The Book of Longings(83)

And we would go there.



* * *



? ? ?

IT WAS NOT UNTIL our litter arrived at Haran’s house that my excitement turned to apprehension. I had lied to Apion, insisting Haran had sent a letter giving his permission for Yaltha to come. How could my deceit possibly remain undiscovered? What if Haran refused to take us in? I couldn’t be elsewhere—Judas would send his letters to Haran’s house.

Before we’d boarded the ship in Caesarea, I’d made certain that Apion conveyed to my brother exactly how the dispatches should be addressed. “Haran ben Philip Levias, Jewish Quarter, Alexandria,” he’d said.

“Is that all that’s needed?” I asked.

“Your uncle is the wealthiest Jew in Alexandria,” he said. “Everyone knows where he lives.”

At this, Yaltha dispensed a grunt of derision, causing Apion to cut his eyes toward her.

She will have to hide her bitterness better than this, I thought, as we stepped into Haran’s palatial house. How would she find Chaya without Haran’s help?

My uncle looked like my father: lumpy bald head, large ears, thick chest, and beardless. Only his eyes were different—less curious and with a hawkish, preying quality. He met us in the atrium, where an oculus streamed light from the ceiling. He was standing directly beneath it in an unrelenting white shine. I could find no shadow in the room. This struck me as an ominous sign.

Yaltha approached him slowly with her face downcast. I was shocked to see her enact an elaborate bow. “Esteemed brother,” she said. “I’ve come home humbled. I beg you to receive me.” I shouldn’t have worried; she knew very well how to play this game.

He glared at her, arms folded. “You’ve come unbidden, Yaltha. When I sent you to our brother in Galilee, it was with the understanding you would not return.”

Haran turned to Apion then. “I gave you no authority to bring them here.”

The revelation of my deception had come sooner than I’d anticipated.

“Sir, forgive me,” Apion said, his mouth sputtering words. “The younger woman said . . .” He glanced at me, sweat forming on his temples, and I saw his dilemma. He feared that if he accused me, I would expose the bribes he’d taken.

Reading the situation, Haran said, “Is it possible, Apion, that you were bribed? If so, hand the money over to me now and I’ll consider keeping you as my treasurer.”

It came to me that I should save him. It appeared we would be cast out either way, and I decided to risk everything to win Apion’s friendship.

I stepped forward. “I am Ana, the daughter of Matthias. Don’t blame your employee for bringing us here. We gave him no bribe. Rather I led him to believe you’d sent a letter with consent for us to come and stay with you. His only fault was having faith in my word.”

Yaltha glanced at me, uncertain. Lavi shifted on his feet. I didn’t look at Apion, but I heard the out-breath that escaped his lips.

Haran said, “You stand here and confess you are in my house out of trickery?” He broke into laughter, and there was not a hint of derision in it. “Why have you come here?”

“As you know, Uncle, my father is dead. My aunt and I had nowhere else to go.”

“Have you no husband?” he asked.

I should’ve anticipated such an obvious question, but it caught me by surprise. I hesitated too long.

“Her husband sent her away,” Yaltha said, rescuing me. “She’s ashamed to speak of it.”

“Yes,” I muttered. “He turned me out.” Then, lest Haran inquire what terrible thing I’d done to deserve my expulsion, I quickly continued, “We traveled here with our guardian because you are my father’s eldest brother and our patriarch. My trickery came from my desire to come here and serve you. I ask your forgiveness.”

He turned to Yaltha. “She’s shrewd, this one—I cannot help but like her. Now. Tell me, long-lost sister, why have you returned after all this time? Don’t tell me that you, too, have come hoping to serve me—I know better.”

“I have no wish to serve you, it’s true. I wished to come home, that’s all. I’ve been in exile for twelve years. Is that not long enough?”

His lips curled. “So, you’ve not returned in hopes of finding your daughter? Any mother would wish to be reunited with a lost daughter before she dies.”

He was not just ruthless, but perceptive. I told myself I should never underestimate him.

“My daughter was adopted long ago,” Yaltha said. “I forfeited her. I have no false hope of seeing her again. If you wish to tell me her whereabouts, I would welcome it, but I’ve made my peace with our separation.”

He said, “I know nothing of her whereabouts, as you fully know. Her family insisted on a legal agreement that prevents us from having any contact with them.”

“As I said, she’s gone,” Yaltha reiterated. “I didn’t come for her, only for myself. Let me come home, Haran.” How contrite she looked, how convincing.

Haran stepped away from the harsh shaft of light and paced, hands clasped behind him. He gave Apion a wave of dismissal and his treasurer nearly broke into a run as he left the room.

My uncle stopped in front of me. “You will pay me five hundred bronze drachmae for each month you stay under my roof.”