Light (41 page)

She lay there, still, unmoving.  Her eyes,
mercifully were closed but her head was at a most unnatural angle to her neck
and Jake knew that he had murdered her.

And then the words came back to him.

‘There is nothing to forgive.’

That was what Metatron had said but Jake
could see what he had done.  He had killed in anger.  Even at that young age he
had been aware of his actions.  He had always been an intelligent child and had
a good grasp of morality.

He had murdered.

‘There is nothing to forgive.’

No.  He did not understand.

And he was back in the lounge.  The En Sof
before him and Jake knew that he was lost.

He could not even think straight as those terrible
events replayed themselves endlessly in his mind.

‘So you will co-operate.’

‘Yes, yes, anything.’

‘No, Jake,’ that was Shmueli, ‘Don’t
listen to him.  Don’t believe anything he says.  He’s a liar.’

‘Silence, or I will have my servant
silence you permanently.’

‘No!’

This time it was Faivish who was
intervening.  Brave fool.

‘Another of you who wishes to die.’

‘And then what?’ the Professor shouted,
‘You can have each of us killed until none are left to perform your ceremony. 
Stop blustering, your threats are empty.  Until the coming of the Light, you
need us, all of us.’

Tiferet’s words seemed to make an
impression and Jake had the opportunity to ponder on what Shmueli had said and
knew that it was true.  The En Sof could manipulate your mind to make you do
its bidding.  Had not Metatron told him that there was nothing to forgive?  If
that was what Metatron had said it had to be true, but how?  He still could not
recall events properly.  This latest vision could have been so easily created
by the En Sof for its own ends.  He tried to remember.

But no, all he could see was the latest
image that was planted there by the En Sof.  It was no use thinking about it. 
He would play along.  See if an opportunity might present itself.

And then he was struck by a thought. 
Something no-one had considered.

‘Wait,’ he cried.

‘Shut up, wanker.’

Trust Mitch to have his say.

‘No, listen to me.  The ceremony will
fail.  It cannot succeed.  I know why Jacob Cordozo failed when he attempted
it.’

‘You’re stalling.’

‘No.  Listen to him.  He has seen his
ancestor.  He knows.  Speak.’

Jake could see Mitch breathing deeply. 
Good, he had unsettled the bastard.  A rift between Mitch and the En Sof could
be to everyone’s advantage.

‘Cordozo had all twelve stones but he did
not have the Urim and the Tumim.  The Urim and Tumim could only exist if
mounted within the Choshen Mishpat.’

‘But, began the Professor, ‘He had the
Choshen...Oh I see.’

‘No he did not have the Choshen Mishpat. 
What he had was a replica that he made.  The Urim and Tumim can only be in the
original breastplate that provided a shield for the High Priest when confronted
by the Light of the Shechinah.  Without the true breastplate the Light will do
what it did before and everyone here will be destroyed.  Even the En Sof will
be cast back to the place from which it came.’

‘You speak truth.  So the quest is not
over.  Then I will seek out the breastplate and my servant Mitch will bring it
here.’

‘There is no need.’

It was Lapski and he was smiling.

‘Do you all think that I am a fool?  Do
you seriously believe that I had not realised for myself why it was that
Cordozo failed.  I knew when I first conceived my plan to gain the Light that I
needed the original Choshen Mishpat in its entirety; the same Choshen Mishpat
that had once been worn by Aaron the High Priest and it was the first thing I
located.’

‘Then fetch it.  I will accompany you.’

‘I am certain you can be in several places
at the same time but that is not so easy.  I want something in return.’

‘What?’

‘To survive.  Is that too much to ask?  I
want to be a part of your new world order.  Make me ruler of the world and I
will give you the benefit of all my knowledge.’

‘No,’ cried a despairing Mitch, ‘You
promised that to me.’

‘What do you need with Mitch?  He is a man
driven by, no consumed by, thoughts of revenge and inadequacy.  Yes he is a
tool but you will need far more than that to be your lord of the future.’

‘No, don’t listen to him.’

‘Tell me more...’

‘No!’ and with eyes wild with madness
Mitch turned towards Lapski and fired the gun.

There was a retort but that was it.  The
barrel was smoking.  The shot had issued but the bullet had vanished before
reaching its target...and it was obvious to everyone that Mitch knew that he
was lost.

