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Who doesn't enjoy a rollicking adventure story, especially when there is a touch of mysticism thrown in? Michael Cordy has taken the mysterious, indecipherable Voynich Manuscript, had one of his characters decipher (most of) it, then run with it to the shores of the New World. Mind, we also have an evil priest from the Vatican, always, of course, a useful addition to a plot like this. Part One depicts the feared assassin, The Left Hand Of God, Marco Bazin, in the grip of a fatal cancer. His half-brother, a priest of some standing, pays him a visit in the middle of the night and Marco confesses that he seeks absolution for his life of evil but knows it will take some very great deed to grant him that forgiveness. And, of course, the priest DOES have a project for him that will both use Bazin's abilities as an assassin and grant him absolution. Ross Kelly is a geologist working for a smallish oil company. He has left a larger one but is horrified, on arriving at work, to discover his old boss, the main reason for his leaving the large oil company, is waiting for him, a good reason to leave. Meanwhile, Kelly's wife, Lauren, is about to present a paper on the Voynich manuscript, that mysterious and so far undecipherable puzzle. She has succeeded where so many have failed and translated a goodly section of it. And, more personally, she has been to see her doctor and learned that she is pregnant. At the presentation, Lauren is approached by a priest who offers a collaboration, but insists that the Church have the last say on everything. She declines and she and Ross leave for home, where she has disclosed that she keeps most of her files. Not long thereafter, Lauren is attacked and injured grievously. Sister Chantal is a mysterious nun from no apparent order. Her age, too, is indeterminate, although apparently great. She is very interested in the Voynich manuscript so that when she learns of the translation, she seeks out Lauren, but learning of her accident, speaks to Ross instead. Chantal identifies herself as the Keeper of various mysteries and states she has designated Lauren as the next Keeper. Ross assembles a somewhat ragtag company to locate the mysterious (and apparently miraculous) Garden spoken of in the Voynich. He feels that it is necessary for him to locate the place in order for Lauren to be returned to health. Some of the troupe is motivated solely by the desire for gold but Ross and Lauren's friend Zeb have only Lauren's health at heart. This is a lovely tale that has everything possible to make it a success - always supposing one doesn't object to the descent of the characters into caricature at times - and I must admit that I wouldn't have been surprised to see the evil priest twirl his mustachios and gloat over Ross' party, perhaps even referring to them as "my pretties." The characterisation is, perhaps, not the strongest, but it is adequate. The foundation of the tale is admirable. After all, there really is a Voynich manuscript, so there is a link to credibility. It is true that as yet it has not been deciphered, so who knows what sort of treasure it contains? The injury to Lauren (and the unborn baby) is a necessary and sufficient motivation for the protagonist to organise the expedition, given the possible rewards. Sister Chantal is just icing on the cake. What more can I say? Despite some of its shortcomings, I thoroughly enjoyed the tale.
Reviewed by Denise Pickles, November 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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