Torquemada Is Dead
Manuel and Zohara purchased land and built a new ranchero and Hacienda in the Valencia province just south of Catalonia. With his skills and the blessings of old Eliahu o.b.m. it quickly became successful. Within five years it was larger and more successful than the previous ranchero in Arragon had been. That success did not go unnoticed.
….
Don Manuel had been very reluctant to leave the ranch for he had felt a very strong premonition of evil, so had Zohara. But the business had to be taken care of and his trusted servant Pedro, the only one remaining from his father’s times, had insisted. “Master there are things that only you can do. It will not be a long trip and we will do all as quick as possible. My son will remain behind to see that all is handled here correctly.”
Yes Pedro’s son saw to it that all was handled there “correctly”. Pedro had well beforehand informed the local inquisitor’s offices of the successful ranchero of the crypto-Jew Don Manuel and had promised that as soon as a good opportunity to attack it showed up he would let them know. Now like his evil father Pedro’s son betrayed their employer. He quickly informed that Don Manuel was away along with half of the able men who were also guards of the ranchero.
Now again in midway on the journey Manuel had a feeling of the disaster unfolding in his absence and ordered a quick return. When he and his entourage arrived it was too late. Curiously Pedro had disappeared when they came close to the now destroyed ranchero.
Again while away Don Manuel’s ranchero was plundered by the forces of the Inquisition. Now he knew who it had been who betrayed him both in the original ranch and now this one. “I will find Pedro and he will pay with his life!”
Don Manuel and his men searched through ruins, identifying the corpses. Zohara was not among them. This was a bit of relief for Don Manuel for it meant that most likely was still alive, but captured. Yet the relief was also mixed for Zohara had only recently finally conceived their first child and he worried what would be fate of the newly developing fetus. He now used the special spiritual abilities which Eliahu had taught him to verify that and to try to find where they had taken her.
Benito and Alonso also in their way made efforts to find out what was the fate of the gracious young Donna Zohara. Their probing in the nearest town informed them that she had been taken to be the evil Torquemada’s personal prisoner. This information gave them also the name and location of the monastery where she was being held.
For several months a chase unfolded as Don Manuel sought to free his wife from her evil captor. Torquemada was a prime sorcerer and felt that he was being tracked down, hunted by Don Manuel and each time that the rescue party neared whichever monastery he was hiding with his prize in he would leave quickly and go to another monastery in some other town or village. Pedro still pretending to be a loyal employee had volunteered to join in the chase. Yet now Manuel knew that Pedro was a traitor and was watchful and cautious. Benito, Alonso and Sanchez knew as well and they too were keeping a watchful eye on Pedro.
Manuel did not suffice with a simple chase, he was already waging a spiritual war with Torquemada. The evil sorcerer had tried to harm, even kill, Manuel by witchcraft. Yet by the grace of Hashem, the teachings of his mentor, Eliahu, were sufficient to protect himself while tracking and chasing his evil prey and he counter attacked as well. Torquemada was developing a heart condition which was slowing him down.
Finally they reached the monastery, St Thomas Aquinas in the walled town of A'vila in Castile & Leon. That was where Torquemada was with his prisoner, Zohara, and had not managed to flee from it before the arrival of the rescue party. They stopped and made camp far enough to not be noticed. Pedro quickly offered to scout out the area. His “brave” offer was refused. Benito caught the hinted order from Manuel and he and Sanchez kept close watch on Pedro while Alonso went to scout the region.
Getting into the walled town without raising suspicions was already a bit of a challenge. Planning the breaking in to the monastery and escaping after rescuing Donna Zohara would be an even bigger challenge. They chose to be patient and do it all slowly preparing step by step slow enough to not raise any attention. Additional horses were purchased one by one from different farms and stables being careful not pay overly high prices nor to bargain too much over the price, both of which would arouse notice and talk through the tow among the horse dealers. They also broke up their group rented rooms in different streets. Getting to know the gate keepers of the town wall was Benito's job.
After two months of preparation they were ready to move. They chose a quiet moonless night, the new moon would just appear the next night. Evening had just begun. Benito was near the gate closest to the monastery and 2 of their guards nearby, Juan with another 5 guards outside the walls with spare horses, Alonso and 2 guards nearby keeping close to Pedro, Vincente with 5 more with Don Manuel. Two of the guards who were with Manuel had arranged to sneak inside and hide during the day to be nearby in case on Manuel needed their assistance, or protection in his escape. Vincente and the others were to stay close to the monastery to cover the escape and hinder any chase after them.
