half the time, will not even attend Worship? By
whose Teaching has he gathered such Wisdom?"
25 "If I were to tell you, father, that The Lords came to me today and
spoke to me, would you believe me?"
26 "After hearing you speak this day, I would believe that water runs
uphill, if you told me it was so! Never, my son, would I doubt your
honesty! "
27 "That my father believes in me," said Gray Goat, "fills my heart
with joy. Father, I must ask something of you."
28 "Whatever it is, my son, ask!"
29 "Father," continued Gray Goat, "these men that are brought here
every day, they get virtually nothing to eat...a few scraps of bread in
the morning, a bit of watery soup in the mid-day, some dry fruit and
bread at night. May I give them a proper meal?"
30 "You have a brother that was killed in the fighting," remarked his
father, "you have another who will be lame for the rest of his days,
yet you wish to feed the enemy?"
31 "They are men, father, and they hunger. Did The Lords say
that 'Even if the evilest of souls should hunger at my door, I would
give him bread? For in the days of my longing, I, too, were
hungry and I know what it was to be without bread. ' If it must be
taken from my inheritance, let it be so. But I
would not see men suffer such as this!"
32 "From your inheritance," answered his father, "it shall not be
taken, but all that that you desire, take it, for I would not keep you
from this thing you must do."
33 "Father," added Gray Goat, "it would be wise if you sent another to
tend my flocks. For I must be about other business. "