The flight to India proved to be peaceful, at least for Sophia Stone. She was sleeping most of the time, since Jack Canyon kept her up all night. Well, they got home late and she was enjoying her slumber when he woke her to come save his ass. She couldn't believe he needed her that much. Besides that, she was was a little tired of having to save the day.
Jack stretched in the back of the cab. He was tired of all the lethargic traveling. Maybe they should have walked to Yashodhan's place, but they had no idea where in New Dehli his street address was located. "How much further?" Jack asked as he tugged at his pants trying to get comfortable.
"Not far," the driver replied keeping his eyes on the road.
"Wonderful," Jack mumbled. "And I thought New York cabs were the only ones that smelled bad."
Sophia just kept silent, because Jack was an idiot. That, and he was probably going to piss the driver off and she didn't want to be anywhere near it, but something told her if it did go down, she would be right in the middle.
The cab slowed to a stop in front of a two story home which had Tej on the mailbox. "We're there."
"How much?" Jack asked.
"Can't you read?" The man asked as he pointed at the meter.
Jack sighed at the man's attitude and then paid him the rupees before stepping out. He wasn't surprised when the cab sped off in a huff. "Guess he doesn't like us Americans, eh?"
"Or you saying his cab stinks," Sophia stated.
"Why must everything be my fault?"
"Because it usually is," Sophia told him as she moved toward the home. "Like now. It wouldn't surprise me if Yashodhan answers the door and knocks you on your ass."
"Hey, Yash and I have an understanding," Jack spoke. "We respect each other." He reached the door and knocked loudly.
“Right,” Sophia mumbled to herself, just before a young woman opened the door and looked at them both. She felt like the girl didn't expect someone so white to be at her doorsteps.
“Can I help you?” She asked softly in a deep Indian accent. She was shorter than either Sophia or Jack, though of average stature for an Indian woman. The woman's skin was dark and she appeared to be in her early thirties. Her black hair was shoulder length, which made her look very business like, even if she was not in the classy clothes she wore.
“We're looking Yashodhan Tej,” Jack spoke out. “Do you know where he might be?”
“Well, he's not here,” the woman stated. “I'm sorry.”
“When will he be back? I'm Jack Canyon, a colleague of his.”
“I guess you didn't hear then,” the woman said sadly. “Yash passed away about two weeks ago.”
“Oh,” Jack replied thoughtfully. “I'm so sorry to hear that. Is there anything we can do?”
“No, thank you. What did you need with my father?” She asked, receiving looks from Jack and Sophia both. “I'm sorry. I didn't introduce myself. I am Dr. Maya Rajah.”
“Well, we're looking for something he might have mentioned known as the sundisk. It's very important in my research. He was also writing a book that may help us.” Jack paused to take a breath.
“Please, come in,” Maya told them as she motioned for them to enter the living room. She closed the door behind them and moved along behind them. “Please, have a seat. How did you know my father?”
“He and I worked together about a month ago,” Jack replied as he and Sophia sat down on the couch across from Maya, who took the red leather button chair at the edge of the rug. “I'm surprised he didn't mention me.”
“Well, Mr. Canyon, I recall the story behind the search and discovery of the dagger of Ganesha,” she mentioned. “My father told me everything, but he did speak highly of you. Said you'd be able to solve the puzzle or something.”
“What puzzle?” Jack asked curiously.
Maya slowly rose to her feet and moved to a book case with a large disk on it. The disk was probably fifteen inches in diameter. The center was a 12-inch mirror with the outside rim made of gold with four holes on four corners. The holes were in the shape of coins. Though, it appeared as if the coins had a small piece cut out of the center so they would fit into the slots. “This is the sundisk, Mr. Canyon. My dad had spent his remaining time studying this.”
Jack slowly stood and examined the disk as she laid it onto the coffee table in the center of the room. “What are these circle slots here? They look like they some kind of medallion slots.”
“That's what my father couldn't figure out,” Maya told him. “See, he believed there were pieces that fit in here from stories in the bible or perhaps the Devanagari. He wasn't sure, but he believed this entire Babylonian Sundisk to be from a different culture.”
“Well, he's right,” Sophia spoke out as she moved to the disk. “It's in Arabic.”
