Day of Honor - Michael Jan Friedman [48]
"Chateau Picard '64," he noted. "An excellent year."
Carla darted a glance at her husband. "I'm glad someone around here appreciates fine wine,"
It. Rabinowitz chuckled. "An old debate. I'm sorry you stumbled on it, Doctor."
The Doctor looked around the table. "Well, it is a fine wine."
"Thank you," Carla said pointedly.
David shot them both a look of forced tolerance, then returned his attention to his padd. "I will now wash my hands."
"Always a good idea," the Doctor remarked. "As they say, cleanliness is next to godliness."
"Who says that?" asked Aaron, the youngest child.
He eyed the Doctor with undisguised skepticism.
"Never mind," his mother told him. "Just pay attention."
Ignoring the exchange, David cleansed his hands in a small bowl apparently reserved for the purpose. Then he said another prayer-this one over a small bundle of parsley, which he dipped in a second bowl and distributed to everyone at the table.
Seeing It. Rabinowitz munch on his sprig of parsley, the Doctor did likewise. He found it salty, and since parsley was not salty in and of itself, he gathered that the water in the bowl had contained salt.
"It represents the tears of the Israelites," It. Rabinowitz pointed out to him. "Because of the oppression they suffered in Egypt."
The Doctor nodded. "Thank you. You're being very helpful."
"No problem," said Rabinowitz.
The Doctor congratulated himself on his strategy. With the lieutenant as a guide, he would no doubt avoid the problems he had encountered in his previous holiday scenarios-while preserving the potential for surprise and spontaneity.
As it happened, Rabinowitz had been eager to relive this holiday meal-a celebration of the ancient Jewish feast of Passover. He had even offered to set up the program parameters, obviating the need for the Doctor to conduct any further research.
After all, the lieutenant had been exploring the Delta Quadrant for the last few years, along with the
rest of Voyager's crew. He hadn't seen his sister and her family in quite some time-and unless the captain found tt way to accelerate their journey home, he would never see them again.
Except this way, of course. In a holodeck setting, where Rabinowitz could make his most poignant memories manifest.
"It's too hot in here," Aunt Pearl said suddenly. "Somebody open a window or something."
"It's too soon for Elijah," Benjamin piped up.
The Doctor looked to his "guide" for an explanation. Rabinowitz chuckled and mussed Benjamin's hair.
"Elijah was a prophet," he told the Doctor. "He represents the needy-the stranger. Later on, after we finish eating, we open the door for him so he can come in and share our food."
"Of course," said the Doctor. "Much as the Caatati have been given a portion of Voyager's resources."
"Actually," the lieutenant told him, "that's not a bad analogy."
As David opened a window for Aunt Pearl, Carla was doing something with a stack of crumbly-looking flatbreads on a plate near the center of the table. The Doctor craned his neck in order to watch.
"Matzoth," explained Rabinowitz. "Pieces of unleavened bread-like those baked in a hurry by the Israelites as they left Egypt. Carla's breaking the middle piece in half for a kids' game that'll happen later."
David sat down again. Then the lieutenant's sister elevated the plate of matzoth and read from her own padd.
"This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all those who are hungry come in and eat. Let all those who are in distress come in and celebrate the Passover. This year, we celebrate here, but next year we hope to celebrate in the land of Israel. This year, we are slaves; next year, may we be free men."
The Doctor didn't understand everything Carla had said. He turned to Rabinowitz for an explanationand was surprised to see tears standing in the lieutenant's eyes.
"Sorry," said Rabinowitz. He smiled. "It's just that I've been away for a long time and I miss them."
The Doctor nodded. "As you should. You have a fine family." He gave the lieutenant