by Summer Lee
Pulling Sam down, Salinger dropped to his knees to show the hyenas that he and Sam were submissive to their power. He didn’t know if it would work or not, but he grabbed Sam’s shirt and held him down. “Follow my lead, Sam. It may or may not work, but we have to try.”
The two men bowed their heads as Achava did a cartwheel and took out two more hyenas. There was ferocity in her eyes. Salinger groaned, expressing fear. Her fury now matched the fury of the wild beasts. The hyenas now concentrated their full attack on Achava.
She was about ten feet away from the men when Sam started toward her. “Let me help you.”
“No! Stay back!” The savagery with which she dispatched the hyenas was not only grotesque, but fascinating as well. Sam kept his eyes glued on her.
That was when she became one with the savage animals that she was fighting. She was even quicker and even more savage. She had to be. She fought harder as more hyenas attacked in unison. She went for the kill with each strike. At one point, she even growled.
Then it stopped. The last hyena was the trophy. With one hand, she held it up triumphantly by the neck. The snapping of its neck was heard, and she let it fall to the ground. She then dropped to her knees and dropped her head in remorse. The golden glow faded from her eyes.
Salinger dropped his head as well.
Achava was crying.
The two men walked toward her. They heard her saying something. She was praying: “Father in Heaven! Forgive your servant! I had no choice! The mission is first and foremost more important than even my life! I will do what has to be done to restore the Staff of Moses to its rightful place!”
“Staff of Moses!” Sam whispered, stunned.
She looked up and stared into Sam’s flashlight’s beam. Pushing it out of her face, she went back to being the emotionless guide for Salinger and Sam. Without even bothering to wipe the tears from her face, or the blood from her arms or face, she moved forward.
“We have a distance to go before we get to Mt. Nebo. Let’s go.”
Chapter the Eleventh
SAM OPENED HIS EYES.
A cool breeze was enough to awaken him. He yawned and stretched as he squinted in the morning sun. He felt the rumbling of his stomach and wondered if he’d ever eat again. Then the smell of some kind of meat cooking wafted in the air. Sniffing the air and smelling the meat cooking was definitely a welcome way to wake up.
His back hurt from sleeping on the hard ground. He knew he would never get used to that. He grimaced without realizing it as he sauntered over to Salinger and the woman. Achava stood over a handmade spit made from strong pieces of thin wood. There were various pieces of meat cooking over an open fire. She turned the spit to give the meat an even cooking. Salinger sat on a nearby rock eating something that looked like a piece of cactus.
“Uh…Professor? I don’t think I’m hungry enough to eat a cactus.”
Achava grabbed a piece off the fire and gave it to Sam. It looked like there had been cactus needles in it, but they had been removed. He reluctantly took it and bit into it.
“The tzabar fruit is juicy so you can suck the water out before you eat the rest,” she said.
“Tza…bar?” Sam spit it out, afraid he may have eaten something poisonous.
“I keep forgetting,” she said. “That is the Hebrew name for the Sabras fruit.”
“Oh, well that clears up everything!” His disgust of the situation and inability to have a fast-food hamburger was making Sam irritable. He looked at the meat on the spit.
“That smells really good. What is it?”
“I asked that, too,” said Salinger. “I then decided that I would just be content with the fact that we have nourishment, Sam.”
“Really?” He tightened his jaw.
Salinger smiled as Achava pulled a piece of meat from the fire and placed it in her own mouth.
Sam looked in horror as Achava attempted to give him a piece of meat as well. “That’s not…hyena, is it?”
She rolled her eyes at Sam. “Hyena is actually a delicacy in the Middle East. It does taste better fried in butter though.”
Sam tightened his mouth like he was going to vomit.
“You should have seen how she started the fire!” said Salinger, changing the subject. “With her eyes!”
“Nice.” Sam sighed and sat down next to Salinger. “My professor is enjoying the meat. I should do the same.” Sam took a bite of his. “It’s actually delicious!”
After Sam ate the last piece of meat, Achava destroyed the spit and smothered the fire with sand.
Sam rubbed his stomach with satisfaction and smiled. “So, where’s Mt. Nebo?”
“Over there.” Achava pointed to the base of a small mountain a few hundred yards away. “Get ready. When I’m done here, we will leave.”
She quickly finished putting out the fire and handed Salinger a firm stick to use as a cane. He was looking at her questioningly when she passed by him. She looked back at him. “What is it, Doctor?”
“I just noticed that your wounds...” He stammered, “They are completely healed!”
“I’m a fast healer.” She turned back around and continued walking. “Come on, let’s go.”
In practically no time at all, they were at the base of Mt. Nebo. Some tourists were taking pictures, while others were reading about the history on plaques and stone markers. Achava walked past the tourists as if they weren’t even there. Sam and Salinger followed. Salinger smiled and said, “Excuse me,” every time Achava pushed through the crowd of onlookers.
When they reached the halfway point of the mountain, she stopped. She stood a moment and studied the area. She pointed to one place where there was a slight trail veering off of the main one. “This way.” She walked down the unused path.
Salinger looked surprised, but followed her. Sam was about to say something, but Salinger shook his head at him.
