The Temple Mount Code

Epilogue

‘I appreciate you joining us today, Professor Lourds.’

Leaning back in his chair, Lourds took stock of the old man sitting on the other side of the rectangular table. ‘I wasn’t exactly given a choice. Your agents came to my hotel room and took me.’

‘I’m sure it wasn’t as dramatic as that.’

Lourds rubbed his bruised wrists. ‘Take my word for it. When I told them I wasn’t interested, they handcuffed me and took me into custody.’

‘I’ll have a word with them.’

‘I’m sure that will do all the good in the world.’

The old man grinned and laid his walking stick across his knees as he sat. ‘I’ll do my best.’

‘I don’t suppose it would do any good for me to call the US Embassy and protest.’

‘No. They already know you’re here.’

Lourds grew more irritated but curbed the feeling. ‘Did you bring me here to look at the Koran or the Scroll?’

The old man raised an eyebrow. ‘What Koran? What Scroll?’

Lourds didn’t even bother to reply.

‘I don’t mean to be facetious, Professor Lourds, but I do want to clarify some things.’

Letting out an angry breath, Lourds waited.

‘Under no circumstances will anyone be allowed to see that Koran and Scroll again — even if they did exist, which they most certainly do not.’

‘You can’t just shut those things away.’

‘Of course we can.’

‘Think of the history you’re hiding.’

The old man’s gaze turned wintry. ‘Professor Lourds, history has already taken care of itself. It’s the future we’re protecting now. And I won’t have anyone risking the balance in the world over a document that no one can conclusively prove was written by Mohammad. Even if it existed.’ He paused. ‘Especially not some sensationalism-seeking Harvard linguistics professor that has the libido of a three-balled tomcat. If we hear of such a professor making idle claims about a fictitious document at some later date, Jimmy Hoffa will be easier to find. Do I make myself clear?’

His throat suddenly bone-dry, Lourds nodded and squeaked out, ‘Perfectly.’

‘Then I’ll see to it that you’re returned to your hotel room.’ The old man got to his feet. ‘Enjoy the rest of your stay in Jerusalem, Professor Lourds.’

‘Sorry I haven’t been by sooner, old friend, but as you know, you left me quite a bit of work to do when you left this world.’ Hat in hand, Lourds stood at the foot of the recent grave and stared at the simple wooden marker that declared the final resting place of Lev Strauss.

A pile of stones, all deposited by visitors, lay atop the grave. There were a lot of them. Lev was missed by many people.

‘Those of us who know what you’ve done still talk about how you saved the world. I regret that no one’s willing to step forward and let everyone know, but even admitting what was at stake is probably enough to launch an attack from the Ayatollah.’ Lourds smiled. ‘As it turns out, there was an added benefit to having Alice in our camp. Klaus Von Volker left a journal behind that detailed his arms sales. Even as we speak, joint efforts by various intelligence-community strike forces — who shall remain unnamed, of course — are even now dismantling the Ayatollah’s stockpiles of nuclear weapons and shutting down Von Volker’s clients The message is clear.’

Lourds juggled the stone he held in his bandaged palm. ‘I don’t have much more to say, old friend, but I will think of you often. And always with respect and much love.’ Gently, he added his stone to the pile.

Alice stepped up beside Lourds and left a stone as well. Together, hand in hand, they walked back toward the waiting rental car.

‘So what are you going to do, Professor Lourds?’

Lourds shrugged. ‘The dean called to remind me I still have a job to do and that he expects me to get back to it — soon. I’ve got a new class of students waiting. A new book to write. Some more work to do on Scholar’s Rock Temple. A lot to do. And I’m still searching for whatever may remain of the Library of Alexandria.’

‘You still entertain thoughts of finding that?’

Lourds grinned. ‘I seem to have quite a record for finding lost things.’

‘And lost loves?’

Lourds stopped and looked into her eyes. ‘And lost loves.’

‘It’s never going to be what I’d hoped it would be, is it?’

Gently, Lourds smiled. ‘If I stopped doing what I do, could you still love me in the same way?’

She looked at him. ‘No.’

‘Then maybe we should remain friends.’

‘Good friends?’

‘Very good friends.’

‘Like your new friend, Miriam?’

‘Miriam has been drafted to a new assignment.’

‘You never said exactly what it was that she did.’

‘Graduate assistantship.’

‘Really?’ Alice looked surprised. ‘She seemed more like the adventurous type.’

‘Graduate work can be extremely adventurous.’

‘I stand corrected, Professor Lourds. However, it seems that I have recently come into possession of an obscene amount of money. You can take a week or two before you return to the grind. Let me spoil us for a while. Then I promise I’ll let you back out into the world to play.’

Lourds grinned. ‘I’d like that.’

She snaked his hat from his head and put it on, then leaned her face up to be kissed. And he did.