“And what about the Temple treasure?” she asked.
“Only you and I know what’s in that cave and how to get it. True, there are other ways across that lake. But it’s sat safe for sixty years, and I think the Maroons will keep it safe for sixty more. How about you and I decide what to do when things calm down.”
She nodded through her tears.
“We’ll be the Levite,” he said. “Together.”
His grandfather had involved Berlinger, now he would include Alle. He’d already decided to make peace with his religion. He was born a Jew to Jewish parents, and a Jew he would always be.
He’d already spoken to Inna and told her what happened. There’d be a story at some point about Zachariah Simon, his plans, and the dangers of fanaticism. Whether the Temple treasure would be included remained to be seen. He’d write the story himself and give it to her. She hadn’t liked that idea, insisting that his byline appear. But he was a ghostwriter, and that he would remain. In the end, she’d understood and respected his wish. He liked Inna. Maybe he’d visit her again one day.
Interesting.
He’d finally started thinking about the future again.
“How about this,” he said to Alle. “We both made a ton of mistakes, let’s call it even and start over.”
More tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’d really like that.”
He extended his hand. “Tom Sagan.”
She managed a smile and accepted his handshake. “Alle Beck—”
She caught herself.
“Alle Sagan.”
He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Alle Sagan.”
One last thing to do.
He turned to the graves and bent down.
For two decades he’d built a barrier to protect his emotions, one he’d thought insurmountable. The last five days had showed him the foolishness of his ways. In the end what mattered was family. And all he had left was Alle. He now had a second chance with her. But none existed with the man lying beneath his feet. For twenty years he’d called him Abiram, old man, anything and everything except what he deserved. So much bad had passed between them but, in the end, he’d been loved. And trusted. Of that there was no doubt.
He was going to be all right.
That much he now knew.
Alle stood behind him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He caressed the marker’s smooth granite and hoped that maybe, just maybe, his words could be heard.
“I love you, Dad.”
WRITER’S NOTE
THIS NOVEL TOOK ELIZABETH AND ME ON INTRIGUING JOURNEYS, one to Jamaica, another to Prague. Vienna and Mount Dora, Florida, were locales visited in the past.
Now it’s time to separate fact from fiction.
Columbus was indeed marooned on Jamaica for over a year (prologue, chapter 7) and made use of a lunar eclipse to trick the Taino natives into supplying his crew with food (chapter 35). Eighty-seven men sailed with Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, and not a single priest was among them. But a Hebrew translator, Luis de Torres, was part of that first contingent. De Torres’ background as a
The legend of a lost Jamaican gold mine connected to Columbus is one often repeated.
The Taino (chapter 28) presence on Jamaica, 7,000 years before the Europeans, is true, as is the fact that by 1650 they were wiped out. Calling them Arawaks is incorrect, though their language is known by that term. Gold was not precious to the Tainos (chapter 28), but whether they possessed a mine shown to Columbus, nobody knows. Little remains today of the Tainos except for some artifacts, their caves, and legends (chapter 24).
The Maroons are a fascinating group of people. Their history and sociology are accurately portrayed (chapters 3, 19, 24), and their propensity for secrets is real (chapter 68). How slaves made it to the New World (chapter 28) is accurately related, as is the fact that Jamaica, situated at the end of the trade route, received the toughest of the lot (chapter 19). Charles Town exists, as does the Maroon museum there (chapters 24 and 25). Grandy Nanny is a part of both Maroon and Jamaican history. How she looked, who she was, and whether she even actually lived are matters of debate (chapters 3, 68). An image of her currently appears on the Jamaican $500 note, known locally as a “Nanny.”