Filled with indignation, Thar yelled out: “Keep our distance? Flee? That is never the case with us. As for Effendi and me, we fear nothing. Regarding the Mrs., she too is not afraid, because I have told her that I’m a hero, and she can always call upon me in a time of need. Chuckling to himself, Eppstein considered how this child could have such self-esteem: “A hero?” With that remark, he came down on the wrong side of the boy. Thar rose from the table, came towards him, and answered that question: “You laugh at me? I will not tolerate that. My name is Thar, and woe to you if I should ever take revenge against you.”
Jew Eppstein kept on joking: “Well, would that be really bad for me?” Thar was irritated: “So, you continue to laugh at me? Mind what you say! In truth, I’m just eleven years old, but in all of Jerusalem there isn’t a single fourteen year old that I haven’t wrestled to the ground!” Still smiling, Eppstein pressed further: “Do you also consider me to be such a fourteen year old?”
“No. Well then, how old are you?”
“Let’s say sixty.”
“For all I care, it’s the same to me if you’re a hundred. Now pay attention!”
Thar quickly slipped behind him, forcing his arms behind him. With a jerk and a squeeze, Eppstein ended up sitting on the ground—where previously he had stood. Naturally, this was the result of the boy’s quickness and the way he managed to take the man by surprise. Even so, the boy had physical powers that exceeded the usual strength of an eleven year old. With a satisfied nod to Jew Eppstein, Thar returned to his place at the table: “At first, you laughed from above—now you laugh from below!”
“Tell me now, where did you develop such knack and quickness?”
Thar answered: “From the Lions Club.”
“What is that? How and where?”
“It’s in Jerusalem. We boys have four clubs where we can practice. The Lions Club meets in front of the western Jaffa Gate. At the northwestern Damascus Gate, you’ll find The Elephant Club. Just outside of Stephen’s Gate, The Hippos play. The Whales claim The Pool of Siloah as their practice grounds. As you know, these are strong and noble animals. With their speed and the power of their leaps, The Lions triumph, just as I’ve done here. As you already know, The Elephans trample together. The Hippos run with their heads linked together; in this way, the strongest roots himself to the spot while the others collapse inward. The Whales do battle only in the ocean. One ducks under the opposition, and with a mouth full of water he spews it into the air, just like whales do. Therein lies the victory! I’m a member of all four clubs; and to this day, no one has beaten me. Hey, do we want to work together like Hippos?