Alex Mitchell - The 13th Tablet

‘It’s like a warning in riddles’ said Mina feeling a shiver of excitement run down her spine, ‘but how do you interpret it?’

‘Well, it took me some time to figure it out and unfortunately I was never allowed access to the manuscript again but I am pretty sure “Rabbi Benjamin the Traveller” is Benjamin of Tudela who wrote about his travels in the 12th century. As The Tree of Life was written over 400 years after his death, Tudela couldn’t have divided the community in person, it must be something he did or wrote. Something concerning God’s plan.

Eli took in another deep breath and continued: ‘I read Tudela’s Book of Travels over and over again but I never found out how he divided their community, nor who the Dark Ones were, nor why one should beware their return. But, it is clear that they were evil enough to be “cast out by the Lion”, that is to say excommunicated by the Holy Ari himself. The last part of the passage troubled me for days on end. There is only one “holy room” that makes sense here and it’s in the Ari’s synagogue. It’s the recess in which it is said that the Ari pondered deeply on the mysteries of Kabbalah and received instructions from the prophet Elijah himself. But I have never found anything there, not even peace of mind.’

Jack and Mina looked at the old man in wonder. Mina’s research was taking the strangest turn.

‘Still, you were right’, Mina added passionately, ‘this commentary you read in the margin of The Tree of Life is verified by the travel notes I found in the British Library: Tudela clearly states that he wrote to Safed about an object of the greatest importance to mankind.’

The old man looked at her and sighed. ‘Don’t mistake my tone for a lack of enthusiasm at your endeavours: whatever the content of the letter Tudela sent to Safed, it must have been quite significant to divide such a learned community. But I spent many years gathering useless information on Tudela, looking everywhere in this synagogue for a sign. I even went to Egypt, to the small island where the Ari is said to have spent time in a cave as a young man. I found the cave: I searched every inch of it with great reverence, but it was to no avail. I’m tired now.’

Mina shook her head, dispirited. The old man rose to his feet.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Here’s my phone number. Get in touch before you leave Safed. I would love to talk some more about these matters. Maybe I’ve missed something?’

Jack laid a hand on Mina’s slumped shoulder and tried to comfort her, but she was too depressed to listen to him. They thanked Eli and slowly left the synagogue. Mina looked for a last time at the recess where Ari had met the prophet Elijah, and they were out in the cold streets once again.

Mina and Jack strolled aimlessly through the Citadel and the park for two hours. The cold air cleared their minds and numbed their feet. Although Jack was disappointed for Mina that they had not found out more about her research, he was mainly relieved that they would soon be on their way, far from Wheatley’s grasp. They entered an art gallery and while Mina asked a few questions, Jack looked out of the store’s window and suddenly froze. Springing into action he pushed Mina into a corner of the gallery and waited there for a few minutes. She asked him what the matter was but he just told her to stay there and not to leave the gallery. He had just recognised Wheatley’s men from the yacht, on the other side of the street. He quickly deduced that they had already been to the Merkazi Hotel and were now asking around about him, and possibly Mina, if they thought she might still be alive.

Leaving Mina safely in the gallery, Jack discreetly followed the two men. Hopefully they would not sense him on their trail; the narrow and winding streets made it easier to conceal oneself, but he still had to keep his wits about him. He followed them for half an hour, street after street, watching them as they questioned owners of art galleries and people coming out of synagogues throughout the Old Town. He had a fleeting impression he was being watched too and turned round, but there was no-one there. He wondered if Oberon had sent more than two men, or if he was in Safed himself.

The men were approaching the Abuhav shul . Jack thought of Ezra, the synagogue’s administrator. He would definitely remember Mina and himself from the day before. He would send the men to the Ari synagogue and straight to Eli. He calculated he had about fifteen minutes to deal with this. He picked up his mobile phone and called Eli’s home number to warn him of the danger. He did not tell him much, just enough to scare him out of staying at home and convince him to meet Mina and himself at the guest house in thirty minutes. He then rushed back to the art gallery, picked up Mina and brought her up to speed on the latest events as they made their way back quickly to the guest house.

Mina paced up and down their room, waiting impatiently for Eli.

‘Don’t worry Mina. I’m sure he’ll make it.’

‘I just don’t understand, all I did was ask a few questions.’

‘Sometimes questions can have dangerous consequences.’

‘It reminds me of something… That’s it! I’d totally forgotten to tell you about it.’

She explained who Moshe Shobai was and the email he had sent from London, warning her about playing with century-old riddles. Jack agreed she should get in touch with Shobai once they were sure Eli was out of danger. They heard some huffing and puffing and finally the old scholar made it up the stairs to the suite, carrying a small shoulder bag. Mina rushed to greet him and apologised profusely for putting him in danger. The old man simply shook his head and told her not to burden herself with the shameful actions of other men. He said he’d brought some precious documents on Tudela so they would have an opportunity to talk more about her fascinating research.

He reminded them that sunset was fast approaching and that tonight would be a special Shabbat, as it was Chanukah. Members of his congregation would be surprised not to see him officiate on this special night but Jack advised him not to return to his house tonight, nor to the Ari synagogue during Shabbat. He suggested that Eli could participate in the Shabbat dinner at the guest house instead. Surely it would count for something? Mina felt a little embarrassed by Jack’s blunt way with the old scholar, but he was right.

After the Shabbat meal, Mina and Eli went to sleep in separate rooms in the suite, whilst Jack stood guard. Several hours later, in the dead of night, he heard the old man scream. He raced down the corridor and went into the old man’s room. Mina followed in a matter of seconds, as she too had been awoken by the screams.

‘What’s wrong, Eli?’ asked Jack.

The old man was visibly shaken. ‘I had a dream. I saw a rabbi. He spoke to me. He said his name was… I can’t say.’

‘What?’ asked Mina bewildered. The old man sat up against the wall to gather his thoughts.

‘I have the answer. We must go. Now.’

‘Where?’

‘To the Ari shul .’

To Jack and Mina’s surprise, he leapt from the bed, hurriedly put on his shoes, coat and scarf, and rushed out of the room.

Eli had the keys to the synagogue. Yet, they still felt as if they were trespassing and being sacrilegious, but then again, nothing could have stopped them now. The old man walked right through the main area to the Ari’s room. It was still illuminated by dozens of candles that had been placed there during the day. The old man knelt at the very bottom of the furthest wall and using a small penknife, began to scratch the old mortar all around the only protruding stone in the recess’ masonry.