In whispers....
"Here we are Vincente, the side gate of the monastery I pray your men inside have managed to unlock the gate for us. Ah yes it opens, good. You and your men stay in the shadows nearby and wait for us."
"Master, may Hashem be with you and bless your dedication to rescue Donna Zohara."
"Thank you and He should bless you and the rest of our men."
With that Manuel silently entered the gate, recited a special Holy name sequence he had learned from Eliahu and became invisible. He walked through the corridors, right past soldiers and dwellers of the place unseen. He proceeded to the main residential quarters and came to the room where the evil Torquemada was staying and holding his prize captive. Manuel waited for a servant to bring the evening meal and sneaked in then, still invisible.
Torquemada started when the servant entered. "Who's there? Oh it's you. Put the tray on the table please. Has someone come in with you?"
"No your holy honor, I have come alone as usual."
"Odd, I feel another presence, an unwanted uncomforatble one at that too."
"Your majesty sir would be wanting anything else for now?"
"No Pablo. You may leave."
"Thank you sir."
Don Manuel looked around the large room and could hardly retain his anger when he saw his wife. She was being held standing without any clothing chained to a wall. There were bloodstains on her bare legs and the rotting remains of what had been their fetus on the floor below her. Her heavenly beautiful face showing her grief and the signs of starvation, and scars on her slender body. Manuel reined his feelings of rage in and carefully studied the room. There was the table where Pablo had placed the tray with the evening meal, and a second table with paper, quills and ink. A large bed, carpets barred windows, a fireplace, a chandelier hanging from the middle of the ceiling, wall lamps - ... and his wife chained to a wall. While measuring the room he was also sensing the traffic outside the room. All along he was praying asking God for guidance and help.
Traffic in the corridors had stopped. People were going to sleep or leaving for their quarters in smaller buildings outside this main one.
Torquemada picked at his food but could not eat. He muttered, "I see no one, Pablo said no one entered with him, but ... I sense a presence and a presence that is malevolent to me."
He rose from his chair, took the whip from a hook on the wall behind him and walked toward Zohara. "If I can't enjoy my meal at least I can enjoy whipping you some more you morrano wench!"
He lifted the whipand an invisible hand stopped him.
"What?!"
Just then Don Manuel recited another Holy name and made himself visible.
"Who are you? What are you?"
"I am your end you evil ghoul!"
"Manuel, mi querido Manuel, creador misericordioso, mi querido Manuel!"
The battle began. Torquemada was no match for any physical conflict with the muscular Manuel. The battle was one of spiritual forces. Torquemada using his sorcery, and Manuel using holy powers, sending each other flying about the room, furniture flying at each other, the sorcerer calling upon demons to his aid, Manuel dissolving them and burning them. An axe that had been hanging on a wall went flying at Manuel from behind.
"Mi querido beware behind you!"
The warning from his chained wife came just in time to dodge the flying axe and send back at the sorcerer who also managed to dodge it.
Torquemada even changed his own size and shape to that of huge demons throwing fire at Manuel. Seeing that he was getting nowhere for Manuel was deftly blocking every attack upon him.
The evil sorcerer called a demon to attack Zohara hoping that way Manuel would be sufficiently distracted to make him vulnerable. It almost worked. Though old Eliahu had trained his protege' well. Manuel set up a wall of spiritual fire around her
and at the same time threw the demon at Torquemada sending them rolling on the floor. With a holy name he dispatched the demon and resumed direct attack on Torquemada to stop his beating heart.
Torquemada was getting weaker. With Manuel cramping his heart, he no longer had the power to summon demons or throw flames at his opponent. His feeble attempts to send furniture at him to throw him off his feet availed him not. Manuel easily flinched them off while concentrating more and more on crushing the evil one's heart, until .... it stopped never to beat again.
Silence, stillness rested upon the room that only second had been raging in muted but harsh battle.
Manuel gathered centered himself, ran to his wife released her from the chains catching her as she fell physically and emotionally exhausted into his arms. He wrapped her into a cloak he had brought with him in the small pack he had taken into the room with him, lifted her, recited the holy names to make them both invisible and silently left the room, leaving Torquemada's corpse on the floor.
Now to sneak out of the monastery complex. As they neared the door he met his 2 guards and still invisible whispered to them, "Come we are leaving now, open the gate for me and let's go."
