Returning to Shavron wasn’t easy for the judges. They’re willful absence had made the Shavronites indifferent to them. Without the judges presence it left Shavron open to any creature of weak character to take over, and that creature was a skunk named Ulice. He had risen in power of the past ten years and had lived through the tyranny of Jezerah and Iya. He was abrasive when confronted, deceptive when he was in trouble, and when it came to God he had the worst trait of all: apathy. He allowed all manner of wickedness to breed in Shavron, but all the sin stunk in the Holy One’s nostrils, but one sin in particular brought sorrow to God’s heart to which he told Samson as the wolf prayed:
It grieves me that I have established Shavron for they are a disobedient land. They have cast me off in the days of Iya and Jezerah and when I sought them to bring them back to goodness, they turn from Me again. All manner of sin dwells here, but above all that angers me is this: they sacrifice their own children to please Iya’s moon god---I hate it above all! I will destroy Shavron and make their name vanish.
“But what of your mercy Lord?” said Samson, “I was once wicked and you forgave me, and even when the judges failed to do their duty, did you not forgive that wrong? You are a gracious God whose mercies are renewed daily. And what will other nations say: The Lord made this land only to destroy it. Let it not be so, God. Have mercy on Shavron.”
The Lord replied to Samson.
“Go to Ulice and bring My words to him: Your sin is great and I the Lord am ready to judge this land, but if you would humble yourself and pray I will not bring the judgment I plan on doing. You sacrifice your children and you allow the ways of the witch, Iya, to still live among you. I will take your children and leave you with no offspring, but if you will repent of this evil and turn away from it, I will not do such a thing.”
The next morning Samson explained all that the Holy One told him.
“I don’t feel comfortable with this Samson?” said Deborah. “Will the Holy One really do that?”
“I didn’t ask him,” said Samson, “I just listened.”
“When are we going to see Ulice?” asked Gideon.
“Today.” said Samson leading out.
Ulice himself wasn’t expecting anything troublesome today. In fact he revel in the fact that he would have time to spend with his two sons (twins) Tip and Top. With the death of their mother in childbirth it was Ulice’s priority to fill that void for his sons by catering to their ever need: if they wanted toys they got it; if they wanted parties they received it. All of this, although good hearted in sense, lead the young skunks to become what we call in our world spoiled brats---and that is what they were. Nevertheless Ulice loved his sons and today he was taking them on a picnic. Everything was in place and Ulice called for his sons, but a servant came to him bring a hint of bad news.
“Sir, the judges are here to see you?”
“Who?” said Ulice unconcerned with the matter.
“The Judges of Shavron, the prophet Samson and a young rabbit is with them.”
Ulice showed his discontent by pushing the picnic basket to the side. His servant backed away knowing that the skunk was prone to throw objects at this point of irritation.
“I don’t have time for this!” he said, “My sons and I are going on a picnic. Tell those deserters to come back tomorrow.”
The servant obeyed his master, but returned quickly with this response.
“They said that it is important--a matter of great distress.”
“Distress!?” was Ulice’s reply, “What presume is the distress?””
“The judgment of God.”
Ulice started laughing.
“Oh please!” he said waving his hands, “Send them away, send them away!”
The servant went to carry out the deed, returned again within one minute.
“Sir, Samson the prophet said that he will not leave until he speaks with you face to face; and if not, he will sit on your porch and howl day and night until you go mad.”
“WHAT!!??” shouted Ulice, “I’m the ruler in Shavron. What right does that wolf have to stand at my door and to interrupt my time with my sons. Bring him in here, now!”
♦
The judges came in. Ulice stood straight as a board with arms crossed, eyes narrowed, and his lip tight with rage. Samson took a slight bow to show reverence to the ruler and his home. The wolf started to speak, but Ulice held up his hand.
“Get to the point, Samson, I don‘t have a lot of time.”
“So be it,” said Samson. “God is not pleased with the Shavronites and aims to judge the
land by take the children away for he sees the murders of the young to the Iya’s moon-god. However if the land will repent and stop this wickedness the Lord will not do what he aims to do.”
Ulice rolled his eyes.
“I can’t control all the Shavronites, and besides, their not my children why should it concern me?”
“Fine,” said Gideon, “You can’t control every creature but you can stand for
righteousness by putting an end to this.”
“He’s right.” said Tiber.
“Just make a stand, Ulice.” said Deborah.
The pleas fell on deaf ears and Ulice unleashed his sharp words against them.
“Let me tell all of you something,” he said looking them over, “I don’t need a bunch of deserters coming into my home telling me what’s right and what’s wrong. You’ve been gone for the past ten years and got the nerve to show up with “thus says the Lord.” I not concerned with Iya’s moon-god or anything else---just my sons and the picnic,” Ulice turned his head, calling both his sons into the room. “As long as my sons are safe, it doesn’t matter. So if you all please, get out of my house.”
During the evening the Holy One spoke to Samson,
“I will give Ulice time, bring my message again. He will be taking a walk tomorrow.
Take him to the open graveyard where the children are buried after the death ceremony, but he harden his heart even then.”
Samson returned to Ulice’s home alone. Ulice answered the door.
“What do you want now?”
“Going for a walk?” said Samson.
“Yes, how do you know?”
“God. May I join you?”
“I see why not, but keep your prophecies to yourself.”
They walked together for sometime. Samson hardly said anything, but when he saw a large statue that was strangely carved he asked Ulice what it was.
“Oh,” said the skunk, “that’s the idol that the Shavronites worship---the moon-god you mention yesterday.
“I want to go see it,” said Samson.
“Interested are we?”
“Hardly, but you may be.”
He took Ulice up to the plateau. The statue held a large platform in its hands. It was stained with blood. Samson continued to walk and then suddenly stopped cold.
“Come here, Ulice.”
“What for?” said the skunk.
“Get over here,” said Samson looking back at him, “and look at this!”
Ulice came over unconcerned at first but when he came over to Samson his insides shook from the terrible sight. An open graveyard about a mile long and half a mile wide held the skulls and burnt bodies of little ones. Indeed a horrid sight! A wicked sight! But Ulice closed his eyes and said,
“You’re the leader of this country.” said Samson in earnest. “You know you have the power to stop this. God hates this and is ready to judge us, but if we stop-----”
“Hold it,” said Ulice, “What is this we business. I not doing this. Go to the Shavronites that are---talk to them.”
“To know to do good and refuse to do it is sin,” said Samson truthfully, “You’ve known about this for far too long and you know that if you talk to this nation they will stop----all God is asking you is to take a stand.”
Now Ulice had the power to do exactly what Samson was saying, but he like being a leader and knew if he spoke up his reign as despot might be transferred to the judges. The graveyard wasn’t enough for the skunk and his bitterness against the judges was deep rooted inside of him. So according to the Holy One’s word, Ulice turned a blind eye to the situation and started to walk away.
“You arrogant---”
“Samson,” said Ulice calmly, “I am done with you. Speak to me no longer. If I want to talk to you, I’ll find you myself.”
“Do you want to lose your children?”
Ulice turned around.
“Is that a threat?”
“I’m only speaking the words that God has given me.”
“Really?” said Ulice smiling slyly. “Well listen to some of my words. You’re going to jail---I think a nice cell will keep you off my back and teach you a lesson about threatening my children.”
Ulice did all that he said and Samson was jailed for two years.