Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14 "Is this some kind of joke, Gomez?!" Dr. Howard barked into the phone. Dr. Gomez could hear a roar in the background that he guessed must be the powerful engine of Dr. Howard's convertible. "You have urgent information regarding squirrels? It's been a long day— this better be good." Dr. Howard seldom went on digs or taught classes like the professors who worked for him, but he always seemed to be very busy— usually on his way to very important lunches and dinners. "No, Dr. Howard, this is not a joke." Dr. Gomez was in his home office, Michael hanging over his shoulder, trying to listen in. "I'm in possession of two ancient squirrels from the Dead Sea." "Dad, please!" Michael whispered.

"Actually, sir, let me restate that," Dr. Gomez said, waving at Michael to be quiet. "They were found near the Dead Sea dig, but they're actually from somewhere north of the sea. They were vacationing there and got stuck." "Vacationing???" Dr. Howard shouted over the sound of tires squealing. Dr. Gomez imagined him rolling his eyes as he cruised down a winding road. "Vacationing squirrels, right. And how did you gather this information from these... squirrels?"

"They, ah... they told me," Dr. Gomez answered uncomfortably. A long pause followed. Dr. Gomez listened to the sound of rushing wind over the phone. Finally Dr. Howard said, "So, these squirrels, they... talk, do they?" "Yes, sir." Dr. Gomez covered his face with one hand. Michael sighed deeply and shook his head. There was no turning back now. "Aramaic, no doubt?" Dr. Howard mocked. "Or perhaps Hebrew, or maybe even Latin?" "Well, they may also speak those languages. And squirrel, of course, but we communicate in English." Dr. Gomez pulled the phone away from his head. The sound of Dr. Howard's laughing hurt his ear. Finally, when the laughing had died down a bit, Dr. Gomez added, "Sir, if you don't believe me, you should come see for yourself." Michael threw his hands up in the air. "This is terrible!" "Shhhhh!" Dr. Gomez shushed.

"Am I being shushed?" Dr. Howard shouted. "Sorry, sir. I wasn't shushing you," Dr. Gomez said. "Okay, Gomez," Dr. Howard said, honking his horn. "Let's see if you can make more sense in person. I'll be at your place in five, if this slowpoke gets out of my way." He laid on the horn again. "All right, sir. Thank you." Dr. Gomez hung up the phone and informed his very unhappy son, "He'll be here soon."