Mind the Stop

The NINTH Gate

It’s an impressive collection. You have some very rare editions here.

Are you sure you want to send them all?

They’re of no use to father, not anymore.

Not since he’s been this way.

His library was his whole world. Now it’s just…

…a painful memory.

Unbearably painful.

I understand.

Well,

At a rough preliminary estimate you have a collection here-worth around 600,000 dollars. -6000,000?

Yes, worth that about.

I have picked up one or two volumes that merit special attention.

This “Persiles”, for example, is important.

I’d hang on to that. It’ll never depreciate.

It’s a good investment. –Valuable?

Very Valuable.

As for this “Hypneratomachia di Poliphilo” by Colonna, Venice, 1545, I’m sure I can find you a buyer. But I wouldn’t let the rest go for less than 500,000 under any circumstances.

It may take a month to sort of place them so in the meantime I advise you to be patient.

A month?

Yes, a month or two, depends on how much of a hurry you’re in, and see, more hurry, less money. –Of course. –Well, that’s my advice anyway.

I’m sure you wouldn’t want to rush things but please feel free to consult another expert. And if you have any questions you know where to reach me.

Incidentally, this four-volume edition of “Don Quixote” is quite nice, but not particularly valuable. Now, I could take it off your hands right away. How much were you thinking of? Oh, I couldn’t go more than 4,000-4,200. Oh, fine.

-You here? –Hello Witkin. You didn’t waste much time. Listen, there’s a small fortune in there. Help yourself. You’re a vulture Corso! A vulture! –Who isn’t in our business? –You’d stuck to anything. For a Quixote by Ybarra? You bet I would. Unscrupulous! Thoroughly unscrupulous! Happy hunting. I’ve just got on the phone with Witkin. He’s spitting blood. Really? What’s his problem? He said you’re a double-dealing money grabbing bastard. He thought he had that deal sold up. He said you queered his pitch. He should have been quicker and offer them more. –May I? Sure. And he said your evaluation was way over the top. And those people coming out in a rash now they’re asking twice what those books are worth. Let’s face it. You screw if off, that’s what it’s called. –That’s what it’s called. He also said that you snatched the “Don Qui-“ Ybarra, “Don Quixote”, 1780. All four volumes. Son of a bitch. Fantastic. Fantastic, you are the best. That client of yours, the Swiss, you’d think he’d still be interested in this edition? I have Witkin on my ass, I really told him I had no part in this operation. Except 10%. 20%. The Swiss is my client. No deal. -15, for my children’s sake. –You don’t have any children. I’m still young, give me time. 10.

…and earlier in 1580, in “De la Donomanie des sorciers” by the French Jean Bodin. Bodin was probably the first to attempt to establish a system, if the term “system” may be applied to the Middle Ages, for classifying the contemporary perceptions of evil. In Bodin we find one of the first definitions of the word “witch”. I quote: “A witch is a person who, though cognizant in the laws of God, endeavors to act through the medium of a pact with the Devil. To assist them in their work, many witches kept familiars, that is to say creatures such as cats or toads in which supernatural spirits or demons were thought to reside.

For those of you, ladies and gentlemen who wish to dare more deeply into the controversial subject of witchcraft, a great deal of relevant information may be found in the following works: Nicolas Remis “Demonolatriae libri” and “Compendium Maleficarum”, by Francesco Maria Guazo. I see you were stimulated by my little talk, Mr. Corso. Did I snore? Most nice of you to ask. No, not that I noticed. Shall we go? -Don’t you sleep nice? –Like a baby. Strange. I’d have bet a brace of Gutenberg Bibles you spend half the night with your eyes peeled. You’re one of those lean, hungry restless types that put the wind up Julius Caesar. Men who stab their friends in the back. Not that I suspect you have many friends, do you Mr. Corso? Your kind seldom does. That makes two of us. You’re right, of course. Your friendships don’t concern me in the least. Our relations have always been strictly commercial, and that’s the way I like it. The professional and the personal should be mutually exclusive. Listen, I came here to do some business, not to shoot to breeze. If you want to expound you personal philosophies, write another book. You don’t like me, do you? I don’t have to like you. You’re a client and you pay well. You’re a privileged, Mr. Corso. Very few people ever set foot in here. This is my private collection. Some bibliophiles specialize in gothic novels, others in Books of Hours. All my own rare editions have the same protagonist: “the Devil”. –May I take a look? –Yes. That’s why I brought you her. Beautiful, aren’t they? Their soft sheen, their superb guiding, not to mention the centuries of wisdom they contain. I know people who would kill for a collection like this. The “Ars Diavoli”. You’ll never see as many books on the subject anywhere else in the world. They’re the rarest, the choicest editions in existence. It’s taken me a lifetime to assemble them. Only the supreme masterpiece was missing. Come.

“The Nine Gates of the kingdom of Shadows”. –You’re familiar with it. –Yes, Venice 1666. The author and printer Aristide Torchia was burned by the Holy Inquisition together with all his works. –Only three copies survived. –One. The Catalogue has three copies surviving, of private ownership: the Fargas, the Kessler and the Telfer. It’s true, you know your business. But you’re mistaken nonetheless. According to my own research, only one is authentic. Well, three are known. That’s the trouble. –Where did you get it? –I bought if from Telfer. –Telfer? –Yes, he finally sold it to me. The day before he killed himself. That’s good timing. “Silentium est aureum” –Silence is golden. –Precisely. Ever heard of the “Delomelanicon”? I have heard of it, yes. It’s a myth, isn’t it? A book reputed to have been written by Satan himself. No myth. That book existed. Torchia actually acquired it. The engravings you are now admiring were adapted by Torchia from the “ Delomelanicon”. They form a kind of satanic riddle. Correctly interpreted with the aid of the original text, and sufficient inside information, they’re reputed to conjure up the Prince of Darkness in person. You don’t say. Are you a religious man, Mr. Corso? I mean, do you belive in the supernatural? I believe in my percentage. Aren’t you getting dizzy standing there? What is it that you want from me, Balkan? I want you to go to Europe and investigate. The other two copies are in Portugal and France. I want you to find some way of comparing then with mine. Every page, every engraving, the binding, everything. I’m convinced only one is authentic I want to know which. That can be an expensive trip. That’s to get you started. Spend what you need. What if I find that your copy’s a forgery? It’s quite possible. Really? It doesn’t appear to be. Even the paper sounds couture. Even so, something’s wrong. You mean the Devil won’t show up. If all three copies turn out to be bogus or incomplete your work will be done. If, on the other hand, one of them turns out to be genuine, I’ll finance you further. I want you to get it for me. It all costs. Never mind how. “Never mind how” sounds illegal. It wouldn’t be the first time you’re done something illegal. –Not that illegal. –Hence the size of the check. Do a good job. I’ll double it. There’s nothing more reliable than a man whose loyalty can be bought for hand cash.

Good morning. Dean Corso. I’m terribly sorry to disturb you at a time like this. It would be very helpful ma’am if you could tell me what you know about this book. Isn’t this one of my husband’s books? –Right. It was in his collection until very recently. He sold it to a client of mine. I’m trying to authenticate it. He sold it, you say. How strange, this was one of his most treasured possessions. –He never mentioned this sale? –No, it’s news to me. –Who bought it? –A private collector. May I know his name? I’m afraid that’s confidential. –I supposed he has a bill of sale. –No problem there. Is this your job? Authenticating rare books. And tracking them down, Yes. –You’re a book-detective. Kind of. Do you recall when and where your husband acquired this book? In Spain. We were vacationing at Toledo. Andrew was very excited. He paid a great deal of money for it. He was a fanatical collector. So I gather. I’ll show you. It’s impressive. Andrew used to spend many hours in here. Too many. Did he ever try it out? I don’t understand. The book. Did he ever used it to perform some kind of ritual intended to produce a supernatural effect? –Are you serious? –Yes, absolutely. Andrew was a trifle eccentric, Mr. Corso, But he wasn’t insane. It’s true he’d been acting strange in those last few days, he shut himself up in here, he seldom emerged, except for meals. That morning I was awoken by the screams of the maid. He’d hanged himself. Whatever he was up to, I certainly can’t see him chanting mambo jambo or trying to raise the dead. The Devil, Mrs. Telfer. This book is designed to raise the Devil.

“Sic luceat lux”

“Thus might the light shine”.

