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The following column is rated JG ­ Jewish guidance is suggested.

*****

Lou lies near death, alone in the Frothy brew. An image of his mentor appears before him, silhouetted against the white clouds and whiter snow.

"You will go to the Dakota system," says Ben.

"The Dakota system?" replies Lou, barely able to whisper.

"There you will learn from Yona, the Rabbi Master who instructed me," says Ben. "And it's warmer there than it is here. I may be just a hallucinated image of your dead mentor, but it's freezing here. Are you kidding me with this?!?"

*****

Dark Lainer stands, surrounded by Tithe Fighters (so named because a single one can take out a tenth of your assets), waiting for word on Steinwalker's whereabouts.

"I believe we found something," reports a captain. "It's the best lead we've had."

Dark Lainer interrupts, "You found something?"

"There are so many uncharted records. It could be pirates..."

Lainer interrupts again, "That's it. And I'm sure Steinwalker is with them."

*****

As Dark Lainer takes control of their secret bass, Chazan Solo and his comrades scramble to escape.

"I don't know how we're gonna get out of this one," says Solo to Jewbaccer.

They escape with Princess Leah to the Rockies, where they hide until they can try to regroup with the others. Meanwhile, Lou heads to Dakota...

*****

Marooned in Dakota, Lou wonders at his plight. "Really strange place to find a Rabbi Master. I feel like..."

"Feel like what," asks a little, hunched over, gray haired creature with a cane.

"Like we're being watched," replies Lou. "I'm looking for a Rabbi Master."

"Yona, you seek Yona," says the little guy. "Why must you become Rabbi?"

"Mostly because of my father, I guess," answers Lou, with a hint of melancholy.

"Powerful Rabbi your father was. Powerful Rabbi..."

"How do you know that? You don't even know who I am... Yona?!?" asks Lou incredulously. "Funny, you don't look like a Rabbi."

*****

"There is a great disturbance in the Shorshe," observes the Emperor. "The son of Steinwalker must not become a Rabbi."

"If he could be turned," replies Dark Lainer, "he could become a powerful ally. He will join us or shrie, Master."

*****

"I cannot teach him," says Yona. "The boy has no patience. He is not ready. He is too old to complete the training."

"I am ready," Lou replies. "I'm not some bar mitzvah kid with meddling parents. I'm not afraid."

Yona looks in the mirror and tells himself, "You will be."

*****

Dark Lainer captures Solo, Leah, and Jewie, setting a trap for Lou when he tries to rescue them.

Lainer intends to freeze Lou's assets, forcing Lou to join him. First, he tests the freezing process on Solo.

"Chazan Solo, we have listened to you alone for the last time."

Solo's assets are frozen, and he is taken away by Bubba Fedd.

*****

Lou falls for the trap, abandons his training, and comes to rescue his friends. Lou and Dark Lainer enter into a great battle.

"You have learned much, young one," says Lainer. "Your destiny lies with me."

In the heat of the moment, Lainer takes Lou's yad from him. No longer able to compete with Lainer, Lou is shaken in retreat, but Lainer's next words shake him even more.

"Lou, I am your father. Join me and together we can rule the liturgy as father and son."

Lou instead jumps to safety and, with his friends, barely escapes.

*****

Landough and Jewie set off to rescue Chazan Solo. Leah and Lou watch them depart, Lou with his arm protectively wrapped around Leah, his new yad resting on her shoulder...

Doug Brook is a senior technical writer in Silicon Valley. Watch this space for the remaining four episodes in this trilogy. Coming soon, Episode VI: Return of the Rabbi. For more information, past columns, and other writings, visit his website at http://carfax.cnc.net/.