Not to mention French and Spanish.
“Bosmat is a gem of gems. I am thankful for this café,” Ferdi continued, smiling even more.
Chesed took his first bite and nodded, not daring to reply until he’d finished the second. “How her father has not married her off yet, I do not understand.”
“Ah, yes,” Ferdi said, frowning. “I have wanted to speak with him for many months, only I do not know that Bosmat would have me.”
Chesed eyed the younger man, waiting patiently. Took a third bite.
“I keep coming here to get to know her more, but there are so many men who are looking at her when she brings the food to the counter, I worry that she may not want to be with someone that is not fully Jewish, as her family is,” the man continued again, unaware that Bosmat’s father had paused behind him in his task of washing tables. “I am a good man, and I care for her. But am I a good man for her,” Ferdi asked Chesed, his smile turning bittersweet, and his eyebrows drawing together in earnest.
Menachem Nussenbaum cleared his throat behind Ferdi, and Chesed looked away, trying to hide his smile.
“So, you wish to seek my daughter’s hand, Mr. Touma? I think she is not the only one who would be pleased with such arrangements, should you ask her,” the man said quietly as Bosmat approached with a coffee pot, her long tail of hair swept up into a bun and covered with netting.
To get out of the way of his daughter, Menachem sat down at Ferdi’s table and waved Chesed toward them.
He obliged quickly.
After Bosmat filled Ferdi and Chesed’s cups, she moved on to other tables. Menachem, his wide girth overfilling the chair he sat on across from Ferdi, looked around a moment before continuing. “There are three other men interested, but her Imma and I, we do not agree on any of them. I admit, two are younger than you, and all are Israeli-born, but your heart… it seems in the right place to me.” He leaned in close to Ferdi; close enough that, when Chesed looked over at him, he could see the coffee stains on the man’s teeth. “I will speak with Mirele and if she agrees, then you will have our permission.”
“You cannot know how much this means to-”
Menachem held up one of his beefy hands to halt the tumult of Ferdi’s words. “I might know more than you think I do, Mr. Touma. Think on it no more; only pray. I will speak with Mirele, and I will pray. That is all we can do, yes?”
Chesed smiled as he wiped the corners of his mouth; took another sip of coffee.
His assignment here was more than half complete now. And as much as he enjoyed getting to know humans, he was eager to return to Heaven.
Forty One
The Valley of Thrones… the Eternal Now
Lines of angels, by rank and assignment, waited for their next instruction from the Holy One, the hum of their wings the only sound in the atmosphere.
Time fast approaches for revelation to coincide with humanity’s reality, the Mighty One intoned. We must remain vigilant against the wiles of satan, who has never won and who still believes he rules over the earth. We must help the people remember what praise is truly about, for they must praise Us in order to get past their obstacles.
For some, the challenge will be more difficult than others. This road has not been easy, but then, I never promised ease. We the Three-in-One promised peace. And peace will come with praise.
We must dispatch three more of you to Portland, Oregon and two more of you to St. Louis, Missouri for this assignment, the Holy One intoned. One more will go to Japan.
The humming wings of the angels got more intense as they waited to see who would go forth into Earth. Each waited for a knowing in their hearts, as was the common way of things.
Adir sensed a stirring within his heart, and a tingling on the inside of one of his many wings. The familiar writing was there: he would go to Japan. But what was the purpose?
Three rows behind him, Fruma, Issur, and Keshet were discovering their assignment to Portland, and far back – another six hundred and four rows away – Nachum and Ravid unfurled their single pairs of wings to find assignments taking them to St. Louis.
By now, you are aware if you are called to this assignment, the Mighty One intoned to them all. The rest of you are dismissed to your duties here in the heavens. Those called, come forward in silence.
A flurry of wings moved faster than a blink, and suddenly, six angels stood before the triune thrones. They bowed low before the Triune God, waiting in silence as instructed.
Here is what We want you to do, the Godhead began…
Adir intoned to the angel in charge of covering Asia that he was being sent to Earth, then checked his wing again to see if there were further instructions.
Inakadate-mura village, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken, Japan, it read as before. But now there was an additional note: Haruto-san.
Adir puzzled a moment before it dawned on him: Ogawa Haruto. He was Masao’s father.
But what the situation was, Adir knew he would find only when he stepped down from Heaven and allowed for freefall tumbling into Earth; into human form.
It had been a long time, but he was ready. Wrapping his wings tightly around himself, as he’d learned from earlier trips, made for an easier landing, Adir closed his eyes and allowed the whirlwind to begin.
When he landed, he was on a small expanse of lawn underneath a large bonsai-ed tree facing one of the entrances to Kuroishi General Hospital., several miles from Inakadate. It was night time, and there was the bare whisper of apple-scented breeze, which helped tone down the humidity. In his hand was a stethoscope, and when he looked down, he saw he had on a lab-style coat. He shoved the stethoscope in one of the pockets and took a few deep breaths before deciding what to do next.
Well, I guess it would be good to know who I am; what I’m here for, exactly, he thought. Other than that Masao Ogawa’s father is somehow involved.
