The Second Messiah

THE

SECOND

MESSIAH

Howard Books

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2011 by Glenn Meade

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Howard Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Howard Books hardcover edition August 2011

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10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Meade, Glenn, 1957–

    The second messiah / Glenn Meade.

        p. cm.

    1. Religious fiction. I. Title.

    PS3563.E16845S43 2011

    813’’54—dc22

                 2010043625

ISBN 978-1-4516-1184-7

ISBN 978-1-4516-1188-5 (ebook)

FOR MY SON, NEAL,

WHO ALREADY KNOWS THAT

LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

PART OF LIFE’S STORY

Contents

Acknowledgments

Part One

Chapter 1

Part Two

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Part Three

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Part Four

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Part Five

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Part Six

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Part Seven

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Chapter 89

Chapter 90

Chapter 91

Chapter 92

Chapter 93

Chapter 94

Chapter 95

Chapter 96

Chapter 97

Chapter 98

Chapter 99

Chapter 100

Chapter 101

Chapter 102

Chapter 103

Chapter 104

Chapter 105

Chapter 106

Chapter 107

Chapter 108

Chapter 109

Chapter 110

Chapter 111

Chapter 112

Chapter 113

Chapter 114

Chapter 115

Chapter 116

Chapter 117

Chapter 118

Chapter 119

Chapter 120

Chapter 121

Chapter 122

Chapter 123

Chapter 124

Chapter 125

Chapter 126

Chapter 127

Chapter 128

Chapter 129

Chapter 130

Chapter 131

Chapter 132

Chapter 133

Chapter 134

Chapter 135

Chapter 136

Chapter 137

Chapter 138

Chapter 139

Chapter 140

Chapter 141

Chapter 142

Author’s Note

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As always, there are people to thank. In Israel, archaeologist, author, and scholar Hanan Eshel.

In the United States, John Wood, in Knoxville, who patiently answered my many questions and always pointed me in the right directions. Aramaist and author Douglas Stuart. Jeff Fisher for kindly sharing his memories of his time at Qumran. Author Bart Ehrman. Claudia Cross, my agent at Sterling Lord Literistic in New York. And not to forget Elizabeth Lacy and Marion McDonald—a promise kept.

In Italy, the Vatican Press Office. And a list too long to set down here of experts who gave of their time and help. My sincere thanks.

I’d love to be able to continue that great authorial tradition of buck-passing by saying that all errors that may appear are theirs, not mine, but that’s not so. However, I’ll try to cover myself by saying that some may be theirs, and some mine.

Ancient Rome’s remains and underground passageways mentioned in this book exist, as do the biblical settlement at Qumran and the town of Maloula. The Atbash code is a real cipher. It was discovered in a number of the Dead Sea scrolls by one of their most eminent translators, who believed from the coded evidence he had unearthed that the material would one day bring to light a prophecy or revelation of immense significance to humankind.

Sometimes the past is best left buried. For with the bones of the dead can lay some dark and very dangerous secrets.

—JEAN PAUL CADE

What we have found in these Aladdin’s caves is a true treasure trove. It appears that a large number of the scrolls may date from the time of Jesus. We will carefully translate all that we can but the work will be painstaking. For who knows what important messages are hidden within these ancient parchments? Who knows if their contents may some day astonish the world?