Alex Lukeman
Solomon's Gold
Dedicated to those who keep the barbarians from the gates
The PROJECT is an elite counter-terrorism/intelligence unit answering only to the President of the United States.
The Team
Elizabeth Harker: Director of the Project. Formerly part of the task force investigating 9/11 until sidelined for challenging the findings. Picked by the president to head up the Project for her independent thinking and sharp intelligence.
Nick Carter: Former major, USMC. The team leader in the field, with years of combat experience. Suffers from occasional PTSD and nightmares. He's got it more or less under control.
Selena Connor: Highly intelligent, a renowned linguist in ancient languages and expert in martial arts. Independently wealthy, the result of an inheritance. Introduced into Nick's violent world by accident, she is now a full fledged member of the Project team.
Lamont Cameron: Former Navy Seal, of Ethiopian descent. Expert in all things water related. His humorous attitude sometimes drives Elizabeth Harker to distraction. A tough cookie.
Ronnie Peete: Nick's oldest friend and a fellow RECON Marine. Expert with explosives, weapons and all things mechanical. A full blooded Navajo, Ronnie brings solidity and the wisdom of his culture to the team.
Stephanie Willits: Elizabeth Harker's deputy; computer guru. Stephanie maintains the Project's Cray computers. She can hack into any system as needed. Among other duties, she is responsible for the satellite communication network that keeps Harker up to speed and the team connected in the field.
And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
Map
Prologue
The High Priest of Israel bent over a low table, feverishly copying a disintegrating scroll by the flickering light of an oil filled lamp.
There wasn't much time.
The heavy pounding of battering rams vibrated through the stones under his feet. Nebuchadnezzar's army would soon be through the gates. Once inside the walls, horror would descend on the people of the city.
King Zedekiah had betrayed his oath to the Babylonian king, thinking the Egyptians would defeat him. That mistake would now cost him his kingdom, his family, his eyes, and the lives of almost everyone in the city.
The temple would be sacked, the sacred treasures looted, the women raped before they were slain. Those not killed by the savage soldiers of Babylon would be taken off into slavery.
There were some things that could not be saved, but others would never fall into the hands of the dark king. The elders had seen what was coming. The ark was hidden, deep below the temple. The great golden menorah had been spirited away, a clever replica left in its place. The High Priest's concern now was for the legacy of Solomon.
An officer wearing armor and a short sword stood nearby, waiting for the priest to finish. He was a dark, wide man, hardened by combat, in the prime of his strength. His legs were like tree trunks, his bare arms knotted with muscle.
The soldier said, "Is it ready, Teacher?"
"Yes."
The High Priest rolled up the sheet of parchment and tied a piece of cloth around it. Then he took an empty pot from a shelf by the table. He placed the scroll inside the pot and sealed it. He picked up the lamp and held a stick of beeswax over the mouth of the pot, watching the flame melt the wax down over the sealed opening. When he was satisfied, he set the lamp and wax aside.
The officer stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his short sword.
"You know where to take this?" the High Priest said.
"Yes, Teacher. You have told me many times."
"Be careful, the Edomites have risen against us. God will protect you, but you must leave now. Use the tunnel that goes under the east wall."
"Yes, Teacher," the soldier said again.
"Now," the priest said. "Do your duty."
"Teacher…"
"Daniel, my son. I am too old to escape and I must not be captured. I am weak, I will reveal where the King's treasure lies hidden. Babylon must not have it. You know I cannot take my own life. Do your duty."
Daniel knelt before his spiritual leader and grasped his feet.
"Forgive me, Teacher."
"You go with God's forgiveness and His blessing," the priest said.
The soldier stood.
"Do your duty," the High Priest said again.
Daniel drew his sword and drove it with a powerful blow into the aged priest's heart. The body toppled to the floor. Daniel sheathed the bloody sword and placed the pot in a leather satchel slung over his shoulder. He took a last look at the corpse of the man who had mentored him and headed for the secret tunnel that would take him under the walls and outside the city.
Hours later, Daniel looked back. Black smoke rose from the burning city. It seemed to him that he could hear the cries of the dying on the desert wind.
He turned and walked away, toward the rising sun.
CHAPTER 1
January sleet drove against the glass patio doors of Elizabeth Harker's office. Inside Project HQ, it was pleasant and warm. A large, orange tomcat lay on his back and snored loudly in front of a blazing gas fireplace set in a corner of the room.
Anyone looking in through the windows would have thought they were observing a quiet domestic scene at someone's home. The building looked like an ordinary Virginia ranch house. In fact, it was one of the crucial nerve centers in America's endless war against those who would destroy her.
Elizabeth had dressed for the weather, keeping to her favorite color scheme of black and white. She wore a white silk blouse with a high collar and a black, open front sweater. She'd chosen black wool slacks and ankle high black boots that added an inch or so to her short height. An emerald pin in an abstract shape was pinned over her left breast. It picked up the deep green of her cat-like eyes.
Elizabeth was a petite woman. Some people made the mistake of dismissing her because of her size. It was a mistake they didn't make twice. She had a razor-sharp mind and courage big enough for someone many times larger than she was.
She settled into her chair, ready to work. Work was what kept her going. She didn't like to admit it, but there wasn't much else happening in her life. Even her relationship with Clarence Hood was overshadowed by work. Hood was Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Elizabeth was Director of the Project, the President's secretive counter-terrorism unit.
At least she was for the moment. In another few days, President-elect Corrigan would be sworn in, and she'd have a new boss. She wasn't certain the new president would see the Project for what it was: a covert, effective weapon against America's enemies. The future of her unit was something much on her mind.
At the moment, there was something more immediate she needed to deal with. It concerned two key members of her team, sitting on the couch across from her.
Nick Carter had the look of a professional warrior about him, from the hard appearance of a man who kept himself in shape, to a haircut that barely exceeded the military maximum. His face was square cut and serious looking. He wasn't what anyone would call handsome, but he didn't need to be. The lower part of his left ear was missing, where a bullet had clipped the earlobe. A loose, gray sport jacket concealed the pistol he carried in his shoulder holster. His eyes were smoky gray, flecked with bits of gold. Nick's eyes had seen things that would send most people screaming into the night. They reminded Elizabeth of the eyes of a wolf.