Harmon Sloan

Messengers in the Dust Harmon Sloan

Miles beyond the city of Jerusalem, Paul finished installing the monitoring equipment near the recently exposed strip of ancient riverbed. He gave the barren land one final look for any signs of activity. Nothing made him suspicious. Back in Ohio, Special Projects Manager, James Terry, watched his computer screen. Seconds later, he called Paul Thomas. "It's working, he said. Paul picked up his tools and headed back to his vehicle. When he drove away, pebbles in the riverbed began moving about as if disturbed by a ground tremor. Beneath many of the bushes scattered across the barren land, flickering blue and gold light touched the silent evening. Unlike the small satellite dish on the other side of the riverbed, the light's message circled the earth. Sixty-five-hundred miles away, twenty-four-year old Jacob Arugete lay sprawled out on his bed. Rolling over on his side, he tugged at the crotch of his jeans. Two things hit him at the same time: he'd overslept, and his mother had turned up the thermostat before leaving the house. An hour later, neither inconvenience mattered. Blue and gold light touched his hand and a little known legend became a reality.