The Dead Sea Codex Read online

  "Oh, of course. You'll need help; that's a huge job. The book I'm planning will tell the whole story and included the finished translations. What I meant was we can start the preliminary articles that announce the discovery to the world."

  Salima just stared at Greg. Lisa knew Salima was essentially a shy person. This, combined with her strict Muslim upbringing, made it difficult for her to assert herself.

  But Salima surprised her. “It will be a multi-authored publication,” she said firmly.

  Lisa applauded her friend silently. Salima Najaf had done three-quarters of the work so far but here was Greg was assuming he would be head scholar, project leader, media star. Lisa could see the visions dancing in his brain. He was incapable of seeing Salima's struggle or realizing that her academic advancement depended on producing a major publication. She wanted a tenured job, he didn't. For Lisa, it wasn't an issue. Maintaining a museum job did not depend on a publication record.

  "We can get to work right away,” continued Greg, oblivious to both Salima's assertion and Lisa's reaction. “As soon as I can get to the library, I can start on the introduction, the archaeological background ... and Lisa can write up some of the earlier stuff.” His bright gaze settled on Lisa. “That is, if you can spare the time from your museum job."

  Lisa leaned forward. “Of course I can—wild camels wouldn't keep me away from this one. But Greg, I think Salima should be in charge of the book. She's the lead translator, and she's applied for a tenure-track position at Tel Aviv University."

  "Oh, but I thought...” Greg looked uncomfortable. “Well, maybe. We can decide all that later. The thing is...” He was off again.

  Salima flashed Lisa a grateful look and settled herself to listen to Greg, who after all, was still recuperating.

  Rafi Edelstein stuck his head in the room. “We need to talk again,” he said to Lisa.

  "Okay,” she replied, with a worried look at Greg's milk-pale face and obvious exhaustion.

  "I will sit with him,” Salima said with a smile. “And I will call the nurse to have a look at him."

  Reassured, Lisa followed Rafi down to hospital coffee shop.

  Rafi chose an isolated booth and fetched two cappuccinos. He whipped out his notebook computer and fixed steely eyes on Lisa.

  "Now,” he said. “I need you to start at the beginning, from when you first arrived and met Arieh Golovey."

  Lisa related everything she could remember about the last two weeks. Rafi took extensive notes and then flipped his notebook shut. “You, Farid el Baz, Miss Perkins, and Miss Najaf will need to be present at this meeting tomorrow morning at ten a.m.” He handed her a slip of paper with the address of a government building in West Jerusalem.

  "What's this?"

  "The Deborah Library, as we call it temporarily, is now an international issue because the cave of the jars is near the border between Israel and Jordan. Technically, the cave is on the Israeli side, but Jordanian Bedouins first discovered the papyri. So, both Prime Minister Netanyahu and King Hussein will send representatives to this meeting to make sure both countries get a slice of the pie.” He fiddled with his pen as his gaze focused on her face.

  "You mean,” said Lisa slowly, “the issue is ... where the manuscripts will be curated, and who will be in charge of the publication? Sort of like the controversy over the Shroud of Turin?"

  "Exactly. And we must decide who will make the press conference to announce the find to the world."

  Lisa's eyes gleamed. There was enough glory here for everyone, including a little sliver for her museum if she played her cards right. And she could hardly wait to tell Salima. As the chief translator, Salima would achieve the solid academic credentials and international reputation she'd always wanted.

  Salima deserved it.

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  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. [Proverbs 27:1]

  THE NEXT MORNING, Lisa found herself seated on a hard chair facing the intellectual equivalent of a firing squad.

  "State your name, nationality, and position regarding this project."

  "Lisa Donahue, American. I'm a visiting museum curator from Philadelphia. I came to Israel to arrange loans and set up a traveling exhibit. My involvement in the Deborah codex was accidental."

  "What do you mean, accidental?"

  "I knew nothing about the manuscripts until I ran into Gregory Manzur in a bar."

  She was questioned for nearly half an hour despite her initial statement. Two of the committee found it hard to believe she had no prior knowledge of the discovery.

