The Quest

“Some people are content to accept things on faith. Others are driven to extraordinary efforts to find and see the thing they want to believe in. Vide et crede. See and believe. And that is where bravery and insanity become one.”

“And that’s when you buy a ticket to Ethiopia.”

Gann smiled and suggested to his dining companions, “And while you are there looking about for the Holy Grail, you might as well try to get a look at the Ark of the Covenant.”

“Is that there too?”

“Apparently, but not in the black monastery. It’s in the ancient ruins of Axum.”

Purcell asked Mercado, “Have you heard of that?”

“I have.”

It seemed to Purcell that Ethiopia had at least two amazing biblical relics, making him start to wonder about the first one. He asked Gann, “Has Noah’s Ark also shown up there?”

Again Gann smiled, then said, “Not that I’m aware of. But I have seen the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.”

Vivian encouraged him to tell them about it, and Purcell wished she hadn’t.

Gann explained, “The Ark of the Covenant is hidden in a small Coptic chapel in Axum, and it is guarded by one monk, a man named Abba who is called the Atang-the Keeper of the Ark.” He further explained, “This is the most solemn position in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church-the Coptic Church. Abba can never leave the grounds of the chapel and he will hold this position of Atang until he dies.”

Vivian asked, “And you’ve seen this man?”

“And I’ve spoken to him.” He added, “He is the only living person who has ever actually seen the Ark, but he has never opened this chest to see the stone tablets on which God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.” Gann explained, “Abba told me that whoever opens the Ark will be struck dead.”

Purcell inquired, “Did the Ark of the Covenant arrive in Ethiopia along with the Holy Grail?”

Gann smiled again and replied, “No, the time and the circumstances were quite different.” He explained, “As you know, the Queen of Sheba, who ruled in Axum three thousand years ago, went to Jerusalem and was impregnated by King Solomon. She returned to Axum and bore a child whom she named Menelik, and this was the beginning of the Solomonic dynasty that has ruled Ethiopia until… well, a few months ago.” He continued, “When Menelik was a young man, he traveled to Jerusalem to meet his father. Menelik stayed for three years, and when he left, Solomon ordered that the Ark of the Covenant accompany his son to protect him. Menelik brought the Ark to a monastery called Tana Kirkos on the eastern shore of Lake Tana, which feeds its waters into the Blue Nile. The monastery is still there, guarded by monks, and I have actually been a guest at this monastery.”

Purcell inquired, “Did the monks insist that you stay forever?”

“Sorry?”

“Please go on.”

Gann went on, “After Menelik died, the new emperor, Ezana, sent for the Ark, and it was brought to Axum, where it remains to this day.”

Purcell asked, “Why hasn’t the Marxist government grabbed it?”

“Interesting question.” Gann explained, “They’ve appropriated some church property, but there is a backlash growing among the Coptic faithful, so the government has backed off a bit.” He added, “The stupid Marxists have actually stirred a religious revival amongst the peasants.”

Purcell nodded. That wasn’t what happened in Russia when the Communists crushed the churches, but it was interesting that it was happening in Ethiopia. More importantly, if the Ark of the Covenant was safe for the time being, then maybe the black monastery and the Holy Grail were also safe for now-at least until the team from L’Osservatore Romano arrived.

Mercado had come to a similar conclusion and said, “The black monastery is also on borrowed time.”

Gann said, “The new government is trying to consolidate its power, and it doesn’t wish to anger the masses whom it purports to represent. But as you say, it’s only a matter of time before they resume their confiscation of church property. For now, they are satisfied with executing the royal family and the rasses, and appropriating their palaces and wealth.”

Purcell asked Gann, “Are you still working for the Royalists?”

Gann hesitated, then replied, “I am in contact with counterrevolutionary elements here in Rome, in London, and in Cairo and Ethiopia.”

“How’s that counterrevolution looking?”

Gann replied, “Not very good at the moment. But we are hopeful.”

Their antipasto arrived and Mercado picked at his food, then said, “I am convinced that the Holy Grail could eventually wind up in the hands of the Marxist government. And if that happens, the Grail may not be sold to the highest bidder-it may be destroyed.”

Purcell looked at Mercado. It was inevitable, he thought, that Henry, or one of them, would find a justification for stealing the Grail from the monastery-for its own protection, of course. And, in truth, Henry had a point.