Chapter 2
“Parviz”, a voice softly called out from behind a column to the right. That snapped King Ahasuerus out of his reverie. He looked at Tarshish and they nodded to each other. They recognized the voice of Mo, Motya, Mordecai’s closest advisor and his benefactor. Parviz is the name that Ahasuerus was given by Mordecai many years ago when their lives became so closely tied together. Ahasuerus and Tarshish moved silently to Mo’s side. He said, “I am on my way to visit Mordecai. He relayed to me that it was critical that we meet, that there is new and distressing information.”
“I know that Parviz,'' Mo said. “Mordecai is taking extra precautions to make sure you are safe. Your meeting tonight is with Mordecai alone. I am only to accompany you and Tarshish partway to the meeting and then be there when you leave.” With that Mo took them in the opposite direction of the House of Mordecai to a ramshackle hut about two streets west. They knocked on the door and a short stout woman, Shuphrah, answered holding a broom. She motioned for the men to enter and led them to a small table that held some cold stew and bread and two plates. She brought a couple of steins.
“Sit and relax for a while,'' she said to Mo and Tarshish as she tapped on the floor with her broom. The room was only lit by a single candle and there were some ragged cloaks hanging off to the side. Suddenly, from behind these cloaks Mordecai appeared.
“Follow me my friend,'' whispered Mordecai to Ahasuerus and he disappeared behind the cloaks. Tarshish started to get up, but Shuphrah had her hand on his shoulder. He understood immediately and sat back down.
Ahasuerus went behind the cloaks and Mordecai took his hand in this nearly pitch black area. He whispered, “Parviz, directly in front of us there are seven stairs. Be careful and count your steps. There are handrails, so hold onto them as you descend and keep quiet. I will follow you down.”
The king did as he was told. He held no apprehension and knew that all would be made clear to him in due time.
Mordecai went down the stairs right behind his friend and pulled a trap door closed. He reached into his belt to produce a softly glowing ember which he touched to a small torch. With that Mordecai and Ahasuerus could now see each other. They embraced and kissed on both cheeks without saying a word. Mordecai motioned Ahasuerus to follow and led him down another flight of stairs to a sturdy door which he opened and led the king into a large room. This room was familiar to the king, but he had never approached it in the way Mordecai led him tonight. There was another small torch lit at the other end of the room and a good sized table with several chairs surrounding it. Sitting in one of the chairs was Mo’s eleven year old daughter. Ahasuerus went over to her, kissed her on her cheek and forehead and said to her, “Shalom Aleichem Moran”. She answered, “Aleichem Shalom Uncle Parviz.”
The men sat down near Moran. The room was well ventilated and the soft cool breeze they felt was calming, even though Ahasuerus knew that what he was about to learn was anything but.
Ahasuerus looked at Moran and said, “You had a dream. Am I right Moran?” She nodded. Her eyes glistened. Mordecai leaned forward and took Moran’s hands, saying “Moran, Uncle Parviz needs to know about your dream. Go ahead and tell him.”
Ahasuerus now leaned forward and put his hand gently on Moran’s cheek. He said, “Are you afraid?” Moran nodded yes. She looked into the eyes of the man she knew as Uncle Parviz.
She began, “This morning I woke up to the most terrible dream. Bigthan and Teresh stood over the body of Memucan. He was gagged and had fallen from a tower in the castle but that did not kill him. Bigthan and Teresh were waiting below and were ready with knives. They stabbed him many times and waited to see him die.”
Ahasuerus said, “Why did Memucan fall?” Moran did not know. The king pressed on. “Were Bigthan and Teresh talking; what did they say; were there any other sounds?”
Moran met the king’s gaze. She answered, “Yes Uncle Parviz they talked. They congratulated each other on doing their job well, being ready for Memucan at the right time and place. Bigthan said to Teresh that it won’t be long now before they could take their rightful place in this detestable kingdom. I also heard from the tower a frightening laugh, a horrible cackle.”
Ahasuerus asked Moran if there was anything else. She shook her head no and looked down. He put his hand on Moran’s shoulder near her neck and gently massaged her there. He leaned her head back and kissed her forehead.
“Stand up, my child. I know this has been traumatic for you. You have every right to be frightened. I wish I could say not to be, but we all know that you don’t have these dreams without reason. This one is a warning. Uncle Mordecai and I will figure out what needs to be done.”
Mordecai said to Moran, “Come with me.” He led her to a door on the other side of the room. There was an elderly man in the next room. Mordecai instructed him to take Moran home, to tell her mother that the dream was very taxing on her and to give her comfort and rest. The man took Moran’s hand and led her away.
Mordecai closed the door and turned to talk to Ahasuerus, but the king spoke first. “You know that Moran does not know the men she dreamed about. She only knows the names because your Almighty God planted them in her memory. Memucan, the prince of Media, has been a good advisor to me. He is smart --- really smart and he is good at organizing both people and events. That is the reason I made him my chief of advisors. However, he can be short sighted, prone to believe that the old ways are always the best. He could be lured to a dangerous situation. I don’t know the others.”
Mordecai sat down. “I didn’t know them either, so I checked. I was told that Bigthan is one of your chamberlains, a eunuch, sometimes at the city gate. Teresh is his friend. I am sure that I have seen them, but did not know their names so I cannot match the names to the men themselves. They, like so many others, are known to take delight in the harassment of Jewish citizens. They apparently have been recruited by Tsasham, so they have to be careful to temper their actions right now. Since we are not yet ready to move against Tsasham, we also cannot take direct action now. Their removal will arouse suspicion and they will only be replaced by others that we do not know.
“However”, Mordecai continued, “We must keep a close eye on them. If we will have any chance of saving Memucan we have to find out who pushed him in Moran’s dream and Bigthan and Teresh will lead us to him.”
Mordecai went to the wall and removed the torch that still glowed softly. He signaled to Ahasuerus to follow. They went through the door where they had entered the room earlier and made their way back to the trap door. The torch was put on a holder and extinguished. They waited a few minutes to get used to the dark and then Mordecai lifted the trapdoor and the two men re-entered the hut behind the hanging cloaks. Mordecai put his arm around Ahasuerus’ shoulder and whispered to him to wait. Feeling a small feather on a nearby wall, Mordecai took Ahasuerus' hand and led him around the cloaks to the hut’s interior.
Mo and Tarshish were sitting at the table with Shuphrah. The stew and bread were gone, and the three of them were sipping on some wine and murmuring in soft tones. The king and Mordecai sat down and all went quiet. Mordecai talked in a barely audible voice, “We have much to learn and contemplate and not much time to take action.” The look on Mordecai’s face became foreboding. He looked at Ahasuerus who then nodded and he continued, “Make no mistake. Action is needed now so go, find out all that you can. We will meet again in about a week and share our thoughts and suggestions. I will get word to you.”
Standing, Ahasuerus hugged Mordecai and kissed him on both cheeks. He took both hands of the woman in his own and looking directly into her eyes, he smiled and squeezed her hands.
Mo stepped out of the hut and Tarshish and Ahasuerus followed him. He led them to the place where he picked them up earlier. The three of them hugged and kissed in turn and then the king and his advisor took their leave to return to the castle.
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