The Markson family had arrived early for the Christmas holidays, it was a tradition that all the Trust's staff gathers together and celebrate the holiday together, with their families. Carol had spent the last two days supervising the clean up operation and getting the decorations in place. Despite all the world's troubles everyone seemed to be in jubilant mood and there was an air of expectation as other team members arrived, or were due to arrive. The weather had been warm for the past few days and the greenhouse effect was beginning to take hold of the world’s climate, adding to the climate change that had been progressing for the past four decades.
The research at the Crete 'control room' was almost complete and Jo and John were planning on leaving Crete finally, in a few days time. The UN team would be on the site for some time to come, it would take many years to transcribe the millions of hours of video recordings that constituted the 'God Tapes'. Jo had kept her father updated on their process, rather against the secrecy rules imposed by the international committee responsible. Her father, Jim, was now forever trotting around Europe and often further a-field to speak at church and scientific gatherings, so he was rather thankful that the Christmas holidays were here, although there was nearly two weeks yet to the day itself. Tomorrow, his son Peter and Owen Gwilliam were due to join them, the university now closed for what they insisted on calling 'Thee Mid-winter Holiday', despite the 'revelation' of the existence of God. Jim Markson was at last starting to wind down, so it was with a sigh that he greeted the chirping of his Com Unit.
"Jim Markson," he said half a second after he pressed the 'accept' button.
"Mr. Markson, it's Heidi Goldbloom here, how are you," she asked.
"Good," came the reply, "just trying to relax and looking forward to a few days off at Christmas."
"Well I think I may be about to ruin that for you, Jim," Goldbloom answered.
"Really, I knew that this was too good to last, what can I do for you Prime Minister."
"You have seen the situation at the Mount I suppose," the PM asked.
"Yes, of course," replied Jim.
"We thought, no, hoped, that the blue beam and the lava were transient events, but it seems that they are not going to disappear any time soon. The problem is that we stored the Ark of the Covenant in the great cavern and we cannot get in," Heidi told Jim.
"Well I guess that it will be as safe there as anywhere," ventured Jim.
"True enough, but we need to get it out, Jim. Firstly, we had promised to put it on display over the holiday period, our people need to be encouraged, and I guess that the Christians need some encouragement too, the Ark means as much to you as to us."
"Madam Prime Minister, I am not sure what I can do to help, if that is what you are asking," stated Jim.
"Jim, you were one of the little group that discovered the Ark, and you found it by following that tunnel, you worked out how to avoid all the traps," explained Heidi, "So what I am asking is, would you take a group of our people back through the tunnel to see if we can retrieve our precious artifact. I am also worried that we will loose the Ark again in the magma."
"I'm not sure what to say, Madam Prime Minister," said Jim, "can I have a few days to think about it?"
"Please call me Heidi, Jim," said the PM, "by all means, think it through, but we need to act soon, before the holiday, you are our last resort I'm afraid.”