Twig Golem

1783 Prague

"Eliachem," Rabbi Morshem said, concerned. "Those books that you have in your possession are an open door to wickedness. They pollute the mind and sodden the spirit."

"No, my brother," Eliachem replied. "These books, though they are filled with indecencies, must be studied so that they can be countered with holy words from the Holy Books. Evil must be countered with good."

"Yes, Eliachem, Rabbi Morshem replied. "Holy words are powerful and do counter evil, but the mind of man and man's freewill are tested by the mere existence of these unholy texts. Even in your possession, though you have chosen to walk in the righteousness of our Heavenly Creator, you too can be swayed or even those around you."

"The books are in my safe keeping," Eliachem replied. "And they will stay in my safe keeping. No one would dare come into this sanctuary without my permission."

"Eliachem beware," Rabbi Morshem replied. "There are those who would take this knowledge and do things against the nature of that which is good in the eyes of our Heavenly Creator."

That Night

"Hezekai!!" Eliachem shouted. "How dare you enter this room!"

"You have knowledge here that can help mankind!" Hezekai replied.

"It must be studied and understood by those who are capable," Eliachem retorted. "And by those who cannot be swayed by temptation."

"And you are that man, good Rabbi?" Hezekai asked. "Or are you studying them for your own personal gain?"

"Your mind is already tainted," Eliachem said, staring at Hezekai, watching his movements. "You must leave here immediately."

"Tainted? Hah!" Hezekai shot back. "You know that if I take these books, I'll be powerful, even more so than this priestly caste of self-righteous holy men. They speak words of happiness and joy to the ones who wish to hear them. So called words of affirmation that have no true power."

"We will stop you," Eliachem said, calmly as a group of priests entered the room and blocked Hezekai's way. "You will not walk out of here with any of those books."

Hezekai grabbed one of the books and hit the priest closest to him in the throat with the edge of it, the force of the blow caused the priest to clutch his throat and drop to the floor gasping for air. Hezekai rushed two other priests who blocked the doorway. He pushed the first one to the side and grabbed the second one by his coat and threw him. As he headed towards the doorway, Eliachem stepped in front of him blocking his path. Eliachem grabbed Hezekai roughly by his collar and slammed him hard against the wall of the small room. Before he could lift him up, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. Eliachem gasped, his face contorted. He looked down to see an eight-inch blade that had penetrated him in that area. The blade entered him a second time and then a third.

Two more Rabbi's rushed into the room just as Eliachem fell towards the floor. Hezekai, knife in hand, slashed at the Rabbis. The blade of the knife cut the first one across his face and caught the second one across his chest causing a deep gash which cut through his shirt and spewed blood over it. The bloodied Rabbis, in deep pain, forgot about their wounds and rushed to the aid of Eliachem. He was barely clinging to life. They held him as he lost consciousness and collapsed in their arms.

Hezekai

In an old, deserted, barn on the outskirts of the town, Hezkai sat at a dirty table. The knife that he had used to attack Rabbi Eliachem Shlomo lay at its center covered in blood.

"I have to figure this book out," Hezekai said to himself, hastily thumbing through the pages. "If I don't figure out the spells that are written in it," he continued. The guards will find me, and they'll hang me for sure. I need a spell for protection," he said, nervously. "To keep them from placing that accursed noose around my neck."

Hezekai flipped through the pages and a paragraph caught his eye. "Ah, there it is!" he shouted. Protection From Harm: A Spell.

To the one who reads these Words, A Spell of Protection: Cast Your Eyes Upon The Objects Around You. Choose The One Most Fitting For The Task.

Hezekai looked over at a pile of twigs and then continued to read.

Look At The Chosen Object and Speak These Words: 'Yesh Chayim'

Hezikiah spoke the words and before his eyes the twigs scrambled then moved. The transformation happening before him made him jump back. His heart pounded hard in his chest as the twigs assembled and began to form. Within minutes a full-grown man was standing before him.

"H-h-h-help me escape!" Hezekai said in a panic, the fear evident. "I-I-I command you!"

"Come," the creature bellowed in a deep voice. "We must make haste."

The creature walked and Hezekai followed close behind. The creature saw the blood covered knife on the table, grabbed it, and handed it to Hezekai. "You have already used this blade to shed the blood of your own kind, Son of Reuben," the creature bellowed once more. Leaving it here on the table would only accuse you more. Follow me."

The creature approached the rear door of the barn, opened it, and began walking toward the forest. Hezekai, his heart racing, followed close behind. As they traveled deeper into the forest, the galloping hooves of horses could be heard in the distance. Hezekai turned to look. He saw the flare of several lit torches in the distance and heard men shouting. He watched the torches increase in number and form into a small group. They both watched as the torches slowly moved in their direction.

"They're coming for me! Hezekai shouted. "I-I-I c-c-c-command you t-t-t-to p-p-p-p-protect me!" he stammered, staring at the creature, his fear becoming all the more evident. "Protect me! Protect me! Protect me!"

The creature stopped, turned, and walked toward the approaching group. Hezekai watched from the distance as the creature walked towards them and they spoke to it.

