Fire and Flood

by Dawn Morris

  Terah rose and walked across the room toward me. “Follow me,” he said in a subdued tone. Without a word to the others, I turned and followed Terah.

  We left the palace and climbed onto a waiting chariot. We left the city, racing through the gates to Terah’s home in the countryside. I gripped onto the handles of the chariot as we lurched to the right, following a fork in the road.

  “How bad is it?” I shouted to Terah.

  He turned his head to look over his shoulder at me. “She is very weak. I’m afraid.”

  We spoke no more as we sped to help Amalthai. When we pulled up to the small estate, servants opened the gates for their master. We drove down the lane lined with cypress trees toward a stately home. There were men waiting by the door to take care of the horses. As soon as we stopped, Terah threw the reigns to one of the men and helped me down.

  “Come, Mother; we must hurry.”

  Terah and I raced into the house. I followed him down a bright corridor to the right and into Amalthai’s room. I had to stifle a cry of dismay. It was dark and dank; the distinct odor of blood permeated the room. Some priest of Marduk waved a metal censer, smoky incense billowing out of it. The perfumed incense made the smell of the blood more noxious. Quickly, I went and opened the shutters to the windows and ushered the priest out of the room.

  In the light, I could see Amalthai was covered in bloody sheets. I ordered the servants to bring me clean linens, towels, and water. Then I turned to my young friend.

  “Amalthai?” Her eyes were clenched in pain, but she opened them at the sound of my voice.

  “Mother Ariana,” she choked. I notice her lips were chapped and dry, and I ordered a servant to fetch me some wine. Amalthai managed a few sips before falling back onto the bed.

  “What do you think, Mother?” Terah was clearly frightened.

  “I need to examine her,” I said quietly, bending down beside my friend.

  I sent everyone out and had the servants help me change the linens. We helped Amalthai into a clean, linen shift before getting her back onto the bed. Then I examined her.

  I finished my examination and washed my hands before turning to speak with her.

  “I already know, Mother,” she whispered. “I can feel my life slipping away.” She began to weep and beg, “Please save the child.” Of course, I quickly assured her, I would do what I could.

  I knew what needed to be done, but I also knew the servants, not understanding, would try and stop me. I sent them to bring Terah to me. While we waited, I told Amalthai what I needed to do in order to save the child. I had a drug that would cause her to fall into a deep sleep so that she would feel no pain. But it was a sleep from which she would likely not wake.

  As soon as Terah came back, I told him Amalthai needed to speak to him. Leaving the room, I ordered the servants to leave with me. After a few minutes Terah came out and found me.

  “Why must you do this? I have never heard of such a thing!”

  I took his hand in mine and looked up into his tear-filled eyes. “I have done this many times. Usually, the mother survives, but Amalthai is so weak. I cannot promise she will.”

  “She wants our child to be saved, no matter the cost to her.” He was clearly pained to speak the words, and he began to weep.

  “Terah, she will not live if I do not try.”

  Wordlessly, he nodded and led the way back to Amalthai. I looked at the servants in the room and chose two of the women who seemed most competent before sending the others away. I ordered water to be boiled and a sharp knife, along with clean linens to swaddle the baby.

  While those were being prepared, I asked Terah where Amalthai kept her herbs and tinctures. Over her years of service to me, I had taught her all that I had learned from my mother-in-law. Even in those early days after the Flood, much knowledge about medicines had been lost. It had been my hope that Amalthai would carry on after me; now I only wished for her to live.

  Following Terah’s directions, I moved quickly to find the small room where she kept her medicines. Neatly marked clay pots filled the shelves. Finding the few roots and herbs I needed, I quickly ground them together and hurried back to my friend. She was screaming in pain when I entered the room again. With horror, I watched as she sat up in bed, blood gushing from between her legs. I ran to her side, pushing Terah out of the way.

  “Bring me some water,” I ordered one of the female servants, who quickly retrieved a cup of water, pushing it into my hands. I poured the ground roots and herbs into the water and mixed it together quickly with my forefinger before turning again to Amalthai.