Full of rage and despair he threw the gun
at the thing in the centre of the room.  God alone knew what he hoped to
accomplish but nothing happened.  The weapon just passed straight through the
monstrous bulk.  The visible form of the En Sof was just illusion.

Screaming defiance, screaming outrage,
Mitch spun and ran.

The wall seemed to melt before him and he
passed through to the golden light that was briefly visible on the other side. 
So, the heavenly Jerusalem was still coexistent with them.

There was absolute silence.  Then Mitch’s
pistol slowly rose into the air and gently drifted towards Lapski who reached
out to take it in his hand.

‘You were saying?’

‘I have knowledge that you will need, will
you not?  I am educated in the ways of the Lord and can guide your world in its
dealings with the Almighty and, of course, I have the breastplate.’

‘Then, Alexander Lapski, you will be my
first disciple and my king.  Bring me the breastplate.’

‘Wait.  Not that quickly.  I am not stupid
like Mitch.  I know you for what you are.  I can give you what you want and
then you could discard me.  I must have a guarantee.’

‘A guarantee.  To you I am a god, yet
you ask me for a guarantee.  I should destroy you.’

‘But you won’t, will you?  You need me.’

‘You speak truth.  Come here.’

Slowly Lapski approached the En Sof and
waited.  There was a rustling and a wispy tendril started to form.  It grew
from the creature, twisting into the air like the stem of a plant viewed
through time-lapse photography, and reached to Lapski’s open mouth.  And still
it grew, down his gullet, into his stomach, filaments spreading through every
vein, every artery until Lapski was completely possessed by it.

His eyes began to glow with the brightest
crimson, even his skin shone with a blood-red sheen and the hideous illusion
that the En Sof had projected vanished.  The monster had melded with a man.

The transformed Lapski turned to face the
others and smiled triumphantly.

‘We are one.  Now we must begin.  You,
Tiferet.  Go to the room where we slept.  Find our case.  Inside you will see
the breastplate.  Bring it to us.  We shall be watching you.

‘Now, Jacob Tranton, it is time for you to
do that for which you have been destined.  Prepare yourself.  Go to your
bedroom.  There you will find the true robes of the High Priest awaiting you on
your bed.  Wear them.  Do not think of escape.  You love the girl, Cherry.  Her
life is forfeit if you disobey me.

‘Now go, both of you.’

Jake and Ben walked out from the lounge to
the hallway and Jake turned to his one-time mentor.

‘What can we do?’

‘I don’t know, I just don’t know.  Tell
me.  How did you return here?  How are Heaven and Earth linked?’

‘That is the doing of the Angel Metatron.’

‘He is here?’

‘Outside, in the Temple.’

‘Then he must know what is happening.  God
must be ready to help us.’

‘No, Ben.  It is up to us.  Metatron said
that it is in my power to end this.  I just wish I knew what I am to do.’

‘If Metatron told you this, then it must
be true.  Think Jake, there has to be something else.’

‘No, nothing.  There’s so much I now know,
you would not believe it, but there is nothing I can do.  If I carry out the
ceremony and ask the Urim and Tumim how to harness the Light, I will be told
and the En Sof will become the new universe.’

‘I know.  All right, we both have our
tasks.  I think we’d better do as we’ve been ordered.  The En Sof does not seem
particularly patient.’

So they were now outside the bedrooms. 
Ben went into one and Jake into the master room that he once shared with the
unfortunate Fiona.  Another death on his conscience.

God, why did these thoughts keep coming? 
He really wished that he could put them behind him.  Jake shook his head and
looked at the bed.  There they were, the priestly vestments.  How magnificent
they looked.  There was a cobalt robe, a sort of jumper of gold, blue, purple
and scarlet (the ephod as described in the Bible) and upon its epaulets were
mounted two large stones of onyx on which were engraved in ancient Hebrew the
names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jake understood the purpose of all the
garments for they had formed part of his studies when attending the yeshiva of
the Haham back in the Tevel.  It seemed so long ago and he touched the vestments
and felt them in wonder.  That was when he realised that there was something
under them.

He pushed aside the pile and saw beneath
his own clothes; the ones he had removed in the Adamah.  How did they get here?

