La Última Tribu

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La Última Tribu Eliette Abécassis QUMRÁN, 3 LLAA ÚÚLLTTIIMMAA TTRRIIBBUU A Toshihiro Suzuki, mi maestro, que me inspiró este libro. 2 INDICE Prólogo .................................................................................... 5 I. El pergamino de Ary .......................................................... 6 II. El pergamino del maestro .............................................. 20 III. El pergamino de los abismos ........................................ 37 IV. El pergamino de las tinieblas ....................................... 57 V. El pergamino de la montaña.......................................... 74 VI. El pergamino del retiro ................................................. 85 VII. El pergamino de los demonios ................................... 97 VIII. El pergamino de las fiestas ...................................... 108 IX. El pergamino de Ise ..................................................... 118 X. El pergamino del templo .............................................. 133 AGRADECIMIENTOS ................................................................... 138 RESEÑA BIBLIOGRÁFICA.................................................... 139 3 Al principio tomé como maestro a mi maestro. Después tomé como maestro las Escrituras. Al final tomé como maestro mi espíritu. SHABKAR 4 PRÓLOGO El hombre fue encontrado en el santuario, en lo alto del valle. Se accedía al edificio por un largo camino flanqueado de árboles. A un lado se extendía una playa de arena, salpicada por arbustos y hierbas sin flores que rodeaban la construcción. Un arroyo serpenteaba entre los árboles y desaguaba en un río a través de una pequeña cascada que saltaba entre las rocas. Las nubes se habían ido acumulando después del relámpago que iluminó el cielo. Progresivamente más oscuras, rodeaban con un aura negra las estrellas anunciadoras de la noche. Anochecía en el jardín, con sus árboles y el estrecho curso de agua que rodeaba el templo; anochecía en el valle, del que se elevaba en volutas el humo de las chimeneas; anochecía sobre el mundo. Pero aún era posible verlo a la débil luz del crepúsculo, en la estancia vacía: estaba tendido sin vida en el suelo, los brazos en cruz, la cabeza ladeada sobre un hombro, el cuerpo cubierto por un jirón de tela. Sus cabellos descoloridos se deshilachaban como filamentos y su piel, tan fina que parecía desaparecer, revelaba los huesos. Su rostro sin expresión mostraba el rictus del esqueleto. El vigor había abandonado aquel cuerpo consumido por el tiempo, los músculos habían perdido su fuerza, la carne se fundía como si fuese cera; el brazo se había desencajado del hombro, las rodillas parecían derretidas. Todos los fundamentos del cuerpo se disolvían. Los huesos se dislocaban y las entrañas eran como un navío en medio de una furiosa tempestad. Junto al cuerpo, un fragmento de manuscrito cubierto por una escritura negra y apretada que aquel hombre parecía haber tenido en su mano mucho tiempo atrás... Tal es tu visión, y todo lo que contiene está a punto de ocurrir en el mundo... En medio de grandes señales, la tribulación se abatirá sobre el país. Y después de tantos asesinatos y matanzas, se elevará un Príncipe de las Naciones. 5 I. EL PERGAMINO DE ARY Entonces dirigiré hacia vosotros mi aliento, a todos vosotros dispensaré mis palabras, en parábolas y enigmas; a aquellos que examinan las raíces del discernimiento y también a quienes siguen los misterios de lo maravilloso, a quienes caminan candidos y a aquellos cuyos actos no son sino intrigas en la cima del tumulto de las naciones, a fin de que distingan entre el bien y el mal, entre la verdad y la falsedad, y comprendan los misterios del pecado. Ellos ignoran los secretos, no han consultado las crónicas, no saben lo que les espera. No han salvado su alma, privados como estaban del secreto de la existencia. Pergaminos del mar Muerto Libro de los secretos 6 Era una mañana de primavera. El sol salía sobre Jerusalén y acariciaba los tejados con su mirada dorada, la mirada que reserva exclusivamente para esa ciudad. Sus rayos se filtraban a través de las ventanas de mi hotel, envolviendo la habitación en un aura amarilla. Alguien llamó con insistencia a la puerta. Me levanté, me vestí rápidamente y abrí. Vi entonces a aquel cuya presencia temía, cuyas noticias esperaba con inquietud, y cuyas palabras habían hecho derrumbarse en más de una ocasión los fundamentos de mi vida. Estaba allí, igual a sí mismo, con todo su poder, toda la plenitud de su ser. Imposible ignorarlo. El paso ágil, la edad en la cincuentena bien llevada, la tez cetrina, el cabello oscuro con algunos hilos de plata, vestido con uniforme militar, con guerrera y pantalón beis de tela gruesa. —Shimon Delam —dije, como para mantenerlo a distancia—, ex comandante del ejército, actual jefe del Shin Beth, los servicios de información interior de Israel... —No, Ary —respondió Shimon esbozando una sonrisa—, acaban de nombrarme para un nuevo cargo. Ahora estoy en el Mossad. —Enhorabuena. Me alegro, pero... ¿has