Book of JUDAS

Chapter Three-3

“Is that better?” they heard the doctor ask his patient softly. Their grandfather mumbled something inaudible, which was promptly followed by the familiar voice of Bairstow confirming that everything was okay from behind the camera. He zoomed in so that the picture focused on their grandfather’s face whilst his head rested on the pillows. Ready to begin, the dying old man looked up towards the lens.

“Philip, Simon,” he spoke softly. “If you are watching this tape, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to stay around long enough to see you in person. I bitterly regret the fact that I didn’t try to contact you earlier but there’s nothing I can do about it now…”

Despite his frail and ghostly appearance he spoke lucidly. Occasionally, the extended length of his pauses between words made it clear how much effort the act was taking. Seeing the horror on the brother’s faces as they stared at the screen, Bairstow interrupted and reminded them that he was on very strong medication at this stage.

“I have a story to tell you that will now change both of your lives…” he paused and grimaced at the camera. “I’m angry with myself that I have left it so long; I thought the truth could stay buried in the past, but a recent event has changed any hope of that…” he said, blinking rapidly.

“Are you alright?” they heard Doctor Gifford ask and they watched their grandfather nod his head slowly and lift a handkerchief to remove the tears of anguish that were welling up in his eyes.

“I am so very sorry that I am not there to help, or answer your questions… I hope you’ll be able to forgive me…” He looked away sorrowfully for a second. As if in a trance, he paused for an instant, deep in thought, before looking back to the camera and summoning up what little energy that he had to complete the arduous task in hand. Having steeled himself, he spoke clearly into the microphone attached to the lapel of his pyjamas. The sheets were tucked up across his chest.

“Let me start at the beginning,” he said and stretched out a hand towards a glass of water sitting on the bedside cabinet. Doctor Gifford promptly returned into the frame to help before stepping back again.

“In 1947, a young Arab goat herder was walking through the rocky mountains along the North West Bank of the Dead Sea. To pass the time, he threw stones into the caves along the rock face and listened to them echoing as they ricocheted against the inside walls. However on this one occasion, he cast a stone and it made a dull thud… It had pierced a two-thousand-year-old ceramic pot…” Pausing, his eyes seemed to light up with the memory. “This was the first discovery ever made of the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran.”

Engrossed, the brothers stared at the screen as they listened to their grandfather’s voice speaking to them from the grave.

“This was over half a century ago, and since then eleven caves have been discovered with ancient artefacts and over eight hundred scrolls. In 1953, when I was in my mid-thirties, I travelled to Qumran, to head the excavation of a newly found cave. Other caves were being excavated at the same time but there was a particular sense of urgency in this project. Roland De Vaux, the Catholic administrator in charge of the entire project was keen to complete the excavation work at the earliest opportunity…” Sir Lawrence sighed, “…In hindsight, I now understand why De Vaux was so eager but nevertheless he was not to know how many more caves would subsequently be found.”

Philip racked his brains to remember any mention of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He recalled all the pleasurable and animated conversations he had with his grandfather about his life’s work but nothing jumped out at him. Slowly shaking his head, he concluded that this was the first time he had mentioned the Scrolls.

“My assistant on the excavation was a Greek called “Demetri” – an experienced and highly educated man who’d run archaeological projects for Greek government. And although it was the first time we’d met, we immediately became good friends – because we were both driven by the same passion for our work, I suppose. Many times we worked away in the close confines of the cave into the early hours of the next day as we catalogued and recorded our findings.”

The brothers sensed his fondness and respect for the man. The glimmer of a smile and the warm tone he used to describe their comradeship left them in no doubt about the obvious affection in which he held Demetri.

“At the time,” he continued, “the site and the finds were a major topic of world news. The Scrolls dated back to the time of the Bible and everywhere the religious community was waiting to hear the impact of the translations on the Old Testament. Theologians around the world were anxious to understand whether the writings would confirm or deny the words attributed to the Apostles in the New Testament. In the circumstances, given the eagerness with which the news was awaited by the followers of Christianity, it was not surprising that rumours and stories began to flow abundantly. The principal complaint or rumour was one of suppression. The accusation was levelled at the Vatican, which through their appointee, De Vaux, was allegedly deliberately stifling and withholding information that contradicted the teachings of the bible – and therefore the Roman Catholic faith.”

Sir Lawrence suddenly coughed repeatedly and pressed a handkerchief to his mouth while he tried to regain his composure. For a moment his head fell so that his chin rested on his chest before Doctor Gifford appeared and hurriedly fed him some tablets along with a sip of water. Gradually the medicine took effect and, slightly reinvigorated, he continued with his intriguing story.

