Only this diary remained, which my grandfather managed to hide.» He closed the book. «But even without the map, I know where to look. Our ancestor passed this knowledge to his son, who passed it to his son, and so on from generation to generation. Thus the secret came down to my father, and my father passed it to me.»
«And you never tried to find the treasures yourself?» asked Dinara.
«I tried, when I was young and hot-headed,» Rustam smiled. «But my ancestor left a warning: without the medallion, finding the cache is impossible. And the medallion was lost in David’s time.» The old man looked at Alexei. «At least, that’s what we thought until your grandfather found it in 1954.»
«But why didn’t my grandfather use the medallion to find the treasures?» Alexei wondered. «Why did he simply hide it and tell no one?»
«Because it was a dangerous time,» Rustam answered. «The USSR, the Cold War, the KGB watching every step. Igor understood that if the authorities learned about the „Key of Solomon,“ they would do everything to get it. And if the legend is to be believed, this crystal possesses extraordinary power. In the hands of those who crave power, it could become a dangerous weapon.»
«What kind of power exactly?» asked Alexei.
Rustam smiled mysteriously.
«They say the crystal can heal diseases, prolong life, and even open the ’eyes of the soul,» allowing one to see the true nature of people and things. But there is also a warning: it amplifies both the light and dark sides of human nature. In the hands of a good person, it works miracles. In the hands of an evil one – it brings calamity.»
«Sounds like a myth,» Alexei remarked.
«Perhaps,» Rustam agreed. «But your grandfather, a scientist and skeptic, believed in this legend enough to keep the medallion secret all his life. That makes one think, doesn’t it?»
Dinara looked at the medallion lying on the table.
«What about these symbols?» she asked, pointing to the strange marks on the reverse side of the medallion. «What do they mean?»
«It’s a combination of Nestorian script and special symbols known only to initiates,» Rustam replied. «A kind of cipher. But I cannot read it completely. My father couldn’t either. That part of the knowledge was lost.»
«And the inscription inside?» asked Alexei. «„Lux in aqua, aqua in luce. Clavis Salomonis aperiet viam.“ Light in water, water in light. Solomon’s key will open the way.»
«That’s a clue,» said Rustam. «Light in water, water in light’ is a description of a special phenomenon that can be observed only at a certain time of year and in a specific place on Issyk-Kul. When the sun rises and its first rays penetrate the water at a particular angle, creating the illusion that the lake is glowing from within. And at that moment, an entrance to a cave, hidden at other times, becomes visible.»
«Is such a thing possible?» Alexei asked doubtfully. «A cave entrance that’s visible only under special lighting?»
«There are many unusual things at Issyk-Kul,» Rustam replied. «But in this case, we’re talking about a natural phenomenon. The entrance is located in a cliff and under normal lighting blends with the surrounding rocks. But when light falls at a certain angle, it creates a contrast that makes the entrance visible.»
«And when does this happen?» Alexei inquired.
«Once a year, on the summer solstice,» said Rustam. «Which, by the way, will occur in a few days.»
Alexei and Dinara exchanged glances. What a coincidence. Or was it fate?
«So if we want to find the „Key of Solomon,“ we only have a few days?» Dinara clarified.
«Exactly,» Rustam nodded. «But there’s a more serious problem than the timing.» His expression darkened. «Karabaev. That man is obsessed with finding Nestorian treasures. For years, he’s been gathering information, financing expeditions, bribing officials. And now that he’s learned about the medallion, he’ll stop at nothing to get it.»
«But how did he find out?» asked Dinara. «We were careful.»
«In our time, it’s difficult to keep secrets,» Rustam sighed. «Especially from a man with such resources and connections. Perhaps someone at the museum told him about your conversation. Or they found mention of the medallion in Igor’s papers in the university archive.»
Ermek, who had been listening silently to the conversation, spoke up:
«Whatever happened, we must get ahead of Karabaev. Find the «Key of Solomon’ before he does.»
«I agree,» Rustam nodded. «But we need to be extremely cautious. Right now, his men are probably combing the area looking for us.»
«Do you have a specific plan?» asked Alexei.
«Yes,» Rustam replied. «Tomorrow at dawn, we’ll go to where your grandfather found the medallion. It’s a cave complex in the mountains not far from Kurmenty. There we’ll find clues that will help us determine the exact location of the entrance mentioned in the legend.»
«But won’t Karabaev’s men be watching these caves?» Dinara questioned.
«Surely,» Rustam agreed. «But there are old paths known only to locals. We’ll take those. Plus, we have an advantage – the medallion. Without it, Karabaev will never find the entrance, no matter how many men he sends.»
Alexei picked up the medallion from the table and looked at it pensively. In the light of the kerosene lamp (Rustam principally did not use electric lighting in the evenings, preferring «living fire»), the silver gleamed dully, and the strange symbols seemed to come alive, moving in the play of shadows.
«Do you really believe that this crystal, the „Key of Solomon,“ possesses such power?» he asked Rustam.
The old man looked at him for a long time before answering.
«I’ve lived a long life, Alexei. I’ve seen many strange and inexplicable things. Especially here, at Issyk-Kul.» He paused. «I cannot say with certainty that the crystal possesses all the properties mentioned in the legend. But there is something special about it. Something that made the Nestorians hide it from the world. Something that made your grandfather keep the secret all his life.» He looked Alexei directly in the eyes. «And something that makes Karabaev so desperately search for it.»
Silence fell in the room. Only the wick in the lamp crackled and night sounds came from the garden – the chirping of crickets, the rustle of leaves, occasionally the hooting of an owl.
«Now you need to rest,» said Rustam, rising. «Tomorrow will be a difficult day. Aigul will show you to your rooms.»
They followed Aigul, who led Dinara to one room and Alexei to another. The room was small but cozy, with a low bed, a small table by the window, and a chest for belongings. On the walls hung traditional Kyrgyz carpets – shyrdaks – with bright geometric patterns woven from rich red and blue threads, preserving ancient symbols and stories of the nomadic people, behind which the breath of high-mountain steppes seemed to hide.
Alexei sat on the bed, still holding the medallion in his hand. The events of the past few days swirled in his head, forming an incredible story – an ancient treasure, a mysterious crystal with mystical properties, a chase, danger… It seemed he had fallen into an adventure novel or film.
He put the medallion back around his neck and hid it under his shirt. The medallion responded with familiar warmth, as if happy to return to its place.
Alexei went to the window. Beyond it stretched a garden illuminated by the full moon – silvery apple trees, pears, apricots. And further – the dark silhouettes of mountains and the shimmering surface of Issyk-Kul, reflecting the stars.
There, in those mountains