saw a vision.”
“How did you guess?”
THE THIRD DOOR
Chapter 24
THE THIRD DOOR
BEFORE ME WAS the third door. The Oracle handed me the key. I placed it in the lock, pushed the door open, and walked through. I was now standing near the top of a high mountain, but a different mountain than before . . . something out of the Swiss Alps. And there was no sign of Moses. Instead, there stood a man with a long black beard dressed as if for a festive event, in a black jacket, tails, and a tie. At his side was a ram, white with black spots. Around the ram’s neck was a chain with a pendant, on which appeared the same symbol I had seen on the third door.
“The man placed his hand on the ram’s back. The moment he did, the black spots began moving, shifting, merging, and spreading until, except for its head and underside, its body was entirely black. It was as if the ram’s coloring was mimicking that of the man’s clothing. The man then sent it forth down the mountain. It was then that I realized I had seen the man before. It was Herzl.
“I followed the ram down the mountain and through a dark battlefield of trenches and distant explosions.”
“Sounds like the imagery of your other visions, the First World War.”
“Yes. And then it led me through the streets of a European-looking city. Around us was chaos—raging fires, burning buildings, smashed storefront windows, men, women, and children being herded out of their homes. The ram’s coloring now changed to dark brown. It turned back to look at the devastation. In between the ram’s shoulders, against the brown coloring, was a yellow star.”
“A yellow star . . . ”
“It was then that I noticed yellow stars on the coats and jackets of the people being rounded up. The ram’s coloring now changed again. Its body was now covered with black stripes on a white background, and on one of its front legs was a series of numbers, as if someone had branded it. We were now walking along a barbed wire fence, passing others dressed in similar striped clothing with yellow stars. Some were just staring, motionless, but others began following the ram. At the end of the fence was an open gate. The ram passed through the gate, as did the multitudes behind it. The procession ended up at the harbor of a large sea, in which ships were waiting. The ram led the multitudes onto the ships, which then set off from the harbor. As the ships approached their destination, the shores of another land, there were cheers, celebration, and weeping. I followed the ram off the ship, where he led me along the seashore for some time. It was then that I saw the other visions.”
“The visions within the vision . . . of the mysteries to be revealed.”
“Yes. The ram paused and turned his gaze away from the sea, inland. I did likewise.”
THE ARENA
“I saw a bearded man in ancient dress in the middle of an ancient Roman arena. He was engaged in combat with a man larger than himself, also bearded but with red hair, and more threatening. Around the arena’s innermost ring sat men in dark suits and ties watching the combat. Just when it seemed that neither of the two contenders could prevail against the other, the larger man was transformed. He was now clothed in white and radiant. He motioned to the men in their seats, as if seeking a decision. The majority stood up, while a minority remained seated. The man in white then blessed his opponent, who then rose up from the sand and with baggage at his side departed the arena. The ram continued walking the shore of the beach, then again stopped and turned his gaze inland. I turned as well.”
THE GOAT
“I turned again and saw a goat in the desert walking along the side of a small mountain in which was a cave. The goat entered the cave. I followed it inside. But once inside there was no sign of the goat, only total darkness. In my hand were three stones. I could feel the inscription of a word on each rock but couldn’t see what it said. I threw one of them into the darkness and heard the crash of pottery. I proceeded a few steps deeper inside and threw a second stone. Again there was the crash of pottery. I went a few