The Sulzbach Parchment

Twenty-first century scientists in a lab in Hastings, England, must decipher the layers of writing on an ancient goat skin parchment or risk it taking another life. The parchment, a palimpsest, layer by layer, seems benign until the very first writing reveals a terrifying curse meant to pass down through centuries, protecting only a select few for many generations.Beginning in 258 B.C., the parchment moved on, passed through numerous hands, traveled far, and was subjected to numerous...
More Description

Twenty-first century scientists in a lab in Hastings, England, must decipher the layers of writing on an ancient goat skin parchment or risk it taking another life. The parchment, a palimpsest, layer by layer, seems benign until the very first writing reveals a terrifying curse meant to pass down through centuries, protecting only a select few for many generations.Beginning in 258 B.C., the parchment moved on, passed through numerous hands, traveled far, and was subjected to numerous cleanings, while the horrific curse remained viable...and deadly.A 9th century A.D. Irish Druid priestess recorded the history of her people in the secret, written-only language of Ogham, in the mid-17th century, in Bavaria, a noblewoman risked charges of heresy when she took pen in hand to record her doubts regarding the authenticity of Christianity, and each time a scrivener employed milk and oat brain, and other "washing" techniques to make the parchment usable again. The lab technicians with their cutting edge technology can still read every layer on the parchment through the seeming magic of spectography. What they do not know is there is not today, nor has there been in any other time, a solvent powerful to eradicate the powerful curse One by one, each of the team members is affected in varying degrees. Illness, injury, pain and death mark the journey of these brilliant dedicated scientists as they apply their cutting edge technology and powerful equipment to the project. History, mystery, romance and terror make this a riveting mystery.