Stanley Mulbridge stood in the doorway of the Dust Bowl Inn without giving Jedda Diah any elbow room.  “C’mon we gotta get a move on.  From dawn to dusk, we only have limited time.”  Stanley was a man of integrity and character and also bad taste.  He had suspenders on, criss-crossed in the back tapered with red and green plaid overlaying a thick white cotton t-shirt.  His pants were fire engine red, Wranglers at that, not even a Levis man.  Jedda stared at a hopeful apparition.  “The meek shall inherit the earth, but I inherited all the strangely frocked preacha men of Southern persuasion.”  Stanley cackled “You haven’t even known me ten minutes and you somehow bust my fashion statement.   I’m here to get to the bottom of this.  I’m saving the government money.”  Jedda and Stanley were headed off to Palestine, Texas to look for some lost artifacts of the Branch Davidians and to gather some information and maybe clues on the Mag Bag business, a gun trading operation that has sustained the group financially in recent years.  Stanley was an informant in a sense.  He had been the Pastor of the 7th Day Adventist Church for 12 years in Waco and personally knew Benjamin and Lois Roden, two leading members before they joined the Davidians.  Jedda threw on a light jacket and headed out.  “I upgraded to Ford F-150.  It’s more masculine.  My new partner is going to meet us in Palestine.”   The drive was windy and the two glided over the hills of giant fields filled with wild flowers and groves of trees.  There was a cool mixture in the air that surpassed the common humidity. Reverend Stanley said “It’s time to give you a lowdown, a brief history of the 7th Day Adventists.  It’s a legalistic church that honors many of the traditions of the Jewish diet and customs from the first five books of Moses.  There wasn’t a defector from the group until this Bulgarian immigrant named Victor Houteff left the church in the 1930s.  He took 11 people with him and built on the present day grounds of the Branch Davidians in Waco.  Before him, there were some other prominent church members, namely Ellen G. White who was considered a prophetess.  She died in 1915 and was one of the founders of our church.  She’s written many books which have sold worldwide. Well, Mr. Koresh transformed 7 founding leaders of the church into defining them as 7 angels who will open the seals of  Christ in the Book of Revelation.   Don’t you think it is rather arrogant that all 7 angels came out of one denomination in the middle of America?  I mean, wow.   Of course, it is now September, 1992, and Koresh is waiting for a mitigating event that will put the 7th seal into motion.  That will be the final curtain call before Christ’s return.”  Jedda remarked “I don’t want to ask you how you know this but how do you know this?”  Mulbridge continued “I know some of the members.  They are not strangers in the community.  Some of them have held down legitimate jobs and are relatives of those inside the Waco compound.  I wouldn’t exactly call them witnesses but the word gets out.  They have copies and videos of the sermons.”  There is one more prophecy I want to mention before we get to the site.  “You know the good old Victor, the originator?   He tried to put a time stamp on this prophecy but it backfired. His wife, Florence, announced to Victor’s followers right before he died that following a period of 1260 days that Christ would initiate His kingdom that would bring on Armageddon.  Following his death, his wife Florence, who succeeded him in leadership, identified the 1260 days as extending from November 9, 1955 to April 22, 1959.  She encouraged the faithful to sell their property and come to Mount Carmel Center to wait until 1260 days passed.  It corresponded to Revelations 11 and Ezekiel 9.  800 people came. The days came and went and no major revelation took place.  When the new leader showed up, Benjamin Roden, he self proclaimed himself to be the new sign.  Koresh assigned him the prophecy of the 5th angel.” Stanley held the treasure map in his hand and pointed.  “Turn there, brother Jedda.”  Off the main road there was a gravel driveway which was not too large.   A woman was standing there with a shovel.  She had a square jaw and dark hair and could have passed for Native American or Mexican.  She had thin lips with high cheekbones and a foul stare.  Stanley raced out first.  “Hi, I am Reverend Mulbridge of the Mount Lebanon SDA church in Waco.  And your name?”   She appeared cautious: “Agent Pearl, here to help you out.”  She was brief.  Jedda sauntered over, grabbing his own shovel in the back.  “Here’s the map, Ms. Pearl.  I’m your partner.”  Without even a breath, she began “There are steps marking off 3 sets of hills that rise to the summit. There is a rail designating each set of stairs. The three ridges are 420 feet apart.  At the top of the 3rd ridge there are 7 circles that are stepping stones placed in horizontal union.  All the stepping stones are 360 degrees or the shape of the circle but each have a dividing line.  Behind each circle is an ivory angel that is carved and placed behind the circle.”   Stanley grabbed the map from Trinity Pearl.  “I need to see that map.”   He paused.  “Where are the trails?”  Pearl replied “They aren’t trails they are symbols.”  Stanley said “420 sticks out in my mind.  Do you know why?  420 x 3 = 1260, the length of the waiting period ‘til the prophecy is fulfilled.  Seven circles x 180, a half circle equal 1260.  They build these steps as a monument and it goes along with the prophecy in Revelations 11.  I know some of it by heart. ‘Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told: ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there….they will trample over the holy city for 42 months.’ 3 And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.” Fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes; if anyone would harm them, thus he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to cause plagues.”  Jedda said “If we start digging, are we gunna be cursed?”  Sweat was rolling down his face.   “No” Trinity pointed out “because their prophecy is false.”
The  leaves of the white ash and the blackgum trees whisped about as the 3 ascended the stairs equipped with a shovel and sackcloth.  When they got to the top, Stanley started walking over the concrete stepping stones of the circles with lines in the middle.  “This one feels softer.”  All of them were tightly sealed except one.  The ground had pushed it up.  Stanley saw an opening.  “There’s a wedge between this circle.”  It was the third sealed circle.  He pointed the tip of his shovel and started forcing it to crack.  A raven landed on one of the ivory angels.  “Stop there,” said Jedda Diah.  “I want to follow the map.”  “You are a coward,” shouted Stanley.  “We are supposed be exposing something of potential danger that won’t deface the whole community of Waco.  I sense we are on our own timetable, our own powder keg.”  Stanley pushed harder and the surface cracked, exposing the hilt of a sword that shone so bright his eyes squinted, causing him to fall back. (to be continued)