Solomon's Throne

by Jennings Wright

  “Hallelujah!”

  Jack smiled back. “We have a cistern, and even though it is the dry season, it is full now from the water trucks. The water heats from the sun, however, so you might wish to take a shower tomorrow, or it will be cold. Let me know if you need anything. Mac is next door to you, and he has been our guest often. Good night!”

  He left them in their comfortable room. Rei sat down on the large bed while Gideon untied the mosquito netting. There was a knock, and the captain brought in their luggage.

  “Here ya go! Thought you might be happy to have some clean clothes. If you leave the dirty ones outside your door, they’ll get washed tomorrow. ‘Night!” And he left.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  The following morning, Rei woke to the sound of birds in the lush trees outside the window, a rooster crowing somewhere nearby, and traffic sounds. The traffic wasn’t terribly close, but the rumble and honking in the distance was ever present. She got out of bed without waking Gideon and washed her face. She desperately needed a shower, but thought she could wait for some warm water if she put her hair up in a bun. She looked at herself in the mirror and grimaced. She had bags the size of her carry on under her eyes, her hair was two days past dirty, and there were lines of grime caked in the creases of her neck. Beauty queen, she thought, giving up thinking about it until she could shower. She quietly left the room and found her way downstairs and to the kitchen.

  A young Ugandan woman was standing at the granite topped island rolling out chapatti. She smiled shyly and nodded when Rei came in.

  “Is there any coffee?” Rei asked. “And I’m Rei.”

  “I will put on the kettle, mum,” the young woman said, checking the water level in an electric kettle, filling it from the tap, and plugging it.

  “Thanks,” Rei said, and leaned against the counter, looking out into the walled in back garden. It was full of bougainvillea, which cascaded over the walls, as well as trees she’d called powder puff trees when she had visited Gideon’s family in Florida.

  The kettle began to whistle, and the cook poured it into a coffee press into which she had spooned ground Ugandan coffee. “Hot milk or sugar, mum?” She asked.

  “Hot milk would be lovely, thanks! What’s your name?”

  Getting a glass jug of milk out of the fridge, the woman said, “Jenneth,” and smiled again, covering her mouth with her hand. They all do that! thought Rei.

  Jenneth put the milk in a small pot and lit a gas burner with a match. When the milk was hot, she gave Rei a mug, the coffee press, and the hot milk in a small pitcher. Rei made her coffee, and drank it gratefully.

  “Delicious!” she said. “Is anyone else up?”

  Shaking her head, Jenneth went back to making the chapatti. “Would you like breakfast, mum?

  “I’ll wait for everyone else. Thanks though!” She left the kitchen through the garden door and found a seat under a shade tree.

  Gideon found her there, his own black coffee in hand. He kissed the top of her head and then sat next to her. “So you ready to read the next letter from Father Eduardo? I’m pretty sure Mac said that there was some kind of internet here, and I would guess that hotel we passed, the Emin Pasha, has it, if not.”

  “Yeah. I was just enjoying not being chased or having to run anywhere! And I didn’t want to wake you up. But I guess we need to figure out what it says so we know where we’re going next. If we’re really following the spice route, the last stop is probably Goa, India. So this clue might lead us there… but that’s still pretty far. My guess is another stop or two first.”

  “Great. Well, we can only hope we’ve shaken our Catholic friends, anyway.” Gideon put his arm around her.

  “Probably. But they’ll know we’re going to end up in Goa, I’m afraid. It’s in the journal they have. We might be ok until we get there… but I expect they’ll wait there for us, now that they’ve botched stealing the letters outright.”

  “So we need a plan by then. At least we have some time.” He squeezed her to him and kissed her neck. “You hungry? I’m suddenly starved, and I just realized we didn’t ever eat dinner.” He got up and looked at her.

  “Can you just call me when it’s ready? I’m so relaxed!” She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes.