"We have no quarrel with you, sir," He heard the group saying. "We are in search of a man, his name is Hezekai Shemuel, he is wanted for theft and assault. We wish to question him about the murder of Eliachem Schlomo."

Suddenly there were loud screams. Horses could be heard whinnying then galloping away. The blast of several guns filled the night air along with the slinging of arrows and the thwacking of swords. Hezekia watched as several torches fell to the ground. Within the light of the fallen torches, he viewed a monstrous figure lifting a man up by the throat with one hand. The fingers of the other hand became elongated and speared that man through the eyes and face. The torches went out one by one.

The creature returned to the place where Hezekai stood. "I have shed the blood of the sons of Jacob, Son of Reuben," The creature said, staring down at him. "I have protected you as you have instructed. The sons of Jacob are now part of the earth."

Platnerska

1785: Hezekai sat at a mahogany wood table counting several gold pieces. the candle lit room glowed a gloomy low glow. He swept the money into a bag, bundled it, and placed it in a wooden chest.

"I have assumed a new identity," he said to himself. "The authorities have found the body of a man whom they believe to be me. Hezekai Shemuel is no more." He said quietly, "I am now Mordecai Zindel, Silk merchant," Hezekai turns to look at the creature.

"I have sinned greatly in creating that thing." He continues, speaking to himself. "As I am now no longer who I once was, I have no further need of that monstrosity."

"I summon you creature," Hezekai said. "Come here to me."

"I am here, Son of Reuben," the creature replied.

"I have no further use for you, I will return you to what you once were."

"I have shed blood for you, Son of Rueben." the creature bellowed. "I have taken things that are not rightfully or truthfully yours and I have placed them in your possession. I have shed the blood of another son of Jacob so that you could parade falsely as whom you are not."

"I will atone for the sins I have committed," Hezekai replied. "The blood of those murdered people is on you, creature," he continued. "And for that, you must return to what you once were."

"You cannot atone for that which you commanded me to destroy." the creature replied. "All was done for your preservation, Son of Reuben," it continued. "And the murder that you yourself committed, which brings you here to this other identity that holds no truth, condemns you, and as you condemn me to nothingness, so must you go."

"You dare judge me, creature?" Hezekai said, angrily, rising from his seat.

"I only reveal what is true, Son of Reuben," the creature replied.

"Then the truth shall return to nothingness along with you," Hezekai said pointing his finger at the creature. With these words, I return you to what you once were. "Lo' od..."

The creature stared at Hezekai then spoke. "You err in your words for casting the spell, Son of Reuben. I still exist."

"Then I will set you ablaze!" Hezekai shouted.

The creature raised its hand just as Hezekai reached for a lit candle to hurl at it. The creature's fingers quickly elongated and turned into several thick branches covered in thorns. The thorn covered branches jutted out toward Hezekai and penetrated his eyes and throat.

Present Day: New York City

"That brother gives me the creeps," Raymond Edmonds, store clerk for Shlomo's Rare Books said as the tall Blackman peered into the window. "And I'm Black!" he added. "He's always comin' 'round here asking if we have any new shipments of books but never buys anything."

"Maybe he's waiting for the right book to come in so he can purchase it." Minnie Mendel, 2nd store clerk for Shlomo's Rare Books said.

"Or maybe he's casing the joint to come back and rob it." Raymond replied, eyeing the store window suspiciously.

"I hope not," Minnie said. "I like working here. You meet some of the most interesting people and the money that they're willing to pay, sheesh! The price they pay for these books in here equals a month's wages for me. I've seen people lay down a thousand bucks for a 1st edition."

"Aw that's chump change," Raymond replied. "I once saw a man lay down eleven one-thousand-dollar bills right on this table for a 2nd edition of Walt Whitman's poems."

"Man, that's livin'," Minnie replied. "By the way, where's Ms. Shlomo?" she asked.

"Back there prayin'," Raymond answered. "Three times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening. The Creator's got to love her, Raymond continued, looking at the back room. "She speaks with him every day."

"I hope they're back there talking about our raises," Minnie said, staring at the back room. All the work we do here, we're overdue."

The door to the back room opens quietly, a woman wearing a long black dress, black leotards, and black shoes with her hair covered in a gray shawl, walked out of the room and toward the two workers. "Anything I missed?" she asked, looking at the two of them.

"No, Ms. Shlomo," Minnie answered. "Quiet as a mouse in here."

"Quiet all day," Raymond added.

"Any calls?" Ms. Shlomo asked.

"There was a call about an autographed book by Frederick Douglas." Raymond replied. "We have that here?"

"Along with several others." Ms. Shlomo replied.

"Where do you find these books", Ms. Shlomo?" Raymond asked.

"If you want that raise that you two think that I talk about when I pray to the Heavenly Creator," Ms. Shlomo replied, smiling slyly. "You'll watch, listen, and learn."

"She heard us," Minnie said, under her breath, standing next to Raymond. "That's scary."

"And we weren't anywhere near that back room." Raymond added.

