by V. M. Franck
Raven
I turned off the hard drive and scooted back from the computer. Emotions triggered by my last days as Ruth welled strong. I smelled the hot sweaty soldiers, the peppering dust. I felt the sword plunge into my heart.
"You're done?" Maya said.
Startled, I looked back to see Felipe, Maya, Simeon, Jessie and Zak entering the library. Zak held a bottle of wine, Jessie four goblets.
"Yes, finally." I wasn't ready to see them. I didn't want to talk. I needed time to assimilate all that had happened and figure out what it really meant.
"Good. If you could give us your backup hard drive we'll set about comparing what you've written to what's in the scrolls," Maya said.
I handed it to Maya. She and Simeon scurried into an office next to the vault and bolted the door behind them.
"It still amazes me that people their age can move that fast," Zak said.
"How old are they?" I asked. Please, go away.
"They won't say. I do know they were born around the turn of the twentieth century. You know, daughter," Zak said, uncorking the wine, "I never thought...."
"You never thought what?" Felipe said.
"Never mind. It's best left unsaid," Zak said.
"Come on, Zak," Jessie said. "We're big kids now. We can handle the truth, such as it is."
"Yeah, Dad," Felipe said, grinning. "Gees, it's hard to call you that."
"Probably because I don't look anything like the little Jewish rabbi I used to be," Zak said, chuckling. He settled on the corner of the desk, poured a glass of wine and handed it to me.
"Okay, well, come on," I said. "Tell us."
"It isn't nice," Zak said, pouring another glass and handing it to Jessie. "My momma always told me to keep this kind of thing to myself."
"Really? And that's why you told me you thought I was going to end up in bed with Raven," Jessie said, with an overly dramatic flourish.
Zak gave me an embarrassed glance. "That's not exactly what I said."
He poured Felipe and himself a glass.
"No, but it's what you meant," Jessie said. His eyes held a look of merriment. He was obviously recovered from his wounds.
"Well...." Zak said.
"You know I came back this time to be supportive," Felipe said, "so please, don't start lying now."
"I don't plan to, son," Zak said. "Okay, look, it's like this. Years ago when I first found the scrolls, visions came with them. I'd never had visions before, so I began to think I was losing it. That's when Jessie's grandfather took me aside. What he said changed everything."
"And what was that?" Jessie said.
"I should have kept my mouth shut," Zak said. "But, here it is. I had the vision of you, Jessie, sleeping with Raven. I had a vision of Felipe sleeping with her, too, although I didn't know either Felipe or Raven at that time. The pictures of all three of you were clear. And I remember thinking, gees, it's embarrassing, I remember thinking that Jesus' little sister, this time around at least, must be a slut. And that you guys were womanizers. After I met her I didn't realize who she had been until I saw her at the conference. She didn't seem like a slut at all. But you guys, well, I know guys, even enlightened ones have their foibles, and I just didn't think..."
"That we'd be able to keep our hands off of her," Jessie said and laughed.
"Let's drink a toast to our finer impulses," Felipe said. His eyes twinkled.
Uncomfortable, I said, "Yes, let's."
"I'd rather drink to persistence," Zak said.
Four glasses clinked in unison.
"I've scheduled the release date for your latest book to coincide with the revelations about the scrolls, the plates and the book about your brother," Zak said. "I'm in negotiations with the networks. What would you think about doing it live?"
"Good idea," Jessie said. "That way no one can doctor the footage, at least not initially."
"Where are you thinking of doing it?" Felipe said.
"At the Clarion Institute in Colorado," Zak said. "They have the facilities for full scientific examination. What they don't have will be brought in."
"Are you going to give the scholars and scientists a chance to examine it all before the press conference?" I asked.
"Yes, with full secrecy agreements," Zak said.
"How you going to keep them from leaking their findings?" I asked.
"No one will be allowed phone access to the outside. Everyone and all their stuff will be searched, thoroughly. And I plan to offer massive carrots," Zak said, "which they will lose if they find ways to talk."
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