Son of the bitch. Where did you get this? Balkan. He wants me to research it. Balkan owns a “Nine Gates”? Recently acquired by the late lamented Andrew Telfer. Trust Balkan…. What does he need you for? I don’t suppose he plans to sell it? He wants me to compare it with the other two survival copies which are in Portugal and France. So I’m off to Europe. Compare it? Yes. Only one of the three is authentic, he says. But this looks genuine enough. Chris sake, it’s got to be worth a million. Take care of it. That’s why I’m here. I need you to stash it for me. ‘Cause I’m starting to see things. Like what? –Uninvited visitors, unfamiliar faces. I don’t trust anyone, not even Balkan. I come to think I’m not even sure I trust you. You know I wouldn’t screw you unless there was a good reason: money, women, business… Other than that you can relax. –I’ll take it up on my way to the airport. –Sure. These engravings are terrific. Or horrific, whichever. Sensational, absolutely sensational.

May I come in. Please sit down. I’ve come to talk business. Yesterday, when you came to see me about that book, I was too surprised to react as I should have done. I meant it really was one of Andrew’s favourites. So you said. I’s like to get it back. –That could be a problem. –Not necessarily, it all depends. –On what? On you. I don’t understand, Mrs. Terfel. The Book is not mine to dispose of. You work for money, I take it? What else? –I have a great deal of money. –I’m very happy for you. You could stage a theft. I imagine your client is well insured. I’m a professional, ma’am. You’re a professional mercenary. Mercenaries work for the highest bidder. I make a living. I could throw in a bonus. This has happened before in some place. I know, in the movies. She had an automatic her stocking… No automatic. Would you like a drink? Why not? Okay. Where is it? Where’s what? Don’t fuck with me! I thought I already did.

You have reached “Bernie’s Rare Books”. Please leave your message after the beep. Bernie, you there? Pick up. Bernie…

Give me a minute, I won’t be long.

Then you can take me on the “Kennedy”. No problem sir.

Bernie…Bernie…

Oh Jesus！ Jesus Christ…

None problem?

Stop! Stop by that phone booth, pull over.

No problem sir.

He isn’t available at the time. May I know who’s calling? Dean Corso.

You’d like to leave a message? No, I have to talk with him at once. I’m afraid he is in transit. If you can give me your number, I’ll have him return it when he checks us. No, I’m in a phone booth. It’s an emergency. I have to speak with him right now. Right now, do you heat me? Right now. One moment.

Are you there, Mr. Corso? Yeah. Okay, I’ll put him through. Mr. Corso what have you got for me? More than I’d bargained for. What do you mean? I mean I quit. I wanna return you the book. Where are you? I’m disappointed in you, Mr. Corso. You never let me down before. Well, this is different. Do you remember Bernie Orenstein? The dealer. I gave him your book to stash it for me and now he’s dead, murdered. Because of the book? What else? Look, I’ve never said it would be easy. If it’s a question of money…

It isn’t the money, I want out. This matter means a great deal to me, Mr. Corso. I’m not an ungenerous man, you know that. Proceed as arranged, and you can tack another zero onto your fee. What… Hey, where are you? Balkan…Balkan…