The small trail disappeared amid the rocks and bushes. It then picked up again and went along a ridge. Sam tried to assist Salinger while still trying to keep himself from falling off the side of the mountain. The trail got narrower and they practically hugged the mountain to stay on the trail. At other times, they clenched various convenient bushes along the way for support.
Sam and Salinger were having a hard time moving in the area, which was so steep. Sam held up Salinger as they walked sideways to keep from falling off the cliff. Sam looked down and yelled like a little girl.
Achava laughed. “We will have to toughen you up.”
“Don’t judge me until you’ve walked in my shoes,” said Sam.
“Just watch your step,” she said as she carefully planted her foot ahead on the path.
They had to be more and more careful as there were not that many plants to grab anymore. Achava stopped and looked around for something to step on or hold onto. She stopped right in front of a smooth rock pressed into the mountain. It was about ten feet across and it was completely vertical. There was a bush sticking out of the middle of it. The rock was so smooth that it looked like it had been polished. It was like a light bulb came on in her mind.
“This is it,” she said.
“This is what?” asked Salinger.
“Our door. Our entrance.”
“But there is no place to stand. We can’t get a good footing here,” said Sam. “We’ll fall. Even though it’s not an extremely high mountain, a fall from this height would surely kill both Salinger and me.”
“What about me?” Achava asked. “Am I chopped liver?”
“Of course not,” said Sam. “You are a beautiful lady who can hold your own in any situation. I mean, you eat hyenas for breakfast. You’re a special kind of woman.”
She clasped his hand. “Thanks for noticing.”
“I’ve always noticed. I’ve just not had the time to say so in between falling from a plane and running from hyenas.”
Achava nodded and gave the plant in the middle of the rock her full attention. Grabbing it, she tested it fo
r strength. While easily holding onto the outcropping of vegetation with one hand, she leaned out and away from the protection of the mountain. “This will hold us,” she said, grabbing the bush sticking out of the rock with her free hand and letting go with her other hand.
“We need rest before tackling such a project. So, let’s go back into town and find a hotel,” she said. “I need a shower. And Sam, I think you need a beer.”
He laughed. “Never touch the stuff.”
She turned to Dr. Salinger. “I would like for you to get checked out by a medical doctor.”
“What about me?” said Sam. “I have asthma.”
Achava patted his cheek. “If you want to see a doctor, you can get yourself there. You’re a big boy now.”
He grinned. Walking back down the mountain was easier than it had been going up. They entered the small village town of Khirbat al-Mukhayyat. A vendor had hot loaves of French bread with butter by the side of the road. Achava bought three. “My treat,” she said as she handed them each one. She pointed to a rundown hotel. “We’ll sleep there. Go get your room and rest.”
“Where will you be?” asked Sam.
“I have some errands to run. Plus, I need some alone time.” She gave Sam a firm look. “Take care of Dr. Salinger.”
***
Finding a laundromat that sold hot showers, she went in and showered. She then put on her last clean outfit—blue jeans and a dark blue shirt. Back out in the main laundry room, she unloaded her backpack into a washing machine. Once she put her coins in the slot, the machine began to groan and grind. The noise was deafening. At least her clothes would be clean again, if the machine did not gobble them up first.
There were two folding chairs in the room, but both looked like they had been bent several times over. Not safe. She saw a cement bench out front, so she went out and sat down. Closing her eyes, she relaxed.
“Achava,” said a voice. “Achava, is that you?”
Opening her eyes, she looked into the dark eyes of Aviela. “Mother!” she said in shock. “What are you doing here?”
“Probably the same thing you are.”
“Oh, I hope not.”
“If you’re not looking for the Moses staff, then what are you doing here?” Aviela had a knowing grin on her face.
Achava took both Aviela’s hands in hers. “Mother, you are seventy-five now. You have no business helping the archaeologists who come out here to dig. Forget the Moses Staff.”
“It is a way of making a living doing what I know best.” Aviela smiled and lifted her daughter’s hands to her lips and kissed them. “I know my limits.”
“I know you do.” She stood and hugged her mother. “I’m so thrilled to see you.” When Achava sat back down, she scooted over so Aviela could sit by her. The older woman was a good woman. She only had one daughter—no sons. She had worked hard to give Achava a good life while raising her alone after her husband, an Israeli soldier, had been killed when Achava was only three. When Achava grew up, Aviela had sent her to The Sorbonne University in Paris, France. It was a place where Achava’s creativity could be expressed while getting an outstanding education. After her graduation, they did not see much of each other.
“So, how do you keep yourself busy, my daughter?”
“I travel around the world looking for people to help.”
“Have you found someone to help?”
“Yes, an older man, a doctor of archaeology. And his student assistant.”
“That’s good.” Her voice trailed off. “Achava,” said Aviela. “Let me ask you something. Do you remember coming here with me when you were a small girl?”
“Yes-s,” she said slowly. “We lived in Jericho for a while with my nanny. Right?”
“Exactly.” Aviela’s brows narrowed in concern. “That has something to do with why I’m here.”
Achava frowned. “What is it that you are here for, Mother?”
