An arrow slammed into the side of the wagon, burying itself inches from Shimshon’s face

The sun was beginning to rise, casting magnificent colors across the vast river. But to Shimshon, the rays of red and gold resembled blood, as his heart raced in panic. He was being taken back to the castle, to who knew what punishment they would administer for his brazen escape.

“Why are you doing this?” Shimshon pleaded with Jorin. “You had compassion on me back there, and now you’re going to throw me away for money?”

“What choice do I have?” Jorin kept his gaze on the river ahead. “You don’t know what it’s like living in the wild, always worried about where you’ll get your next coin to survive another day. You come from a nice Jewish home, a village where people took care of each other. But I haven’t lived in such a place for many years. My life runs on different principles from yours.  In my world, you’re either the hunter or the prey. If I have mercy on you, I’ll be hurting myself and making my clan lose money.”

“I suppose I understand that, if you take Hashem out of the picture.” Shimshon shook his head.

They rounded a corner in the river, and Jorin’s expert steering kept them from hitting the branches sticking out of the bank.

“But Hashem is in the picture, whether you like it or not, Jorin. No one loses by doing the right thing, and following Hashem’s will. Hashem decrees everything that will happen to a person during the year on—”

“Rosh Hashanah. I’m not totally ignorant, you know!” Jorin snapped.

“Right. And a person’s livelihood is also decided on Rosh Hashanah. Do you think Hashem decreed that you’ll only be able to survive or make money if you lie or sin? Does that make sense to you? Obviously, Hashem decreed that you’ll get whatever you need without you having to go against His will!”

Shimshon could see Jorin beginning to look guilty.

“That thing back there… what is it? What connection do you have with it?”

“I wouldn’t say I have a strong connection with it.”

“What was it?”

“A golem.”