The Arrows of Hercules

Shortly before sunset, the rumble of Elazar's chariot sounded outside. Servants rushed to and fro to get dinner ready. The contractor stalked into the courtyard, a scowl on his face. Zopyros braced himself for an unpleasant dinner. Then little Ahiram trotted in. Elazar hoisted his son up, hugged him, and kissed him, while the boy pulled his father's beard and chattered about the events of the afternoon.

Elazar served no wine before the meal and drank but little himself during the repast. They ate sitting in chairs instead of reclining on couches. The entree was a tasty stew. Segovax asked:

"What's this we are eating, your honor?"

"Puppy dog," said Elazar.

Segovax clapped a hand over his mouth. Zopyros gulped. Even Evnos' gap-toothed smile became strained. Elazar shot keen glances around the table, and his lips twitched. He said:

" 'Tis not your custom, and I know it. But, when I dine among Greeks, I must ofttimes eat pork or go hungry, notwithstanding that to us Canaanites the pig is an unclean beast."

Zopyros compelled himself to go on eating. Dog meat, he found, was really not bad if one fought down one's inherited prejudices. He said:

"How goes the business, sir?"

"Baal Hammon roast all house buyers!" roared Elazar, smiting the table with his fist so that the tapers wobbled in their holders. "The polluted bastards can never make up their minds. No matter how carefully one go over the plans with them, there's ever some last-minute change. Every such change costs good shekels. The wretches try to wriggle out of paying for it and curse the poor builder as a thief because he cannot afford to absorb these costs himself. Why chose I not some safe, easy trade, like lion hunting or piracy?"

Through most of the meal, Elazar harangued the other three on the iniquity of the people who bought houses from him. Becoming bored, Zopyros sought to change the subject. He said:

"Your son seems a bright lad."

"Oh, he is; forsooth he is!" Elazar's eyes gleamed with proud eagerness. "Know you that, albeit not yet five, he knows the Punic alphabet? If the gods receive him not into their bosoms first, he'll verily be a credit to me."

Zopyros: "You mean—ah—sir—that custom of yours?"

"Certes, I mean that custom, as you call it. Unlike certain other folk, we really do revere our gods—at least the righteous amongst us do. How better to show our reverence than to give them that which we love best?"

"Is it not all equally righteous that you are?" ventured Segovax.

Elazar sighed. "That is never the way with mortal men. Our wise kohanim still debate the question: How can good gods permit evil in their world? Time was, long ago when the city was young, when the folk of Carthage gave in to luxury and license. But of late we've mended our ways. The rich care for the poor, thus averting civil conflict; and all alike strive for sober and godly conduct. Did things but continue thus, I doubt not the gods"— Elazar rolled his eyes heavenwards and touched his breast, lips, and forehead—"would favor the Republic for aye, and no draft of the first-born to pass through the fire were needed.