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Also, three aeons or epochs in time exist, the first in order being an age of grace, the second or
current one being of severe justice and limitation, and the next, yet to come, being of mercy. A
different Torah exists for each of the three ages. And yet there is only one Torah. A primal or matrix
Torah exists in which there is no punctuation nor any spaces between the words; in fact all the letters
are jumbled together. In each of the three ages the letters form themselves into alternative words, as
events unfold.
The current age, that of severe justice and limitation, Elias explained, is marred by the fact that in
its Torah one of the letters was defective, the consonant shin. This letter was always written with three
prongs but it should have had four. Thus the Torah produced for this age was defective. Another view
held by Medieval Jewish mystics was that a letter is actually missing in our alphabet. Because of this
our Torah contains negative laws as well as positive. In the next aeon the missing or invisible letter
will be restored, and every negative prohibition in the Torah will disappear. Hence this next aeon or,
as it is called in Hebrew, the next shemittah, will lack restrictions imposed on humans; freedom will
replace severe justice and limitation.
Out of this notion comes the idea (Elias said) that there are invisible portions of the Torah
invisible to us now, but to be visible in the Messianic Age that is to come. The cosmic cycle will bring
this age inevitably: it will be the next shemittah, very much like the first; the Torah will again
rearrange itself out of its jumbled matrix.
Herb Asher thought, It sounds like a computer. The universe is programmed and then more
accurately reprogrammed. Fantastic.
Two hours later an official government ship clamped itself to their ship, and, after a time,
Immigration agents began to move among them, beginning their inspection. And their interrogation.
Filled with fear, Herb Asher held Rybys against him, and he sat as close to Elias as possible,
obtaining strength from the older man. "Tell me, Elias," Herb said quietly, "the most beautiful thing
you know about God." His heart pounded harshly within him and he could scarcely breathe.
Elias said, "All right. 'Rabbi Judah said, quoting Ray:
The day consists of twelve hours. During the first three hours, the Holy One (God), praised be He,
is engaged in the study of Torah. During the second three He sits in judgment over His entire
world. When He realizes that the world is deserving of destruction, He rises from the Throne of
Justice, to sit on the Throne of Mercy. During the third group of three hours, He provides
sustenance for the entire world, from huge beasts to lice. During the fourth, He sports with the
Leviathan, as it is written, "Leviathan, which you did form to sport with" (Ps. 104:26)& During
the fourth group of three hours (according to others) He teaches schoolchildren.'"
"Thank you," Herb Asher said. Three Immigration agents were moving toward them, now, their
uniforms bright, shiny; and they carried weapons.
Elias said, "Even God consults the Torah as the formula and blueprint of the universe." An
Immigration agent held out his hand for Elias's identification; the old man passed the packet of
documents to him. "And even God cannot act contrary to it."
"You are Elias Tate," the senior Immigration agent said, examining the documents. "What is your
purpose in returning to the Sol System?"
"This woman is very ill," Elias said. "She is entering the naval hospital at "
"I asked you your purpose, not hers." He gazed down at Herb Asher. "Who are you?"
"I'm her husband," Herb said. He handed over his identification and permits and documentation.
"She is certified as not contagious?" the senior Immigration agent said.
"It's multiple sclerosis," Herb said, "which is not "
"I didn't ask you what she has; I asked you if it is contagious."
"I'm telling you," he said. "I'm answering your question."
"Get up." He stood.
"Come with me." The senior Immigration agent motioned Herb Asher to follow him up the aisle.
Elias started to follow but the agent shoved him back, bodily. "Not you."
Following the Immigration agent, Herb Asher made his way step by step up the aisle to the rear of
the ship. None of the other passengers was standing; he alone had been singled out.
In a small compartment marked CREW ONLY the senior Immigration agent faced Herb Asher,
staring at him silently; the man's eyes bulged as if he were unable to speak, as if what he had to say
could not be said. Time passed. What the hell is he doing? Herb Asher asked himself. Silence. The
raging stare continued.
"Okay," the Immigration agent said. "I give up. What is your purpose in returning to Earth?"
"I told you.
"Is she really sick?"
"Very. She's dying."
"Then she's too sick to travel. It makes no sense.
"Only on Earth are there facilities where "
"You are under Terran law now," the Immigration agent said. "Do you want to serve time for
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