by Summer Lee
The robe landed at Sam’s feet and something small rolled out of one of the pockets. It was shiny and metal. “I’m sorry it didn’t work, Khassima.” He bent down and picked up the object. When he saw what he had picked up, he was in shock.
“What is it?” Achava asked. “Is everything alright?”
He held it up to the light and gasped.
“Is that a coin?” she asked.
Sam turned paler than Khassima. “It’s more than just a coin. If my guess is accurate it is one of the coveted coins.”
All three women now had puzzled looks on their faces, as Achava grabbed the coin.
It was pure silver. It had uneven and rough edges. On the front was an embossed Roman’s head. On the back was an embossed standing eagle, with its right claw on a ship. There was ancient writing carved onto the coin.
Achava’s mouth dropped open, as her eyes widened. “Where did this come from?”
Sam pointed to the robe. “The pocket.”
She picked up the robe and searched the pockets. She looked surprised, as she pulled out a second coin.
“Those are really old coins,” Sam said.
“Not just plain coins,” Achava answered. “These are Shekels Of Tyre. The Romans picture on them is actually Melqart. He was a god of the Phoenician city of Tyre. He was referred to as the Tyrian Herakles.”
“Hercules,” Sam muttered. Almost under his breath.
Khassima stood and walked to Achava. “I know these coins! They were currency in my ti…” She couldn’t finish her statement, because she knew the impact of finding those Shekels. “Oh…”
Achava checked the pockets again.
Sam almost looked sick. “So there are only two. Right?”
“Yes,” Achava responded. “They are in pristine condition, as if they were just made. There are no defects whatsoever. Our mission lies before us. Where exactly did you find this robe, Sam?”
Sam took in a deep breath. “I followed the tracks made by a Nephilim.” He pointed to the piece of the ark that he had broken off. “I figured that since the ark was somehow keeping us warmer than we should be otherwise, I needed a piece of it. So I took a piece with me to protect me from the cold.”
“Smart boy,” Anthea said, as she folded her arms and grinned.
Sam continued, “It did protect me enough to allow me to practically walk on top of the deep snow. I followed the giant’s footprints to a cave entrance. There was a man there. Well, his name was Man. He told me that we shouldn’t worry about the Nephilim anymore, and that he was resting in his room. He traded me my robe and bandages for this robe. When he gave me this robe, he told me to tell you, Achava, that you need to leave your robe and any cloth that accompanied it, here when we leave. He told me to keep this robe. That’s what healed me, but it doesn’t to seem to work anymore.”
“I would keep the robe anyway,” Achava said. “Any gift such as that, should not be discarded.”
“I agree!” Sam exclaimed. “I was just trying to help Khassima.”
“I tire of adventure,” Khassima said, sluggishly. “I have decided to retire back to Israel.” She looked up. “Is that okay, Lord? Yes? It’s settled then. Before you begin this quest, I will need a ride home.”
“I’ll take you,” Anthea volunteered.
Achava looked surprised. “Are you leaving us as well, sister?”
Anthea nodded. “Despite the fact that you and I have seen things that would make most mortals cringe, I am still coming to terms with everything that happened in Khassima’s and Noah’s time-line. Don’t worry. I learned a lot about myself and you as well. I will always be here for you if you need me. Remember, I’m just a telepathic call away. We are bonded in ways I never would have considered. I value you and am truly sorry for every pain that I caused you. That apology goes to all of you here. I have some soul searching to do before I go out on any further missions.” She paused. “Understand?”
“Understood,” Achava responded, with tears in her eyes.
She embraced her sister, feeling a lump in her gut. “I will miss you. Especially now that we are on the same side. Thank you for all your help.”
“Are you thankful for the trouble I caused?”
Achava looked over at Anthea and winked. Again remembering the curse Anthea had put on her to cause her to age rapidly. “I forgive you, Anthea.”
“Thank you!”
She then embraced Khassima. As she did, she remembered how she miraculously met her in Israel. “Thank you for everything as well, Khassima. Without you, I would have died of old age.”
Khassima laughed.
“I’m serious. I’ll never forget how you rescued me, Khassima.”
“Any time,” Khassima responded, with a smile. “It was a pleasure meeting you all. Please don’t contact me, unless there is a worldwide crisis, or unless you want to give me presents. Yes!”
“It was a pleasure, Khassima,” Sam said, as he hugged her. “It is time to return to your grave.”
He then looked at Anthea. “We’ve had fun. Especially when we worked alone together..”
“Don’t get mushy on me, Sam,” Anthea said, with tears welling up.
“I won’t,” he replied, as he hugged her gently. “I have forgiven you for everything mischievous.” He paused. “And cruel.”
Her face turned red.“Thanks.”
“We’ll start fresh the next time we meet. If that’s okay.”
“Yeah,” she replied, as she smiled. She then pulled away from the hug. “Well, Khassima. We better get going, so these two love birds can start their next mission.”
Khassima nodded, while Anthea clasped her hand. They both smiled, as Anthea Soul Merged them out from the ark.
