Moses, Man of the Mountain

by Zora Neale Hurston

  “The will of a Pharaoh and the might of Egypt says I won’t.”

  “Somebody is lying and I know it’s not me. I bid you a pleasant evening.”

  Moses left the palace but the news of what had happened in the palace was spreading over the city of ear. Egyptians collected in little knots and talked. The story of the rod that was a snake, and a budding bough became a legend overnight. People recalled the glory of Moses as a soldier and waited to catch glimpses of him on the streets.

  But the court and the people of wealth sneered at his ambitions.

  “So he is going to carry off our slaves by hoodoo, is he? Well, well, well! Pharaoh knows what to do with men like him. He is playing with that Moses like a cat with a mouse. When he is tired of the game he’ll clamp down on him like a trap.”

  “I don’t believe that snake story, but it is funny, isn’t it? What would slaves want to be free for anyway? They are being fed and taken care of. What more could they want? I am off for a little trip down the Nile; let me know when Pharaoh closes in on Moses. I want to be in at the death.”

  Moses was satisfied so long as the people talked. For what he had to do concerned all Egypt and not just Pharaoh alone.

  CHAPTER 22

  Goshen was a land of moving feet. Feet, torchlights and whispers. The news of what went on that day in the palace was traveling. Shadowy figures spoke out of darkened doors. Messages were sent by smoke and fire.

  That was the work of Moses’ helpers. Moses himself sat in his house and planned with Aaron and others.

  “You got Pharaoh on a wonder, all right,” Aaron gloated. “Reckon he won’t switch around by tomorrow and let us go?”

  “I hope not,” Moses answered earnestly. “That would ruin us.”

  “How come, Moses? I thought that was what we was working after.”

  “It is, but I hope he don’t give in right away.”

  “Why? It would save us a heap of work and worry.”

  “No, it wouldn’t either. That would be the best way to beat us. You see, Aaron, we have come and demanded the people in the name of a god that neither Pharaoh nor the Hebrews ever heard about before. He has got to prove himself before them all to make folks believe. They have heard of God by ear but they don’t know. If they went out from Egypt before I showed them signs and wonders it wouldn’t be a week before they would be building altars to Egyptian gods. So what would be a better chance to show his powers than for Pharaoh to refuse and for me to beat him down with powers? That’s what I aim to do. I don’t want his consent, really. It would spoil everything I planned. I mean to whip his head to the ground and then lead out with a high hand.”

  “So that’s why you talked to him so biggity like you did, eh?”

  “That’s just why I did. I know I got the power to bring him low. So the more he rears and pitches the more the people will believe when I whip him down. It ain’t just to get you all out of Egypt, it’s to make something out of you afterwards. That’s the main idea. If Pharaoh lets the Hebrews go peaceably it won’t be six months before they will be back here ready to serve him again. If I’m to make a nation of you, you’ve got to be cut loose forever.”

  “I guess you know your business, Moses, but it seems like if we was to present a petition to Pharaoh, now that we got him worried—”

  “I see you don’t know people, Aaron. Pharaoh is not worried at all. He’s not taking this serious yet, but he will when he has to. Now let’s get back to our next visit to Pharaoh. One week from today we’re going to call on him again. By that time his priests will have something ready that they think I can’t do. He’ll be glad to see me about that time.”

  “What we going to do next time?”

  “Oh, that is all according to how I feel that day. Nothing too important. I’m saving the best for the last. Aaron, that’s about all for now.”

  Aaron went on out with the other heads of the tribes and Moses was glad to be alone. He went and sat in the door and studied the night. Timid crowds collected at a little distance and watched him. He paid no attention to them really for his heart was in Midian, and his thoughts were walking the road in that direction. Jethro his father and friend. Zipporah and the numerous comforts and pleasures that flowed from her. His sons that were young men now and just as puzzling to him as young men have always been to their parents. The whispering crowds studying him from dark doorways were not on his mind nor heart. Nothing in Egypt was close to him. They could keep their distance forever.

