by Dawn Morris
“We shall be fine, Mother.” Sarai took my hand in hers and squeezed it, smiling reassuringly at me.
“It’s imposing, isn’t it?” Sarai misunderstood the reason for my obvious discomfort, but I was not afraid of the large palace walls or guards that stood above us.
Why doesn’t she feel the evil presence? I asked the Lord. I kept my hand in hers and prayed silently for protection.
The massive walls surrounding the palace were wide enough for a chariot to race on the top. Guard towers roosted on top of the walls in evenly spaced intervals while armed men stood in their shade, watchmen on the wall. Serug kept himself well-protected, even within the walls of his own city.
Servants greeted us with flowery wreaths at the palace entrance, bowing respectfully before placing them around our necks. One of them, an older man, escorted us through the great garden. We passed many sparkling fountains and great statues depicting Serug’s god, Nergal, vanquishing his enemies in battle. Never had I seen such workmanship. The faces of the dying men inspired pity and dread.
“Serug means this collection to be a warning to any who might aspire to take what is his,” Abram remarked to me.
As we neared the great hall, guards opened the substantial bronze doors for us, bowing with deference as we passed them. Stunned, I stopped in the doorway. Before us, beautiful columns and arches framed the turquoise blue sky and sparkling water of the river outside. Long tables were filled with hundreds of guests who stood and shouted enthusiastically, welcoming Abram, Serug’s highly valued warrior, and his beautiful wife, Sarai.
On the right was a broad dais where Serug sat on a golden chair at a table with a few other people. Following the servant, we made our way through the crowd to his table. Terah sat to the right of Serug. Although I smiled at him in welcome, he quickly averted his eyes.
Serug belted out a welcome to Abram, rising from his chair and enveloping the younger man in a hearty embrace before kissing him on both cheeks. Turning, he bowed gallantly before Sarai. “Once again the fair moon shines on Ur!” Then Serug turned to me.
“So, Mother Ariana has returned with you,” Serug stated, somewhat flatly. There was no warm embrace or kindly compliment for me. I was not surprised to see a shift in his countenance and a shadowy look in his eyes.
“The Creator instructed me to come,” I replied loudly. At the mention of the Creator, I felt the mood of the crowd around us shift. For a city that proclaimed religious freedom, it was obvious that while it was allowed, those who wished to attend such an event were expected to pledge allegiance to Serug’s own god, Nergal.
Serug made no response. I could hear people murmuring, but I was not afraid. I would not keep quiet—not in a palace, not for any royalty. Serug knew Abram, Sarai, and I followed the Creator when he invited us to this banquet. He should not have been surprised.
We were led to our table and sat down. Piles of food and drink were before us. We began eating as friends and merchants stood up to make speeches and welcome Abram home.
A young man sitting next to Terah stood up to make a speech. It was Haran, Sarai’s older brother. I felt the crowd grow tense.
Haran shouted loudly at the crowd, “For all the generations since the great Flood, you have resisted the Creator and followed after gods made in images you carved. In Babylon, the Creator came down and confused the languages to keep you from greater evil. Although you were scattered, you quickly made fortified cities and went to war with one another.”
Some in the crowd looked down guiltily—but only a few. The majority glared as Haran went on in his indictment of their guilt. As Haran spoke, the tension at the feast grew. There was agitation; this was obviously not what the crowd had come to hear.
“Haran told me that in the years we’ve been gone, there’s been trouble brewing in Ur between the small group of believers he leads and those who worship Serug’s god,” Abram whispered to Sarai and me.
“He’s hated living here from the beginning. The idolatry outrages him,” Sarai breathed.
Abram continued, “He said they think it’s a matter of allegiance to Serug to bow down to his god.”
“That explains the crowd’s anger,” I commented as looked around the room. Men pounded the tables and shouted out vile names at Haran. People were standing, agitated.
Sarai’s face grew pale as she gripped the table and stared at her brother. Abram stood up.
“At the first sign of trouble, get out of here. Sarai knows the way. Some of my men are still out in the courtyard. Have them escort you home.”
Abram turned to make his way to Haran’s side, but a small group of men were already making their way toward the dais, knives drawn. I watched in horror as they fell on the young man, stabbing him mercilessly. The whole room erupted in pandemonium.
“Go!” Abram shouted back at us, drawing out his sword and racing toward the murderous men. Sarai grabbed my arm, and we ran through the kitchens to the outer courtyard. Two of Abram’s men were sitting there on the edge of a stone fountain. Sarai called to them and told them what happened, her eyes scanning the area around us for any sign of danger. One of the men ran to get reinforcements for Abram while the other took us back to Abram’s estate.
Sarai and I sat in the inner courtyard garden, watching as guards were set up along the perimeter of their home, and waited for Abram. It was not long before he returned home with Terah and an older boy.
Sarai rushed to greet them. “Father! Abram! What happened to Haran? Did he survive?”
Terah sat down heavily in a chair next to me. “They killed him,” he moaned. “They killed my son, Haran.” He wept inconsolably.
The boy sunk to the floor next to Terah and wrapped his arms around him in an embrace. “Grandfather,” he sobbed. “This can’t be happening.”
