02 The Secret on Ararat (9 page)

Murphy’s brain started to go into overdrive. “Potassium 40 is found in just about everything. It’s one of the things responsible for the aging process. For this piece of wood to have almost no traces of Potassium 40 could mean there was very little of it around in the pre-flood world. Which would make sense since it was normal for people to live for hundreds of years prior to the flood. After the flood, however, people’s life spans were reduced to where they are today.”

“How would you explain all this?”

Murphy thought for a moment. “There are some scientists who believe that at one time, there was a layer of water surrounding the earth called a water canopy. This could have filtered out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. That might account for the reduction in Potassium 40. It’s also believed that when Noah’s flood came, the water canopy collapsed onto the earth and that’s what contributed to the floodwaters rising above the hightest mountains. With the water canopy gone, Potassium 40 would begin to increase.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Then Isis said, “You want to find the ark, don’t you, Michael? You want to prove once and for all that the Bible story is true.”

“I do. No question. But maybe there are other reasons
for finding the ark. Maybe the secret of extending life. Maybe other secrets too.” Murphy paused, lost in thought. When he spoke again, his tone had changed.

“I don’t have to tell you how important this all could be, Isis. But right now none of it matters. The only important thing is that you’re alive and safe. You know, I don’t think I could endure a second loss.”

For a long time neither of them spoke.

TWELVE

LEVI SAT DOWN in one of the empty chairs in the lecture hall and watched as a handful of eager students plied Murphy with questions. He was amazed at the patience of the man. Most academics regarded the teaching of students as an annoying interruption of their own studies, but Murphy clearly cared about his students as much as he cared about archaeology. Levi knew his presence must have intrigued Murphy, but Murphy showed no sign of wanting to hustle the students away. Eventually, however, the last of them left the lecture theater and Murphy walked over to his old friend.

“I didn’t know you were interested in Noah’s Ark, Levi. If I’d known I would have saved you a seat in the front row.”

“Maybe I know more about it than you think,” said Levi coolly. “When I was in the Mossad there was always talk of the ark being on Ararat. Apparently the CIA
took satellite pictures of the area. Very interesting, I’m told.”

Murphy was hooked. “Did you ever see them?”

“It was all very top secret. I shouldn’t really be talking about it. I could tell you, but then … I’d have to kill you.”

He looked at Murphy with those intense, dark eyes, and Murphy could believe it. Then Levi suddenly laughed and Murphy realized he was joking. The killing-him part, at least.

“So, you haven’t come for a lecture from me, then.”

Levi shrugged. “I was in the area on business and thought I would drop by. I brought my workout gear. How about a little sparring? Then, if you’re still alive, I’ll buy you lunch,” he said with a grin.

“And if I’m not?”

“Then you buy, of course.”

When they had first met a couple of years earlier, Murphy had formed an almost instant liking for Levi. They came from different backgrounds and had different perspectives on the world in many ways, but at heart they were both adventurers. They enjoyed testing each other, physically and mentally, and Murphy always felt he came away from their meetings having learned something—usually some new martial-arts move.

At the gym, Levi and Murphy warmed up with stretching exercises to ensure no pulled muscles. They then both dropped into a “horse stance” and held that position while throwing five hundred right and left reverse punches. Murphy could feel the strain in his thighs almost instantly, while Levi looked as if he was relaxing in an armchair in front of the TV.

“Are you ready for something new?” asked Levi.

“Bring it on,” grunted Murphy.

“We will practice a kata that has twenty-seven moves to it. It is called Heian Yodan. It was taught by Gichin Funakoshi, the master in Karate-do.”

Levi was always the patient teacher, even in the midst of a high-intensity training session. He was a blinding combination of grace, speed, and sheer power. Murphy was always amazed at how quickly his stocky body could move—and with what lethal force.

Murphy knew that Levi had taken a job as head of security for a high-tech company in the Raleigh-Durham area. But he had suspicions that he still had strong ties to the Mossad and to other intelligence agencies in a number of countries.

For an hour Levi dragged Murphy through the unfamiliar kata, until Murphy could feel something new had been programmed into his aching limbs—a new way of moving and seeing. Just at the point where he thought he was going to collapse, Levi clapped his hands and dropped into a relaxation posture. Murphy gratefully followed his example.

He waited for his breathing to steady, then said, “Okay, Levi. Thanks for the lesson. But what’s the real reason for your visit?”

“Your body may be slow but your mind is still sharp, I see,” Levi laughed. “I got a call from Bob Wagoner last week. He was concerned about how you were dealing with the loss of Laura.” He looked his friend in the eye. “How are you handling it?”

Painful as it was, Murphy didn’t resent the question. Levi wouldn’t have made much of a diplomat, but his
directness was sometimes refreshing. Murphy hated it when people didn’t mention Laura’s name in case it upset him. He wanted people to talk about her and remember her, even if made the heartache more intense.

