Part 51:
The Previous Evening.
Nep will have none of it. He waves his hands to stop Mephis’s dance, repeating all of his words three times in quick succession, so “All right, all right, all right,” comes out, “Alrighalrighalrigh,” and “Come on, come on, come on,” is transformed into a hands-down, no-bullshit “C’mahnc’mahnc’mahn.” Mephis focuses on Beurocraticus, who continues, “What do you mean, ‘prepared for?’”
Mephis grins awkwardly, like this is the first time he’s ever made such a facial gesture. “A new age! A new religion!” He looks around suspiciously. The Spot is filled to every corner with all manner of secret agent and hipster scum hoping for a tidbit. We are being largely ignored, or at least overpowered by Faith No More on the juke box, Mephis whispers, “SpectraCom Holdings Incorporated purchased a sacred artifact discovered recently in a Temple in south Iraq.” He narrows his eyes and adds, “Supposedly the location was on the Copper Scroll of Qumran.”
Nepotism nods. “There’s been an Essene community in Iraq for thousands of years.” He looks over at me, nodding his head. “It was in the book I lent you, the one about the Templars and the Assassins. You know which one I’m talking about.” He’s not asking a question.
“No,” I answer.
“The one that broke down the social structure of the two orders and showed their similarities. There’s an Essene community out there. They maintained contact with the Hashshashashin until recent times. Remember that? From Southern Iraq.”
“I didn’t read it.”
“Well,” Mephis says sharply. “The priests opened fire when a patrol entered the town.”
“Could they possibly have been protecting their land from heretical invaders?” I ask.
Nepotism sips his beer.
“The natives were most assuredly Christian,” Mephis says.
Nepotism agrees. “A good portion of Iraq is Christian,” he says. “They don’t tell you that part when they talk about dead civilians. The streets of Jerusalem ran ankle-deep in blood during the first Crusade." He wags a finger in the air. "Half the people they killed were the Christians and Jews the Crusaders came to rescue! Some people think the Essenes at Qumran evolved into the first Christians. It was in that book.”
“I didn’t read the goddamn book!” I shout, turning a few heads.
“Anyway,” Mephis says, irritation in his voice.“It’s going to be revealed during a private event tomorrow night in Metro City.” He grins. “You’ll be there interviewing a famous trilobite collector.”
I finish my beer. “We can’t go to Metro City.” Nep holds out his hands to calm me, but I’m incensed. “We’re not allowed in Metro City!”
“Do police wait at every border to turn you back?” Mephis asks. “There will be food, dancing, and music.”
“We can’t do this,” I repeat. “It’s not possible.”
Mephis falters in faked frustration. “Mr. Solomon specified he would like to be interviewed by you.”
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