Good evening. Good evening. Come in. You speak English? Yes, I do. I would like to get your opinion on this. What a habit for a book binder… “The Nine Gates” –superb edition. Very rare. The Telfer copy. Yes. You used to own it, right? We used to, yes. We sold it. …when the opportunity presented itself. It was too good to…… too good to miss. An excellent sale. An excellent buying! Impeccable condition. Impeccable. Are you the present owner? No, A client of mine. I would never believed she would part with it. Never. She? Mrs. Telfer. I understood that it was Mr. Telfer that had bought it. He’d pay for it. It was Mrs. Telfer who made him buy it. He didn’t seem particularly…-…interested. An exceptional specimen. Do you think it could be a forgery? Forgery? Heat that, Pablo? I took you for a professional. You speak too lightly of forgeries. Far too lightly. Forging a book is very expensive. Paper of the period, right inks, Too expensive to be profitable. Still it can be done. Of course. It requires a great skill, but yes it can be done. Do you think that could be the case here? What makes you ask? My client wishes to satisfy himself on the book’s authenticity. His name’s Balkan. Boris Balkan of New York. All books have a destiny of their own. And a life of their own. Mr. Balkan is a celebrated collector. He’s no fool, he must know this book is authentic. We know it. So must he. We’ve had this book for years. Many years. With ample opportunity to study it thoroughly. The printing, the binding, are magnificent examples of 17^th century Venetian craftsmanship. Finest rag-paper. Resistant to the passage of time. None of your modern wood-pulp. Watermarks, ink, typefaces… If this is a forgery, or a copy with missing pages restored, is the work of a master. Have you studied the engravings? They seem to have some underlying significance. But of course. Here, for example. This one could be interpreted as a warning: “Venture too far” it seems to day, “and danger will descend on you from above”. These types of books often contain little puzzles. Especially in the case of such an illustrious collaborator. Collaborator? You could have not proceeded, very far in your research, Sir. Here, look closer. Don’t you see? Only six of the nine engravings were signed by Aristide Torchia. Yes. And the other three? This is one of them. L,C,F. Who is L,C,F? Think. Lucifer? Very perceptive of you, Sir. Torchia was burnt alive because he wrote this book in collaboration with someone else. Come on. You can’t honestly believe… The man who wrote this book did so in alliance with the Devil and went to the stake for it. Even hell has its heroes, Sir. I have seen you before. Have you? Yes. Are you travelling in this car? The next one. The sleeper… I travel on the cheap. Are you a student? Something like that. I like trains. Trains I’m on? Just trains. What’s your name? Guess. Green eyes? That’ll do. What’s your? Corso. Strange name. Italian, it means “to run”. You don’t look like a runner to me. You’re more the quiet type. Well, give my regards to Balkan. Tell him I’m doing my best. Balkan? Never mind. See you around. May be. I wouldn’t be surprised. Yes? Yes… Dean Corso, Mr. Fargas. Corso? Oh yes, please come in. Thank you. Please. Home, sweet home. You won’t say no to brandy I take it? Thank you very much. Thank you. What handsome glasses. They’re the only ones I have left. It has to have been a beautiful place. It was. But old families are like ancient civilizations, they wither and die. There they are, 834 of them. What a pity you didn’t see them in better times. I used to have 5,000. But these are the survivors. So this is the Fargas collection. Not quite as I imagined it I must say. C’est la vie, my friend. But I keep them in perfect conditions, safe from damp, light, heat, rats. I dust and air them every day. These are the occult. What do you think? Not bad. Not bad indeed. At least ten of them are extremely rare. Here: Plancy, “Dictionnaire Infernal”, first edition, 1844. Leonardo Fioravanti’s “Compendi dei Secreti”, 1571. And there it is. In perfect condition. It has travelled the world for three and a half centuries, yet it might have been printed yesterday. Is it in order? I mean you haven’t detected anything unusual? Unusual? No. The text is complete, the engravings too, nine plus the title page’s, as the catalogue states, just like the Kessler in Paris and the Telfer in New York. Yes… It isn’t the Telfer anymore. Telfer killed himself. But he sold his copy to Boris Balkan first. Oh, Balkan. If he sets his eye on a book no price is too high. Not that I would ever sell this one. Not at any price. It’s strange that he should have sent you here if he…… already had…Do you have it here? May I see it? Oh, superb. Beautiful. Identical. Two of the only three to escape the flames reunited for the first time in over three centuries. Yes. Look at this slight imperfection here, the damaged “S”…The same type, the same impression. Oh, incredible. As you see if it wasn’t for this slight discoloration in the back of your copy no one could tell them apart. If you don’t mind I would like to stay for a while and examine them in detail. What are you looking for, Mr. Corso? I’m not quite sure. Some books are dangerous, not to be opened with impunity. Very true. I’ll be damned!

