Zero Point (45 page)

A press conference was held to announce the verification of the carbon dating of the items back to the first century. Millions of the faithful now flocked to the Canary Islands to view the purported cup of the Last Supper and remnants of the crown of thorns.

Heated discussions among theologians had already begun and would rage on for years as to the validity of the finds. However, the upwelling of faith served to silence groups, such as Alton Burr’s Secular America Movement, which propagated the removal of religion from society. Alton Burr’s name became synonymous with a modern day Judas Iscariot; the one who tried to betray the truth and murder to achieve his goals.

The Zero Point Generators that would have made Pencor and Osama the most powerful men in the world, once again
faded into obscurity, no doubt aided by those who had the most to lose.

Three days out of the Safi seaport in Morocco, the two container ships bearing the huge industrial ZPGs that were seized by Osama’s minions exploded in a fireball that lit up the night sky over the Indian Ocean. The two ships mysteriously disappeared beneath the waves and all hands were lost. That same day, Pencor’s production factory in Morocco erupted into flames from incendiary explosive devices that were strategically placed. Both incidents had been carried out by Kasim and his operatives under contract with a group of wealthy businessmen located in the United States.

***

That evening, in an office on Capitol Hill, the phone rang in a room occupied by a lone individual smoking a cigarette.

“Is this line secure?” the voice on the other end of the line asked in his southern drawl.

“Yes it is, my friend,” the man in the dimly lit room in Washington replied, flicking the ash from his cigarette into the ash tray. “I trust you have good news?”

“You betcha',” the voice said amiably. “I’ve just received confirmation from our contact we've had working in Morocco. Pencor’s ZPG production facilities and his ships have been eliminated completely. Your efforts in persuading the President to launch the missile strike against Pencor’s facility in Tenerife assured the disposal of the ZPG patents and their
designs. I guarantee that no documents will ever reach the public regarding this affair,” the southern man said.

“You
are
certain that no links can ever be made to my office?”

“No links at all. My associates are quite thorough and cautious, especially when it comes to our continued profits,” the oil company executive stated boastfully. “Don’t worry, Senator Dobson, your secret is safe with us. A most handsome campaign contribution will be made to you for your efforts in this matter.

Senator, the Zero Point Generator may someday become a viable energy source,” he said in a cold tone, “but not today.”

Epilogue

Two weeks after their harrowing brush with death at the Bishamon facility and on the island of La Palma, a healing Josh Turner and Maria Santiago sat silently at a table in the Cofradia
de
Pescadores restaurant in Santa Cruz. The coolness of the Tenerife evening was a welcome respite from the unseasonably warm weather that the Canaries were experiencing over the last week.

With all the festivals now over, a quiet hush permeated the island, especially in the wake of the events on La Palma. Thanks to the quick actions of the La Palma authorities, very few deaths were reported in the wake of the horrendous landslide that buried the city of Puerto Naos and a few other unfortunate towns. Geological teams from around the world descended upon the island in the aftermath to study the effects of the slide and the Cumbre Vieja eruption.

When the news of the terrorist plot came to light, many in the island administration came under close scrutiny. Most officials resigned to avoid the formal inquiry that was scheduled to commence later that month.

Administrator Fuentes, who had been instrumental in setting up the Yakuza element on Tenerife, was found executed in his car three days after the La Palma event. His pinky finger had been cut off and placed in an envelope. A calling card from his former employers, the envelope was stapled to his forehead. Found in his coat pocket was forged documentation that implicated him to the terrorist plot, in the company of a now demonized Robert Pencor.

The heroic action on Captain Saune’s part to stop the terrorists catapulted him into the limelight. He was unanimously offered the unexpired term of administrator by the island’s governing body, which he gratefully accepted. He was handily reelected at the next election and became a force for good throughout the island of Tenerife.

Turner sat reflectively, staring at his Jose Cuervo Black on the rocks as Maria watched him in silence, allowing him his quiet reverie. The dislocation and fracture of his left arm during the rescue of Maria was still tender, but the treatment on the USS
Hazleton
allowed it to heal quite nicely.

Sitting in silence, Turner's mind drifted back to a week ago. His father had been interned at a special place of honor on the island of Tenerife. His final resting place was on the western slopes of Mt. Teide, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was a small, simple ceremony commemorating the life and achievements of the prominent archaeologist, recognizing his extensive contributions to the field.

Turner recalled with fondness the eulogies shared by Maria and Carlos Santiago, along with a special and surprising testimony by Samuel Caberra. Samuel brought tears and laughter to all present with his eloquent and hilarious memories of his adventures with Eli Turner over the years. Even Yashiro Fuiruchirudo, who risked everything to stop Osama and his gang, attended the ceremony to pay his respects.

The solemn assemblage was joined by Colonel Kyle Sears and Major Sidney Zibrinski, along with a complete honor guard unit of the United States Marine Corps. The twenty-one gun salute at the conclusion of the ceremony echoed throughout the high, snowcapped peaks of the ancient volcano as Turner’s father was finally laid to rest. Eli Turner would always be remembered by those fortunate enough to have been a part of his life.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Maria.” Turner said, coming back to the present. “I was just thinking about Dad. Do you think that he would have changed things if he could have?” he asked pensively.

“Not a chance, Josh. He knew the danger involved,” Maria replied. “Even at the end, knowing the risks involved, he did what he had to do for the sake of preserving the past. It was very much a part of him.”

“I still don’t understand why he chose to confront Burr in the lava tube on La Palma,” Turner said. “He had to know that it would end badly.”

“Josh, all I can say,” Maria said sincerely, “is that something came over him; something I can’t explain. It’s as if he knew his sacrifice would not be in vain. It all began when the copper scroll started to glow.”