“We heard the rumours and to begin with we dismissed them but then things kept happening to make us reconsider. We began to get the feeling we were being watched − we were not unduly surprised that our work was being carefully screened but we soon became aware that De Vaux was actually making changes to our written records. Up to that point the contents of the deciphered Scrolls could be considered relatively harmless from the perspective of being anti-religious, but then Demetri and I made an amazing discovery. It was dark, just after midnight and we were working by the light of our gas lamps. At the back of the cave, Demetri noticed a soft lining in the wall. When we began to scrape what we thought was rock, to our astonishment it started to crumble, revealing a second but smaller inner cave. You had to crawl through the narrow hole in the rock on all fours to enter and once we were both inside we found that it was not big enough to stand upright. Inside, the contents were very different from those of the main cave. Demetri held up the gas lamp to reveal two ancient clay vessels sitting in the centre of a polished floor. We opened the pots and took out the papyrus scrolls that were folded inside. Their feel and fabric was different from the ones we had discovered earlier − they were flexible with a rubbery texture. I opened the first and was astounded to find that it was in perfect condition, unlike so many of the others − it was amazing; it was an intricately detailed map of Judea at the time of Christ. The second was even larger and we unravelled it on the floor. It was full of Hebrew text and we slowly started to decipher and read the ancient scriptures.”

Philip and Simon watched, riveted to the screen, as he continued.

“The translation was shocking…” said Sir Lawrence, coughing hoarsely. He stopped and stared intensely into the camera lens. “The scroll confirmed the existence of the Book of Judas…” he coughed again, struggling to get out the words, “…the bible of the antichrist.”

Simon cast a sideways glance at his brother, checking the revelation’s impact. Philip looked puzzled, confirming that he was just as confused as Simon about the import of the discovery. He turned back to the image of his grandfather as he croakily continued.

“Up until this point the book was considered a myth… Nothing, no evidence of any kind had ever been found to support its presence in the real world.”

He stopped to contemplate his own words; the ramifications of this event had clearly filled him with dismay.

“The truth was potentially explosive. We had found the map and instructions to get to the biggest religious discovery of all time… Not only that, but if the Book of Judas really existed it was prophesised that its unearthing would destroy the pillars upon which the entire Christian religion had grown… It had the power to unlock the devil himself.”

Sir Lawrence’s face contorted as he recalled the moment when he and Demetri stood in the cave trying to decide what to do next. After sharing the initial euphoria of the breakthrough he remembered the excitement fading as their heightened senses gave way to anxiety and fear.

“We both knew that if these scrolls were passed on to De Vaux the discovery would be covered up immediately. His Roman Catholic administration team would escort the artefacts back to the Vatican where they’d never be seen again… The truth of their existence would never be acknowledged. The only people who could testify to finding the scrolls were Demetri and myself… And we knew this knowledge would put our own lives in danger.”

Philip and Simon could see the effort being made by their grandfather to complete the remarkable story. Sir Lawrence stopped to draw breath before again summing up the energy to continue and recount the final chapter.

“It was the early hours of the morning and we decided that our only option was to escape with the scrolls and try and smuggle them out of the country. With Demetri leading the way, we left the cave using our gas lamp to light the path. We tried to act normally but one of De Vaux’s henchmen must have been watching the whole thing and in our haste to get away we were taken by surprise when he jumped into our path. He asked Demetri aggressively to show him the contents of the cloth sack he was carrying − he was pointing a gun at us… At first Demetri refused…” said Sir Lawrence, struggling to remain calm as the memory came flooding back and the tone of his voice became bitter with rage.

“But then the guard leant out and smashed the bag from his hands. The sack hit the ground spilling out its contents. In the light of the guard’s torch, we watched as the scroll slowly unravelled itself sufficiently for him to make out the first few lines. It transpired that he was more than just an agent; he was educated… And he looked up aghast, mouthing the words ‘Book of Judas’ with look of sheer terror on his face...”

The emotion of recalling the moment stopped Sir Lawrence in midflow. He dabbed the handkerchief he was holding against his eyes.

“If I could turn back the clock to this moment then I would − I have dreamed of being able to do just that on several occasions,” he mumbled sadly. “Demetri lunged at the stunned guard, who fell back towards the edge of the rock face. As they wrestled, I dropped to the ground and pushed the contents back into the sack. Turning around, I just had time to stretch out my hand to Demetri as they both careered over the edge into the crevice below. He managed to grab my hand and I held on as long as I could but I just couldn’t hold him… The guard’s fall was broken by a ledge below but Demetri wasn’t so lucky. I watched him fall to his death.”

Their grandfather stopped to rub his eyes and Doctor Gifford came back into view, leaning down to whisper something inaudible. Philip and Simon watched their grandfather confirm to the doctor that he was happy to continue. Sir Lawrence, his spirit undiminished, refocused on the camera in front of him and continued to pour out his legacy.

“I stayed there a few moments wondering what to do, listening to the Catholic guard groaning on the rock jutting out below me. After I came back to my senses, I picked up the bag containing the scrolls and set off north towards Jericho. I covered the nine miles or so under cover of darkness before making my way to the Mediterranean Sea to the west. I knew they’d come looking for me so I travelled as fast as I could, smuggling my way onto a fishing boat before disembarking on the east coast of Cyprus. From there I managed to secure the help of the British Embassy to return me home. Once I made it back to England, I set up an elaborate scheme to preserve my own life… That’s when I first met James Bairstow, who helped me carry out my survival plan…”