  After breakfast, Jenneth told them that Captain McMillan and Jack had gone down to Kololo. McMillan needed to check on the maintenance of the jet, and Jack had a trip tomorrow so he was going to check on his plane as well. They wouldn’t be back until the afternoon.

  “If you want to go to a store, I can call a boda for you. Or you can have lunch at the nice hotel… It is very good.” She smiled shyly, not showing any teeth.

  “We would need to exchange some money, I think.” Gideon said. He didn’t want to use a credit card if he could avoid it.

  Jenneth nodded. “Stephen can go for you. He can get take the money and get shillings. Good rate. I will tell him.” She pulled out a cell phone and typed out a text message lightning fast, which made Rei laugh. Very soon the phone beeped, and Jenneth read the response. “He can go soon, when he goes for some service for the car. He will be back before lunch.”

  They thanked her, and went up to their room. Taking out the by now filthy backpack, Rei dug out the metal tube holding their next letter. The leather strip holding the top on was still intact, and the tube, aside from a few small dents, was none the worse for wear. She opened it and began the familiar routine of getting out her notebook and a pen, and propping herself up against the headboard to translate.

  Gideon said, “I don’t even have a converter to charge the phones… I’m gonna go ask Jenneth. Let me know when you’re done!” He left with both of their phones and their iPhone charger in hand.

  Rei was accustomed by now to Father Eduardo’s way of writing, and translating was becoming easier. She was, once again, stumped about the location, but felt sure that the answers would be at her fingertips once she was connected to the internet. She got her laptop and charger out of the bag and took it, with the notebook, downstairs, leaving the letter in the drawer of the dresser.

  She found Gideon talking to the young man who had let them in the gate the night before, whom she assumed was Stephen. Gideon handed him British pounds, and the man carefully folded it and put it in his pocket. He left, and Gideon turned to her.

  “That was Stephen. Apparently kind of the general dogs body, handyman, security guy. He’s going to exchange the money, and be back in time for us to go to Emin Pasha for lunch. You got it translated?”

  “Yep. Clear as mud again, though. Let’s see if we’ve got internet.” She looked at the outlets, which didn’t match her American plug. “Crap, forgot about that. The hotels all had adapter strips. Let’s see if we can find one.”

  They hunted around the house and couldn’t find another converter besides the one charging their completely dead phones, so they went back to the kitchen. Jenneth was frying up chapatti, and the smell was delicious.

  “Jenneth, is there another power converter somewhere? I’d like to plug in my computer,” Gideon asked.

  Jenneth flipped the chapatti in the cast iron pan and pointed to a drawer at the end of the counter with the spatula. “I think there is one in there.”

  Gideon opened the drawer, found the converter, and they went back to the sitting room where Rei had left her stuff.

  “OK, so I’ve never heard of the place where Father Eduardo left the next letter…” She started powering up her laptop.

  “What else is new. Is it another “land of the good people” thing? I hope it’s not the “land of the bad people.””

  “Funny.” She made a face at him. “Nope. It’s a place called Ctesiphon. I don’t even know what country that’s in, but it’s between here and India.”

  “That narrows it down.” Rei sat back in the comfortable chair and rested his head on the back, closing his eyes.

  Rei’s Mac purred to life, and went through the start up. Once her screen saver a
nd programs were up, she clicked on the wifi icon. No networks showed. Thinking maybe she hadn’t let the computer load all its information, she let it sit another minute, and tried again. No networks.

  “Damn. Back to Jenneth.” Rei put the laptop on a side table and went back to the kitchen.

  Jenneth told them that there was internet service and a router, but that the connection was not always reliable. There were many days, apparently, without Internet access, although when they did have it was reasonably fast. Having nothing to do but wait for Stephen to return with their money, and hopefully give them a ride to the hotel, they tried to relax, wander the grounds, and enjoy the quiet. But with the letter to try to decipher, they found it impossible. They walked to the big metal gate.

  “There’s a door in it. We could go out…” Rei said.

