The Lost Garden (The Lost Garden Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free

raven-haired escort. He had also dreamed of holding the flaming sword that guarded the Tree of Life. His dreams haunted him with their insistence, ultimately leading him to search for the garden himself and to be obsessed with it in every facet of his life.
    He most definitely did not admit to them, or anyone, his most guarded secret.
    Instead, Dr. Knight said, “I feel the Eden story is not a myth. I feel it is a warning to the human race. One that bears dire consequences if it is not heeded.”
    “What is the warning, Doctor?”
    “The Tree of Life is much more important than we can possibly know. Safeguards have been put into place to protect it. Man is supposed to stay away.”
    “Or else?”
    “Or else suffer the destruction of all life on Earth.” That got the audience’s attention. Some started shaking their heads and slinging their backpacks over their shoulders. He knew most of them must have regarded him as a nutcase. He didn’t care, because in his dreams, he saw the destruction of the tree. He saw the Earth stop spinning on its axis and saw the life-force drain from the planet.
    Knight surged forward. “I believe Dr. Rohl did find the Garden of Eden in that alpine valley, ten miles from the city of Tabriz in Northern Iran. But I feel he only found a section of the garden. There is indeed more to the story. Something might lie hidden in the area. And that something is the true Garden of Eden, where the Tree of Life resides.”
    “And the flashing sword of fire, as well?” She was mocking him.
    Knight hesitated. “Yes. And the flashing sword of fire.”
     
    * * *
     
    “It’s always fun to hear you speak, Dr. Knight. I can’t say I agree with everything you have to say, but you sure make an interesting case. A hell of a showing!”
    This statement came from the department head of the University of Long Beach’s Department of History, Lloyd Pearlman, a big man who had ambushed Knight the moment he had made his closing remarks. Knight had received a round of applause. People had stood and crowds had gathered. Before he could make a beeline for the back of the lecture hall, Professor Pearlman cornered him along the edge of the stage.
    “Well, you know me, Lloyd. I never take the easy way out, especially when there’s a chance of me looking like a fool.” As he spoke, Knight scanned the thinning crowd. The raven-haired woman should have been quite noticeable. He saw the way she had kept adjusting her seat, trying to get comfortable. It was a problem Knight had had his whole life, dealing with his own six-foot, five-inch frame.
    “I don’t know about looking like a fool, but I guarantee you that most people left here entertained.”
    “That’s me. Just a traveling sideshow.”
    Pearlman slapped Knight heartily on the back, knocking the historian forward. Knight did not take his eyes off of the thinning crowd.
    “You looking for someone, Evan?” asked Pearlman’s pretty wife, who walked up and embraced her husband.
    “Yeah, Penny, you could say that,” said Knight. “If you two would excuse me?”
    “Of course. See you across the street at the bar, right?” asked Pearlman.
    Knight had almost forgotten. He had agreed to meet in an informal setting with many of the local historians for an evening of good fun. At least, that was the plan. They would spend the evening attacking his views until they got too drunk to give a damn anymore.
    “Yes, Lloyd. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Hey, I’ll see you two there.”
    A crowd of students had formed behind Pearlman. Some were holding his latest book, In Search of Eden , hoping for an autograph. Knight pretended not to see them. Holding his briefcase, into which he had haphazardly jammed his lecture notes as fast as he could, he skirted the growing crowd of students and supporters. He quickly made his way up through the lecture hall, taking the steps two and sometimes, three at a time. He apologized profusely to those he was forced to squeeze