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by H. David Brown (Author)
This Scottish Historical Novel is based on well known historical events and the author's personal experiences. The novel's main characters include three unrelated native born Scots. Tracy, a lady Royal Navy fighter pilot operating from her ship, H.M.S. Ark Royal, above the South China seas off Hong Kong; Alan, a Royal Bank of Scotland manager employed in the bank's Hong Kong office also acting as a volunteer Auxiliary Marine Police Inspector operating in Hong Kong waters: and Grant, an almost destitute professional golfer playing his last sponsored professional golf tournament in China. These three characters, albeit during unusual circumstances, each receive separate "signs"in the form of mysteriously engraved coins or tokens. These "tokens", when compared with similar "tokens" found after worldwide searches by Archeology Professor Angus Ogilvy, bring all five characters together in a common cause. This cause, namely finding the much sought after ancient Scottish artifact; the "Stone of Destiny" also known as "Jacob's Pillow", creates the intriguing theme of this novel. Since the year 847 AD, thirty one Scottish kings were crowned sitting upon the ancient "Stone of Destiny" it having originated in the Holy Land and brought to Scotland during the fourth century. In the year 1296 AD, King Edward 1st of England, more commonly known as "Longshanks" of the film Braveheart fame, plundered Scotland, took the "Stone of Destiny" to London and had it placed under the English monarchy coronation throne in Westminster Abbey. There it remained almost continuously for over seven hundred years. In 1951, four Scottish University students successfully heisted that Stone and returned with it to Scotland. However, after being hidden for four months it was found in Arbroath Abbey, and shortly after returned to Westminster Abbey and replaced under the English coronation chair. Recently Scotland has regained Independence from England and the first crowning of a Scottish monarch is soon due, that monarch being directly descended from King Robert the Bruce, the real "Braveheart" who reigned from 1306 - 1329. The"Stone", recently returned to Scotland shortly after the tragic death of Princess Diana, will be used again during the forthcoming coronation. However the returned "Stone" presently on display in Edinburgh Castle alongside the ancient Scottish Crown Jewels, has been proved a fake through geological testing. Now with much added incentive, the ages old hunt is on again to find the genuine "Stone" Retired Archeology Professor Angus Ogilvy, has spent a lifetime studying the mystery of the "Stone of Destiny", regrettably without much success. Now, with the help of Tracy, Alan and Grant, his enthusiasm and interest is greatly renewed. The Professor's life long search continues, involving the interpretation of ancient Christian Chapel carvings, Scottish rite Masonic insignia, the exhumation of an ancient king's tomb, and visits to Hong Kong, a Buddha Temple and nearby monasteries. These investigations all help to unravel the secrets of ancient codes and cyphers, which if solved will hopefully reveal the whereabouts of the ancient and original "Stone of Destiny". This original "Stone" if found and used in the upcoming coronation, would for Scottish people greatly enhance the validity and accuracy of their revered ages-old ceremony. With the help of a World War Two code breaking expert, specialised programming of a modern day cypher computer and meticulous inspection of ancient maps and manuscripts, the hopes of Angus and his helpers often rise and fall - but hope always springs eternal.
