Ilius and Newton stood silently for a moment, staring at one another. Their expressions were like those of men seeing a visitor from another world. It was Newton who finally broke the silence:

“You must be Ilius.”

“Yes, I am.”

Ilius still had no idea what to say or what to think. Newton walked a slow circle around his unexpected guest and said:

“You seem well…
except for your right arm.”

Ilius’s right arm had been severed at the shoulder, and no one knew where it had gone. They managed to stop the bleeding—what little there was—with a quick dressing and bandage.

Then, when Ilius and Newton looked into each other’s eyes, they were overcome. Tears welled up as they embraced and cried out together:

“We did it… we did it! After centuries of failed attempts, we have finally discovered teleportation.”

“I still don’t understand how we succeeded. I had been able to communicate with Dr. Wickens in the other tower through sound. Then this morning, the voice I heard was yours. Dr. Wickens had told me many things and had even spoken of you. When I applied what he told me, I thought the sound would become clearer. I wasn’t expecting to discover teleportation before even transmitting an image.”

“Transmitting an image is not much different from transmitting sound, but teleportation is something entirely different.”

“So how did we manage it?”

Newton remained silent for a while, and Ilius, who could read the meaning in his eyes, said:

“Why are you hiding what you know from me? I’m certain you were the one who brought me here. I can say I did nothing—just as you said, I merely lifted the great magnet on the floor. I shared my position using the map passed down from the alchemists before me, the map showing the location of the island.”

Newton exhaled deeply and said:

“Twin Island was not discovered by coincidence. And as you imagined, our ancestors did not reach that island by chance during a storm. The giant dolphin swallowing the ship was an accident—but the ship’s captain, who was a secret alchemist, was the one who guided them there.”

“How do you know all this?”

“The alchemist aboard the ship that reached Europe was the true Grandmaster. For reasons only he knew, he commanded his disciples to board those ships. The alchemists who reached Twin Island must have lost some fragments of their formulas—because for centuries they could not complete teleportation.”

“Then what is the importance of Twin Island? You just said it was not reached by accident.”

Newton did not wish to reveal too much, but he also knew that his newly arrived guest—driven by an insatiable hunger for knowledge—would torment him with endless questions. So he decided to explain everything except the most critical stages of teleportation.

“Twin Island was an important place in ancient times,” he began. “In ages long forgotten, there was a magnificent civilization in Antarctica. They made contact with beings—call them extraterrestrials, spirits, jinn, whatever you like. Twin Island, remote and unknown to the world, surrounded by storms that made it impossible to find, was the perfect location for such communication. Most likely, the place you call the Outer Island was where they built a bioenergy source.

“It is because this tower stands upon that bioenergy source that I was able to teleport you today. The so-called elixir of long life you mentioned was also the result of this bioenergy. Only a few specific procedures were necessary for teleportation—but do not ask me what they were. I will not tell you.”

Ilius nodded, as if to say, You are the master here.

“So you’re saying that for teleportation, it is enough if only one of the two locations—the place someone stands or the place they arrive—contains a bioenergy center?”

“Yes. You were teleported here even though London is not built atop such a center. Because the tower lies outside the required radius, your arm must have been transported elsewhere—or perhaps disintegrated. I cannot say.”

“In the sacred account of Solomon,” Ilius continued, “the Queen of Sheba’s throne is said to have been teleported instantly. His palace must have been located upon such a bioenergy source. This story, too, supports what you are telling me.”

Then he added:

“And I understand that you have no intention of offering teleportation for the use of mankind. Dr. Wickens did say that sound and image transmission would eventually be shared, and that new inventions would soon enter common use. I have no doubt he acted with your permission.”

Newton could sense that Ilius wanted to ask why he did not wish teleportation to be used—but hesitated to voice the question.

“I will ask you something,” Newton said at last.
“In your opinion, is science more advanced today, or was it more advanced five thousand years ago?”

“Under normal circumstances, I would say today,” Ilius replied. “But after what you’ve just told me, my answer is: five thousand years ago.”

