In Episode 12 (Part 2), the action picks up where we left off, with Etgar sending a speech balloon to rebuke the enemy and destroy his magic. While Shem struggles to defeat Deli’s water bearer, the Holy Tongue Society devises a new strategy to defeat evil. But has their arrogance outpaced their faith?
Tiqwah wants Etgar to invite the Devir — the Temple’s Holy of Holies — into the fray. In the Bible, the Holy of Holies is a room where a vessel called the Ark of the Covenant used to dwell. The high priest was the only person allowed to visit it.
The ark is a chest that held the tablets of the law, manna and Aaron’s budding rod, and man generally was neither allowed to touch it nor even look at it. According to 1 Samuel, when the Philistines captured the chest, they began experiencing plagues.
Although the ark’s whereabouts are unknown today, it’s carried a sort of mystique throughout the ages, as any Indiana Jones fan knows.
Nevertheless, Tiqwah’s strategy of carrying the ark into battle is either naive or arrogantly foolish. Fortunately, whether it’s due to divine mercy, luck or Etgar’s ineptitude, the Devir never shows up.
Instead, the Holy Tongue Society’s alfon interprets the ד-ב-ר shoresh code in a way that calls up a “dovrah” instead. Morfix defines that word as a “barge, lighter; raft.”
A raft might not be much of a weapon, but it may prove to be a lifesaver…
In other news, it feels good to be back! Behind the scenes, I’ve been drafting out the print versions of “Milhamah” in time for spring and summer conventions. I’ll certainly have enough for one issue or possibly even two. Get ready for much more information in the weeks ahead!