Through Hell and Into Heaven

Chapter 4

     Jim looked over at Taran as they headed toward the excavation site. "So you're Taran Ash?" Taran smiled and put his man-purse on his lap. "Yes, Mr. Pirran! I understand that you are a very popular archeologist!" Jim chuckled as he steered out of the town. "You heard right.... and I understand that your father is very.... wealthy." Taran blinked and looked down at his sandals. "Yes. I presume that comes with being one of the governors of Saudi Arabia.... It's sad, though. I only get to see him a few times a year." Jim frowned and turned away from Taran to look at the road. "So.... what's your favorite subject in school?" Taran brightened. "Math and science, Mr. Pirran!"

      Jim gave a mischievous glance to Israel. "Do you help Israel with his science?" Taran raised an eyebrow. "Not yet. Why do you ask, sir?" "Because Israel hasn't been getting very good grades on that subject this year." Jim replied, giving his stepson another look. Taran smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see, Mr. Pirran." Israel glared at his stepfather and Taran. "Hey! I'm not doing too good with science because I'm busy trying to translate my worksheet." Jim laughed. "Wow, Israel! Tina and Taran; you two need to look after him!" Israel grumbled as Tina put an arm around around his shoulder teasingly. "We already do look after Izzy, Mr. Pirran!" "Stop calling me that in front of Jim," Israel muttered.

     Jim suddenly smashed the break and the jeep gave a sudden halt. "Well, kids, looks like we're here!" he said excitedly, thrusting the his door open. Israel grinned and unbuckled his seatbelt. His friends did the same and they busted out of the vehicle. The excavation site looked worn. Tents had been set in certain places around the unearthed tomb and men in brown clothing stood around the it, obviously waiting for Jim. "Stay with me," Jim cautioned to the teenagers, "there could be some things in this place that you don't want to touch." Tina, Israel, and Taran nodded and followed the archeologist into the site. Jeff walked up to Jim and gave him his usual glum look. "We're ready to open that ancient piece of stone whenever you are, Jim." he said. Jim stroked his chin and nodded. "Ah, yes. Go ahead, Jeff." Jeff looked behind his boss at the trio of kids and his frown grew deeper. "What are these brats doing here?" he snorted. Taran immediately took offense. Israel could tell by the expression on his friend's face. "What did you call me?!" he exclaimed, stomping up to the worker. Jim grabbed the boy's shoulder to keep him from going any farther. "Whoa there, tiger." he warned. Taran looked up at Israel's stepfather. "Tiger? There are now tigers around here! Did you here what that man called us?"

Jim ignored Taran's question and said, "Jeff, this is my son Israel and his friends. I said they could come for today's opening of the tomb." Jeff just narrowed his eyes and the muscles below his neck twitched. "They better not get in our way," he said, marching off toward his men. "If you call us brats again," Taran yelled after him, "I'm calling my father! He will punish you!" Jim squeezed Taran's shoulder. "Take it easy, Tar!" he pleaded. Taran blinked and said, "Mr. Pirran, please don't call me that." Jim shrugged and said, "Okay, guys. I'm going to go with Jeff and discuss how to get this door to the tomb open. You just.... explore. Don't touch the equipment, though, and don't get in Jeff's way. See ya!" With that, Jim strode away. The three kids looked at each other with surprise. Exploring with no supervision? This was going to be fun.

      Israel took the lead and the others followed him. The group walked into a random tent to see what was inside. The inside of the tent was dark except for one flickering lightbulb. Of that was not creepy enough, a human skull was lying on a table that was in the center of the tent. It grinned eerily at the teenagers. Taran instantly freaked out and started to dash hollering out of the tent, but Tina grabbed him by his tunic and clamped a hand over his mouth.

     "Taran! Stop it! It's just a skull." Taran blinked, fear visible in his eyes. He began to talk, but Tina's hand muffled his words. She finally took her hand away and words immediately began to pour out of Taran's mouth in a frenzy. "We should not have come here! They have dug up a skeleton of a human being! May your God save us!" Taran fell to his knees and clapped his hands together in prayer, pleading to God. Israel literally face palmed. Taran was a new Christian and did not know everything about Christianity yet. "I have a few things to say to you, Taran." Israel said sternly. Taran gave a smile of hope. "Can we leave this cursed place?" he asked excitedly. "There is no need to," Israel replied. "Taran, God is not just my God. He is everyone's God as long as they choose to truly except that He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross and take the penalty for our sin. Also, this place isn't cursed. All there is is a human skull!" Taran nodded, "Yes, you're right! But I thought God would punish those who disturbed others' graves." Israel blinked. "Disturbed graves? But this is an archeological thing! This is for science and history!"

     "Science and history, you say?" Taran scoffed, "Even if God permits us to dig up graves, is it not respectful to leave them be?" Israel was going to say that it was was not unrespectful when he caught himself. Was it wrong to dig up graves? He sure would not have liked it if someone dug up his grave. "I-I don't know," Israel admitted, "but I'm pretty sure we aren't cursed. Come on, let's take a look around." Taran reluctantly nodded and they began to spread out.