Noah

by Tim Chaffey

  Noah glanced back, but couldn’t see the clearing anymore. Tarocs flew overhead, and to Noah it sounded like they were screeching in anger at having their meal interrupted. “Let’s just make sure it can’t hear or smell us.”

  They continued walking in silence. After a short climb that put a small ridge between them and the dead earth shaker, a sense of relief rushed over Noah. Behind them, branches snapped and thudded on the forest floor and footsteps pounded before all went silent. Noah stopped Taht and held up a hand to stop Aterre. “Did you see it?”

  Aterre shook his head and spoke softly. “No, but that’s a good thing. It would probably haunt my sleep forever.”

  Noah forced a half-smile. “I know what you mean.”

  They walked in silence and when it became too dark to see, Aterre lit a small lantern and moved in front of Taht to guide the way. They arrived at another small stream, and Taht continued drinking long after they filled their water containers.

  Aterre returned to the cart and grabbed the lantern again. “We should go just a little farther, get off the trail, and set up camp for the night.”

  “What’s wrong with staying here?” Noah asked.

  “Well, it’s on the path, so it’d be easy for anyone passing by in the night to rob us.”

  Noah shook his head. “That’s right. We aren’t in Iri Sana anymore.”

  “Exactly. And we don’t want to be too close to the water in case any predators come for a drink.”

  “Good idea. Let’s find a place soon though. I’m exhausted.”

  “Enough adventure for one day?”

  “Definitely.” Noah stored his drink and led their animal away from the brook. “Can you imagine what this world would’ve been like if our Greatfather Adam hadn’t sinned?”

  “What do you mean?” Aterre asked.

  “Originally, all of the animals ate only vegetation like we do. Those tarocs wouldn’t have been scavenging on the earth shaker, and it never would’ve been killed in the first place.”

  Aterre held the lantern up and looked side to side. “And we wouldn’t have had to flee from the owner of this.” He pulled out the massive tooth and stared at it next to the light. “What should we call it?”

  “What? The one with those kind of teeth?”

  “Yeah. How about razor mouth?

  Noah laughed. “Well, we haven’t technically seen it yet. So let’s go with what we heard. How about thunder step?”

  “Or rumble throat? Tree smasher? Dagger tooth?”

  “I like dagger tooth,” Noah said.

  “So do you really believe that?” Aterre slowly rotated the tooth next to the lantern, and the light revealed the jagged sides.

  Noah’s face registered confusion.

  “That originally the animals only ate plants.”

  “Oh, yeah I believe that. It’s what my grandfather said.” Noah scratched his head. “Plus, it’s hard to believe that the Creator would make a world where one creature needs to kill another.”

  “Then why’d He make them with teeth like this? This monster seems to be designed to kill and eat flesh.”

  Noah shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe those teeth are useful for eating fruit with thick shells, like melons, or maybe He changed the beasts when He cursed the ground.”

  “I have a different theory,” Aterre paused thoughtfully. “I think that these beasts are gradually becoming more vicious. My mother told me many years ago that tarocs used to eat fruit. She said her grandmother remembers a time when they had one as a pet, and it only ate plants. Then one day they saw a carcass in the field, and several of the birds were eating the dead animal. That’s the first time she’d ever seen anything like that.”

  “Interesting.”

  Aterre held the lantern to their left and took a few steps in that direction. “This might work. Let’s head over here to see if we can find a good place to make our camp.”

  Chapter 10

  Thankful for the change of scenery and climate, Noah breathed in the moist air and gazed at the vast array of vegetation around him as he and Aterre entered a dense tropical forest. They had spent the last week fighting through tall grasses and muddy trails of a wildly beautiful prairie after leaving the forest where they had encountered the dead earth shaker. On their third day traveling in the open plains, a heavy rainstorm drenched them and inhibited their travel.