  But one person was bold enough to break in on his reverie. A curly headed boy in his mid-teens came up and stood smiling timidly at Moses.

  “Hello,” Moses said. “And what do they call you around the house?”

  “Joshua. I live down the road there a piece. I expect you know who my papa is. He’s always at the meetings. His name is Nun. Sort of bushy black beard and all.”

  “Oh, yes, so you are the son of Nun.”

  “Yep. I want to work for you.”

  “Oh, you do, do you? And why do you want to work for me?”

  “Because you are great—greatest man that ever lived, I think, and then besides that I like you.”

  “Why, Joshua?”

  “Oh, just ’cause, I reckon. I wish I was big and strong like you and I wish I was brave and great and I just like to be around you, that’s all.”

  “That is a searching speech you made, Joshua, and I think we ought to clinch it in some way. We ought to do something so folks will know we are friends. What would you suggest?”

  “I reckon I’m sort of big for it, but I think a neck-hug would be just fine.”

  “That was just what I was going to say. Come on!”

  Joshua jumped forward and flung himself on Moses’ neck and the leader of men clasped the boy to him until it hurt. Moses thought of his own sons back home and he thought of this welcome bit of warmth in Egypt.

  “Joshua, you are the first person to come to me since I started out on this mission that didn’t want something for himself.”

  “Oh, yes, I do. I want something too.” Moses’ arms relaxed and his face fell.

  “Well, what is it that you want, Joshua—a high office for your papa if we succeed?”

  “No, I want to be the one to wait on you right now.”

  Moses’ arm tightened about him again. “You are the first to offer me your services, and I am going to remember it. Go get your things and come sleep in this house right away.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that. Miss Miriam might not like it. She don’t like many things that go on, you know.”

  “You leave Miss Miriam to me, Joshua. Go get your things and move in on us. I can use you.”

  Joshua bolted off like a roebuck and Moses sighed happily, “God even found me in Egypt. If I make no mistake, there’s a real man in that boy.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Moses walked up the high steps of the palace next Wednesday with Aaron right behind him, and they told him Pharaoh was in the parlor waiting on him to come. The whole temple of priests were standing around just as Moses expected. He saw the expression of the face of Pharaoh and knew that Ta-Phar was treating the whole thing as a farce.

  “Well, Moses, what you got to say today?” Pharaoh asked sort of offhand like he already knew the answer.

  “The Lord says, ‘Pharaoh, let my people go.’”

  “And I say they won’t.”

  “We beg to differ with you, Pharaoh, and that’s why we are here.”

  “Don’t make a bit of difference to me and that’s why I am here.”

  “You know, Pharaoh, I figgered you was going to say that, because you and your servants and friends are trying to take us for a joke, so I better give you a sign and something to wonder about.”

  “Go right ahead, Moses. But I’m telling you in advance that anything you do, I, that is, my priests, are prepared to turn it right back on you.”

  “Well, that is your privilege. Anyhow the Lord told me to lift my right hand against you.�
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  Moses walked to the center of the room and turned his face to the east and lifted his hand. He turned to the north and lifted his hand again. He turned to the west and last to the south and did the same. Then he stood perfectly motionless facing Pharaoh and lifted his right hand stiffly with his rod extended and held the position solemn and motionless for a space. Then he lowered it and said, “The Lord has spoken.”

  “Is that all?” Pharaoh sneered.

  “Just ask for a drink of water and you will find out.”

  Pharaoh immediately ordered a glass of water. The attendant came in, bowed and hurried out after the drink of water. But in a minute he was back followed by the steward and the whole palace staff. They knelt in terror and told Pharaoh that all the water around the palace had turned to blood.

  “Well, get off the palace grounds and find me some that isn’t blood. I don’t want no foolishness about my drinking water.”