“Yes, my alchemist brother,” Newton said, then asked again:

“Today we have no teleportation, nor can we even dream of transmitting sound and image across great distances. So tell me—how do you think our alchemist forefathers possessed such knowledge? Did they simply work very hard? Is this the sort of thing one achieves through effort alone?”

Ilius understood where Newton was leading. Writing had been invented only three to four thousand years ago. Five thousand years ago, humans still lived in caves, had only just begun farming, and had domesticated only a handful of animals. How could such a civilization have discovered teleportation?

“You are the master here,” Ilius said. “I am listening.”

Newton smiled and gestured toward the air outside.

“In nature, everything moves in cycles. Winter comes today and will come again a year later. The sun sets in the evening, yet rises again the next morning. Humanity and science also follow this cycle. As knowledge grows, mankind builds magnificent civilizations; with their inventions, people achieve comfort and prosperity. But that comfort breeds corruption. Civilizations collapse, humanity destroys itself, and everything resets—back to primitive life and a world without technology. Then the long climb begins again.
“So, to return to my question:

“The formulas passed down by our alchemist masters must come from a civilization far more advanced than our own. After unimaginable cataclysms shook the world, somehow those papyri or stones with the formulas survived.

“The second possibility is that beings from beyond this world taught knowledge gradually to certain people—advancing science step by step until new civilizations arose.”

“You may be right, but I still cannot comprehend a weapon so powerful that it could wipe out everyone on Earth—something beyond even imagination. And besides, how could teleportation possibly destroy humanity?”

“Everything you see around you,” Newton replied, “is made of particles too small for the eye to perceive. If someone were to find a way to tear those particles apart, the resulting energy would be unimaginable. Pray they never succeed. Otherwise, make no mistake—the end of the world would come.

“Humankind used its first sharp tool to cut food,” he continued, “and then soon after, used that same tool to kill one another. If those in power were to obtain teleportation technology, they could transport soldiers and weapons instantly—creating invincible armies and enslaving nations. The evil they could commit is beyond counting.”

Newton was about to continue when a sudden noise came from inside the tower. He froze, then whispered urgently:

“Get into the cupboard—quickly. If they see you, they’ll know you don’t belong here.”

Just seconds after Ilius hid himself inside, the door burst open and several men entered. Their bald-headed leader stepped forward.

“Your time is up,” he said coldly. “You still haven’t told us what you’ve been studying here and in the Alpine tower. Whose voice was Dr. Wickens hearing? Who was speaking to him when no one else was there?”

“As I’ve told you before,” Newton answered, “your man must have been hallucinating. No one is in these towers. Our purpose is simply to observe the stars and advance the study of astronomy.”

The bald man shook his head slowly. “You’re still lying to me.”
He gestured to his men.

Newton struggled and shouted, “Let me go!”—but they forced something down his throat.

“What you just drank is mercury,” the man said.
“You have twelve hours. If you don’t tell us the truth by then, you will not receive the antidote. After twelve hours, you will die—slowly. The choice is yours.”

After the bald man left, he ordered his men to move away from the tower.
“He knows the antidote exists nowhere but with us. If he intends to talk, he’ll come find us.”

One of the men asked, “And if he talks, won’t we kill him?”

With a mocking smile, he replied,
“Of course we will. We can’t go back on our vow to offer a world-renowned scientist as a sacrifice to our gods. Otherwise, they would curse us.”

Suddenly he erupted in anger.
“Find that damn Wickens! Some say he was seen with the damned cardinal. We must catch them before they leave London!”

When Ilius emerged from hiding, his first words were:
“My God! You were right not to trust people. But you could report them to the police.”

“Report them?” Newton scoffed. “Most of the city’s officials belong to the mystical order.”

“Maybe they only pretended to poison you with something deadly—to frighten you?”

“No,” Newton said calmly. “I know what they made me drink. It was mercury. And there is no antidote for that poison. Which means, just as they said, I will die in twelve hours.”

Ilius could not understand why Newton spoke of his own death with such composure. Seeing no fear or worry in his eyes, he finally asked:
“Why are you so calm? Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“You look as though you’ve already accepted death.”

