The Smuggler's Seal

Customs

"You are already cleared at customs on this end," the driver said opening the door for them to exit the car. "You keep your heads and you'll be back in the states in a day, safe and sound. And rich."

"Come on," Jacobi pulled Mattson's sleeve.

Mattson followed but after a few steps anger spiked down his spine and legs, all the way to his toes, and he rounded on the men, snarling at the two armed guards.

Jacobi jerked his arm hard. "Let it go Mattson, you don't want to go down like this."

He stood fuming for a moment longer, glaring daggers at Ghaihani's guards, memorizing their features, then spun away and followed Jacobi onto the waiting plane.

~~~

"We did it Mattson. We're home free," Jacobi said as the two men walked up the gang plank into JFK airport in New York City. "My buyer's meeting us in the morning. In twelve hours we will be rich men. What will you do with your cut?"

"I don't want a cut," Mattson rounded angrily on Jacobi, speaking for the first time since the plane left Jordan. "I want no part in selling these seals.  It goes against everything I believe in. Change your mind, Jacobi. Please. Do the right things and give the seals back. The Iraqi museum has declared amnesty for any returned antiquities, no questions asked."

"Are you daft? This here's my retirement Mattson.  My mansion on the beach. I couldn't make this kind of money in a thousand years as a sand rat."

"If you're willing to trade stone gods for paper presidents Jacobi, you're the one who's crazy. Now, will you give them back?"

"It's Paper presidents for me, my friend."

Mattson nodded his regrets to Jacobi and signaled the attendant manning the customs gate.

"If a man has committed highway robbery and is caught, that man shall be put to death, Law twenty-two Jacobi. I truly am sorry for you, my friend."

Three armed guards materialized in front of them and surrounded Jacobi, divesting him of his satchel and the remaining seals.

"Dr. Marcus Jacobi, you're under arrest for the smuggling of international antiquities. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say-"

Jacobi twisted towards Mattson. "You did this?" he spat. "How? Why? I thought we were in this together."

"When we went back to the museum I left a message for the Americans to find. I told you Jacobi, we are archaeologists. We are supposed to protect, not steal. These seals belong in that museum and I intend to see them returned."

"But the plaque," Jacobi shouted to the officers handcuffing him. "He went back to steal the Lioness attacking the Nubian plaque. Arrest him too, he's guilty too!"

"The plaque was looted before we ever went back there Jacobi. But you have my word I won't rest until it's back where it belongs."

"Henry, Henry, don't let them do this," Jacobi cried out as two of the officers pulled him, kicking and fighting down the concourse.

Mattson ignored his old friend's pleas and turned to the remaining officer.

"Dr. Henry Mattson," the officer shook his hand, "the American government is indebted for your assistance in the return of these cylinder seals. We'd have never seen them again once they passed customs."

"I know," Mattson nodded, "I wasn't prepared to let that happen."

"Did you mean what you said about not resting until the other antiquities are restored?"

"More than you know," Mattson said thinking about the golden tablet and the stolen God Seals.

The officer nodded to himself and turned away indicating for Mattson to follow.

"The American government is amassing a small inter-agency task force to track down other artifacts looted from the Iraqi Museum. They might find your expertise in ancient cultures a valuable asset to their team."

"Back in the war zone?"

"Yes. You interested?"

Mattson felt the icy anger that had been boiling in him since his encounter in Jordan coalesce into steel resolve.

"When do I leave?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Antiquities looting made international news when an estimated 15,000 items were looted from the Iraqi National Museum during the second gulf war. (Specifically between April 8 and April 12, 2003). Forty highly prized public gallery pieces were stolen including The Lioness Attacking the Nubian ivory plaque. 5,144 cylinder seals were also stolen from the museum's basement storage areas.

Efforts to recover the stolen antiquities provided for the return of many of the looted items, but as of 2014, over 2,800 cylinder seals and the famous Lioness attacking the Nubian still remain missing.