Another try

(Cont.)

[Balaam has just replied: “I cannot protect your people from the out-of-control troops that are nearby, for I will do nothing but what Yahweh tells me to do.”]

Then Balak said to him: “Look, follow me over to this other peak of the mountain range, where you can see clearly the vanguard of the plunderers: this isn’t even the whole army – it’s just a fragment; the tip of the iceberg – but the bloodshed and despoilation that they are wreaking will turn your stomach. There’s no way that you can behold this and not intervene.”

So Balaam was led up to the Lookout Point atop Pisgah.

After a few moments of gazing upon the scene, Balaam exhaled long and hung his head. “Prepare seven grills, with a bullock and a ram for each,” he said.

“Again?” asked Balak the King.

“Again,” said Balaam.

Then, when the meat was cooking, he addressed Balak and said: “Wait here; keep an eye on the grills, while I meet the LORD yonder.” And he gestured to the mountaintop, where the familiar fire of the vortex had reappeared.

And the wild man with the hirsute carapace was waiting in the smoke beside the portal. His goat eyes were narrowed, and he growled and then spoke as Balaam drew near: “Go tell Balak that I said this . . .”

§

Then, when Balaam came back down and approached the grill-site, lo, there was Balak standing before the steaks, and the angels were with him. And they broke off their conversation when they saw Balaam coming, and Balak said to him: “Well? What did he say?”

And Balaam repeated the dark saying that the Volcano had given him:

Listen, Balak. Focus your attention. 

Digest these words, you son of Zipporah: 

The volcano of potential is not a human, limited in perception, who minces words and prevaricates.  

He is not the son of man, making errors, 
blundering about, fumbling and learning, then changing his mind. 

No: what the Volcano says, goes: 

What he proclaims, he performs. 

Now Balaam has been instructed to bless, 

therefore, he blessed.  

Yet you wish to reverse this blessing with a cursing? 

You desire that I find wrongdoing in my laborers? 

I only see in them the possibility of excellence. 

For this reason, I personally led them out of the Empire.  

(I am stronger than a unicorn.)  

Surely my workforce defies augury, 

Neither is there any divination, nor enchantment,  

which is able to influence my multitudes. 

Otherwise, they might be told what I planned to do. 

But my preference is to coast free-form;  

my preference is even to surprise myself. 

Though I had urged them to mix and mingle, 

as you know, they slid sideways instead. 

Now you see this young pride of lions 

raging, rampaging, ravaging, roaring, 

guzzling up the blood of their prey. 

Do not ask me to soften,  

to smooth, to allay, 

to tone down and lull 

an unstoppable nuclear chain reaction.

And when Balaam was finished reciting this, there was silence. Then, to King Balak, he added: “Again, I’m sorry, but that’s what he said. I really hope that you understand.”

And Balak replied: “No, I get it. That’s how some gods are; it seems madness from my perspective, but, like Blake says, ‘The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity too great for the eye of man.’ However, as much as I respect the conviction and tenacity of the LORD when it comes to this gang that he has rescued, I still believe that we both – he and I – ultimately desire the same outcome; therefore, I hope that he can forgive me for continuing to pursue my hope for a peaceful resolution.”

Balaam shrugged and said: “I’m right with you, when it comes to that.”

So Balak said: “Well then, since it was never my plea that you outright curse them, would it be disloyal for you at least to abstain from blessing these violent men? For, whenever you speak words favorable to them, reality tends to imitate what you have said; and what we need is for these killers to be dissuaded from any further ransacking, not encouraged to do more.”

But Balaam answered and said to Balak: “I just told you, did I not? Whatever the LORD instructs me, I will do.”

So Balak said to Balaam: “Yes – yes, I see how things are,” and he nodded slowly. Then, after a pause, Balak added: “Come, I pray, let me bring you to one last viewpoint, just in case you might be allowed to make peace from there.”