by Mina Carter
Lexi held Ryan’s arm and gently urged them to stop for a few minutes. A warm breeze scented from the aromatic flowers blanketed the gardens of Mount Carmel, lightly tossed her hair, and filled her senses with the fresh new day. A shimmering blue sheet adorned with diamonds and gold unfurled in the distance as the Mediterranean Sea reached out to the horizon.
Ryan pulled Lexi close and kissed her. She couldn’t get enough of the way Ryan spontaneously took her into his arms. It was a magical feeling that she wished would last forever. “It’s so beautiful up here. Just look at this view. I wish we could just make time stand still.”
“Yeah, I feel the same way, Lex. You know I’ve been thinking about something.”
“About what?”
“Just about when we are done with this trip.”
“And?” Lexi anxiously waited for him to continue.
“Nothing really...just thinking.” Ryan kissed her again. “Hey, we better get going, in case his place is hard to find.”
Damn! I wonder where that was going. Is he trying to drive me insane? Her head and heart filled with hope that he might possibly want the same thing she did.
It was only a few blocks farther, until they came to the address listed for the doctor. The house was a grey, stone building nestled between similarly designed structures on either side. Weathered, grey stone steps that bordered with rocks and sand led them up to a small landing. Lexi and Ryan stood before a heavy wooden door. They noticed how small and plain it looked, not at all like the doctor’s office that they had come to expect. A tile placard written in both Hebrew and English hung on the rough plaster wall by the door. Lexi took a close look at it and read the name out loud.
“Yep, this is it all right. It doesn’t look like any doctor’s office that I’ve ever been to, and not like one I would want to go to either.”
Ryan carefully looked over the building. Every detail was significant to him. His mind instantly catalogued the number of windows and their size—along with the number and type of utility lines running to the roof. He looked for evidence of any foot traffic around the side of the building, and any type of security system. He guided Lexi behind him before he knocked on the door.
Lexi looked at Ryan from behind, admiring how his broad shoulders filled his t-shirt and his jeans hugged his ass. She smiled as she still felt her body ache from their passionate night. Lexi ignored Ryan’s cautious approach and moved up behind him.
He jumped with surprise as Lexi cupped his ass with her hands and gave him a firm squeeze. “You sure are cautious.” She whispered in his ear. “What are you looking for?”
“Anything and everything. I don’t like surprises, and I want to have a good idea of what we could be going into.”
“Do you see anything unusual, Sherlock?” Lexi teased.
“Well, this place isn’t used much. I doubt that more than one, or maybe two people could live here. There is no security system. Other than the little plaque on the wall, it looks like the doctor would just as soon be left alone in his little cave. I don’t expect any surprises here other than what he may have to tell us.”
“I am pretty sure that our doctor likes to cultivate roses.” Lexi observed.
“Wow! How can you tell that?”
Lexi smiled and pointed to a white canvas bag of gardening tools that had a magazine laying on top. The magazine cover had large lettering that she read out loud. “Cultivating the perfect rose. A lifelong project.”
“Very observant, my dear Watson!” Ryan joked and knocked loudly on the door. They heard the slow shuffling sounds of tired feet approaching from somewhere inside.
“I think I can count at least seven dwarfs coming.” Lexi whispered.
Ryan noticed movement behind the peephole in the door. There was a metallic clicking noise and then the heavy sounds of brass tumblers that came from the lock being opened. The door creaked open slightly and the old man peered out. His voice was deep and gravely with age and his tone was stern. Jakub had a strong accent, but his English was clear enough for them to easily understand. “Who are you?” He growled.
Lexi immediately took charge of their introductions. “Hello, I’m Lexi. Lexi Salenko and this is Ryan Kidd. I have received a letter from-.”
“You’re the Karnstein woman’s sister! I’ve been expecting you. So is this your boyfriend or your guard dog?”
“Both actually.” She happily replied.
“Humph. Before I let you in, do you have it?”
Lexi answered “Yes, if you mean the coin or whatever it is.”
“Then come in.” Jakub opened the door and backed up to let his guests in.
