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dark, narrow, and waist deep with often-freezing running water from the Gihon
Spring. It certainly would have been hid-
den from the prying eyes of Roman soldiers two thousand years ago, not to
mention the watchful eye of Israeli soldiers today. Natasha went back and
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examined several other missing verses, then zeroed in on verse 16 from the
Ezekiel passage.
He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at
the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about
twenty-five men.
With their backs toward the temple of the LORD
and their faces
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toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.
"I think that's it," said Natasha at last.
"What?" asked Bennett, as Erin checked her watch.
"I think that's the clue we're looking for!" Natasha said excitedly. "Which
one?"
"`
He then brought me into the inner court,' Natasha explained. "I think we're
supposed to go into Hezekiah's Tunnel, into the exact center."
"You're sure?" Erin pressed, noting that they had to move soon if they were
going to move at all.
"Wait, wait, there's something else," said Natasha. "`Between the portico and
the altar.' That's another clue. We need to go halfway into the tunnel and
then move twenty-
five paces from the precise center."
"
How would we know which way?" asked Bennett.
"Well," said Natasha, "in the passage it says the men were doing something
evil.
They had turned their backs toward the Temple of the Lord and bowed east,
toward the sun. I say we do the opposite. We'll go twenty-five paces west and
try to break through the tunnel wall on the side facing the Temple, digging
toward the Temple Mount.
"
Bennett's heart was pounding. Everyone's was. He didn't fully under-stand it,
but he trusted Natasha's experience. It had, after all, gotten them this far.
Now all they needed was a plan.
"How can we help?" asked Dmitri.
"Can we borrow your helicopter?" asked Natasha.
"
Youre kidding, right?"
'
"No," said Natasha. "I'm fully rated."
"Not my point, Dmitri replied. I'm going with you."
"
"
Natasha looked to Bennett.
"Dmitri, you know we'd love to have you with us," he said as tactfully as he
could.
"But I think you've discovered enough treasure for one lifetime.
"
Dmitri didn't bat an eye. "And what exactly are you planning to do, Jon? Fly
into
Jerusalem, land near Hezekiah's Tunnel, and just leave the helicopter there?
You really think that's not going to attract attention?"
"Hes right, Jon," said Erin.
'
"Of course I'm right," said Dmitri. "Besides, there's no manhunt under way for
me. I'll be able to get clearance to land in Jerusalem. None of you can. I'll
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fly you in, drop you off, and then hightail it out of there until you call me
to come back for you. That's it.
That's my final offer."
Bennett looked at Erin and then at Natasha. It wasn't like they had a lot of
leverage.
"We'll take it," he said. "But we could also use some men to guard the
tunnel."
"As many as you need, said Dmitri.
"
"And some weapons," said Erin.
"No problem.
"
"And we'll need some other equipment, too," Natasha reminded them.
"What kind?" asked Dmitri.
"Something to blast through those walls would be nice."
213
"Done," said Dmitri. "Now, if youre all out of excuses, I suggest we get
going."
'
When they were in the air, Bennett called Ken Costello. "Hello?"
"Ken, it's Jon. You got a minute?"
"Jon! Are you all right?"
"We're fine."
"I just got a call from the Palestinian interior minister," Costello
explained. "He said there's been some kind of shooting incident outside of
Nablus."
"No comment, said Bennett.
"
"Where are you now?"
"I cant say. Not yet. But
'
"
Costello cut him off. "Jon, seriously, I'm telling you this as a friend. If
you want the president to go to bat for you, you guys have got to come in
now.
"I need a few more hours."
"Right now."
"Ken, I'm only asking for a few more hours."
"And if you get caught? Or killed?"
"Look, Ken, I give you my word. Well come in today. But I need your help.
'
"Are you crazy? You're going to get us all thrown in prison."
"We found it, Ken."
"What?"
"We think we've found the treasures of the Copper Scroll."
"You're kidding."
"I'm not.
"
"
And the Ark?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"
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