  In a short space of time they were back saying that every well and spring in the city was flowing blood. Through the windows came the sounds of terror and dismay. People were running to the palace and to the temples. They wanted water. Their beasts wanted water. Carriers were sent to the river and came back screaming that the Nile was running blood. Fish were dying and floating on the bloody stream. Pharaoh commanded men to dig wells lest all Egypt perish for want of water. Pharaoh went outside himself to witness this thing of Egypt running down in blood as if it had been wounded like a beast.

  He saw and he heard the dismay of the people. Quickly he assembled the court and sat in council.

  “What is it?” everybody wanted to know.

  “Oh, some trick of Moses’,” Pharaoh answered. “He’s trying to scare us into elevating him to power. What else could he want?”

  “Arrest him!”

  “No, that wouldn’t do.”

  “Why?”

  “If I do that,” Pharaoh explained, “the people will hear about it and believe in him.”

  “That would be terrible. Why, the man is a radical. He would have the common people talking about equality.”

  “Yes, and he would free the Hebrews.”

  “And what would we do without slaves?”

  “Oh, that would never do. We must not let that happen.”

  “Don’t you worry about that,” Pharaoh assured them. “I’ll see to that; we must beat him at his own game.”

  “But how? And we’ve got to have water to drink. Blood won’t do.”

  “Yes, indeed we must have water.”

  “How are we going to get it?”

  “Let Pharaoh go out and command the river to run water. It can’t fail to obey.”

  Everybody looked towards Pharaoh and an embarrassing pause fell on the room as he hesitated. Finally he spoke.

  “That will hardly be necessary. I have a better plan.”

  “What is it?”

  “I shall trick Moses into turning this blood into water again. I’ll promise to do what he wants—that is, let the Hebrews leave Egypt.”

  “No! No! we need our slaves.”

  “But I don’t intend to deprive ourselves. When he has done his work, we’ll change our minds and laugh at him.”

  Everybody beamed and grew calm.

  “That is a splendid idea, Pharaoh. Meet trickery with tricks. Serve that radical just right, too.”

  “But what about the people? Won’t they go over to him when they find out we had to go to him and make him promises?”

  “They need never know. Listen, each of you must go out and spread reports that I, Pharaoh, turned the waters of Egypt into blood to prove my powers, and turned it back into water to prove my will. The priests will never deny it. They feel ashamed as it is.”

  “Sounds reasonable. Where is this Moses?”

  “In Goshen, but we must pretend to ignore his existence. This is a strictly Egyptian affair. Don’t mention his name at all.”

  “We’ll all go out and calm the people.”

  “Fine, and I’ll send secretly for Moses and trick him. By tomorrow night everything will be as it was.”

  “Perhaps we had better give him some sort of office to keep him quiet.”

  “No!” Pharaoh said with fury in his voice. “Never! and those priests had better do something to take the edge off of this thing or they are going to hear from me.”

  The priests went to the temple in a body. The next morning they sent word to Pharaoh that they could also cause streams to bleed like a wound. Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and they and the priests assembled about a well that had been sunk in the palace grounds. The priests huddled about it and performed a ceremony. Finally they announced that they had produced blood by magic and Moses and Aaron looked down and saw it was red.

  “So you admit my priests have turned your trick back on you,” Pharaoh asked scornfully.

  “Yes, they really did,” Moses said meekly.

  “So your god can’t be very original, Moses, and I can’t see any reason for letting him change my plans. Bring me a better trick than that one before you come back here wasting my time.”

  “Well, one bellyful won’t fatten you. How about next Wednesday at the same time?”

  “Good. My priests will be ready and waiting. You amateurs need a good straightening out and we might as well give it to you. Guards, see that these men get off the place.”

  Pharaoh flouted his skirt contemptuously as he mounted the steps and went inside. Moses walked away without breaking another breath with him, and Aaron brushed past him and passed out of the palace gates before him.