Ryan looked over at Lexi and made a slight mocking bow. With a wave of his arm he said, “After you, my dear Watson.”
“Why thank you, Sherlock.” Lexi playfully giggled.
Lexi and Ryan finally got a good look at Jakub Meier. He was a very tall man, thin and gaunt. There were small brown blotches on his nearly bald head, and the skin of his face was loose and wrinkled. Perhaps ninety years old, they thought. Jakub’s most remarkable feature was his bright, sky-blue eyes. They were impossible to ignore.
Jakub led them inside, and pointed at an old wooden table with four simple chairs neatly arranged around it. Lexi and Ryan walked in as Jakub closed the door behind them. With a series of clicks, he carefully locked the deadbolt. The room was dimly lit by a couple of tiny rays of sun that snuck past the closed shutters on two windows. The table was in the center of a small kitchen with an adjoining living room next to it.
The living room was a hoarder’s dream. The couch and chair looked like they had not been used in decades, except as repositories for the stacks of magazines and newspapers that made precarious leaning towers. The rest of the room was a cluttered mess with books and old newspapers covered in the dust of many years gone by.
Jakub flipped a switch on the wall, then turned on a small light fixture above the table. Jakub held his hands on a chair and waited for them to sit down, before taking a seat across from them. Lexi was troubled by Jakub’s expressionless stare that lasted an uncomfortably long time.
What the hell is wrong with him? Is he waiting for me to say something? Why does he keep this place so dark that he has to turn on a light on a day like this?
Lexi began to shift in her seat when she felt the penetrating gaze that she got from the old man. Ryan noticed her unease and he took her hand. “Lexi, why don’t you show the coin to Jakub.” She let go of Ryan’s hand and reached into her backpack to remove the coin.
The palm of his outstretched hand signaled her to stop. “No! Keep it put it away for now. Please. I’m not ready to look at it yet.” He said.
Lexi looked at Ryan and raised her eyebrows. She pursed her lips and then silently mouthed her words. “Okay then.”
There was a knock on the wooden door. Ryan immediately rose from his seat and looked through the small lens of the peephole. He turned to Jakub and said, “Were you expecting anyone else? There is an older man at the door. Curly gray hair, fuzzy beard, and glasses.”
“Ooh is it Doc? Or Grumpy? I could never get them right.” Lexi quipped.
Ryan noticed it was the little traits they had in common that made them feel so comfortable. He laughed at Lexi’s wisecrack and thought about her for a second. God I love that girl! Clichés came to mind when he considered how they got along. They were on the same page. Her habit of joking around to take the tension away from an awkward situation was yet one more thing they had in common.
“Yes, let him in. That is Rabbi Abraham Pearlman. He’s a specialist in archaeology and history.” Ryan opened the door, and a smiling man entered. He was short, portly, and about sixty years old. His glasses were round wire frames over smiling blue eyes. Lexi looked at him and thought, if he traded in his black suit for something red, he would have made an excellent Santa Claus.
“Welcome, Rabbi Pearlman!” Jakub said loudly. “Please meet Lexi Salenko, she is the sister of Kate Karnst
ein and this is either her boyfriend or bodyguard, Ryan Kidd.”
“Hmmm. Bodyguard and boyfriend to such a pretty lady? Not a bad job to have my boy. From the looks on their faces I would say that he really gets into his work.” Abraham laughed at his own crusty demeanor. “I’m sorry. Forgive an old man.” He smiled and shook his finger at them. “I recognize you from last night. I was walking through the plaza and I remember seeing you both. I thought to myself. Ah to be so young and in such love. It makes me happy to see that, you know.”
Ryan shook hands with Abraham. Lexi started to get up, but Abraham put his hand on her arm. “Please, don’t get up for me.” He smiled at her. “You look like a younger twin of your sister. Although with those eyes, my dear, you certainly are your mother’s daughter.”
Lexi stood up anyway and excitedly asked, “Rabbi Pearlman! You knew my mother?”