  "What I mean to say is that I had no intention of helping Dr. Manzur when I made my travel plans. He invited me to join him in his search for the source of the manuscripts after I had arrived in Israel.” She felt sweat gather under her bra and trickle down her stomach.

  "Then how did Dr. Manzur know about new papyri being on the market?” asked a tall Jordanian.

  "He never did tell me that. Perhaps you should ask his colleague here, Farid el Baz. They work together."

  Lisa was grateful that the committee had no idea how Greg had come by the contents of the first fragment—the one she'd photographed without permission at the Israel Museum. Finally, they let her sit down next to Ellen and asked Salima to step forward.

  "My name is Salima Najaf. I am an epigrapher and visiting lecturer at Hebrew University."

  "Nationality?"

  "I was born in Amman, Jordan, but I live now in Jerusalem."

  Salima was a Jordanian! That was news to Lisa, and apparently to the committee as well. The representatives from Jordan whispered to each other, and Lisa saw one of them nod vigorously.

  "And your role in this project?"

  "I have completed the translation of the Deborah Codex, with some assistance from my colleagues. But I am chief translator...” she spoke for several minutes, hardly stumbling over English words at all.

  Lisa nodded her approval. She had urged Salima to tell the committee this, reminding her that this was no time to take a back seat when so much was at stake. Briefly, she wondered if Greg's written statement agreed with Salima's version but decided it didn't matter. Lisa's statement had backed up Salima's, and so would Farid's.

  "Mr. el Baz."

  "My full name is Farid Mohammed el Baz. My family comes from Jordan originally, but I am an Israeli Citizen."

  "And your role in this project?"

  "Partner of Gregory Manzur, who is my immediate supervisor in Mossad. I am also general assistant to Salima Najaf, who is our translator.” Farid went on to explain the search for the dealer, the theft of the second fragment, and the background of the radical group Les Agents de Dieu.

  "Dr. Ellen Perkins."

  Ellen's interview was much shorter since she had no prior connection with Israel. The committee expressed interest in her record as a conservator, leading Lisa to wonder if she, too, would be given a role.

  Personal interviews completed, the committee moved on to a discussion of the events leading up to Arieh's arrest and imprisonment in Jerusalem.

  Rafi Edelstein summarized the findings: “We know that Arieh Golovey, also known as Farras Golubi, was recruited in Beirut to join this group, which has existed for about ten years. Les Agents is a radical offshoot of Coptic Christianity that has its headquarters in Alexandria, Egypt, with branches in Beirut and Jerusalem. The avowed purpose of this group is to promote the most Orthodox and extreme positions by any means whatsoever, and that includes terrorism and the suppression and destruction of any documents, ancient or modern, that express more moderate views. Golubi, code name the “Hawk,” and his Lebanese boss, Francois Leblanc, code name the “Eagle,” were up against the entire Bedouin tribe of Ta'amireh, who wanted only to make money from the sale of the papyri."

  He continued his account, including the role of Abu Najaf, who was duped by Leblanc and Golubi and murdered by Golubi on Leblanc's orders. �
��Now the committee will adjourn behind closed doors to decide the fate of these documents. You may return tomorrow morning at the same time.” He nodded at Farid, Salima, Ellen, and Lisa, and they escaped thankfully.

  "I bet they give you a significant role, Salima,” said Lisa as they exited the building in search of lunch and caffeine.

  Ellen nodded.

  Salima shook her sleek black head doubtfully. “It would be such a departure,” she said, “to give leadership to a Muslim woman when there are so many men involved."

  Farid put an arm around her and hugged her. “We shall see. Tomorrow, we will know."

  * * * *

  LISA, ELLEN, FARID, and Salima spent the evening Greg's hospital room. The doctors had decided Greg needed one more transfusion. Greg's color was better, but some of that was due to his fever.

  Greg wanted to know everything that the committee had said, implied, or thought. “Has Leblanc been captured yet?"

  "No,” said Farid. “He's almost certainly back in Beirut by now."

