Stones of Fire

86

Standing as still as a Grecian statue, Edie watched as Boyd Braxton threw back the canvas tarpaulin on the military-style truck and opened the tailgate. She assumed that he was about to unload something. Or else he was getting the truck ready to be loaded. Whichever it was, it had to have something to do with the Ark. Of that she was certain.

Taking deep measured breaths, she continued to watch Braxton, curious as to why he suddenly pressed a finger to his ear. Just before he pulled his gun out of its shoulder holster, turned on his heel and ran off.

Something had spooked the man. But what could possibly have –

Oh God! Cædmon.

Swivelling her head back and forth, squinting to better see in the darkness, she searched the rocky promontory. It was like searching the dark side of the moon. Realizing that it actually was a whole lot like being on the moon in that there was no place to hide, she began to shiver.

A few moments later four men emerged from the tower, carrying what looked like a large crate. Two other men, stubby machine guns at the ready, followed in their wake.

Without being told, Edie knew that the Ark of the Covenant was inside the crate.

Her heart painfully thudding against her breastbone, she watched as it was loaded into the back of the truck. That done, the two armed guards took up positions on either side of the vehicle, the four porters returning to the tower.

Slowly she backed away from her observation post.

She’d taken no more than three tentative steps when a large hand was slapped over her mouth, an unseen assailant lifting her bodily off the ground.