by Mitch
However, after several years, some were singing in the choir, others became ushers and even took up the offering. Andy Handy, the bandit leader, believe it or not, became one of the best Sunday school teachers the church ever had. Many of the bandits married and had children who were known as their Little Bandits. The Queen didn’t like the little ones being called Little Bandits and began calling them little Band-Aids, because they were always helping other children that needed help. The King made every bandit a citizen of Charming because they proved their worthiness to the Royal Family and their adopted country. Without a doubt, they would give their life protecting the Royal Family, especially little Prince of Charming. Andy Handy was the first to call the prince, Prince Charming.
Kedar grinning from ear to ear and said, “That’s how the story got started about storks delivering babies.”
“Kedar, that is quite a romantic story. Do you really believe it, or did you make it up?”
“It is an accurate story. If you don’t believe it, that’s your choice.” Exasperated, he grumbled, “Okay, it’s dark now, so let’s get going on our way to Bethlehem, ‘sweetheart.’”
Nano’s of Charity
Later that week, in the middle of the night, they cautiously approached a village. It seemed peaceful enough, but they weren’t sure whether these people were friendly or not. They knew going around the village would take precious time, which they could not afford. Seeing and hearing nothing, believing everyone was asleep, they decided it would be safe to go through the village. They had only walked two full blocks when Careah stopped and whispered, “Oh, no!”
A sight out of a war story confronted them. Angry Nano people surrounded them, waving swords. Not a word came from the strange-acting Nanos. If looks could kill, they would be dead. How these strangers happened to appear in front of them, Careah or Kedar had no idea; it seemed as if they were just there. Cold chills ran down their backs, watching the swords swaying back and forth. The only sound from the angry crowd was the swishing of the swords slicing the air. Swish! Swish! Swish! Kedar’s teeth chattering, Careah trembling, both whispered at the same time, “It does look as if we are not welcome.”
Kedar commented under his breath, “I wonder why they are acting so warlike? I never heard of Nano people warring.”
The one who looked the biggest and meanest stepped forward, speaking gruffly, “If you make one false move, you will regret it. Now! Who are you? Why are you here in our village?”
Before Kedar could answer, one of the villagers chimed in, “Azur, that one has a knapsack,” pointing at Careah.
“Thanks, Abez, for being observant. She may have something in the sack worth seeing. Now, sister, what’s in the sack? Better yet, just give me the thing!”
Careah raised her voice, shrieking, “I’m not your sister! I will show you what is in my knapsack, but you cannot have it. It is a present for God’s Son, who is in Bethlehem at this moment.”
Azur chuckled to his next in command, “Abez, did you hear that? She said it is for her God’s son.”
Abez spoke up, “That’s too bad, we don’t believe God has a son.”
Careah snapped back, “Whoever told you that is badly mistaken! God does have a Son, whether you believe it or not.”
“I don’t care who you believe in, give us the sack!” demanded Azur.
Careah gritted her teeth, looked at him with contempt, “You have been fed locoweed. Only a fool denies God has a Son. One day you will see Him. I only hope it’s not too late.”
“Too late for what?” smirked Azur. He repeated his demand, “Give me the sack or you will meet this God’s Son sooner than you want to!”
Exasperated, Kedar exclaimed to Careah, “For Adam’s sake, give them the darn thing. It’s not worth our lives!”
Careah flew into a rage, “No!” She made it known she was ready to defend it with her life if necessary.
“All right,” growled Azur, “for now, you may keep it. We’ll get it later, after we decide what to do with you invaders. Now, who are you and why are you here?”
As usual, Kedar ended up trying to be brave at the wrong moment, saying something smart. “This is a free country; we don’t have to tell you if we choose not to.”
“That’s what you think, buster. You’re in our country. I’m sure you do not want to die before sun-up. I’ll ask you one more time?”
Careah broke in, “Good grief, Kedar, tell them! It’s no military secret.”
