Free Trifariam, The Lost Codex (2012) by Diego Rodriguez Page A

very long week. I’ve had a lot on my mind and I completely forgot. But, tell me! You’re not frittering away University money buying everybody drinks, are you?”
    “How dare you! You’ve offended me!” Richard couldn’t help but laugh, and his friend heard this clearly. “I’m having a great time. Besides, there are two new, young up-and-coming members who still don’t know about my reputation as a ladies’ man. I have to take advantage before they find out. But I know you too well, James. You haven’t called to ask me how things are. Something’s up, isn’t it?”
    James’ mood changed drastically. It was best to spit it out. “We have to see each other immediately. I’ve made a very significant discovery and I need your help. At the moment I can’t tell you anything over the phone because I don’t know if the line is safe.” James took a deep breath and then said it. “They tried to kill us a couple of hours ago.”
    “What?! You’ve discovered something very important and you came close to being killed?! But… who are you with now?!”
    James began to get nervous. “I told you, I can’t say anything. Listen to me carefully and do what I say. I suppose you’ll be having dinner now. We have to see each other tomorrow, but before then I’m going to send you a document. I want you to translate it, but don’t show it to anybody, or your life could be in danger.
    Suddenly his cellphone beeped. He didn’t even look at it - he guessed it was a text message, probably sent by one of his friends who were getting impatient. He didn’t have time to reply to them. “James, wait a minute. What does the document contain for them to want to kill you? You haven’t stolen it, have you? Because I don’t want to get involved, if that’s the case.”
    “Don’t worry. It is a book that’s about five-hundred-years-old which I found in the house I was renting. Judging by how they dealt with us this afternoon, it obviously hides something very important which I haven’t been able to work out yet. I need your help. I want you to ask in the hotel you’re staying at if they allow guests to send and receive faxes. If they don’t, go out and find somewhere that does. When you’re there, send me a blank fax to the number I’ve just sent to your phone. This way, I’ll have your number and I’ll be able to send you photocopies of the first chapter of the book.”
    Without hanging up, Richard ran to the hotel reception. Regretfully, he didn’t have time to say goodbye to his colleagues, but he had a feeling that his friend was in trouble. On the way he bumped into an elderly man who was waiting for the elevator, and his cellphone suddenly dropped to the floor. The display read four minutes and twenty-three seconds; he still hadn’t hung up. When he got to reception he met with a couple who were leaving their keys.
    “Good evening. Look, I’m staying in this hotel and I need to send a fax urgently. I need some privacy - it’s an important personal matter.”
    The receptionists looked at each other. They weren’t used to these kinds of requests, but they did have a small room with a cluster of computers with internet access, two printers and a fax machine. They knew the kind of clientele who stayed the hotel only too well - very influential people who had great purchasing power and, in some cases, moved in important media circles. In order to avoid getting into trouble with their superiors, the receptionists let Richard through and closed the doors so that he would be more comfortable.
    Finally, he picked up the phone. “I hope this is important. You’ve gone and got me locked in a room so that nobody disturbs me.”
    “Did you get the message?”
    The screen lit up when Richard unblocked his phone. He kept James waiting while he skillfully accessed the inbox. He had one unread message:
    ___________________________________

    TEXT MESSAGE: 1/258
    FROM: James Oldrich

    The fax number is 300203741.
    Be