Pandora's Ark

CHAPTER TWO

Yitzhak Paled was the head of Mossad’s Lohamah Psichlogit, which was the unit responsible for psychological warfare, propaganda, and deception operations within the Agency. Although a slight man who was thinly built, he was still lean and firm and without any mannerisms other than what he relayed to others: and that he was not to be challenged in any way.

Standing in the second chamber beneath the Temple Mount, several lights erected on poles and cables lit the area brilliantly. Surrounding the center platform where the staff of Aaron and the gold pot lay, were the nine Keepers of the Ark, their bones brown with the coffee-like stains of aged calcium.

Standing next to the platform, while others worked around him, Paled stood with a hand to his chin in deep thought.

There was no doubt in his mind that the Ark in question was the true Ark for the simple fact that neither he, nor the Israeli government, knew of this chamber. Nor had it been recorded in any text.

In fact, the Ark of the Covenant had been beneath them all this time. The Keepers testament to that since the other arks throughout northern Africa had already been established as fakes, phonies or duplicates.

How the Arabs intercepted it was beyond him. More so, Paled was livid that Mossad Intelligence was handed a direct message from the Arabs stating that they were in custody of the Ark, and that the proof lie at the Israeli’s feet. He took it as a slap in the face, a one-up-on-you type of gesture on the part of the Arab world.

But why would the Arab state go so far to secure the Ark in the manner that they did? How could they have possibly known its location?

As the staff of Aaron lay on the platform, there was no doubt in Paled’s mind that Carbon-14 testing on the rod and the bones would prove to be at least 3000 years old, if not older.

Once more he asked: Why?

Contemplating, Paled appeared lost, wondering what the Arabs had in mind. Obviously they had taken the Ark for a specific purpose. But the reason eluded him.

Could it have been for money? he considered. Or perhaps for ransom, in order to fund terrorist groups or activities?

Of course these were the logical ideas that immediately came to mind.

And there was another consideration. The Ark could be used to turn any situation into a hot-button issue between religious denominations who felt entitled to its possession, which would cause tempers to flare if they were so denied.

The Jews, the Catholics, the Muslims — they all had a rightful stake.

Paled continued to rub his chin while the bones of the Keepers were carefully gathered by Company men. No matter how careful the workers were, a femur or rib snapped due to the severity of their brittleness. And then in reverence, the staff of Aaron was taken and placed into a metal lockbox and sealed. It was, without a doubt, a truly magnificent treasure.

But the biggest treasure was the Ark and the tablets within.

“We’re almost done,” said Jacob, a minor player in the Lohamah Psichlogit.

Paled tried to make a logical determination for the theft before turning to Jacob with a questioning look. “Why take the Ark and leave behind the staff?”

Jacob shrugged. “For ransom?”

Paled shook his head. “It goes beyond that,” he said. “I believe they have something else in mind.”

Jacob took a step forward and noted the bare spots where the legs of the Ark sat on the platform, where the dust gathered around them for 3000 years. “Primary guesses?”

“Some,” he answered. “But as a member of the Lohamah Psichlogit who sees things in a perspective where psychological warfare, propaganda and operations of deception are a function, I believe they’ll use the Ark as a weapon of some kind, psychological or otherwise.” He took a step closer to the platform. “Tell me, Jacob… What do you see?”

Jacob hesitated, musing. “I see the Arabs using our own game against us,” he said.

Paled nodded. “And should they play the game well enough…” he said, his words trailing off. Then they could incite a war like no other…

… and destroy us all.