Keepers of the Lost Ark

by J. Robert Kennedy

  “I’m with the Sons of Tamrin.”

  “And who are they?”

  “We’re tasked to make sure the priests, the Keepers, keep their word.”

  “Which is?”

  “To never reveal the existence of the Ark to anyone.”

  “And if they don’t keep their word?”

  “Then we’re supposed to try and preserve the secret for them, or…”

  “Or?”

  “Or destroy the Ark before it’s exposed to the world.”

  Leroux pursed his lips, not liking where this was going. “You said it’s too late. What did you mean?”

  “The professors know, or if they don’t by now, they’ll know soon. Once they see the Ark, my order can’t risk them telling anyone, especially because they’re so well respected. People might believe them.”

  “What does your order have planned?”

  “We’re going to kill them as soon as they’ve completed their task.”

  Leroux shook his head, suppressing a curse, though not surprised. “Why not kill them before?”

  “Because the Ark needs to be preserved. If we kill the professors now, then someone else will be hired to do the job. They need to complete their task, then we’ll kill them to preserve the secret.”

  “But don’t a lot of people know now? You tried to sell its location on the web to the highest bidder.”

  “I-I just wanted to make some money. I figured between the priests and the order, the Ark would be safe, and if it wasn’t, then the order would destroy it and my job here would be done, and I could get out of this damned life.”

  And now the question he had a feeling he wasn’t going to get an answer to. “Where is the Ark, exactly?”

  “I don’t really know. They move it around. And I’ve been gone for over ten years.”

  Exactly as I thought.

  “Who would know?”

  “Senior members of the order should.”

  “Like Dawit Ganno?”

  He watched Fida’s jaw drop. “You know about him?”

  “Remember, I know everything. Would Ganno know?”

  “Y-yes. He should.”

  “Very well. Thank you for your time.”

  Leroux ended the call. “Pull back the money, send the team in.”

  Tong grinned. “You’re cold.”

  “Threaten to kill Americans, and I always am.”

  They all watched as the team rushed in, arresting Fida swiftly and without incident.

  “Find me Ganno. I’m going to brief the Chief.”

  42 |

  Unknown Location South of Aksum, Ethiopia

  “Well, our faces didn’t melt, so that’s a good sign.”

  Laura gave Acton a look. “We’re not Nazis.”

  “Was that the rule?”

  Laura shrugged. “I don’t exactly get my history lessons from Indiana Jones movies.”

  Acton gave her a toothy grin. “When we get home, we are sooo doing an Indy marathon.”

  “I’ll be doing my hair.”

  “Sometimes I wonder why I ever married you.”

  “Mind-blowing sex?”

  Acton smiled. “Oh yeah.”

  Father Amanuel returned and their conversation was halted, Acton left to wonder if the old man had heard the last part.

  “Have you decided?”

  Laura nodded. “We have. Whether this is real or not is irrelevant. You’ve hired us to do a job, and we intend to do it.”

  “How long do you need?”

  “Not much, if we have help with the physical side of things.”

  “Are six men enough?”

  “Hopefully.” Laura pointed toward the stairs. “The first thing we’ll get them working on is positioning the generator. Do you have a place in mind? It needs to be well ventilated, preferably outside, no more than a hundred feet from where we’re standing.”

  “I do.”

  “Okay, we’ll get them to move the generator into position, then have them bring the rest of the equipment into here to assemble. Once it’s set up, we just move the Ark into position, close it up, turn on the system, and we’re good to go.”

  Amanuel smiled. “Excellent. We should work quickly, before they discover your presence here.”

  “Who are ‘they?’” asked Acton.

  “It doesn’t matter. But we must work quickly.”

  Acton frowned. “That’s at least the second time you’ve mentioned another party. I think we have the right to know who you’re talking about.”

  Amanuel regarded him for a moment then sighed. “Fine. They are called the Sons of Tamrin. They were created at the same time our order was, by King Menelik. They think we don’t know about them, but over the millennia we became aware.”