Achava and Sam took a moment to look at each other. Achava said, “Well, they are gone.”
Sam raised a brow. “So, where did you go when you and Anthea disappeared?”
“That is a long story.”
“Give me the short version.”
Chapter the Third
SAM BELIEVED ACHAVA when she told him, that she and Anthea were neither here nor there and in some sort of limbo. He wasn’t sure how that could happen, but he attributed it to the fact that he was supposed to be by himself when he saw Man.
He put on the robe and grabbed the piece of Noah’s ark. He watched, as Achava took off her robe and hood. She checked to make sure that she didn’t have anything else made from the cloth of Noah’s time—or any coins. She placed the items on a rock near the ark.
Sam put the two Shekels in his back pack, near Enoch’s clay tablets.
“Are you ready to travel?” she asked.
“Yes, my dear.” He smiled and said, “We have to stop by my house first.” “He paused. “If you don’t mind a detour into Texas.”
She nodded in agreement. “Do you have all that you need on you? I have a feeling that when we leave here, we will be unable to return.”
“Then let’s make sure that we don’t leave anything behind.” Sam checked to make sure that he had the pack on his back. He did. He then stared at the ark. “If the ark is here, wherever here is, then I wonder what’s supposed to be on Mt. Ararat.”
Achava shrugged. “I have no idea. Perhaps there is something similar and perhaps there is nothing. That is between the Turks and God. We have no time to ponder about ‘what if’ anything. Forgive my impatience, Sam, but I have a bad feeling about this mission.”
“Can we talk about this more at my house?” Sam asked, as he rubbed his hands together, indicating he was cold. Let’s go.”
He reached out his hand to her, and Achava grabbed it. She gripped his hand tightly, as they both looked around and sighed, almost in unison. Then, with eyes closed, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
Within moments, Sam and Achava appeared inside his house, in the living room. They both hesitated, before they moved. It had been awhile since they were there.
When Sam did move, he went around to just about every
object he owned. He simply touched each one and moved on to the next one. It was his way of reassuring himself that his house was real and not some figment of his imagination.
Both of them had been through a lot recently. They believed that the longer they were in their own time, the more that their time travel trips would seem like some strange dream.
Once Sam was satisfied where he was, he went straight to his bedroom and his hidden area inside of his closet, where he felt secure. Every time he saw the Staff of Moses leaning in the corner, he felt safe. He knew that they had not even scratched the surface of what the owning of the staff could do. Now he was to search for the coins that Judas Iscariot received for selling Christ. “Why me?” he said as he wondered.
He questioned if he would just end up keeping the priceless artifact in his closet for the rest of his life. If he had to, he would. He had a feeling that would not be the case. It was with him for a reason. He would some day share it.
He placed the piece of Noah’s ark on his small table and looked around to see if he had anything to put it in, like plastic or a fireproof safe. Something. He looked up and smiled. “I assume you have this. I’m going to ask anyway. Can you protect the piece of the ark and continue to protect the staff? Oh, and for now I need to keep Enoch’s clay tablets safe, which contain his sacred writings.” He placed the tablets by the piece of the ark. “I can only do so much to protect them, and who knows who might be after them. Looters would destroy my house, if they knew they were here. I just figured that you protecting them, Lord, would be better than having a security system. Besides, if I installed a security system, that would be a flag to thieves that there’s something of value inside. Thank you for listening. Amen.”
He closed the door, that looked like a wall, to the small room, and then his closet. He turned toward the bedroom door and was surprised to see Achava leaning against the door frame, with her arms folded in front of her. Her golden eyes shined brightly through the shadows of the darkened room. She was also smiling.
“I do not wish to interrupt your conversation with God,” she said, in almost a whisper. “If you prefer, I can go into the…”
“No!” he interrupted. “I’m sorry. I’m done. I didn’t mean to be loud. You are never an interruption. You’re my piece of Heaven, every time you’re near me.” His eyes widened, when he realized that he was spouting poetry at Achava, without even thinking about it. He felt ashamed, until he saw her face.
Her eyes glistened with golden tears, as she stood straight. “No one…has ever said such kind things to me. Do you really feel that way, Sam?”
“I’m not a good liar, so yeah. I meant it,” he responded, trying to add some levity to a tense situation. “I’m not going to hide it, Achava. I love you! You know that.”
She placed her hands over her mouth in awe. She then stepped up to him and embraced him. “I love you as well, Samuel Godfrey. I will no longer hide my feelings for the sake of the mission. God wants us to let our love grow. Do you believe that?”
Sam looked confused and excited at the same time. “Yes?” Even after all she had just said to him, that was all he could focus on.
She pulled back just enough, so she could see his face. “After this mission, when we have some time, I would be honored to become your wife.”
Chapter the Fourth
ACHAVA COULDN’T BELIEVE that she was open with her emotions for the first time in her life. There was something about Samuel that made her feel alive.
Sitting I a sudsy bathtub, she enjoyed a bubble bath—something she had not had for ages. It was time to bring her thoughts down to a single thought—which was something she often did for relaxation. She liked to use such times to think about heaven or the beach. Sunbathing on the sandy beach was not a luxury she could afford, nor did she know much about heaven.