  Greg made a face. “The committee said nothing about the publication?"

  "Not yet, my friend,” said Farid. “First, they have to decide which museum will house the manuscripts. Then, they will talk about publicity and publication. They must find a way for both Jordan and Israel to share glory without leaving out the Americans."

  "The publication ... there's enough for ten years of work. Articles in the Israel Exploration Journal, the Biblical Archaeologist ... a book, The Dead Sea Codex. We can't let Gabriel Meyer have too big a piece of the pie...” He babbled on about lecture tours in Europe and the United States, his eyes bright with feverish visions.

  Watching him, Lisa concluded that Farid's account of the meeting hadn't penetrated Greg's consciousness. Greg had no idea that he wasn't in charge of the publication—yet. Like Salima, he'd never held a tenured position, but he'd had plenty of opportunities. He'd teach a semester or two and then vanish from whatever campus he was on to go back to the desert and dig. His scholarship was solid, if not inspired. Lisa used to think it was his wanderlust that made Greg refuse to settle down. Now she understood that his work for Mossad was the real reason that his employment was flexible.

  Salima Najaf, on the other hand, was a brilliant translator who desired nothing more that a professorship. A newly minted PhD, she'd not yet landed a tenure-track position and so had settled for a visiting lectureship at the Hebrew University.

  What would the committee do? And if their decision went the way Lisa suspected, how would Greg cope with the disappointment?

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  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  ...I am the judgment and the acquittal. I, I am sinless, and the root of sin derives from me. [The Thunder: Perfect Mind 19]

  THE FIVE FRIENDS returned to the east wing of the Knesset building the following morning. Greg had been allowed out of the hospital with special permission from his doctor.

  Lisa turned Greg's wheelchair so he had the best view and sat down in a chair next to him.

  "Dr. Manzur, it is good to see you are on the road to recovery,” began Rafi Edelstein.

  "Thank you. I'm sure getting back to work on the codex will complete the cure,” answered Greg.

  Or maybe not, thought Lisa.

  "We have reached a decision that is agreeable to both governments and gives the Americans a role as well,” continued Rafi.

  Lisa held her breath.

  "The international nature of this spectacular library will be recognized in how it is displayed and published. The group of papyri, now called the Najaf Library, will reside in the Shrine of the Book, in the Israel Museum. Dr. Najaf, as our Jordanian scholar, we would like you to lead the publication effort.” He paused to let Salima stand and accept her promotion with shining eyes and a slightly trembling voice.

  Lisa dared to look at Greg and found him rigid with disbelief. “But...” he whispered. She put a restraining hand on his arm.

  "Naturally, you will have a team of experts working with you on the translation and the archaeological background of the manuscripts,” said Rafi. “Drs. el Baz and Manzur will represent Israel and the United States, with whatever assistance Dr. Donahue can provide long-distance. In one year's time, after the papyri have been on display in Jerusalem, we would like a selection of texts to be part of a traveling exhibit to other nations. Dr. Donahue will coordinate this exhibit with American museums. Dr. Donahue, is that agreeable to you?"

  "Completely. The University Museum will be delighted to arrange the American portion of the tour, and I'm sure my director will allow me time to work on the publication."

  As she sat down again, Lisa sensed that Greg was still stunned. But Rafi Edelstein was not through yet.

  "Dr. Ellen Perkins. We understand you have expertise in the preservation of paper and the construction of cases with special climates?"

  "Yes,” answered Ellen. “We installed an argon environment for our Egyptian mummies in Philadelphia."

  "We would like you to be a consultant working with our Israeli conservators."

  Ellen nodded vigorously

  "Dr. Manzur, you are an officer in Mossad, and since you were one of the first to hear of the codex and to initiate the efforts to find the cache of original manuscripts, we have a special role for you. We would like to hold a press conference in five days time. You will address the media, describe the discovery, and then introduce Salima Najaf. She will outline the publication and exhibit plans."