Pulling the coat off to see the name on it, he was thankful that it was in both Romanji and Katakana. Nobuyuki Mitsushima, M.D., it read. He glanced around him and, seeing people going about their business but not paying attention to him, he checked his pockets.
There was always something in the pockets.
Visiting doctor from Moroika-shi in the Iwate Prefecture. Bachelor, fifty-seven years old with two dogs, Nyoko the pug and Mamoru the Shiba Inu. Both male. Boarding in a nearby home for a conference.
Dr. Mitsushima looked at his watch.
If the conference begins on the ninth of August, why is he arriving on the third?
As if in answer, the pager on his left hip pocket began to vibrate. Looking at it, he recognized the code. He quickly glanced both ways, crossed the driveway, walked underneath the bus shelter where two men waited, and toward the glass and white building before him.
With one final deep breath, he stepped inside, praying that God would give him the strength for what was ahead.
Fruma, Keshet, and Issur interfaced with Ravid and Nachum in silence for a while prior to preparing for their journeys. The first three, to Portland, Oregon… the others, to St. Louis, Missouri.
Intoning back and forth about the birth of Rose’s son and the death of Calico’s had lasted only briefly before silence had reigned. Thoughts of the mirror came to Fruma in the silence, but he had not allowed himself to intone them to the small group.
After all, there was the possibility that he would not come to see it. Why hope for things that may not be the will of the One? If he, Issur, and Keshet were to have something to do with the results related to the angels’ mirror, then God would allow it to happen and if not… Fruma knew that the Mighty One had a reason and was to be praised.
Well, are we about ready, Nachum intoned, interrupting Fruma’s thoughts. He checked his wing feather once more – still nothing new. Usually, there was at least some hint to what the assignment was. Apparently, this would not be one of those times; not for him.
The other angels around him lowered their heads and shook out their wings a moment. Signs that ev
eryone else was ready. Well, so be it, he thought. The sooner the freefall, the sooner we know what is happening with more certainty.
And with that, he closed his eyes and began to whirl.
Forty Two
Tel Aviv, Israel… August 3, 2025
“Shalom! Welcome to Tel Aviv in the beautiful Eretz Yisrael,” the petite woman at the gate said as Paloma, Edward, and the rest of their group waited for their bags to be inspected and their passports stamped. “Taxis are available most of the day.”
The woman – whose nametag read Danya – moved her inspection wand over Paloma a second time, then waved her through. As she waited on the other side of the gate, Paloma prayed silently that there would be no further delays, and that everyone in their group would make it through the whole checkout process.
There were still six people – Lovan, Quentin, Kristof, his friend Imogene, Casimir, and Zollo – to get through the rest of security and then, they could head to Jerusalem, and their hotel.
When Danya moved the wand over Kristof, it bleeped, causing Paloma’s heart to speed up. While this had happened at each airport due to some of his medical equipment, it had given Paloma pause each time. She looked to Edward and clasped his hand with her free one.
“What is this,” Danya asked the older man. “Is there something on your person that is on our contraband list?” She pointed to a sign with Hebrew, English, and Arabic writing with photographs indicating different types of items.
“I have a medical condition,” Kristof said, his voice faint. “ Cancer, among other things. And there is metal in one of the devices I need for….”
The sudden helpless look that crossed his face pained Paloma, and she opened her mouth to intervene. Kristof held a hand up, waving her help away. “I was actually going to request a wheelchair the rest of the way to a cab,” he finally said, reaching carefully into his front breast pocket for his medical documentation.
Paloma watched Imogene place a reassuring hand on Kristof’s arm as Danya called an additional security person forward. “They we will need you to walk through the machine over there. It will not harm metal, but we must know you are not bringing anything dangerous or prohibited into our country. If you pass satisfactorily, we will provide you with a wheelchair, as requested. They are rented for the equivalent of 40 US dollars a day, and as long as it is returned prior to boarding when you leave, you may rent it for up to twenty-one days.”
Since when did airports rent out wheelchairs that long, Paloma wondered even as Danya continued. “We have a wheelchair rental service here that we do not own. It makes things more convenient for people entering and exiting the country to have the rental on-site here instead of several blocks away,” she explained. “But that doesn’t change anything else about the procedures. When the wheelchair is returned, they will screen him and the chair both, and then, we will screen him without it a second time. A hassle for some, but we must protect our people.”
The woman smiled apologetically even as Paloma watched Kristof move, with help, to the next line over.
Twenty minutes later, their whole group having passed, they headed for the luggage carousel. Their next stop was picking up a wheelchair, and then, they were off. With Justice and Tom shouldering Kristof’s bags along with their own, they slowly made their way to find cabs and eventually, their hotel.
Edward helped Imogene get Kristof settled into his room before checking into his own, thankful that the man had agreed to an adjoining one with his friend in the event of an emergency. Though they were just across the hall from the double room where Jason, Justice, Quentin and Lovan resided, Edward felt more reassured that someone had access if need be.