  “We might get locked out, though. Let me go ask Jenneth if we can walk to the hotel. She can text Stephen to just meet us there.” He left for few minutes, then returned. “Yep, we can. It’s about a ten minute walk. She texted Stephen—I still can’t get used to that!—and he will meet us there in about a half hour. He is on his way back now.”

  Gideon opened the door in the gate, and they walked out. The road was paved, and only had small potholes in it. They walked downhill on the right side of the road along a dirt path that bordered the asphalt, and Rei suddenly said, “They’re driving on the wrong side like in London!”

  Gideon laughed, “You didn’t notice that last night?”

  “I was tired!” she protested.

  “Obviously,” he teased.

  They made the right turn that took them up another hill, and came to the hotel on the left. Emin Pasha was low and built into the side of a hill, with beautiful dark wood everywhere. Once they got inside and found their way to the restaurant and bar, they saw a half dozen green upholstered sofas with big coffee tables, under a roof but open to the landscaped yard. The restaurant was to the left and was also open air, and the bar behind. There were tables under umbrellas outside, and huge iron sofas with red upholstered cushions on the lawn.

  “Wow!” Rei said, staring. “This is amazing!”

  A waiter in white pants and a white tunic, wearing a red fez, came up to them. “Welcome!”

  “We’d like to have tea now, and then lunch? Maybe on those sofas?” Rei said, pointing to the seating area.

  “Yes, mum, you come.” And he led the way. They sat and gave their order, and he saw Rei’s laptop. “We have wireless internet for you, mum.” He said, and went to fill their order. Rei found a plug, and once again gave the network icon a try.

  “Yes! We’re a go!” She opened her notebook and uncapped her pen.

  “Ok, so here’s the letter.” She began to read.

  My dearest son,

  If you have retrieved this letter, you have just seen one of the greatest wonders on this good earth. Isabel and I have been in much prayer and discussion about where to leave it, as the great stone houses of the kings is such a large expanse. But I had wanted my bride to see this miracle, and her delight in the journey was a blessing from our heavenly Father on this poor man. I do not know, as I write this letter this night, where we will finally choose to leave it. I can only pray that we choose correctly, and you will find a way to pursue the next step of your quest. The journey is long, and there is much danger. But God will be with you, I am confident.

  After visiting what the natives called the zimbabwe, I travelled back to the Land of the Good People. The Sao Miguel was not as fine or large a ship as the Santa Antonio de Tanna, and it had suffered much in a storm after we left the Cape of Good Hope. It was for this reason that I was persuaded to see the zimbabwe on my original journey. The ship was almost fully repaired, the injured men recovered, and the provisioning had begun. In three week’s time, we departed and continued our journey north up the coast of Africa.

  We stopped in Mombasa for two weeks, but did not linger there, and I did not find anything about it compelling so as to warrant exploration. There were no ruins, no churches of note, and I stayed on the ship for most of the time in port. We stopped likewise for a very short provisioning in Mogadishu, but the Ottomans did not welcome our visit, and we left in short order.

  As we were journeying north, I heard tell of another ruin, north into the land that was once the Persian Empire. My captain had determined to stop for a trade of spices and silk at the port of Umm Qasr, in the gulf. He told me that he had once, when another ship had needed much repair, taken a journey of some two weeks to these ruins at the behest of a local sheikh, the Arabs being now ensconced in the land. He encouraged me that I would have time, should I wish for such a journey myself, and knowing my interest in such things, as he had promised his merchant friend that we would remain some days in Umm Qasr.

  Consequently I found me a guide, and he took me by camel to Ctesiphon, a journey of twelve days. These are the ruins of great rulers, who did not worship my God but who were fierce and brave, and who led a kingdom through forty kings. It is there you will find my letter, my son, if it remains.

  I wish you Godspeed. My Isabel and I continue to pray for you, and for your success in this quest. May God richly bless you and keep you safe.

