Unable to boot - please assist.

After a recent system update, my PowerBook G4 fails startup, reporting "can't exec /bin/sh for single user: exec format error, can't exec /bin/sh for /etc/rc: exec format error." I no longer have the boot disk that came with my computer. I have access to a G4 iMac running Panther, if this is any help. I've pulled everything from my limited bag of tricks, an I'm at my wit's end. Any suggestions?
12" Powerbook   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

Thanks for the welcome. I used to post here a while ago, but I'm glad the my handle seems to have expired, because I've never been the one ASKING for help before... =|
Anyway, I was dealing with some things I thought important at the time, and I was rather absent minded. I approved the System Updates without checking them out, and I believe at least one Security Update has been released since the one I installed. So, to answer your question, I'm not sure witch update it was. Sorry.
I have just remembered something that may be relevant. I feel rather silly for doing this, let alone forgetting to mention it, but I forcibly restarted my computer DURING the downloading/installation of this update.
I'm kicking myself, because I'm usually so careful [wait and read reports before installing updates, ect.] but I hope someone can give me some help here. Regardless of how it may appear, I love Chip [my PB] dearly and my quality of life declines severely when he's sick.
Any help is much appreciated, thank you.

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