  While this new habitat offered a measure of relief from the elements, it was not more conducive to a faster pace. As the cart slowed to a stop, Noah jumped off to assist Aterre in removing yet another overgrowth in the path. While he hacked at the obstruction, he noticed the animals were different here too. Instead of an abundance of small, furry creatures skittering across the branches, green and brown-scaled reptiles sidled over the ground and in the trees. He ran his fingers along a leaf that was as long as his arm. “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

  Aterre nodded. “We have trees like this where I’m from. And I also saw some while I was on the run.”

  “Did you take this trail during your journey?”

  “So far none of it looks familiar. I tried to stay off the roads as much as possible and away from the river. I think I was probably farther west than we are.”

  Noah took a drink. “I can’t believe you traveled all this way on your own. I would’ve been bored out of my mind. Except for that family on their way to Birtzun, we haven’t seen anyone.”

  Aterre slowly turned the large tooth in his hand. Noah had wrapped its root in leather, and Aterre spent each evening honing one edge to create a dagger. “I hope they heeded our warnings about that creature.” He paused before continuing. “Sometimes I can’t believe I fled so far either. I guess I was so terrified at first and then so heartsore that I didn’t realize how far I’d gone and how many weeks had passed.”

  Noah cuffed him on the shoulder as they started moving again. “I’m glad you’re here. I may be sore and tired, but this trip’s been amazing so far. I’ve always wondered what the world looked like beyond Iri Sana.”

  “Just wait until you look upon the Great Sea.”

  “What’s it like?”

  “I don’t know really know how to explain it. Crystal blue water as far as the eye can see, and when the sun rises above it in the early morning. ”Aterre shook his head. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “And the sea creatures.” His eyes lit up with excitement. “You won’t believe this. Some of the great fish are even bigger than the earth shakers. Much bigger. And then there are the supergliders.”

  Noah cocked his head sideways. “Supergliders?”

  “Yeah, they are sort of like giant birds without any feathers. I’ll bet their wingspans can be over 15 cubits.”

  “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m serious. I told you that you wouldn’t believe me.”

  Noah stared at a bizarrely scaled creature, with eyes protruding from the side of its head. It clutched a branch a few cubits away. Suddenly, its colors changed to match the background and Noah nearly lost sight of it. “No way,” he said to himself.

  “Really, I’m being serious,” Aterre said.

  Noah laughed. “No, it isn’t that. Would you believe me if I told you that I’ve seen an animal that changes colors?”

  “What? Now you’re making up stories to try to outdo mine?”

  Noah pulled Taht to a stop. “Think so? Look at this.” He pointed to the odd creature still resting on the limb.

  The cubit-long reptile slowly stretched one of its front legs forward and regripped the branch. One eye remained still while the other moved around, looking forward, up, and then down.

  “That is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen,” Aterre said.

  “The Creator’s artistry never ceases to amaze me. Keep watching.”

  Several moments later, the green near its belly turned orange and then purple.

  Aterre laughed. “Crazy.”

 
“Isn’t it? I guess maybe I’ll believe you about those supergliders and great fish.”

  The reptile focused its eyes ahead, opened its mouth, and sluggishly stuck out a strange-looking tongue. Without warning, the tongue shot forward and snatched a bug off a leaf more than a span away. Instantly, the bug was in the creature’s mouth.

  Noah and Aterre looked at each other in disbelief. Aterre put his hand on the top of his head. “That’s incredible.”

  “It really is, but I guess it’s not just the large animals that are changing their diets.” Noah pulled lightly on Taht’s rein. “Let’s go girl.”

  * * * * *

  Throughout the rest of the day, they continued on the trail, clearing some occasional vegetation, and marveling at many colorful birds and exotic creatures they had never seen before. As the sky grew darker, they arrived at a large clearing. About a dozen modest wood-and-reed homes formed a circle in the middle. Next to each of these buildings was a small garden. A taller and much larger wooden barn stood on the far side of the village. Several children laughed while they chased each other in a dirt field spotted with grass.

  “Hello, travelers.”