  “And their purpose?”

  “To act as a backup, I suppose. They take action if we fail.”

  Laura’s eyes narrowed. “Fail?”

  “Reveal the secret to someone, or if someone discovers the Ark, despite our best efforts.”

  Acton pursed his lips, not liking what he was hearing. “And if you fail, what do they do?”

  “They will do whatever it takes to preserve the secret.”

  “Such as?”

  “They won’t hesitate to kill you if they discover you are here. They will not risk you telling anyone that the Ark exists.”

  Acton tensed, his fists clenching. “And should they find out we were here after the fact?”

  Amanuel stared at the floor. “It’s best they don’t.”

  Acton’s jaw squared as he shook his head. “And you didn’t think to tell us this before we agreed to take the job?”

  Amanuel looked at him. “Would you have said yes?”

  “Absolutely not!”

  The old man regarded him for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t believe you. I think your decision was made the moment you realized it was the Ark, and there would be no changing your mind, no matter what I said.”

  Acton muttered a curse, the man probably right. He headed for the stairs. “Let’s get going. I want to be out of here before nightfall.”

  43 |

  Director Morrison’s Office, CIA Headquarters Langley, Virginia

  “Can you find this Ganno?”

  Leroux nodded at his boss. “Yes, sir. We already have. He’s on a flight about to land in an hour, then he’s booked on a second flight for Aksum in northern Ethiopia. The same area that Father Amanuel is from.”

  Morrison chewed his cheek. “Can you track him?”

  “We have an asset already on the ground. He’s a local we’ve used before. We’ve also retasked a satellite, and have three drones assigned to cover the area. We should be able to follow him, hopefully straight to the professors.”

  Morrison shook his head, leaning back in his chair. “Did you ever think the CIA, under orders from the President himself, would be directing an operation to recover the Ark of the Covenant?”

  Leroux grunted. “I can honestly say it never would have occurred to me in a million years. Then again, we’ve dealt with some weird things with these professors.”

  Morrison leaned forward, dropping his elbows onto his desk. “Yeah, but wrath of God type stuff?”

  “You think it’s real?”

  Morrison shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean, I’m as religious as the next guy, I guess, though it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the inside of a church. My wife is more the devout one than I am. And beyond Sunday school, I’ve never read the Bible. But I believe in God. If you don’t, what’s the damned purpose for being on this ball of rock hurtling through space if in the end you’re just dust.” He sighed, staring at his underling. “Chris, I don’t know what to think. All I know is that if there’s the remotest possibility, we can’t let that thing fall into the wrong hands. It could mean the end of everything.”

  Leroux’s eyes narrowed. “Sir?”

  “Nuclear war.”

  “Do you think it could come t
o that?”

  “If it’s real, and gives an army that possesses it the power of God, then yes. It might be the only way to stop them.”

  “But surely God wouldn’t let it be used for evil purposes.”

  Morrison regarded him. “Chris, have you ever wondered, if we’re all worshipping the same God, whose side is He on? What if we’re not the good guys after all?”

  Leroux shuddered. “I’m not sure I want to think about the possibility.”

  “Exactly. So, let’s just get this damned thing, throw it in a cold dark corner somewhere, and forget about it.”

  “Good idea.” Leroux rose. “Oh, and to that end, we’re going to need boots on the ground.”

  “Already in the works.”

  44 |

  Somewhere over the Arabian Sea

  “Listen, fartknocker, if it wasn’t for me, you never would have met Vanessa.”

  Command Sergeant Major Burt “Big Dog” Dawson smiled, along with the rest of Bravo Team, all members of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta, commonly known as the Delta Force, the nation’s most elite of soldiers, and from any outside observer, its most dysfunctional. Between missions. On the job, they were deadly and efficient. Off the job, they were the best of friends, which meant it was usually open season on each other.

  Like today, in the back of a C-130J Super Hercules.

