"Well, after several months, a strange package was dropped off at the Parchments of Freedom Foundation. It had been hand-delivered and had no return address. It was addressed to Isis McDonald. Inside the package she found the tail section of the Bronze Serpent. There was no note and no one knows who returned it or why. I personally think it sounds like something Methuselah would do. The second theft just occurred recently. Three guards were killed. One by a falcon, one had his throat slit, and the third had a broken neck. We know it was the work of Talon. Why are you asking all of these questions, Levi?"
"Michael, have you heard about the middle section?"
"What do you mean?"
"Our operatives in Egypt got word that the middle section of the Bronze Serpent had been stolen from the American University Both Fasial Shadid and Nassar Abdoo were killed."
Murphy didn't need to hear the details. He knew. It was Talon's handiwork.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. That must mean that Talon has two of the sections of the Serpent. I wonder if he will try and get the head section? It's supposed to be somewhere at the bottom of a shaft in the Pyramid of the Winds."
"What would he want with all three pieces?"
"I'm not sure. The Serpent may have significance to evangelical Christians, but I'm not sure it does to anyone else. They believe it is a talisman with mysterious healing powers. My guess is that Talon will
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try to put the pieces together somehow. I think the Seven must have some plan for it. Maybe it will become a symbol of worship. In the wrong hands, it could be used to make people believe that they may be healed from all types of illness and disease. Pastor Bob Wagoner and I have been talking about that possibility."
"It's good that you came, Michael. My bet is that if he has two pieces of the Bronze Serpent he'll try to get the third. Maybe we'll have some opportunity to catch Talon and put an end to his killing."
Levi paused for a moment and reached for his cell phone.
"We're getting close to the site. Let me call Gideon and let him know we're almost there."
"Gideon. This is Levi. We're almost at the site. Have you seen any activity?"
"All is quiet around the broken-down walls. No one's been around other than some farmers in the nearby olive groves and vineyards. About an hour ago three vehicles drove up to an olive grove about a quarter of a mile away. Seven people got out and went into the grove. They may be workers. I don't know."
"Where are you located?"
"My car's parked out of sight in a vineyard. I have binoculars and am positioned where I can see what goes on at the site and in the valley."
"Why don't you get in your car and meet us near the broken walls. We should be there in about five minutes."
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FIFTY-FIVE
THE VALLEY WAS QUIET as Levi and Murphy drove in. They could see a large mound in the distance with some ruins. There was a car parked there and a man leaning against it. They turned off the highway onto a dirt road that led toward the mound. As they got closer, Levi spoke.
"That's Gideon. He's been with the Mossad for thirteen years." As they got out of the car, Levi went up to Gideon and gave him a hug. He was about five foot eight inches tall with a dark complexion, jet-black hair, and thick, dark eyebrows. Although he was not an exceptionally large man, he seemed very powerful. The muscles on his forearms and biceps rippled.
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"Gideon, this is my good friend Dr. Michael Murphy from the United States."
Murphy shook hands with Gideon. He had an iron grip and a big smile that made his bright white teeth stand out.
While Levi talked to Gideon, Murphy began to look around. To the north of the site he saw the three cars that Gideon mentioned. They were parked next to the olive orchard. No one could be seen.
"What do you think, Michael?" Levi asked. "Looks deserted. Nothing but temple rums. It doesn't look like there's anything here."
Murphy checked the outer wall. "Nothing out of the ordinary." He turned and looked at the other wall, which was about twenty feet away, and he became more animated.
"Levi. Look at the other wall. See anything unusual?"
"I'm no archaeologist, but it looks just like an old stone wall to me. They all look the same."
"Look how the hillside rises behind the wall. The hillside looks like it was cut out. I wonder if there might be something behind the wall."
Levi and Gideon walked forward, looking at the wall with new eyes. The three began to carefully examine all of the stonework.
Gideon was the first to speak. "Dr. Murphy. Come and look at the mortar around these rocks. It looks different."
"Good work! You're right. Whoever put the mortar in did a fairly good job of trying to make it look like the original but the color is just slightly off."
Murphy took out a knife and began to chip away at the mortar.
"This is fresh. It hasn't had time to harden to its full strength."
Levi went back to his car and took out a short shovel. He began to knock loose the mortar and pry away some of the rocks. Within about five minutes there was a hole in the wall. Murphy took a small flashlight out of his backpack and shined it into the hole.
"It looks like a fairly large cavity behind the wall, maybe six feet wide and at least that tall. Let's tear out some more rocks."
The discovery made them all excited and they began to work
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harder. After about ten minutes they had a hole large enough to crawl through. Gideon got two more flashlights out of the trunk of his car.
"Are you ready to go m?" asked Murphy.
Levi hesitated. "I don't know if we should all go in. It might be good for Gideon to remain outside and watch our backs."
"I agree," said Gideon. "I think I'll go check out those three cars and talk to the workers in the olive orchard. After that, I'll return and guard the opening while you and Dr. Murphy do some exploring in there."
