by Tim Chaffey
Laleel carried Rayneh and Elam assisted Purlek as the group walked slowly and somberly behind Noah and Emzara. Every step through the familiar malid orchard felt as if anchors pulled his feet back to the ground. They would reach the house soon enough, but then what? What would he say? What could he say? The late afternoon sun stood in stark contrast to the darkness fighting inside him.
The three weeks on the river since Iri Dekkel had been mostly uneventful. Telling Emzara and the others about Kal, Adira, and Tubal-Cain had wounded Noah’s spirit. Reliving each horrific moment sucked the life out of him. Adding to his torment, Emzara’s expressions reminded him of the day she discovered that her father and Aterre had been murdered. However, she handled this grief better than he anticipated, occupied as she was with filling a motherly role for Purlek and Rayneh. Noah also suspected that she refused to think too much about it because she often blamed herself for losing their first child after her father’s death.
Garun and Laleel handled the pain by keeping busy taking care of the needs of others. Purlek’s reaction surprised Noah the most. He mourned for a few days, but after that his focus shifted to the fact that his parents had been killed by his grandfather. He knew he was related to the king and high priestess of Havil but struggled to understand how a man could kill his own son. On several occasions he asked Noah to tell him more about Lamech and Naamah and wondered why they had become so evil. Noah disliked talking about them, but he was glad to see Purlek’s pride in his parents’ refusal to compromise their beliefs even when their lives were at stake.
Noah enjoyed spending time with the young blacksmith. He had his father’s sense of humor, and his laughter brought momentary reprieves from the sadness they all endured on the river. Noah wondered more than once if Purlek would continue with them after his leg healed. A blacksmith would be quite helpful in completing the Creator’s task.
Just when Noah sensed the group had moved beyond the initial stages of grief and were looking forward to reaching his father’s place, he received the news that ripped his heart again. A ship from Iri Sana traveled south on the river, and it carried a message bound for Noah in Iri Geshem. However, one of the crewmembers recognized him and directed the boat to move alongside Noah’s craft. The man handed him a small scroll and offered his sympathies.
Seeing his father’s emblem on the scroll, Noah guessed that it contained news of his grandfather’s death. As he cracked the seal and unrolled the parchment, he braced himself, but nothing prepared him for what he read. The first several lines were from his mother. She told him how much she loved him and Emzara and how proud she was of both of them. Then she encouraged him to remain steadfast in his trust in the Creator. She ended by telling him that she wished she could see him again. Then his father’s handwriting continued the letter and explained that shortly after Noah left the last time, his mother had become extremely ill. A healer moved in to care for her, but her health continued to deteriorate.
Noah’s hands trembled as he read the final line. His father’s handwriting became especially shaky as it stated that the sickness took his mother’s life about a week earlier. Noah’s lips quavered and tears blurred his eyes as he reread the line. He covered his mouth and looked at Emzara before his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ship’s deck.
“Noah!”
His grandfather’s raspy call snapped his attention back to the present. He looked up and spotted the old man sitting in his favorite spot behind the house. A shaft of happiness pierced his dejected countenance. “Grandfather!” He released Emzara’s hand and sprinted forward.
Methuselah climbed to his feet and welcomed Noah with a hearty embrace. “Did you get your father’s message?”
Noah nodded. “Yes.” Tears flowed once again, but this time they were due to a strange combination of sorrow and joy. Seeing a close family member brought unexpected consolation.
Methuselah kissed his cheek and patted his back a few times before letting go of him. He gave Noah a sympathetic smile. “I see that you did us a favor and brought Emzara this time.”
Noah laughed a little through his sniffles. “I didn’t think I’d be welcomed here again without her.”
“You’re probably right.” Methuselah grinned and then moved to the back door. He cracked it open. “Son, you should come out here.”
The door opened all the way and Lamech appeared in the entry. “I was on my way when I heard you shout.” He stepped toward Noah and took a shuddering breath before wrapping his arms around him tightly. “I’m so glad to see you, Son.”
