Alex Mitchell - The 13th Tablet

Right now, Wheatley had the stone tablet and most likely the rabbi’s chronicle as well. But they held the upper hand, as they already knew the contents of both and knew where to head next: Cambridge. Clearly the letter between the two brothers, from Cambridge to Safed, indicated that an ‘item’ was safe, and would one day be returned to its rightful place, the temple in Jerusalem. What else could this item be but the Jerusalem Tablet? She would have loved to know how the tablet had come to be a family heirloom of sorts, cared for by these two brothers. But first she had to speak to Moshe Shobai. Whatever Jack’s misgivings about the man, she would meet him. The whole world was not after them, Jack was being overcautious. One couldn’t be so na.ve as to think that academic pursuit was not fraught with danger. Shobai probably knew something about the tablet as a scholar deeply immersed in the field and was wise enough to keep away from what he sensed to be dangerous. He had kindly told her to leave it well alone but she hadn’t heeded his warning.

Her thoughts had drifted so much she’d almost forgot the time. She paid the waitress and left her a generous tip. Walking briskly across the bridge, she turned left down the street towards the restaurant. Jack was waiting for her out front holding a beautiful bunch of roses.

‘Hi Mina,’ he said, offering her the flowers.

‘Hi Jack. Thanks,’ she answered, taking the roses and kissing him on the cheek. ‘Now can I have my phone back?’ she added, smiling sweetly.

He grinned and pushed her gently into the restaurant. He had made a reservation for a table by the window. As they sat down, Mina looked out at the canal through the glass. Jack ordered a bottle of red wine and some sparkling water. They looked at each other without a word until the drinks arrived.

‘What should we toast to?’ asked Mina.

‘To the success of our quest! By the way Mina, if you’d checked your mobile you’d know that Hassan’s fine.’

‘He’s fine?’

‘Yes, he is. I’m not quite sure how he escaped Wheatley’s grasp but he did and he texted you to say he and his mother were staying with relatives in the countryside. I texted back saying it was good news and that you’d get in touch sometime soon.’

‘Thanks for that Jack. Now, seriously, where’s my phone? Are you a kleptomaniac? It’s the second time you’ve taken my mobile while I’ve been asleep.’

‘Technically, you fainted the first time. Does that really count?’

‘Just give me my phone.’

‘Here you are,’ he said, handing her a brand new one.

‘That’s not my phone.’

‘I know. Yours wasn’t safe to use any longer. We need to stay under the radar for the time being. Here’s a British passport by the way.’

‘A passport? You have been busy,’ she answered.

‘Let me explain.’

The waiter came to take the order. Jack chose the salmon, and Mina who hadn’t paid attention to the menu, said she would have the same.

‘Please, do explain,’ said Mina, sarcastically.

‘We have no idea how powerful Wheatley is,’ Jack said, ‘my guess is his area of influence is huge; politics, finance, police. We don’t know that he won’t try to get hold of you again. I couldn’t do anything about it while we were in Israel, but in London things are different. I met a contact last night, and he sorted out a few things for us including fake IDs and a car. I bought us two pay-as-you-go mobile phones and I found Moshe Shobai’s office address in St. John’s Wood. It’s a funny place to have an office, as it is mainly a residential area but there it is.’

Mina was trying to assimilate all the information, but was struggling, ‘Jack?’

‘Yes?’

‘I know you told me Oberon is a powerful guy. But with all your ‘connections,’ can’t we get some more help? Why can’t you contact the proper authorities and have Oberon arrested?’

‘Well…’

‘What?’

‘Back in Iraq, when you were in the hospital…’

‘Yes?’

‘I called it in.’

‘Can you be less cryptic?’

‘I talked to a friend, Stella, my former superior officer and discussed your situation.’

‘So? That’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Then in Israel, the day we left, I was contacted again but not by her.’

‘By whom?’ she asked.

‘Someone I didn’t know, from a different service. Intelligence. He asked me about you but I played dumb. I then tried contacting Stella but she was unreachable.’

‘I still don’t understand,’ Mina said, with growing anxiety.

‘You have to understand how these people in the intelligence business think. Their ears prick up at the smallest bit of information, especially in wartime Iraq. The little they know of your story is weird enough to interest them. They’re paranoid, ever-doubting and obsessed with secrecy. Maybe my conversation with Stella was intercepted, or maybe she spoke to someone she shouldn’t have. I don’t know. The important thing is that before you know it, Mina, you’d be locked away somewhere, for reasons of ‘National Security.’ The whole affair would be taken over by some agents and I’d never see you again.’

Mina was as pale as death. She was about to say something but Jack continued.

‘Let me finish. That’s one worry, but from the moment our business became known to more than one person, I realised it could be leaked to more people and eventually Wheatley could find out about our whereabouts too. I’m sorry, Mina.’

‘There’s nothing we can do about this, is there?’ Mina asked, depressed.

‘No.’

‘So, what now?’

‘We go all the way; we find the clay tablet, we may even discover the other three clay tablets, you unlock their potential and then…’

‘Then?’

‘Then we’ll be in a position of strength to bargain with them all,’ Jack said, trying to reassure her.

‘So, we’re on the run?’

‘Yes. But don’t worry about it. I’m on top of things.’

‘Yeah, sure.’ She felt like running out of the restaurant that very instant.

‘Mina, look at me,’ Jack said, firmly but kindly, ‘this is what I was trained for, all these years, doing all these special operations, enduring pain and anguish, for a time like this. I won’t let anyone harm you, or hinder us. Let them try.’

For a second she saw the hardness in his eyes and shivered slightly; she knew what Jack was capable of.

The waiter came back with their poached salmon, watercress, and sweet potato and carrot mash, and Jack tucked in immediately.

‘I’m famished,’ he said. ‘I haven’t eaten since last night.’

‘Go ahead,’ she said, pushing her plate towards him. ‘You’ve worked hard enough for two meals. Jack?’

‘Yes?’

‘Don’t do that again.’

‘Which part?’ asked Jack, sheepishly.

‘You know which part. I understand your reasons for taking my phone and all the rest, but just tell me about it before acting.’

‘I’m sorry. I won’t do that again next time.’

‘OK. So what should we focus on now?’ asked Mina.

‘Well, I think we should meet Dr Shobai as soon as possible.’

‘I want to meet him alone.’ she replied.

‘Mina, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Last time you met someone alone you almost ended up at the bottom of the sea.’

‘Wow, you’re paranoid Jack. You really need a reality check.’

‘I need a reality check?’ he said, raising his voice in frustration.

‘We’re talking about a really old man, a scholar, not a powerhungry billionaire or a military operative.’

‘All right, but I think you should surprise him at his office,’ said Jack.

‘I’d probably give him a heart attack barging in on him like that.’