“Some days have been harder than others. I’ve been pouring myself into work, trying to do something positive and not dwell in the past. But every day I think about her, try to concentrate on the good times, try not to focus on—” He took a breath and tried to clear his throat, but the words wouldn’t come.

Levi finished his sentence for him. “On Talon.”

Murphy nodded, glad he didn’t have to say the name. Then he suddenly realized that was why Levi had come.

“Listen,” said Levi. “I heard about the breakin at the Parchments of Freedom Foundation. How your friend Isis was almost killed.”

“You’re always remarkably well informed,” Murphy said.

“I have my sources, as you know. Anyhow, I was turning it over in my mind, thinking about the way the guards had been killed—”

“And you thought of Talon. Of course. I know it was him, Levi. He killed Laura, and now he almost killed Isis. It was a miracle he didn’t.”

He looked at the floor, suddenly overcome with emotion.

“Don’t worry,” said Levi. “I believe Talon got what he was looking for. He won’t be coming back.”

Murphy was amazed at how much information Levi already had. How much more did he know that he wasn’t sharing?

“Look, Levi. If Methuselah is involved, and Talon is
involved, something big must be going on. Something to do with the ark. I just wish I knew what it was. But I think there’s only one way to find out.”

Levi scratched the iron-gray stubble on his chin thoughtfully. “If the ark exists, of course.”

Murphy locked eyes with his friend. “I think you know more than you’re telling on that score.”

“Maybe,” conceded Levi. “And what if the ark does exist?”

“I believe it does,” said Murphy firmly. He gripped Levi’s forearm. “And I want to try and find it. But I’ll need help. The kind of specialized help I think only you can give me. If I set up a discovery team, I think the Parchments of Freedom Foundation might be interested in funding it.”

Levi shook his head. “From what I know, Ararat is a very dangerous place. Not only do you have Turkish soldiers, Kurdish rebels, and wild dogs, there are also many rock avalanches and snow avalanches on the mountain. Even earthquakes. If you go to where everyone thinks the ark might be located, you will have to climb in high-altitude snow conditions.”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking for your help. We would need you to train us for all the kinds of problems we might encounter.”

Levi continued to look doubtful but Murphy plowed on.

“I’m going to the CIA headquarters at Langley. I think they have information about Ararat that they’ve been sitting on for some time.”

“You may be opening a big can of worms, Murphy. Are you sure that you want to do that?”

“You know me, Levi. I love an adventure. And I don’t mind rattling a few cages in the government. Especially when it involves the possible discovery of the most important archaeological find in human history. If we can find the ark, it would be the greatest blow that could be struck against the theory of evolution. It would be a confirmation that the Bible is correct and that God created the world. And I have a feeling there may be other amazing things on the ark. Maybe then we could even convince an old skeptic like you, Levi!”

Levi didn’t smile. “You are getting into areas that you know little about. There is more danger than you think.”

“From what? I’ve already encountered Methuselah and Talon.”

“Spooks,” said Levi evenly.

“Spooks? Are we talking about ghosts?”

“We’re talking about freelance, unofficial government operatives. They’re no joke, Murphy, if you get in their way. I should know.”

Murphy fixed him with an intense gaze. “Then I’m going to need all the help I can get, aren’t I?”

THIRTEEN

50 miles from the great city of Enoch, 3115
B.C.

A SCREAM OF AGONY filled the night air
.

Whirling around, eyes wide, Noah turned toward the noise. Down below the walls, through the flickering light of the torches, he saw Ahaziah. He was staggering backward, both hands gripping the arrow that had pierced his chest. He was gasping for air
.

The men at the post near him ran to his aid. As Noah started to move toward his beloved servant he heard a tremendous noise, like a great wave crashing on the shore—the rushing cry of Zattu’s attacking army
.

“To your posts, men, to your posts!” he yelled
.

Turning quickly, he shouted, “Japheth, the archers!”

Noah’s archers began to take aim at shadowy figures on the ground below, some of whom were already climbing up the long siege ladders. But the enemy archers were at work too, sending
a blinding spray of arrows up toward Noah’s men, killing or maiming many before they could loose their own shafts. But worse, many of the arrows had been dipped in pitch and set on fire to become flying torches, lighting up the sky before landing on the roofs of the buildings below
.

Fire could soon be seen everywhere in the city, and no one could be in any doubt that Zattu’s army was determined to capture or destroy it before another dawn rose
.

On the walls, Ham and his men were pushing the ladders away with long poles, desperately trying to prevent the enemy from overrunning them. Everywhere there was shouting and yelling—a violent cacophony in which it was impossible to tell the screams of the dying from the bark of orders
.

