23 The man shook his head. "I will consider," he answered.
24 A servant rushed in. "Master!" she cried, "Master! I bring you terrible tidings! I went to fetch your dear wife. She was to go to see a lady in the city, trying to convince her to come out among the world, and I could not rise her. She is with God!"
25 "What?" Muhammed cried, leaping to his feet. "What? My joy is with God? It cannot be!" He rushed to his wife's quarters, knelt beside her and found it was true. He gave a great cry, fell upon her, and began to weep.
26 The old man looked about him and said, "Ta! Ta! Go away! Leave a man to his mourning. Come back at sunset to fetch her, and prepare her for the grave. But now go, go! And let him have his memories of her."
27 And those about departed, except for two guards that stayed at each end of the hall. And the old man told his son, "It is time for us to depart. But when we arrive home you are no longer to oppose Muhammed. You will speak before the council of ending the war, and inviting him home."
28 His son looked at him and bowed, then caressed his silver hair. "You are lord of my house," he answered, "and he has given you back to me. If it is your wish, that I will do, for my great love of you."
29 The old man smiled and said, "you are a good son! You are a good son, indeed!" then tottered off. His son smiled and followed him.
30 Now the numbers of those that opposed Muhammed in Mecca became even less, as this great Voice spoke among them for reunion, and the ending of hostilities. But one continued to speak against Muhammed, his ex son-in-law.
31 "He is a liar!" he cried, "A stealer of wives! A murderer of noble young men, one who is against all tradition! His women do not even go veiled, but show their faces, and even their arms, in public. How can a man who allows such debauchery be considered holy? He tempts other men openly, with his wives, one of whom is by rights, mine because she was my brother's wife. With me there will never be any peace with him. I will slay him, and bring an end to his evil."
32 And he went out to gather yet another army, taking all the wealth of those he could muster, with him to this time defeat Muhammed. Now, he was weak. The loss of his wife had made him wistful and uncaring. He was vulernable. Now was the time to attack!
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