The Templar's Claim

In the Holy Land, Jerusalem 1109 A.D. The small tunnel was suffocating, barely large enough for two grown men to sit next to one another. The only sound to be heard was clink…clink…clink as the men diligently continued to dig. The only light was a small torch to guide them. For almost ten years a small group of nine men have been working in the tunnel, digging day and night, hoping in vain to find something. So far any and all treasure has eluded them. Ten years away from home, they have meticulously worked. This group of nine courageous men were brought together and stationed in the Holy Land in order to protect pilgrims that wished to travel the roads leading to the holy city of Jerusalem. They could marvel at the wonders of Jerusalem and walk in the footsteps of saints before them. One is in awe of the city where Jesus Christ, the savior himself, had walked. All pilgrims would be protected by these nine righteous men: The Poor Knights of the Temple Mound, The Knights Templar. Suddenly, in the dim torchlight a shout echoed throughout the tunnel. “I think I found something!” As Payens was digging, he was no longer removing dirt, he suddenly hit solid stone. “Just behind these stones, it has to be!” exclaimed Payens. As if in a frenzy, a renewed energy enveloped the knights. Finally, after ten long years! Success! The stones were removed one by one in small pieces. Eventually, a small hole was made through the stone wall, large enough for one man to fit through at a time. “Follow me!” exclaimed Payens as he grabbed a torch. He crawled through the hole first, not knowing what to expect once inside. He looked around the faintly lit room that he had just entered as he stood up. Payens looked to his left and raised the torch; suddenly he dropped the torch on the ground and fell to his knees, crossed himself and began to pray. “Oh, my God!”