The 13th Enumeration by William Struse, Rachel Starr Thomson

tablets, and scrolls, all providing additional texture to that period of common Hebrew and Persian history.
    Not yet on display, but to be added tonight, was Darius’s most prized possession: a document written on a clay tablet. Its contents would have major ramifications for the three main religions which had ties to the land of Israel and Jerusalem in particular.
    Darius sat, for all outward appearances, in a calm and serene manner at the head of the table. The next two hours would be the most important of his life , up to this point. Under his calm exterior was a growing sense of self-importance. He had the heady inkling of power, and he liked the feeling. Tonight was just the beginning, he reminded himself. This was just the appetizer.
    According to the itinerary arranged by Alexandra, Mr. Neumann would introduce Darius, and he would give a brief speech. After the speech he would offer to answer any questions, and then dinner would be served. During dinner a string ensemble made up of musicians from Israel’s Philharmonic Orchestra would play several pieces, followed by Mr. Neumann’s daughter playing Beethoven’s famous “Sonata Pathetique,” Opus No. 13. Darius smiled when he thought of the subtle little hint he had given with Beethoven’s sonata. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he couldn’t help but include it. Only later would the Order realize he had been taunting them.
    Mr. Neumann rose from the table and approached the small lectern. He placed his notes down and adjusted the microphone. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. As most of you know, this wing of the museum has been a work in progress for several years. Many of you have had a hand in the success of this endeavor, and for this we thank you.”
    After a light smattering of applause, he continued. “There is one person in particular I wish to thank, without whose gracious generosity this project would not have been possible. Tonight, we celebrate the opening of a wing of the Jerusalem Antiquities Museum, a wing dedicated to the Persian and Hebrew history of the Second Temple era. We owe the success of this endeavor in no small part to Mr. Darius Zarindast, CEO of Aquarius Elemental Solutions. Not only has he provided the artifacts you now see here on display, he also provided the original donation of two million dollars to get this project started. Please welcome Mr. Darius Zarindast.” Another polite round of applause followed as Mr. Neumann sat down.
    Darius rose from his place at the table and approached the lectern. He did not have any prepared notes: his speech today had been memorized long ago.
    Placing his hands on either side of the lectern, with his measured words he began to change the destiny of mankind.
    “I thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Today is an important day for all of us. The artifacts and displays behind me are windows into the past. In a general sense, they provide us with evidence of humanity’s activities and thoughts. They remind us of the greatness as well as the baseness of mankind. But to my mind, these artifacts serve an even more important function. They are doors to the future. They provide us with opportunities to improve upon our greatness. It was the great American author, Mark Twain, who wrote, ‘History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.’ We must learn from history, and these artifacts on display give us a glimpse into a period of shared history for our peoples.
    “For those who do not know me, I am Persian by birth. Today, Persia and Israel are not allies but enemies. This was not always so.”
    Darius turned and pointed to the empty display case standing in a prominent position in the center of the room behind him. He continued, “Today, as a token of a shared past when Persians and Jews shared common goals, I dedicate this museum and this date with a final gift. This artifact is my most treasured possession. My hope is to provide a reminder of a time when Persians and Jews worked side