Murphy led the way through the rock wall and Levi followed.
"This is not a cave," said Murphy as they shined their lights around. "It's a passageway that leads into the hillside. It must have taken many men to build this tunnel."
They followed the passageway as it sloped at a slight downward angle. They also saw metal rings in the side of the wall about every thirty feet.
"I'll bet those rings held torches to light up the passageway."
"I would prefer electric lights," Levi responded. "Remember the last passageway we were m, we almost lost our lives."
"Well, at least I'm not dragging your body along this time. It looks like the passageway angles off to the left." Murphy tried to get his bearings. "It seems like it might be going under the olive orchard on the low hillside."
Shining their lights on the floor of the passageway, Murphy and Levi could see a number of footprints on the dusty floor.
"It looks like this has recently been a popular spot."
"Maybe it's for underground rave parties," said Levi with a smirk.
It wasn't long before they passed under an archway that led into a large chamber. Murphy shined his light around.
"I'll bet you this was some kind of secret room that led from the Temple of Dagon."
Murphy paced off the room. "It's about forty feet long ... twenty-five feet wide ... and about twelve feet tall."
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Levi shined his light on some amphora jars in a corner. All of them were empty.
"What do you think this room was used for, Michael?"
"It was probably some type of storage chamber for the temple. I don't think anyone would live in this room. There's not much ventilation."
"Do you think that this is the room that Methuselah wanted you to find?"
"I doubt it. There's no king's head to push in this room."
They began to carefully explore the floor and walls.
"Look over here, Levi. The walls have been recently chipped like someone was trying to break through them."
&n
bsp; "It looks like it didn't do them any good. Those walls seem very thick."
"They must have been looking for something. I wonder what it was?"
Suddenly Murphy and Levi froze in their tracks. And listened. They could hear muffled popping sounds.
Murphy turned toward Levi. "What do you think that is?"
"Those are gunshots. They're coming from the other side of the wall!"
"There has to be a way in there," shouted Murphy. "Quick, look around some more."
Murphy and Levi began to survey every inch of the thirty-foot-long wall. Nothing seemed to be out of place.
"Michael! Look!"
Levi's light was shining on the carved head of a lion. Murphy shined his light across the wall and saw eight-inch carved lions' heads about every six feet around the entire room about five feet off the floor.
"So?"
"Come on, Murphy! You're the archaeologist. Didn't Methuselah
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tell you to press the king's head? Maybe he was talking about the king of the jungle."
Murphy's eyes widened.
"That's it! Start pushing those lions' heads."
Murphy was at the next-to-last head on the wall when it gave way under his pressure. There was an echoing sound like a large stone rolling and then part of the wall began to slide slowly backward. Both Murphy and Levi shined their lights on the opening and then looked at each other in amazement.
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FIFTY-SIX
The wheat field of Beth Shemesh, 1083 B.C .
PHUVAH AND HIS FELLOW servants had been in the wheat field of Beth Shemesh harvesting since early dawn. The sun was now almost at half day and sweat poured from his body. He paused for a moment to straighten up his tired back and wipe his brow. As he mopped his forehead with the sleeve of his tunic, something curious appeared in the distance .
He stared at the cart being drawn by milk cows with no one driving them. The sun reflected off of something on the cart so bright and shiny that he had to avert his eyes. He yelled to the other servants, who stopped their work to see what the commotion was about. They all stood speechless .
Phuvah finally realized what he was looking at. Although he had never seen it before, he had heard enough descriptions to recognize the Ark of the Covenant. He also knew that the Philistines had captured it in the battle of 297 Ebenezer. Was it truly being returned? His heart leaped with joy. He began to run in the direction of his master .
The wheat field of Beth Shemesh had been in Joshua's family for three generations. It had always been a very productive valley because of the year-round stream that ran through it and the canals that had been constructed .
Joshua was at the head of the canal talking with one of his workers when Phuvah ran up all out of breath .
"Master, you must come at once!"
"Has someone been injured, Phuvah?"
"No! No! It is something wonderful!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Look, Master! Look at what is coming into the valley!"
Joshua turned in the direction that Phuvah was pointing. His heart almost stopped beating. He couldn't believe his eyes. He and all of his workers began to run toward the cart .
The two milk cows had stopped when they reached the edge of the wheat field, as if they were just waiting for the workers to come .
Joshua yelled at the workers as he was running. "Do not go near the cart! Do not touch it or the cows! It is sacred and holy. We must not defile it in any way!"
Everyone stopped about a hundred feet from the cart. They stood for a moment and just stared at the Ark. Then, almost in unison, they all fell to their knees and bowed before it .
After a long silence, Joshua called to Phuvah. "Run as quick as you can and summon the Levites. They are the only ones who can touch the Ark."