venido a estas horas de la madrugada a mi habitación sólo para darme esa noticia? —¿Madrugada? —repitió Shimon mientras entraba. Se sentó cómodamente en un sillón—. Te informo de que ya son las siete. Mantuve la puerta abierta de par en par. —Vamos, Shimon, podemos vernos un poco más tarde, o aún mejor: ¡nunca! —No quería molestarte, Ary —me interrumpió afectando contrición—, pero se trata de un asunto urgente. —Un asunto urgente, por supuesto. Siempre se trata de un asunto urgente. —Urgente tal vez no sea la palabra exacta. Yo diría más bien apremiante. —Vaya... —repuse, porque estaba acostumbrado a sus sutilezas—. ¿Y cuál es la diferencia? Shimon sonrió. —¡Por fin! Perfecto. Ahora ya puedes sentarte. Obedecí maquinalmente. —¿Perfecto? Shimon tenía una asombrosa facilidad para sentirse como en su casa en cualquier circunstancia, y también para hacérselo comprender a los demás. —Sí, perfecto. Necesito hablarte a solas. Se trata de un trabajo. —Sabes muy bien que no tengo la menor intención de trabajar. Shimon hizo un gesto para indicarme que no tenía intención de discutir. Su frente tostada por el sol se arrugó, lo que era signo de una gran inquietud. Me tendió una fotografía. La examiné, sin comprenden Mostraba un hombre tendido, con los brazos en cruz, aparentemente muerto mucho tiempo atrás: su cuerpo, prácticamente reducido a los huesos, aparecía entre los jirones de una túnica clara; apenas se distinguían los rasgos de su rostro. Se encontraba en un lugar con cierto aire a sinagoga antigua, o a templo. —¿Y bien? —pregunté. —Lo han encontrado hace doce días. —Doce días... ¿Dónde? ¿En el norte del país? ¿Una sinagoga restaurada del Golán? —Cerca de Kioto, en un santuario. —¿Kioto? —En Japón. —¿Japón? —exclamé—. ¿Qué relación puede tener con...? —¿Conmigo? —terminó Shimon y cogió un palillo de dientes, signo de tensión nerviosa. 7 —Sí. —Muy sencillo. Como ya te he dicho, ahora estoy en el Mossad. No hace falta que te explique que me han asignado a la sección Internacional, a los servicios secretos... ¿Ves adónde quiero llegar? —Mordisqueaba el palillo con aire reflexivo. —Pero ¿y yo, Shimon? ¿Has pensado en mí? No soy un espía. No tengo formación para ese trabajo. Y además, ¿qué tengo yo que ver con Japón? —A mi me parece que estás perfectamente entrenado. Has puesto el listón muy alto, como suele decirse. En París, en Nueva York y aquí en Israel...1 Diría incluso que tienes la mejor formación del mundo para esta clase de misión sobre el terreno. —Shimon, prefiero advertirte de antemano que... —Escucha—me interrumpió—, es muy sencillo. Voy a explicártelo. Examiné de nuevo la fotografía. —Asesinado, ¿no? —En efecto, asesinado. Pero hay un pequeño detalle... —¿Cuál? Me observó como si le molestara lo que se disponía a decirme. —Sucedió hace dos mil años —murmuró. —¿Cómo? ¿Qué dices? —Digo que ese hombre murió hace dos mil años. Asesinado. —Venga, Shimon —repuse poniéndome en pie—. ¿De qué va todo esto? —El frío y la nieve han conservado los huesos y los tejidos. Ha sido examinado con el escáner y los investigadores han descubierto una sombra sospechosa debajo del hombro izquierdo, que al parecer está descoyuntado. El examen ha confirmado que la sombra era la punta de un arma cortante, tal vez una flecha. ¿Me sigues? —No muy bien. —La punta penetró en el cuerpo y paralizó el brazo. Cortó una vena. La identidad del asesino es un misterio. —Y la de ese hombre también, supongo. —No, en absoluto. Al parecer tenía la piel blanca, aunque bronceada. El frío preservó también fragmentos de la túnica que llevaba. Además, se encontró esto en sus manos —añadió al tiempo que me tendía una segunda fotografía. Se la devolví sin mirarla siquiera. —Es inútil, me planto. No voy a ponerme a buscar a un asesino que cometió su crimen hace tres mil años... —Dos mil. —Además, ese asesino ya no existe. O tal vez sí existe, pero en la misma forma que ese hombre, y en tal caso... —Tal vez no —murmuró Shimon con aire pensativo. —¿Tal vez no? Pero ¿qué te pasa, Shimon? ¿Crees en los fantasmas? ¿O en la inmortalidad? —Uno de los monjes del templo en que encontraron a ese hombre ha desaparecido. —Te lo repito, no veo qué relación tiene todo eso conmigo. Shimon no parecía alterado. Tranquilo, sereno, esperó sin decir una palabra. Un momento después, me levanté y le indiqué la puerta. —Hay algo más —dijo mientras se ponía en pie. —Si vas a hablarme de dinero, te repito que... —Se refiere a Jane... —¿Qué le ocurre? ¿Sabes dónde está? 1 Véase Qumran y El tesoro del templo 8 —Llegó un mensaje de la CIA para ella. Tomé la hoja que me tendía con las fotografías. —Una orden de misión... ¡para Japón! —exclamé sorprendido. Se inclinó hacia mí y me dio un billete de avión. —Date prisa. No podemos perder tiempo. —Pero ¿qué voy a decir a mi padre? ¿Le has avisado? Shimon consultó su reloj. —Esta tarde, a las dieciocho cincuenta. Te quedan aproximadamente doce horas para despedirte de todo el mundo. Sólo entonces mi mirada cayó sobre una de las fotografías. Estupefacto, vi que se trataba de un manuscrito hebreo.
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