Reluctant Demon (25 page)

"Where are the scrolls?" he continued.

"They're safe, I assure you. I put them in my personal safe. No one has the combination besides me. You didn't answer my question."

"Yes, I know. You want to know what to do with the translation." He repeated her words back to her as if buying time to consider his response.

"Wonk, you said you knew what the scrolls contained. Is that true?"

Haltingly, "Yes."

"I don't see how that's possible. I know every person on the planet who can read cuneiform. You are not among them. Tell me what this is all about."

"It's about redemption, Dr. Yale."

"Whose? Yours or mine?"

He did not answer.

"Do you expect me to publish what I've found? Send it for peer review? What?" Suddenly exhausted, she lowered her head into one hand as she held the phone to her ear with the other.

"Not yet, Dr. Yale." His voice had a tone of concern.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone yet. You don't have the whole story."

"What do you mean by that?" She was alert again.

"There are more scrolls."

"Where? How many?"

"Wait for them." He hung up.

Holding the silent phone to her ear for another moment, Samantha finally leaned back in her comfortable office chair. After several minutes, she rose and walked to her window. The sun was setting, and the Dome of the Rock shone brilliantly with the last rays of another day.

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