43 |

Director Morrison’s Office, CIA Headquarters
Langley, Virginia

 

“Can you find this Ganno?”

Leroux nodded at his boss. “Yes, sir. We already have. He’s on a flight about to land in an hour, then he’s booked on a second flight for Aksum in northern Ethiopia. The same area that Father Amanuel is from.”

Morrison chewed his cheek. “Can you track him?”

“We have an asset already on the ground. He’s a local we’ve used before. We’ve also retasked a satellite, and have three drones assigned to cover the area. We should be able to follow him, hopefully straight to the professors.”

Morrison shook his head, leaning back in his chair. “Did you ever think the CIA, under orders from the President himself, would be directing an operation to recover the Ark of the Covenant?”

Leroux grunted. “I can honestly say it never would have occurred to me in a million years. Then again, we’ve dealt with some weird things with these professors.”

Morrison leaned forward, dropping his elbows onto his desk. “Yeah, but wrath of God type stuff?”

“You think it’s real?”

Morrison shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean, I’m as religious as the next guy, I guess, though it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the inside of a church. My wife is more the devout one than I am. And beyond Sunday school, I’ve never read the Bible. But I believe in God. If you don’t, what’s the damned purpose for being on this ball of rock hurtling through space if in the end you’re just dust.” He sighed, staring at his underling. “Chris, I don’t know what to think. All I know is that if there’s the remotest possibility, we can’t let that thing fall into the wrong hands. It could mean the end of everything.”

Leroux’s eyes narrowed. “Sir?”

“Nuclear war.”

“Do you think it could come to that?”

“If it’s real, and gives an army that possesses it the power of God, then yes. It might be the only way to stop them.”

“But surely God wouldn’t let it be used for evil purposes.”

Morrison regarded him. “Chris, have you ever wondered, if we’re all worshipping the same God, whose side is He on? What if we’re not the good guys after all?”

Leroux shuddered. “I’m not sure I want to think about the possibility.”

“Exactly. So, let’s just get this damned thing, throw it in a cold dark corner somewhere, and forget about it.”

“Good idea.” Leroux rose. “Oh, and to that end, we’re going to need boots on the ground.”

“Already in the works.”