The Moses Legacy - Adam Palmer [21]
‘So it’s a perfect match,’ said Gabrielle excitedly.
‘Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet. Let’s see if we can find anything else. Again, using the two recognized words of El and Jehovah, if we look just above the middle of the second tablet, we see the name Jehovah, the word El and also …’ His inflection was rising as he felt the growing excitement. ‘…the word Yisral, which appears to be an early form of the name Israel.’
By now, even Mansoor’s hitherto sceptical eyes were lit up with the fire of enthusiasm. ‘Does that mean what I think it means?’
Daniel was pleased to hear emotion in Mansoor’s tone for once and he was unable to conceal the passion in his own. ‘It means we’ve gone some way to deciphering Proto-Sinaitic script. But more important than that… it means that what you’ve got back in Cairo are the remnants of the original Mosaic tablets!’
Chapter 11
‘Look, could you at least give me my phone back so that I can call my folks?’
Jane’s tone was like that of a stroppy teenager. She was being held in the isolation wing of a military hospital along with the other volunteers from the dig and also some of the soldiers. They were segregated from each other in order to further reduce the risk of infection.
They had been told very little, beyond the fact that it was a precaution and it was for their own wellbeing.
‘We aren’t allowing phone calls for the time being,’ the man from the Ministry of Health explained to her, in the tone of a kindergarten teacher to a not very bright child.
‘Why not?’
‘We don’t want to start a panic.’
‘You’re probably starting more of a panic by holding us incommunicado like this.’
The man from the Health Ministry, an alumnus of Harvard, looked impressed by Jane’s vocabulary as he thought of her as an empty-headed blonde. She sensed the patronizing attitude from the smile on his face, even though he said nothing.
‘My father’s a United States senator.’
‘I know,’ said the official, still smiling. ‘And this is against your constitutional rights.’
‘Look, it’s not funny!’
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. But you have to understand that a panic is the last thing we need. We depend heavily on the tourist industry in this country.’
‘Look, I’m not going to start a panic. Besides, my father already knows.’
The official looked at her blankly and then understood.
‘Oh yes, aren’t you the one who smuggled a phone into the dig?’
She blushed and then smiled, realizing that the look on the health official’s face was actually one of approval.
‘Okay, yes that was me. Look, I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I just didn’t want him to worry.’
She gave the official a seductive smile. He looked at her hesitantly.
‘Okay, one call. And don’t mention that anyone else is in quarantine. You can tell him that you’re okay – and that you’ll be released in two weeks.’
She smiled as he handed his mobile phone through the sliding drawer into the isolation area. Then she took the phone and put in the call.
‘Hallo Dad.’
‘Jane,’ said Senator Morris.
‘Listen, I’ve got some bad news. Because of what happened at the dig with Joel, we’ve been put into quarantine.’
‘What? At the hospital?’ The shock was palpable.
‘Yes, but a different hospital. They’ve said they’ll release me in two weeks, but I’m not allowed to have my phone with me.’
‘Why not?’
She looked at the health official, wondering how much she was free to say.
‘Something about contamination.’
‘Did you manage to get any of Joel’s clothes?’
‘No, I didn’t have a chance.’
‘Okay, well, look… don’t feel bad. You tried your best.’
She did feel bad though, or at least mildly guilty. ‘Thanks, Dad.’
‘Oh, just one thing.’
‘Yes?’
‘You’re sure they don’t know that I told you to get a sample of Joel’s clothes?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Okay, that’s good.’
They said goodbye and Jane handed