CHAPTER 103
AFTER STAYING for hours in her office, studying the photographs belonging to Gregory's recording, and reading the manuscript of discord over and over, Antonia tried to check that everything was in order before retiring.
Upon reaching Sephy's room, she bid her goodnight from the doorway, but the young woman didn't respond, pretending to be asleep. So the cryptographer went to rest, after stopping by the bathroom to brush her teeth. She turned off the hallway light, and shadows fell over the apartment. The sound of a door slowly closing brought an end to a long day of work.
Minutes later, Sephy got out of bed, carefully keeping quiet, and closed his bedroom door. He slid into the closet where he kept his suitcase. He unzipped it and pulled out a tiny plasma screen, the size of a cigarette box. He then flipped the switch, inserting a plug that connected to headphones. Instantly, an image of Antonia stripping naked in his bedroom, revealing all her splendor, appeared on the screen. It was all he needed.
Taking advantage of her hostess's absence all afternoon, she had installed a spy camera in a fake book resting among several dozen esoteric texts lined up on the shelves along the wall. Out of curiosity, she had taken a risk beyond her means, but she was certain it would be worth it. She simply had to expand the information she had so far to determine what Gregory Evans and his friends were really looking for. Her intuition told her she was close to a major discovery.
He observed the image carefully when he noticed a strange attitude in Antônia's behavior, who, instead of putting on her pajamas, opened the door to her room again.
Sephy waited for her reaction, since if she decided to return with some excuse, she would have to quickly disconnect the monitor and return to bed. However, Antonia only confirmed that there was no one in the hallway and quickly closed the door again.
After confirming that all was silent, the doctor picked up her cell phone and sat at the foot of the bed. She dialed a number from memory, while scribbling a drawing on a magazine on the table while waiting on the line.
The conversation — or rather, the monologue, since he couldn't hear the person on the other end of the line — was followed with interest by Sephy. A rather curious detail caught his attention: the person was speaking in English.
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— Sir...? Hijarrubia was right: the Toledo manuscript hides a great secret, an impenetrable mystery that could endanger our civilization. I have photographs that prove it... Don't worry, I'm alone. I left that idiot lawyer at home. We can talk... Yes, I think I know what we're looking for... Sir, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. It could be as shocking as the discovery of nuclear energy... yes... yes... I'll take responsibility, don't worry... It will be done as you say... Okay... but if you'll allow me, sir, I advise you to mobilize the NSA guys. We're possibly talking about the most powerful artifact in the world, capable of establishing direct communication with God... Yes, I'm in my right mind...! Sir, according to the still-scrambled data I have, it could be the Ark of the Covenant... Yes, I know it's hard to accept something like that! — It will always be better for us to risk exposing ourselves to ridicule than, if it is true, to let it fall into the wrong hands... No, we do not yet know the exact location, but we have several reliable clues... Yes... Yes... Without a doubt... I agree, so it will be done... Good evening, sir.
After the conversation, Antonia put the phone away in the bedside table drawer, lifted the sheets and got into bed after turning off the light.
Sephy continued to stare at the monitor like an idiot, not quite believing what she had just heard. The truth is, she had no words to describe the excitement she felt upon learning that the most important relic in the Jewish community, the Ark of the Covenant, was more than just a legend. She had heard enough about it, which was why she was aware of the biblical warnings about the dangers of getting too close to it. It was so lethal that simply touching it could end a man's life.
An intense interest took hold of her as she thought of the fortune at stake. Any world power would be willing to pay a high price just to study the Ark's contents. Indeed, it was no coincidence that Antonia mentioned this fact in her conversation with the US national security personnel, tasked with obtaining information transmitted through any means of communication in the world. This meant that the US government had a strong interest in the object in question and that its purpose was to seize it before any other country. This, she thought, would complicate her task.
Nevertheless, and unable to avoid a smile of satisfaction, she swore to herself that she would be the only one to reach the Ark... or she would die trying!