The Moses Legacy - Adam Palmer [103]
It was a portent to the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. They had encouraged and supported monotheism and now that it was completely rejected by the new pharaoh, they were going to pay the price in sweat and toil – as slaves to the Egyptians. They had been loyal to the pharaohs who came before Horemheb, but all of that was forgotten. They were tainted by being associated with the wrong side. Now, with a change of regime and a change of policy, they were to be perceived as the enemy.
Gabrielle looked at Daniel; Daniel and the priest looked at each other.
But before anyone could speak, the door swung open and a tall and powerful man burst into the room. Daniel recognized him immediately. It was the man from the aeroplane.
Chapter 84
Sarit never had been one for following orders. Besides, Dov hadn’t actually ordered her not to interfere. He simply hadn’t authorized specific action. He hadn’t told her not to go to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Indeed, there was no reason at all why she shouldn’t go there. It was a public place and the National Library, subject to certain security procedures, was a public building. So she wasn’t actually disobeying orders in going there.
She had driven there as soon as her conversation with Dov had ended – she didn’t want to waste any time. But she didn’t have a university pass, so she would have to park outside the campus and walk in. That would take a little longer.
She wasn’t really sure why she was doing this. Presumably they would phone the university to warn them if they thought there was any danger of Goliath turning up. Also Dov had told her that there was an armed guard with them in the lab. But how quickly could an armed guard respond? After all, the corridors of the National Library were full of unarmed civilians. Could an armed guard with a pistol in a holster respond quickly enough to a man like Goliath, and without harming any innocent passers-by?
And what did Goliath and the New Covenant actually want? If it was what Dov thought it was then it was not to be found at the Hebrew University. It would be somewhere in Jordan. Perhaps he thought that the manuscript would give him the precise location?
No, that doesn’t make sense!
If the information he needed was in the translation of The Book of the Straight then Senator Morris could have already given it to him based on Carmichael’s translation.
But maybe the translation was incomplete? Maybe there were gaps that needed to be filled? Maybe they were waiting for Daniel’s translation to put in place the last piece that would help them find the exact location?
Or maybe Goliath was still convinced that he needed a sample of their clothes, unaware that that approach was now obsolete.
Chapter 85
‘I assume you know who I am?’ Goliath said.
‘I remember you,’ said Daniel, unsure of how to play it. ‘You were the man on the plane. We talked a bit about ancient Egypt and history and all that.’
More than anyone else in the room, Daniel realized that they were in deadly danger, although he sensed that Gabrielle must have at least some idea too. It was now clear to Daniel that the pushy man who had spoken to him on the plane was also the man who had tried to kill them at the tomb.
It made perfect sense. The guardian of the tomb’s neck was broken and this was clearly a strong man. Daniel knew that Gabrielle had figured it out too. Only the high priest was in blissful ignorance of the fact that standing before them was a deadly assassin.
But what was his cause? And what happened to the armed guard outside? This man was certainly strong enough to have dealt with him. But they hadn’t heard a thing. Just as at the tomb, they had only realized when it was too late.
‘Let’s not beat around the bush, Professor Klein. You know who I am.’
‘You’re the man who locked us in the tomb.’
‘Correct.’
‘Did you kill my uncle?’ asked Gabrielle.
‘That too.’
‘But why?’ she asked.
‘What is this?’ asked the high priest.
‘Shut up!’ yelled Goliath, delivering a vicious blow to the priest