The Western Wall remained silent, holding within it the age-old secrets and hopes of millions of people. Alexander stood before it, a small man in the face of eternity, and knew that from now on, his life was forever connected with these sacred stones and with the city that had become his destiny.
The next day, Alexander spent in the library of the National Museum, as if under siege, buried in dusty tomes and ancient maps, in a desperate attempt to find at least some information about the secret excavations being carried out under the Temple Mount. He was looking for any mentions, any clues, any hints that could shed light on what was happening there, but his efforts were in vain. Everything was classified, as if covered with a thick layer of the dust of time and carefully guarded from prying eyes. Information seemed to have evaporated, disappeared from all available sources, leaving Alexander completely in the dark.
All day long, doubts tormented him, like a swarm of annoying insects. Should he trust Amir and David, these mysterious young men who appeared out of nowhere and offered him help? Were they luring him into a trap, pursuing their own hidden goals? Were they part of some complex game in which he was just a pawn? These questions gnawed at his brain, giving him no peace for a minute. He felt that he was being followed, that he was being watched, that someone wanted to prevent him from getting to the truth.
But, despite all the doubts and fears, he could not back down. Too much was at stake, too great was the chance to uncover a secret that could change the world. He had already crossed the line, and now there was no turning back. He had to go all the way, even if it cost him everything.
In the evening, when night fell on Jerusalem, enveloping it in a mysterious shadow, Alexander, like a conspirator creeping in the dark, headed towards the Lion’s Gate, also known as St. Stephen’s Gate. Each step echoed loudly in the empty alleys, intensifying the tension that gripped his entire body.
His heart was pounding in his chest, like a bird caught in a cage, its beats echoing in his ears. His breathing quickened, and his throat became dry. He felt that something important awaited him, something that could turn his life upside down. Something that could change the world, or at least his perception of it.
Fear and excitement mixed into a strange cocktail, giving him strength and paralyzing him at the same time. He knew that this night could be a turning point in his life, that his decisions and actions would determine not only his fate but also, possibly, the fate of the whole world.
He walked in the dark, as if towards his destiny, ready for any trials that awaited him. He knew that the risk was great, but his belief that he was doing the right thing gave him courage and determination. He must get to the truth, no matter what it cost him.
Approaching the Lion’s Gate, somber and majestic in the light of the sparse street lamps, Alexander saw Amir and David, waiting for him in the shadows. They stood motionless, their faces hidden in the dim light, but Alexander felt their tense anticipation, their readiness for action.
«Ready?» Amir asked, his voice sounding muffled and serious. In his eyes, which flashed in the moonlight, there was determination and confidence.
Alexander nodded, trying to hide the excitement that gripped him from head to toe. He felt a lump rise in his throat but managed to swallow it, gathering all his willpower.
«Then let’s go,» David said, his voice sounding warningly. «But be careful. There may be guards here, and they will not stand on ceremony with intruders. We need to act quickly and silently so as not to attract attention.»
hey set off, like ghosts gliding through the night, their steps quiet and cautious. Alexander followed them, trying to keep up and not make unnecessary noise. He felt adrenaline surging through his blood, sharpening all his senses. He was ready for anything, for any danger that might lie in wait for them on this nocturnal adventure.
They moved into the darkness, creeping like thieves. Alexander followed them, feeling the tension rising. He knew that danger lay ahead. But he was ready to risk everything for the sake of the truth.
The Lion’s Gate remained behind. Amir confidently led them through the labyrinth of narrow alleys. David, walking behind, kept looking back, as if expecting a chase. Alexander struggled to keep up with them, stumbling on cobblestones and cursing his city shoes.
The silence of the night, which covered the ancient city like a velvet blanket, was broken only by the rare howling of the wind, sweeping through the narrow streets like a ghost, and muffled voices coming from open windows, like snippets of other people’s lives, spied through a keyhole. Every sound, every shadow seemed ominous and threatening.
Alexander felt the tension building with every step, with every minute spent in this utter darkness. His heart hammered in his chest like a mad drummer, and his breathing became intermittent and uneven. He felt himself being watched, as if someone was stalking him, ready to attack at any moment.
Fragments of thoughts flashed through his head, like frames from an old movie, jumbled and illogical. Concerns for his life mingled with the anticipation of discovery, with the hope of finding what he had been searching for so long. He thought about the professor from the Hebrew University, about his skepticism and doubts. He imagined how surprised the professor would be if he managed to prove his hypothesis.
He thought about what might await him ahead, about the dangers he would have to overcome. He understood that the risk was great, but he was ready to go all the way, ready to risk everything for the sake of the truth.
Finally, after a long and exhausting wandering through the labyrinth of narrow streets, Amir stopped at an inconspicuous wall, thickly overgrown with ivy, as if trying to hide its secrets from prying eyes. The wall seemed to be part of an ancient, dilapidated building, abandoned and forgotten by everyone.
He quickly looked around, making sure that no one saw them, that there were no guards or curious passersby around. His movements were quick and precise, as if honed by years of training. Taking a small tool out of his pocket, resembling a lock pick, he deftly opened the old, rusty lock hanging on the narrow wooden door, as if guarding the entrance to some secret world.
«Here,» he whispered, opening the door. It yielded with a quiet creak, opening a narrow passage leading deep into the wall. «Be careful. It can be dangerous here. It’s dark inside, and we don’t know what awaits us. But if we want to know the truth, we must take the risk.»
They went inside, stepping over the threshold, as if crossing the boundary between reality and mystery. The door creaked quietly behind them, closing, cutting them off from the outside world, plunging them into total darkness.
Before them stretched a dark corridor, long and narrow, like a gut, dug in the bowels of the earth. It smelled of dampness and mustiness, of antiquity and oblivion. The air was heavy and stale, as if no one had breathed here for centuries.
Amir took a small but powerful flashlight out of his pocket, and the narrow beam of light cut through the dense darkness, snatching from the gloom a vaulted ceiling made of rough stone. The ceiling was low, oppressive, as if threatening to collapse at any moment.
«These are ancient catacombs,» David explained, his voice echoing in the narrow space. «They lead directly under the Temple Mount, to the excavation site. These catacombs were dug centuries ago, and who knows what secrets they hold.»
«How did you find out about this place?» Alexander asked, his curiosity overcoming his fear. He didn’t understand how these young men had been able to find the entrance to this secret place, which had been hidden from the whole world.
«We have our own sources,» Amir replied evasively, avoiding a direct answer. He clearly didn’t want to reveal his connections and his methods. «The main thing is that we are here. And we have a chance to see what