When the song faded away like an evening vesper from the time of Christ, Thar returned to us. He and his playmates had parted ways, and each had returned home. Once again, his father came out of the house. His sister-in-law and Schamah accompanied him. When I saw their expressions, these biblical words came to mind: "And their faces glistened brilliantly." Thar saw it too: "What an hour, what a blessed time," he said. "Adding in the song, who could have arranged all this?" I asked. Pointing to himself with both hands, the boy answered: "I was the one." "Were you really the one who's responsible? To me, it seemed as if this was some sort of greeting from your mother." The widow joined in: "It's also from my departed husband whose life ended, yet his spirit lives on as his dying wish now comes to fulfillment."
Mustafa Bustani turned to his son: "If all of this truly came about through your mother's and my brother's last requests-and not from you-surely you have done more than your share, and you deserve our thanks. Actually, Abd en Nom told us the name of the architect who orchestrated today's joint-ventures. The compassion which your mother planted in your young soul has born fruit and brought blessings upon us. Schamah, the forgiveness, will be living with us and-" "In our house?" Thar quickly asked. "Yes." "With her mother?" "Yes." "For how long?' "I hope it will be forever."
Upon hearing that, Thar shouted and leaped higher in the air than he ever had before: "Right away, I must hurry to tell them that they'e coming!" "Whom?" "Why, all of our household: Habakek, Bem, his wife, the coffee grinder, and our cook." "We still have plenty of time, because my sister-in-law will spend this evening here with Abd en Nom. After all the preparations are in place to welcome them with a festival, we'll pick them up tomorrow." With a second joyful leap, Thar cheered: "Their reception will be wildly festive! May I invite my Lions and my Elephants?" From the look on Mustafa's face, he didn't approve. When my wife waved her appeal to him, he gave in: "Yes, invite them." "The Hippos too?" "Yes." "And the Whales?" "Yes, they can also come. They can sit in the backyard and be entertained there-but quietly. Before they leave this evening, please have them sing "The Song of Bethany." "Halleluja! My dearest and loving father, thank you. I'll hurry to tell them right away!" Mustafa Bustani tried to hold him back: "Why this very minute?" "Because I still have time to catch up with them. They left just a short while ago." He pulled away, quickly shook Schamah's little hand, and sprang to his feet. As she adoringly watched the boy, Schamah asked: "Will I be staying with him?" "Yes, you will," her mother answered. From now on, you two will be together." "I too want it to be so. I'm very glad about that, because I love him so-such heroes need someone to keep an eye on them. But for now, I'm tired from the long journey. May I soon go to sleep?"