Hello again. You didn’t say you were bound for Sintra. Neither did you. What are you doing here? Reading. I can see that. And bumping into people unexpectedly. Yes, unexpected is right. Are you on a business trip? Is that why you always carry that thing around? Just part of your course? My course? “Winning friends and influencing people”. You said you’re a student. Did I? So I am, in a way. I like books, do you? You been travelling long? A while. I don’t suppose you ever travel by motorbike? Sir? Excuse me sir. Phone call for you, sir. For me? Are you sure? Yes sir. Please sir… Yes? Mr. Corso? My God, hoe did you find me? Made any progress? Progress? Yeah, you can call it that. Well. Look, I can’t talk here, I’m in the lobby. Let me call you back, where are you? Never mind that. Get them to transfer it to your room. I’ll wait. Alright. Sir, pardon me. Could you send this up to my room? Yes. Thank you very much. Still there? Yes. Alright. I’ve examined the Fargas copy. It’s authentic enough, at least it looks that way. It’s like yours, but there are discrepancies. Didcrepancies? The engravings are not identical. Just like keys in different hands, doorways open in one copy and bricked up in the other… And there’s another thing. Yes. Yes, go on. The ones that differ aren’t signed Torchia. They’re singed LCF. Still there? LCF. Listen, where are you anyway? I must have that copy, Mr. Corso. Get it for me. The old man wouldn’t sell it to save his life. He said as much. Did he? Hello? Hello? Just minutes. What time is it? Early, but you have to go. Go? Go where? To Fargas place. I’ve already seen Fargas. I think you should see again. What is this, some kind of practical joke? Who are you? What do you know about Fargas? Get dressed. I’ll wait for you outside. Don’t bother. He isn’t there. Oh really, then where is he? Over there. God Almighty. You want to get inside? I had thought about it, yes. You wait here. Shit! Well, did you find it? You know, It’s come to my attention that you know too goddam much. Why do you keep following me around? Who are you working for? You’re wasting time asking all these questions. We better get out of here. There’s a flight from Lisbon to Paris at noon. We should just make it. What’s with the “we”? There are two of us, aren’t there? What happened back there? The old man caught someone stealing, I guess. And what do you guess happened to him? He drowned. With a little help from who? He’d dead, who cares? I do. I could easily end up the same way. Not with me around to look after you. Oh I see, you’re my guardian angel. If you say so… Someone is playing a game with me. Of course, you’re part of it. And you’re getting to like it. Keep the change. Hello Gruber. Hello Mr. Corso. Delighted to see you again. We don’t have any vacancies, but… I’m sure I’ll be able to organize something. Thank you very much. Please… Thank you, sir. Excuse me? Good morning madam. The Kessler Foundation, please. Second floor, please. Good afternoon. I’m Dean Corso, I have an appointment with Baroness Kessler. This way. You have thirty minutes. Yes? Monsieur Corso. Oh yes, Mr. Corso. Come in. I’ve heard a great deal about you. Nothing good I hope. You hoped right. Thanks, Simone. Well, I’m reassured, Baroness, because in my trade to be spoken well of can be professionally disastrous. My God. Yes, there it is. The Kessler Collection. You know I know your catalogue almost by heart? Strange we haven’t met before. Your name is a byword among dealers and collectors. But I imagine you know your own reputation better than I do. Yes, well it does keep the wolf from the door, so to speak. I’m sorry Baroness. Where you in the middle of something? Of my latest work: “The Devil, History and Myth”, A kind of biography. It will be published early next year. Why the Devil? I saw him one day. I was 15 years old and I saw him as plain as I see you now. It was love at first sight. You know, 300 years ago, you’d have been burned at the stake for saying something like that. 300 years ago I wouldn’t have said it. Nor would I have made a million by writing about it. Yeah. What is it you wish to discuss, Mr. Corso? There’s a book in your collection I’d like to examine if possible. It’s the book of ”the Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows”. The “Nine Gates”? An interesting work. Everyone’s been asking me about it lately. Is that so? Follow me. You truly believe in the Devil, Baroness? Enough to devote my life and my library to him. Not to mention many years of work. Don't you? Almost. This book demands a certain amount of faith. Well, I'm afraid my faith's in short supply these days. I know this work extremely well. I studied it for years. Do you have any doubts about its authenticity? Not wheresoever’s. Are you sure? My knowledge of this book is profound. I wrote a biography of its author. Yes, I read it: "Aristide Torchia, the Devil's Apprentice", Excellent work. A courageous man. He died for the sake of this very book in 1667. White studying the Black Arts in Prague, he acquired a copy of the dread "Delomelanicon". This is Torchia's adaptation of that work which was written by Lucifer himself. After they burned him at the stake, a secret society was founded, to perpetuate its memory, and preserve its secrets. "The Order of the Silver Serpent". What? a sect? A kind of witches' coven. For centuries they've met to read from this book and worship the Prince of Darkness. Today it's degenerated into a social club

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