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Chapter Nine
 BLACK BOX? MASTERPIECE
 "Those things took me again. Why does God allow it?:
Dan wiped away the small trickle of blood from behind his ear. "They put in another
implant, but this time I remember everything."
"Perhaps that is why God allowed it. How else will we
know what they are up to?" Phil sat next to him as Laura went to get him something to
eat.
"Were you on a ship?"
Dan ran over the memories in his mind. "Yes. I believe
time passes differently inside their ships. You say I've been gone again for a whole day,
but to me it was only an hour or less."
"Did they say anything? Do you have any idea what they
want?""
Laura entered the room with a steaming bowl of Atlantean
food. They had taken over Eri and Uza's house with no argument from anyone and Dan was
once again in the room assigned to him so many thousands of years before.
"Yes. Tell us what they said," Laura said as she
handed Dan the food.
"They talked, if you can call it that, about a black
box and a masterpiece that they expect us to recover for them."
Laura looked puzzled. "What black box? What
masterpiece?" She leaned over and picked up RC. "Phil, didn't you mention a
black box when you told us about that lecture on Egypt and the pre-Adamite
civilization?"
"Kinda far out to think that's the same black box
these little creeps are talking about." Dan gingerly rubbed his sore ear.
"And what about this implant? Can we get it out?"
Phil looked at the triangle shaped wound behind Dan's ear.
"Unless it's causing you pain, maybe it's best left where it is. If this one turns up
missing they may get suspicious and try to take you again. If they do try again just ward
them off in the name of Jesus the same as you would a demon. In a way they are demonic.
Who knows how many ranks of good and bad characters are in the universe physical and
spiritual? More than we could ever imagine, probably."
"What a horrible thought," Laura grimaced.
"In Christ we are more than conquerors," Phil
grinned back at her.
"Phil, the preacher boy," Dan laughed then
grimaced. "The ear aches some but you're probably right. Let the ugly little monsters
think they have the upper hand for now. Wish I could get my hands around those scrawny
necks of theirs just once, though."
"Sounds like a plan," Laura giggled. "So now
what do we do?"
They all started as they heard a loud thud at the front
door. Then they heard the door swish open and they all hurried to see who it could be.
"Who are you?" Laura said, her blue eyes wide
with wonder, as she stared at the military clothes.
"You must be the Americans Salamas told me
about." Jeremiah smiled as he stared back at the trio before him dressed in the
casual clothes of modern America.
***
"Who are you?" Dan asked still chewing on a piece
of food.
Laura gaped at his emaciated appearance, khaki clothes and
heavy army boots. There is something about his eyes. He must be very young, but his eyes
are old, so very old. "Where are you from?" she asked gently.
"You must be from out time," Phil added.
"You are the Americans! You are the ones Salamas told
me about. My name is Jeremiah." He stuck out his hand in the American style greeting
and pumped their hands in turn saying "Shalom," to each as he did.
"Jeremiah," Dan mused. "I like the name. I
can tell by your accent that you're not from the U.S. So where are you from anyway?"
"Jerusalem. I live in the old section. I am a member
of the Hagannah." Jeremiah looked them over curiously. "Your clothes are a
little different, especially your shoes. I have never seen anything like them. Are they a
new style in America?"
"I thought everyone in the world wore shoes like this
now. These name brands are known world wide." Dan looked puzzled. "Come to think
of it, we don't see much khaki styles like you have on anymore. What year are you
from?"
"It is 1948, of course."
"1948!" Laura exclaimed. "Before or after
Israel is declared an independent state?"
"We do become a nation?" Jeremiah's face glowed
with excitement, then he, too, looked puzzled. "So what year is it where you come
from?"
"We're past the millennium. I don't think you need to
know more." Phil gaped at Jeremiah in wonder. "the plot thickens. what can God's
purpose be for all this?"
"And Salamas. We wondered what had become of
him."
"Because of Lucifer, Salamas must stay undercover like
a secret agent from our own time. Even he does not know what the purpose of our visit is.
It is his job to protect us, but he has revealed some other things that were of much
interest."
"We want to hear all about it, but first you must make
yourself comfortable and have something to eat," Laura insisted as she led them to
the kitchen.
"Let me do the cooking. I'm a pretty fair cook. Did
most of the cooking at home. Betty couldn't even boil water without burning it." Dan
busied himself preparing Jeremiah an Atlantean dish Usa and Eri had shown him as they
listened to Jeremiah describe the time marker, the Sphinx and all that he had seen and
heard with Salamas.
***
"Salamas said we all must go to a cave at the base of
the mountain for our next step. Do you know what he meant by that?" Jeremiah
held RC who purred contentedly. He hurried after the others as they pointed out sights in
the ancient city.
"I hope you're a good runner," Dan grumbled.
"Once we leave the protective bounds of the city we're nothing but meat for the
beasts that live out there. There's a pretty good space between that force field and the
cave; and that first step in the cave is a dilly." Dan rubbed his ear as he took the
lead toward the city gate.