  Yours,

  Joao Xavier

  X

  The year of our Lord 1687

  “Cestis…what?” Gideon asked. “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “Me neither. Not that I’m up on my Persian history.” She opened her browser and typed in ‘Ctesiphon’. “Well, Google knows about it.” She started to read. “And we’ve got a problem already.”

  “Is it gone?” Gideon asked anxiously.

  “Nope. It’s in Iraq.”

  Their lunch at Emin Pasha was wonderful but it was overshadowed by their dilemma. Gideon had been in the Army, but that wasn’t going to do him any favors trying to get into Iraq. And even if they got in the country, it would be extremely dangerous to wander around alone in a remote location. Gideon wanted to go without Rei, who, of course, strongly objected. And she was most likely right, anyway, as Gideon wasn’t sure he could find the next X and its accompanying letter without her.

  They decided to put the problem on the back burner until they could talk to either Captain McMillan or Mr. Xavier, and tried to enjoy the setting. The food and service at the hotel was top notch, and the Ugandan beer Gideon ordered, Nile Gold, surprised him with its excellent flavor. They had eaten at one of the outdoor tables, under the red umbrella, and treated themselves to ice cream after the meal. Full, they decided to take a walk around the peaceful grounds.

  As they strolled along, beside the tiled pool, along the Mediterranean inspired buildings housing the guest rooms and suites, they tried not to talk of Iraq. They recounted their adventures in Cape Town and Inhambane. They reminisced about their fortuitous rescue in Zimbabwe.

  “Martin was amazing. Really. He wouldn’t take a single dime for all the help, the food, the bed…” Gideon shook his head in disbelief.

  “And Shumba, walking us all that way. We were really blessed. It could just as easily have ended with rebels or soldiers or something. We did everything you’re not supposed to do, and lived to tell about it. We even got our luggage back! It’s amazing, if you think about it,” Rei said.

  “No one would believe it. If we ever get to tell the story, seriously, no one will believe it! Which reminds me, I need to call Mr. Xavier and tell him we’re all right. And tell him about Iraq. I don’t think he can do much for us there… and I doubt the jet company will let Mac fly us into a war zone.”

  They walked a few yards, and Rei said, “Guess we’d better get back to Jack’s, and see if they’re back from the airport. We’re going to need advice, I think. And our phones should be done charging.”

  They wandered back across the beautiful grounds. The traffic noise was still out there. A big hotel was being built that was going to block some of the city view. But the birds were in the trees, the grass was green, the flowers were spectacu
lar. Rei thought that she’d like to come back here one day, when life was a bit calmer. She took Gideon’s hand.

  “No one I’d rather almost get killed with than you, hon,” she said.

  Jack and McMillan hadn’t returned when they arrived at the house. Gideon got his phone and went to the garden to call Mr. Xavier. His boss wasn’t thrilled about the Iraq angle.

  “Can you skip it? You know you have to go to Goa, right?” he asked.

  “No, I don’t think so. For one thing, I think the clue that sends us to Goa will have a lead to other clues that are there. Goa is a big territory now. The treasure is probably not in the city of what’s now called “Old” Goa, and how would we know even where to start? And there will be clues along the way. This guy doesn’t seem to have been a map guy. He’s a letter guy. I’d certainly rather have a big map with one X than fifteen letters and fifteen Xs. But that seems to be what he did, so we’re going to have to follow him. And that’s going to take us to Iraq, at least if you want us to continue.”

  “I do, but not at the cost of your lives. Maldicao! If you can get in and out safely, then do it. Keep the jet as long as you need. But if you don’t think you can, then you must stop. One day it might be possible to go to Iraq without worry of being explodir.” Xavier sighed.

  “That’s true, but probably not soon. I’ll keep you posted. You might want to say a prayer!” He hung up.

  As he was walking into the house he heard the two pilots come in. Rei met them all in the front hall, and Gideon asked them if they had time for a consultation. Jack led them into his office.