With each step, it became colder and damper, as if they were plunging into the very heart of the earth. The cold pierced to the bone, making them shiver. The walls of the corridor were covered with a thick layer of mold, and they gave off an unpleasant smell of rot and decay. It seemed that time itself had stopped here, leaving behind only decay and desolation.
After a while, which seemed like an eternity to Alexander, they came to a fork. Two corridors diverged in different directions, disappearing into the impenetrable darkness. It was unclear where to go next. Alexander felt anxiety grip him. He understood that they could get lost in this labyrinth of catacombs and never get out to the surface.»
««Where to next?» Alexander asked, trying to hide the anxiety in his voice. He completely relied on Amir and David, hoping that they knew where they were going.
«To the right,» Amir replied, confidently turning into one of the corridors. His confidence slightly reassured Alexander. «The entrance to the excavation site is there. We’re almost there. Just a little bit left.»
They walked for about ten more long and tense minutes, during which it seemed to Alexander that time had stopped. Every step echoed loudly in the narrow corridor, increasing the feeling of anxiety and anticipation.
Finally, they reached a massive stone door, rough and ancient, behind which, apparently, was what they were looking for, what they had made this dangerous journey for. The door was locked with several locks, complex and reliable, but Amir and David, armed with lock picks and other tools that they handled with the skill of professional burglars, quickly dealt with them. The locks opened one after another with a quiet click, as if yielding to the onslaught of time and persistence.
«Ready?» David asked, opening the door, behind which yawned impenetrable darkness. In his voice, there was a slight excitement, mixed with anticipation.
Alexander nodded, feeling his heart pounding in his chest like a wildly beating drum. He understood that they were on the threshold of something important, that a meeting with the unknown awaited them, which could change his life and his perception of the world.
They entered a spacious room, as if stepping from the dark womb of the earth into the shining belly of history. The dim but numerous lights, hung around the perimeter, fought with the age-old darkness, but could not defeat it completely, creating an atmosphere of mystery and sacredness.
Before them lay a panorama worthy of the most captivating documentaries. Excavations were in full swing. Workers in khaki uniforms, with sweat on their foreheads and earth on their faces, were digging in the ground like moles, bringing ancient artifacts to light. Each swing of the pickaxe, each movement of the shovel, each touch of the brush to the fragile find was accompanied by a quiet whisper of prayer.
«What is this?» Alexander whispered, gazing in fascination at the scene that opened up before him. He seemed to have become numb, not believing his eyes. Theories and books were left far behind; before him was living history that could be touched.
«These are the remains of an ancient temple,» Amir replied, his voice sounding muffled and respectful. «They say it was built even before Solomon.»
He paused, as if gathering his thoughts, and continued: «Legends say that this sanctuary was erected by the Canaanites, the indigenous people of this land, long before the arrival of the Jews. It was called the Temple of El-Elyon, the temple of the Most High God. Here, not only El-Elyon was worshiped, but also other deities of the Canaanite pantheon. They say that sacrifices were offered here, rituals were performed, sacred rites were held, designed to appease the gods and ensure the fertility of the land.»
David added, lowering his voice: «Some historians believe that this temple was not just a place of worship, but a center of power, where priest-kings ruled, wielding enormous influence over the lives of people. Jerusalem was then not just a city, but a sacred place, the center of the world, where heaven and earth intersected.»
Alexander held his breath, listening to the story of Amir and David. He remembered his research, his search for a common faith uniting Islam and Christianity. He remembered the Canaanite deities, about El-Elyon, about his connection with Yahweh, the God of Israel. He realized that he was on the verge of a discovery that could overturn all his ideas about the past.
Alexander looked around, his eyes greedily absorbing every detail, every fragment of history that opened up before him. He saw fragments of columns, crowned with exquisite capitals, testifying to the skill of the ancient builders. He saw pieces of mosaic, which once adorned the floors of the temple, preserving bright colors, like a frozen moment of the past. He saw fragments of statues, depicting, probably, deities or heroes whose names have long been forgotten.
Everything around spoke of the fact that once there stood a magnificent temple dedicated to some ancient deity, the worship of which was an integral part of the lives of people who lived on this land long before the advent of Christianity and Islam.
He tried to imagine what this temple looked like in its heyday: its high vaults, decorated with carvings, its altars, sparkling with gold, its priests performing rituals while chanting prayers. He wanted to touch these stones, feel their energy, feel a connection with those who once lived and believed here.
Alexander saw the workers carefully extracting from the ground the remains of an altar, covered with a layer of ancient dust. He saw one of the workers carefully lift a small clay pot, possibly a vessel for sacrifices. Questions were born in his head that he could not allow himself to voice, fearing to attract attention. He realized that he was opening not just an archaeological find, but a window into the past, which could overturn all his ideas about history.
Suddenly, one of the workers, busy cleaning the clay vessel, accidentally raised his head and noticed the uninvited guests, frozen in the shadows. His face twisted in surprise, and he shouted loudly:
«Who’s there?»
At the same second, as if on command, the lights went out in the room. The dim lamps that illuminated the excavations went out at once, plunging everything into impenetrable darkness, which seemed to thicken and become even denser.
«Run!» David shouted, his voice sounding sharp and agitated. He immediately grabbed Alexander’s hand and, pushing him in the back, dragged him away from danger.
Panic gripped the room. The workers screamed, trying to understand what was happening. There were sounds of stumbling people, falling objects, the stomp of feet running in different directions. Alexander, stunned and disoriented, felt his heart beat wildly in his chest. He tried to get his bearings in the dark, but could not see anything. He fully relied on Amir and David, who knew the way and had to get him out of this death trap.
They rushed back to the door, hoping to find salvation in the catacombs, but it was too late. Harsh voices were heard from the darkness, and figures of guards, who appeared as if from underground, loomed over them.
«Stop!» one of them shouted, his voice sounding stern and commanding. «You are under arrest!»
Alexander realized that he had fallen into a trap, that all their efforts and hopes had been in vain. But he was not going to give up without a fight. He had to see what these excavations were hiding, to find out the truth, no matter what it cost him. He could not allow himself to be caught before he knew the answers to his questions.
Flashlights flashed, snatching the figures of the guards from the darkness and blinding them. The guards surrounded them, pointing their weapons at them, ready to use force at any moment. Alexander looked around for a way out, hoping to find some chance, some way to escape. He saw Amir and David peering intently into the faces of the guards, trying to understand their intentions.
Alexander understood that this could be the end of his research, the end of his path to the truth. And, possibly, the end of his life. Cold fear gripped him, but deep down he felt