***
Out of breath they all peered back at ravenous birds and
pterodactyls feasting on what was left of a huge dinosaur. The cave entrance kept them out
of sight.
"Oy, I never expected to see such a sight. We must be
millions of hears back in time for such creatures to be existing."
"God must have a purpose in all this," Phil
mumbled to himself as he stared at the sight in disgust.
"I am wanting to know that as well. Are you all
Jewish?"
"Christians," Laura answered as she shuddered
watching the creatures glut themselves. "Watch your step in here," she added as
Jeremiah moved into the cave. "There's one step in here that will take your breath
away,...literally."
They all moved cautiously into the cave's interior.
Suddenly the scene changed.
"Where are we, anyway? For that matter, when are we?
Nothing looks right." Dan stood amidst a pile of rocks and made a complete circle
peering in every direction for anything that might look familiar. The others did the same.
Only grass, rocks and a few trees met their gaze. There were no mountains.
"How come we didn't fall down a hole this time?"
Phil said as he continued searching the area.
"Look!" Laura screamed and pointed. It looks like
a T-Rex and it's heading right for us!"
"Head for that pile of rocks over there. Come on,
run!" Jeremiah pushed Laura and Phil into motion as RC whined in fear.
Dan helped him. "You heard the man! Go!" He
pulled Laura into a run from where she had frozen in place.
Phil grabbed her other hand and they ran for the cover of
rocks with Jeremiah still holding a terrified RC, running close behind them.
The T-Rex closed the distance between them with mile-eating
strides. The Earth shook with each step of his great clawed feet. They could hear his
breath coming in great gusts as he ran.
They found a hole amidst some rocks, too small to call a
cave, but big enough for them to wedge themselves into.
The T-Rex stopped and roared. The deafening sound sent
shudders down their spines. He tried to reach into their stone enclosure. They could feel
and smell ;his hot fetid breath as they stared into the razor sharp teeth. He gnashed them
together with great cracks of sound as he groped into their crevasse with his small
forelimbs. One claw pinned Laura's leg. She screamed in pain and terror.
Phil began quoting the 91st Psalm. Jeremiah joined with him
as they all tried to dislodge the claw.
"Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge,
even the Most High, your habitation; there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any
plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you..."
Dan picked up a sharp edged rock and beat at the toe and
claw with all his strength, but the hide was too tough.
Suddenly the claw withdrew. They heard a great roar. This
time it sounded like a roar of pain. RC shrieked and jumped out of Jeremiah's arms and
cowered with his little hands over his eyes in a corner.
Dan ventured forward enough to peek out to see what
happened. "It's Salamas! He's killed it!"
The others inched forward to see, including RC.
Laura was sobbing with pain and blood dripped from her
wounded leg. Phil picked her up and carried her as they ventured out to meet
Salamas.
Salamas took Laura from Phil and sat her on a rock then
gently touched her leg. The bleeding stopped and the wound visibly closed.
"A miracle!" Phil breathed.
Jeremiah nodded. "God still does miracles. If only He
had done the same for my people in the camps, but it is not for us to question God,
nu?"
Dan clumsily patted Jeremiah on the back. "From what
Phil has told us, the Jews will someday have a wonderful future that is to last forever.
All those that have persecuted you guys through the years will be kissing your behinds.
Ha!"
Phil cleared his throat and began to speak.
"In 1948 you are privileged to be part of the most
momentous fulfillment of prophecy to date. The Jews will start returning to their own
country. All great events seem to be preceded by great birth pangs or sorrows. But, hey,
Dan is right. Your persecutors will one day be kissing your behinds."
Other carnivores had gathered around the fallen monster
busily gorging themselves with loud tearing sounds. The sight, sound and smell sickened
the group.
Noting their discomfort, Salamas said, "Come, we'll go
to a better place."
"You are truly an answer to prayer," Phil said as
he pointed at Laura's leg. "Thank-you, Lord."
"Amen to that," Dan agreed. "He sent Salamas
the dragon slayer."
"Yes, omain, omain. God is good," Jeremiah said
as he followed the huge angel.
"It's my job to protect those who belong to the Most
High. There is only one other beside yourselves in this time. He will soon go into hiding
beneath the great statue."
Laura touched her leg. "He is a good God, better than
we deserve," she whispered, her glittering with unshed tears.
"Praise to the King of the Universe!" Salamas
lifted his arms toward Heaven in salute. Then he turned toward them as he neared a rocky
ridge.
"You are not in a different time, but in a different
place this trip. The angels who follow Lucifer are unrestrained as well as the population.
These people used to revere their children. Now they give them in sacrifice to gods of
stone and wood. They do the same to their beautiful young men and women. Lucifer
encourages intercourse between those of different planets. This adds to their destruction
for the Most High has expressly forbidden this. Babies that do not meet the criteria of
Lucifer are destroyed. He wants a super race so he can defeat God. He even has shown the
scientists among the people how to make copies of people. He takes what God has created
and perverts it."
"Clones!" Dan, Phil and Laura gasped.
"What about clones?" Phil asked. "Are they
really perfect copies?"