Outside if anyone was looking they only saw to men walking the street, a meter space one from the other, on a moonless night. As they neared the town wall southern gate they met up with Benito's men and the horses. Everyone mounted a horse, as well as the still invisible Manuel and Zohara. A few words and coins from Benito and the town gate was opened for them. Off they went into the night.
On the way Manuel recited the names to be visible again and his comrades saw him with Zohara wrapped in her cloak tied to his chest sitting with him on his horse. Benito and Vincente said simultaneously "gracias al señor creador que tuvo éxito. galopar."
A few kilometers out of the town walls they met with Juan, changed horses leaving the ones they escaped the town on to run off west while they proceeded east. Alonso and his men caught up with them.
"Where is Pedro?" Manuel asked.
"Before he was able to tell anyone that we are going eastward we saw to it that the jackals are enjoying their midnight feast, in the morning the vultures will enjoy what is left."
"A fit end for a 2 legged jackal."
When Pablo returned to take the emptied food tray from Torquemada's room no one answered his call to open the door. "The old master likely has gone to sleep". He called the chief of the guards to come with his keys to open the door. They were shocked at what they found in the room and sounded the alarm. The gate keepers were questioned as to whether anyone had hurriedly left the town. The chase was on. The trackers went after the hoof marks west, not noticing the carefully erased hoof marks that went east.
On the way, at a village, Don Manuel's entourage purchased a carriage so that the weary, tortured Zohara could could rest in the ride. They avoided Madrid continuing to Guadalajara. There they purchased an other carriage selling the first one. On their way through Zaragoza, Lerida, Barcelona, Girona, and Port Bou, more Jews including more members of the Nahmanides/Saporta clan joined them. When they arrived in Barcelona Zohara was pretty much recovered and requested a horse to ride on side by side with Manuel. With her renewed glowing smile, "My father did not raise me to be a pampered court lady riding all her life in a carriage. I will be on horseback next to my precious brave Caballero! Vamanos!"
The growing entourage went past the Pyrenees near the coast, through southern France, northern Italy on to the Balkans.
By the time they reached Serbia their group had grown to several hundred men women and children. Coming to the town of Novi Sad by a river and with good farming land, forests and fields they chose to settle there with Don Garcia Manuel Diaz Nahmanides-Saporta as their community head.
gracias al señor creador que tuvo éxito
….
Don Manuel had been very reluctant to leave the ranch for he had felt a very strong premonition of evil, so had Zohara. But the business had to be taken care of and his trusted servant Pedro, the only one remaining from his father’s times, had insisted. “Master there are things that only you can do. It will not be a long trip and we will do all as quick as possible. My son will remain behind to see that all is handled here correctly.”
Yes Pedro’s son saw to it that all was handled there “correctly”. Pedro had well beforehand informed the local inquisitor’s offices of the successful ranchero of the crypto-Jew Don Manuel and had promised that as soon as a good opportunity to attack it showed up he would let them know. Now like his evil father Pedro’s son betrayed their employer. He quickly informed that Don Manuel was away along with half of the able men who were also guards of the ranchero.
Now again in midway on the journey Manuel had a feeling of the disaster unfolding in his absence and ordered a quick return. When he and his entourage arrived it was too late. Curiously Pedro had disappeared when they came close to the now destroyed ranchero.
Again while away Don Manuel’s ranchero was plundered by the forces of the Inquisition. Now he knew who it had been who betrayed him both in the original ranch and now this one. “I will find Pedro and he will pay with his life!”
Don Manuel and his men searched through ruins, identifying the corpses. Zohara was not among them. This was a bit of relief for Don Manuel for it meant that most likely was still alive, but captured. Yet the relief was also mixed for Zohara had only recently finally conceived their first child and he worried what would be fate of the newly developing fetus. He now used the special spiritual abilities which Eliahu had taught him to verify that and to try to find where they had taken her.
Benito and Alonso also in their way made efforts to find out what was the fate of the gracious young Donna Zohara. Their probing in the nearest town informed them that she had been taken to be the evil Torquemada’s personal prisoner. This information gave them also the name and location of the monastery where she was being held.