It was around two o'clock when the Levites arrived. They danced for joy when they saw the Ark and then led the cart to a large stone in Joshua's wheat field. They had the workers gather smaller stones and the Levites made an altar. They took the Ark of the Covenant and the chest off of the cart and placed it on the large stone next to the altar .
The Levites broke the cart into pieces and placed the wood under the 298 altar. Then they offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. Everyone bowed and gave thanks for the return of the Ark .
Hidden behind rocks on the hills above Beth Shemesh were the lords of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. They were watching to see where the cows would go and what would happen to the Ark. They observed the Israelites slaughter the cows and offer them in sacrifice. They then noticed the Levites leaving and the field workers being stationed as guards around the Ark .
One of the lords, a giant from Gath, finally spoke .
"Their ways are certainly odd. Our god is so big and mighty. Their God is in a box. How great can He be? He certainly didn't give victory in battle to the Israelites. Our enemies now have their cursed Ark back. Let us return to our cities and see if the plague has been lifted."
All nodded in agreement and began their painful journey back in silence. An hour into the trip, the lord of Ashdod ventured a comment .
"I think we made the right decision. "
They all stopped and looked at him .
"Why do you say that?" asked the lord of Ekron .
"The pain from my tumor is not as severe. I think it is shrinking."
Joshua had placed Phuvah in charge of the workers guarding the Ark. He had assigned them to afferent shifts so that someone would be awake at all times throughout the night .
Half a dozen of the workers had gathered around the fire to keep warm and talk about the Ark .
"What do you think is inside the chest along with the Ark?" asked one of the men .
"A good question. And what do you think is inside of the Ark itself?" responded another .
Their inquisitiveness grew until at last Phuvah looked at all of them and 299 said, "Let us make a pact of secrecy. Let us agree to look inside the chest and the Ark, but we must agree to tell no one what we have done. Agreed?"
They all knew that the Ark of God was sacred and only the high priest was allowed to touch it. But their curiosity was greater than their fear, and they all agreed to the pact .
Excitedly they made torches and approached the large stone. The light from the torches reflected off the Ark in a distorted and ominous fashion .
"Let's open the chest first," said Phuvah .
Carefully he lifted the lid. They all held their torches over the chest and peered in. Phuvah reached his hand in and pulled out one of the golden emrod tumors .
"What is it?" asked one of the workers .
"I have no idea," said Phuvah. "I know only that it is pure gold."
He then pulled out one of the golden rats .
"Look at this! It must be an image of one of their gods."
The whole group broke into laughter .
Phuvah continued. "There are five of the golden rats and five of the globs of gold. It must symbolize the five great fortified cities of the Philistines. They're all rats!"
Again the group broke out in uncontrollable laughter .
"Let's look in the Ark," said another worker .
Carefully four of the men took off the lid and set it on the stone. They lifted their torches and looked inside. Phuvah started to grab for something in the Ark ....
It was early the next morning when Joshua arrived at the field of Beth Shemesh. He could not believe his eyes. His workers were all dead and lying in strange positions. A look of terror was frozen on each of their faces .
As he approached the large stone in his field, he looked at the six bodies lying around the Ark. He recognized the body lying closest to the Ark as Phuvah's. Joshua fell to his knees and put his hands over his eyes attempting 300 to hold back the tears. "They knew better. They knew they shouldn't touch the Ark. Oh, my servants, how needless your deaths."
He could see Phuvah's right hand and arm were blackened, as i
f severely burned in a hot fire. The lid was off the Ark and the lid to the chest was also open. Next to the chest were two golden objects. One of them looked like a rat. He stayed about thirty feet from the large stone .
"I must get help from the Levites and priests!"
When Joshua arrived at the village where the Levities stayed, he found women and children in the streets weeping and wailing. The smell of death was in the air .
He approached one of the women. "What has happened? What is wrong here?" She did not respond. Even as he uttered those words he saw the dead men covering the ground. There were too many to count .
When he reached the home of the chief Levite he found that the door was open and he could hear noises inside. Peering in the door he saw the chief Levite on his knees, rocking back and forth, uttering prayers .
"Sir, what has happened?"
The Levite turned at the sound of a male voice .
"Joshua! You're alive. Oh, praise God. All of the men in the village are dead. Only the male Levites are alive. Levite runners from the other towns and villages around Beth Shemesh have reported the same thing. It is estimated that over fifty thousand men have suddenly been struck dead. No one has any idea why."
"I think I know why."
"Tell me, Joshua. What has gone wrong?"
"This morning I came back to the wheat field and the large stone where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. All of my men were struck dead and the lid of the Ark was open. I think they must have tried to look inside and see what was in the Ark."
"Then why didn't you die with them?" the Levite asked .
"I don't know why. Perhaps because I knew the Ark was holy and anyone unclean should not approach it. That's the only thing I can think of. The slaughter of my servants must be God's punishment for their disobedience."
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"You may be correct, Joshua. Who can stand before a holy God? We must send Levite messengers to the town of Kirjath Jearim. It may be that they would be willing to take the Ark and put it into protection."