  Hardly conscious, she moaned. I slipped my left hand under her head and, with my right hand, put the cup to her lips.

  “Please, please drink this,” I begged. She turned her head away from the cup. Terah sat down on the other side of the bed and pulled her up by her shoulders, begging her to drink. With great difficulty, she managed to get down half of the cup before passing out completely.

  Terah ordered everyone out of the room. It would have been useless to convince the others of the need for what we were about to do, so just the two of us worked together to save Amalthai’s child.

  I do not know how Terah managed through it all, but in the end, we saved the child. I prayed to the Creator as I stitched up Amalthai’s belly. Perhaps I was wrong, and she would somehow survive. As I worked, Terah tended to the baby.

  Finishing, I covered my friend with a few blankets. Her body was trembling as if she were very cold. I clung to hope.

  Terah told me he needed to take the newborn to the kitchens for some clean water to bathe the baby. I nodded, half-listening, more concerned now for the mother than the child. He was gone less than half an hour, returning with a squalling infant, swaddled properly in clean clothing.

  Amalthai stirred at the sound and opened her eyes. “Terah?” She saw him with the baby and managed to smile. Terah moved to her side and showed her their child.

  Tenderly, she stroked the baby’s cheek. “What is it? A girl?” Tears filled my eyes, hearing the hope in her voice.

  “It is a son, Amalthai,” Terah said through his own tears. “But I will not let him die. I promise you. I will save him. You must trust me.” Her eyes stared up into his, tears falling soundlessly down her cheeks. I watched helplessly as the light of life left them and all that was left was a soulless stare. She was gone.

  FIRE

  Chapter 31

  Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

  Jeremiah 30:7

  The day after Jannik and I spent together, Tamas called for a meeting in the amphitheater. Thankfully, Jannik had anticipated how hard it would be to find each other in the crowd, and we made plans to meet by the pillars at the base of the ancient amphitheater thirty minutes before the meeting.

  Zivah and I were in our cave room, washing up after a hot day of goat tending. I was excited to see Jannik two days in a row. I pestered Zivah to leave with me early.

  “Come on! I don’t want to be late!”

  She laughed at me. “What’s it like to be so in love! So impatient, you’re annoying!”

  I looked out of the window, noticing people passing by, heading out to the amphitheater. I felt the excitement of seeing Jannik bubble up inside me.

  “Zivah, please! You look fine. Can we please go now?” I implored.

  She sighed and smiled at me. “I give up, Dani. Let’s go.”

  Eagerly, I grabbed her hand, pulling her along beside me. Once again, I described to her how wonderful the day with Jannik had been and thanked her for organizing it.

  “He is very nice,” she admitted. “I can see why you like him, but isn’t this a crazy time to fall in love? We don’t know how bad things are going to get.”

  My pace slowed, and I dropped her hand. “Of course, I’ve thought of that . . . but my heart wants him, and I can’t talk myself out of it. I’m not sure, but I think he fe
els the same way. Maybe it’s better to have someone to go through this together?”

  “Oh, Dani, I don’t know! Who can say? Are we safe here? What will keep airplanes from just dropping bombs on us? Or demon creatures from attacking us? How long do we have? Hopefully Tamas will have something to tell us.”

  We walked together in silence. Her questions had dispelled my eagerness. Maybe it was foolish to think there was a place where I would be safe or that there was anyone who would be mine, that anyone would love me.

  After walking for twenty minutes, we came to the amphitheater. I spotted Jannik right away. As his eyes caught mine, he smiled, and every fear vanished, replaced by a hopeful certainty. I might not be safe, but I was loved.

  “Dani!” Jannik embraced me and then more formally greeted Zivah.

  “Where is Noam?” Zivah asked.

  Noam spoke from behind me. “I’m here.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I moved a bit closer to Jannik as I watched Noam greet Zivah with a warm embrace. His eyes caught mine as he hugged her. It was unnerving.

