Chapter 43 –Bugs in the Design
Abraham entered his secret treasury clutching the small wooden box to his chest. Words couldn’t express the elation he felt. God was good. He was holding in his hands an object believed to be no more than a legend. Like so many of the other so-called mythical artifacts he had collected in this room, the golden bee was quite real. He walked to the table in the center of the treasury and took his most recent acquisition out of its container. He held it up to examine it more closely. Even under the fluorescent lights which seemed to drain the color out of most objects, this one still glowed with an inner fire. An indication of its hidden power.
He reminded himself sharply of the Lord’s command against worshipping graven images. But he wasn’t worshipping it. He worshiped the deity who had so graciously placed it in his possession. His gaze slid away from the bee to the storage compartments lining the walls. They were almost full now. Only six remained empty. After today, only five. They waited to house the Bones of the Mother and finally the Sage Stone. Once he possessed the latter, he would be ready to act. Then the world would see a change.
He had no doubt that Daniel would succeed in acquiring the rest of the artifacts. It was a mark of God’s favor that they had prevailed thus far, even in the face of resistance from the Fallen. The young man who had tried not once, but twice, to steal the relics from the Nephilim had been justly vanquished. No doubt he was burning in hell at this very moment. God was good. He smote down the enemies of the righteous. Abraham uttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving.
He replaced the golden bee in its container and carried it reverently to a storage compartment in the corner of the treasury. It would remain sealed away here, waiting for its companion pieces. Its very presence, however, was a signal to Abraham to move forward with the next phase of his plan. He looked at his wrist watch. The hour was at hand.
***
Doctor Rafi Aboud waited impatiently for his benefactor to arrive. He was used to secrecy in his line of work, but this compound out in the middle of nowhere and the people who lived here seemed otherworldly to him. Otherwordly in a way that made him uneasy. Uneasiness was a small price to pay, he reminded himself sternly. In order to be allowed to continue his work, he would have gladly struck a bargain with the devil himself. Aboud noted the time. His host should have been here by now.
At that moment the office door opened to reveal an old man with a white beard. He was dressed entirely in black.
“Doctor Aboud?” he held out his hand in greeting.
The visitor grasped it warily. “You are Abraham Metcalf?”
“Yes, I’m very glad to meet you. Was your trip difficult?”
Aboud shrugged. “Flying thousands of miles is never easy.”
“And your accommodations,” the old man pressed. “Are they sufficient for your needs?”
“Sufficient, yes,” the visitor agreed. He didn’t much like being surrounded by locked gates, but that was a minor inconvenience.
The old man appeared animated for some reason. He exuded a hectic energy which he only suppressed with difficulty. “May I offer you some refreshment?”
Aboud wished to keep the meeting short and impersonal. “No, thank you,” he said curtly. “I would like to see the plans for my facility.”
“Of course,” Metcalf agreed readily. “Here they are.” He picked up a long cardboard tube which had been standing next to his desk and removed the contents. He carried the rolled papers over to a conference table on the other side of the room and spread them out.
Aboud came to stand beside him, looking at the blueprints over his shoulder.
“As you can see, the entire laboratory will be underground,” the old man explained. “That will allow you to work in maximum privacy.”
“That is good,” the visitor agreed. “How many of your people know of this plan?”
“Very few. Only a handful in fact. There’s no reason why the rest should. I’ve acquired a tract of land a few miles away from the compound. The construction crew will be hired from the outside. They will have no occasion to deal with any of the Nephilim other than the men I’ve selected to supervise this operation. You may come and go as you please.”
Aboud nodded his approval. So, he would be allowed to leave after all. He made a mental note to find alternative living arrangements as soon as possible. Transferring his attention back to the blueprint, he scrutinized every detail of the design. This Metcalf had been careful to follow his instructions. It looked very good. He traced his finger over the main laboratory. The dimensions were much larger than his old facility.
“I will need assistants,” he said half to himself.
“My brethren are attempting to locate some of your countrymen whose work was also disrupted. I’m sure we can guarantee at least a handful of experienced laboratory technicians.”
“I will need a dozen.” Aboud’s voice was expressionless. It wasn’t a demand. It was a necessity if the work was to go forward as his benefactor wished.
Metcalf at first seemed taken aback by the comment. Apparently, he wasn’t used to being contradicted. Then he smiled briefly. “Just as you say. A dozen.”
The doctor returned his attention to the blueprint for a few moments, but then he paused as a new thought struck him. “Have you found a supplier for the animals I will need?”
Metcalf nodded. “Oh yes, that’s all been arranged. Here is the card of the man who will be your contact.”
He handed Aboud a business card with a name and phone number printed on it. The man’s title indicated that he specialized in laboratory supplies.
The old man elaborated. “Once the facility is complete, you can contact him and let