For several months a chase unfolded as Don Manuel sought to free his wife from her evil captor. Torquemada was a prime sorcerer and felt that he was being tracked down, hunted by Don Manuel and each time that the rescue party neared whichever monastery he was hiding with his prize in he would leave quickly and go to another monastery in some other town or village. Pedro still pretending to be a loyal employee had volunteered to join in the chase. Yet now Manuel knew that Pedro was a traitor and was watchful and cautious. Benito, Alonso and Sanchez knew as well and they too were keeping a watchful eye on Pedro.
Manuel did not suffice with a simple chase, he was already waging a spiritual war with Torquemada. The evil sorcerer had tried to harm, even kill, Manuel by witchcraft. Yet by the grace of Hashem, the teachings of his mentor, Eliahu, were sufficient to protect himself while tracking and chasing his evil prey and he counter attacked as well. Torquemada was developing a heart condition which was slowing him down.
Finally they reached the monastery, St Thomas Aquinas in the walled town of A'vila in Castile & Leon. That was where Torquemada was with his prisoner, Zohara, and had not managed to flee from it before the arrival of the rescue party. They stopped and made camp far enough to not be noticed. Pedro quickly offered to scout out the area. His “brave” offer was refused. Benito caught the hinted order from Manuel and he and Sanchez kept close watch on Pedro while Alonso went to scout the region.
Getting into the walled town without raising suspicions was already a bit of a challenge. Planning the breaking in to the monastery and escaping after rescuing Donna Zohara would be an even bigger challenge. They chose to be patient and do it all slowly preparing step by step slow enough to not raise any attention. Additional horses were purchased one by one from different farms and stables being careful not pay overly high prices nor to bargain too much over the price, both of which would arouse notice and talk through the tow among the horse dealers. They also broke up their group rented rooms in different streets. Getting to know the gate keepers of the town wall was Benito's job.
After two months of preparation they were ready to move. They chose a quiet moonless night, the new moon would just appear the next night. Evening had just begun. Benito was near the gate closest to the monastery and 2 of their guards nearby, Juan with another 5 guards outside the walls with spare horses, Alonso and 2 guards nearby keeping close to Pedro, Vincente with 5 more with Don Manuel. Two of the guards who were with Manuel had arranged to sneak inside and hide during the day to be nearby in case on Manuel needed their assistance, or protection in his escape. Vincente and the others were to stay close to the monastery to cover the escape and hinder any chase after them.
In whispers....
"Here we are Vincente, the side gate of the monastery I pray your men inside have managed to unlock the gate for us. Ah yes it opens, good. You and your men stay in the shadows nearby and wait for us."
"Master, may Hashem be with you and bless your dedication to rescue Donna Zohara."
"Thank you and He should bless you and the rest of our men."
With that Manuel silently entered the gate, recited a special Holy name sequence he had learned from Eliahu and became invisible. He walked through the corridors, right past soldiers and dwellers of the place unseen. He proceeded to the main residential quarters and came to the room where the evil Torquemada was staying and holding his prize captive. Manuel waited for a servant to bring the evening meal and sneaked in then, still invisible.
Torquemada started when the servant entered. "Who's there? Oh it's you. Put the tray on the table please. Has someone come in with you?"
"No your holy honor, I have come alone as usual."
"Odd, I feel another presence, an unwanted uncomforatble one at that too."
"Your majesty sir would be wanting anything else for now?"
"No Pablo. You may leave."
"Thank you sir."
Don Manuel looked around the large room and could hardly retain his anger when he saw his wife. She was being held standing without any clothing chained to a wall. There were bloodstains on her bare legs and the rotting remains of what had been their fetus on the floor below her. Her heavenly beautiful face showing her grief and the signs of starvation, and scars on her slender body. Manuel reined his feelings of rage in and carefully studied the room. There was the table where Pablo had placed the tray with the evening meal, and a second table with paper, quills and ink. A large bed, carpets barred windows, a fireplace, a chandelier hanging from the middle of the ceiling, wall lamps - ... and his wife chained to a wall. While measuring the room he was also sensing the traffic outside the room. All along he was praying asking God for guidance and help.
Traffic in the corridors had stopped. People were going to sleep or leaving for their quarters in smaller buildings outside this main one.
Torquemada picked at his food but could not eat. He muttered, "I see no one, Pablo said no one entered with him, but ... I sense a presence and a presence that is malevolent to me."
He rose from his chair, took the whip from a hook on the wall behind him and walked toward Zohara. "If I can't enjoy my meal at least I can enjoy whipping you some more you morrano wench!"
He lifted the whipand an invisible hand stopped him.
"What?!"