The two of them watched as Ms. Shlomo paused in the middle of the store and rubbed her hands together.

"Everything alright, M. Shlomo?" Raymond asked, Minnie standing next to him.

"These are strange times, children," Ms. Shlomo replied, her back to the two of them. "I sense something dark among us, something unnatural."

"That's 80 per cent of the people in this city," Minnie said, trying to take the edge off the conversation."

"Lot of freaks in the Big Apple," Raymond added. "You're pickin' up on the whole vibe that makes this city what it is, Ms. Shlomo."

"There's something unnatural out there," Ms. Shlomo said again. "It wants one of you."

Midnight

"Raymond!" Ms. Shlomo shouted, as Raymond answered his cell phone. "Minnie's parents called, they said she didn't come home!"

"What? That's not like Minnie," Raymond replied. "She gets on that bus and goes straight home. It takes her right up the street and stops right in front of her apartment building."

"We have to find her Raymond!" Ms. Shlomo replied. "Meet me at the bookstore."

Shlomo's Rare Books

"I drove here as fast as I could, Ms. Shlomo," Raymond said, a serious look on his face. "Let's go."

"First, I must pray for guidance," Ms. Shlomo replied. "The Heavenly Creator will guide us."

"You think we have time for that?" Raymond asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Time is of the essence and we've run out of a lot of it."

"He's already answered us," Ms. Shlomo responded, sternly. "Drive where I tell you to go."

"Raymond drove for several minutes and went down a dark road,"

"Stop here," Ms. Shlomo, said. "This is it."

The two of them approached a dark loft. In the windows there were several lit candles. The two of them approached the door.

"We must go up the stairs." Ms. Shlomo said, quietly. As they ascended the stairs, they saw Minnie. She was asleep on a pedestal covered in linen,

"We have to get her, Ms. Shlomo!" Raymond said, urgency in his voice. "We have to get her now!"

Just as the two of them approached the pedestal, a tall, very built, Black man walked before them.

"This is not your place, Daughter of Levi, nor yours either, Son of Ham?"

"Who's he talking to?" Raymond said, angrily. "I am the Son of Raymond Edmonds, Senior!"

"You have a lot to learn, my young assistant," Ms. Shlomo said, touching his shoulder. "Listen and learn."

"The blood of this young virgin from the daughters of Levi is pure in all its generations," the tall Black man replied. "All of those who came before her were virgins up until their betrothal," he continued. "300 years of purity I have before me. Should I drink her blood, I will exist as humankind exists, but for an eternity."

"You will not have her, creature," Ms. Shlomo said, sternly. "The blood of this woman will not be shed tonight."

"And you will stop me?" the tall Blackman asked, his deep voice bellowing across the room. "I have shed the blood of the Sons of Jacob for more than 200 years, what more a daughter?"

"Ms. Shlomo," Raymond said, his anger rising. "This Black fool done lost his mind!" "Stand back so I can cap him!"

"It is not of your race, Raymond," Ms. Shlomo stated. "It is a creature from another time that has assumed the racial identity of your people in order to approach Minnie. As far-fetched as this sounds," she continued, "You must let me do this."

"I will shed the blood of you both," the tall Blackman said, raising his hand. "You will become part of the earth."

The fingers on the tall Blackman's hand began to extend and become long branches, the branches grew thorns and quickly jutted out at Raymond and Ms. Shlomo."

Ms. Shlomo raised her hand and spoke. "Magen emunah beini uveinekha, yitzur!" The thorned branches stopped in mid-air.

"You speak the tongue of the Sons of Jacob, Daughter of Levi," the tall Blackman said. "But if you say the wrong words, I will still exist and then I will be free to shed your blood where you stand...and the Son of Ham.

Ms. Shlomo, hand still raised, spoke. "Ani medabehret et ha milim ha eleh, eleykha, yitzur... Ein khayim!"

That which appeared to be a tall Blackman began to shake. Its once smooth skin became dirt and started to crumble. It shook its fist at Ms. Shlomo as its twigs slowly unraveled and it lost its footing. It was unable to hold itself up, and in its haste to escape the regression that was taking place within it, the creature tripped and staggered. Unable to keep a grip on the window, it fell out of it. There was a loud scream that filled the night air. It sounded as if something was crying. The scream subsided and was followed by a hiss of air through branches. A loud twatting sound was heard as a bunch of twigs, that appeared to look like a Halloween ornament, hit the pavement.

Prague: Present Day.

"Wake up Raymond! Wake Up!" Ms. Shlomo said, shaking him. "You were having a bad dream.

"I was having a nightmare," Raymond replied. "And in the daytime at that."

"Come, we have to get some books that were left to my family," Ms. Shlomo said, nudging him. "Minnie is waiting for us at the Rabbi Eliachem Shlomo Museum of Jewish Heritage."

"Any of those books that you're getting, are they about casting spells?" Raymond asked?

"Any books such as those will be kept away from the public."

"Why don't you just destroy them," Raymond asked."

"Legal issues," Ms. Shlomo replied, "And plus, they're historic documents." They're part of the Shlomo history."

The End?