The Nostradamus File

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

The team studied a live satellite shot from high above Israel. Harker focused on the border with Jordan and Syria, then shifted to the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Everywhere, troops were mobilizing.

"Lerner is going to re-occupy the West Bank," Elizabeth said. "He's staging troops on the border with Lebanon and getting ready to go after Hezbollah."

"Tehran isn't going to let this happen without doing something," Nick said.

"The last time Israel went into Lebanon after Hezbollah it ended in a draw. This time, there's a heavier concentration of troops and logistics. Lerner means to smash them, once and for all."

"It will never work," Selena said. "Even if he succeeds, the militants will just regroup. In another year or two it will be the same old story."

"Maybe not," Elizabeth said. "This time it could go nuclear."

"What do you mean?" Nick said. "Israel doesn't need to use nukes. They didn't last time."

"It's Iran I'm worried about." She told them what Rice had said.

"This is confirmed?" Nick asked.

"Yes. Confirmation came in last night. A 600 Kiloton warhead salvaged from a Russian SS-13 Savage ICBM. It could be modified to fit one of Iran's conventional missiles. They have several that could reach Israel."

"When did they get it?"

"Three weeks ago."

"That could give them enough time to make the modifications."

"Yes. But we don't know the condition of the warhead. It's old. It could be corroded, unstable. They'd have to disassemble and reinstall it. It's not that easy."

"That is really bad news," Ronnie said.

"We can't do anything about it," Harker said, "except what we've been doing. Selena, what have you found out about that sword?"

"It's an officer's sword. Both the Royalists and the Parliamentarians carried swords during the English Civil War, but I think this one belonged to a Royalist. It's a rapier with silver fittings. That's typical."

"Wait a second," Ronnie said. "Who are the Parliamentarians?"

No reason he'd know, she thought. "The war was between the Protestant Parliamentarians, under Oliver Cromwell, and the Catholic Royalists. The two sides are called the Cavaliers and the Roundheads."

"The Royalists backed the King?" Ronnie said.

"Right. They're the Cavaliers. There was a Royalist revolt at Pembroke Castle, with troops changing sides. Cromwell laid siege to Pembroke in 1648. That's probably when the man with the sword was killed. It has to be when the Ark was removed from the hiding place we found."

"So you think that Cromwell's men found the Ark," Nick said, "because the skeleton we found belongs to a Royalist."

"I think he was killed defending it."

"Then what happened to the Ark?"

"Oliver Cromwell was very serious about his religion, a Puritan. He wouldn't have wanted people worshipping it or making a big fuss over it."

"He could have destroyed it," Elizabeth said.

"I don't think he'd do that," Selena said. "But he could have hidden it."

"Where?"

"Well, that's the question."

"What happened after the siege of Pembroke?" Nick asked.

"Cromwell became Lord Protector of England in 1649. He had the King beheaded. Cromwell died in 1658. His son Richard took over, but he lasted less than a year. Richard went into exile and the monarchy was restored. Eventually he came back to England. He died in Hertfordshire, while staying on a friend's estate."

Harker had begun tapping her pen. "The history is interesting, but I don't see how it helps us."

"We only have assumptions," Selena said. "Guesses. My guess is that the Ark was found by Oliver Cromwell at Pembroke Castle and hidden by him. When the time came, Crowell knew he was dying. I think he would have passed the secret on to his son."

"If he did, the son would have kept a close eye on it," Nick said.

"And hidden it in turn," Ronnie said.

"Where?"

"I need to do some research," Selena said. "If Richard Cromwell hid the ark, there could be some reference in his papers that only makes sense with that idea in mind."

Nick saw the expression on her face. There's something about research that really turns her on, he thought.

"How do you plan to get the papers?"

"I can see some of them online, but I'll need to go to England."

"Take Nick and Ronnie with you," Harker said.