northeast coast. He arrived at Alberts old house in Grimsby late afternoon.
John, a fisherman like his father and grandfather but with the fishing industry in severe decline, with most of the trawler fleet decommissioned, John was unemployed. Albert had bequeathed his house, including the contents to John, and he and his pregnant wife had moved in several days ago.
Church sat outside in the car, trying to figure out his best approach. Albert had told Church that as a child, John would often visit, but he had seen little of him over the past few years. Using this information, Church figured out a plan. John and his wife Sandra were in the kitchen unpacking boxes when Church knocked on the door. John answered.
Hello John. My name is Church and I was a friend of your Grandads, Church smiled and extended his hand.
John frowned and looked bewildered. He never mentioned you, he said and shook Churchs hand.
Probably not, said Church. The last time I spoke to Albert he told me that you rarely visited, but he often spoke about you.
John sighed, as it had been well over a year since he had last seen his Grandad.
Well, its nice to meet you Church. What can I do for you? asked John.
I wanted to offer my condolences and tell you that your Grandad mentioned something that concerned him the last time we spoke,
Whos at the door? shouted Sandra from the kitchen.
A friend of Grandads, John shouted.
Invite them in, but tell them we are in the middle of unpacking, so excuse the mess.
Yes dear, said John smiling and said, Come inside Church, we can chat over a cuppa.
Sandra joined them in the living room bringing in two mugs of tea and the three sat on a couch. Church told the couple how he was a neighbour until his family recently moved. I often came to see Albert and listen to his stories. One of the neighbours called my dad and told him that Albert passed away. I came to see you and keep a promise that I made to Albert. He wanted to make sure you found the gold, said Church.
John chuckled and said Not you too. Grandad used to rave on when I was a child about this cursed treasure buried in the garden. I never believed him. It was only a fairy-tale, he laughed and said, Dont tell me that you believed him.
Church smiled and said, Well, he had me fooled, especially after showing me the letter.
John frowned and asked, What letter?
The one from the government, said Church. Didnt you read it?
John and Sandra looked at each other.
John shrugged and said, No, we have seen no letter.
Oh, thats strange, said Church. Perhaps its still here somewhere. It was very important, so I doubt if Albert threw it away.
John thought for a moment and went to find the box of papers that he was about to put in the rubbish. He brought in the cardboard box containing letters, papers, and various photos.
John placed the box on the table, and they rifled through it.
Is this it? Sandra asked, holding up a government-franked envelope.
Yep, thats it, said Church, hoping it was.
John read out the letter from the admiralty. When hed finished, he looked shocked and said,
It says we own the gold, great! he and Sandra smiled at each other and then Johns expression change as he screwed up his face and said, Hang on a minute; what gold? Not Grandads fairy-story gold. He then smiled and said, Grandad was a great one for stories and exaggerating.
Maybe so, Church said, But Albert told me where its buried.
Why didnt he dig it up before then? John asked, sounding suspicious.
Albert told me it was cursed for anyone, except you, John, said Church.
John smirked and said, And you believed him?
Albert was a mariner and superstitious, so yes, I believed him, said Church, knowing that John also being a fisherman would understand about fate.
What do you want? Sandra asked sounding abrupt.
Nothing, said Church.
Weve only known you for a few minutes, and you want us to dig up our lawn because you made friends with a crazy old man, said Sandra glaring at him.
I know it sounds bizarre, but what do you have to lose? I know where to dig, so if I am wrong, you can laugh me out of your home But what if Im right? Church asked and gazed at the couple.
Church and John took turns digging at the spot where Albert had instructed. They had only excavated down a short way when Johns shovel struck something solid. They removed the boxes and, joined by Sandra, opened the first box of gold ingots. John and Sandras eyes widened and they gasped.
He wasnt such a crazy old man after all, was he? said Church grinning.
John fumbled for words while examining one of the gold bars. There must be a bloody fortune here!
And its all yours, said Church.
They spent the rest of that day and the following morning at banks and gold traders around Lincolnshire with the Admiralty letter in hand. They sold some of the gold bars and the rest John put in a banks safety box. Church spent the night in a spare room at John and Sandras.
The following day, Church said he had to leave.
The following day, Church said he had to leave.
You are a godsend, Churchill Potts, said Sandra, hugging Church.
Yeah, youve changed our lives for sure, said John, with tears welling up as he rubbed his pregnant wifes stomach, and added, At least he will have a good start in life.
Or she, interrupted Sandra,
Thanks to Albert Church reminded them.
John faced the heavens and said aloud, Cheers, Grandad.
He then handed Church an envelope and one gold bar. Here Church, take this as a token of our gratitude.
Church opened the envelope and pulled out a bundle of crisp banknotes.
Its the least we can do, insisted John. Now, put it to good use and make sure you keep in touch.
Granny Pearl had told Church that he could not charge a payment for his help. However, John insisted on him taking the gift, as did many others who Church helped.
Church thanked the couple. He put the money and gold bar into his pocket and said his goodbyes.
Church drove home thinking about how to spend his fortune. Five hundred pounds and a chunk of gold for a few days work, thats fantastic. he thought, never having seen that much money before, although he knew it was not always going to be that simple or lucrative.
