THE LAST ARK

CHAPTER 30: SECRET EXCAVATIONS

Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv T h ree Days Before Temple Ceremony

“Are you sure?” Derek asks, trying to get his head around the urgent “Of course, I’m sure,” insists Yehuda, lift ing his hands like Derek had insulted his integrity. “Th e Israeli Knesset ordered the IAA to conduct emergency nighttime excavations of Qumran. Tens of billions in Solomon’s temple treasures have become a ransom for peace.” “Th is is terrible news,” Loir bemoans, rubbing his hand over his head, while Matan pats his shoulder for comfort. “Th ey will fi nd the second scroll and then the ark.” “Neither the secular Knesset nor the prime minister cares for Moshiach; they only want money, power, or military security,” says Yehuda. “Th e temple—what about the temple?” inquires Loir. Yehuda nods. “Yes, yes, Loir. To symbolize the unity of Abraham’s offspring, the Saudis will allow a Jewish tabernacle on the Har HaBáyit, over the bedrock stone, under the Dome of the Spirit.” “Dome of the Spirit, excellent.” Loir nods his head with a satisfied grin. “Yes, but the location nearly brought the Sanhedrin to revolt. Many will die believing the holy of holies lies under the Dome of the Rock,” Yehuda explains. “What’s the bedrock stone, and why is that important?” Derek asks. “When Solomon built the first temple,” Loir responds, “there were only two places where the original bedrock of Mt. Zion remained on the temple platform level or higher. The first rock was under the immense two-story bronze altar. T hat rock was enormous and rose a few feet above the platform to support the altar weight. The second location, the holy of holies, was a threshing floor, purchased by King David, level with the platform. It is important because it would be blasphemy to place the ark on stone cut by man.” “I thought the holy of holies sat under the golden dome,” says Mordechai. “A false tradition started by the Templars. Sadly, many Orthodox Jews still believe that lie. The rock under the Muslim shrine is too large, rises too high above the platform, bears too many cut marks, and contains a natural cave beneath called the Well of Souls,” grumbles Yehuda. “There was no cave under the holy of holies.” “Agreed, the Haram esh-Sharif rests over the original altar bedrock. There is only one other location on the Temple Mount where the bedrock has always been level with the tile since the beginning. Ancient Muslims knew the significance and erected a copula over the spot. The Dome of the Spirit’s threshing floor also aligns perfectly with the Golden Gate,” agrees Matan. “What will happen with the ark?” Mordechai questions, addressing the elephant in the room. Everyone shares a glance. Derek has seen that look before in the eyes of good people backed into a corner. He reminds himself this is not his fight or his mission. “The ark will become another negotiating ploy or end up in a museum,” Yehuda speculates. “Or worse, used for spectacle by vain, godless men in front of the entire world for political theater, making a mockery of our religion.” Yehuda shakes his head vigorously. “No, no, no, we cannot let that happen. We must save the true ark for worship, as Elohim intended.” In Derek’s mind, if the Knesset gets hold of the ark, then it won’t take long before the Concilium somehow takes de facto possession. Although, he can’t be sure why without the Sefer HaBahir. Still without SLVIA, all of this prophecy stuff confuses him; the texts are always open to interpretation and speculation. Even more baffling questions revolve around why the SLVIA would lead him in this direction. He’s a cybersecurity expert, not a priest. Then he wonders if maybe the SLVIA wants him to keep the ark from the Order. That thought sparks an even more radical one. “I have a crazy idea,” Derek says. “You’re probably gonna hate it. What if you got to the ark first and gave it directly to the Sanhedrin?” He shrugs. “Just saying, you already have the landmarks and the hill of Kokhlit as a starting point. Maybe you could find the ark before they even find the second scroll. You know, the old ask-forgiveness-instead-of-permission thing.” Every head turns to stare at him in disbelief with dropped jaws at the audacity, as if he had just spoken heresy. Derek wonders if he should apologize when Yehuda grins to one side while the eyebrow on the same side rises like a string just pulled them both. Yehuda turns to the others. “No one is to speak a word of this conversation to anyone.” Yehuda, Matan and Loir engage in a heated debate in Hebrew, with young Mordechai listening intently. All Derek can tell is that whatever is being debated requires lots of raised voices and hands flying in the air. Either way, the sooner he and Nelson can revive the SLVIA, the sooner he can leave Israel before he gets looped into his own crazy idea–or before an assassin gets lucky.