Tzvi ben Zachariah was a very happy man. He used to be a simple merchant. Now he headed a large trade company based in Adulis. He even owned a galley! He sent it to India and back, and sold ivory, gold, silver, platinum, jewelry, silk, rugs, clothes, and many other luxuries. He also got wines and other things from Cush and Byzantium. Though they were on opposite sides of the war, they both wanted the others' goods, and came to Adulis to buy them. His business was extremely profitable, and he now was in good standing with the Axumite government, as he regularily made donations to build things to improve the country. There was even a statue of him commisioned outside of the palace, next to the Royal Gardens.
He had gotten married to Haya. She was very beautiful, and they were very happy together. He hoped their marriage could last, though she wasn't so sure. She was right. A few weeks after their wedding, he came home early from a trip to Byzantium that got cancelled in Egypt. Their had been a problem at the canal, and he had to turn back. He got home, and found her and another man. She was arrested, and given the proper punishment for adultery. Stoning.
His streak of bad luck was just beginning. His galley sunk, and many goods were lost. He was very stressed, and then his father died. His statue was destroyed, and his business was robbed. His business split into factions, with his second and third-in-commands creating rival businesses. He had been doing so well, he had forgotten one important thing: G-D. He lost control of his business, and money was taxed away from him slowly. He was jobless and poor again.
He finally realized his wrongs, and went to the priests and got them to pray for him. He offered a sacrifice, and something finally went right: he got a free stall at the shuk! He went back to being a simple trader. And he was content.
The breakup of his company was the best thing possible for Adulis. Rival companies competed for the best goods, and they brought in more trade seperately than a lazy monopoly did.
PRONUNCIATION : H is pronounced as the rolled h, as in the ch of Chanukah.