“I’m so sorry, Father.”
Both men wept openly as they embraced. Their shared tears seemed to wash away some of the pain and sorrow. He heard his grandfather speaking to Emzara, but he would let his father determine when their hug would end.
Eventually, Lamech released him and gave Emzara a hug. “It’s great to see you, too.” He looked at Noah. “But how did you get my message so quickly?”
“It reached us on the river yesterday. I’ll explain soon.” Noah motioned to his friends. “We have much to talk about.”
Lamech nodded. “Come inside, all of you. The house is still set up for guests because of. . . .” Lamech took a few steadying breaths and looked at Noah. “Because of your mother’s burial two days ago.”
Emzara wrapped the crook of her elbow around Noah’s arm.
To his surprise, Noah kept his composure at the mention of the burial. “Father, are any of the farmhands here?”
“Yes.” He pointed to the shed where Noah had built his own workshop as a young man. Like every other building on the property, it had been rebuilt several times over the centuries. “They stay in your old place.”
“Are they trustworthy? I need someone to watch our ship — it has all of our belongings. My friend, Garun” — he pointed to Laleel — “her husband, is watching it now, but I would like for him to join us.”
Lamech scratched his chin. “Bivel is an honest man.”
Noah raised an eyebrow. “Jerah’s boy?”
“Don’t look so surprised.” Lamech snorted. “He’s a hard worker and I trust him.”
“I’ll go tell him,” Methuselah said. “You go inside and spend time with your son.” The aged man strolled toward the shed.
“Thanks, Father.” Lamech stepped to the side and held the door open wide. “Please, come in. Noah, lead them to the sitting room. We’ll get acquainted once we’re inside.”
Once everyone entered the homey area, Noah introduced Laleel, Elam, Rayneh, and Purlek to his father.
Lamech welcomed each of them into his home and directed them to sit. “Let me get you something to drink.”
Noah followed his father into the kitchen. As they prepared leaf brew, he told his father about the trouble in Iri Geshem, hurrying through details about the arena and being captured by the Nodites so as not to upset the grieving man too much. “We had to flee because it was no longer safe for followers of the Creator. There’s much more to tell, but now is not the time.”
“So the young man with the injured leg is the son of your blacksmith friend? Why didn’t he come with you?”
Noah sighed and shook his head. “Some of our close friends didn’t survive. We’ve all lost loved ones since the last time I was here. Our trip has been a grim one.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that.” Lamech handed Noah a bowl with mushed malids in it. “For the little girl. Would you take the drinks in? There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
Noah nodded. “Who?”
“Just a moment.” Lamech walked down the hall and knocked softly on a door. “Evet, would you please join us in the sitting room?”
Emzara joined Noah and helped him carry the refreshments. She set the bowl of mushed malids in front of her seat before turning to Laleel and holding out her arms. “I’ll help her eat.”
Laleel smiled and handed Rayneh to Emzara. “You’ll need the practice.”
Lamech reentered the room and looked at Em
zara with his mouth agape. “Practice?”
Emzara blushed and patted her stomach with her free hand. “Yes. Are you ready to be a grandfather again?”
He clapped his hands together. “How wonderful!” He glanced at Noah and grinned. “Apparently, the Creator was tired of hearing your complaints.”
Noah chuckled and shook his head. “Whatever the reason, He has indeed chosen to bless us.”
A young woman entered the room, and Lamech stepped to the side. Her black hair and dark brown eyes complemented her dark complexion. Her muscular arms and broad shoulders accentuated her sturdy build.
“I’d like you to meet Evet. She was Nina’s nursemaid and will be moving back home soon.”
She nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Noah stood. “I’m Nina’s son, Noah.”
“I would have guessed that. You look like your brother, Jerah.”
Noah winced playfully. “That wasn’t very nice. This is my wife, Emzara.” He pointed and then quickly introduced the others.
“Noah,” Lamech said. “Evet is Toman’s granddaughter.”
