streets of Washington, D.C., yet with a thick, hand-drawn pen line creating a pentagram on it.
"Look carefully," the priest said. "Massachusetts Avenue intersects with Rhode Island Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, Vermont Avenue, and K Street to form the five-pointed star immediately north of the White House . . . and remember the prophecy-they will come from the north to conquer." The cleric wiped a new sheen of sweat from his brow. "Then look at the positioning of the Capitol, Jefferson Memorial, and Washington Monument, which form a Mason's compass and a pyramid to the left of that. Even Metatron's Cube can be seen in all this. I'm not a Templar; I don't know what any of this means to your quest. This is all I know, I swear to you. But our dearly departed brother seemed urgent in the vision that he wanted you to push forward to Washington, D.C. Maybe there is more for you at the Scottish Rite Temple?"
"Metatron's Cube?"Carlos said, studying the map with new eyes. He suddenly jerked his head up. "Where's Rabbi Zeitloff?"
"Somewhat overcome and waiting in the cars."
"Thanks."
Carlos took off in a dash across the cemetery grass. He could see the cars and people milling about in the distance. The rabbi sat in the backseat of one of the black sedans with his head leaned back against the headrest. His eyes were closed and tears stained his cheeks, but he had considerably calmed. Dan moved aside as Carlos approached the vehicle as did Imam Asula and Monk Lin.
"He took it really hard," Dan said quietly as Carlos slowed to a trot and then finally stopped beside him. "We sent Bobby and J.L. to go get him some water."
Monk Lin bowed slightly and let out a weary breath. "These are hard times for us all."
"Persevere, young brother," Imam Asula said, and then swallowed hard as he stepped away from the car.
Carlos bent and peered in the door, and then slid into the backseat with the elderly rabbi.
"Hey . . . Rabbi," Carlos said in a gentle tone. "I know how you feel."
"Carlos, Carlos, Carlos," the rabbi said, shaking his head and slowly pounding on his chest with his fist.He opened his bloodshot eyes and stared at Carlos. "He was like my own brother. That crotchety old priest and I would debate till the wee hours . . . he was my friend. I have lost my dear friend. I am an old man; friends don't come easy now . . . who will I fight with?" He released a sad chuckle as new tears filled his eyes. "I should complain to Patrick for allowing this to happen to himself."
"I know," Carlos said, a sad smile tugging at his mouth. "He used to give me the blues and stayed on my case. I'm gonna miss that tough old man, too. So, maybe you and I can fight about philosophy sometimes, huh? How about it? I give asgood as I get."
Zeitloff wiped his eyes with a shaking hand and then patted Carlos's cheek. "I should love to argue with you." He fell quiet and stared at Carlos, new tears rising. "I see now why he loved you so."
Carlos glanced away and took in a deep breath, needing a moment to regain his voice. He slowly extracted the map from his pocket and held it for a moment before showing it to the rabbi.
"The young priest said a Templar gave him this . . . our team has to go to D.C. It's part of a clue as to where we might be able to get a jump on the enemy. But he also said Metatron's Cube can be seen in this map. My Kabbalah facts are rusty, I admit, but I do know that Metatron is an archangel."
Rabbi Zeitloff sat forward quickly, adjusting his glasses on his nose with agitation. He spoke in short, excited bursts in hushed tones, constantly looking around him as he did so. "Enoch was swept away to Heaven and for his loyal service he sits at the right hand of Jehovah, Yahveh,as the archangel, Metatron -who was the one that transmitted the secrets of the Kabbalah to humanity to use to protectthemselves from evil. Kabbalah by definition means, transmission and preservation of knowledge . . . to receive. A Kabbalistic message is one coming from the highest realms of On High, Carlos."
"Enoch also became an archangel?" Carlos said, eyes growing wide. "Damali's oracle used Enoch's name in the first metaphor-the first clue she