"For many years I have been faithfully delivering the letters to you. I am just a messenger of the king”

Chaim and his family ran deep into the woods and hunkered down behind several large trees. A moment later two Cossacks galloped past them, screaming furiously. They listened to the hoofbeats fading away and slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Can we go back now?” Shoshanah asked her husband, who was breathing heavily beside her.

“I think we would be better off staying here. Who knows if they’ll decide to return?”

“Baruch is right,” Chaim whispered. “Everyone stay put and…” His voice trailed off as the sound of hoofbeats neared.

“They’re coming back!” Shoshanah whispered. “Ribbono shel Olam, save us!”

“Remember what I always taught you: Hashem is always listening to our tefillos. Daven! Daven!” Chaim began to recite Tehillim fervently, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“There they are! I see a shadow behind the tree! Get them!”

The Cossacks had returned, and their voices were filled with hatred. They leaped off their horses, drew their swords, and ran toward the place where everyone was hiding.

Shoshanah closed her eyes, her lips murmuring the ancient words of faith and courage sung by Dovid Hamelech thousands of years before.

“AAAACH!”

One of the Cossacks howled in pain as an arrow flew through the air and struck him down. The other Cossack raced toward his horse to flee the hidden enemy, but another arrow flung him to the dirt.

The ground shook again as the sound of hoofbeats filled the air. A moment later an entourage of 12 men wearing full suits of armor and holding long, dazzling spears galloped up to the family.

“You don’t have to cower in fear! We’re not here to hurt you.” The leader of the group had a long ponytail and held a bow in his hand. A long ax was strapped across his back. “We just killed those worthless Cossacks for you, so I think you know we have no respect for the acts they perpetrate.”

There were screams from the direction of the village.

“Go defend the village!” the leader instructed his men. “Return here only after every last one of the Cossacks has been dealt with!”

The other soldiers galloped off to save the Jews.