I want to live a life in peace, away from this wicked world. If we move, we are left alone and avoid trespass. If we put down roots and build this structure, we become a sitting target for the gods to conquer and rule us.”
Methuselah looked straight into Noah’s eyes. “Noah, do you really think you can avoid evil?”
“I have no choice. Avoid it or we all die.”
Methuselah paused to consider his next move. He was cornering Noah and they both knew it. “Do you really think you can avoid Elohim?”
Noah would not respond.
Methuselah pressed harder. “We must tell the elders of this dream.”
“No!” Noah blurted.
“You are the Patriarch. It is your responsibility,” said Methuselah.
“As P atriarch, I forbid you to tell the elders.”
Methuselah threw up his hands in exasperation. He would not trump authority.
Noah added, “But we will tell them we are moving on the morrow.”
Chapter 4
Shafts of morning light broke through the tall timbers of the forest, accompanied by the music of birds welcoming the dawn. Noah woke to the sweet smell of Emzara’s hair nestled in his neck and shoulder. Their breathing synchronized as one. She stirred and he could not help but thank Elohim for another day of life with her.
The flap on his tent slapped open. Lemuel stuck his worried face inside, which only an emergency would make him do.
Noah looked at his friend. “Lemuel, we have all day to pack up for the move.”
“A royal entourage from Erech is encamped near the brook,” whispered Lemuel.
Noah sat up abruptly, waking Emzara. “What? How many? Are they armed?”
“A small delegation,” Lemuel said. “Should we muster our forces?”
“No,” said Noah. “It must be an ambassador. Go gather the elders. We will ride and see what they want.”
The royal encampment was a third of a league distant from Noah’s settlement. A large ostentatious tent dominated the center, twenty cubits in diameter, made of embroidered fabric from the Indus valley. A line of bird-men soldiers with spears, maces, and axes guarded the perimeter. The banner of Anu flew high overhead on a golden standard.
Noah, Lemuel, six elders and an escort of a couple of warriors halted briefly at the edge of the brook, still partially concealed in the dense forest. Noah patted the neck of his onager as he looked at the horses of the visitors. He trusted his durable domesticated ass, but he had known of the horses which recently traded all over the Levantine and Mesopotamian plains. They provided stronger mounts and faster travel for flight or fight, either of which might happen in the next few moments.
Noah and his men crossed the brook with caution, leaving the escort of two warriors behind as watch. A truce would automatically be in effect for such a meeting, but it would not hurt to have a reserve. Noah plodded forward, eyes straight ahead, oblivious to the fact that most of his companions, with the exception of Lemuel, did not share his courage in the face of such large numbers of hostile soldiers, truce or not.
As they reached the edge of the royal camp, a priestess greeted them. She had painted eyes, hairless elongated skull, and flesh full of tattoos and body piercings. She walked up to Noah with a seductive gait in a translucent gown.
Noah thought, This heathen religion is a lascivious one .
The priestess hissed in a whisper, “If you please, you and your man may follow me. The others may refresh themselves.”
She gestured to a lavish banquet table out in the open filled with golden cups of wine and silver platters of wild boar and vegetables.
“Thank you,” replied Noah, “but we already ate breakfast. Early risers.” He dismounted , followed by Lemuel and his men.
“Well, then,” she said, “This way.”
Noah and Lemuel followed her through a gauntlet of bird-men and portable bronze pillars leading to the tent entrance. Noah wondered at the kind of conceit that would produce such luxurious waste of
Methuselah looked straight into Noah’s eyes. “Noah, do you really think you can avoid evil?”
“I have no choice. Avoid it or we all die.”
Methuselah paused to consider his next move. He was cornering Noah and they both knew it. “Do you really think you can avoid Elohim?”
Noah would not respond.
Methuselah pressed harder. “We must tell the elders of this dream.”
“No!” Noah blurted.
“You are the Patriarch. It is your responsibility,” said Methuselah.
“As P atriarch, I forbid you to tell the elders.”
Methuselah threw up his hands in exasperation. He would not trump authority.
Noah added, “But we will tell them we are moving on the morrow.”
Chapter 4
Shafts of morning light broke through the tall timbers of the forest, accompanied by the music of birds welcoming the dawn. Noah woke to the sweet smell of Emzara’s hair nestled in his neck and shoulder. Their breathing synchronized as one. She stirred and he could not help but thank Elohim for another day of life with her.
The flap on his tent slapped open. Lemuel stuck his worried face inside, which only an emergency would make him do.
Noah looked at his friend. “Lemuel, we have all day to pack up for the move.”
“A royal entourage from Erech is encamped near the brook,” whispered Lemuel.
Noah sat up abruptly, waking Emzara. “What? How many? Are they armed?”
“A small delegation,” Lemuel said. “Should we muster our forces?”
“No,” said Noah. “It must be an ambassador. Go gather the elders. We will ride and see what they want.”
The royal encampment was a third of a league distant from Noah’s settlement. A large ostentatious tent dominated the center, twenty cubits in diameter, made of embroidered fabric from the Indus valley. A line of bird-men soldiers with spears, maces, and axes guarded the perimeter. The banner of Anu flew high overhead on a golden standard.
Noah, Lemuel, six elders and an escort of a couple of warriors halted briefly at the edge of the brook, still partially concealed in the dense forest. Noah patted the neck of his onager as he looked at the horses of the visitors. He trusted his durable domesticated ass, but he had known of the horses which recently traded all over the Levantine and Mesopotamian plains. They provided stronger mounts and faster travel for flight or fight, either of which might happen in the next few moments.
Noah and his men crossed the brook with caution, leaving the escort of two warriors behind as watch. A truce would automatically be in effect for such a meeting, but it would not hurt to have a reserve. Noah plodded forward, eyes straight ahead, oblivious to the fact that most of his companions, with the exception of Lemuel, did not share his courage in the face of such large numbers of hostile soldiers, truce or not.
As they reached the edge of the royal camp, a priestess greeted them. She had painted eyes, hairless elongated skull, and flesh full of tattoos and body piercings. She walked up to Noah with a seductive gait in a translucent gown.
Noah thought, This heathen religion is a lascivious one .
The priestess hissed in a whisper, “If you please, you and your man may follow me. The others may refresh themselves.”
She gestured to a lavish banquet table out in the open filled with golden cups of wine and silver platters of wild boar and vegetables.
“Thank you,” replied Noah, “but we already ate breakfast. Early risers.” He dismounted , followed by Lemuel and his men.
“Well, then,” she said, “This way.”
Noah and Lemuel followed her through a gauntlet of bird-men and portable bronze pillars leading to the tent entrance. Noah wondered at the kind of conceit that would produce such luxurious waste of
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