Terah wiped the boy’s face with the edge of his robe gently. “My poor Lot. Your mother and now your father . . . gone. Who will care for you after I am gone?”
Abram moved to his father’s side. “We will, Father. Sarai and I will care for him. You have my word on it.”
We all went to bed, but Abram kept guards around the house, not knowing what would happen next. Late in the evening, I went out of my room and sat on the terrace, looking at the garden below. Although it was night, the moon was full. Its silvery light illuminated as brightly as early dawn. The scent of lilies growing below drifted up to me. The cloying scent revolted me.
They smell like death, I thought.
Just then I heard shouting coming closer to the house. I rushed down the stairs just as the door to Abram and Sarai’s room opened across on the other side of the courtyard. Abram raced out and ran down the stairs, sword in hand. He returned, looking worried.
“Mother Ariana!” He barked my name. “Terah went to the palace with some men and killed many of Serug’s family. They’re coming here to retaliate. Go quickly upstairs with Sarai and bolt the door.” Turning on his heel, he dashed out of the courtyard.
I went back upstairs with Sarai and barred the door with a thick wooden beam. Sarai looked worried. Her eyes were dark from weeping for her brother, Haran.
We sat in anxious silence, listening to the sounds of the mob nearing the estate. There was a window in the room looking out over the Euphrates River, and I could see the water sparkling in the moonlight. I wonder how this night is going to end, I thought. The water looked so peaceful. The screaming mob came closer.
“He hated living here.” Sarai broke the silence, putting down her goblet on the floor.
“Your brother?” I asked.
“Yes. He hated Babylon, too. From the time he was a young boy, he loved the Creator and hated idolatry.”
“I wonder in Babylon where he would have learned about the Creator?” I asked. Terah was dedicated to his god. Surely, he would not have told his son about the Creator.
“Even in Babylon, they tell stories of the great Flood and the First Ones, of you Mother. But they are twisted tales. They have only a vague
idea of what really happened because their worship of idols has tainted their thinking.” The screams grew even closer, and we both sat still listening to the sounds of battle. Sarai bit her lip.
“First they kill Haran. Now, they will kill all of us.”
We heard screams from the rioting hoards who had reached the house. It seemed like the whole house shook with the sound of their fighting. Then I realized the house was truly shaking.
“The earth is shifting!” Sarai cried out. We both stood up and rushed out of the room and into the courtyard where we gathered with the servants, uncertain whether it was safer to brave the earthquake inside or the mob outside.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the earth stopped trembling. Abram and Terah came back into the house. Sarai threw herself in Abram’s arms, sobbing in relief.
“It is over,” Terah announced. “The moment the mob began to attack, the earth shook. A great wall of dust was kicked up by a sudden wind between them and us. The intensity of it drove the mob away.”
“We can no longer stay here in Ur,” Abram said solemnly, looking around at his household. “The great God of glory appeared to me when the earth shook. He told me to leave this place and go to a land He will show me.”
Everyone grew still. I saw Terah open his mouth to speak, only to close it without saying a word. Of course, he had seen manifestations of power from his idol worship but not anything like the divine protection that had saved the family from the mob.
“Let’s gather together our goods and flocks and travel upstream along the Euphrates until we find the place where he wants us to settle,” Abram ordered. “We leave tomorrow.”
“What about the servants?” Sarai asked. Unlike many others, she and Abram refused to own slaves.
“If they want to come with us, they are welcome,” Abram answered. With that announcement, we got to work. Every one of the servants chose to stay with the family and move away from Ur.
FIRE
Chapter 45
And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.”
Revelation 16:18
As Gabriella droned on, all I could think of was Jannik. We sat on the hotel rooftop restaurant looking over the city. Not only was Jannik in Jerusalem, he was here, downstairs. Or at least he had been an hour ago. I tried not to appear eager to leave, but all I could think about was going back down the elevator and seeing him again. Please Lord, let him still be there. Let me see him again. Let him know I did not betray him. Let him know I still love him.
Finally, Gabriella dismissed me. I got up from the table without a word. Gabriella nodded to the waiter standing by, and he led me to the elevator. I entered quickly, wanting to get as far away from her as I could. The waiter pushed the button for the lobby and left me alone. I watched the numbers on the display each floor until it stopped on the main floor. Taarini stood waiting.
“Let’s go,” she ordered. “Madame wants you to get home and rest. She told you the good news? Carrying Angelo Cain’s children . . . such an honor for you! Surely, you are highly favored to bear the son of His Excellency!”
I wanted to push her down and run and look for Jannik. But I was weak, and she dragged me quickly through the lobby. I scanned around frantically looking for Jannik, but he wasn’t there.
Outside the limousine was waiting. As the door shut, I wanted to cry. I had found Jannik and lost him again.
The driver’s window between the front and back seat was closed, which blocked my view to the city through the windshield. That was odd; often the driver and Taarini would gossip together when we went out. But I was thankful for the lack of chatter. All I wanted to do was block out the world anyway. I told Taarini I wasn’t feeling well and closed my eyes to avoid hearing any more of her gushing babble.
