The young rabbi comes over and introduces himself. He’s the age of Ellie Landau’s children. In fact, he says, he knew them both growing up. Ellie Landau was, he tells Manning and me, like a second mother to him.

As the young rabbi speaks, he checks incoming news and texts on his phone. The story of Ellie Landau’s murder is leading every channel. Hits on social media are approaching a million, even at two in the morning. The press, the young rabbi says, has made the connection between the killing of Ms. Landau and the murder of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Reports are linking these to the attempt upon Ben-David’s life tonight, and the violent demises of Davis and Justman and the two Russians. Rumors are circulating of other, similar homicides worldwide. The press knows somehow of the “LV” mark, though as yet they have no idea what to make of it. I start to excuse myself when the young rabbi begins to pump me, as well, for information. Manning catches my arm.

MANNING

Where are you going?

ME

To confront Rachel.

MANNING

The fuck you are.

Ben-David joins our group. I’m getting that metallic taste on my tongue that tells me my blood sugar is approaching zero. I have to get Manning home. He needs sleep. So do I. But when I turn toward him to speak, I can tell by the way he cocks his shoulder that he will rebuff any well-intentioned intervention.

MANNING

(to young rabbi)

Is there a “hell” in the Jewish religion?

YOUNG RABBI

It’s called Gei-Hinnom.

MANNING

Like Gehenna?

YOUNG RABBI

Same thing.

ME

Like the dig? The archaeological site where Rachel met Instancer.

I’m cursing myself for not following up on the name. I should have put these together. I see on Manning’s face that he’s doing this just now.

BEN-DAVID

The site is quite famous, actually. It’s almost a tourist attraction. I’ve worked on it myself.

Ben-David tells Manning that after he emigrated to Israel he volunteered for two summers. It was he, he says, who suggested to Rachel that she apply to work on the dig herself.

YOUNG RABBI

(to Manning)

For centuries the “portal to hell” was thought to be a specific cleft in the earth north of Jerusalem. But about twenty years ago the Gehenna site was discovered. It’s near Megiddo—Armageddon of the Bible. The Gehenna site seems more hellish than the old one. There’s a geothermal field directly beneath it.

Manning absorbs this.

MANNING

Is there a devil in the Jewish faith?

YOUNG RABBI

The Adversary. HaSatan.

MANNING

Could this devil just materialize? I mean walk out of hell and catch a cab into the city?

The young rabbi smiles.

YOUNG RABBI