“I do love Sam,” she said to herself.
Since she accepted Sam’s marriage proposal, she watched him add a small dance move to each step he took, and he had a perpetual smile on his face. She felt that it was right and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.
The rest of her life? She felt a tinge of fear.
Her term of serving Israel was almost ready to expire. She did not have to put her name up to be voted back into the position. It was really a job for angels, those who could fly with ease as they guarded God’s chosen people.
Achava really enjoyed her assignment now. Even though she had no idea who it what would be around the next corner.
She wondered why Sam was chosen to receive instructions to find the coins of Judas Iscariot. Maybe a strong man with a high intellect was needed for such an important job.
It was interesting how well he adjusted to her world. He even appeared to enjoy himself while on duty. She thought about her mother and sister. Like her, they had special spiritual gifts.
She knew that way back before the time of Noah, some men lived to the age of eight or nine hundred years. She had the same gene make-up that they had. She knew that was how it was going to be in the millennium. A child would still be a baby at the age of one hundred.
She remembered that her DNA was different than Sam’s. Her connection with ancestors caused her lifespan to be far longer than Sam’s. She would probably outlive him by several decades, at least in her soul—maybe not her body. What about having babies? Would I be able to even become pregnant? Is he able to reproduce? Would his house be the new home? What about income?
She would discuss those things with Sam later.
The tub of water was so relaxing, but she had to get out. Sam had been chosen to find the coins that the Pharisees paid to Judas Iscariot for selling out his master. He then would be given a location where he was to deposit them. She would go with him on each adventure.
After washing her hair, she climbed out of the tub, dried off and put on one of Sam’s bathrobes.
***
They already had just about depleted both of their fund reserves. She knew Sam had once had a lot of money in his retirement fund, that had now been whittled down to nothing, and any money she had was almost gone as well.
She went to Sam, who was sitting at the dining room table working on his laptop. “Sam!” Achava said, showing emotion, as she walked up and put her arms around his neck.
He jumped up in surprise. “What is it? Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“No,”
“Why are you crying?”
She spoke softly, while trying to remain calm. “I just realized something. How will we make an income? What if I cannot have children?”
“Whoa!” Sam interrupted. He got up and looked at her. “Wow, I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“You mean wet? I dried off.”
“I was referring to the oversized housecoat.” He clasped her hands. “I get a monthly retirement check that pays all household expenses. I have an account to pay all utilities automatically. Money will come when we need it. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Why don’t we just concentrate on this mission, before we head to the fertility clinic?” His smile calmed her even more. “I have already started writing about our adventures. Maybe I’ll publish it one day.”
“I am sorry, Sam,” she replied. She decided not to bring up the whole age thing.
He sat back down at his laptop. “No need to apologize. We can discuss all of that later. I mean it is important, but I found a website that I want you to see.” Sam showed Achava an internet site where he found a robe that looked like the one he had. It was on a website owned by a man named Artimas Kieleg.
“You know that when I was in the cave with the one who called himself MAN, he was saying supernatural stuff about my future. Now I may be having another spiritual experience.” Sam looked spooked. “This person, Kieleg, may have some information about the robe I got from MAN, and perhaps a lead as to where to go next to find coins. Obviously, we can’t tell him we’re on a mission for God, but it seems like he is the only shot we have. I coul
dn’t find that robe anywhere else on the internet.”
Achava forced a smile. “That is great, Sam, but what made you think that following the trail of the robe would be the right way to go?”
“MAN told me that one of things he liked about me, was that I could figure things out. We don’t have any other leads, Achava, so I assumed that the robe would be a good place to start. It has to be ancient. Do you think we should take the Shekels with us?”
Achava’s eyes widened. “That would entail us going somewhere?”
Sam shook his head. “I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you that Mr. Kieleg returned my email immediately, after I told him that we are in possession of the very same robe he had a picture of, on his website.” He had a look of pride.
“I know you are excited about this, but please remember that it may be more than a coincidence, that this man is located in the city you live in.” Achava couldn’t contain her concern.
“I’ve thought of that,” Sam answered. “One has to take a risk, if one is to find out anything of merit. Professor Salinger used to say that. You are right though. We should leave the two Shekels in the hidden room, until we know what’s going on. Deal?”
“Deal,” she replied, breathing a sigh of relief at Sam’s caution. “Now that is settled, you have been running non-stop for quite some time. I noticed an energy surge when we went through time.”
“I knew you were going to bring that up,” Sam said, while he rubbed the back of his head. “I guess I did turn things up a notch recently. You’re a tough act to keep up with.”
“You can slow down.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sam. Please do not feel that you have to keep up with anyone. You are special in your own right. Just be yourself and go at your own speed. Although, I will say that I was impressed when you beat that nomad. One of many heroic feats you have accomplished.”
Sam smiled. “I never knew what I was capable of, until I was pushed to a point that I had never been pushed to before. I owe you a lot for that.” His face went blank, as he remembered something important.
