Convergence
Page 26
When she hung up the phone she said “I am going to like working for Trevor.”
Jenny went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. Jim changed in the main room. Jenny came out with a long t-shirt on and climbed into bed. Jim pulled up a blanket and a pillow on the couch. Jenny looked over at Jim from the bed and said. “Goodnight Mr. Jim Conrad.”
About an hour after they had gone to bed, Jenny’s phone went off. She had received a text. She checked it and then turned back to Jim. “Jim, are you still up?”
Jim said in a slightly hoarse voice. “I am now.”
Jenny said. “Text for you. It says ‘Jim, You were right, it is great pizza. I have a place to suggest next time.’”
Jim smiled and was glad that she got it.
Jenny didn’t ask about the text, but had figured it was Yuri. However, since they were up she continued. “How does it feel to be back in the poor house again?”
Jim smiled. “I am Jim Conrad. I will bounce back.”
Jenny looked at Jim across the dim room. “Yes, still my Jim. I just hope that Tom can find someone to trace the money you sent to the ‘Friends of the World Charity’ or whatever that was.”
Jim sat up a little. “Jenny.” Then he was silent.
Jenny looked at him playfully. “Yes Jim.”
“Do you think it is a good use of taxpayer dollars to go hunting after $100 sent to some world charity fund?” Jim asked slyly.
Jenny pulled her phone out and looked at her email. “You didn’t?”
Jenny looked at the email from the small Swiss bank “Jim, we are sorry to lose your account of $100 and all of the associated assets for a total account value of $100. We appreciate your continued business. With today’s European markets your account value is once again over $92 billion. I hope the US market does as well. Your Banker, Hans.”
Post Script
Professor Arthur Borden was questioned and then released with regards to the murder of his wife. The murderer was never found.
Jim Conrad let him keep the bronze plate on loan for a while. The professor also received an anonymous donation of the second plate a few weeks after the initial incident.
The professor taught one class over the next year. It was nearly a sabbatical for the professor. He spent most of his time attempting to translate two interesting plates that he had in his possession. He kept in contact with Dragos on his progress. Dragos came to visit him in the UK on several occasions.
With the help of a brilliant Hebrew scholar who was also a grad student on loan from Harvard to Cambridge and only 23 years old, the professor was able to crack the translation of this text that clearly had strong elements of ancient Egyptian and ancient Hebrew.
The first plate was an account of the flood. It was close enough to existing ancient records available that, once Arthur understood this, it became a basis for the complete translation of both plates.
As he completed the translation of the second plate, the history became clearer.
I am Obedi son of Aaron son of Ephraimi descendent of Ephraim, true king of Israel forsaken by our brethren of Juda and attacked by Assyria. We have taken what is left of the ten higher tribes northward out of harm’s way. I leave this plate as a marker for our captured brethren, if it be God’s will they are set free. May god be with us and with you. We will go east until we find water or an impassible mountain. Then we will leave another marker. Perhaps we will wander until we are no more. God watched over Moses and our brethren may he watch over us as we wander in the wilderness. There are many to feed and little time. We will not rest until we feel God is among us again.
The reference that Dragos found in blood on the one plate, Kings1131, became clear now. It was not about a king that lived in the year 1131 BC or AD. It was a scriptural reference to 1 Kings 11:31.
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee.