I joined the well-known group of researchers in the middle of their trip, which kicked off in Bruges and meandered its way to the South of France before arriving in Rennes-le-Chateau.  Led by the best selling author Kathleen McGowan, the assembly included McGowan’s trusted researchers, as well as authors Filip Coppens, Andrew Douzet and the renowned harpist Ani Williams, an accomplished researcher and writer in her own right, and trusted friend and confidante of Henry Lincoln.

Henry Lincoln with his muse, the renowned harpist Ani Williams, in Rennes-le-Chateau

Filip I know well, and Andre, well he cooked me dinner in the last time we met, and I’m keen to catch up with each. It is, however, the first time I’ve met Kathleen, and one cannot help but be impressed by her zeal, intensity and knowledge. Everyone is in good form, and today we visited Perillos, a controversial site renowned for its promise, intrigue and tombs. We pose for a picture near Roc Redon, a natural landmark that Andre used to confirm Perillos as the landscape depicted on the topographical model commissioned by the Rennes-le-Chateau priest Berenger Sauniere, shortly before his death in 1917.

Pausing for a group photo, in Perillos
(from the viewer’s right: Andre, Me, Kathleen, Filip, Ani, Patrick)

The weather is idyllic, albeit unseasonably hot, as we embark on our leisurely hike to subterranean sanctuary known as La Caune. Andre and I pair off, and it’s a struggle between his broken English and my pathetic French, yet somehow we communicate remarkably well, and along the way, Andre trustingly points to the location of tomb one; the site purported to contain the body of Jesus Christ, if the annotation on the model commissioned by Sauniere is to be believed.

Andre, pointing to the location in Perillos of the primary Tomb on the model

We explore the cave at length, savoring the break from the late afternoon heat. As we leave, I am amazed to discover a carving of an ancient image known as Indigo Man, accompanied by a cross. The image is the subject of an upcoming article of mine about a ‘lost symbol’ that is cherished in Spain and parts of France to this day, but for all the wrong reasons.

The so-called Indigo Man and a cross within a cartouche like design to its right

I’m transfixed by the discovery and babble incoherently to the group about its significance. Just why I find the image intriguing, and important, and believe that its true meaning has been misunderstood, well, that’s a story for another day. Indigo man in Perillos; who would have thought? Certainly not I.