The Seventh Seal by Vincent Zandri

Author:Vincent Zandri [Zandri, Vincent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bear Pulp
Published: 2016-09-22T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Magda prepares a feast of cheese omelets with fresh tomatoes, olives, and hummus on the side. We wash everything down with cold liter bottles of Gold Star beer. By the time lunch is over, we’re feeling no pain and Moshe is sleeping soundly inside the far end bedroom. Itzy has joined his brother and is currently praying over him.

After clearing the dishes, Magda serves us coffee and we sit around the table in silence that isn’t quite silent, but more like a prelude to the questions I know are about to be lodged by the man who saved Moshe’s leg.

“Okay,” James says, “who wants to go first? What’s really going on here?”

“It’s like I told you,” Magda says, sipping her coffee. “We’re looking for some lost antique books.”

“Antique books,” James says, staring into his coffee. “If it were that simple, you wouldn’t be getting shot at. Nor would you be traveling with a band of Uzi-carrying Hasidic Jews.”

I nod, take a long drink of my coffee. It was prepared in a Turkish coffee press, and it’s very strong.

I say, “I think what you’re looking for is the significance the books pose and why men are willing to shoot to kill for them?”

“You’ve got my attention, Chase,” James says.

“According to my employer, the books, or codices, are the most important find since the Dead Sea Scrolls and offer up a contemporary account of Jesus’ life. A first person, reliable witness account.”

“But that’s not why your employer, whoever he is, is willing to place you in danger in order to find them.” James gets up, grabs the whiskey bottle, comes back to the table, pours a generous shot into each of our coffees. “Makes the coffee taste better,” he adds. “Tough to get good coffee beans in Jerusalem. Especially in the West Bank.”

“I didn’t know any better,” Magda says, “I’d say you’re trying to loosen up our lips, old friend.”

“Right you are,” James says. “So, what is it your employer really wants and why are you two willing to risk your necks for it?”

“Why do you ask?” I say more than a hint of suspicion in my voice. Chase the untrusting? Maybe. But in cases like this, even when a seemingly good Samaritan like James is helping you out with a dire situation like Moshe’s, it’s best to trust your built-in shit detector. And thus far, this mission to find seven little metal books has proven to be just a hint more complicated than it appeared to be on paper. Okay, a hell of a lot more complicated . . . and dangerous.

“Chase,” Magda says. “James is just concerned.”

“Actually,” James says, “now that you mention it, Mag, I’m more than concerned. I watched you grow up to become a beautiful, intelligent young woman, and I wouldn’t want you getting sucked into something that could potentially get you killed.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “That’s about as plain as I can put it.”

I drink some of the coffee. He’s right, it tastes better with the whiskey.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.