FRAGMENTS - THE SEGMENTS

Fifty Cubits High

[Time Period: During the Reign Of Xerxes Of Persia]

I was walking back from the physician when I saw some people grouped together into a discussion. I wondered, as I looked onto the disturbed group of people, what was that bothering them today. I walked into the group and put forward my doubt. Someone handed me a copy of the Royal Decree, sealed by his highness with his ring. I walked home as I read the contents;

To All Dwellers Of Shushan,

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month [Adar for the Jewish], there is the Royal decree to kill and cause to perish all Jews in the King's provinces, both young and old, little children and women, everyone in a single day. The King has found them to be law-breakers and unprofitable to his reign. 

King Artaxerxes 🚩

I was distressed and moved by the royal decree, I knew for sure it was the work of Haman, the chief of princes but I said nothing about it. Jews were never law-breakers actually, they were always in obedience to everything. I knew for a surety that this is issued only because Mordecai and his fellow Jews refused to bow to Haman. I went into my home and continued my days. 

NEXT DAY

I was setting my house in order as I was preparing to travel to be with my brother's family, just then I heard a knock and went to see who my visitors were and that too at an odd hour. Two men stood at the door. Aren't you Nemaha the Hangman, they asked me and I replied yes. They told me to quickly dress, and accompany them. When I asked who was it that needed me in this odd hour, they replied and said it was Haman, the chief of princes. I dressed and went with them, they took me to Haman's residence. Haman, his wife and some of his accomplices were present there as I reached. They took me further to the execution plot where the gallows are to be made and set. They instructed me to make a gallows, fifty cubits high. I told them it was too high for someone but they objected and told me to just carry out the orders. I immediately set to work, collecting everything required, I worked all night; I had a view on Haman's residence from my workplace and I saw that they were drinking, eating and being merry at the destruction of Jews. Just before sunrise, I saw Haman hurrying towards my workplace, I tightened the last thread and came Haman the same moment. He asked me if the work was over and I replied yes, I could see a beam of joy in his eyes, as everything was set, he took out a bag of money and put into my hand, signaling me to leave for the time being. I took the bag of money, my tools and left. As I walked through the street, I thought of going into the baker's house to collect his early loaves. I waited as he finished with his early customers, sipping on a glass of wine his wife served me. As he was making my portion of loaves, I heard a procession and trumpets. Leaving behind my everything, I rushed out into the streets to see the procession. As I watched, I saw Mordecai on the king's horse, draped with the King's apparel and upon his head was the King's crown; before the horse walked a man proclaiming that this was what is done to whom the King delight in, it was long before I finally recognized the man proclaiming it, it was Haman, the chief of princes. I was amazed at the quick turn of events, Haman who planned to mount Mordecai on the gallows today had mounted him on the king's horse with the royal apparel and the crown. I stopped a passerby and inquired the reason for such a procession; for saving the King once from a plot against him, the passerby answered and said. I watched as the procession moved forward and finally out of sight.

The time appointed for hanging Mordecai the Jew was nigh, Haman who had gone to the Queen's banquet hadn't returned yet. He had charged me to make all arrangements to hang Mordecai as soon he returned from the Banquet. It was not long before I saw two men of the King's court making their way towards me. As they approached they handed me a decree by the King, I quickly read it and nodded. In the quick reading, I'd missed out the name but it wasn't required as I saw the man myself, the man that was to be hanged according to the King's decree, it was Haman. I don't know what had happened in this little time but I knew for sure it was the work of the God of the Israelites, the Jews. It was that very God that had caused Haman to be hanged on the very same gallows he had built for Mordecai. As Haman stepped up, cuffed and bond, I repeated into his ear what I heard his wife speak some hours ago,

"If Mordecai is a Jew, you shall by not prevail him, but surely fall before him and his God."

And Haman died, and a week later, the King appointed Mordecai in his position. It was from another person that I came to know that the decree to perish the Jews was rebuked, and also I knew this, all this while Mordecai or the Jews ate nothing but they observed fast and prayed unto God for deliverance. As I passed the King's gate, I didn't see Mordecai at the gate but as I looked up, he stood at one of the windows, looking at the vast spread province.