Читаем The 13th Tablet полностью

‘… A month had passed since our beloved Ari sent the search party to Jerusalem with special instructions to locate the tablet. Finally, last night, they returned from their quest. I watched in awe as the five cautious and watchful men, their clothes still dusty from their travels, entered, silently, one-by-one the study of our blessed Ari. I watched, as the last one locked the door behind him. We all gathered in the hall, disciples and masters, trembling with anticipation, and in utter silence, impatient to know the outcome of their search, like young men on their wedding night. I still remember my excitement, my heart pounding in my chest at the idea that this tablet, which had caused such disturbance in our scholarly community was perhaps just a few feet away, in this small study, a small crack in the divine plan.

At last the blessed Ari opened the door and from the way he looked at us, each in turn, we all knew without a doubt that the search party had been successful. A wave of relief swept over me. I felt tears running silently down my cheeks. Yet, this profound joy lasted but a few seconds for suddenly…

‘The crossed out name again,’ said Eli.

‘[XXX] whom we thought had disappeared, came storming in the hall accompanied by Rabbi Tammim and a few other disciples, and pushed us aside to get closer to the Ari. [XXX] stepped forward, with darkened brow, his eyes rolling in angst and his body shaking with fury. He pointed his finger at the Ari and screamed at him like a rabid dog: ‘Hand over the tablet, Rabbi, give us the tablet, as it must be destroyed’.

Everyone stood frozen in horror. It was all too clear now that it was he who had stolen Tudela’s letter from the study. But the blessed Ari, raised his hand in a sign of peace, and said to [XXX] ‘You were given the grace of recovering your sanity and returning to life, yet you still turn a blind eye to His Will. Know this, that the tablet you crave for is out of your reach and that it is with sadness and humility that I cast you out of this community. You shall become dark like the night and be nameless, as shall be your descendants for all the years to come’.

‘The rest of the document is totally illegible’ said Eli, ‘and I can’t see any signature at the bottom which could tell us more about the author of this chronicle.’

Mina and Jack were dumbfounded. They were incapable of uttering a single word. Eli just kept repeating ‘It’s incredible!’ over and over again, his face beaming with ineffable joy.

Jack carefully placed the stone back in its place in the wall. Eli, holding the bundle of papers under his coat, close to his heart, walked hesitantly out of the synagogue, followed by Jack and Mina. They walked down the cobbled path towards the main road. The night was pitch black. Jack told them both to wait for him there while he picked up the van.

‘I’m speechless, Eli,’ said Mina.