Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Characters, THE VASE - The Captain

The potter, his family, and Professor Hiram Weiss may be the premiere characters in THE VASE, but other characters weigh in, as well.

There is the captain, Weiss’s fellow Mossad operative. But Captain Benny Mathias is much more than that. He is an active captain in the IDF, and he also is the head of Kidon, which as some of you may know, is the division of Mossad in charge of assassination. Yes, Captain Benny Mathias is a war veteran, and he is a killer. But his experiences have taken a toll on the man. He has lost all faith in god. What with the rampant killing in the region, that includes innocent women and children losing their lives, he cannot fathom a world with such atrocities being permitted by a higher power. No, Captain Mathias is an atheist, and nothing short of a miracle would ever change his mind on that.

But he’s not looking for any miracle. It is for Israel he fights. His entire life is dedicated to the preservation of Israel, and he has had no time for love, no time for marriage, and no time for a family of his own. But it doesn’t mean he has no feelings. The beautiful assistant to the director of Mossad has caught his eye. And she's been a widow for many years now. Will she return his affections? Or will she reserve her ardor for the professor from Bethel University?

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about Mary Levin, a former IDF captain, herself, and current personal assistant to Ari Abrams, the director of Mossad.
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