Wishlist
Share
Tweet
| Author: Marek Halter |
EARN 2 SUPER POINTS!
What's this?
| Format: | Hardcover |
Condition:
Used-Good
In Stock
Usually Ships in 1-2 business days:
6 Used
for
$1.46
Product Summary
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Toby Press
ISBN-10: 1592640281
ISBN-13: 9781592640287
Buy.com Sku: 33849775
Publish Date: 9/1/2003
Age Range:
NA
See more in Fiction
| "This coin is pure silver," he confirmed, "but minted by an ancient technique originating in the Euphrates basin. By very old, I mean two or three centuries before the Christian era began. However, the coin is very much younger. Between the eighth and the ninth century, I'm certain." He held an enormous loupe surrounded by its own light tube under Sofer's nose and turned the coin over with his beautifully manicured fingers. "It's a Jewish coin, but you know that already, embossed with the seven branch candelabra. It carries two inscriptions in Hebrew denoting its weight, which at the time indicated its value... That's what is so interesting, so surprising, that's..." His varnished nail pointed to a group of three superimposed signs. He changed his tone, threw a conspiratorial glance at Sofer: "I have been thinking... A Jewish coin, an ancient mode of striking... That seems in order... Perhaps a Syrian coin, or even from the Jewish colony in Baghdad. Except that the inscription does not fit that. It does not correspond with any of the languages used in that region and period! And then I remembered a coin identified some years ago." Without saying a word, one eyelid closed to protect it from the extremely strong beam of light emanating from the magnifier, Sofer patiently waited for something of value for his money. The expert left his desk and opened the armour-plated door of a brushed steel cupboard. He fished out a tiny drawer from which he withdrew a coin similar to Yakubov's but slightly smaller. "Look at this," he ordered, placing it under the loupe. "Do you see, there." Sofer could see. The same group of signs, just as incomprehensible, was moulded into the surface of the new coin."What do these signs mean? he asked. "Bulan King of the Khazars!" Sofer raised an eyebrow. The Caucasian region before the tenth century. They even minted them for their neighbours... Bulan was King of the Khazars in the eighth century. According to legend, it was he who ordered the Khazars to adopt Judaism." So, Yakubov had not lied. Shouts rang out. Attex turned. In the cherry orchard bordering the river, mounting toward the hill, her brother Joseph trained for combat with the great Khazar warrior, the valorous Borouh. Joseph was only thirteen years old, so his horse was smaller than Borouh's, and his sword was shorter. Nevertheless, Attex felt pride to see how skillful he was in the saddle, how be galloped between the trees with the agility of a warrior. "Attiana," she asked, slipping her fingers into the large hand of the servant. "Why can't I go to the synagogue with Joseph tomorrow?" Attiana sighed and shook her head. "I've already told you, Princess. Tomorrow is the bar mitzvah of your brother. Prince Joseph will become a man. Only men have the right to enter the synagogue that day, not little girls." |
Feedback
