Straightening up a little I asked, "You're an astrophysicist who works for NASA, why would anyone contracting you be reading about my work in Biblical Archaeology?"
He shrugged, as if to say he didn't know either, but what he said was, "As of late there's lots of things going down in regards to Biblical events that have attracted the notice of very important sectors of the government laboratories that I work with. Have you heard about the plans of soon implementing the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem?"
"I've heard the rumors, but I also know that they don't have enough of the sacred red dirt needed to make the corresponding sacrifices that such a building would entail them to consistently have to make. Without the sacred red dirt and some other missing artifacts their plans are little more than just plans."
"Sacred red dirt you say. Didn't they find a good bit of that stuff a few years back when they excavated a hidden Levitical priest hole near the Dead Sea that was hidden away about the time that Rome sacked Jerusalem in A.D. 70?"
I stared at my father in frank amazement. Never had I seen him so interested in the field of expertise that I had chosen to occupy my time with.
Amazed or not I instantly distrusted whatever it was that my father was up to. Calculatingly I responded by saying, "I see that you've been doing your own research as of late into obscure Biblical matters. A few tons of sacred red dirt however do not make much of an impact when you consider how much traditional Jewish sacrifice rituals use of the stuff. A few tons will be used up within a year's time of full on animal sacrifice ritual practices."
Smiling slyly my father nodded before innocently asking, "What makes this red dirt so special anyway?"
If he knew so much about a several year old news bulletin in concern to the sacred red dirt discovery near the Dead Sea then he must surely know the dirt's origin as well, but to humor him I said, "It's made from a certain kind of plant material that no longer exists on the surface of the earth."
He nodded approvingly, as if I was a star pupil with the right answer to the test question. I was tiring of this game quickly and if it hadn't been for my desire for the food that would be coming shortly I would've very much entertained the notion of standing up and leaving the restaurant.
Our food arrived and focusing in on it I wasn't quite prepared for the sight of my father's hand reaching across the table to lay something golden and glittery on the table beside me. My eyes wide I stared at the curiously worked little golden amulet, whose emerald jewels glinted brightly up at me, from off the table's dull background.