by K. T. Tomb
“I’ve seen that,” Charlotte cut in. “And Rosh Hashanah also.”
“Yes, Miss DeCampos,” he responded with enthusiasm. “Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of what is known as the Days of Awe, which culminates 40 days and 40 nights of the Tishri. The entire observance is culminated by the slaying of the perfect, unblemished lamb as the atonement for the Jewish people. That sacrifice that culminates the observance takes place on Yom Kippur, which is the final day of it all.”
“Okay, so, the High Priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood on the Mercy Seat to make atonement for the sins of the people. I’ve got that, but why make a box? I mean, typically a box or a chest is to store things in. It is my understanding that the ten stone tablets of the original Ten Commandments were placed inside along with—”
“A jar of manna and the staff of Aaron that miraculously budded,” Whitherby interrupted. “Those, Miss Phoenix, were the most prized relics and reminders of God’s provisions for His people.”
“So, would they still be in there?” she asked. “Couldn’t we just look inside and see if those items were there in order to authenticate it?”
“You certainly could, Miss Phoenix,” he chuckled. “In fact, if you were able to open the box and look to see if those items were inside of it, you would most certainly know that it was a fake.”
“But I don’t understand. Those items should prove it to be authentic.”
“There is another side to the Ark of the Covenant; a dark and dreary side. You see, after Moses and Aaron placed those items inside the Ark, no one was to ever open the lid again. The penalty for doing so was instant death. Truthfully, to even touch the actual surface of the Ark brought down the wrath of God and instant death. To open the lid was particularly horrendous. The book of Samuel has an account of the death of seventy Israelites who decided to open the lid, as well as the death of a young Levite who reached out to steady the Ark while it was in transport and was instantly struck down.
“But those are not the only instances of death being dealt out by this extremely powerful relic, or talisman, if you will. It seems the Philistines—those were the ancestors of what we now call Palestinians—once got their hands on the Ark of the Covenant. While it was in their possession, not only did their idols crumble to the ground, but entire cities of people were plagued with tumors. The tumors did not clear up until the Ark was returned to Israel.
“You see, Miss Phoenix, for the Ark to be resting in a place outside of Jerusalem and cared for by an Ethiopian Christian Priesthood, simply does not add up. Even a common Jew could be struck down. The Ark had to be cared for by Levites exclusively. Under the care of anyone else, there would surely be the presence of tumors, disease and death.”
“So, you’re saying that the best test of authenticity is to attempt to open the lid. And if I live, it’s a fake?”
“More or less, yes.”
“That’s quite a test,” Phoe replied.
“Indeed it is.”
“Do you think you could do it?” she asked. She grinned as she presented her challenge.
“My dear, if it wasn’t for this confounded chair, I’d do it in a second. That box in northern Ethiopia is a fraud.”
“For your sake,” Phoe said, leveling her gaze on him, “I hope you’re right.”
There was an awkward pause as they all considered the consequence of Mr. Reginald Whitherby being wrong.
“So, if it is a fraud, where is the real one?”
“The speculation on that is limitless; it would take up several days of your time—”
“Isn’t it in a crate in the Smithsonian?” Charlotte broke in, referring to the final scene of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Phoe flashed her a tired look.
“Not likely, Miss DeCampos, though that certainly made for a thrilling movie, didn’t it? It also painted us archeologists as a sexy and swashbuckling lot, didn’t it?” He pointed at Thalia with the earpiece once more as he laughed. Almost as quickly as he had begun laughing he turned somber once more. “Are you entertaining the idea of seeking out the lost Ark, Miss Phoenix?”
“Not necessarily, Mr. Whitherby,” she answered. “Mr. Kessler only asked me to authenticate whatever is located in Aksum. Beyond that, there hasn’t been any speculation.”
“Miss Phoenix,” he began again. “As much as I wish that I was able to cast my eyes on the authentic Ark of the Covenant, I think it would be a fool’s errand to seek it out.”
“Do you really believe that it deals out death?”
“I do.”
“Wouldn’t that fact alone give away its actual location, assuming that it still holds that sort of power? Wouldn’t there be dead people or people with tumors near it and around it? Wouldn’t there be pestilence and all sorts of evil omens surrounding it?”
“Perhaps there is. Maybe the existence of the Ark in a certain region is the explanation surrounding an inexplicably high rate of disease. We have no way of knowing what power the Ark still holds. Maybe its power has been made dormant, but I don’t believe that. I think somewhere out there, the Ark of the Covenant is well hidden and forgotten.”
Thalia considered for a moment. If the Ark that was in the Chapel of Tablets in Aksum, Ethiopia, and if it was truly authentic, then she would be taking an enormous risk to prove its authenticity; assuming, of course, it truly held the power that Whitherby had described. However, if it was fake, what happened to the real one? She had posed the question to Whitherby and realized that she really didn’t have time to listen to that explanation, but she did have another consideration.
“Let’s suppose for a moment that the one in Aksum is authentic. When would the Ark have been transported to Ethiopia?”
