Jonathan Factotum's Baphomet Mystery

and the black dog vanished from the cloister. "Ailred's death will be avenged," proclaimed Bernard. "The idolic ghost dog must be found at all costs."

St. Bernard called together the nine Knights Templar of the Order on a crusade of justice. Their charge? To find, apprehend and kill the ghostly black dog.

The crusade was led by the handsome Sir Artegal who was emblematic of justice. He was known throughout the land for his justidic deeds. He had once rescued the princess of Irena from the ogre Grantorto and had won a fortune in gold from her father, the king.

Riding at the side of Artegal was Sir Calidore, famous for his gallant courtesy. He was the most courteous of all knights. Once when an elfin creature had threatened to kill the pope, Calidore extended to him an administrative position at his manor where the creature, named Pelicamonde, bonded with the peasants and in time became completely subject to the landed aristocracy.

All of the Templars wore white cloaks emblazoned with red crosses. Each of the religious warriors had short hair and wore long beards. Their steeds were richly dressed in red and white blankets bearing the arms of the Templars. A retinue of priests accompanied the knights. The priests were garbed in green mantles with red Templar Crosses. They wore white gloves, a sign of their purity. The Crusade had begun.

For two long years these knights searched for the elusive black spectral dog. Then one summer evening as the blazing sun slipped behind the horizon, a great chill enveloped the knights. The wind blew as a zypher and great trees were uprooted. Suddenly, and without warning, out of the whirlwind appeared the black dog bent for attack. Sir Artegal was the first to respond. His spear found its mark. The knights gathered around the slain animal. As they prepared to bind it for Bernard, the animal bearing not the deadly wound, vanished in a poof of black smoke.

Word spread around the realm of the knights and their spectral dog that would not die--words of bufoonery and witchcraft. Beginning the following year, the monarchs of France, Spain and England raided and closed the Templar cloister. The knights were arrested and charged with witchcraft and heresy. When the pope renounced them, they lived in disgrace.

The pope's proclamation resulted in the leaders of the Templars being burned at the steak. The legend quickly spread that in the

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