by Brian Godawa
She jerked around to see Caleb standing at the clearing edge.
She yelped, “Father!” and ran to his arms.
He caught her and embraced her so tight, she told him she could not breathe. So he released her.
He noticed a figure standing just inside the shadows of the forest like a sentry watching over her.
It was Othniel. Caleb had asked him to set a guard over her. He had not anticipated it would be Othniel himself. But he should have. Othniel had been watching over her for most of her life.
Achsah interrupted his thoughts, “I knew Yahweh would deliver you! I knew it. I was praying for you.”
“I know you were. Thank you, my little turtle dove.”
“Where is mother?” she asked. “And Joshua?”
Caleb’s countenance dropped. “I am sorry, child, but we were betrayed. They did not release them to us.”
Achsah’s face went dark. It was as if she went into mild shock.
“They are going to die?” she said.
“No. They are still alive, and we will still have time to save them.”
Even he did not believe his own words.
Chapter 57
Sheshai’s hands were chained to the rock wall of the prison area. Rahab stood a safe distance away, as the long-necked giant commented on Caleb’s victory.
“I am impressed with your Karabu gibbor,” said Sheshai. “My people respect power and fighting skill. I cannot but admire Caleb ben Jephunneh.”
Joshua said, “Yet you said we were to be returned with his victory.”
“Yes,” said Sheshai. “And I would have released you as soon as I ascended the throne. I seek to be a ruler of my word, regardless of the loss it may bring upon me. But my brother is not so honorable.”
Rahab remembered that one, the one she knew whose unbridled temper was dangerous.
Sheshai continued, “And unfortunately, my brother was also general of our army. So when he pulled a coup on me, I had little choice but to submit to his superior power.”
“What will he do to you?”
“There is only one fate for a deposed claimant to the throne: Execution. And the manner in which it is done is excruciatingly painful and humiliating.”
Rahab could not believe how nonchalant the giant was about his blood betrayal and impending doom. But then again, warrior cults were so hardened by their violence that they left little room for sentimental emotions.
They were interrupted by the arrival of a company of four guards.
The lead guard took out some keys and placed them in the door to unlock it. He said, “Time for dinner, Habiru. Only, for this meal, you are the main course.” The others with him chuckled.
Before he could turn the key, the four guards were suddenly overtaken by another group of four Anakim. These were not reinforcements, but rather saboteurs. They chopped down one guard before they could realize what was happening. The guard pulled the key back out of the lock and turned to fight the attacking Anakim.
These giants were fierce, and close quarters only seemed to amplify their brutality. Swords clanged with fury, and body slammed against rock with rumbling as Joshua turned to Sheshai for an explanation.
Sheshai said, “They are part of a contingent loyal to me.”
Joshua thought that was not particularly of any advantage to him and Rahab, since both brothers wanted them dead.
What should I do? He thought. What could I do?
Rahab clung to him in fear and Joshua had to suppress his instinct to respond to her.
The fight waged on. Two were dead on both sides. Two were left.
Their swords clanged with rapidity and ferocity.
And then it was down to one on one. And swords were on the ground.
The last two Anakim were wrestling against the prison bars that kept the hostages. Sheshai’s soldier was on top and pummeling the other guard bloody.
But he did not notice the other guard grab hold of his dagger in his belt.
The other guard plunged it underneath his opponent’s sternum.
That guard then made his last dying move, snapping his enemy’s neck with a twisting jerk of his hands.
The other guard went dead limp.
But Sheshai’s guard stumbled back, glanced at his commander Sheshai with an apologetic look and fell back dead to the ground.
They were all dead. The guards had fought to the death. But because of that death battle, now no one would be releasing them.
“I have it!” said Joshua. “I have the key!”
He had reached through the bars and had retrieved it from the dead guard lying against those bars.
Seshai said, “I can help you escape.”
Joshua and Rahab gave Sheshai skeptical looks.
“You will never find your way out of here without being discovered. But I can take you to a secret tunnel that leads you out of the city down the back cliff.”
It suddenly struck Joshua that this whole thing could have been a ruse to gain their confidence.
But that was impossible. As Sheshai could do whatever he wanted to hostages anyway.
Joshua said, “And why would we trust you when we are the prize of both your pursuits?”
“I have nothing left. I will be executed. If helping you keeps me alive to overcome my traitor brother, then I will gladly trade one priority for another. Revenge is far more important to me than your deaths.”
Joshua looked long and hard at Sheshai weighing his options.
Sheshai added. “Do not get me wrong, Habiru. After I release you and regain the throne, I will hunt you both down and kill you. But only after I have returned your favor of help.”
It was the frankness of this giant’s intent that persuaded Joshua to take the risk. It was strictly a bargain with the enemy of a mutual enemy. Power knows no loyalty, only victory.
And Joshua had no other way out of this city of Serpentine Seed.
Joshua opened the cell door and said to Rahab, “Gather the weapons and put them in the far corner.”
Joshua kept the guard captain’s dagger for himself. It was almost the size of a sword for him.
