“You,” said Yehuda Leib, “can’t get through the crowd without me. And even if you could, you’d be embarrassed to return home like this. Or at least you should be.”

“Yes, yes,” said Mammon, “enough already. You’ve made your point. What’s your offer?”

“The Rebbe was a rich prize,” said Yehuda Leib. “But I’m planning on aiming even higher. And if you help me, there will be spoils for the taking like you’ve never even imagined.”

At this, Lord Mammon laughed. “I’ve got quite an imagination,” he said.

“Oh,” said Yehuda Leib, “I know.”

“Very well, then,” said Mammon. “Who’s the target?”

Now Yehuda Leib took a strong step forward. “The Dark One,” he said. “The Angel of Death.”

Slowly, Mammon began to smile.

“My,” he said. “You are ambitious.”

“Yes,” said Yehuda Leib, “I am. And with your resources, I can defeat him. We can raise an army and storm his house and overthrow him. And everything he has will be yours.”

“Everything?” said Mammon.

“All I want is my father back,” said Yehuda Leib. “The rest is for you.”

Mammon raised an eyebrow. There was a throbbing, greedy excitement behind his eyes.

“That’s quite an offer,” said Mammon. “But it’s very risky.”

Yehuda Leib shrugged. “What is it they say? Nothing ventured…?”

Mammon tsked his tongue in annoyance. “Don’t quote my own scriptures at me. What I mean to say is that I’m not certain it’s even possible to accomplish what you suggest.”

“Well, I’m going to try,” said Yehuda Leib. “With you or without you. If you’d prefer, I suppose, you can just hide out here until your failure’s blown over, but I feel I should warn you: They’ll be saying psalms as long as the Rebbe’s in bed across the street. And if he should die, God forbid, the mourning prayers will be even worse.”

At even this innocuous mention of a Holy Name, Mammon flinched.

“Yes, yes, yes,” said Mammon. “You needn’t lay it on so thick. I know my situation.”

Yehuda Leib folded his arms and nodded. “Then partner with me.”

Mammon shook his head tightly. “I really don’t know. It’s a big risk. Why don’t you just take me through the crowd, and then…”

But Yehuda Leib was already shaking his head. “No,” he said. “No. It’s all or nothing. I won’t take you through unless you agree to support my campaign.”