The Code - Genesis - Book I (16 page)

Natan jokes, “We used all of our resources locating you, Dr. Berk.  Let’s just assume that the N.S.A. knows very little about any opposition to the Code.”  She smiles. “We’re relying on your expertise, so, please…fill me in.”

“Right.  Well, then…you should know that researchers applied equidistant letter sequencing, the same techniques applied to the Bible Code, to
Moby
-
Dick
and
War and Peace
and, remarkably, found similar coded information in these two books as well.”

“What kind of similar coded information?”  she asks.

Dr. Berks gets up and maneuvers over to a bookshelf in the corner of his office.  He pulls a notebook from the shelf, handing it to Natan. “Here.” 
             
 

Natan looks at the notebook.  It reads “Codes found in
Moby-Dick
.”

Natan flips through it, stopping on a matrix with John F. Kennedy references.

Dr. Berk continues, “Bible Code proponents claim that a close collection of information is found in a specific matrix and this supposedly helps prove their claims because this data illustrates a mathematical chance that is remote.”  Dr. Berk looks at Natan, waiting for a response. 

She continues reviewing the notebook and after a few moments realizes that a silence looms, so she looks up, “And…”

“And, if that is the argument in support of the Bible Code and in your hand you hold a notebook full of matrices found in
Moby
-
Dick
that qualifies as similar data, then how valid is the Bible Code at all, Agent Natan?”  Dr. Berk motions to the notebook. “As you can see, the section of
Moby
-
Dick
you’re looking at has a matrix which includes information about John F. Kennedy.”

“I see that,” she says.

“There are others as well,” a confident Dr. Berk replies.

“What others, Dr. Berk?”

“Agent Natan, there are a slew of other matrices in
Moby-Dick
revealing information about other prominent figure heads, leaders, et cetera.”

             
Natan looks down at the open notebook again.  “I see your point.  I had no idea.”

“I wish the proponents of the Code would open their eyes to this statistical coincidence so we could finally put this debate to rest.”

             
Natan flips through the notebook one last time.

Dr. Berk continues, “And this notebook only contains the codes found for
Moby-Dick
.”  He motions toward the bookshelf across the room.  “I have a completely full notebook on
War and Peace
as well, which contains matrices about research on various historical Rabbis.  Would you care to review it?”

“Was any other significant information found in the two books…anything especially current?”

“Current?”  Dr. Berk looks around. “No…not that I’m aware of.”

“Okay then, I think this will be sufficient,” Natan says matter-of-factly.

“Agent Natan…you don’t honestly believe that God left a code for us to find in the Bible, do you?”

“Dr. Berk, I don’t know if I even believe in God.”

“That sounds reasonable,” he says, smiling. “You know, there is a greater statistical probability that aliens exists than there is that God exists.”

“I didn’t know that,” she replies.

“It’s mathematics…and it seems that there’s your answer, Agent Natan.”  Natan stands, nods her head in thanks, and hands Dr. Berk the notebook.

“Would you mind photocopying a few of these pages so that I can take them with me?” she asks.

“Not at all,” he replies. “I’ll have my secretary, Allison, take care of that for you.”

“Thank you for your time, Dr. Berk.  I realize you’re a very busy man.”  Natan shakes Dr. Berk’s hand again and both of them maneuver toward the door.

“In this day and age, who would be crazy enough to turn down a request for help from the government?” he adds as a side note.

“Good point,” Natan replies, as she thinks of all of the undocumented wire tapping performed by the government of which she is a part.

“Agent Natan, please assure the N.S.A. that they’d have a better chance of finding Santa Claus than verifiable data that will prove the validity of the Bible Code…excluding their chances if they try Macy’s during the holiday season.”  Dr. Berk winks at Natan.  Natan smiles and offers a nod in agreement.

             
Dr. Berk continues, “Have a safe drive back.  And…please feel free to call me if you should have any additional questions.” 

Natan replies, over her shoulder, “Thank you…I will.”  She walks out of the office, in shock.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Inside the N.S.A. building Agent Knight waits, pacing back and forth.  Natan enters, approaches her desk, and puts her bag down, the photocopies peeking out of the side.

A stressed Knight rushes up to her. “Agent Natan.”

Natan’s voice is short. “Look, Knight, I know I’m late…I had an errand this morning…and…”

Knight interrupts her. “Baxter wants to see you in his office.”

             
Natan begins rubbing her forehead again. The pain escalating, she loses her cool. “Again?  What the hell did I do this time?” she asks.

Knight leans in and whispers, “Agent Natan…lower your voice.”  Knight looks around uncomfortably. 

Natan looks at Knight and then looks around.  Natan whispers, “What’s going on?  Is there a reason why we’re whispering?”

             
Knight pulls Natan closer, whispering, “Somethin’s going down, Natan.  He requested you an hour ago and you weren’t here.  I tried to cover for you…”

             
Natan turns to leave, interjecting, “Don’t worry about it.  I’ll handle it.”  She storms out.

Natan stands outside of Baxter’s door.  She takes a deep breath, then knocks extraordinarily hard.  “Come in,” Baxter replies.

             
Natan enters the office, greeting Baxter as he sits behind his desk.

“You wanted to see me, Sir.” Her voice is terse.