“An old man by the name of Eldad Ben-Tzion was here on a special mission in the 1960s. I had a government job, and was assigned to protect him. The whole thing went sour. I keep wondering if he is dead or alive.”
“I think he is dead,” said Achava. “Why are you concerned now?”
“Just concerned. I was trying to help him escape, but I lost track of him and he disappeared.” Aviela appeared to be in distress, as if it had just happened. “Perhaps I could go out to the cave with you. Then I could look for him. Perhaps he went there.”
“No, Mother,” said Achava. “You might get hurt. I’ll tell you what. I’ll try to get proof for you of what happened to him, one way or another.”
About that time, a Middle Eastern guy with dark skin walked up on their left. Another approached on the right. They stopped right in front of the two ladies and started yelling at each other.
“What the heck?” said Achava.
“They do that all the time now.” Aviela stood. “I think everyone is on edge because of all the fighting going on in the Middle East these days.”
Achava stood and stepped forward and yelled right in their faces. “Excuse me, but we were here first.”
It was as if she had not spoken. Aviela motioned for her to follow her away from the men. Aviela hugged Achava. “I need to get going anyhow. I am a volunteer in a small rock museum down the road.”
“Wait!” Achava chased after her. “Before you go, set up a place and time for us to meet again.”
“I can’t think about it right now, but I’ll make sure we connect before I leave the area.”
“That’s not good enough, Mother. Meet me here at eight o’clock in the morning. In the meantime, think of a place where we can have breakfast.”
“That will be easy. They serve breakfast across the street.” Aviela pointed. “That is the Afteen. Let’s meet up there.”
“Great.”
***
The next morning, the sun had just peeked over the mountaintop when the three travelers from America left their hotel rooms. Refreshed, they were ready to return to the bush in the flat rock. But first, they would have a hot breakfast.
Sam asked, “Achava, who were you with last night?”
“No one.” she frowned. “Are you accusing me of being with a man?”
“No,” said Sam firmly. “It was an older woman. You were sitting on the bench in front of the laundromat talking to her.”
“Did she look like anyone you know?”
“Yes. You.” he said. “But she was seventy years old.”
“More like seventy-five. She is my mother.”
“Your mother was here and you did not introduce us?” Salinger complained. “Wasn’t that a little rude?”
“She had to be someplace.” Achava clasped the arm of the older man. “We are going to meet her right now.”
“I thought we were going to breakfast.”
“We are—with my mother.” Achava laughed and pointed. “She will meet us in the Afteen right over there.”
Once inside the commercial establishment, they walked past all of the homemade items for sale: rugs, blankets, scarves, clothes and jewelry.
“There she is,” said Achava, “sitting at the table in the back.”
The three walked to the back. She went over to the table where Aviela was sitting, and the men followed her. “Meet my friends, Mother,” said Achava.
Before she could say their names, Aviela stood. “I believe this is Dr. Salinger. Is it not?”
“Yes, madam.” He clasped her hand and kissed it. “I’ve seen you before in one of my classes. I did not know that Achava was your daughter.”
“That is true. She is.” She laughed. “So good to see you again, Doctor.”
“Likewise.”
“Sit down and let me treat you to breakfast.”
“No need,” said Dr. Salinger. “We have our own money.”
“I just want to do it.”
“Better let her,” said Achava. “She will win the argument in the end anyhow.”
Aviela and Dr. Salinger were soon engaged in deep conversation. They had a common interest—Eldad Ben-Tzion. They both had much to say about him.
While they were busy visiting, Achava used the time to learn more about Sam. Yet, she held him at an arm’s distance. She still had dreams to fulfill and could not get involved in a relationship now.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Aviela say, “I want so badly to go with you today, but my daughter won’t let me.”
“She is a stubborn one.”
“Let’s tell her that if I can’t go, then won’t go either.”
They both laughed.
Achava was listening and broke into their conversation. “Just come, Mother. You’ll have to care for yourself. I can’t babysit you. And I am the boss of this expedition.”
“Done deal.”
***
SAM STOOD reverently next to Achava as she prayed. “Father in Heaven, grant me passage with the light that you have granted me through my heritage. Amen!”
Aviela prayed also. But she did it silently with her eyes closed. Nevertheless, she glowed like she was made of silver. The two women had a supernatural power that Sam had never seen anyplace else before.
Achava seemed to have more power, as well as more boldness, than her mother. She grasped the bush and held it tightly. Sam saw the familiar golden spark fly from her eyes to the bush. The bush immediately caught fire, but the fire was not the same color as all the fires Sam had seen in his life. This one had golden flames.
The flames engulfed the bush as well as Achava, but she was unharmed. As the bush burned, the smooth rock moved into a horizontal position, creating a platform. She released the bush and jumped. She landed safely on the platform. Meanwhile, the bush continued to burn without being consumed. She lifted her hands. “Thank you, Lord.”
Aviela jumped into the cavern next.
Sam watched as Achava quickly walked around the room. Aviela was right behind her, moving as fast as her daughter.
The platform extended out about five feet from the mountain and was now just a step away from the two men. Salinger stepped carefully onto the platform. “C’mon, Sam. We’d better jump now or be left behind.”
