the Israeli-Arab War. Likewise, he knew many Israelis who lived under the constant threat of terrorism, their lives dominated by the wailing sirens warning of unguided Qassam rockets being fired into their backyards from the Gaza Strip by “freedom fighters” of a dozen obscure sects sworn to Israel’s destruction.
“This doesn’t make our job any easier,” Ethan said, glancing over his shoulder. Behind them, a pair of glossy black SUVs followed at a short distance. “Are those guys Mossad?”
“Just an NGO,” Aaron said, glancing at the following vehicles in his side-view mirror with a wry smile. “You’re not that important, Ethan.”
“Surely if the authorities are following us, then we’re being protected too?” Rachel said.
Ethan turned to her.
“The authorities don’t like me here,” he said simply.
“Why not?”
“This discovery that Lucy supposedly made,” Ethan said, ignoring her question. “You really think it’s real?”
“You’re not buying into this, are you?” Rachel muttered. “Even the Defense Intelligence Agency is showing an interest, regardless of their motives.”
“I doubt they’re holding their breath,” Ethan pointed out.
“No?” Rachel challenged. “NASA launched its Voyager space probes in the seventies with solid gold discs aboard, bearing greetings in fifty-five different languages. One of those was ancient Sumerian. Why else would they include a script that is several thousand years old and no longer used by humanity?”
Ethan shrugged.
“Not for me to say. Why would Lucy have been looking for alien remains out here?”
Rachel gestured to the parched land around them as she spoke above the wind.
“Israel is part of the Levant, the cradle of civilization.”
Ethan glanced across the barren landscape baking beneath the equatorial sun.
“Doesn’t look like much.”
“Not now it doesn’t,” Rachel agreed, “but twelve thousand years ago the Levant was a very different place. Back then, this would have been a lush and fertile land, and the Sumerian legends describe the origins of their civilization here through unusual means.”
“Like the Bible?” Ethan asked.
“Sumerian legends tell of a god named Oannes,” Rachel explained. “Oannes rose out of the Persian Gulf in what is described as a diving suit, and is depicted as an amphibious being. Many legends state unequivocally that Oannes came from under the sea. Oannes is the culture bearer for the Sumerian civilization, who is said to have brought them the arts of writing, agriculture, and tool making.”
From the front seat, Aaron Luckov peered at them curiously.
“Is this what you’re going to tell the government when you meet them—legends?”
“What contact have you had so far with the Knesset?” Ethan asked.
“In this, I have excelled,” Aaron stated proudly, not noticing Safiya rolling her eyes. “I have an appointment for you at the United States embassy this afternoon, and there will be a member of the Israeli Foreign Ministry present.”
Rachel turned from looking out across the sun-scorched land and the twinkling blue Mediterranean beyond. “How did you manage that?” she asked.
“I spoke to a few contacts in the West Bank and Tel Aviv and they put me in touch with the Foreign Ministry. Your name was mentioned, and they understood immediately. There’s a lot of sympathy for what’s happened, and they understand your frustration at their reluctance to broadcast your daughter’s disappearance because of the peace negotiations.”
“Well done,” Ethan said, clapping his friend on the shoulder.
Aaron smiled awkwardly. “There was a price to pay.”
“What do they want?” Ethan asked.
“Security,” Aaron said. “They’re determined that you remain under armed guard throughout your stay here, to prevent any further kidnappings. We’re to meet with your escort first, and I don’t like any of them.”
MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE,
“This doesn’t make our job any easier,” Ethan said, glancing over his shoulder. Behind them, a pair of glossy black SUVs followed at a short distance. “Are those guys Mossad?”
“Just an NGO,” Aaron said, glancing at the following vehicles in his side-view mirror with a wry smile. “You’re not that important, Ethan.”
“Surely if the authorities are following us, then we’re being protected too?” Rachel said.
Ethan turned to her.
“The authorities don’t like me here,” he said simply.
“Why not?”
“This discovery that Lucy supposedly made,” Ethan said, ignoring her question. “You really think it’s real?”
“You’re not buying into this, are you?” Rachel muttered. “Even the Defense Intelligence Agency is showing an interest, regardless of their motives.”
“I doubt they’re holding their breath,” Ethan pointed out.
“No?” Rachel challenged. “NASA launched its Voyager space probes in the seventies with solid gold discs aboard, bearing greetings in fifty-five different languages. One of those was ancient Sumerian. Why else would they include a script that is several thousand years old and no longer used by humanity?”
Ethan shrugged.
“Not for me to say. Why would Lucy have been looking for alien remains out here?”
Rachel gestured to the parched land around them as she spoke above the wind.
“Israel is part of the Levant, the cradle of civilization.”
Ethan glanced across the barren landscape baking beneath the equatorial sun.
“Doesn’t look like much.”
“Not now it doesn’t,” Rachel agreed, “but twelve thousand years ago the Levant was a very different place. Back then, this would have been a lush and fertile land, and the Sumerian legends describe the origins of their civilization here through unusual means.”
“Like the Bible?” Ethan asked.
“Sumerian legends tell of a god named Oannes,” Rachel explained. “Oannes rose out of the Persian Gulf in what is described as a diving suit, and is depicted as an amphibious being. Many legends state unequivocally that Oannes came from under the sea. Oannes is the culture bearer for the Sumerian civilization, who is said to have brought them the arts of writing, agriculture, and tool making.”
From the front seat, Aaron Luckov peered at them curiously.
“Is this what you’re going to tell the government when you meet them—legends?”
“What contact have you had so far with the Knesset?” Ethan asked.
“In this, I have excelled,” Aaron stated proudly, not noticing Safiya rolling her eyes. “I have an appointment for you at the United States embassy this afternoon, and there will be a member of the Israeli Foreign Ministry present.”
Rachel turned from looking out across the sun-scorched land and the twinkling blue Mediterranean beyond. “How did you manage that?” she asked.
“I spoke to a few contacts in the West Bank and Tel Aviv and they put me in touch with the Foreign Ministry. Your name was mentioned, and they understood immediately. There’s a lot of sympathy for what’s happened, and they understand your frustration at their reluctance to broadcast your daughter’s disappearance because of the peace negotiations.”
“Well done,” Ethan said, clapping his friend on the shoulder.
Aaron smiled awkwardly. “There was a price to pay.”
“What do they want?” Ethan asked.
“Security,” Aaron said. “They’re determined that you remain under armed guard throughout your stay here, to prevent any further kidnappings. We’re to meet with your escort first, and I don’t like any of them.”
MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE,
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