  Someone blew a ram’s horn. That was the signal for us to take our seats. Thankfully, Jannik and Zivah were between Noam and me. As we waited for Tamas and the other Council members to appear, I tried to figure out what it was about him that made me afraid. I had trusted people before and been betrayed; if I had learned anything, it was to trust as few people as possible. I decided that I would go with my gut instinct and stay as far from Noam as I could.

  The Council meeting began. One of the Council members gave an update on what was happening in Petra. When he finished, Tamas stepped up to the podium and spoke about something exciting that had been found in some of the caves. I noticed piles of boxes on the stage.

  “Some of you have been here for a year or so now, while many of you fled Jerusalem that terrible day when the evil one stepped into the Holy of Holies and declared himself the Promised One.”

  The crowed hissed and booed; many stamped their feet and the sound filled the amphitheater. Although I knew we were supposed to be safe from President Bellomo and his troops, protected by God Himself according to Tamas and the other Council members, I was nervous at this direct rebellion. Zivah had told me the Global Union had satellites that could see our faces from high in the sky. Surely, they were searching for all of these people. Can God really keep them from finding us?

  Glancing to my right, I saw Noam smirking.

  Tamas continued, “We are in the day of Jacob’s Trouble, as predicted by the prophet Jeremiah. As many of you know, all of this was predicted. We are in the Tribulation. It was predicted that the Temple would be rebuilt and then desecrated, which President Bellomo has done! Yeshua himself warned about that in the gospels. He said when we saw that abomination of desecration in the holy place, we were to flee to the mountains. So here we are!”

  One of the other Council members went to one of the boxes, took a book out, and handed it to Tamas. He spoke out loudly, saying, “The prophet Amos spoke of a day when there would be a famine in the land for hearing the Word of the Lord. Truly, we came back to the land in 1948, but how many have come to Israel as secularists, as atheists? How many of you were raised in religious homes?”

  Very few raised their hands and the crowd murmured their agreement. “Until the day Yeshua appeared to me, I had no knowledge of the true Promised One, although he was spoken of in the Tanakh. Many in Israel had not heard the good news until the two Witnesses began to testify about him, just after the leaders of Israel signed the peace treaty with Bellomo. They witnessed to the entire world with signs and wonders and great power.”

  An outburst of heartfelt applause caused Tamas to fall silent and wait before speaking again. “Their witness to the world and their deaths at the hands of the Antichrist, President Bellomo, were foretold, as was their resurrection on the third day before a watching world.”

  The crowd applauded wildly, Jannik and I turned to each other and smiled.

  Tamas held the book in his right hand as he paced back and forth. “But none of this is new,” he called out as he held up the book. “This is a New Testament in Hebrew! There are many prophecies in the Tanakh, what the Gentiles call the Old Testament, but there are also prophecies in this, the New Testament, the Testament of Yeshua! It is an inspired book of God, about the Promised One and His followers. It is filled with prophecy regarding the Jewish people and the Gentile nations. The rise of President Bellomo is foretold within its pages!” His voice grew in enthusiasm as he went on, “. . . and his ultimate demise at the hands of Yeshua himself!”

  The crowd rose to its feet with a spontaneous roar of praise. Ecstatic dancing and singing broke out among the crowd. I couldn’t help but join in with the throng. Jannik was singing next to me, his eyes closed, tears streaming down his cheeks. I have no idea how long the crowd carried on in praise for Yeshua’s deliverance, but eventually, we all sat down, wanting to hear more from Tamas.

  “Over a hundred years ago, the Holy Spirit moved a Gentile believer, living far away in North America, to send thousands of New Testaments written in Hebrew here to Petra. Not only did the Lord prepare a place for us here in the wilderness, but He gave us His Word! We have enough New Testaments for all of you to read! We have almost ten thousand souls here in Petra now. We have enough that each of you may take one of these Hebrew New Testaments. As you leave tonight, take a book. Begin to read it!”

  “The Council has prepared a schedule for evening meetings here over the next few weeks. Two of my brothers from the company of the 144,000 will open this Word to us and teach us about the times we are in. God will give us insight and understanding.”

