Persia, 1454

A glorious afternoon sun shone upon King’s Babak’s palace courtyard. The king was resting upon a red, silken couch as he watched his pet dog, Dibi, race around the room.

“Come over here, Dibi!” King Babak motioned towards the giant animal. “You rascal! How do you have so much energy after running around for so long?”

Dibi leaped onto the king’s couch and wagged his massive tail happily.

“If you get any bigger, Dibi, I’ll have tell the servants to stop feeding you so much meat!” The King scratched Dibi’s massive head fondly. “The truth is, you’re my best friend. I could never say no to you.”

A servant entered the courtyard and bowed low. “Prime Minister Azzam has arrived.”

“So soon? Well, I suppose I must take care of business first and then enjoy Dibi later. Send him in.”

“As-salaam alaykum!”

Prime Minister Azzam entered the courtyard. He was a bald man with a small, upturned nose. He was perfectly groomed and not a speck of dust could be spotted on his sandals.

“Wa-slaikum-salaam.” The King raised a hand that glinted with gold rings. “How are the affairs of my kingdom?”

“They could not be better.” Azzam allowed himself a smug smile. “Ever since you hired me as your right-hand man, I have added tremendous wealth to your fortunes.”

“Uh oh, more taxes, Azzam?”

“Well, yes, but mainly just taxes placed upon the Jews!” Azzam moved closer to the king but stopped short when he caught sight of the huge black dog on the couch.

“More taxes on the Jews? Haven’t you bothered them enough, Azzam?” The king watched as Dibi bared his fangs at Azzam and growled. “Sometimes I’m not sure who you despise more, the Jews or my beloved dog.”

“I love Dibi!” Azzam plastered a fake smile across his face. “A more beautiful creature I’ve never seen in my entire life!”

“You’re lying, but that’s alright,” the king shrugged. “Dibi hates you too.”

Dibi hopped off the couch and snapped his fangs at the hem of Azzam’s robe.

“Cursed creature! Get away from me!” Azzam shrieked.

“Dibi! Come here, my loyal protector!” The king tugged Dibi away from his prime minister. “Before one of you ends up hurting the other, let’s get down to business. Have you seen the dark clouds gathering just beyond the kingdom? A great danger is coming towards us, nearer every day.”

“I haven’t seen or heard anything.”

“Then you haven’t been paying attention, Azzam. I have received reports of a monstrous army of locusts that is heading straight toward the kingdom. The locusts are devouring every bit of produce in their path, leaving nothing behind except total devastation.”

The king looked Azzam straight in the eye.

“We’re suffering currently from a drought. If the locusts reach us they will eat whatever little produce we still have left standing. There will be widespread famine and death.”

Azzam turned pale.

“Come up with a plan to save the kingdom, Azzam. If you do not, we will all perish and you will be the first one to go.”

Dibi growled so loudly that Azzam jumped.

“Do not fail, Azzam.” (Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 727)