“You are asking me not to send the Ark with him?”
“I am. I cannot think of how to explain this to you other than just tell you.” Juan paused for a moment, ensuring he had Solomon’s full attention. “You are a man of God?”
“I am.”
“I am as well. Now, there are those in history who are chosen by God to serve a purpose. Your father was such a man. The effects of that service impact all of creation. I am also one of those people. Diego is as well. We have come here as part of that service.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“You know of the struggle between good and evil?”
“You are speaking of good and evil as it pertains to God?”
“I am.” Juan’s expression became serious and Solomon noted the change. “There will be a time that God will allow the free will of man to decide the outcome of existence. The struggle between good and evil will reach a climax. It will be placed upon man to choose which side will be victorious.”
“The Ark has something to do with this?”
“It does.”
“How do I know what you speak is true?”
Juan looked at Solomon. “You know it is.”
Solomon looked into the fire. He paused for a moment before speaking. “There are many legends and stories of my life. Some are true and some are not and some did not happen exactly as they were written.
“I am considered wise by many but in truth I’m just a good listener. Most of the wise decisions actually come from the person making the request. They speak and I listen. At the end of the conversation, they have discovered the answer for themselves but because it came in my presence, I am given the credit. The actual advice I do give comes from trusting my instinct. I know certain items about people. I’ve had those from far-off nations tell me that an aura exists around each man. If this is true, then I can see and read a man’s aura. I tell you this because I can read your aura.”
“What does it say?”
“It says you speak the truth. It says that I can trust you and that what you desire more than anything is to serve the greater good.” Solomon looked at Juan. “Now that you have my trust, what would you like me to do with the Ark?”
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
“Have you seen the Ark before?” Solomon asked.
“I have seen the Ark but not in a physical sense,” Juan replied.
The answer confused Solomon. “Who are you really? Are you an angel?”
Juan smiled. “I’m no angel. And I don’t see how anyone could mistake Diego for an angel. I’m a man just like you. But at the same time, I’m not a man. I’m not an angel but I guess you could say I’m similar.”
“Who sent you?”
“That’s kind of hard to explain. It wasn’t exactly just one person…”
“You’re rambling.”
Juan looked sharply at Solomon. The directness of the accusation surprised him but he realized Solomon was right and his gaze softened. “We were sent here by Enoch. The Morning Star has taken over creation and we’re here to change that.”
Now it was Solomon’s turn to be taken aback. He searched Juan’s face to ascertain the truthfulness of what he said. He found Juan’s face to be somber and honest. “What must we do?”
“First, I need to see the Ark.”
Solomon nodded and led him to a surreptitious room within the temple. The doorway to which was a statue in a corner of the temple which slid to reveal a stairway. Those stairs led to the room that held the Ark.
Juan followed Solomon down and in the center of the small room was the Ark. There was an eternal presence about the Ark and Juan was mesmerized. Within were the stones with words hand-carved by Moses.
Although touching the Ark was forbidden, Juan placed his hand on the Ark. Solomon held his breath waiting for the Wrath of God to fall upon his visitor but nothing happened.
“I’m going to tell you something that you will not understand,” Juan said. “The fact that you do not understand doesn’t matter. What matters is that at the end of what I’m about to tell you, you will listen and do as I ask. If you do not, evil will prevail over good.”
“God will be defeated?” Solomon asked.
Juan did not answer the direct question. Instead, he began telling Solomon his personal story. “I was born twenty-five hundred years from now.” Solomon sharpened his gaze at Juan but did not speak.
Juan told of his discovery of the fountain, of his time in the garden and of the defeat of the Nephilim. “You have heard of the Nephilim?”
“I have. It was said they were killed in the Great Flood.”
“Many were but some survived. Now they are all dead.”
Juan spoke of the New World and the founding of a great nation. He told of the Ark many years from Solomon’s time and of the Watcher’s taking the Ark, resulting in their ascension.
When he finished, he looked at Solomon. He expected skepticism.
Instead, Solomon looked at him soberly. “How do we stop this?”
“You must build two more Arks. Exact replicas of the original. Inside you will place the same items contained within the original Ark.”
“When do you need them built?”
“We need Menelik to take one with him to Sheba.”
“Will his kingdom be blessed without the Ark?” Solomon asked, deep in thought.
Juan looked at Solomon with a reassuring smile. “King, your son will build a lasting nation. His line will continue for nearly three thousand years.”
Solomon smiled at that thought. “My son leaves tomorrow. How can an ark be built in less than a day?”
“You must promise to build the two
