Jack went mute for a moment and then said, ‘It’s pretty far fetched, but it would explain a number of things. Remember the commentary Eli had found which warned people against the “Dark Ones”?’ We are still not sure what that means.

He seemed to be deep in thought.

‘What are you thinking Jack?’ she asked.

‘I think we haven’t yet met our fiercest enemies.’

Chapter 26

December 18th, 2004. Hildersham

Wearing warm overcoats borrowed from the Bamarts, Jack and Mina walked on the icy pavement to the church to look at it one last time. It was late morning and the sky seemed vast and empty. Mina felt as if she were on a pilgrimage to a desecrated relic. They sat in the church, on the front pew, side by side.

‘So that’s it, Mina. We should make tracks.’

Mina didn’t seem to have heard what he’d just said.

‘It’s amazing to think that the tablet was here since the 18th century, and no-one ever thought of looking,’ she said, pondering out loud.

‘Clearly, our not-so-mysterious enemies did think about it!’

‘What do you mean by not-so-mysterious?’ asked Mina, suddenly more attentive.

‘I acted on your hunch last night. I called Shobai.’

‘And?’

‘The phone line was disconnected, so I asked my contact in London to pass by Shobai’s house.’

‘And?’

‘He was gone, as was all his furniture. He moved out, without leaving a trace.’

‘So you think he was behind it all?’ asked Mina.

‘Possibly. He had the knowledge and the means to plan it and carry it out.’

‘I don’t know. He was strange of course… the way he avoided some of my questions.’

‘I’m sure he knew much more than he let on.’

‘That’s possible, I suppose, but I still find it difficult to see him as our Nemesis,’ said Mina.

‘If he is, I wonder how long he’s been after the tablet.’

‘Well, if you’re right about him, since around the 16th century,’ Mina exclaimed. ‘And that means Shobai is the descendent of the man whose name was crossed out so many times in the rabbi’s chronicle,’ she added in disbelief.

Jack didn’t reply.

‘Can you imagine how fanatical Shobai would have had to be to relentlessly pursue and destroy all records of the tablet, and with such ruthlessness?’ said Mina.

‘Yes, I can,’ said Jack, very seriously.

‘Well I can’t picture it. Call me naive, but he may have left his house in a hurry because he was terrified by the very people who are after us.’

Jack kept his thoughts to himself. They walked out of the church, across the yard and past a barren mulberry tree. Mina reflected she would never be there to taste its fruit. She would probably return to New York and get her life back together. They walked down the street heading back to Mulberry Cottage. As they crossed a small bridge, Mina stopped to look at a local area map stuck onto a wooden notice board. It had started to rain and dark clouds were gathering in the sky.

‘Come on Mina,’ said Jack, ‘we should get going. The weather’s changing.’

‘Just a second,’ she replied.

Jack watched Mina, standing in the middle of the road, thoughtful and completely oblivious to the rain. She suddenly started running to Mulberry Cottage and he followed closely. They walked into the house, soaking wet, and Mina rushed up to Joshua.

‘Joshua, do you know of a place called Noah’s Ark?’ she asked him impatiently.

‘I’m sorry?’ he replied, looking up at a drenched Mina.

‘In the fields, not too far from the bridge?’ she added.

‘Ah, yes. Noah’s Ark. It’s a very small patch of land.’

‘Why is it called that?’ she asked.

‘The local farmers call it that.’

‘But why?’

‘I’ll show you,’ he sighed. ‘I need a walk anyway.’

‘I’ll come too,’ said Daniel.

The four companions walked out into the fields, the rain beating hard against their umbrellas. They followed the river bank for about a hundred meters and then Joshua pointed to a slightly raised patch of land with an ancient and magnificent tree standing at its centre, its branches dark and long, stretching into the wind.

‘It’s a strange thing really,’ Joshua said. ‘We often get flashfloods here, even in the winter and what happens is truly amazing. As you know, this is the Fens region, flat lands, with fields as far as the eye can see, so locals know every mound, hill and dip in the landscape around them. Anyway, when flooding occurs in Hildersham, all the sheep flock as one to this spot, which is on slightly higher ground. Probably for that reason, it has always been called Noah’s Ark. It isn’t much of a hill, but enough not to be covered with water when the river overflows its banks.’

Mina had noticed a large quantity of nettles surrounding the mound. She made a small sign to Jack and Daniel to follow her to the other side of the tree.

‘We need to come back here tonight,’ said Mina ‘discreetly, with shovels. We shouldn’t tell your dad anything, Daniel. I don’t want to raise his hopes, just in case I’m wrong about this.’

‘What are you on about, Mina?’ asked Daniel.