Newton gazed into the distance and said,
“I’m simply exhausted. People are in a state of intellectual blindness. I feel as if they are suffocating me. Whenever I point out what is wrong or unreasonable, they accuse me of treachery, of heresy—even of consorting with the devil. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Muslims, star-worshippers, those who believe life began by chance, royalists, dissenters… I pleased none of them. I’m weary of their hollow, artificial disputes—and of the foolishness with which the masses swallow whatever they are told.”

Suddenly, Newton stood up.
“Enough about me. We must decide what to do with you. You cannot stay here. The mystic order will sense something strange about you. You must leave this continent.”

Ilius thought bitterly, I fled from Lords only to fall into the hands of other Lords, and then said:
“All right, perhaps you won’t explain how teleportation truly works. But could we at least bring my apprentices here—and if possible, the rest of the people on the island?”

Newton shook his head.
“Where teleportation occurs, a tremendous amount of energy builds up. The cave and tower you mentioned must have been blown to dust. Even if the tower still stands, considering the quakes you spoke of, I doubt it will survive for long.

But there is some good news: I overheard those men shouting as they left. Someone named Dr. Wickens, along with a cardinal, managed to escape the mystic order. You can be certain Dr. Wickens will find a ship to help the islanders.”

Seeing the state of Ilius’s arm, Newton realized he had found the solution he needed.
“There is a cleric who resembles you—he, too, has no right arm. He will help you in everything. I have his likeness; I can make an exact replica of his face and hair with the material known as silicone. I can finish it before the twelve hours are up.”

“I appreciate that you’re thinking of me,” Ilius said, “but I don’t want to live there alone. I want my apprentices and my family with me.”

Newton smiled.
“I don’t know whether you believe in God, but today is your lucky day. According to the bequest I left with Dr. Wickens, the only scholar well-versed in all three Abrahamic faiths—the only one he could possibly find—is the one-armed scholar I just mentioned. As I said, the Ottoman scholar is hardly a stranger to us… but don’t ask how I know him. Let’s not delve into the deeper history of alchemy right now.”

After sending a message by pigeon to his loyal aide—ordering him to help Ilius and ensure he reached Nicaea safely—Newton waited in the tower, expecting to be slain in a bloody ritual. But at length, like many scientists in history, he chose instead to take his own life.

                                                          **********

Ilius had told them everything.
“There is no secret formula I’ve kept from you,” he said.

As he lifted his head, he saw a man standing before him, a Mauser rifle in his hands. He recognized him instantly.

“You must be Petrus.”

Everyone in the room—Abraham included—stared at Petrus in disbelief.

Petrus began to speak without lowering his weapon.

“I see that today everyone has decided to spill their secrets. I always knew Abraham was up to something, but I never imagined he’d go so far as to become Ilius’s disciple.”

Abraham took a step toward his father, but Petrus stopped him with a sharp gesture.

“Father, what is there to be so angry about? I played this whole game to free you from the Lord and from the island.”

“Who said I was angry?” Petrus replied calmly. “I’m only keeping the promise I made to my master—just as you said a moment ago.”

Abraham’s voice tightened as he forced out his next words.

“The Lord was your master? Serving him years ago doesn’t mean he was your true master.”

“No,” Petrus said, “I was his disciple. I only pretended to be an ordinary servant. When you were born, he ordered me to raise you. I acted as though I didn’t want you entering the forbidden library, but I never stopped you—because he wanted you to educate yourself.”

Noah asked, “What exactly was the Lord planning with Abraham by doing all this?”

Petrus replied,
“He knew that no matter how long he lived, death would come one day. Before that happened, he intended to place Abraham on his throne.”

Abraham frowned.
“But you told them where the tunnel beneath the castle was. You helped us escape the island. If you were the Lord’s disciple, why did you help us?”

“I told you—my true duty was to prepare you. I didn’t stop you from defying the Lord, because you needed to grow into a clever, brave, battle-hardened man. I had no idea you would fly into the castle. I thought you were asleep in your bed that night. When Linda revealed the location of the castle tunnel, I could no longer intervene. I also told them where Ilius’s hidden forest house was, but those half-witted soldiers failed to find the cave. And I couldn’t dissuade you from going to Qabil’s Island.”