Just then Don Manuel recited another Holy name and made himself visible.
"Who are you? What are you?"
"I am your end you evil ghoul!"
"Manuel, mi querido Manuel, creador misericordioso, mi querido Manuel!"
The battle began. Torquemada was no match for any physical conflict with the muscular Manuel. The battle was one of spiritual forces. Torquemada using his sorcery, and Manuel using holy powers, sending each other flying about the room, furniture flying at each other, the sorcerer calling upon demons to his aid, Manuel dissolving them and burning them. An axe that had been hanging on a wall went flying at Manuel from behind.
"Mi querido beware behind you!"
The warning from his chained wife came just in time to dodge the flying axe and send back at the sorcerer who also managed to dodge it.
Torquemada even changed his own size and shape to that of huge demons throwing fire at Manuel. Seeing that he was getting nowhere for Manuel was deftly blocking every attack upon him.
The evil sorcerer called a demon to attack Zohara hoping that way Manuel would be sufficiently distracted to make him vulnerable. It almost worked. Though old Eliahu had trained his protege' well. Manuel set up a wall of spiritual fire around her
and at the same time threw the demon at Torquemada sending them rolling on the floor. With a holy name he dispatched the demon and resumed direct attack on Torquemada to stop his beating heart.
Torquemada was getting weaker. With Manuel cramping his heart, he no longer had the power to summon demons or throw flames at his opponent. His feeble attempts to send furniture at him to throw him off his feet availed him not. Manuel easily flinched them off while concentrating more and more on crushing the evil one's heart, until .... it stopped never to beat again.
Silence, stillness rested upon the room that only second had been raging in muted but harsh battle.
Manuel gathered centered himself, ran to his wife released her from the chains catching her as she fell physically and emotionally exhausted into his arms. He wrapped her into a cloak he had brought with him in the small pack he had taken into the room with him, lifted her, recited the holy names to make them both invisible and silently left the room, leaving Torquemada's corpse on the floor.
Now to sneak out of the monastery complex. As they neared the door he met his 2 guards and still invisible whispered to them, "Come we are leaving now, open the gate for me and let's go."
Outside if anyone was looking they only saw to men walking the street, a meter space one from the other, on a moonless night. As they neared the town wall southern gate they met up with Benito's men and the horses. Everyone mounted a horse, as well as the still invisible Manuel and Zohara. A few words and coins from Benito and the town gate was opened for them. Off they went into the night.
On the way Manuel recited the names to be visible again and his comrades saw him with Zohara wrapped in her cloak tied to his chest sitting with him on his horse. Benito and Vincente said simultaneously "gracias al señor creador que tuvo éxito. galopar."
A few kilometers out of the town walls they met with Juan, changed horses leaving the ones they escaped the town on to run off west while they proceeded east. Alonso and his men caught up with them.
"Where is Pedro?" Manuel asked.
"Before he was able to tell anyone that we are going eastward we saw to it that the jackals are enjoying their midnight feast, in the morning the vultures will enjoy what is left."
"A fit end for a 2 legged jackal."
When Pablo returned to take the emptied food tray from Torquemada's room no one answered his call to open the door. "The old master likely has gone to sleep". He called the chief of the guards to come with his keys to open the door. They were shocked at what they found in the room and sounded the alarm. The gate keepers were questioned as to whether anyone had hurriedly left the town. The chase was on. The trackers went after the hoof marks west, not noticing the carefully erased hoof marks that went east.
On the way, at a village, Don Manuel's entourage purchased a carriage so that the weary, tortured Zohara could could rest in the ride. They avoided Madrid continuing to Guadalajara. There they purchased an other carriage selling the first one. On their way through Zaragoza, Lerida, Barcelona, Girona, and Port Bou, more Jews including more members of the Nahmanides/Saporta clan joined them. When they arrived in Barcelona Zohara was pretty much recovered and requested a horse to ride on side by side with Manuel. With her renewed glowing smile, "My father did not raise me to be a pampered court lady riding all her life in a carriage. I will be on horseback next to my precious brave Caballero! Vamanos!"
The growing entourage went past the Pyrenees near the coast, through southern France, northern Italy on to the Balkans.
By the time they reached Serbia their group had grown to several hundred men women and children. Coming to the town of Novi Sad by a river and with good farming land, forests and fields they chose to settle there with Don Garcia Manuel Diaz Nahmanides-Saporta as their community head.
gracias al señor creador que tuvo éxito