“Really?” It made sense. Her dark complexion and stocky build certainly came from him. “Remind me never to shake your forearm.”
She giggled. “So he’s crushed your arm, too?”
“Too many times.”
Lamech pointed to Purlek. “Evet, with the young man’s permission, would you mind looking at his leg?”
“Of course not.” Evet looked expectantly at Purlek.
“Oh.” Purlek scooted up on the bench. “I’ll try anything to speed up the healing. I’m tired of hobbling along and being a burden on everyone else.”
Evet sat a short distance away and asked Purlek to lift his leg onto the bench. The back door opened and more introductions were made after Methuselah and Garun entered.
Noah closed his eyes. Creator, help me say the right words. He opened his eyes and slowly scanned the room, being careful to look each person in the eyes before he spoke. “We all know these past weeks have been extremely difficult, but I fear it’s only going to get worse. I need to tell you about something I’ve only told Emzara so far.”
He paused and looked at Methuselah. “Grandfather, last time we spoke, you encouraged me to speak boldly about the Creator, as your father did. During my trip home, I resolved to do exactly that, to follow the Most High no matter what. And that’s when. . . .” He put his hand on Emzara’s knee and squeezed it. His eyes moistened, not from tears of sorrow, but because they always did when he thought about what had happened outside of Novanam. He put his head down. “This is going to sound strange, and some of you may not believe me, but it’s true.” He gulped and scanned their faces again. “He spoke — the Creator spoke to me.”
Methuselah’s eyes grew wide and Lamech bolted upright, staring intently at Noah. Purlek hissed when Evet accidentally dropped his leg onto the bench as she spun to face Noah.
“So what did He say?” Garun folded his arms across his chest.
Laleel leaned forward in front of her husband. “What was He like?”
“He was — no, He is beautiful . . . and terrifying. He is . . .” Noah dabbed his cheek with the wrap on his shoulder, “indescribable.”
Methuselah sat so far forward in his chair that Noah believed he would soon fall on the floor. The old man gestured. “Go on.”
“He said that He was the God of my forefather, Enoch, and that Enoch spoke the truth.”
Methuselah’s eyes welled up, and he glanced at Lamech. “I told you.”
Lamech smiled at his father before turning to his son. “What else did He say?”
“This is the hard part.” Noah cleared his throat. “He said He is grieved about how wicked people have become, so He is going to destroy this world with a flood.”
There was silence.
“The whole world?” Lamech asked at last.
Noah nodded slowly. “Everything.”
“What? Everything?” Evet asked.
“Does that mean everyone?” Purlek asked. “When?”
“He didn’t say when, but I know it’s still many years away.”
“How do you know that?” Lamech asked.
“You’re serious?” Garun’s arms dropped to his sides.
Noah shook his head in amazement. “Yes. He commanded me to build a ship. One that’s big enough for the animals He’s going to send me.” Noah smiled at Emzara. “And He said that we would have sons.”
Laleel touched Emzara’s shoulder. “Sons?”
Emzara bit her lip and nodded excitedly.
“Are you sure you didn’t just dream this because you wanted children so badly and now Emzara is with child?” Lamech asked.
Noah opened his mouth, but Emzara cut him off. “No. He told me we were going to have sons before I told him I was pregnant.”
Elam stroked his chin. “So that’s what you had to talk to Zara about as soon as you returned from your trip. No wonder it couldn’t wait.”
“Exactly. I had to tell her.”
Methuselah twisted to stretch his back. “I told you before that I see my father’s spirit in you. He responded the same way as you are now whenever he spoke about the Creator.”
“So what’s your plan?” Garun asked. “I don’t think you can go back to your shipyard in Iri Geshem. How will you build this ship?”
“I was hoping all of you would help me with that.”
“Us?” Purlek pointed to himself. “I’m not a shipbuilder.”
“No, but I sure could use a blacksmith to remake the tools I lost when my other ship was sunk. And I’ll need hundreds of braces and countless bolts.”