“Yes, yes I certainly did. I knew both of your parents. We first met before you were born. I think it was at a conference in Ankara, Turkey. After that, I would occasionally run into them at various archaeological digs as well as some lectures. We corresponded on our research as well. As a matter of fact, I also met your sister at a lecture I gave. Duke University, I believe. I was on a lecturing circuit about Babylonian archaeology and mythology at that time. In any case, please dispense with calling me Rabbi and just call me Abraham. Jakub insists on calling me Rabbi, although I have extensively studied Hebrew texts, I was never a rabbinical student.”
Jakub immediately refuted his dear friend, “Yes, you are certainly a Rabbi. You are a teacher, and you have dutifully kept on with your Hebrew studies well beyond what many people have. Close enough for me. Besides, it makes me feel better when I can brag to people that my friend the famous Rabbi was here.” Jakub surprised Lexi and Ryan with a laugh.
Ryan chimed into the conversation in order to glean more information about how Jakub, and the archaeologist that knew Lexi’s parents had met. “So, how do you and Jakub know each other?”
Abraham looked ever at Jakub and they both appeared cautious about how to answer Ryan’s question. Finally Abraham spoke out, “Yes, well Jakub met me a number of years ago when he approached me about learning more about an old amulet that had come into his possession. He was with the Mossad at the time. He said that much of the story surrounding it was classified as secret. I looked at it briefly, but because I couldn’t take it to study it, I really had nothing to offer in regards to it. All I can say is that it is very old, and I have seen nothing else quite like it. He recently contacted me and told me that Lexi Salenko would be visiting him with the amulet. So of course, I had to see the daughter of my old friends as well as to see this amulet again. Jakub promised that he would be spilling all of his secrets. I am intrigued! Perhaps we should let Jakub tell us the very interesting story associated with it.”
“Forgive me, but I am very old. With age I have realized that it is time for me to say what must be said, and to do what must be done. I also believe it is time for me to tell my entire story, as I never have done that before. I feel that I must do this, before I leave this life.”
Jakub addressed Lexi directly. “So, if you would like some water or tea please, there—the kitchen, you may get those. It is rather difficult for me to move about and be a good host.”
Lexi looked at Ryan, who smiled back at her as they acknowledged Jakub’s old fashioned personality. Of course, it would be the woman’s job to get the drinks. Lexi walked over to the little kitchen counter and while she looked around she asked, “Jakub, would you like something? Ryan, Abraham?”
Jakub made a slight smile, “Thank you Lexi, tea for the Rabbi and me.”
“Just water for me Lex, thanks. Doctor Meier, forgive me for asking this, but we would like to know about how you knew Kurt Karnstein. We know that he visited you in the past.”
Jakub answered, “Yes, I met him and I will tell you about that after I give you my story.” Lexi returned to the table with the drinks.
“Thank you, Lexi. I want you to be comfortable, because I am going to tell you a story now. Your sister was here. You could say that I compelled her to write the letter to you. I needed her to have you bring the amulet here. That thing she called a coin is actually an ancient amulet.”
Everyone eagerly awaited Jakub’s tale.
Chapter Ten
“NOW LISTEN TO me, this is the story of why the amulet is important, and why you must take it to your sister. Again, humor me by saving your questions until after.”
Ryan and Lexi looked at each other and Ryan answered, “Of course, we’re all ears.”
Jakub took a cigarette from a pack on the table and lit it. He inhaled and blew swirls of blue grey smoke into the ceiling light. His eyes seemed to be looking into the distant past.
“My story starts in Warsaw, Poland. It was 1941 and I was fourteen years old. I lived with my parents and my two little sisters in a flat that was located above a closed down bakery. This was in the Jewish Ghetto that you are undoubtedly familiar with. You know the history well of how this happened. It was a terrible place those Nazi monsters created.
Not only did they treat us like we were animals, they enforced a particular cruelty on us. Those were the days of heart breaking decisions of who would be chosen to be sent to the labor camps, whenever the SS ordered deportations to be carried out.”