Metatron.  It was the only answer and if
Metatron had brought them there had to be reason.

And, as he looked at them, it came.  Jake
understood.  There was a way to defeat the En Sof.  It was dangerous, but it
was the only chance.

He knew what to do.

Mitch had been betrayed.

It was all he could think about as he ran
from the Earth to find himself again in the Temple of the Heavenly Jerusalem. 
Blinded by rage and humiliation he flew out from the Hallowed walls into the
golden place where dwelt the Spirit of the Lord.

No-one could be trusted.  They were all
out to get him, even the En Sof.  How could he hope to exact vengeance from
that?  He knew from personal experience how powerful it truly was and would be
if the ceremony was completed.  That was the key.  If the ceremony failed then
the En Sof could be vanquished and then he would have revenge against them
all.  So what could he do?

This was Heaven.  Of course.

He had been involved with these fucking
Jews for so long that he had forgotten his good Christian roots.

‘Our Father,’ he began.  (If anything
would work, this would.)  ‘Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Thy
kingdom come.  Thy will be done.

‘Give us...’

Was it becoming warmer?  The wind was
stirring.  The roar of the incredible rushing.

Yes, something was approaching.  The
Chariot, Metatron, but he had been calling upon Christ.  Why should this Jewish
Angel answer his prayers?

‘Jewish Angel?’ came the voice as the
wondrous chariot arrived, ‘What is a Jewish Angel?  There is one God whom Jews
and Christians worship.  It is merely in the manner of the worship and the laws
prescribed for each where things differ.  All men of whatever faith are God’s
children.

‘Why did you call?’

‘This must stop.’

‘Must it?  You yourself are one of those
that set events in motion.’

‘But God cannot allow this to continue. 
Everything created will be destroyed.’

There seemed to be a hint of laughter in
the air.  Almost as if Metatron was amused.

‘Who are you to say what the Almighty can
or cannot do?’

‘But...’

‘No!’ the Angel suddenly thundered, ‘The
entity that calls itself the En Sof is also a creation of the Lord and if it
succeeds then the new universe will also be God’s creation.  It may try to
subvert its world but there will be those who remain true to the One God and,
ultimately, just as would happen on your Earth, good will prevail.  That is the
way of Creation.’

‘No, please listen.’

‘Listen to you?  You who have killed,
murdered, betrayed your people, sinned in a thousand ways.  Why should the Lord
listen to you?’

‘Because I am sorry.’

‘Sorry?’

‘Yes, I was wrong.’

‘Wrong?’

‘The En Sof is evil.  It would supplant
God if it could.’

‘And what would you have Us do?’

‘Destroy it.’

‘A thunderbolt from the sky, a miracle?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why waste miracles when the evil can be
defeated at the hand of man.  If you wish to see it defeated then you should
act.’

‘But what can I do?’

‘You can cleanse your soul.’

‘How?’

‘You must confess your sins.  That is what
Jacob Tranton has to do, no less should you.’

Mitch looked up at the golden man.  Had he
not already said that he was sorry?  What more could he want?  All right, it
was easy enough.

‘I’ve killed, I’ve murdered.  I’ve raped,
I’ve stolen.’

‘And…?’

(What more did the spirit want?  What else
had he done?  Wasn’t that enough?)

‘I don’t know.’

‘Once you were asked what you truly
desired of all things in the world.  Answer me now.’

‘Revenge, power.’

‘Thank you.’

So what?  That wasn’t wrong was it?

‘Listen, mortal man.  Once I too was
mortal but the Lord took me and with purifying flame I became the being you see
before you.  That is the reward for the righteous.  Only he who is true of
heart and perfect of soul can hope for such reward.  That too is the man who
will defeat the En Sof.

‘You will return to the world of men and
there you will separate the En Sof from the man called Lapski.’

‘How?’

‘You have been part of the beast.  You, of
all people, know its weaknesses.’

‘And then I will have my reward?’

‘If your heart is true and your soul is
pure.  Now go.’

