The square was crowded next afternoon. Bertha and her slaves stood in the back. She didn't look at them, didn't acknowledge their existence, which was her usual feeling toward them. Champ came up from behind startling all four of them.
“You just come out from nowhere, don't you?” said Phigaro. “Ready, Reiach.” said the moose
“Yes!” he said happily.
A smile came over the otter's face. But when he caught the menacing glare of Bertha, he quickly dropped his head and followed the moose to the platform. The otter was thankful that God had given him such an opportunity to speak despite his bondage. The governor led Reiach through the crowd under blank stares and grimacing faces. From the looks of things his first public sermon would be his last. Champ placed one hoof on the platform to introduce the otter.
“Today, we have all come to listen, and for the first time in this town's history the word will come from a slave. What he told me yesterday not only will change a policy in this town, but has in some respects changed my heart as well.”
Upon hearing this, Reiach nearly fell over. He wasn't sick, but was overcome by fact that the truth of God could work so quickly. He took told of Champ's leg to avoid falling. “Are you all right; maybe the crowd is too much for you?” said the moose.
“I'm fine,” Revel said stepping onto the platform, “I'm just surprised. Did you really become a believer overnight?”
“You have to start at some point,” said the moose, “Tell the crowd what you told me, however, many won't be as nice as I was.”
A sea of creatures was before him. Reiach silently prayed and Phigaro did the same. Bertha, to show her disgust, swatted him on his shoulder. The aye-aye gave her dirty look.
“Get that look off you face before I knock it off,” she said.
It would have be a spectacular display of speaking to see Reiach walking that platform, pointing, and shouting glories down from the heavens. How great it would have been to watch him to bring forth long and eloquent words to transform any heart of stone into a fleshy organ. However, the otter's speech was simple: no flare, no funny business, just truth.
“God loves you.” he said starting off, “ Yet the wrath of God is real too and its against any sinner who refuse to repent of their sins.”
“Drop dead!” shouted a heckler.
In the back, Phigaro was concerned about Rieach.
“The crowd's tearing him apart. I've got to help him,” he said stepping forward. “You move and I'll break your neck.” said Bertha.
Phigaro gave her another dirty look.
“In order to do that,” he said calmly, “YOU'LL HAVE TO CATCH ME FIRST!” And he darted through the crowd leaving Bertha agape. Phigaro jumped up on the platform covering placing his back against the back of the otter.
“What are you doing?” said Reiach.
“Helping you out.” Phiagro said eyeing the crowd. “This crowd needs a street-talker---and that's me! You talk and I'll interpret for them.”
“Are you serious?”
“Is my eye crooked?” Phigaro said, “ Start talking!” So Reiach did.
“There's only one way to Heaven and that's through God's only Son.” Another heckler spoke from the crowd.
“I'm going to kill you!” Phigaro interpreted:
“You may kill him, but God wants to kill the sin in your life!” Phigaro said pointing at the heckler.
The heckler, along with most of the crowd, took a double-take at this crooked eyed creature, who was far more verbose than the otter.
“When you give up--that is give Him total control of your life, God will live in you and change you to be like His Son.”
“We don't have to listen to this nonsense,” came another angry voice from the crowd. Phigaro interpreted:
“It's nonsense to ignore God and preachers He calls to teach you!”
Suddenly the crowd came closer to the platform. Every face was locked in on them with little sympathy in their eyes. Reiach thought they were going to hang the both of them. “If I wanted to get myself killed, I could have done it alone.”
“No you couldn't,” said Phigaro flippantly, “You know you need my help to do that too.” The crowd stopped at the platform as Reiach and Phigaro braced themselves for the impending violence, but no harm came to them. The angry faces gradually formed into blank stares or thoughtful frowns, which invited further insight into the Son of God. Both Reaich and Phigaro spoke for over two hours: convincing many, but not all.