Europa Conspiracy (Babylon Rising 3) (25 page)

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN

"I am told that you are expert in solving mysteries," the king continued. "If you can tell me what it says, I will clothe you with robes of purple. I will give you a golden chain of authority to hang around your neck and make you the third most powerful ruler in the kingdom."

Daniel smiled and bowed politely. "I am not interested in power. You can keep all of your gifts. I am quite satisfied with my woolen robe. You can give your rewards to someone else. As I helped your father in my younger years, I will help you also. It's not from my skill or knowledge that the answer will come. Jehovah will give me the wisdom to tell you what the writing means."

Belshazzar sat forward with his eyes wide, hanging on Daniel's every word.

"For a moment, let me review the life of King Nebuchadnezzar. All of the nations of the world trembled at the sound of his name.
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They lived in fear of him. He would kill any person or nation that offended him. He was a king of unlimited power and influence. However, he made a great error. He did not acknowledge that God had given him all of his honor and majesty. He became arrogant and proud.

"Because of Nebuchadnezzar's pride, he hardened his heart to God, and God chased him out of his palace into the fields. He roamed the earth like a wild animal for seven years. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like a cow. His body became wet with dew each morning. This continued until at last he acknowledged that the most high God rules over the affairs of men. He is the one who puts up kings and takes them down.

"Now, O King Belshazzar, I am not telling you any thing you didn't know. You have heard this story before. You are following in your father's footsteps. You have become proud and lack humility. You have defied the Living God by taking sacred cups from His temple and using them to toast your puny gods. You defiled these cups by giving them to your nobles, their wives, and their concubines. You have praised the gods of wood, stone, silver and gold, and not the God of heaven. Because of this God has written you a message on the wall. I shall now tell you what it says.

"MENE means 'numbered.' God has numbered the days of your reign. In fact, your reign is over.

"TEKEL means 'weighed.' God has weighed you in His balance scales and you have failed His test.

"UPHARSIN means 'divided.' God has divided your kingdom, and it will be given to the Medes and Persians."

Belshatgar sat stunned. He had not expected a message of doom. Everyone in the room was silent, and no one moved. No one had ever spoken that frankly to the king before. They were all expecting the king to order Daniel's death.

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Fearing that something more terrifying might happen to him, Belshaigar ordered Daniel to be robed in purple. The golden chain of authority was placed around his neck, and the king proclaimed that Daniel was to become the third most powerful person in the kingdom.

Daniel was apprehensive as he left the palace hours later. He knew that God was going to destroy Belshaqpr's kingdom... but how?

No one was aware of the soldiers who waded through the moat and under the wall. When they emerged into the city, they pretended they were joining the party as they ran toward the main gate. With all the noise and drunken yelling, no one heard the screams of the guards as they died. Only a few of the people witnessed the opening of the enormous door.

The armies of Generals Azzam and Jawhar, under the orders of Cyrus and Darius the Mede, conquered the great city of Babylon with very little resistance.

Belshazzar was talking with his nobles when enemy soldiers ran into the great hall. Sulaiman was the first to notice them. He yelled to the royal guard, who fought to their last breath trying to defend the king. It was to no avail; all were killed.

The soldiers surrounded Belshazzar and his nobles and held them captive until the generals arrived. Then the generals sat and drank wine as they surveyed their prisoners. At the back of the great hall, two men could be seen talking under a spectacular tapestry.

"Gadates, you haven't counted your golden coins yet," one exclaimed.

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"I don't care about the money. This is about revenge."

"Revenge?"

"Yes, Gobrya. Two months ago the king took the entire court hunting for game. My courtier friend brought down a pheasant before the king had done so. Belshazzar became furious. He drew his sword and struck him down in front of everyone. Last week he killed another courtier when one of the nobles commented that he looked handsome. He's a madman! He had to be stopped. I hope that Cyrus's soldiers kill him soon!"

Gadates smiled when he heard General Jawhar give the order to execute the king and the nobles, who begged for mercy. One by one the soldiers killed them, leaving Belshazzar for last. They wanted him to suffer.

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FORTY-SEVEN

MUSA SERAPIS COUNTED HEADS. Eight of the twelve representatives of the temporary members of the Security Council had made it to Newark Airport, as had all five permanent members, but the monthly president had not arrived yet.

Serapis spoke. "Under the circumstances, and in light of the fact that the president is not here, do I have your approval to act as temporary chairman?"

Everyone nodded.

Serapis had been the Secretary-General for over a year and was quite well received, especially by the Third World countries. His dislike for U.S. foreign policies was well-known.

For the first hour they discussed emergency plans for the continued operation of the UN and the protection of its employees. The conversation began to change when Permanent Council member Jacques Verney of France spoke.

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"We cannot keep on living this way. The people of New York City are terrified. What would have happened if the George Washington Bridge had been blown up? How many people would have died. We need to consider the safety of the members of the United Nations. I think now is the time to consider plan 7216. As you all know, there has been quite a bit of discussion about the possibility of moving the United Nations out of the United States. Because of the global control philosophies of the United States, smaller and less powerful countries have had to resort to terrorism to have their voices heard. These types of terrorist attacks continue to threaten the well-being of all UN employees. I believe these types of attacks will continue as long as the United States continues to follow its godlike dreams to control the world and how it functions."