“Do you plan on building it here?” Lamech asked.
Noah shook his head. “It’s not safe. The Nodites just wiped out several cities to the south as they marched on Iri Geshem, and I don’t know the outcome of that battle. But no matter who won, it’s not safe for us here. If Naamah finds out where I am — and this will be one of the first places she checks — then she’ll come after us.”
“Where will we go?” Elam asked.
“Far away to — wait, we? You’re going to join us?”
Elam looked at his daughter, who was elbow deep in mashed malids. “If the Creator spoke to you, then there’s nowhere else we’d rather be. I may not be the best construction worker, but I’ll do what I can. I need to send word to my father and children in Zakar. They don’t know about Kal yet.” His chest heaved and he blinked hard before focusing on Noah. “So where are we going?”
Noah tipped his head toward Methuselah. “A place where no one will follow us.”
The old man scrunched his face. “A place where no one. . . .” He leaned back and repeated the words twice before jolting. “Eden? You’re planning to go to Eden?”
“But it’s forbidden,” Evet said. “No one goes there.”
“Forbidden? No, but there are many rumors surrounding it, so few people go there. But that’s why it’s the perfect place for us. It’s the last place Naamah will ever consider.”
“Aren’t you worried about the stories?” Evet asked.
“Not anymore.” Noah stood and paced about the room. “I think all of those tales started because of what happened to Enoch, my grandfather’s father. But he wasn’t punished for going there. The Creator told me that He took him so that he wouldn’t die. I think the various legends arose from his disappearance. Besides, I only plan to pass through it to the northwest region of the world. According to the adventurers I’ve spoken to, it’s currently far beyond Havil’s reach and sparsely populated. We should be able to find a place to start over.”
“Count me in,” Methuselah said.
“And us, too,” Garun said as he slipped his arm around Laleel’s waist. “What about it, Purlek?”
The blacksmith glanced at Evet and then back at Noah. “I don’t know. I need to think about it.”
“I understand.” Noah faced Lamech. “Father?”
Lamech
shrugged. “I’m not sure. I need to talk to Jerah first.”
“Of course. I’d like to leave in a couple of days. The sooner we leave here the better.”
Chapter 13
Brushing her hands together, Emzara watched the tiny dust of the flour fall onto the table. The beauty of the light flakes in sharp contrast to the dark-stained wood mesmerized her. Cleaning the last vestige of kneaded dough from between her fingers, she pondered what to do while the bread rose.
An idea struck her, and she padded out the door and then toward the barn. Picking up her pace, she almost skipped to the massive weathered structure comprised of sections of wooden planks and blocks of cut stone. Purlek’s well-furnished quarters lay in the heart of the building, which not only housed the farmhands but also provided space for them to stay up with birthing or injured animals.
Arriving at the darker interior, she slowed to a walk so as not to alarm any of the animals. Low whispers reached her ears, and she craned her neck toward the sound. She reached the sheeted entrance to Purlek’s room as mingled laughter emanated from within. Emzara listened briefly before slowly backing away with a smile on her face.
“Oof!” She spun quickly and kept her voice at a whisper. “Noah. What are you doing here?”
“Getting crushed apparently.” He rubbed the top of his foot dramatically, resting his other hand on a beam for support.
Emzara took his hand and tiptoed out of earshot of Purlek’s room. “I don’t weigh that much.” She lightly slapped his shoulder.
“I was teasing.” He held her close and breathed in the spicy scent of her hair like he so often did. “What are you doing here?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Well, I was going to check on Purlek, but Evet beat me to it.”
“Is that so?” Noah nodded, but his focus seemed to be elsewhere.
“Noah, Evet and Purlek . . . I think. . . .”
“You think what?”
“I think he’s glad she beat me to it.”
“Hmm.”
“I was only there for a moment, but they were talking about their lives. And there was enough giggling to know they were getting along well. I don’t think they’d want me to intrude right now.”