………………………………………

Cherry was amazed at just how much her
confidence had been restored purely by the fact that Mitch was no longer
holding a gun on her.  True, Lapski now held the weapon but he had become
something else now that he had merged with the En Sof.  In any case, Lapski did
not hate her in the same way that Mitch did.  Maybe now there was something she
could do.  Both Jake and Ben were off obtaining things for the ceremony. 
Faivish and Sam, (Shmueli - how could she forget?) were standing around staring
at the Lapski creature.  She was the only one of the three who might be able to
influence events.

‘Mr Lapski.’

‘Miss Linford’

‘Why are you doing this?’

‘Oh, come on.  How can you ask?  I want to
have the existence that was...’

‘No.  I want to speak to the man.  I want
to speak with Alex Lapski, not the En Sof.’

‘We are one.’

‘No, you are not.  How can something that
is just the essence of a universe become one with a human being?  There is no
common ground.’

‘But, we are one.  It has happened.  You
can see it for yourself.’

‘What I can see is an abomination. 
Something that is contrary to the laws of creation.  And what will happen after
the ceremony?  You will take the Light and use it to fashion independent life
for the En Sof and what will happen to the man?  Where will Alexander Lapski be
once the new universe has begun?’

‘We will rule.’

‘We?  Can’t the man speak for himself?’

‘I...can...speak.’

(With great difficulty.)

‘So, Cherry Linford,’ he was stronger now,
‘You want to speak with me?’

‘Are you human?’

But she could see that he was.  The flesh
had lost its sheen, the eyes no longer glowed.

‘Tell me.  Do you truly believe that you
will survive when the world changes?’

He shook his head.

‘Your question is a good one.  I hope I
can.  There is no other way.’

‘But, there must be.  You can fight back. 
Sam broke free, so did Mitch.’

‘Yes, but Shmueli was an unwilling host. 
Mitch was just a temporary vessel until now.  I am willing.’

‘Are you?  Do you really want to lose your
humanity, your independence?  Don’t you have any pride?  Think about it.  You
are sacrificing everything that makes you Alexander Lapski.  Fight back.’

‘No!’

This time it was the En Sof.

‘The ceremony must begin.  They are
returning.’

And indeed they were.  First came Ben Tiferet
carrying the breastplate and then came Jake adorned in the finery of the High
Priest.  How amazing he looked in the billowing vestments.  From head to toe he
was covered in the priestly robes, from the crown on his head to the shoes on
his feet.  The colours were lustrous; gold that shone, blue that was the sky on
a cloudless day, purple, so deep and vivid, and a red that seemed so pure and
unblemished that it could never have been created by man.  There were
beautiful, decorative golden bells and pomegranates sewn to the hem that had to
have been crafted by a master.  There were engraved crystals attached to his
shoulders like larger versions of the twelve stones that she was still holding.

He looked like a Persian Caliph in all his
finery but there was one thing missing - the Breastplate...and the Professor
handed it to him.

‘Give him the crystals.’

Cherry walked over to Jake and handed them
to him.  He squeezed her hand as he took them.

‘It’ll be all right, ‘he mouthed and then
audibly, ‘I love you.’

It sounded so wonderful to hear those
words but what could Jake do?  What could any of them do to prevent the evil
that was about to become real?

She backed away watching him carefully. 
‘Oh, Jake,’ she thought, ‘Be careful.’

One by one he inserted the stones within
their mountings.  For some reason he was starting from the bottom up.  Was that
significant?

The first was a rich turquoise colour so
reminiscent of the Mediterranean on a boiling hot day.  The second was like
ivory, pure white whilst the third seemed to be of every colour imaginable. 
Then came the next row.  Starting again with a bluish-green stone also a little
like the sea but not in any way as vivid as the first and followed by one that
was as black as coal.  The third was like a rich Burgundy.

Jake began again with the next row.  This
time the first stone was a red, then what seemed to be a pure transparent
sapphire and finally one that was a rich emerald.

As he started the top row he put the first
in place.  This was a stone with which Cherry was most familiar.  It was the
red crystal that Professor Tiferet had originally shown her.  The next was a
green and finally Jake mounted the last stone.  It was yellow with pale golden
veins.

The job was done.  The breastplate
complete and Jake placed the unit over his chest.  Now he was truly a High
Priest of the House of Israel and Cherry silently began to pray.