  Startled by the voice, Noah turned and saw a middle-aged man strolling toward them. “Peace to you, sir.” He looked different than anyone Noah had encountered before. His skin was light, and his thinning hair reminded Noah of the sand along the Hiddekel. And what color are his eyes? Gray? Blue? A knee-length garment hung about his waist, but his torso was bare — at least of clothing. His skin sported a variety of intricate designs and images.

  “Ah, if you are men of peace, then I welcome you to Zakar.” The man placed his fingers on his forehead and bowed slightly in greeting. As he straightened, his uniquely colored eyes met Noah’s in a way that seemed to measure his character. “My name is Varelk.” He motioned toward the huts. “I’m one of the elders in our village.”

  Aterre returned the bow. “Greetings, Varelk. It’s good to meet you. My name’s Aterre. Indeed, we mean you no harm.”

  Noah also greeted the man. “And I’m Noah, son of Lamech of Iri Sana.”

  Varelk’s gaze drifted up as if he were thinking deeply. He shook his head. “Iri Sana? That’s not familiar to me, but from your bearing, I would guess it’s north of here.”

  “Yes, sir,” Noah said. “We’ve been on foot for the past week, and before that was a three-day journey by boat.”

  “No wonder I’ve never heard of it. You’ve come a long way.” He put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Would you care to lodge here for the night? We’ll have a small celebration to welcome you.”

  “We appreciate that, but don’t go out of your way,” Aterre said. “We don’t require anything special.”

  Varelk laughed. “Nonsense, my boy. Around here, we look for excuses to celebrate. Come.”

  Noah and Aterre met at least two dozen citizens as they gathered around a pile of wood that was set up for a bonfire on the outskirts of the village. The people all shared Varelk’s light-colored features, and the men bore similar markings on their arms and shoulders.

  A young boy, who Noah estimated to be a little younger than Misha, stared at Aterre’s knife, his blue eyes wide. He slowly reached out to touch the long tooth that hung from Aterre’s belt.

  Aterre spun and put a hand up. “Whoa. Careful, child.”

  The boy yanked his arm back and turned to run away.

  “Wait. What’s your name?”

  As he tilted his head down, the child’s curly, light-brown hair dropped over his eyes. “Elam.”

  “Hmm, I’ve never met an Elam before.” Aterre pulled the knife from his belt and held it out to the boy. “You wanted to see this?”

  Elam nodded and wrapped his fingers around the handle. He held it up and inspected both sides of the large tooth. “Grandfather, look!”

  Varelk stepped to Elam’s side. He carefully took the knife, examined it, and looked at Aterre. “Where did you get this?”

  “Near a dead earth shaker.” Aterre motioned to Noah. “We never saw the creature that it came from. We heard it roar, but fled before it came back.”

  “Yeah, we saw some three-toed footprints that were about one-and-a-half cubits long,” Noah said. “Do you know what it was?”

  Varelk grinned and tousled Elam’s hair with his free hand. “My young friends, if I’m not mistaken, this is the tooth of a grendec.”

  “A grendec.” Aterre took the knife as Varelk handed it back to him. “We just called it a dagger tooth.”

  The older man snorted. “That’s a fitting name, indeed. Grendecs are terrifying. They stand more than ten cubits high and are about as long as our barn.” Varelk motioned toward the large building with his head. “They have a mouth full of those daggers, but I’ve never heard of one of them attacking a person before. So you probably would’ve been safe if it saw you.”

  “That’s a relief,” Aterre said. “Can you imagine having to face one?”

  Noah shivered and shook his head. “It makes me wonder why the Creator would make something so fearsome.”

  Varelk gave a knowing smile. “I used to wonder the same thing. I concluded that He made creatures like that to humble us when we realize how powerful He is.”

  Just then, an elderly man moved near the center of the gathering and raised his hands. “Your attention, please!” His long white beard bounced up and down as he spoke. When the crowd quieted, he said, “We are delighted to celebrate tonight in honor of our two guests, Noah and Aterre. I am Mehul, and I welcome you on behalf of the Zakari.” As Varelk had done, Mehul placed fingers on his forehead and gave a slight bow. Then he turned to face the other side of the circle. “Let us thank the Creator for His blessings.”