Noah narrowed his eyes.
“If you loved the Lord that much, then you must be the one who shot Seth.”

“Yes,” Petrus answered calmly. “I tried to save the Lord by telling him the ship was on the lake. But I couldn’t stop Seth from shooting him.”

“That foolish man… the moment he shot the Lord, I swore I would take revenge. Everyone thought I was crying for the island, but I was weeping for the Lord.”

Abraham now understood that Linda had not been acting in concert with Petrus. And he could not stand by and watch his master—and father-in-law—Ilius killed before his eyes. He stepped forward, placing himself directly before the Mauser’s barrel.

“You’ll have to step over my corpse before you lay a hand on Ilius.”

Mark, Noah, and the scholar moved beside him, their expressions delivering the very same message.

Petrus’s trembling gaze betrayed the violent war in his heart.

Abraham reached into his bag, took out two wrapped gifts, and held them out.
“Father, I bought these for you and Mother. If you kill me, don’t forget to take them before you flee.”

Petrus’s hands began to shake uncontrollably. Moments later, tears he could no longer restrain slid down his cheeks. With a sudden cry—“I can’t!”—he threw the rifle aside and embraced Abraham.

                                                                *********

Centuries passed. As science advanced, the greatness of Newton became ever clearer. In the renowned book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History by American astrophysicist and author Michael H. Hart, Newton was listed second. And in a millennium poll conducted among the world’s leading physicists at the end of the twentieth century, Isaac Newton was chosen as the second-greatest physicist of all time.

In the early years of the twenty-first century, the descendants of Isaac Newton’s heirs gathered in London for a meeting. The assembly opened with the words of one of the heirs:

“My esteemed friends, this quarter-century gathering carries a distinction that sets it apart from the previous ones. As you know, we shared some of our master Newton’s formulas related to teleportation with a scientist at an American university—his identity known only to us. And the result was exactly what we expected.”

“So you believe they understood the message we intended to send?”

“I hope so. The agents of the mystic order—those we refer to as ‘the others’—must have received it.

Their greatest propaganda was this:
They claimed that colossal structures such as the great pyramids could only have been built with highly advanced technology. After reminding people that the pharaohs were considered gods, they spread the idea that if man defied the God of the heavenly religions and advanced himself through science, he too could become a god—like a pharaoh—and possess the same monumental power.

As Newton’s heirs, the message we conveyed was the following:

You imagine that, in this age of scientific triumph, you stand on the threshold of becoming gods. Yet centuries ago, the prophet Solomon—peace be upon him—achieved teleportation, and afterward gave thanks to God. Whose technology is truly superior: Solomon’s or yours? Did even the splattering of that animal’s blood across the walls fail to awaken you?”

They had crafted this message after hearing of Ilius’s failed experiment—when he attempted to teleport a chicken and it exploded, spattering the walls with blood.

The chairman–one of the heirs–continued:

“Wireless communication, and the more advanced devices that followed it, were invented by drawing inspiration from our knowledge and formulas. Unfortunately, these technologies were first used for military purposes. Only later were they permitted for civilian use. We know that our friend Einstein was deeply distressed when the nuclear energy he contributed to making possible was used for war, and that he apologized to Japanese scientists.

So yes—you are saying it is still too early to reveal our final formula concerning teleportation.”

“That is correct. But there is another aim our grandmaster held dear: that believers who worship the same God should stand together against the mystic order and similar groups that destroy both bodies and souls. In this matter, we must take far more significant steps.”

The heirs of the cardinal, the chief rabbi, and Noah added:

“We hope that if we continue on this path with success, by the middle of this century we will finally rid the world of the so-called religious leaders and rulers who exploit faith, race, traditions, customs, and ancestral heritage for their own gain. Then, by living our faiths in their original purity, we will overcome the agents of corruption and cause the earth to flourish again through the marriage of reason and heart.

And once this climate of peace is established, we will reveal our teleportation formula with an easy conscience. The energy it unleashes will surely inspire confidence in the righteous—and strike fear into the hearts of the corrupt, like the mystic order.”