Robert Barnwood never expected to receive an invitation from Franz Keller, a curator at the Hofburg Museum in Vienna, Austria. For months since inheriting a generous legacy from a deceased uncle, Robert had entered a life of ease and comfort and he traveled widely all over the world.
He had become very interested in antiquities and relics, particularly early Christian relics and became fascinated with the legend of Longinus, a Roman soldier who purportedly thrust his spear into Christ's side at the Crucifixion. With his newfound leisure time, Robert decided to write a book about the legend.
He flew to Vienna and appeared at the appointed time at the Hofburg; Franz Keller greeted him cordially and conducted him to a large office containing his desk, a long table, extensive bookshelves, and storage boxes. There was what Robert termed "organized clutter" in the room, but the two men seated themselves across from each other at the long table. Keller spoke excellent English with the lightest German accent.
"I understand that you plan to write a book," he smiled.
"Yes," Robert answered, "A definitive book about the legend of Longinus."
"Ah, the legend of Longinus," Keller acknowledged, "A definitive work. The Roman soldier who pierced the side of Christ at the Crucifixion."
"Exactly," Robert replied, "You indicated that I might see the spear."
"It is only the spearhead," Keller remarked, "Ages ago it was broken off from the shaft. The shaft, as you know, resides in the Vatican Museum in Rome."
"That is my understanding," Robert rejoined, "Has the spear been truly authenticated?"
Keller smiled with an affable shrug, "Who can truly say? It is authenticated as well as any other antiquarian object. Adolph Hitler sought to possess the spear when Austria was occupied by Germany and he took it, along with other treasures, to Nuremburg. According to legend, whoever has possession of the spear controls the world. This particular object has been in the Hofburg since 1945."
"Interesting," Robert began to warm to the history, "And before that?"
"It was the possession of your government," Keller explained, "Your General George Patton took possession of the Hofburg treasures when Germany was defeated. However, General Dwight Eisenhower ordered Patton to return the Hofburg treasures to the Austrian government."
"General Patton had quite an interest in antiquities," Robert commented.
"Yes, and he believed in reincarnation," Keller replied, "He did have the object authenticated. Patton believed himself to be the reincarnation of various military heroes, Hannibal, an undefined Roman legionnaire, and a field marshal of Napoleon."
"Always the heroes," Robert acknowledged with a smile.
Keller retrieved a metal box from a shelf and placed it on the table. Opening it, he delicately removed an object wrapped in heavy, purple velvet. He opened the cover to reveal the iron point of a spear, a spear of great antiquity. "The spearhead of Longinus," he said softly.
Covering the widest part of the spear point was an aiglet, a metal sheathe of a lighter color. Robert raised questioning eyes to Keller.
"The aiglet binds part of a nail used at the Crucifixion inside the spearhead," Keller explained.
"Fascinating," Robert said, "And he who possesses this can vanquish armies, or so the legend goes."
"One of our analysts believes that the design of the object could date back no further than the eighth century," Keller commented, "This may depend, however, on whether or not the Romans designed such points. Most of the weaponry retrieved by archeologists indicate a weapon more like a javelin with a tapering, pointed end."
"From what I know, Roman infantrymen were equipped with a javelin," Robert rejoined, "My understanding is that the wound inflicted on Christ on the cross was more of a gaping wound. A javelin would only produce a deep puncture. I base this on the supposed authenticity of the Holy Shroud of Turin."
Keller smiled, "We are holding this together on a group of assumptions, the supposed lance of Longinus, the supposed burial shroud of Christ. I have always found it more pleasing to place a faith value in such objects, regardless of authenticity."
"I understand," Robert remarked, "Perhaps the greater miracle is belief and faith."
Keller carefully rewrapped the spear point and placed it in the container, "I have something which might be of greater interest to you."
Robert' s interest was piqued, "Greater interest than the relic? What could that be?"