Rahab responded obediently as Joshua warily unlocked the chain on one of Sheshai’s hands. Then he handed the key to Sheshai and backed down to guard the access to the weapons as Sheshai finished unlocking his other hand.
Sheshai said, “I will walk in front of you, so you can keep your eye on me.”
He finished unlocking the other hand.
Joshua tightened his grip on the dagger sword.
Rahab stepped back placing a protective hand on her belly.
Sheshai said, “We are going to the catacombs beneath the gilgal of death on the top of the ridge. Follow me.”
They did—with great caution.
Chapter 58
Philistines were master ship builders. They were part of the Sea Peoples who had settled the coastlands of Canaan. They had come from the distant Aegean islands of Caphtor, across the Great Sea of the Mediterranean. Their Mycenaean culture was overrun and they fled to Canaan to rebuild their civilization. Over the years, they had grown from their original settlement in Gerar to control a pentapolis of five coastal cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Gath, Ekron, and Ashkelon.
The principal god of the Philistines was Dagon. He was half-fish, half-humanoid, and was a god of storm. His cult center was near the shoreline of Ashkelon where the boats were docked for their journeys of trade, diplomacy, and battle.
The four archangels, Mikael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel had disguised themselves as monk priests on a pilgrimage to Mount Sapan. They had boarded a ship to follow the coast up north. They wore long billowy cloaks that hid their armament and weapons beneath.
When they settled on board, they noticed several other unusual ships at port that were loading unusual cargo and sailors. The ships were larger and heavier, built for long distance voyage, and the sailors were giants. Several ships of Anakim and several of Rephaim. The angels overheard some of their sail
ing companions explain that the ships were going to sail to the end of the western horizon where the sea meets the mountains that held up the firmament above them. They were exploring for distant islands, but the local feelings were that they were also fleeing from the destruction of the evil Habiru that had invaded their land.
The Philistine ship that the angels were on was a shorter distance sailing vessel, sleek and parabolic in shape. And they were fast. They had traveled the couple hundred miles of shoreline in a mere two days.
The angels could see Mount Sapan on the Syrian coastline.
“Thank Yahweh, for this strong headwind,” said Uriel to his companions. “I do not think I could stand the stench of these Philistines and their rotting fish for much longer.”
“Hush,” said Gabriel. “Do you have to complain about every petty inconvenience?”
“Gabriel,” said Uriel, “Please do not tell me you delight in the repugnant odor of these Dagon worshippers.”
Mikael was not listening to their spat, because his attention was concentrated on the two priests of Dagon at the back of the ship trying not to be noticed.
They were bald, shaven of all hair including eyebrows, and were tattooed to look like their skin was scales. They looked like human fish hybrids. Of course they were not, but it was their way of identifying with their deity.
But they also carried burlap sacks that looked like they were full of vegetables or something.
Mikael had noticed them earlier making surreptitious glances at his fellow band of travelers that warranted Mikael’s suspicion.
Mikael had gestured to Raphael who joined him in observation while the other two bickered.
“You know, Uriel,” said Gabriel, “You have not bathed in quite some time, so you are quite sour-smelling yourself if I may say so.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” said Uriel, “I did not notice my own odor because yours was so overwhelmingly noxious and rancid.”
When the Dagon priests opened their sacks and poured their contents overboard it could have been like any other passengers dumping refuse into the water. But after a few moments the priests then ran and jumped off the ship into the water to swim away from them.
Mikael and Raphael had figured out what was happening.
Mikael, said, “Hold your tongues, scrappers, we have company.”
“Very large and ferocious company,” added Raphael.
What the two of them had figured out was that the angels were not successful in concealing their identities to the Philistines in Ashkelon. Dagon must have sensed their presence and sent spies to follow them. And he had evidently also given them magic elements to cast in the waters. Elements that would draw something to the ship, something they did not want to be around to experience with the angels.
Mikael and Raphael ran to the edge of the ship and looked in the water. There was only one thing they could think of that was terrifying enough to warrant such fear.
Then Raphael saw it. “Leviathan!” he shouted.
But it was too late. The shadowy form that had been speeding toward them from the depths was already upon them.
It broke out of the water and landed on the hundred-foot long sea vessel, smashing it to smithereens in mere seconds. Leviathan was over four hundred feet long and hundreds of tons of pure sea dragon.
The angels and other passengers catapulted into the air a hundred feet away and landed in the water.
One simple collision with the beast and the ship was reduced to splinters and floating debris in the water.
And now, the sea dragon of chaos was circling back for a second pass.
Chapter 59
Sheshai had made good on his promise to Joshua. He had led them to the surface of the palace, killing a couple of guards on the way, and still did not pick up any weapons to fight Joshua.
He had led them through the palace and upper city streets, which were virtually empty because all available hands were at the walls preparing to fight the Israelites.
They made their way up to the gilgal of megaliths at the top of the hill. The gilgal consisted of concentric rings of huge stones that aligned with star constellations in astronomical precision to create a microcosm of the universe. Rahab was very familiar with this astral worship from her days with the serpent clan of Gilgal Rephaim. It was all too familiar to her and made her nauseous at the sight. But she pressed on.
