— I refuse to believe this. In truth, there is no judge or justice in this world; as for the world-to-come, it does not exist.

— God is just and His truth is just, said Abel. And know that there does exist a celestial world corresponding to the one on earth. And that the just will be rewarded, just as the wicked will be punished.

It was during that conversation that Cain killed his brother, Abel.

Abel’s body, guarded by his faithful sheepdog, remained for a long time among the pebbles and the weeds, exposed to the winds and the sun, while Adam and Eve stared at him and lamented; they didn’t know what to do.

Until a raven who had just lost his mate decided to show them; with his beak he slowly dug a hole and gently placed his dead mate inside. Whereupon Adam declared:

— We shall do as the raven did.

And he buried his son.

But Adam remained in mourning. For one hundred and twenty-seven years he lived without joy or desire. So great was his sadness that he avoided his spouse. God had to remind him that the world was waiting to be inhabited and that life had been given to him to be transmitted. Only then did Adam and Eve draw together again.

And God said to Cain:

— Since you have repented, don’t stay here any longer, you must go away.

And Cain went into exile. And everywhere he went, the ground shook under his feet as though to repudiate him. And everywhere he went, the beasts and the animals threw themselves upon him to devour him and thus to avenge the blood of Abel, their friend.

To protect him and isolate him, God marked his forehead with a sign in the shape of the sun. No, said Rabbi Nehemia: in the shape of a boil. No, said Rav: God gave him a dog to watch over him. No, said Abba Yossi: he caused a horn to grow on his forehead as a reminder to man that he is capable of both murder and repentance.

The story is told that Ashmedai, king of demons, visited King Solomon and asked:

— Would you like me to show you something you have never seen before?

Solomon said yes. Whereupon the visitor plunged his arm into time and space and brought back a man who had two heads and four eyes. Though frightened, the king invited the strange creature into his private quarters and questioned him:

— Who are you? Whose son are you?

— I am Cain’s descendant.

— Where do you live?

— Somewhere, in a place you call Tevel.

— Do you have a sun there? A moon?

— Certainly, said the man with the two heads and four eyes. We plow our fields. We wait for the harvest, just like you. We own cattle, just like you.

— And the sun, said King Solomon, on which side does it rise where you come from?