Chapter 2
Year: 1949
Dr. Jones heard on the radio and read the newspaper a front page article from California with the words: Puff Graham. The article was a reprint for the Connecticut edition. The article was talking about a young evangelist from N. Carolina named Billy Graham.
Dr. Jones thought that this young, hard-core preacher might be the team member he's looking for.
He traveled to Los Angeles and sat with WWII hero Louis Zamperini and also in the audience was radio disc jockey Stuart Hamblen.
He asked to see Mr. Graham back at the hotel.
A phone rang in the preacher's room. "Yes?" "Mr. Graham, sorry to disturb you, sir, but there's a man in the lobby waiting to speak to you." "I'll be right down."
Billy hung up the phone, got dressed, and headed down to the lobby. Seated in the chairs and reading a newspaper, Jones lowered his paper. "Mr. Graham?" "Yes." "Hi," Indy puts out his hand, "I'm Dr. Hank Jones, archaeology professor from Marshall College, so glad to meet you." Billy shakes his hand, "I'm honored to meet you, Dr., what can I do for you?"
Indy got right to the point, "Well, I want to know your thoughts about the Ark of the Covenant." Billy sat down. "Well, the Ark was a very special item for the Jewish, built in the time of Moses and Aaron." Jones clarified, "After the Ten Commandments were written down by God himself." "Correct. We believe the Commandments were written twice: Once at Mount Sinai and the other at Mount Horeb." Billy got his Bible out and showed Indy where the Ten Commandments are listed.
"Mr. Graham, I would like to invite to join me in recovering the Ark of the Covenant." Billy Graham was ecstatic, "I'd love to join you. First, allow me to finish my campaign here and be assured I'll join." "Mr. Graham, it's a deal." The two gentlemen laughed and parted.
Indy just had to wait until the appropriate time to have Billy Graham to join him.
Year: 1950
As WWII was now out of the picture, events in the country of Korea stirred and frightened its neighbors, and even the US.
Dr. Jones and Billy Graham began their journey to find the Ark of the Covenant. They took a train from Los Angeles to Florida and flew to Cairo, Egypt.
As the two men travelled the Middle East, with their fellow team members, the Wilson brothers and Cliff Barrows, they looked at the Bible for references to the Ark of the Covenant, they looked at excavations, locations such as Jerusalem, Israel, Cairo, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and other places.
In Jerusalem, they found the Dome of the Rock, talked to the Arabic and Aramaic people there, and discussed what they learned. Dr. Jones woke up in the middle of the night, and got Billy up, also. "What if the Ark is buried under the Dome?"
"It's possible, Mr. Jones, but not verified." Indy looked at Billy, "Unverified doesn't always mean unfounded or false." "Perhaps we should pray about this." Jones, heading out the door, "You can pray and walk at the same time, can't you?"
"Why, yes, of course." "Then come on."