  The impossibly muscled Sergeant Leon “Atlas” James stared at the diminutive in comparison Sergeant Carl “Niner” Sung. “What makes you figure that?”

  “I introduced you! Don’t you remember how you met her?”

  “I remember, but I think I remember something completely different than you.”

  Niner shook his head, looking at the others. “You guys remember, don’t you?”

  Heads shook, and Sergeant Will “Spock” Lightman’s eyebrow cocked. “I think you’re on your own with this one, buddy.”

  “Sure, abandon me in my time of need.” He jabbed a finger at Atlas. “She never told you, did she?”

  Atlas eyed him. “Told me what?”

  “Why she went up to you at the bar that night?”

  Dawson could tell Atlas was either waiting for a punchline or getting ready for some unwanted knowledge to drop. Either would be fun.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Niner paused. “Huh. I wonder why she wouldn’t tell you?”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t say. When we get back, I’ll get her to clear it. Maybe she thinks you’ll get jealous.”

  Atlas inflated his massive chest. “I don’t get jealous.”

  “Bullshit. One ‘dayum’ from a guy and you’re having words.”

  “That’s true, and I wish you would stop saying that every time you see her.”

  Niner grinned. “I know I should, but dayum, that girl’s hot.”

  Atlas turned to Dawson. “Permission to split this mother like a wishbone, Sergeant Major?”

  Dawson chuckled. “I might need him later. Feel free to tenderize him a bit.”

  Atlas grinned and Niner bolted, grabbing Sergeant Gerry “Jimmy Olsen” Hudson and placing him between them.

  “Okay, fine, do you want to know what happened that night?”

  “Tell me now, or I might disobey an order.”

  “Well, that night, you pointed her out and said ‘dayum, she’s fine.’”

  “I said no such thing.”

  The entire plane disagreed.

  “So, being the good friend that I am, I went to the bathroom, then on my way back, I went to her table and pointed at you and told her you wanted me to ask her if she was wearing any panties.”

  “What?” Atlas appeared horrified. “I’m going to kill you!”

  Niner stepped back, waving his hands. “No, no, let me finish. So, she pointed at you and said something like, ‘What, the big guy with the too-tight shirt?’”

  Snickers.

  “And I said, ‘No, not him, he’s a sweetie. And single. I’m talking about the guy to his right.’”

  Atlas’ eyes narrowed. “Wait, wasn’t Spock sitting to my right that night?”

  Spock’s jaw dropped. “You bastard! That’s why she was giving me the evil eye all night!”

  Niner grinned. “Anyway, I told her you’d really like to meet her but was a shy guy despite your ridiculous biceps, and she came over a few minutes later.”

  Atlas eyed him, his lips thrust out. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Believe it.”

  Spock looked at Atlas. “She did give me the stink-eye all night. There had to be a reason.”

  Atlas sighed. “The sad thing is that every word he just said, I believe him completely capable of. I mean, what kind of guy goes up to a girl and asks her if she’s wearing panties.”

  “Hey, I didn’t. I said Spock wanted to know.”

  “But you still asked her!”

  “Ahh, she knew I was just trying to get you two together.”

  Spock threw an MRE at him. “Bullshit, otherwise there wouldn’t have been the dirty looks.”

  Niner shrugged. “Maybe she just doesn’t like you.”

  “We get along fine now.”

  Niner cocked his head to the side. “Do you? I mean, really, do you?”

  Dawson’s comm squawked in his ear. “Zero-One, Control Actual. Do you copy?”

  He rose and headed for the rear of the plane, the Colonel contacting him unusual. “Yes, sir, I copy.”

  “Are you alone?”

  “Alone as I’m going to be, sir.”

  “Good. I’ve got a new mission for you, details are being sent to your secure phone. And you’re not going to believe it.”

  “I’ve learned to mask my surprise, sir.”

