The Ancient Witnesses

32 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

resting on something soft. When I opened my eyes, I could see Cesar peering into the hatch. He was asking Preacher about what exactly he had seen when I emerged from inside the wall. From their conversation, I could tell none of them had seen anything unusual, and that I alone had found my way into the wall. After a while, I was able to sit up and share the details of my adventure, including the strange image that had blinded me, and about the man who had rescued me. “Who was he, and where is he now?” asked Cesar. “I don’t know,” I answered, “when I woke up he was gone.” “Did you ask him about Constantine’s Palace?” he asked. “He didn’t speak English,” I explained. Then I remembered the drawing he left me, and pulled it from my pocket. “But he drew this,” I said, handing the folded paper to Cesar. “What is it?” asked Preacher, crowding in to see. “It’s not a map,” I said, “that’s all I know.” The two of them examined the drawing without saying a word, then passed it to Joseph who looked it over carefully. “Is this the image you saw in the cave, Ari” asked Joseph, handing the paper back to me. Here in the light the drawing looked more or less like the wheel and crosses that had stunned my eyes. I nodded; Cesar climbed into the open hatch and began making his way down the corridor. “This must be the passage to the Emperor’s Palace!” we heard him call out.