Their group’s rooms had been spread out between the second and third floors where vacancies were available, and Zollo, Casimir, Omega and Masao had decided to lodge across the way so that rooms wouldn’t be as tight. Masao would room with Casimir, and Zollo with Omega. Edward could see into Masao and Casimir’s open curtain from his window, barely making out his uncle, waving.
He waved back quickly before unpacking his suitcase into the two left-hand drawers of their four-drawer bureau.
“Well,” he said as he sat down heavily next to Paloma on the bright aqua and white settee near the window, “we all made it, and with little issue. Even Quentin breezed past once the airports each saw and confirmed the letter he was carrying.”
“Now to hope he doesn’t lose it before we head home again,” Paloma responded softly, yawning as she laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm about her and closed his eyes.
Maybe a little rest would do them all good. Tomorrow would give them plenty to do, and they didn’t need to rush right away.
I wonder when we will meet the friends Zollo mentioned on the plane, he thought as he yawned. And are they all angels in disguise, like him?
Forty Three
August 5, 2025
“So, let me get this straight,” Jason said as he, Edward, and Quentin made their way through the left turn curve of Hezekiah’s Tunnel toward their destination. He paused long enough to make sure no one was close enough to hear what might echo around them before taking another sloshing step forward in the knee-deep water.
“Each group’s aim is to get at least two of the necklace vials filled, right? And then we head back to-”
“Yes,” Edward told him just as quietly. “You and Quentin for our group, and I’ll be your lookout.”
The last group among their party, they had done their best to keep an ear out for their family and friends ahead, watching and listening for signs of issues with locals or other tourists. Zollo, Tom, Casimir, and Masao led the way, followed by two groups of women with a man to escort them, then the three youngest, and finally, Jason’s group.
“Why we gotta be so spread out, though, man,” Quentin complained. “An’ why we gotta be the tail o’ tha group? Not like I unnerstan’ the who’ reason we be here to begin wit.”
Jason turned to glance at the man, hitting the elbow of his flashlight hand against the bumpy surface of the wall, causing him to yelp and nearly drop their main source of light. Instead of answering, he rubbed his elbow with his free hand and kept walking, trying not to allow annoyance to creep in.
He knew there was a reason Quentin and Lovan were with them, but for the life of him, he certainly didn’t see it. Not yet, at least.
Quentin had been complaining all morning, and now that it was approaching the noon hour, and Jason was getting hungry, the man’s attitude irritated him more than usual.
Didn’t he understand how vital splitting up had been for their group? It wasn’t that they’d wanted to experience the historical tunnel and pool separately; they’d all meet at the end, each group helping support the next coming in, but if they didn’t want to look suspicious…
“I’ll explain more to you later. For now, let’s just get this done,” Jason told him, trying not to get more annoyed than he already was.
Masao had pointed out the night before that the less they looked like a group of tourists bombarding some of the most historic landmarks, the better. And then, when they finished, the men would escort the women and necklaces back to the hotel before heading to the Western Wall to pray, meeting up with the contacts Zollo had mentioned when they were finished.
Something about a café.
At least they could bring food in for the women when they were finished… and by then, the water would have been consolidated. Then, and only then, would they know if they’d gathered enough or if a handful of the group would need to come back to the pool at Siloam.
“Looks like we’re about there,” Edward said a few minutes later. “The echoes are deeper, and, see those stairs,” he said, pointing out the edges of a set of metal grated stairs ahead. “Just beyond should be that grated gate we saw in the photos before we left.”
Jason ran a hand through his hair, took a deep breath, and followed his brother-in-law through the last several feet of water to the stairs,
up, and through the gate. Behind him, he could hear Quentin’s sneakers clop against the metal as he ascended the stairs and made his way into the light.
“Still don’t see why we didn’t just get water in da tunnel,” Quentin muttered under his breath. “Ain’t gonna be as obvious there, and it be da same water, ain’t it?”
“Same water, yes, but what I saw in my vision was this place,” Edward told them as the trio made their way forward along the channel toward the pool itself.
Though they weren’t permitted to get much closer to the screen dividing the two marble basins of the pool for ritual cleansings in the early days of its’ use, they had decided as a group to gather water at the juncture where the channel gate met the pool. In that way, they had the purest form of the water they were able to get. Or perhaps, ironically, due to the water’s travels from the Gihon spring through the tunnel, the least pure.
Jason sniggered at his own private joke as he approached before allowing his thoughts to take another turn.
Could the different compounds found in the various materials that moved and held the water be part of what made it so potent? Or was it simply the intervention of God, as was suggested in the story of the blind man?
“Guys… we’re over here,” Jason heard Justice urging above the small crowd of people heading in the direction they’d already been going. A small group of Muslim men made their way past in the other direction, chatting in Arabic.
“We think there’s enough already, but just in case…,” Justice continued, his wide smile gleaming as the trio got close enough for more discreet conversation. About half of their group waved quietly as Jason, Quentin, and Edward came to stand before them.
Enough already, Jason questioned to himself, raising an eyebrow at his friend as they got closer. Really? Enough already? The earlier groups would have needed to get at least three vials each for that to be the case.
The Angels' Mirror Pack 2: Books Four through Seven Page 108