  Jannik put his arm around me and pulled me close. Wrapping both of my arms around him, I pressed even closer. I felt reenergized by the prospect of reading the Bible again and by being so close to Jannik.

  At the end of the meeting, Tamas called for people to help pass out the Hebrew Bibles. Jannik and Zivah both ran up to the stage, leaving me alone with Noam.

  He slid over toward me on the bench. It was all I could do not to pull away in fear.

  “So what do you think of what Tamas just said?” He lifted up his hand and boldly traced my cheek with his finger, slowly. “I’ve decided that it’s a bunch of rubbish.”

  His finger ran down my neck. I grabbed his finger and twisted it backward. “You can keep your hands to yourself, Noam.”

  Noam laughed. I looked around and realized with a start that we were alone on the stone bench in this part of the arena. People were waiting in line for their books or leaving to go to dinner.

  He leaned in and tried to graze my neck with his lips, but I pushed him away. “There’s no one here to stop me,” he whispered. I pushed him away and stood up. “I’m going to find Jannik.”

  Before I could get away, he grabbed me and pulled me down in his lap. “You ruined my life. Jannik was my friend, but now, all he thinks about is you. Since you’re all he can think about, you’re all I can think about.”

  Frantically, I looked around for help, but no one was near.

  “Let me go now or I’ll scream, Noam,” I ordered. He dropped his hands and held them up over his head.

  “No need to get so mean. I’m only playing, Dani. It’s just a joke. Do you honestly think you’re so beautiful no one can resist you?” He scoffed in my face.

  He stood up and laughed again. “This is all garbage. I don’t buy any of it. Everyone here is deluded—including Jannik. I’m going back to Jerusalem. President Bellomo isn’t a monster; he’s trying to bring peace to the world. Peace and safety.”

  Weirdly, Noam got down on his knees in front of me. “Listen, Dani, listen. I’ve had the most amazing dreams. President Bellomo appeared to me and said he is the true savior of the world. You can go back to Jerusalem with me! Leave with me tomorrow, and I will give you everything you could ever want. He told me that every single person I bring back will receive great riches and protection!”
<
br />   “You’re crazy! Get away from me!” I shouted. Jannik must have seen what was happening because he came running. When he reached us, he shoved Noam away from me—hard. Noam fell on the stone bench and rolled around, suddenly laughing hysterically.

  “You . . . think . . . you’re safe?” he squeezed out the words, laughing up at both of us, pointing a finger at us. “He’s coming for you. He’s coming for all of you.”

  Jannik pulled me closer to him and shouted at Noam, “Have you lost your freaking mind? Look, Noam, I don’t know what’s going on, but you stay away from Dani. I don’t know if you have heat stroke or what’s wrong, but you need to leave. Now.”

  Noam stood up, still laughing mockingly. He saluted Jannik and tried to take my hand. I yanked it away from him.

  “Okay, okay. I’m leaving. But I’ll see you soon,” he promised before turning and walking away.

  Jannik watched him go. “I’ve known him for years. I’ve never seen him act that way. There has to be something wrong.”

  I agreed. There was definitely something wrong. But even though I knew there was something off about Noam, I didn’t tell Jannik what Noam had said. Noam’s words made me feel insecure. Who was I to think someone would fall in love with me? What if Jannik didn’t feel the same way about me that I felt about him? The questions rolled over and over in my mind and I felt anxiety rise.

  Jannik turned to face me and cupped his hands on either side of my face. “Dani, I’m here, and I will never let anyone hurt you.”

  FLOOD

  Chapter 32

  For He will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity . . .

  Psalm 27:5

  Terah clutched Amalthai’s lifeless body, weeping uncontrollably. I took the newborn in my arms and left the room to give him privacy.

  The hallway outside of their bedroom was empty. I found the kitchen and began to boil some water to clean myself up and make tea. The child was a boy, destined to die under the orders of the king. We had to plan what to do next, how to save the boy. But Terah needed a moment with the body of his wife, and I was exhausted and still covered in blood. And I had not yet had time to process my own grief at the loss of my friend.