On the ground, inside the walls, women tended to the wounded as children drew water from the last remaining wells, trying to slake the fighters’ terrible thirst
.

Now Shem and his men began to pour scalding water on the attackers below from great iron pots, while others toppled large rocks down on the enemy holding the ladders. Soon all the ladders had been smashed, and the enemy’s momentum seemed to have been halted. Suddenly, there was a mighty cheer from those lining the walls
.

Zattu’s men were retreating
.

Once he was certain that it wasn’t a ruse, that the enemy truly was in disarray, Noah gathered his sons and his chief officers beneath the walls
.

“Shem, take some of the officers and see how many men we lost in the attack. See how many of the wounded can still fight. Japheth, gather as many of the enemy arrows as you can. Have your men move more rocks to the top of the wall and to the towers. Ham, have you gotten any signal from Massereth?”

“I sent him to the great city of Enoch for help, but he has not
returned. He may have been killed by the enemy. Four days have passed.”

Dawn was turning the horizon a muted pink as Noah began to walk through the city to survey the damage. Many of the homes were just smoking ashes. Some of his men were gathering the dead and carting them to the storage building next to the temple
.

Every now and then he would stop to talk with the wounded, trying to encourage them and thank them the best he could. Women and children were crying. Some women were sitting on the ground, rocking dead loved ones in their arms and staring off into space
.

Noah stopped and closed his eyes for a moment. How he hated war. How he hated the taking of another man’s life. But a man must protect his family against those who threaten them. He had no other choice. And in recent years the threat of evildoers had become too much to ignore. Tears streamed down Noah’s face as he began to search the crowd for Naamah. He wept for all the dead, for the widowed mothers, for the fatherless children. But he knew if he had lost his own wife his heart would break and he would not be able to carry on
.

After an hour of increasingly frantic searching, Noah found her. She was with Achsah, Bithiah, and Hagaba, his sons’ wives. Their once-fine clothes were filthy and stained with sweat as they tended to the wounded as best they could. Naamah stood to get another jar of water, wiped the hair out of her face, and turned to see Noah. They embraced without speaking for long moments and then she began to weep
.

“Have you had word from Tubal-cain?” said Naamah finally, with a look of desperation in her eyes
.

“No,” Noah admitted with a heavy heart. “But I am hoping that Massereth was able to get through the enemy lines to
your brother. He is our only hope. Supplies will only last for another day.”

“What if he does not come in time?”

Noah looked away
.

“Noah, what will happen to our people?” said Naamah with fear in her voice
.

Noah held her shoulders firmly. He couldn’t lie to her. “Zattu and his army are wicked men. They will take no slaves. They will kill the women and children.”

Noah drew her into his arms as she dissolved into hysterical sobbing. “God will somehow protect us. We have trusted in Him since the beginning. He will not let us down.”

It was noon when Japheth came to Noah with the bad news
.

“We have about ninety men who can still fight. Our supply of arrows is low, and most of the water is gone. Our only weapons are rocks. We may be able to resist one more attack.”

Noah sighed, then gathered his spirits as best he could. “Start organizing the men and take all of our supplies to the walls. Heat up the rocks in the iron pots. We must prepare for their next attack.”

“Yes, Father,” said Japheth with determination
.

“I will have Ham gather any of the women who can fight, along with the older children. It is our only hope.”

Noah mounted the wall and walked from tower to tower. He could see several thousand of Zattu’s men spread out over the plain, readying themselves for another attack. They knew Noah was almost beaten. This time they would strike in broad daylight
.

Noah called to his sons and officers, “We do not have much
time left. Their army is beginning to form ranks! Gather the people!”

It was like being in an ill-omened dream, watching the enemy move slowly toward the city. They were coming like a swarm of ants ready to devour a juicy date. Noah knew that his people would not endure the next attack for very long. He began to pray
.

Ham, Shem, and Japheth, along with Naamah, Achsah, Bithiah, and Hagaba, gathered around Noah as they watched the approach of the army. No one spoke. There was nothing to say and nothing to do until the final onslaught began
.

Suddenly the silence was broken by a shout from one of the towers
.

Noah and his family turned and looked in the direction the soldier was pointing. It took them a moment to register the cloud of dust on the horizon and discern the glint of armor in the distance
.

Noah was infused with a new surge of energy. “Praise God! It is the great army of Tubal-cain! Massereth has succeeded! We must hold on until they arrive!”

The attack began in the heat of the day. Women, children, and even some of the elderly joined with the men. Some gathered stray arrows from the enemy, and the stronger ones dropped rocks. Everyone who could stand gathered on the walls in the hope they could somehow keep their city from being destroyed. They knew that once the walls were breached, they were as good as dead
.

