On the second day, two of them exited the hotel and took a rented car to the University of Malta.
Professor Oman had given instructions for Linda to meet someone at the university. He was a Jewish man named Ferkel. He was an important researcher on European history and a good friend of Professor Oman’s.
At his office, his assistant told them that he was in class so they waited in his office. The assistant did not say much, leaving soon after.
Xia Lei studied Ferkel’s office.
It was definitely a historian’s office, with several Christian oil paintings, a replica of the crusader’s armour and some Middle-Ages styled ornaments. If it weren’t for the computer on his desk, it was difficult to believe that it was an office.
“Have you met Professor Ferkel before?” asked Xia Lei.
“We’ve met once at Professor Oman’s house but we only greeted each other. I was leaving,” said Linda.
“Do you think he’s a knight?”
“Knight?” Linda smiled. “What year do you think it is? The age of knights has long passed. Perhaps some people buy the title but it’s meaningless now. Mister Ma Lei, are you very interested in the history of knights too?”
Xia Lei smiled. “Yeah, I am. They ride on horses, shouting their war cry and charge into battle. The dream of many men, to be a knight.”
Linda glanced at his crotch with an odd look.
Xia Lei did not say a word.
“Have you never been...with a woman?” Linda then added, “You know what I mean.”
Xia Lei smiled awkwardly. “Why are you so interested in my personal life? Can’t we talk about something else?”
“Oh, sorry,” apologised Linda.
He changed the topic. “According to you and the professor’s plan, you’ll meet Professor Ferkel. Now that Professor Oman is dead and the metal book is gone, do you still need to meet him?”
“Of course,” said Linda. “As I said, I’ve met him before. That was the day Professor Oman brought the metal book from the Vatican Museum back home. After that, he told me that it was Ferkel who persuaded the pope to start research on the book. He must’ve had his intentions to start persuading the pope. I want to know why.”
Xia Lei was shocked. “You mean Professor Ferkel actually knew something about the book?”
“Perhaps. He’s the top historian on European history. He might know it’s origins, maybe he also knows who took it.”
However, Xia Lei thought to himself. ‘You know it’s origins, yet you still can’t decipher it.” However, he said, “If Professor Ferkel tells you about it, what’s your next step?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, I’m taking this one step at a time.”
She was just an archaeologist. In this aspect, her capabilities were limited.
“Aren’t you afraid of the dangers? You almost died twice last night,” said Xia Lei.
She smiled. “I am afraid but I can do it. Then again, don't I have you helping me?” After a while, she stared at him. “None of this is your concern. You could have stayed far away from danger. Why are you helping me? Before this, I thought you were attracted to me, you were pursuing me. But I was naked in front of you and you showed zero response. Tell me, what are you here for?”
Xia Lei now regrets not following through with his urges last night. Then he wouldn’t have today’s problem. Last night, he had learned how to control his own biological urges and yet it led to today’s problem with Linda.
Xia Lei struggled to answer the question but just then, one person entered.
However, the person was not Professor Ferkel, but his teaching assistant.
“Sorry,” the assistant said apologetically. “He had matters to attend to at home so he ended class early and went home. He told me that he’ll meet you both at his home. Do you know where it is?”
“No,” said Linda. “Could you please give us an address?”
“An address would be useless. He lives in a very secluded area. Very few drivers know where it is. What about I drive you there?” said the assistant.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” said Linda politely.
After that, the three of them sat in a Chevrolet truck and drove off on a road that went along the coast.
Through the car window, Xia Lei saw the ancient city wall and forts along the coast. These were built by the Knight Hospitallers when they occupied this place to defend themselves against the Turkish. It had been centuries and yet these structures stood the test of time, silently telling their ancient stories.
There were many structures related to the Knight Hospitallers in Malta. However, he did not notice any members here. He knew that the Knight Hospitallers’ true headquarters should be here because they never abandoned this piece of land that they owned.
“If the horsemen’s armour was repaired, would they help the Knight Hospitallers take back this piece of land? The people of the Middle Ages believed this, but it was the 21st century. Perhaps even the Knights Hospitallers themselves did not believe this. Then why are they stubbornly looking to piece together the set of armour?” Xia Lei silently mulled over this matter.
His plan was simple. He would quietly arrive on the island and steal the armour if he could. If he couldn’t, he’d at least find out where the FA headquarters were. Then let the Knight Hospitallers launch a new war. However, now that another bronze book had appeared, things were escalating out of his control.
“Sir, where are you from?” asked the teaching assistant as they left the Valletteca area.
“I’m from China.”
“Oh, your Italian is good,” said the assistant. “This is your first time in Malta?”
“Yeah, I really like it here. I’ve never been here before.”
“Sir, what do you do?”
Xia Lei frowned. That’s too many questions!
Linda seemed worried that Xia Lei might insult the assistant so she said, “Mister Ma Lei is my friend, he has his own company in China. Mainly clothing design and manufacturing.”
“Oh, really? That’s impressive, maybe the clothes I‘m wearing right now are manufactured by your company,” he said with a smile. The tension eased, he shut his mouth and focused on the road.
As they travelled further from Valletta, their surroundings became quieter.
Linda leaned to his ear and whispered, “Later, when we meet Professor Ferkel, keep your mouth shut. Let me talk to him, alright?”
Her hot breath tickled his ear. Xia Lei’s body was about to respond to this but before it could, he used his willpower to calm himself down.
“Uh, what do you mean?” Xia Lei said gently.
“Some people have strong opinions against other races, you understand me?”
“Racism? I understand.” Xia Lei was uncomfortable.
“Sorry.” Linda placed a hand on his thigh. “I’ll make it up to you. Didn’t you want to visit the historical sites? I’ll go with you later, wherever you want.”
He smiled. “Alright. When you meet him, I’ll wait for you outside.”
Linda smiled, but her hand did not leave his thigh. It even brushed lightly against his most sensitive parts.
She had other intentions.
However, he didn't respond.
After several seconds, she retracted her hand, disappointed.
He wasn’t responding!
The car entered a valley with a dense forest, plains filled with wildflowers and the ocean waves faraway. It was a beautiful scene.
He saw stone structures on a tall hill. It was sturdy and ancient, very special.
“Linda, where’s that?” He pointed.
Linda looked up. “That’s the famous Temple of Apollo.”
“Temple of Apollo?” This was his first time hearing of it.
“It’s kind of an unsolved mystery. It was built about the second century AD, very ancient. It can measure time using sunlight and is actually pretty accurate. It’s hard to imagine that the ancient people already had such accurate construction technology, but it’s even harder to believe that they could do the calculations for it.”
For some reason, Xia Lei thought of something else.
Why would these people build such a magnificent temple?
Did they just want to tell the time?
“We’re here,” said the assistant.
The car turned a corner and they saw an ancient-styled mansion in the middle of the valley. Creepers and moss crawled up the walls. The sharp roofs gave it a mid-century look, like a knight’s fort.
The assistant smiled. “This is Professor Ferkel’s house. You must be surprised, right? It’s five hundred years old.”
Xia Lei said, “This is a huge fort. It must be expensive. How did a university lecturer get this?”
An odd look flashed across the assistant’s face.