Part 15 (1/2)

”Trouble is,” Rachel interjected, ”the Dome of the Rock, an especially important mosque, already occupies that site.”

”Any reason that both the mosque and the temple couldn't fit up there?” I asked.

They all looked at me in silence.

”The problem,” Rachel finally said, ”is that the two religions both claim t.i.tle to the entire rock.”

”That's right,” Joseph added. ”And many believe an attempt to rebuild the temple would signal the onset of Armageddon and the whole end-times drama would be played out, including the coming of the Messiah figures. For our tradition, it would be the Twelfth Imam who would return.”

He glanced at Rachel. ”You might argue that it would be the return of the Christ.”

”Wait a minute,” Coleman remarked. ”So you're saying that these events- Jews returning to the Holy Land and the rebuilding of David's temple in Jerusalem-are the primary events in prophecy that would signal the beginning of Armageddon?”

”I would add one more from the Arab side,” Joseph said. ”One of our prophets said the end times are near when there is chaos and incivility building in society, and a general dishonoring of all people. It is a time when the truth is disregarded for more convenient lies.”

”You mean runaway ideology?” Coleman remarked.

Joseph nodded. ”Yes.”

I perked up. The energy of this conversation had begun to feel numinous, and I knew it was happening for a reason.

”There is also another event,” Rachel interjected, ”that many believe will occur as the end times approach. In Christianity it is called the Rapture, but other traditions have a similar idea as well. It's the notion that as the Messiah figure begins to come to Earth and Armageddon begins, the true believers' bodies will be lifted into spirit and they will meet the coming G.o.d figure in Heaven, where they will be protected.”

She looked at Joseph.

”Yes, that's right,” Joseph said. ”In our religion, it is thought that as the Twelfth Imam approaches, our true believers will be taken to the side in spirit and also protected.”

Coleman looked around at each of us. ”This is amazing. I've never put this together before. All the major religions do have almost the same structure for the end times, just with different names.”

Our discussion was interrupted as Adjar turned off the main road onto a b.u.mpy gravel track that left a plume of dust swirling up behind us in the fading light. Within minutes, we were stopping at a place where the road widened into a turnaround and proceeded no farther.

”This is where Love of Mountain said to meet,” Joseph said.

We waited another ten minutes before we saw the muted headlights of a vehicle approaching.

”That's Love of Mountain's Subaru,” Rachel commented.

Seconds behind them came the Volvo. When everyone was out and ready, Tommy prepared us for the route ahead, telling us the first mile would be relatively flat desert, but the second would be very mountainous and would take us up the southeastern side of Mount Sinai. His mother suggested we hike in for a short distance under the cover of darkness, and then sleep before attempting to move up the mountain.

”What about the Egyptian guards you mentioned?” I asked.

”We will come to a guard station,” she replied. ”Before we can go past it we must open our perception and learn from those in spirit.”

Without saying anything else, Tommy and his mother set a rapid pace through the desert. Eventually, we came to an area where the terrain inclined upward and we began to see enormous boulders dotting the landscape. After another hundred yards, we came to a group of the big rocks circled together. Tommy led us through the maze until we came to an open, sandy area completely surrounded by the rocks.

”We can camp here,” he said.

Rachel and I pitched our tents beside each other, and I could see Tommy was intentionally laying out the tent he shared with his mother beside Rachel's as well.

When the tents were up, I built a small fire from the dead limbs of some scrub bushes that grew around the edges of the boulders, realizing as I did so that the circle of huge rocks was reflecting back at us in the light of the moon, creating what felt like a curtain of security.

Rachel seemed to be looking out at them as well and glanced at me as she took out a small cooker and began making freeze-dried stew near the fire. I sat down beside her.

”You know,” she said, ”Native Americans never camp somewhere unless it has high energy. I talked to Tommy's mother, and of all the mountains she has visited, the Sinai group are her favorites.”

Rachel shot me a smile. ”She said they are the easiest to light up.”

The next day, I was first to awaken. As I climbed out of the tent, only a partial light was appearing in the east. Gathering up some more wood, I stoked the fire and sat down. Traces of red sunlight began to highlight the swirls of clouds overhead.

Tommy's mother came out of her tent, walking around as though she was looking for something. She left the circle of rocks and was gone a long time before returning. Several other people were now out of their tents as well.

She finally walked over to me and asked, ”Have you seen Tommy? He left sometime during the night.”

”What?” I said, jumping up.

She waved her hand as if to calm me down.

”Don't worry. He's done this before. We've been here many times and he knows the area well, so unless you sense something different, I think it is best to just wait for him to return.”

I tried to tune in, but I couldn't really concentrate. I didn't know how she could be so calm. We had just been warned that the Apocalyptics were still looking for us, and anything could happen out there. She left to tell the others as Rachel walked up and sat beside me.

”What's going on?” Rachel asked.

I told her that Tommy had left.

”By himself? Shouldn't we go looking for him?”

”His mother doesn't seem that worried. She wants to wait and see if he will return.”

Rachel nodded and sat down, and our gazes met. There was no reluctance on my part, and we held the stare until we both smiled. Suddenly, I saw an image of Tommy in my mind's eye. He was higher up in the mountains ... and I was with him!

The vision was clearly an intuition, and I looked back at Rachel, who was now deep in thought herself, appearing slightly sad.

”I think I should go look for Tommy,” I said. ”What about you?”

She shook her head, still looking away. ”I have to stay here.”

I gathered my pack, and Rachel walked over to her tent and returned with a feather.

”This is a feather guide that Wolf gave me,” she said. ”He joked that it was useful to bring two spirits back together, and that I would know what to do with it when the time came.”

She handed the feather to me, and I took it and smiled, then turned to go.

”Before you leave, I want to tell you something,” she said. ”Don't forget where we are in the Integrations. We have to open our perception as quickly as we can.” There was still a hint of sadness.

”I saw you tuning in just now,” I said. ”Did you see something?”

A tear was rolling down her cheek, but she shook it off and put on a happy expression.

”Don't worry, I'll see you when you get back. The feather will see to that.”