Zattu did not see Tubal-cain’s approach until it was too late. With their rear unprotected, the slaughter was great. Tubal-cain’s fighters were fierce, and they wielded weapons far more deadly than the curved iron swords of Zattu’s army. Their swords made a high ringing sound when they clashed
against shield or helmet—thus they were known as Tubal-cain’s “singing swords” —and the metal seemed unbreakable and impervious to rust or decay. For many hours the swords did their deadly work, until, as the light began to fade, Zattu’s army had finally been reduced to a pile of corpses. Tubal-cain’s men roamed the plain, stripping the dead of anything of value. Their harsh laughter mingled with the groans of those not quite dead yet
.

Against this grisly background, Tubal-cain was comforting his sister. “You and your family almost died,” he said. “You must move out of this place. There is much wickedness here. Zattu’s army of scavenging dogs is destroyed, but his brothers will seek revenge.”

“But this is where we raised Ham, Shem, and Japheth,” said Naamah
.

“What does that matter! If you stay you will be killed. You have no army to protect you anymore. Many of your people are dead. The city of Enoch is too many miles distant.” He shook his head. “I tell you, this is not a safe place for women and children. You and Noah and your sons and daughters must leave.”

“But where should we go?” said Naamah
.

“The forest of Azer,” said Tubal-cain. “You would have everything you need. And no one has settled it yet. You would be safe from the evildoers.”

“That is many miles distant,” said Noah. “I need to stay here and instruct the people about the Great God of the Heavens.”

Tubal-cain smiled and said, “These people don’t care about your God talk. They will kill you for a few sheep. Even I do not believe in your God, Noah. I came only to save my sister, not to proclaim a victory for your God. And the next time evil strikes at you, I may not be able to help you in time.”

“We must pray about this,” said Noah firmly
.

“What is there to pray about?” said Tubal-cain, spitting in the dust. “You either move or you will die!”

During the following months Noah and his family repaired the city as best they could. Many of the widows moved out of the city and went back to their relatives in distant villages. Others wandered out into the wilderness, fearing another attack on the city more than they did the threat of starvation or the predations of robbers
.

The city began to dwindle before their eyes
.

“Do you think Tubal-cain is right, after all? Should we move to the forest of Azer?” said Naamah one day
.

Noah understood her anxieties
.

“I have been praying about it. Of course, I know that it is not safe here any longer. But I do not know yet that God wants us to move. I will spend time today to seek His will.”

“Where is Father?” asked Japheth later. “I have not seen him all day.”

“He will return for the evening meal,” responded Naamah calmly. She looked out over the plain. “See! Is that not your father coming now?” But her relief turned to fear as she saw that he was running. Soon the rest of the family had gathered, awaiting Noah’s return. Could it be that Zattu’s brothers were on the march? They clutched one another in fear as a breathless Noah finally entered through the gate and they shut the great wooden door behind him
.

“Come, come
!”
said Noah when he had recovered himself. “I have something I must tell you all.”

Soon the sons and wives gathered around their table
.

“God has spoken to me today!”

A look of shock settled on their faces
.

“No, no. It is true. God spoke to me today. He said, ‘Take your wife, Naamah, Shem and Achsah, Ham and Bithiah, and Japheth and Hagaba, and build an ark of safety. The world is filled with wickedness and violence. The people have corrupted themselves. I am going to destroy them with a flood. But you and your family will be saved from destruction
.’”

As his family listened in astonished silence, Noah went on to describe how the ark of safety was to be built. “We will be moving to the forest of Azer. We will need the trees there for the building of the ark of safety. I will travel to the great city of Enoch and let Tubal-cain know that we will be leaving.”

A few days later, Noah was sitting in the cool shade of Tubal-cain’s garden. “You have made a wise decision, Noah,” Tubal-cain said. “The forest of Azer will be a safe place for you and my sister and your children. I will send some of my trusted men to protect you during your journey. Zattu’s brothers may be lying in wait for you.”

“I appreciate your kindness, Tubal-cain. You have protected us on more than one occasion.”

Tubal-cain nodded. “I do have one suggestion, however. Don’t tell anyone about your ark of safety. Or that God spoke to you. They will laugh you to scorn. Or worse.”

“But it is true!”

“True or false, it will just stir up trouble. I don’t want my sister subjected to any more danger.”

Noah bowed his head. He was truly grateful to Tubal-cain, despite his lack of faith, and he had no desire to antagonize him
.

Tubal-cain seemed mollified. “Before you leave, I have some special gifts for you. The first is one of my singing swords and a dagger. They may be of some protection to you in the future. I also have a box with some things that may help you in your foolish plan to build the ark of safety that you talk about. You must promise that you will not share these secrets with anyone.”

Noah nodded in agreement and bowed once more. When God had first told him what he must do, he had not known how such a task could be accomplished. Now, as Tubal-cain explained the nature of his special gifts, Noah believed for the first time that it really could be done
.