“What does it say?” Jack asked as he continued to examine the slots.
“I don't know exactly,” she told him. “The missing pieces are leaving out things. I can't really tell what the entire message is.”
Jack narrowed his eyes at the sundisk and then searched Sophia's backpack for the Book of Origin.
“What are you doing?” Sophia asked.
“I think I've seen this before somewhere,” he replied as he pulled the book out and laid it onto the table beside the sundisk. He looked at the hard cover of the book. He felt of the cover for anything that moved. He felt it near the center and twisted it slightly, which allowed it to come off the book's cover. “Huh.”
Sophia and Maya stepped back as Jack slipped the medallion into one slot and began to twist it.
“It's not working,” he told them as he stopped and pulled the medallion out of the slot. “Why isn't it working?”
“Try another hole,” Sophia told him.
Jack moved to the norther point and slotted the medallion before twisting it into position. It locked and he stepped back. “Read it now.”
Sophia looked at the writing again for a moment. “The Ark. . .”
“The ark? That's it?” Maya asked. She was surprised.
“Is it the ark of the covenant? Noah's Ark?”
“Jack, it says the path you seek leads to the ark. Upon the mountain on the Anatolia. . .”
“Anatolia?” Jack asked.
“What? What is it?” Maya asked.
“Anatolia is where Mount Ararat is, but its also a possible location of the Garden of Eden,” Jack explained.
“So what are we looking for?” Maya questioned.
“Well, its either Noah's Ark or the Garden we're supposed to be looking for,” Jack told her. “Either way, we have to get to Mount Ararat. Once there, we'll know what we're looking for.”
“My father had a company plane,” Maya offered. “I'm sure we can use it to get to Turkey.”
“You can fly?” Jack asked her.
“No, but I have a pilot,” she answered.
“Somehow, I figured as much,” Jack replied. “When can it be prepped for take off?”
“In a few hours,” Maya said. “Let me make the call. Please, make yourselves at home. The kitchen is open to your needs. It's back that way.” She made her way toward a back room to make the call to her pilot so they could take off soon.
Jack and Sophia walked towards the back of the room to find the a hallway that lead down to the kitchen. Jack was hungry, but he wasn't sure about Sophia. He thought she might be, since she slept most of the way there.
“What do you have a craving for?” Sophia asked.
“Beats me,” he replied. “Let's just see what's in the pantry or fridge, eh?"
Maya didn't take long before she returned. "Our plans are set, Mr. Canyon."
"Please, call me Jack, Maya," he told her. "You know, you're better looking than your father."
Maya laughed a little. "I certainly hope so."
Sophia rolled her eyes at Jack's flirting. "So, when do we leave, Maya?" She interrupted them on purpose. She was jealous, but couldn't let them know.
Maya looked at Sophia for a moment. "We can leave within the hour. I'll be glad to have dinner served on my plane."
"Sounds wonderful," Jack stated. "Lead the way."
Maya led them out the side door and into the garage.
Sophia pushed by Jack, pushing him hard, and continuing into the garage. She was shocked at the Mercedes-Benz sitting in the garage. It was a lavish car and very luxurious.
Jack's jaw dropped. "What on earth was Yashodhan into? This car is expensive for an archaeologist's salary."
Maya smiled slightly, "He did a lot of work. He was married to his job."
"I take it your mother left, huh?" Sophia asked getting into the car.
Maya was in and started the car. "She divorced my dad several years ago. Took half his assets, but he still managed with all this."
"Nice work, Yash," Jack said into the wind as Maya pulled out of the driveway. "So, how nice is his plane?"
"You'll see," Maya told him. "You'll see."
***
It didn't take long for them to reach the airport. It was a private airstrip outside of New Delhi. Yashadhan was part owner of it. Their hangar was open and the Cessna plane was ready for take off.
"Like what you see?" Maya asked through the silence in the car. She knew Jack was gawking at the plane.
"How exactly do I get a good paying contract like he did?" Jack questioned her.
Maya laughed, though she was unaware that Sophia was annoyed with them by now. Jack's greed was getting to her. He wanted the money and the fame.
The car came to a stop in the hangar and they trio got out. They all grabbed their bags before boarding the plane.
To Be Continued. . .
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