Permanent members Warren Watson of the United States and Carlton Thorndike of the United Kingdom looked at each other. This was not the first time the subject of moving the United Nations had been brought up. The Middle East, Europe, India, Africa, and South America were becoming increasingly hostile toward the United States. The hostility was also beginning to have a backlash against the United Kingdom for its support of American policies.

Vladimir Karkoff, permanent member from the Russian Federation, said forcefully, "It does not seem like the United States is prepared to deal with terrorists in its own country The U.S. failure to protect its own people is quite evident. The U.S. inability to prevent such attacks threatens the safety of people in the Russian Federation. I

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too am in favor of bringing this matter up to the whole assembly for a vote."

Temporary member Salmalin Rajak, from India, said, "I have talked with many leaders of smaller nations about the imperialistic designs of the United States. They have told me that they are considering a boycott of American products."

Warren Watson countered. "Just where do they think they're going to get the supplies they need, Mr. Rajak? We have been supporting them with 'Food for the Hungry' programs for years. We've spent billions of dollars to help their countries prosper. And look how many American jobs have been outsourced to India. Over the years, we've done nothing but try to help the countries of the world. I can't believe your attitude! Name another country that has helped you as much as the United States."

"The European Union wants to trade with our countries and will help to support them," Rajak replied. "All of Europe and Asia--and most of the world--would rather have the European Union's help than America's help. We think that power has gone to your heads. You think everyone in the world must join America's democratic way of thinking. But who's to say that your way is best? All you want to do is force policies and tariffs on us so that you can exploit us commercially. The United States wants the wealth of all of our nations!"

Rajak paused to collect himself. He realized that he may have come on too strong. He began to moderate his words. "Of course, this does not mean that the United States should not be a member of the United Nations. They are a strong country and should be included. It is

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just that they should not play such a dominant role. The Americans need to become a little more... shall we say tolerant and diplomatic."

Watson, irate, was about to respond when Zet Lu Quang addressed the group. "As a permanent member of the Security Council, I speak on behalf of the People's Republic of China. We also have grave concerns about the United Nations remaining in the America, and especially New York. There has been talk of a UN building being constructed in Geneva, Switzerland, since we already have a headquarters there. Are any other locations being considered? The People's Republic would be most happy to consider the donation of land in our capital city."

Verney responded. "Plan 7216 suggests moving out of the United States. It does not, however, suggest where the final location should be. That must be decided by a vote of the entire body. I've talked with various members of the UN, and there seems to be a positive response to the possibility of moving the United Nations building to Iraq. More specifically, to a city in Iraq with a very ancient history: Babylon. I talked to Helmut Weber, the ambassador from Germany, and his country is most supportive of such a move."

Serapis looked at the assembled group. This was a good opportunity "I've talked with a number of the leaders of the European Union. They told me that they would support a move to Babylon. The EU would even help to pay off the huge debt the UN has incurred over the years. They also said that they have funds available to help construct a new headquarters."

Everyone smiled and nodded except for Watson and

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Thorndike, who were fuming. They knew it would not be wise to speak when their emotions were so volatile.

"The EU leaders told me that those funds came as a donation from an anonymous group. Their representatives said that they would pay
all
of the expenses for the construction of a new building," Serapis concluded.

He smiled as he noted a buzz of conversation at his words. He looked toward Jacques Verney. Their eyes met briefly with an imperceptible sign of recognition.

Watson saw the exchange. He felt sure that Serapis and Verney had discussed this topic more than once before.
They're using this recent threat as an excuse to promote the United Nations moving out of the United States.

Serapis got the group's attention. "Part of our responsibilities is to help promote and preserve world peace. It is our job to agree to general principles and encourage the settling of disputes. I think that moving the United Nations out of America will help to promote world peace. It will be seen as a gesture of reaching out to those smaller nations that do not believe they have a voice. The Arab world and many in Europe will view the move to Iraq as a reaching out to the Muslim community."

Serapis could see many of the members nodding in agreement. He knew he had them in the palm of his hand. "It will reduce tensions worldwide. It may even bring about that lasting peace that we are all looking for. Our children and our grandchildren are depending on us to make the right decision. It is a decision that will lead to the saving of thousands of lives worldwide."

Serapis was beginning to wax eloquent. Watson felt like hitting him rather than listening to him.

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"As leaders, we are to look for positive and unique ways to settle disputes among all nations... both large and small." Serapis paused for a moment and let his words sink in. Then he asked, "How many of you would like to see this as a topic at our next meeting of the General Assembly?"

All but two hands were raised.

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FORTY-EIGHT

THE TRIP BACK TO RALEIGH seemed to drag on and on for Murphy. It was not so much the miles traveled, but the thought of what might have happened if the George Washington Bridge had been blown up. How much devastation would the dirty bombs have caused?

I'll bet as many as thirty to forty thousand would have been killed by the blast and radiation.

Memories began to flood over Murphy as he relived the tragic events of a bombing at the Preston Community Church. He could hear the explosion in his mind. He could smell the smoke from the burning wood. He could taste the ashes on his tongue. He could see bloodied people and lifeless bodies. And he also could see the sweet face of Laura as she slowly exhaled her last breath. He relived his anguish at the realization that she was gone and his anger for the man who had killed her.

More than once Murphy had to pull to the side of the road because his vision was blurred with tears for himself