As the sun dipped in the west, the barge was half-way to the coast when one of the lookouts on the bow spotted a group of tough-looking men standing on a bridge-a bridge the barge would soon be passing under.
Armed to the teeth with various types of weaponry, Alon and John were crouched down in the pilothouse deciding on a plan of action if they proved to be hostile. For now, the situation called only for close observation; they would have to watch and wait.
Posing as bored deckhands, the Israelis kept their weapons hidden from sight under tarps as they sat on deck and made a show of playing cards and drinking wine. As the bow of the barge passed beneath the bridge, their muscles tensed when they noticed that the men above were watching their progress with more than casual interest, and at least one of them was holding a rifle that looked like an AK-47.
Feigning disinterest, Alon waved overhead. The man waved back before lighting a cigarette. Always a good sign, Alon thought. A man preparing to shoot at you usually didn’t stop to light a cigarette.
Below decks, people held their breath as the barge passed under the carved gargoyle-like figures that lined the sides of the low bridge. Maybe the men on the bridge were just local villagers guarding their town from thugs who had fled the cities and were now ravaging the countryside, or maybe they were the thugs doing the ravaging-who knew? Whoever they were, they didn’t appear the least interested in the barge as it continued down the river.
Soon, the sun began to dip and twilight enveloped the boat as it flowed with the current on its way to the sea. Down below, Leo circulated among families who seemed to be taking everything in stride. These are strong people, Leo thought, stopping to chat with a young man with hands stained red from working in the vineyard and his wife, who was holding an infant.
Nearby, he saw John and Ariella, propped up next to each other on one of the sofas, sleeping. Across from them, sitting on tall, chair-backed stools that lined the front of the granite counter, Mendoza and Evita were focused on their laptops. Both had become fascinated with the code in the Bible and were busy searching for hidden phrases that might help them in the days ahead.
Javier had just taken a sip of coffee when he almost choked. Holding his hand over his mouth, he fought back the urge to spew coffee all over his computer screen.
“You ok, Javier?” Evita asked without looking up.
“Uh … not really. Take a look at this.”
Evita leaned over and peered at his screen.
Those who serve Him will become the hunted.
Evita tensed as she turned around and scanned the room full of people behind her. In a corner, she spotted Lev playing pool with a group of men. Sliding off the tall stool, she made her way through the crowded space and sidled up next to him.
“We need to talk.”
“What’s up?”
Evita led him to the counter and pointed to the screen on Javier’s laptop. “Take a look at this.”
Lev’s expression remained neutral. “This could mean a lot of things.”
“Don’t you see it as a warning?”
“Not necessarily, but it could be.”
“Shouldn’t we at least take some extra precautions?”
“Against what?” Lev’s expression turned sympathetic. “We’re all in the same boat …excuse the pun, but there’s absolutely no collaborating event or timetable to use as a gauge against this phrase. It’s pretty vague.”
Evita leaned back and ran her hands through her shiny black hair. “Should we tell Leo?”
“I think he needs a break from all the intrigue. This would only give him one more thing to worry about.”
Evita took a deep breath and closed her laptop. “You’re the boss, Professor.”
Lev was just beginning to say something else when the vibration of a low-flying helicopter rattled the glass as it flew directly overhead, its loud turbines drowning out all conversation.
Everyone froze as Leo and Lev pushed their way past groups of people and climbed up into the darkened pilothouse.
Moshe, along with Alon and Nava, were already scanning the starlit sky with night vision goggles. Apparently, the helicopter had disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared.
“How much farther to the coast?” Lev asked.
“About five miles,” Moshe replied. “I just got off the horn with Alex. He’ll have the speedboats waiting for us when we arrive on the beach.”
Lev made some quick mental calculations. “Even though it’s pushing things a little, each speedboat can hold up to eighteen people. With two boats, we can transfer everyone out to the yacht in two trips. Have Alex bring her in as close to shore as he can.”
“He said they made a trial run earlier to get their timing down. He’s keeping the yacht out in deep water until we get there, then he’ll make a run toward the beach and anchor a couple of hundred yards offshore before he launches the boats. Any closer and they’ll be scraping bottom.”
“Sounds good. What about lookouts?”
“Alex left a crewmember in the dunes with a radio.”
“Good man. Did anyone get a look at that helicopter that just flew overhead?”
“It was past us before we even had a chance to look up. No running lights … just a black hole in the sky.”
“Ok. Keep your eyes peeled.”
Leo opened the pilothouse door.
“Where do you think you’re going, Cardinal?”
“I need some fresh air. I thought I’d go out on deck.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. I’d like to keep the decks as free of people as possible right now.”
“Whatever you say. I guess I’ll go back downstairs and check on the families again.” Leo brushed past Lev and made his way below.
“You’re keeping the cardinal on a pretty tight leash,” Moshe said.
“I know. I’m starting to see snipers behind every bush, but that man’s important. I have a feeling that he’s going to be even more important someday … and not just to us.”
The radio in the pilot house suddenly came alive. “Alon … Moshe … come in. This is the Carmela.”
Moshe reached out and grabbed the handset. “Go ahead, Alex.”
“Did something just fly over you guys a little while ago?”
The men in the pilot house exchanged glances. “Yes … a chopper.”
“Our radar just picked it up. It’s circling around … it’s headed back toward you.”