Humbled, Kedar relented, “Sorry, it was dumb saying what I said, I apologize. This is my wife, Careah, and I am Kedar Wee. We’re of the tribe of Humble from Pepper Ridge on Zest Hill in Spice County. Spice County is in the middle of Sweet Plateau, umpteen miles from Bethlehem. We mean you no harm.”
Abez retorted, “We know where Spice County is. Anyone can say they are from Pepped Ridge in Spice County. What is the name of the priest there?”
Quickly Careah spoke up, “His name is Zion.”
Azur spit on the ground and snorted, “Is that so? Most everyone knows the priest in Spice County. Since you say you know the priest, what young couple did Zion marry a year ago this exact month?”
Incredulously, Careah looked at Kedar, laughing out loud, saying, “Unbelievable! We’re the ones he married!” Still looking at Kedar, she added, “Forgot, huh? Well, happy anniversary, dear. I was waiting for you to say something about the biggest day of our lives.”
Kedar was embarrassed for forgetting the happiest day of their lives, “I’m sorry, honey. I have no excuse. Please forgive me?”
She touched his nose with her forefinger, “Okay, but next time, I tell the world.” To be sure they were telling the truth, Abez asked her to name the maids of honor at the wedding. “Sure,” she brightly added, “I sure can name my maids of honor: Eta, Iota, Phi, and Doe.”
Abez roared, “Doe is my brother’s wife’s sister.”
Kedar excitedly added, “Doe is my brother’s wife.”
Azur hit the side of his head with the palm of his hand. “It’s a small world. It appears we are kinfolk. We are very sorry for the rough treatment! We don’t know why a tribe of renegade half-bread Nano’s joined up with a colony of brutal soldier beasts. Together they are killing anyone who crosses their path. We thought you may be spies for that tribe. That kind is no good and full of vicious hate, dangerous and very aggressive. We heard they are intermarrying, and their offspring are sub-human, something like mutants. The mutants are the most ferocious; getting their kicks out of killing. It is too bad. There would be peace if they were not here.”
Kedar mused, "That sounds like it was back in the days of Noah, before the great flood. There were evil ones called ‘Nethahleans’ (meaning fallen ones). They were the angels who fell from grace and were removed from heaven. They intermarried with humans, which nearly destroyed the human race. That was why God called Noah to build the Ark to save what was left of the human race. Sadly, there were only eight people entering the Ark: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives. He was told to bring two of every species of animals, male and female, into the Ark.
“God made it possible for a Nano couple to enter the ark unseen. Then God caused it to rain forty days and forty nights. A violent force busted the Earth open, sending rocks and water several miles into the atmosphere. The Earth was covered with water and all of the Nethahleans and the sub-humans, or mutants as you call them, perished. We have a copy of the original scroll in our temple back home confirming it.”
Azur listened intently to Kedar and stated, “The same thing should happen to these mutants. Someone or something has to stop them, or we’ll be in a lot of trouble. Those renegades don’t know it, but the soldier beasts will turn on them when they are no longer needed. That’s the character of those Anti-beasts.”
Abez added, "There may be some good news. I heard the Tall People are going to burn them out as soon as they find their hideout and are sure their leader is there; I sure hope it is soon.
Every
mutant has two needle-sharp eyeteeth which contain deadly poison. The bite is fatal. We know of at least a dozen tall people who have died from the mutant bites. We would like to help find their hideout, but we are outnumbered. There isn’t a chance of our getting close enough to see if the leader is with them."
Careah spoke softly, “There is nothing like prayer. Prayer touches the heart of our Almighty. Without delay, He will send his administrations of Angels into action, inducing great wonders. Believe me, it will bring on the awful day of judgment on every one of those evil creatures. Prayer really does get results.”
Azur remarked, “Okay, since you believe your God and His Son can help, would you please ask them to take care of this problem for us.”
Bemused, Careah asked, “I thought you don’t believe in God?”
“Well, some do believe there is God.”
“No, no, I asked you. Do you believe?”
“I found no reason to believe in God, nor life after death.”
