"But why didn't my grandfather use the medallion to find the treasures?" Alexei wondered. "Why did he simply hide it and tell no one?"
"Because it was a dangerous time," Rustam answered. "The USSR, the Cold War, the KGB watching every step. Igor understood that if the authorities learned about the 'Key of Solomon,' they would do everything to get it. And if the legend is to be believed, this crystal possesses extraordinary power. In the hands of those who crave power, it could become a dangerous weapon."
"What kind of power exactly?" asked Alexei.
Rustam smiled mysteriously.
"They say the crystal can heal diseases, prolong life, and even open the 'eyes of the soul,' allowing one to see the true nature of people and things. But there is also a warning: it amplifies both the light and dark sides of human nature. In the hands of a good person, it works miracles. In the hands of an evil one—it brings calamity."
"Sounds like a myth," Alexei remarked.
"Perhaps," Rustam agreed. "But your grandfather, a scientist and skeptic, believed in this legend enough to keep the medallion secret all his life. That makes one think, doesn't it?"
Dinara looked at the medallion lying on the table.
"What about these symbols?" she asked, pointing to the strange marks on the reverse side of the medallion. "What do they mean?"
"It's a combination of Nestorian script and special symbols known only to initiates," Rustam replied. "A kind of cipher. But I cannot read it completely. My father couldn't either. That part of the knowledge was lost."
"And the inscription inside?" asked Alexei. "'Lux in aqua, aqua in luce. Clavis Salomonis aperiet viam.' Light in water, water in light. Solomon's key will open the way."
"That's a clue," said Rustam. "Light in water, water in light' is a description of a special phenomenon that can be observed only at a certain time of year and in a specific place on Issyk-Kul. When the sun rises and its first rays penetrate the water at a particular angle, creating the illusion that the lake is glowing from within. And at that moment, an entrance to a cave, hidden at other times, becomes visible."
"Is such a thing possible?" Alexei asked doubtfully. "A cave entrance that's visible only under special lighting?"
"There are many unusual things at Issyk-Kul," Rustam replied. "But in this case, we're talking about a natural phenomenon. The entrance is located in a cliff and under normal lighting blends with the surrounding rocks. But when light falls at a certain angle, it creates a contrast that makes the entrance visible."
"And when does this happen?" Alexei inquired.
"Once a year, on the summer solstice," said Rustam. "Which, by the way, will occur in a few days."
Alexei and Dinara exchanged glances. What a coincidence. Or was it fate?
"So if we want to find the 'Key of Solomon,' we only have a few days?" Dinara clarified.
"Exactly," Rustam nodded. "But there's a more serious problem than the timing." His expression darkened. "Karabaev. That man is obsessed with finding Nestorian treasures. For years, he's been gathering information, financing expeditions, bribing officials. And now that he's learned about the medallion, he'll stop at nothing to get it."
"But how did he find out?" asked Dinara. "We were careful."
"In our time, it's difficult to keep secrets," Rustam sighed. "Especially from a man with such resources and connections. Perhaps someone at the museum told him about your conversation. Or they found mention of the medallion in Igor's papers in the university archive."