  With the exception of Mehul, the Zakari dropped to their knees. Noah and Aterre glanced at each other and knelt.

  “O mighty Creator,” Mehul said. “We thank You for giving us life and a home. And we thank You for our two guests tonight. Please grant them safe passage to Iri Geshem. We ask for Your blessing on this evening. Teach us Your ways.”

  Immediately the Zakari repeated in unison, “Teach us Your ways.” Then they stretched forward, putting their forearms and the right side of their faces on the ground.

  Aterre looked at Noah, his eyes full of confusion. Noah shrugged and made a quick gesture by tilting his head, urging Aterre to follow their example. While unsure why the Zakari struck such a pose, he didn’t want to offend. Noah held the side of his face to the ground for several awkward moments before closing his eyes and offering a silent prayer. Creator, thank You for protecting us and providing for us on our journey. And thank You for the hospitality of the Zakari. Please bless them for their generosity.

  “Thank You, Creator,” Mehul said. The Zakari repeated his words.

  Noah opened his eyes and realized the prayer had ended when he saw people getting to their feet. He tapped Aterre’s shoulder and stood.

  Varelk stepped in front of them and motioned to a large board, laden with food, being carried by two young men into the circle. They set it on two sizable tree stumps that reached a little higher than their waists. “Please. Our guests eat first.”

  Noah and Aterre each filled a dish with fare from the makeshift table. Noah recognized most of the food options, and decided to select samples of those he had not seen before. Once everyone had filled their bowls, the board was moved away. Meanwhile, a plump man eagerly grabbed a torch and lit the pile of wood.

  Seated on one of the many logs placed around the fire, Noah enjoyed his meal while he and Aterre talked with Varelk and other people of the village. As the evening wore on, mothers took their children back to their homes. Out of the corner of his eye, Noah saw Elam slowly get off his perch on top of a high stump as if not wanting to leave so soon. His mother waited patiently for him before leading the way to their hut. She, along with many other women, soon rejoined the festivities.

  A steady beat caught Noah’s attention. He spied a tall, thin man tappin
g a small drum. A woman, whom Noah guessed was the man’s wife, set down her dish and picked up an instrument formed from a plant stem. She placed her fingers across some holes on the top of the reed, and blew into one end, producing a high-pitched, yet melodic sound. Soon another woman picked up a ringed object with several thin metal pieces inserted into it. She rattled it and clapped it against her hand in rhythm with the drum beat. The three musicians marched around the fire, prompting others to join with them.

  Varelk rose and smiled. “Do you boys like to dance?” He hurried into the moving line that had formed behind the musicians.

  “Count me in.” Aterre jumped up and followed Varelk. “Come on, Noah.”

  Noah held up his hands. “Let me watch first.”

  Mehul approached. “Mind if I join you?”

  Noah gestured to Aterre’s recently vacated spot. “Please do.”

  The village elder gingerly took a seat. He looked at the celebrants dancing and yelling around the fire and laughed. “I’m a little too old for that.”

  Noah smiled. “Thank you for your hospitality. I’m delighted to know that your people worship the Creator.”

  “Indeed we do. That’s one of the reasons we live so far into the jungle.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My older brother, Varelk’s father, founded this village when I was a child. He said that the people of our city were no longer concerned about following the Creator, so he led a small group to this place so that their children could be raised to know the ways of the Most High.”

  Noah shook his head. “People turning away from the Creator — that’s becoming more common.” He stared at the fire and allowed the leaping flames to carry his thoughts from one idea to the next before settling on his next question. “Where did your people come from?”

  Mehul pointed across the clearing. “A city called Bothar. It’s a three-day journey west through the forest. I’ve heard things have only gotten worse since we left. Some of our young families have moved back there. I fear they’ve rejected the Creator and are following Sepha.”