“Your file said you have little patience with small talk. I’ll get right to the point then. Two days ago, my office received a visit from Pieter DeVries of the NSA. DeVries is one of the most respected cryptanalysts in the world. He brought us information of a startling nature.”

For the next twenty minutes, Nickerson described in meticulous detail the discovery of the Jefferson file at the American Philosophical Society and the deciphering of the secret message it contained.

Nickerson wrapped up his presentation and waited for Austin’s reaction.

“Let me see if I understand,” Austin said. “A researcher at an organization started by Ben Franklin comes across a long-lost file containing a coded correspondence between Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis. Jefferson wrote Lewis and said he believed that Phoenicians visited North America and hid a sacred relic in Solomon’s gold mine. Lewis writes Jefferson and says he is coming to see him. Lewis dies en route.”

Nickerson let out a deep sigh. “I know. It sounds absolutely fantastic.”

“What does this fantastic story have to do with NUMA?”

“Please bear with me and I’ll make my motives clear.” He handed Austin a thick loose-leaf notebook. “These are copies of the Jefferson material and the deciphered messages. The information has been labeled and catalogued as to source.”

Austin flipped the notebook open and perused Jefferson’s tight, disciplined handwriting. After leafing through several pages, he said: “You’re sure this is authentic?”

“The Jefferson papers are the real thing. Their historical accuracy will have to be determined.”

“Even so, this discovery challenges all assumptions,” Austin said. “Any idea as to the nature of the relic?”

“Some of the analysts who have seen this suggested that it might be the Ark of the Covenant. What do you think?”

“There’s a good possibility that the Ark was destroyed during the Babylonian Captivity of Jerusalem. I’ve also heard that it’s under piles of rubble in an African mine. The Ethiopians say they have it, but few have seen it. Ark or not, this find will be a historical bombshell.”

“You’re right. The Ark is probably in splinters by now. We know that whatever was deposited in North America was of great concern to Jefferson.”

“You sound equally worried.”

“I am. Your bombshell metaphor is unfortunate but accurate.”

“Are you concerned about treasure hunters?”

“No. We’re worried about a conflagration that could start in the Middle East and spread into Europe, Asia, and North America.”

Austin tapped the notebook cover. “How would this cause a conflagration?”