Aram Schefrin
When Teddy Kagan finds a pure red heifer on the ranch of a Florida
televangelist, he knows - because he knows Scripture - that he has found the
key to a plan to speed up the bloody End of Days and the Second Coming of
Christ, which could lead to a world-wide Holy War.
And it's Teddy's job to stop it before it’s too late.
The Tenth Cow picks up the story with events which have actually
happened, and takes it to the limits of what could yet happen through a
brilliant cast of characters in Israel
and America.
Add in polo, Kabbala, the American president and some strange relationships and
you get a rich stew of romance, satire and suspense - and a scary look at what
could become the most important event of our time.
Aram Schefrin is the author of four novels, and a pioneer in the new medium of podcast fiction. After studying writing for the musical theater with Stephen Sondheim and flamenco guitar with Carlos Montoya, Aram co-founded and was the lyricist and guitarist for Ten Wheel Drive, a jazz/rock group which had its share of standing ovations in the late ‘60’s and early 70’s. He also produced and arranged a number of disco hits. A graduate of Columbia College and Harvard Law School, Aram returned to the practice of law in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Florida, and has been developing novels in his spare time. Aram lives in Wellington, Florida with his wife, two dogs, four cats and three polo ponies.
“They train a
class of temple priests. They have the tenth red heifer – that’s what you said,
Teddy. They sacrifice this heifer. They follow Numbers 19. They use the ashes
to purify whoever thinks like them. Now they are freed from the restraints they
believe God has placed on them. They can go on the Temple
Mount. The temple can be rebuilt.
Then, they believe, the Messiah comes, and they rule Israel
in his name.”
“Oh, come on,”
Artie laughed. “Israelis won’t put up with that.”
“If I remember,
the Shah of Iran had a similar delusion. There are plenty of people here who
think these rabbis are right. The generals screwed up Lebanon,
the politicians screw up everything – why not let the rabbis take a shot?”
Bar-Ilan leaned
over his desk. “But let’s suppose you are correct. Let’s suppose Israel
would not tolerate a theocracy. By the time that struggle is over, there will
be no more Israel.
“Look – they have
to rebuild the temple where it used to be. No one is a hundred percent sure,
but probably the Dome of the Rock is right on top of that site. So they go up
on the Temple Mount
and they blow up the Dome of the Rock. How many people will it take? Four?
Five? Ten? And then what happens? Holy War! Against maybe millions of Muslims
from all over the world! And it won’t be stones they’ll be throwing. Pakistan
has nukes, and the way they’ve been sneaking around, my guess is they’ve shared
them.
“And the Jews in America?
They won’t be left out. Not just the Jews. All Americans, because they
supported Israel!”
Bar-Ilan leaned
back, his hands behind his head again. “So, my friend Arthur – do you now
understand why these people are so dangerous?”