“I saw a temple close to here. Don’t people go?”
“I think there’s a few who go.”
Careah declared, “Don’t be misled. There is life after death. doesn’t your priest teach that?”
Abez replied, “I doubt it. His job is to records births, marriages, burials, and he counsels couples to be married to select the right mate. That’s what he gets paid for, nothing else.”
Careah interjected, “You mean he never prays at funerals or a marriage ceremony or in a worship service?”
Abez answered, “I never heard him pray.”
Azur volunteered, “I heard he does pray for those who believe. I myself never heard him.”
Careah gently asked, “Would you be interested in becoming a believer of the Lord?”
“Well, I’m willing to give it a try,” responded Azur.
Careah bowed her head in prayer, “Father, I dare not tell you what to do, that is for you to decide. I only ask you, please do something to glorify you and your Son so Azur and his people will know you love them? Thank you, Father, for answering this prayer.”
Several hours later, one of Azur’s lookouts came running, gasping, and barely able to speak. With a strained, raspy voice, he slowly told what he had seen and heard. “The tall people are placing a blockade several miles around the soldier beast’s colony. They are pouring some kind of oil on and around their compound. I heard the tall people say this stuff they have burns like hot lava; nothing will survive.”
Kedar became excited, jumping up and down and grinning. “I know what that stuff is. It comes from inside tall reeds and it does burn like red-hot lava. Some friends had us use it to escape sure death. Believe me, it will do the job.”
Azur’s wife mused, “I think there may be something about your God which would be worth looking into. He sure has worked fast to answer your prayer for us!”
“Yes, and not one of your people will have to die fighting those ungodly creatures,” replied Careah.
Azur’s wife, Rue, deep in thought, wondered why Careah displayed a great joyous peace in her whole being. Oh, to be like her… She desperately wanted the same peace and joy. Maybe later she’d have a private talk with Careah.
Azur volunteered, “We are the tribe of Charity. We were that before this trouble started. Now we can get back and be ourselves again thanks to you both.” Azur and the Charity people pleaded with Careah and Kedar to stay for a few days. They never had visitors they loved as Careah and Kedar.
Teary eyed, Careah expressed her feelings, “You are wonderful friends. We feel your sincere love, but we must be on our way to Bethlehem.”
Azur and his wife had special feelings for Careah and Kedar, as did Careah and Kedar for them. Everyone asked them to stop back for a visit and tell them more about this Son of God. Azur said, “Maybe He will agree to be our God. Find out what He is up to and let us know all about Him.”
Careah responded, “Oh yes, He wants to be your God, too! All you have to do is believe, have faith that He will do what you ask; ‘it will be done.’ You will discover, as we have, that God is the creator of everything and is the key to everything.” She and Rue had talked privately about her believing the Lord is the true God. The outcome of that talk was showing in her glowing face. Oh, the love both felt toward each other, the love that God wanted them to have, a philia love. Careah and Kedar promised they would come back and tell them all about Yesuah, the Son of God, as soon as possible. Saying goodbye, they left knowing they had made more wonderful new friends. Azur had two of his personal guards accompany them for a few days to protect them against any danger they might come upon. But for a change, the next few days proved to be uneventful, so the guards wished them a safe journey and returned to their village.
4th Wise Man
One peaceful night, everything was going smoothly. Suddenly, a horrifying sound came closer and closer; clip, clop, clip, clop; with heavy breathing. The earth was shaking as if a giant was pounding it with his fist. Suddenly, in the moon light, they saw the terrifying noise taking shape. The shape emerged into a moving creature. It was a huge, hairy, smelly four-footed beast called a camel. Being too late to get out of the way, they both grabbed each other, shut their eyes, and held their breath. Kedar thought for sure they were going to become flat Wees. Fortunately, the camel’s stride missed trampling them to death by a gnat’s eyelash. Kedar exhaled, “Wow, never were we so close to getting squashed, and there wouldn’t have been a grease spot left.” Suddenly, with little warning, two more critters followed the first. It was too close for comfort, but somehow Kedar and Careah were saved from being trampled. Kedar barked, “I’ll pick my heart up on the way back home.”
