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other three. It was the Israelites’ sacred symbol, representing the Hebrew letter shin —for Shaddai , the Lord Almighty. The terrified boy was warding off an evil spell.
    A soft murmur poured from Jahra’s lips. It was the most holy prayer a Hebrew could utter. Goose bumps rose on David’s forearm as his mute friend somehow recited the Shemah in sibilant undertones.
    “ Sh’mh Yisrael, Adonai eloheinu, Adonai ehad .”
    Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.
    The words ran together in a continuous cascade of prayer without beginning or end. As their sound enveloped them both, a heavy stillness pressed David to the ground. Something like a hand lifted his head. The bear, fifty paces away, was bounding toward them, its enormous head swinging from side to side. Saliva trailed from the corners of its snout as it approached.
    “ Shaddai ,” Jahra groaned.
    David felt a shiver along his back. What Jahra had uttered was the same word that at that moment had burned itself into his own mind. It was one of David’s favorite names for God. It meant “the one who nourishes and the one who destroys.” David loved the paradoxical image of the nourishing breasts of a mother and the destructive power of an earthquake.
    With that one weighty word, David’s trance was shattered. He was on his feet, and his first clear sensation was the pressure of the cloth around his hand. Tearing off the bloody rag, he adjusted the cords of his sling. The bear was forty paces away.
    David set his feet beneath him and timed the head’s movement, aiming for the spot between the eyes. At thirty paces, he let the stone fly. It catapulted out of the pouch, hitting the animal in the center of the forehead. Immediately the bear stopped, its front legs stiffening, its jaws contorting.
    “Die—curse you!” David swore through gritted teeth.
    The beast shook its head violently, batting at the air as if warding off David’s words. From its slavering mouth came a thunderous roar, and in its eyes was something he’d never seen in an animal: loathing. Pawing at the ground, and without breaking its stare, the bear launched itself toward him.
    3 Psalm 90:1
    4 Psalm 90:13
    5 Psalm 90:17

Chapter Four
    David found himself lying prone as wind whipped about him in a concentrated circle. From inside the tunnel he could make out words. Slowly, insistently, the lilting syllables became clear. They were coming from his mouth:
    Adonai ro-i, lo ira ra. Adonai ro-i, lo ira ra. Adonai ro-i …
    The Lord is my shepherd; I shall no evil fear. The Lord is my shepherd …
    The words gave him strength to lift his face from the dirt.
    The bear was less than twenty paces from them, but David was startled to see that the spittle spraying from the bear’s jaws had turned a bright red. Blood was flowing from its nostrils over its curved incisors. Each movement was less coordinated. Low gasps had replaced the rumbling growls. As the bear pushed itself forward, its right leg buckled. Snorting with confusion, it slowed and shook its head wildly. With a wheezing roar, it strode heavily toward them.
    When it was within striking distance, the bear stumbled, huffing red clouds from both nostrils. It lifted its head to bellow its triumph, but no sound came. Its jaws gaped open, displaying bloody teeth, then snapped shut. As if overcome by exhaustion, the bear weaved from side to side and suddenly collapsed.
    David was staring into the bear’s gory face. Its eyes had rolled back in their sockets. He reached out his arm and placed it around Jahra’s shoulders.
    “I thought that was the end of us,” he murmured.
    Jahra barely nodded.
    They stayed like that for several moments. David was unsure he could stand. He felt as if all his strength had leaked out of him. He could feel his friend’s body trembling. Jahra turned toward him as if to say something. David waited.
    “What?” he finally asked, hoping that his friend’s tongue had been permanently loosened.