"They are physical copies with a soul and no spirit.
What God does not create he is not obligated to fill with spirit, that part that is aware
of God and lives forever. They are totally devoid of conscience and incapable of love.
They are dammed from the beginning."
Changing the subject, Salamas said, "Come. You must
see the other side of the ridge. I have a map that you must memorize, but first there's
something you must see." He strode toward the ridge.
They ran to keep up. The ridge overlooked a lush valley.
There was a river running through it. Salamas said nothing more. He just pointed.
There was a flurry of activity in the valley below.
Atlanteans, grays, reptilians and others they could not identify used lasers to cut a hole
in the rocky ground. Even from their distance they easily saw how large and deep the hole
was.
"What are they doing?" Dan asked.
"They're going to hide something. Watch
carefully!"
A herd of great lizard creatures milled near the excavation
site, but the Atlanteans guarding the perimeter discouraged any from getting closer with
the red rays from their weapons. The creatures soon lost interest and headed for the river
nearby to find easier prey.
One Atlantean brought a small black box to the edge of the
opening. The grays, being small and agile, took it from him and disappeared into the
opening.
"The black box! That's what those grays were talking
about on the ship," Dan exclaimed.
"This isn't the same part of Atlantis where we have
been so where are we?" Phil asked.
"This is the western kingdom known as Poseidon. The
east and west war with each other. Under the time marker in Atlantis there is another
black box with similar information. Even the rebel angels do not know all that is in it.
Michael saw to that."
"What is so important about these black boxes?"
Phil asked.
"It has to do with the masterpiece."
Dan asked the question they all wanted the answer to.
"What is the masterpiece?"
"It is important that all of you discover this for
yourselves. Watch closely." Salamas pointed again.
Soon the group below them floated a huge stone into place
to cover the opening to the hole.
"Nothing looks familiar here," Laura pointed out.
"How ill we ever find it again?"
Phil nodded "She's right. Where is this place?"
A small globe appeared in Salamas' hand. "You are
here," he said pointing to a spot on the globe.
Jeremiah studied it closely. He knew a little about reading
maps. He figured the latitude, longitude and minutes and told them to his new friends.
Salamas helped him read the symbols.
"You must all memorize what you have seen,"
salamas told them.
"It would help to know what is on the other side of
the planet," Phil said. "Then we could use a computer to find the exact
location.
"the other side of the planet? Jeremiah called it
Egypt."
"Egypt! Phil exclaimed. He felt goose bumps as he
realized the implications.
"This is getting heavy," Dan said as he studied
the globe again. It was so different from the Earth of his century. There was only one
small sea and the rest was a gigantic land mass.
"Look!" Salamas pointed to the sky.
They all followed his pointing finger. A bright light they had never noticed before loomed
like an evil omen in the sky.
"What is it?" Laura asked as she shielded her
eyes along with the others.
"It is a large meteor the size of a mountain. It will
hit the earth in two days and destroy all life. some of the population has burrowed in
deep caverns. Others are attempting to leave in ships, but the Most High will not allow
them to carry their evil to other systems. All will be destroyed. Some who burrow
underground may survive, but they will become trapped. They will never reach the surface
again. Lucifer and his followers have been given chance after chance to repent and change
their ways, but they have refused. The Most High has judged and this is the punishment.
The Earth will remain empty for many millennia. No=one
knows how long, then the Earth you know will be recreated.
You must leave soon. There are things within your own Earth
span that you must observe. You will come to understand your own legends and their
sources."
"So our scientists were right about the earth being
destroyed and stuff. They were wrong about us being descendents of this first
civilization, though. "Dan commented.
"Paleontologists have found fossils of animals and
dinosaurs but not of people," Phil commented. "Why is that?"
"They either left in ships and were destroyed in space
or went so far underground they could never return to the surface in physical form. They
become the demons that plague your people in your time. Some died on the surface. Their
bones have just not been found yet," Salamas told them.
A familiar deep humming sound caught their attention. A
huge saucer shaped ship appeared over the group in the valley. A wide white beam engulfed
them. The Atlanteans and their helpers disappeared.
"Wow! Beam me up, Scotty!" Dan exclaimed.
"That's like the beam that took me up. It sucks all the air out of a guy. How do they
do that Salamas?"
"Yeah, how do they do that?" Phil and Laura
echoed.
Jeremiah remained silent, his lips moving as if praying.
"Salamas?"
Salamas had disappeared.
"Not again. Why does he always do that? Can't he ever
at least say good=bye?' Phil heaved a big sigh of frustration.
"So now what do we do?" Laura murmured searching
the area with her eyes.
Dan studied a large rock behind them. "Is this rock
behind us rippling or am I seeing things?" he asked.
"It's rippling?" Laura stuck her hand through it.
"It must be our gateway."
"Maybe we'll get to go home now," Dan said.
"Not according to what salamas said," Laura
piped, "but at least we'll be on our Earth."
"Oy, God, did you hear that? I am trusting you,
now." Jeremiah said as he grabbed RC and disappeared through the ripple with the
others.
Chapter 10
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