Careah whispered, “I’m glad you can joke about this. I’ll be ready to move as soon as my brain tells my legs it’s okay to move this body off the road.”
The men on the camels seemed to be in a hurry to get wherever they were headed. Careah heard the men on the last camel call out, “Haji, your camel is limping. Maybe we should slow down.”
He replied, “The camel is getting old, Adji. If we stop now and rest, he should be okay in the morning.”
After stopping and making camp, Careah heard the one called Belji say he was taking gold as his gift. Haji said he brought frankincense for his gift. Adji said, “I’ll be proud if he likes the myrrh I brought.” But he hoped they would get to Jerusalem in time to warn the child’s parents to leave the country because something unholy was going to happen to their child.
Getting a little closer, she was sure she heard Adji say, “I hope the prophets were right about a bright-blue star appearing in the sky. If so, we would be able to follow it to where the child is.” She wished they could find a way to get on one of the camels, then remembered them saying they were going to Jerusalem. She didn’t know these men thought the King of the Jews should be born in a castle and in Jerusalem. The three men were preparing their sleeping mats when another man on a camel approached and asked if he would be welcome to spend the night with them.
Belji bellowed, “God forbid if we do not welcome you to spend the night with us, stranger.”
Haji asked, “What is your name and where are you going?”
He replied, “My name is Bryji, and I’m going to Bethlehem to see the Child King.”
The three whispered among themselves, “He is going to the wrong town.”
Adji asked if he was giving a gift to the child. His response was strange: “Yes, a box of sorrow and a box of joy!”
They thought, what a strange gift to give a child. Bryji replied, “I’ll be leaving before you gentlemen awake in the morning.” The three were glad he would not be traveling with them to Jerusalem.
Suddenly, Careah remembered what Adji had said about warning someone to leave the country and realized they were talking about Yesuah’s family. Felling very uneasy about what she heard, she moaned to Kedar, “Did you hear that? Something evil, very evil, is about to happen to baby Yesuah. Let’s pray about it.”
Kedar groused, “Do you really think God will answer every time we pray for something?”
Her eyes grew wide as she looked at Kedar in disbelief. She shook her head and didn’t say what was on her mind. Instead, she asked God to send help or send someone to warn little Yesuah’s parents in case the three men on camels didn’t get there in time.
Kedar muttered, “If something is going to happen to the child, then it is no use going on, we may as well turn back.”
“Oh, no! We will not!” she scolded. “Remember, Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt because she turned back. Even though we may never get there, I’ll keep going until I drop over, and I don’t mean over a cliff.”
So, they traveled on and on, night after night. Careah hoped and prayed that a ministering Angel would watch over Yesuah, or be a pillar of fire around Him, and asked Almighty God that nothing would keep them from seeing baby Yesuah. There were times she had to plead with Kedar to continue their trip. Several times, she made it clear to him, nothing was going to stop her, even if it meant going on alone.
Deadly Green Carpet
It was a peaceful night. A full moon made it possible for them to have a clear view of the country ahead, making traveling easer. Unexpectedly, every animal was frantically running for its life. Even those flying were in a panic. It may be more correct to say they were stampeding as if the Devil was after them. Abruptly, the moon slipped behind a dark cloud, everything around them became very quiet, even the crickets stopped chirping. It seemed as if the world came to a standstill. The mysterious silence and total darkness were something they never experienced. The whole area was as silent as a lifeless desert at midnight.
A cold breeze wafted over them, dragging a stale foul odor with it. Without any warning, the earth began to vibrate, followed by one of the most horrid sounds they ever heard. It sounded as if the mountains were rolling toward them. The sound accelerated. Careah felt cold chills going down her spine. She stopped in her tracks, too frightened to move. Kedar quaked while whispering, “Oh my goodness, be quiet. Don’t move.”