A large tumulus mound was at the center of the circle. This was an altar for excarnation of the dead, but also an entrance to the catacombs of tombs below. After the bones of the deceased were picked clean by vultures, they were placed in ossuaries in the catacombs.
Sheshai had explained that the catacombs included a secret tunnel pathway that led down the cliff edge at the back of the city. If discovered by the enemy, it would provide stealth access to the city at an otherwise unscalable cliff wall. Soldiers could only pass through the tunnel one at a time, but it would still be a secret passage for a small strike force of assassins.
The tumulus entrance was guarded by ten human servants and one Anakite warrior because all the Anakim were needed for the battle royal that was unfolding in the valley below. The likelihood of Israelites discovering the secret tunnel at the bottom of the cliff was virtually impossible, but this squad would serve as an early warning in case the impossible did happen. What they did not anticipate was that Israelites would be entering the tunnel from their city side guided by the rightful king of Kiriath-arba.
When the Anakite saw Sheshai approach, he stood to attention with the human servants. Sheshai counted on the fact that word of the coup and Sheshai’s imprisonment would certainly not have been transmitted to this incidental outpost, so he had the element of surprise.
Joshua and Rahab had circled around the long way by tracing the edge of the cliff to the back of the tumulus. Rahab looked down hundreds of feet below and got dizzy. She backed away from the edge and walked closer to Joshua as they approached the backside of the tumulus.
On the front side, Sheshai had arrived and was greeted by the Anakite. “My king, what need have you to visit this humble gilgal?”
“I have intelligence that the Israelites may have found the tunnel entrance below.”
“Shall I alert general Talmai to bring back up forces?”
I was right, thought Sheshai, he is not aware of the coup.
Sheshai relaxed and tried to figure out a way to disarm the soldier and kill him as he peered into the tumulus.
But unfortunately, that lowering of Sheshai’s guard was all the soldier needed to draw his dagger and plunge it into the back of Sheshai.
The soldier had deceived him. He had been briefed on the coup and was loyal to Talmai. He knew he needed to trick Sheshai or he would not have had a chance against the mighty warrior king.
Sheshai yelled and turned to face the soldier who now drew his sword.
The servants backed off in fear.
But they were not prepared for Joshua who got the jump on them and hacked down three of them before they even fought back.
The Anakite swung wildly at Sheshai, striking stone as Sheshai dodged and darted from the deadly blade. His back was searing in pain and leaking precious lifeblood from his kidney, but his senses and strength had been jolted by the instinct for survival. He finally found his opening to grab the sword hand of the soldier and struggle for control of the blade.
Seven armed servants against Joshua was really not a fair fight. Joshua dispatched them all within mere moments, fueled by the Spirit of Yahweh and bent on bringing back Rahab to his best and truest friend.
Sheshai could have dispatched his opponent in mere moments under normal circumstances. But his kidney wound had weakened him considerably and he stumbled on a rock, falling to the ground with the soldier on top of him.
He tried to hold the blade back, but the soldier was slowly pushing it toward Sheshai’s heart. Sheshai’s strength was bleeding out of him onto the ground and the soldier would soon end it all.
But befo
re the blade could pierce Sheshai’s chest, another blade swung high, hard, and furious, lopping off the soldier’s head.
Sheshai pushed the headless corpse off of him.
“That makes twice,” said Joshua.
But Sheshai said nothing. Instead, he stared past Joshua at a frightening sight.
Joshua turned to see Rahab held at knifepoint by the last human servant. Joshua had lost track and had not killed all seven servants after all. He had only killed six.
After all this, thought Joshua, thwarted by a lowly servant.
But then that lowly servant yelled out, “Please do not kill me! I am a loyal servant of the lord, my king, Sheshai!”
Joshua and Sheshai breathed a sigh of relief. They had come so close to failure.
The servant let Rahab go.
She ran to Joshua and embraced him.
Sheshai said, “Well done, my faithful servant. But I need your help for one more thing.”
He waved him over and the servant ran and bowed to one knee.
Sheshai grunted with pain grasping his back. He could not bend down. “Please, stand up,” he said.
The servant stood.
Sheshai cupped his hands affectionately on the servant’s face to give him a better look. The servant was trembling.
“What is your name?” said Sheshai.
“Kirum.”
“Kirum, I thank you for your service and for your salvation of this woman. Please accept my warmest gratitude at your courage.”
Kirum smiled. He had pleased his king.
And then that king broke Kirum’s neck.
Rahab screamed and clutched onto Joshua. She yelped, “Why did you do that? He helped us!”
“He saw me help you. That knowledge would become a weapon of blackmail for my enemies during the rest of my reign. It was necessary.”
“You are ruthless!” she cried. “A savage barbarian!”
“Ruthless, I am,” said Sheshai. “But barbarism is in the eye of the interpreter. Quickly. We have not much time.”
He led Joshua and Rahab through the catacombs until he found the tunnel that would lead them back down to the valley floor.