“That’s the strangest part of the story, Maria. You don't really believe it was some mystical event, do you?”

“Well, Samuel insists that the luminance of the scroll was probably due to the Scalar weapon’s EM wave somehow affecting it, but Yashiro told me later that at that precise time the weapon was not transmitting its waves towards the island.”

“I guess we’ll never know for sure,” Turner said in resignation, taking a sip of his drink.

“Josh, your dad knew that you love the archeology field as much as he did,” Maria stated, grabbing his hand across the table. “His real hope was for you to be happy in whatever you choose to do with your life.”

“I discovered too late that he was a good and wise man,” Turner said as the waiter brought over a basket of fresh baked bread. “I owe it to him to continue his work and the ICAP organization,” he added as the musicians in the lounge began playing a song called Twilight’s
Love.

Maria stared momentarily into the bright blue eyes passed down to him by his father. As the music played softly she said, “I love this song.”

“Would you care to dance?” Turner asked softly, finally letting go of his preoccupied thoughts.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Maria replied, smiling brightly as the two walked slowly over to the small wooden dance floor. They embraced in a rhythmic motion that soon caught the attention of the diners surrounding them. Those in attendance at the restaurant that evening recognized the couple from the media coverage that ensued over the last few weeks.

A hush fell upon the room as the patrons watched the two gracefully move across the dance floor like two lovers brought together for the first time.

Maria’s sweet perfume permeated Turner’s senses like a warm summer’s breeze. For him, the room became devoid of all people; only Maria existed in his world right now. He savored the feeling of her warm body against his and her tight embrace. He listened to the song’s lyrics and closed his eyes.

‘“
And now I long for twilight’s love, which fills the loss within my heart. God's gift to me I never knew, till now as we do part.
”’

Turner felt at peace as they continued to hold each other in tight embrace long after the music had ended. As they tenderly kissed each other, the restaurant's patrons applauded the two young lovers. Slightly embarrassed, they walked back to their table.

As they sat down, the two were greeted by Samuel. He had come to the restaurant looking for them.

“Hey, amigos,” Samuel said with his usual flair, joining the two at the table. “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing okay, Samuel. I’m going to be alright,” he responded as Maria greeted Samuel with a kiss on the cheek. “Would you care to join us for dinner?” he asked his friend. Samuel grabbed Turner's glass of water.

“Sorry, Josh, but I have a hot date with Major Zibrinski,” he replied with a knowing grin that caused the three to break out in laughter.

“You dog!” Turner said jokingly. “Have you no respect for military protocol?”

“Hey amigo, a man’s gotta’ do what a man’s gotta’ do,” Samuel said, adjusting his only tie. “I’m picking her up at the hotel in thirty minutes, but I came by to tell you about the copper scroll that Maria and your dad found. They were finally able to safely unroll it and make a translation of Aramaic text. The sad part is that most of the etching on the scroll was worn away and undecipherable.”

“Did they find any clues that might authenticate who wrote it?” Turner asked inquisitively.

“No, but what they were able to decipher was short and somewhat vague, but I think for you it will be very profound,” Samuel said as he pulled a piece of paper from his suit coat pocket and began reading the translation:

‘“I must leave you soon, my beloved. Where I go, you cannot follow. The Son becomes the Father, and the Father becomes the Son. Be steadfast in the days to come as I am no longer with you, for trying times will come unto thee.”’

“Wow,” Maria said, looking at Turner in amazement. “You would think it was a message for you.”

“Sounds like it, huh?” Turner said reflectively.

Turner looked into Maria's eyes. He longed to stay with her, but he knew in his heart the reality that they were not destined to be together; at least not at this present time.

“Maria, I, uh, I don’t know how to say this, but….”

“You don’t need to say anything, Josh,” she said gently. “It’s written all over your face. You'd make a lousy poker player. Just be with me tonight and don’t worry, I’ll be here waiting if you ever get tired of digging in the dirt.”

“It’s something I have to do, Maria. I have to do it for Dad.”

“I understand, Josh, but remember I'll be here if you need me. Wait, I almost forgot…I have something for you,” she said, reaching down for a cloth bag she brought with her. “I forgot to give it to you at your dad’s funeral.”

Turner let out a breath as she pulled his father’s tattered outback hat from the cloth bag and handed it to him. “You’ll need this, Mr. Josh Turner,” she said tenderly.

“I don’t know what to say,” he replied with welling eyes as Samuel looked on with a wide grin.

“Just do as good a job as your father did and make him proud,” she said with tears welling up in her eyes. “And don’t forget to call from time to time, alright?”

Turner slowly placed the hat on his head. He looked at Samuel and said, “What do you think, pal?”

“It looks good on you, amigo. Besides, you’ll need it where we’re going. We’ve been assigned by ICAP to assist in a field study on a new Cretaceous mass extinction theory in Nepal. It looks as if they were impressed with our finesse here on Tenerife. Are you up for another adventure?” Samuel said, winking at Maria as she laughed.

“As long as there are no more volcanoes!”
Turner said firmly, putting his father’s hat gently on the table. “I’ve had my fill of them, thank you.”

Turner picked up his glass, reflected for a moment, smiled at his friends, and made a toast. “Here’s to my friends, to ICAP, to history, and to my father, Eli Turner.”

“Here! Here!” they all said, glasses clinking together.

As Samuel and Maria chatted, Turner mused over the words written on the ancient scroll. Was it purely a coincidence, or was this somehow a message from his father? Turner would never know for sure, but somehow he did know that he would no doubt have more adventures ahead of him…many more.