“Ah, yes, excellent question. If that is the case, then it would have likely been snuck out of Jerusalem prior to the Babylonian invasion by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC. However, to be able to transport something like the Ark from Jerusalem to Ethiopia would have been an extraordinary accomplishment, due to the fact that to go south out of Jerusalem, whoever was transporting it would have had to avoid the Babylonian troops who were attempting to defeat Egypt. That is one of the reasons that I think it is unlikely.”
“Could the Babylonians have taken it when they invaded Jerusalem?” Charlotte had been quietly listening for quite some time. Her sudden interjection into the conversation gave Mr. Whitherby something of a start.
“They might have, Miss DeCampos, I would even venture to speculate that they did. I have no evidence contrary to my speculation, but I do have something of a legend that suggests that it was taken to Babylon, though I have yet to lay my hands on the item that is reputed to have chronicled the event.”
“What would that item be?” Phoe asked.
“It’s very likely entirely fictitious, Miss Phoenix.” He licked his lips and glanced at each of them as if he was about to tell them a ghost story. “Allegedly, Xerxes’ Hebrew queen, Esther, kept a diary.”
Chapter Five
“So, Seryozh, do you know where Miss Phoenix has gotten to now?” Nicholai chided over the cellular call.
“I do. She and her friend joined another gentleman and his son in order to attend the opera. La Traviata by Verdi. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” The hint that Nicholai was not a cultured gentleman was the only revenge that was available to Sergei in the moment.
“I have. It is excellent. However, I’m assuming you are not calling about the opera. What do you know? Did my man in London check in with you?”
“He did, indeed,” Sergei returned. “He tells me that Miss Phoenix and her friend were guests at the home of a well-known archeologist in London. They were there for about two hours and then they spent several hours shopping before returning to Venice. I’m assuming that they were shopping for the clothing that they wore to the opera this evening.”
“Very good. Did he happen to know the name of this renowned archeologist?”
“He did. The man’s name is Reginald Whitherby.”
“Hmmm… Then it is likely that she will be going to Aksum, Ethiopia next. You do read the Times don’t you, Seryozh?”
“I do on occasion. What does the Times…” His mind raced forward as he started to ask the question. “The Ark of the Covenant.”
“Very good, Seryozh,” Nicholai replied. “Perhaps you are a professional after all.”
“They are planning to move the Ark tomorrow. So, I am assuming that they will fly out either tonight or early in the morning?”
“That would be logical. Early in the morning would be the better assumption. I will have transportation to Aksum for you before the opera is finished.”
“But what if that isn’t where Miss Phoenix is going?”
“That is where she is going; but, if I should be wrong, I will have a man there to watch them as they leave the opera and to keep tabs on them in the morning. You will be joined on the transport by another of my men who will assist you in Aksum. I am hoping that he can get a transmitter into her bag or on her person; something you were unable to do.”
Nicholai, evidently, wasn’t going to allow his error in Santa Fe to lay at rest. Ignoring the jab, Sergei continued forward. “Her friend, Charlotte, is much less alert to her surroundings and more easily distracted. It is likely that we will have better luck placing a transmitter with her than with Miss Phoenix.”
“It’s not important which one, if they are constantly together, but we need to have something that will feed us information to their location and plans. Whatever Miss Phoenix is up to, it is very certain that it will be valuable.”
“The Ark of the Covenant would be extremely valuable, but I’m certain that the throng of people that will be watching tomorrow would make it extremely improbable that we could get our hands on it.”
“Unless I miss my guess, Seryozh, I believe that Miss Phoenix’s presence in Aksum will be to authenticate the item. Judging by the personal viewpoint of Mr. Whitherby concerning the relic, I’m wagering that she will declare it a fake.”
“And then she’ll be tasked with finding the real one.” Sergei expressed the thought aloud. “And that’s when we move in.”
“Exactly. Can you describe the men that they met at the opera?”
“I can do better than that. I snapped a quick photo with my cell phone. I’m sending it to you now.” Sergei pulled the phone away from his ear, found the photo and sent it to Nicholai. “It’s on its way.”
The Ark of the Covenant was not just any old archeological relic, it had legendary status. It would be worth billions. Getting their hands on it would make Nicholai very rich and he would likely enjoy some additional windfall as well. He waited for Nicholai to let him know when he received the photo.
“Ah, yes,” Nicholai finally said. “That would be Simon Kessler and I believe the other gentleman is his son, Jonathan. Simon typically gives her the assignments that she carries out for the Vatican. He’s a very powerful and very well-connected gentleman. No doubt, he has made special arrangements for Miss Phoenix to get a private viewing of the Ark. She will be watched closely, no doubt.” He paused for a moment. “Yes, it will be much easier for someone to bump into the friend and drop a transmitter in her bag. Very well, then, I trust that you will not give yourself away as you did before, Seryozh?”
Again, Sergei clenched his teeth and bore the insult. The things a man will put up with for money. He didn’t justify the question with an answer. “I will get your other man to drop the transmitter in the friend’s bag or get it on her person in some way or another. Is there anything else that you want?”