“Agent Natan.  So gracious of you arrive…”  Baxter’s words trail off as he looks down at his watch.  “…Whenever the hell you like.”

Natan’s face is
hard, her lips pursed for retaliation. “I had a personal matter to attend to this morning, Sir.  I called it in yesterday. 
Alice
should have a record of it.”

Ignoring her, Baxter flips through paperwork on his desk.  Natan continues as her agitation escalates, “Is there another reason for your tone…Sir?”

             
With that remark, Baxter gives Natan his undivided attention.  “Agent Natan, it’s come to my attention that you have continued having contact with Professor Sails even after I explicitly requested that you not.” 

             
Natan rubs her forehead again as she steps forward, unable to restrain herself. “Explicitly, Sir?  I believe your words were, ‘I suggest you not have contact.’
The word ‘suggest’
implies a suggestion.  An order would have been, ‘I order you’…Sir.”  Natan swallows hard after realizing what she’s said.

Baxter’s patience is tested. “Tread lightly, Agent Natan.”

Natan backs up. “I apologize, Sir.  I just don’t understand why the N.S.A. is having such an issue with this…with me.  Who is this professor, Sir?”

             
Baxter tries to speak, but Natan interrupts him.  “Well, I’ll tell you who he is to me…a man I didn’t even know until the N.S.A. i
ntroduced me to him through an
assignment.”

             
Natan rubs her forehead again, her face unable to hide the stress.

“Agent Natan, are you feeling all right?”

“I have a headache, Sir…is all.”

“Perhaps this isn’t the best time…but your recent behavior warrants this. I wanted you to know that I’ve recommended to the Advisory Committee that you be remanded to desk duty, pending further investigation into your actions of late.”

“Desk duty, Sir?” She feels a knot in her stomach.

“That’s right, Agent Natan.  And they’ve agreed.  The N.S.A. wants you in a more…observable position, until this matter is settled.”

Natan voice shields some of her anger. “The N.S.A.…or you, Sir?”

“This change is effective immediately.  That’ll be all, Agent Natan.”  Natan stands in silent shock.  “Please show yourself out, Agent.” A dazed Natan exits.

Inside the general N.S.A. offices, Agent Knight sits at his desk working on the

computer as Natan walks in, making her way to her desk.  She opens a drawer and retrieves some aspirin.  Knight notices her return and gets up to greet her. “Natan…what happened?”  Natan grabs her bag.  The photocopies are completely inside the bag now.

Natan puts her bag over her shoulder. “Well, it looks like wonders never cease there, champ.”

Knight looks confused, “What?”

“You were right about me being first to hit the desk…”

“What?” Knight doesn’t understand.

“I’ve been remanded to desk duty, effective…now.”

             
“What?!  Why??” he asks, upset.

“Any chance you made a killer cup of coffee today that Baxter sampled?”  A confused Knight stares silently at Natan.  She continues, “No?  Well, then, it has to be my tardiness.”  Natan starts to leave.

Knight stops her. “Wait.  Where’re you going?”

Natan replies over her shoulder. “I’m taking a sick day.”

“But…you’ve never taken a sick day,” he says.

“Yeah, well, I guess I finally caught some of Baxter’s crap that’s going around, huh?”  Natan walks out.  Knight is left standing with his mouth open.

Chapter Thirty

             
A pissed-off Natan walks down the corridor of
Maryland
University
toward Josh’s office with photocopies in hand.  She gets to his open office door and sees Josh sitting at his desk, grading papers.  Natan clears her throat.  Josh sees her and stands up, confused by her presence. “Agent Natan.  What…what are you doing here?”  Josh maneuvers around the desk and approaches Natan.  The two of them stand in the doorway.  “We…we’re not supposed to be seen
together…
” he says.  Natan hands Josh the photocopies.  “What’s this?” he asks, flipping through the pages.

Natan’s voice shakes in anger. “What kind of personal agenda have you pulled me into, Professor?”

Josh looks down at the pages. “
Moby-Dick
?  What is this?”

“It’s similar Codes that have been found in the book
Moby-Dick.
  Oh…
War and Peace
also
has codes…but I thought I’d seen enough.”  Josh looks shocked.  Natan continues, “What?  Like you didn’t know.” 

             
“Know what, Agent Natan…that there are opponents to the Bible Code?
             
Where did you get these?” he asks.

“From Dr. Simon Berk,” she retorts sharply.

“You saw Dr. Berk?  Why?”  Josh doesn’t wait for a reply, “You know that he is one of the leading opponents in the debate over the Bible Code.  I don’t know every oppositional view out there, but it’s hard to miss his.  You should have asked me before contacting him.  This could open a dialogue that…in protecting our confidentiality...we definitely don’t want opened.”

Natan is livid
.
 
“Should have asked you?  Why didn’t you tell me about these similar codes?”  

“I haven’t been focused on opposing views…” Josh says.

Natan cuts him off. “I could lose my job over…”  She points to the pages in his hand, “this, Professor…over some forged Bible Code matrix documents…used to further your own agenda.”

Josh is beside himself.  “Look, I’m sorry about your job, Agent Natan, truly.  But, the matrix documents I showed you are real.  I have no hidden agenda.  I’ve told you all of the relevant facts that have happened on our end.  I’m focusing on what’s happening with us.”