Exodus by J.F. Penn Page B

“Everyone wants the gold cherubim on top, even though biblical scholars theorize that the description is from Egyptian priestly objects. It’s unlikely that cherubim would have even been on the Ark in which Moses carried the tablets of the Law.”  
    Isac traced dark carvings on the surface of the drum. “I have read that the Ark may be the same as the biblical ephod, a word that was never really translated. But it perhaps refers to a drum, carried by the high priest using chains that would leave the hands free for playing.”
    Natasha nodded, quoting a biblical passage she had read in the notebooks, “And Miriam, the sister of Aaron, played a tambour, or type of drum, in celebration after Pharaoh’s forces were drowned in the waters. Perhaps it could refer to this type of instrument?”
    Isac shook his head. “But this is not an Ark that we can take to Jerusalem. That needs to be a figurehead object, one that people will follow into battle. This is just not inspiring enough.”
    Natasha sighed. “All this way for nothing. It looks like you can keep…” As she turned, she realized that Matthew had gone. “The little shit.”
    “Stay here.” Isac pulled himself quickly up into the tiny passageway and Natasha heard him scrambling as he hurried after their guide. Then there was silence.  
    Natasha sat down in front of the ngoma and calmed her breath, concentrating on the whorls in the dark wood and the movement of air over the back of her throat. She could lower her heart rate incredibly fast with this method and sit still for hours. This discipline of her body was something she had mastered when young and still relied on when she felt out of control. Somehow it slowed time and gave her clarity in the maelstrom.  
    A thought came to her as she sat waiting. She needed Isac. He was her only true friend, but could even he get them out of the cave’s labyrinth? If not, the guardians of the ngoma would find them and they would be subject to some kind of justice. They could buy the tribe off, so she had no fear they would die here, but the timing wasn’t good. She would anger al-Hirbaa if she didn’t make it to Jerusalem in time, and being hunted by extremists out for revenge was not something she wanted. They needed to get out of here fast.  
    She heard a scrabbling behind her and Isac dropped into the cave.  
    “I followed a few tunnels back but he’s gone. I’m sure he’ll just take the money and run. Sensible kid.”
    Natasha stood, stretching her limbs from the floor. “We must be getting old, my brother, to let such a boy escape.”
    Isac shrugged. “No matter. He deserves the money for tricking us.”
    “But now we’re stuck here and we have a tight deadline to meet. I don’t want to hang about waiting for the Lemba priests to find us.”  
    “Have I ever let you down?”
    Natasha paused, thinking. “Never,” she said.
    Isac gave a little bow, as a servant to his mistress. “Then step this way because I marked the tunnels so we could find the way out. You taught me never to trust anyone … but you have been a little distracted of late.”
    Natasha was overwhelmed with gratitude for his forward thinking and his dedication to her. She even felt a prick of tears behind her eyes, which startled her. These emotions weren’t something she usually experienced so she shut them down, quickly regaining control.  
    “You’re worth every penny I pay you, Isac. Lead on.”  
    At her harsh words, she saw the light die a little in his eyes but Natasha pushed her own feelings aside. He was her protection, nothing more. Isac turned and climbed back into the tunnel, helping her up after him. Using his marks, they navigated their way back through the tunnels.  
    Eventually they made it back to the Jeep, where the back-seat lay empty of the money, as expected.  
    The moon was still high as they drove north towards Nairobi airport, and Natasha willed herself quickly to Egypt. There she would sacrifice and