The Sacred Blood

Glaring eyes bored into Muhammad like needles in a pincushion as he slunk out of the room.

The room erupted again, the men boisterously voicing their approval of Ghalib’s fervent patriotism.

19

******

Qumran

By the time Amit steered the Land Rover off Kaliah-Sedom (Highway 90) and up the drive leading to an empty parking lot, the sun was setting over the hills of Jordan, making the Dead Sea glow amber and sapphire. He claimed the spot closest to the planted palm grove bordering the tiny makeshift oasis that was Qumran’s visitors’ center.

“Isn’t this romantic,” Jules said. “We have the place all to ourselves.” “Too bad I didn’t bring some wine.”

“Always a step behind,” she teased, shaking her head.

He grinned tightly, knowing she wouldn’t be saying this after he’d

shown her what he’d found up in the hills.

They both hopped out.

Amit circled to the Land Rover’s rear and lifted the hatch to retrieve

some provisions.

Meanwhile, Jules took a few seconds to admire the picturesque sea with its white mineral-crusted shore, the stark umber hills jutting up into the amethyst glow spreading into the sky above.

The Land Rover locked with a quick flash of lights and a tiny chirp as Amit pocketed his keys. He came to her side holding flashlights and a black rucksack.

“God, it’s so beautiful,” Jules said.

“Sure is. And smell that?” He breathed through his nostrils, long and steady—the distinctive aroma of clay, potash, and bromine.

She sampled it too, her thin nose flaring at the sides.

“That’s history . . . the Bible; what keeps me coming back,” he said.

“Smells a bit like a swimming pool,” she said in a snooty French accent, “but whatever floats your ark.”

“You’re ruthless.” Shaking his head, he handed her a light.

He led her up some paved steps past the squat gift shop and ticket center, out back to the gravel trails leading to the sheer cliffs that formed a continuous wall to the north and south. To their left were the excavated ruins—mainly foundations—of the village the Essenes had inhabited up until the first century. Not far beyond them was a deep gorge extending from the sea to a huge mineral-coated crevasse cut into the cliffs by the winters’ flash flood runoff. They were headed to a zigzag path running up it.

“How far up?” she asked, eyeing the towering cliffs.

“Pretty far,” he flatly replied.

“Fabulous,” she huffed.

Peppered around a sliver of a crescent moon, winking stars were starting to break through the darkening sky as Amit led Jules to the ladder set beneath the cave opening.

Drenched in sweat and complaining incessantly about the buzzing flies, Jules was razzing him about how they were going to make it back down the cliff in the dark. She was still upset that some spots had required them to climb over boulders.

“The hike down is much less challenging,” he said, stretching the truth. Despite her complaints, he knew the payoff was certain. He flicked on the flashlight and pointed it up at the opening.

As Jules craned her neck back, her flashlight lit up the tight curves where her sweat-soaked white T-shirt clung to her chest. The opening was another climb, but nothing like the clamber up the gorge. When her gaze snapped back to Amit, she caught him quickly diverting his bashful eyes from her raised nipples. “I’d hate to think you dragged me up here to look at my tits.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest and squeezed her breasts together, to make matters worse for the Israeli.

His face went red. “I was just . . . just . . .” Then he decided that his attraction didn’t require an apology. “It’s hard not to stare, that’s all. Take it as a compliment.”

“Compliment taken.” She actually blushed. “Now can we get moving?” She waved for him to get up the ladder.

The episode had taken away his fear of climbing, because he stepped off the ladder and into the cave without care. He snuck another forbidden peek when he clasped her hand and helped her up.

“We’re heading all the way in,” he informed her, his voice taking on a professional air. “Watch your footing. It gets a bit dodgy in spots.”

“Lead the way so I can check out your ass,” she quipped.

“Enjoy the show,” he said, and began the steady climb up the tight passage.

“Double feature,” she said, shining the light on his rump.

The tricky tunnel forced Jules to concentrate for the remainder of the climb. When Amit spilled out into a wide hewn chamber, she wasn’t quite sensing the magic.

“You okay?” he asked, making his way to a light pole.

“Oui.” She ran her flashlight over a bunch of bricks arranged neatly on the floor. It was when the work light went on that she saw the wide opening in the rear wall. She moved closer.

“Hands and knees for this one. But it’s only a couple meters.” He could see some agitation building in her skeptical gaze.

Amit took the lead again, shuffling along on all fours into the rear chamber. When he stood, he immediately went for a second pole light close to the opening. The room came to life as Jules clambered in and got to her feet.

For a few seconds she said nothing as she paced the perimeter of the square chamber, skipping a corner where equipment and tools were heaped, pausing in spots to run her fingers along the hash marks cut into the stone walls. “Who made this?” she finally asked.