“And that is what Noah’s children, the Korumak, wait for?”
Jassim’s eyes twinkled. “That is what the world is waiting for, if only it would open its eyes. Do you see? Now that Alpha and Omega are reunited, the end is closer to the beginning. This accords with our prophecies, of which you, my friend, have become a part.” He elevated the staff, and the headpiece cast its cruciform shadow on the ground at Dracup’s feet. “The world will hear His voice again, even as you have heard it, Professor Dracup.”
“But where will you go?” Dracup asked Jassim hoarsely. “Where will you take him – Adamah?”
“There are hidden places,” Jassim said softly. “God has ordained that there will always be a home for the Korumak Tanri. Until the end.”
Farrell was at his shoulder. “We have to move, gentlemen.” He took Dracup aside. “Listen, Prof, I’ve handed this over to the mainstream peacekeeping force. They’re moving in to clear the place out. They’ll burn the jihadis out like an ants’ nest. You don’t want to be here when it happens.”
Dracup could not tear himself away. He looked once more into the face of the first man, fixed the image on his retina as the lid was closed and sealed.
Led by Jassim, the Korumak began to file silently towards the Great Passage, melting away from the place of the fountain. Many were women, as evidenced by the face-concealing hijab they wore. Dracup felt a pang of longing. Where was Sara? And then he saw the gesture, a momentary hesitation as she looked back. Their eyes met for an instant in a fragile spark of valediction before she too faded from his sight.
He craned his neck as the Chinook lifted above the Tell and turned to the north, but of the Korumak there was no sign. Marines were scuttling away from the area, Humvees burning a line of departure in the sand like scattering beetles. The Tell receded but Dracup kept it in sight, wanting to see the end. A line of black dots zeroed in, a swarm of destruction. Orange flames blossomed into the sky, followed by a pall of smoke that eventually obscured the Tell from view. He whispered to Natasha, asleep in his arms: “We’re going home now, darling. Everything’s all right. We’re going home.”
Towards the east a scattering of clouds was gathering. Dracup watched the formation coalesce as a zigzag of white lightning cut the horizon in two. He rested his head against the padded seat and closed his eyes. The Chinook flew on, into the eye of the coming storm.