"He is going to search for the writing of Michael the Senior. I have seen that in his eyes. And he will find that writing, and when he finds it and reads it aloud to the people, the spirit of Israel will rise against your teaching."
There was a deep silence after those words, and then the bass voice resounded again:
"When he shall find that writing, then my heavy hand will rest on him and crush him into dust. Moshe, what did he do after supper?"
"He went to the house of Reb Jankiel, and talked with the cantor,
Eliezer. I passed that way, and saw them through the window."
"Moshe, who else was there?"
"There were Haim, Mendel, Aryel, and Ber, Saul's son-in-law."
"About what were they talking?"
"Nassi, my soul entered into my ear as I stood by their window. They complained much that they are kept in great darkness, and that the true faith of Israel is troubled like water when a handful of mud is thrown into it. And Eliezer said that he complains of it before the Lord, singing and crying; and Meir said that it is not enough to sing and cry, but that one must shout with a great voice to the people, and do something so that they will become something quite different from what they now are."
"A family of vipers!" hissed the voice from behind the door of the cabin.
"Nassi, who are a family of vipers?" asked Moshe humbly