* * *
“Matthew, what’s happening?”
This was far from over.
“You wouldn’t believe us,” Stephanie accused in English. “I couldn’t, myself, until I realized it was true.”
“What’s happening?” Nora demanded again and her new acquaintances looked into the room. The chimp was still brandishing his dagger.
“You’ve always looked out for yourself alone,” Matthew accused her with dismay. “Why should I waste my time explaining it all again?” He turned away.
“But she has a right to know, Matt,” Stephanie implored.
“Alright,” Matthew succumbed, turning back to Nora. “It’s the book.”
“Which book?” Nora quickly asked him.
“The one he got from your room?” Stephanie helped.
“No, the one I got from the attic,” Matthew corrected.
“And what about it?” Nora asked, puzzled.
“It’s magical,” her junior sister admired.
“It’s what?”
“Ever since I wrote our names on it, it’s taken us back through time,” Matthew confessed. “I didn’t know till it was too late.”
“Oh, my God,” Nora slowly let out, the gravity of his deed dawning on her.
“It became a scroll when we got here, Nora,” Stephanie narrated. “All our names have turned to mumbo jumbo.”
“We saved you from the Romans,” Matthew said. “They would have taken you to Rome since you were a Jewish prisoner.”
“Prisoner?” Nora mouthed, sadly glancing at her bonds.
“From Jerusalem,” Matthew continued. “This is why we wanted you to go home before it was too late, but you’re too strong-headed to listen to us.”
“What must I do?” Nora begged her brother with a renewed zeal for life.
“You must help us find the others,” Matthew decreed.
“The others?” both sisters exclaimed simultaneously.
“I’ve changed my mind about sending Nora home,” Matthew explained to Stephanie, tightly holding the scroll. “She must learn to look out for others.”
“But. . . But I’ve gotta meet Leonard,” Nora blurted out. “You won’t understand.”
“Leonard?” Matthew breathed in with fright. “I think I . . . I wrote in his name as well.”
“You what?”
“He came looking for you at home,” Matthew evaded, fidgeting with his toga. “He insulted me with his friend.”
“You brat,” Nora hissed and the soldiers peered in again. “Wait till we get home.”
“What must we do now?” Stephanie asked, puzzled.
“Well, our . . . mission . . . continues,” an uncertain Matthew declared. He smiled sheepishly and looked away to frown miserably. He turned to Stephanie. “Here, hold my hand and Nora’s.” She obeyed him and they both consciously turned to the door, while a puzzled, shackled Nora curiously eyed them in disbelief. Now they straightened up with relief.
Matthew chose a name on the scroll.
He used a left finger.
The Black Book Page 35