Ryan pointed out an observation. “They were making sure that nobody could trust each other, particularly the leaders.”
“Exactly. In order to control us they sometimes made Jews make those heart wrenching decisions. They needed to pit us against each other, keeping us in a state of mistrust and fear. They knew that by doing this, it would make it very difficult for us to organize a resistance.
The Nazis created what they called the Judenrat, or Jewish Councils made up of Jewish community leaders. The SS held all the councilmen responsible for ensuring that the Nazi SS orders were carried out. If the council failed to obey them, the SS threatened to liquidate the entire Ghetto by killing everyone. They also established Jewish police to uphold their rules.”
Jakub paused while he finished his cigarette. He squashed the butt down in an ashtray and pushed it aside.
“My father was council leader, and he was certain the Nazi’s would collapse on themselves, due to the constant pressure from other countries. My father was convinced it would all end soon. We just needed to survive. He set strict rules for us to live by. His greatest fear was that I would be overheard in speaking out against the Nazis. So my father always told me—never to talk to any strangers, and to only come to him about things that were happening around us.”
Jakub paused and drank his tea as if he were trying to steady himself for the rest of his story. “So now you know the type of place this was.”
“Now, I want to tell you about Shandor, the Magician. One day, I met a very old man who was on the street with the beggars. This man had been staying on our street for many days. Sometimes he hid himself in crates or barrels. I was very curious about how he lived, because he was never seen begging. I assumed that he was probably a thief of some kind.
In those days we were very poor, and my old shoes were falling apart. I sat on the step by our door and I tried to fix them by binding them up with a string. The old man looked at me and he motioned with his hand for me to come over to him, which I did. He held out a pair of shoes. They were not new, but they were in good shape. He said that they were too small for him, and that I could have them. I was very reluctant to accept something so highly valued because I was sure they were stolen. In times like that, it is very easy to allow necessity to trump morals, and that is exactly what happened. I took them, but only once he would tell me they were not stolen.”
Jakub took a drink of his tea and lit another cigarette. “Sometimes a person wants to be lied to, in order to do what is required. I am sure you would agree.” A circle of smoke snaked through the air above him as he laughed.
“He told me that he was
not a thief, but a magician. Now imagine how I reacted. I was just a boy, who is told by a mysterious old man that he is a magician! I was fascinated. Every boy wants to have some sort of special power, especially when one is at the mercy of such an evil like the SS. So, I became friends with him in the hopes that he truly was some sort of wizard.
He told me his name was Shandor, and that he was a Roma. Those are the people that are sometimes called Gypsies. The Roma people were persecuted by the Nazi’s, just like the Jews. That is why Shandor lived in the Ghetto.
I begged him to tell me about his life as a magician. He must have truly trusted me, because the Roma never speak to any outsiders about their secrets. Anything they would tell outsiders, were often just a bunch of made up tales. At least, that’s how it was for the old Roma. If they gave away their secrets, they would be shunned by their people. They would also be subject to attacks by evil spirits. Shandor told me that since he had nobody left in this world, he agreed to make me his apprentice.”
Jakub paused again, and closed his eyes as he remembered the mysterious Shandor.
“I remember exactly how he looked. Shandor was a very impressive man to meet. His eyes were like deep black pearls set into a face that may as well have been sculpted from brown clay. It had permanent deep lines that told of his long, hard life. His hair was long and dark. He had a heavy moustache and beard that hung down to his chest. He seemed so mysterious and intense to me. I couldn’t help but stare at him, and think that long ago he had been someone very important. His clothes were dirty and frayed, but you could tell that they were of good quality.
He wore a wide brim hat that was the color of sand. It was made of a stiff felt and had a dark red ribbon for a hatband. His long wool coat was crafted in the same light color of his hat. I remember how wide the lapels were and how large the collar was. He could pull them up and completely cover his head with the coat. There were only two of the silver buttons left on it, but you could see that at one time, they were decorated with a design in red enamel. He wore black pants and a black shirt with a dark red neckerchief. This is how the old Roma men like Shandor looked.