“At the moment, no. As you have already been instructed, do not harm either of them. Just observe, find out what Miss Phoenix is up to and get the information to me as soon as you are able. I will give you further orders when the time comes.”
The line went dead with no salutation of any form. It was a rather irritating habit, but, when Sergei thought about it, what exactly did he expect? Did he want a “goodbye,” “talk to you later,” or “good luck”? He left off the thought and turned his actions toward the task ahead.
He kept a ready bag close at hand whenever he was on assignment and he had it with him in the car that he had rented to follow Miss Phoenix and her friend to the opera. With the extra help to inform him about their movements and the overheard conversation in London, he’d been able to anticipate their attendance at the opera and was ready for them when they appeared on the dock.
Miss Phoenix was quite a dish even when she wasn’t dressed up, but when he saw what she was wearing to attend the opera, he felt a surge of longing down below. The friend wasn’t half bad herself, but she didn’t have the exotic elegance that Thalia Phoenix exuded from every pore. He wished that his assignment allowed him to get a good deal closer to her. Perhaps when it was over with, Nicholai would allow him to take whatever pleasure he liked.
For the moment, any fantasies that he might have had for Thalia Phoenix had to be put on hold, though with his mind already on his base passions and plenty of time to kill, he couldn’t keep from thinking back to the Italian at the private passenger terminal. She wasn’t quite in the same league as Thalia Phoenix, but she would likely provide a very acceptable diversion. Maybe he’d have an opportunity to sample that particular piece of local cuisine when he came back from Aksum. With two extra men to help him, it might allow him a little bit more leisure. He’d use that to his best advantage.
The time dragged on while Sergei’s mind wandered from his lust for one woman to another. He pictured the house in the Caribbean and retirement lifestyle that he planned to purchase with the large sum of money that he was going to receive for the job that he was on and finally, to the Ark of the Covenant itself. It was something that he needed to study a little bit more, if he was going to understand all aspects of his mission and how it could best be carried out. Maybe they’ll have a computer and Internet access on the plane that is taking me to Ak—
The knock on the window made him reach inside of his coat for the handle of the pistol and turn his head toward the interloper. “What do you want?”
“I am here,” the man replied in Russian.
Good, he didn’t use his name. Perhaps the man was a professional. He opened his door without saying another word, while the other man climbed inside. Sergei opened the passenger door behind the driver’s seat and took out a small bag that contained the clothing and equipment that he would need in Aksum and then closed the door behind him.
Several car lengths behind the rental that Sergei had been using was a black sedan, blending in perfectly with the other cars. He knew it was the right car because as he passed it, a man opened the door and said, “Dobriy vyecher,” meaning ‘good evening.’
“Rat teebya veedet’… nice to meet you,” he responded before sliding past the open door and onto the seat beside a young man who appeared to be of middle-eastern persuasion.
“Your Russian is very good,” Sergei commented, continuing to speak in his native tongue as the Sedan pulled out onto the street and started on its way to the Venice airport.
“I was highly trained,” the younger man replied.
“Have you been briefed on our mission?” Sergei asked.
“Only that we are keeping an eye on the archeologist and her friend.”
“Good. I will fill you in as we travel. We are going to the airport and will be flying out to Aksum, Ethiopia tonight.”
“The Ark of the Covenant is said to be there. The archeologist will be going there too?”
Though it was somewhat irritating to have the young man interrupt him, he was pleased that the young man was already thinking ahead. Perhaps he would be a valuable asset after all.
“Yes, we will be keeping track of her movements and we would like to get a transmitter in place, probably in the bag or on the person of Miss Phoenix’s friend. You will be handling that. Are you able to do that?”
“I am.”
“Very good. For the time being, that will be your only object
ive.”
“Understood.”
“Miss Phoenix has already seen me, so I will not be able to get close to her. It is imperative that you are able to carry out this task.”
“It will be done.”
Sergei sized up the young man. One thing that he saw right away was the fact that the young man would certainly blend in among the thousands of Arabs that would likely flock to the site of the location of the relic. That particular attribute alone accounted for a great deal.
He preferred working alone most of the time, but when he had to work with someone, he preferred to know whether they would be able to handle themselves adequately. There would be time for an interview and plenty of sizing up once they were on the plane; until then, he wanted to gauge the young man’s reaction to the item that Miss Phoenix was observing.
“Are you familiar with the legendary Ark of the Covenant?”
“I’m quite familiar with it,” the young man replied. “I’ve studied it extensively.”
So, Nicholai had provided him with competent help. That was a very good sign. He would be able to learn a great deal more about the Ark without having to look it up on the internet and he would likely receive a more expert analysis of the information as well.
“Very good,” he smiled. “Then you will fill me in on everything that you know about this Ark as we travel.”
Chapter Six
The circus that was taking place around the Chapel of the Tablet as well as throughout the small town of Aksum would have been intolerable for the average person to try to penetrate. Beyond the first five thousand people that were crowded up next to the barriers, to get a view of the sacred Ark of the Covenant would have been virtually impossible.
