The Second Messiah

“Like burrow holes, for instance. When wild creatures tunnel into the ground, they can leave pieces of pottery and coins behind them in the soil mound, which can be a good indicator that it’s worth digging in that location. Sometimes that’s how we find our material. So the Bedu pitch their tents out in the valley and under cover of night they’d dig down into the burrow holes. Sometimes they’d get lucky and find valuable objects. Then they’d fill in the holes, dismantle their tents, move on, and no one’s the wiser.”

Lela nodded. “I’ve heard about such practice.”

“They sell their more important finds to dealers, rich private collectors, or church representatives. Stuff like pottery, Roman or religious artifacts and documents. You name it.”

Jack slowed as they stepped up a rocky incline, then went on. “You might call it theft, but the Bedu would argue that they didn’t steal anything in the first place. These lands have been their stomping grounds for thousands of years, since way before Christ. They consider their finds to be rightfully theirs.”

“Do you think that the scroll’s theft could have been a motive for killing Professor Green?”

“Hey, you’re the cop, Lela. The professor’s dead and the scroll’s disappeared. It’s simple deduction that theft’s the motive. Why else would anyone kill him?”

“Have you anyone in mind?”

“No. But I can’t imagine any of the dig crew stabbing their director to death, no matter how much of a moody guy he was.”

“What about thieves who specialize in valuable artifacts?”

“Maybe. But how could they have learned so quickly that we’d made a valuable find?”

Lela considered the reply, then said, “Let’s get back to the contents. You told Mosberg that Green managed to translate some of the text.”

“The scroll seemed in remarkable condition and written mostly in Aramaic. Green didn’t unravel it entirely because of the risk of damage. But the first inked lines were legible and mentioned the name Yeshua HaMeshiah, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus Christ.”

“What exactly did the text say?”

Jack halted, removed his notebook, and flipped it open.

“This story concerns the man known as Jesus the Messiah. Having traveled from Caesarea to Dora, where his name had become well-known, he failed miserably to cure the blind and the sick, despite his promises to do so. Soon after, he was arrested in Dora by the Romans, tried and found guilty, and sentenced to be executed.”

Jack looked up. “Green thought the text bizarre and so did I. There’s absolutely no historical or biblical mention of Jesus ever having visited the towns of Dora or Caesarea, never mind being arrested in either. Jesus Christ was principally known to frequent a fairly small area in Judea. Dora and Caesarea were in different Roman provinces, over sixty miles away. We didn’t understand the reference to not curing the blind and the sick either. Like I said, it’s bizarre. Had we been able to fully translate the text, it may have shed new light on established biblical events.”

“Do you mind if I copy down your translation in my notebook?”

“Help yourself.” Jack showed her the note.

Lela copied it. “Do you think the text could have been significant historically? Perhaps even extremely valuable as well?”

“I think so, Lela.”

“Are there any other Aramaic experts on site?”

“Buddy Savage isn’t an expert but he knows enough. There’s a German guy, Wolfgang, who’s pretty hot on Aramaic but he was away in Munich. A couple of the Israelis are Hebrew experts. Why?”

“Did the professor consult Savage?”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding? He wouldn’t have even consulted Buddy about which shirt he ought to wear for dinner.”

“Why?”

“With respect, Green could be arrogant. He believed his own intellect was superior to everyone else’s and he rarely consulted anyone.”

“Sounds like he wasn’t the ideal team leader.”

“He raised the funds to cover the cost of the dig in the first place. He’s the one who got our sponsors, so Green was the boss.”

“Who are the sponsors?”

“Wealthy benefactors in the United States. I don’t get into the politics of it but I believe they’ve sponsored lots of digs in this area in the past. And don’t ask me who they are or why they do it. I think some of them may have wanted to remain anonymous. Buddy Savage may know more. He often helped Green with his paperwork.”

“What about religious convictions?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are many of the team here because of any particularly strong religious beliefs?”

Jack shrugged. “I guess about half are interested in religion, whether it’s the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim faith. The other half are here just to learn and appreciate the dig. But some among them, being young and carefree, are just here to party and have fun.”