  He let Moses overtake him down the road a piece and fell in beside him. “Moses,” he said, “it looks like your project got a back-set today.”

  “You think so?”

  “I couldn’t help it from what happened. Looks like those priests know just as much as you do.”

  “You reckon?”

  “Seems so, don’t it? You think it’s any use in us going back to see Pharaoh any more?”

  “He’ll be looking for us next Wednesday for sure. We couldn’t hardly back out of it now, do you think?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Well, this is your movement and if you want to go back it’s up to you.”

  “I’ll be going back all right. Don’t you worry about that.”

  So next Wednesday Moses and Aaron went up the steps to the palace again.

  “Well, what did your Lord say today, Moses?” Pharaoh asked.

  “He said to tell you, ‘Let my people go.’”

  “And what do you aim to do about it?”

  “What He told me to do. Just a little sign to let you know that He means business.”

  “Well, my priests are here to teach you some more.”

  “I can’t learn no younger, so I might as well begin. Let’s all go outside for my lesson this time.”

  Pharaoh got right up and went outside where his flower garden was and Moses and the priests went out behind him.

  Moses didn’t lose any time. He walked to the made pond in the garden and lifted up his rod in his right hand and frogs swarmed out of the pond all over the garden. They filled the garden and the grounds and still they poured out of the fish pond. Hundreds and thousands and millions struggled over each other in the shallow water, clambered to the stone wall about the pond and leaped off in all directions. Moses still stood with his right hand lifted and the frogs kept on coming. Little frogs, big frogs, green frogs, toad frogs, rain frogs, bull frogs, every kind of frog that ever leaped or hopped. The foundation of the world seemed made of frogs and they came pouring out of that pond. The world croaked and leaped. The party fled inside but the palace was full of frogs. The streets and the cisterns were full. They leaped all over everywhere. They poured their millions out of the Nile, and every other stream and spring and still Moses held up his hand. The frogs kept coming till sundown. By that time the palace was besieged by citizens crying for relief from frogs. So Pharaoh commanded his priests to dispel them. They begged for ti
me, so Pharaoh asked Moses to do away with the things.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow and talk it over,” Moses said and went home.

  The next morning streets, yards, fields and gardens held mounds of dead and stinking frogs. Moses saw piles and furrows of dead frogs as he made his way to the palace through a terrified populace.

  “What! Your priests haven’t done anything about this plague of frogs yet?” Moses demanded of Pharaoh.

  “The worthless creatures who live in wealth off my bounty have done nothing yet,” Pharaoh admitted as he hurled a cup of water full of tadpoles out of the window.

  “Then I reckon the Lord with my poor help will have to do it,” Moses said. He lifted up his rod and went outside and the millions of frogs began their march to the Nile. From all over the city and the province they hopped solemnly riverward and leaped in till only the dead and rotting heaps and furrows were left in streets and fields. Moses ordered these to be buried. Men, women and children worked all day and all night and by mid-afternoon the third day of the plague of frogs, Egypt was free of the sending. So Moses went home again.

  But the next day a messenger came hurriedly for him and Aaron.

  “We fixed him that time,” Aaron gloated on the way. “I’ll bet he wants to tell us he’s glad to let us Hebrews go.”

  “That may be so, Aaron, but I doubt it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, if Pharaoh lets me lead off the Hebrews, he will be driven from his throne by the nobles. They think they can’t exist without slaves and Pharaoh wouldn’t dare to go against them, not that he wants to anyway.”

  “He sent us a mighty nice message to come.”

  “Yes, to come and be assassinated in secret, but by now he knows that won’t do.”

  “Why?”

  “Because my death wouldn’t do him any good if the common people knew why, and I have taken pains to let them know how all those frogs happened in Egypt and Pharaoh knows that they know.”

  “Moses, I hope this time he means to set us free. I don’t want to believe nothing else.”

  “You are going to find out you are wrong.”

  “What else could he want with us? We beat him and he wants to give up, that’s all.”