As we drove, I thought of one desperate plan after another to find Jannik and escape with him. I held back the tears as I remembered his face, so thin. What had he been through?
Finally, we got back to the estate, and Taarini escorted me to the guesthouse and left me alone. I wandered out to the garden and sat in a chair under the shade of my favorite tree.
After a month in the hospital, I thought I would be grateful to be back, but after all that had happened, all I could think about was escape. But how would I find Jannik? Lord, why do you keep allowing slivers of hope when it all feels so impossible?
I sat outside until dusk turned to night. Suddenly, out of the darkness I heard a soft whisper, “Dani.”
It was Jannik. I knew it immediately.
Turning, I saw him standing in the shadows behind me. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but when he stepped into the light, I knew it was really him. Without thinking, I rushed into his arms and we kissed each other in joy, laughing, and crying softly.
Suddenly, I remembered where I was. We weren’t safe out here. Usually, Taarini would check on me before I went to sleep, and I wanted to make sure Jannik was safely hidden before she came. I pulled him into the house.
The closet in my bedroom was actually a small room with a long, high window that ran along the wall near the ceiling. No one could see in the window, and I would have time to get to my bedroom when she came in the front door.
“In here. We should be safe.” I clicked the light on as we entered the closet. There was a bench along one wall, and I sat on it. Pulling his cap from his head, he sat down beside me and turned to face me.
“How did you find me?” I asked him, my eyes searching his. Dark shadows underscored his brown eyes.
“Noam returned after he sold you to the clinic in Jerusalem. He boasted about it. Not knowing that Zivah had survived his attack, he walked boldly into Petra without any fear.” I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard about Zivah. Jannik went on, “Zivah might have died if Tamas hadn’t been told by the Lord to go out and find her. Her wounds were terrible when we found her.”
My heart constricted with fear, recalling Noam’s vicious words. I breathed in a deep, ragged breath. “How is she?”
“Tamas laid his hands on her and asked the Lord to heal her. It was miraculous! She was completely restored.” Jannik smiled grimly. “That monster thought he was free, but Zivah saw him walking boldly down the main street and called for help. Then, Tamas began asking Noam questions about you.” Jannik’s eyes darkened angrily at the memory. “Noam stared at me with a smirk on his face as he boasted about how he’d raped you, killed you, and left you dead in the desert. I rushed at him, but others held me back.”
I gasped, drawing my hand over my mouth. “Did you know he was lying?”
“No, but Tamas knew. I don’t know how, but he knew and ordered Noam in the name of Messiah to tell the truth. He started foaming at the mouth and then fell to the ground, screaming to stop saying that name. He said horrible things, made dreadful pronouncements about the end of the Jewish people. But then Tamas commanded the spirit controlling him to be silent and Noam finally answered his questions.”
I could see how pained he was. Jannik had considered Noam a friend. My heart went out to him. I could see that he, like me, had suffered greatly.
Jannik took my hands in his. “As soon as I heard where you were, I left Petra. I was determined to find you, Dani. I got some food and water and left right away.”
Jannik had been searching for me all this time. I began to cry. Jannik pulled me in his arms and held me.
“But how did you get here if you were going to New Babylon to find me?” I asked. He described how the Global Union Army had found him only a few hours away from Petra.
“The soldiers beat me badly then tossed me into the back of one of their transport vehicles. It was filled with other people, mostly other Jews. Strangers pulled me up from the floor of the truck and told me that President Bellomo was killing all the Jews he could find.”
“Where did they take you?” I he
ld his hand in mine, marveling that he was actually with me.
“To a camp just outside Jerusalem. They made us wear the clothes with the blue star you saw me wearing earlier. We were brought to Jerusalem to work in the hotel.”
I sat back and realized he was now wearing the same uniform the driver had worn. “So that’s how you got here! What happened to the driver?”
“One of my friends helped me grab him when we saw him head into the alley. We managed to knock him out, tie him up, and take his clothes. He was roughly the same size as me; I put on his uniform and got into the car.” His eyes flashed, and I knew he was doing the mental calculations about how much time he might have before the driver came after him.
“How did you know where to go?” I asked.
Jannik grinned then. “Easy, the car has a GPS system with a button marked ‘Home.’” I wanted to grin, too, but I was scared.
“Jannik, that driver surely went for help after he came to. He’s going to lead them right here.”
“You’re right,” he agreed grimly.
Just then I heard Taarini call out. I motioned to Jannik to be quiet and left the small room, closing the door behind me. Rushing to the bathroom, I closed the door quickly and flushed the toilet. Then I ran water on the tap before leaving the bathroom.
Taarini stood in the doorway. “I’m just checking on you before I go off to bed. Are you feeling better?” I nodded and thanked her. Saying goodnight, I closed the door behind her softly. There was no lock, so I took a chair and wedged the back of it under the doorknob, so I’d have some warning if someone tried to come in.
We sat on my bed and talked in whispers all night. Even the things I was afraid of telling him poured out of my heart and past my lips in gasping sobs and were met with a comforting embrace and whispers of love.