………………………………………………

Now that he was wearing the entire
ensemble Jake felt the weight of history upon him.  Aaron, Moses’ older
brother, was the first to take on the priestly mantle; then his son, Eliezer;
and, after his death his son, and so on.  In the times leading to the Roman
Empire’s conquest of Judah the same line had retained the High Priesthood in
the family of the Hasmoneans, the descendants of Judas Maccabees, Judah the
Hammer.  It was only once the Romans finally destroyed the Second Temple and
sacked Jerusalem that the need for a High Priest became irrelevant to Judaism
and the office vanished.  From that time on the religious leaders were the
Rabbis who taught the Torah and all the law that became the Judaism that passes
down through the centuries.  Even so the memory of the priestly families
remained.  Surnames like Cohen, Katz, Keats and Cordozo were all indications of
priestly descent but the role became symbolic without a Temple for the priests
to carry out their service.

Some families dropped their surnames in
favour of names that were less Jewish in flavour.  Tranton, for instance.  By
what route did the family of Jacob Cordozo become the family Tranton?  Jake did
not know but he did know that every single one of his ancestors could have been
the High Priest if the Temple had stood.  Now it was his turn and he would not
disgrace his heritage.  Today the evil that had been inadvertently unleashed by
Jacob Cordozo would be ended or he would die in the attempt.

‘I am ready.’

‘Then you know what you must do,’ said
Lapski or was it the En Sof?

‘I do.  I will repeat the ritual that my
ancestor Jacob Cordozo carried out but, unlike him, I will be wearing the true
breastplate.  I will ask the Urim and Tumim if I am an acceptable officiant and
if they so confirm I will call on Hashem to bring down His Light.

‘And then?’

‘And then, protected by the breastplate I
shall direct the Light to you and you will use it to remould the universe.’

‘Good.  You will not fail me.  As you wear
the breastplate the Light will not destroy you but it will go where you direct
utilising the Urim and Tumim.  Do not think that you can divert its path.  Once
the Light is here it can only enter me or destroy those who are present, you
understand that?

‘Of course.’

‘So, go.’

‘Professor Tiferet must accompany me as
shall Shmueli Isaacson.  They will bring the book of Abulafia.’

‘No!  I shall come also.’

It was just what Jake had expected.  He
already had a plausible lie concocted to deal with the situation.  He would
just have to hope that the En Sof would fall for it.

‘No,’ he countered, ‘Alexander Lapski
could come but not the En Sof.  Only mortal man may enter the Temple.’

‘You speak truth.  I will release the man,
Lapski.  He will watch your actions and ensure your compliance.  Make no
mistake Jacob Tranton.  If you do not conduct the ritual perfectly I will know
and you will feel my wrath and your friends will die.’

Damn.  The En Sof was not stupid.  It was
right.  Lapski was the one person who might see through his subterfuge.  He
would have to be very careful.

Once more the evil glow departed from the
man as the En Sof withdrew.  Lapski was free.

‘All right, let’s go,’ he ordered, waving
the gun in at them, ‘Ben, you and Isaacson go ahead of me with Jacob.  I want
you where I can see you.’

‘What about Cherry?’  Jake tried, not
really expecting a positive response.

‘No, no.  Faivish and she will stay here
as hostages.  The En Sof must have some leverage.

‘Come.  Now Mr Isaacson, you shall carry
the book.  It is on the table over there.’

Once Abulafia’s book had been produced
Jake led the way through the insubstantial walls.  He knew that everything he
planned rested on such a flimsy foundation and he knew that Lapski was the one
person who might realise what he was planning.

In the next few seconds however;
everything changed.

It was as Lapski passed from the Earth
called Heled into the heavenly Jerusalem that Mitch appeared carrying a large
stone.

Jake barely had time to wonder where the
rock had come from when Mitch struck.  The stone was smashed down upon Lapski’s
head and Mitch made a grab for the gun his former boss was carrying.

What was the fool doing?

‘Mitch!’

‘Now Jake, you’re free,’ he gloated, ‘The
En Sof cannot enter here.  You will carry out the ceremony and destroy the
beast.’

‘Listen to me, Mitch.  Please.  It’s not
as simple as that.  Once I bring the Light the boundaries between Heaven and
Earth will vanish and the En Sof either wins or loses.  It is beyond my
control.’