a mess. Maybe they’re from the tribe of Dan. Or perhaps they’re truly descended from the Jews who went to Ethiopia at the time of Solomon and Sheba. The State of Israel has no official view either way, except they’re true Jews, unquestionably entitled to full Israeli citizenship.”
Moshe leaned back in his chair. “To make it more complicated, centuries ago, a group of them converted to Ethiopian Christianity, and they inherited the Ark. But they’re the most Jewish Christians you ever met. They’re more Jewish than most people in this building.”
Uri leaned forward in his chair. “Why haven’t we ever tried to take the Ark back then?”
Moshe nodded slowly. “We asked a few times, but the Ethiopians weren’t interested. It seems it’s very sacred to them. A sole monk has guarded it in a monastery for as long as anyone can remember now. Its presence in Ethiopia has been a core part of their Christian belief for centuries, and we have no political appetite for a major diplomatic rift with Christians over it. We rely on their goodwill for too many other things.”
“But now an armed militia has taken it.” Uri could see where this was going.
“Congolese.” The old man answered gravely. “And that changes everything. Now we have a chance to get it back without upsetting anyone important.”
Moshe stood up, indicating the meeting was over.
Uri followed him to the door. As the veteran neared it, he grabbed Uri’s upper arm. He leaned in close, and Uri could see the steel in the old man’s eyes.
“Do you appreciate the implications of this, Uri, for us, if the Ark falls into the hands of the enemies of Israel? Do you understand how weak we will look, and the damage it will do? They’ll say our God has abandoned us.” The grip on Uri’s arm was vice-like.
“Yes, sir, I do,” Uri answered, keenly aware that religion and politics were inseparable in this country, where the people’s right to be there rested on a promise made to them by God.
Moshe released Uri’s arm, and ushered him out of the door. “You’d better. That’s why I’m giving this job to
Metsada
. Don’t screw it up.”
——————— ◆ ———————
5
Grand Lodge of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Africa
Grand Master Samson Kelile looked around his historic office in Addis Ababa’s old colonial Grand Lodge building.
Behind him, in pride of place on the main wall, hung a large embossed warrant covered in ornate calligraphy and an array of imposing seals. It was dated 1941, when the British had been in Ethiopia helping patriot forces expel the Italian fascist occupiers. It was signed at the bottom by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England himself, chartering the practice of Free and Accepted Masonry in Ethiopia under the authority of the newly created Grand Lodge in Addis Ababa.
Kelile swivelled his chair round and looked at the elaborate document with pride, as he always did. Not only did it prove that everything was in order, that Ethiopian freemasonry was bound by an umbilical cord to the world’s premier Grand Lodge in London—but just as important to him, it had been presented to his grandfather, Ethiopia’s first Grand Master.
Growing up, Kelile had been in awe of the ‘gentle Craft’, and the day his grandfather had initiated him into freemasonry in that very building had been the proudest of his life.
In his turn, he had been thrilled to rise through the mysterious ranks of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. The ceremonies had been baffling and intriguing, but not nearly as bizarre and arcane as those he was to experience afterwards.
When he became a Master Mason, he thought he had seen everything freemasonry had to offer. But after a few years he had been invited to join other freemasonic orders, where he mixed in increasingly exclusive and elite circles that most freemasons had no idea even existed.
Six
Moshe leaned back in his chair. “To make it more complicated, centuries ago, a group of them converted to Ethiopian Christianity, and they inherited the Ark. But they’re the most Jewish Christians you ever met. They’re more Jewish than most people in this building.”
Uri leaned forward in his chair. “Why haven’t we ever tried to take the Ark back then?”
Moshe nodded slowly. “We asked a few times, but the Ethiopians weren’t interested. It seems it’s very sacred to them. A sole monk has guarded it in a monastery for as long as anyone can remember now. Its presence in Ethiopia has been a core part of their Christian belief for centuries, and we have no political appetite for a major diplomatic rift with Christians over it. We rely on their goodwill for too many other things.”
“But now an armed militia has taken it.” Uri could see where this was going.
“Congolese.” The old man answered gravely. “And that changes everything. Now we have a chance to get it back without upsetting anyone important.”
Moshe stood up, indicating the meeting was over.
Uri followed him to the door. As the veteran neared it, he grabbed Uri’s upper arm. He leaned in close, and Uri could see the steel in the old man’s eyes.
“Do you appreciate the implications of this, Uri, for us, if the Ark falls into the hands of the enemies of Israel? Do you understand how weak we will look, and the damage it will do? They’ll say our God has abandoned us.” The grip on Uri’s arm was vice-like.
“Yes, sir, I do,” Uri answered, keenly aware that religion and politics were inseparable in this country, where the people’s right to be there rested on a promise made to them by God.
Moshe released Uri’s arm, and ushered him out of the door. “You’d better. That’s why I’m giving this job to
Metsada
. Don’t screw it up.”
——————— ◆ ———————
5
Grand Lodge of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Africa
Grand Master Samson Kelile looked around his historic office in Addis Ababa’s old colonial Grand Lodge building.
Behind him, in pride of place on the main wall, hung a large embossed warrant covered in ornate calligraphy and an array of imposing seals. It was dated 1941, when the British had been in Ethiopia helping patriot forces expel the Italian fascist occupiers. It was signed at the bottom by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England himself, chartering the practice of Free and Accepted Masonry in Ethiopia under the authority of the newly created Grand Lodge in Addis Ababa.
Kelile swivelled his chair round and looked at the elaborate document with pride, as he always did. Not only did it prove that everything was in order, that Ethiopian freemasonry was bound by an umbilical cord to the world’s premier Grand Lodge in London—but just as important to him, it had been presented to his grandfather, Ethiopia’s first Grand Master.
Growing up, Kelile had been in awe of the ‘gentle Craft’, and the day his grandfather had initiated him into freemasonry in that very building had been the proudest of his life.
In his turn, he had been thrilled to rise through the mysterious ranks of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. The ceremonies had been baffling and intriguing, but not nearly as bizarre and arcane as those he was to experience afterwards.
When he became a Master Mason, he thought he had seen everything freemasonry had to offer. But after a few years he had been invited to join other freemasonic orders, where he mixed in increasingly exclusive and elite circles that most freemasons had no idea even existed.
Six
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