  Colonel Thomas Clancy, the Unit’s Commanding Officer, chuckled. “Even you’re going to be surprised at this one.”

  Now Dawson’s curiosity was piqued. “Hit me, sir.”

  “You’re going after the Ark of the Covenant.”

  Dawson’s eyes shot wide.

  Then narrowed.

  “Is it April First?”

  “No joke, Sergeant Major. Our archaeology friends may have found it, and apparently a shitstorm of questionable collectors is about to rain down on them. The President himself has ordered us to get there first, secure the item, then get it and the professors out of harm’s way. Should you be unable to secure the item, you’re to destroy it.”

  Dawson shook his head, thinking of the past encounters he had enjoyed with the professors, including their first encounter, where he had tried to kill James Acton. He had been provided false intel by a corrupt president who had claimed the man and his students were domestic terrorists who had killed US Army personnel and stolen a top secret DARPA project.

  It had all been bullshit, but by the time they discovered their orders were illegal, it was too late.

  Too many innocents were dead, including some of his own men.

  In the ensuing years, he and his men had tried to make up for their crimes, despite being cleared of any fault. He considered Acton and his wife Laura friends, friends he and the others wouldn’t hesitate to put their lives on the line for, just as these two civilians had done for them.

  But rescuing them from terrorists, cults, gangs, or whatnot, didn’t hold a candle to this.

  Yet it had to be bullshit.

  “The Ark of the Covenant. That big golden box from Raiders.”

  “One and the same.”

  Dawson grunted. “This has to be a joke, right? I mean, it’s not real, right?”

  “No idea, Sergeant Major, and I don’t care. The powers that be think there’s a possibility it could be real, and even if it isn’t, it could spark reprisals should it fall into the wrong hands and be used as a pawn in a holy war.”

  Dawson’s head bobbed. Now that he could see. Grab it, secure it, and lives could be saved, even if it was merely a Hollywood prop. “Okay, sir, we’ll grab it. The boys are goin
g to get a kick out of this.”

  “Need to know, Sergeant Major, and they don’t need to know. As far as they’re concerned, they’re going in to recover an item the professors have discovered, and are rescuing their old friends.”

  “I trust my men, sir.”

  “As do I, Sergeant Major, but I don’t want any hesitation based on religious beliefs. Remember, if you can’t secure it, you must destroy it. If it comes to that, it’s best they don’t know what they’re blowing up.”

  Dawson frowned. He trusted his men with his life, but the Colonel was right. Even he was somewhat uncomfortable with the idea. Though he couldn’t believe it was the real Ark, even if there was the slightest chance it was, blowing it up seemed like a horrible idea, and he was certain others on the team would have reservations as well. “We’ll just have to make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  Dawson tensed as a thought occurred to him. “Sir, who has it now?”

  “It’s all in the package I sent you, but we believe it’s a priest, probably a group of priests.”

  Dawson pursed his lips. “And should they object to us taking the Ark?”

  “Use non-lethal force if possible, but we need that Ark in safe hands. The shitstorm that is coming down on them is something the priests are not going to be able to handle. Every well-financed criminal organization is likely already en route. We’re just hoping you get there first.”

  “Copy that, sir, I’ll brief the men. We’ll get the job done.”

  “I know you will, Sergeant Major. Control, out.”

  Dawson quickly scanned the encrypted file Clancy had sent him, shaking his head with every paragraph, before briefing the team, giving them all the specifics he could beyond what the object was.

  Niner eyed him. “What is it you’re not telling us?” He snapped his fingers. “It’s the item. You didn’t say what it was we’re supposed to be recovering.”

  “Need to know, Sergeant.”

  Atlas rolled his eyes. “Ugh, please tell me it’s not another one of those damned crystal skulls. Those things give me the creeps.” He shivered. “And the shivers.”

  Niner grabbed his pack, making a show of searching it. “Vanessa had me bring your teddy bear, just in case you were having nightmares. It’s in here somewhere. Give me a sec.”