  Greg rose shakily to his feet, his face splitting in a lopsided grin. “Thank you. I will be glad to do that. And...” he looked gratefully at his four friends sitting next to him. “I can assure you, the Najaf Library could not be in better hands. Dr. Najaf is a superb translator, and Drs. el Baz and Perkins and Donahue are outstanding scholars. I'm proud to work with all of them."

  The room erupted into thunderous applause.

  * * * *

  "TOM, I'M COMING home."

  "Thank God. I've been so worried about you, especially since that last message you left."

  Lisa smiled wryly as she remembered what she had said to her fiancé's answering machine. "Greg and I are going after the codex up in the Judean Hills. Don't worry, I'll call you in a couple of days."

  "So did you find it?"

  She took a deep breath and gave him the short version, leaving out the details of being trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey and felt up by Leblanc.

  "Lisa ... well, I hardly know what to say. It's a fantastic discovery, but at what a cost! Several people shot, one dead, you in danger—is archaeology always like this?"

  Lisa laughed. “Only in Indiana Jones movies. This is unusual. And I promise you, from now on, I'll stick to literary and museum-based detection. Moldering old libraries and museum storerooms are about as safe as you get."

  "Somehow, with you involved, I'm not sure I believe that. But I will sure be glad to see you. What are your flight times?"

  * * * *

  THE PLANE LIFTED off like a silver sea gull. While Ellen chatted with her seatmate, Lisa looked her last upon Israel. Israel—the Promised Land for so many. For Lisa, it was the land of both promises and losses. Half-remembered words of a poem—was it by Robert Frost?—floated through her tired brain. Thousands of miles to go before she slept in her tiny Philadelphia apartment. Dark caves full of old emotions to excavate and clear away before she saw Tom again. There was so much she needed to discuss with him, so much she would conceal. This time, the past would stay put; Lisa would focus on the future and Tom Henderson.

  Lisa closed her eyes. She had promises to keep.

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  THE BOOK OF DEBORAH OF DAMANHUR

  (as translated by Salima Najaf)

  "IN THE TIME of the Guide, I, Deborah of D-M-A [NHUR], walked with Him in the streets and towns of the Holy Land, with Junia and Rebekah of Rosh H'ayin and Martha of Gezer and Mary of Bethany and Elizabeth and the others. The leader of our Circle was t
he Magdalene, (also called) the Magdalener, Mary who Knows the All.

  Mary was the [ ... ] of the Christ, the one who was called his companion, and she was the [ ... ] of us all. I was with the Magdalene although I was unrecognized in the streets.

  We twelve walked with the other twelve, the ones who walked with the Christ, but of all the apostles, the Magdalene was First Apostle, closest to our Guide. To her He gave his (trust) and the first vision of his [Awakening].

  After the third day, Mary came to us and told us these things she had learned:

  How does one see a vision? Is it through the soul or the spirit? (Our Savior answered through Magdalene) ‘each of us sees not through the soul nor through the spirit, but the mind which is between the two. Those who seek the Truth shall find it; this I tell you.'

  [ ... ] Who can see a vision? Each and every one of you can achieve (gnosis) knowing, whether you [are] king or queen or slave or harlot. In the eyes of He who created us all, every one is His Child.

  The Son of Man is within you. Follow after him; those who seek him will find him. He exists in everyone, and he has death and life within him, and he exists in the midst of both of them.

  Therefore you need no priest or group or gathering place; you who truly seek shall find the All within [ ... ] through [your](mind).

  I will speak to those who know how to hear not with the ears of the body but with the ears of the mind. For many have sought the Truth and have not found it.

  He created the first man and woman, male and female, in his own image. Thus all creatures exist in and with each other [ ... ] Light and darkness, life and death, right and left, male and female, are brothers and sisters of one another. No one alone is complete...

  Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not expect, therefore, carnal resurrection [ ... ] When we die, we do not go down to (Hades), nor have we envy or groaning or death within us. When we strip off the flesh, we may be found in rest and not walk in the middle. For many go astray on the way. Led by the Spirit (fem.), we rise through the four powers, the powers of Darkness, Desire, and Ignorance, and Wrath finally to rest in Him.