Church arrived back at the cottage early in the evening. From the familiar smell that greeted him, he knew Granny Pearl was waiting in the portal room. Feeling excited, he went to tell Pearl about his success, and he felt an overwhelming feeling of happiness. He smiled and stood in front of the portal, facing Granny Pearl and Albert.
Youve done well Church, said granny Pearl, adding, Albert is ready to pass over, but wants to thank you.
Whats happening? I have felt nothing like this before, said Church, feeling euphoric. Its amazing.
It is the emotion from Albert. A pure feeling of closure and peace, said Granny Pearl.
Its time for me to leave now, said Albert. Thank you young Churchill, you will make a great Keeper.
Church saw the smiling face of an old sea-dog smiling as Alberts shimmering white apparition faded.
PATH GTR 001: Fishermans Friend: Case closed.
* * *
Churchill was an enthusiastic and focused student, spending time during the day repairing and updating the cottage with money he had made from the family business. Apart from when he was away on assignments, Church seldom left the cottage, with his evenings spent with Pearl and Jack in the portal room.
Church used the money from John to buy an Acorn computer to record his assignments and other information. Fitting a washbasin, mirror, and kitchenette in the portal room, he bought a mahogany desk and along with his desktop computer, he felt like an executive in his new office.
Church recorded his observations on his computer, he wrote:
The spirit world has two levels. The first level is similar to border control, known by various names over the centuries depending on religion and culture; Purgatory, Limbo, Twear-Youmork. This level is the souls first port of call when mortal life expires. Every soul passes through here and transcends through to the final level afterlife,commonly referred to as Heaven, Nirvana, Jannat, etc. The afterlife is the souls final resting place and a place of no return, so it is unknown.
Granny Pearl and the Potts journal described the first level, which I compare with the ringed planet Saturn. The immense globe of intense white light of the afterlife would be Saturn, while the rings are countless orbs of light.
These orbs vary in colour. Large glowing blue orbs are portals and the multi-coloured lights pulsating in the centre that are spirit Keepers. Crimson orbs orbiting portals or inside are the Chosen-ones Spirit Guides and the many smaller crimson orbs that flit about are the Spirit Guides.
The constant streams of bright white orbs are new souls passing through on their journey to become one with the afterlife. Granny Pearl described this as columns of glowing white ants heading for their nest and explained that this little solar system was in perpetual movement: a cacophony of colours, like slow-moving fizzy bubbles of light, with Guides, Keepers, portals, and souls.
Church surmised these lessons thus:
Humans are individuals with their values, ethics, and beliefs. There are leaders, followers, good people, and evil people, with different coloured skin. In life, there are Christians, Muslims, Buddhist, etc. In death, people shed their mortal shell and pass into a state of being, which passed through the first level, then immediately onto the afterlife. However, some souls have something important they need resolving in the mortal world before passing over. These lost souls leave the organised flow to the afterlife to seek out a Spirit Guide to take them to a Keeper at permanent portals or through temporary portals to contact the mortal world, through a mortal Guide at a séance.
Other souls that wont go into the light taking them on their celestial journey, cannot accept the fact that they are dead. They hang around the mortal plane, convinced that their family will contact them. These lost souls can detect gifted ones auras and until they fledge bombard them with futile attempts to make contact, which gave the young ones gifted blinding headaches and hearing incoherent voices. These souls, once located and reassured by Spirit Guides, continue to the afterlife.
Some souls flatly refuse to pass over for no reason at all. Known to mortals as ghosts and poltergeists, they haunt buildings or a fixed point, poignant to a significant part of their lives. They stay on the mortal world and manifest themselves to scare the bejesus out of people. They were usually grouchy people in life and a nuisance in death but usually pass over when they get bored or exorcised.
* * *
One day, in 1986, Granny Pearl came to the portal. Church picked up emotion from his Spirit Keeper that he had never felt before fear.
Hello Granny Pearl whats the matter?
Church could hear the concern in her trembling voice as she told him, Church, the afterlifes in turmoil. I havent long to explain and I will come and tell you more when we have restored order. In the meantime, you need to research Diabolus in the journal, so you are prepared. Be careful my grandson.
The portal closed and Church rubbed his chin. That didnt sound good, he said aloud and took the journal from the cupboard, put it on his desk, and looked through the pages. He came across several entries in the journal relating to the subject and read about spirits with dark blue and black auras, known as Aura Diabolus. Church read that this phenomenon, which although extremely rare and inexplicable, Keepers described it as pure evil, capable of damaging the fabric of the spirit world, leaving turmoil in the celestial plane for decades. He became more concerned when he read about the doom the mortal world faced should a Diabolus re-enter the living world as a spirit.
Referred to in the journal as Diabolus or Demon spirits, he read the shortlist of mortals with Aura Diabolus in the past, with only the last two names he recognised, the others pre-dated mortals history books. One was Genghis Khan, and as he looked at the most recent name, a cold shiver went through his body. Church felt concerned about the portal that the Diabolus entered into the mortal world through.
Church made a cup of tea and studied the ancient English text about the last Diabolus encounter. He read how that demon had come in through the Potts portal.