by Tim Chaffey
“So you’re happy?” She spoke softly into the folds of cloth draped over his shoulder.
“I couldn’t be happier.” He raised her chin, and she saw a glimmer in his eye that spoke of mischief. “So does this mean I’m going to have to put up with more of this kind of behavior for a while now?” He wiped her eyes and cheeks gently.
Emzara worked to form her lips into a small pout, which wobbled as she struggled to hold back the grin that wanted to burst forth like the morning sun. “And if you are?”
“Worth it.” Noah peeked at his father-in-law. “Well I certainly didn’t expect to come over tonight and get this news. I was just going to tell you about goings on at the shipyard.”
“That can wait.” Ara placed his hands on the couple, creating a loose circle. “I’ve been thinking about this event for some time now. And I want you to have this place. We’ll trade. A small house like yours is perfect for an old widower, but with the 40 or so children you’ll be having, this will be a much better home for you and all my grandchildren.”
“Only 40?” Noah tipped his head to the side and winked at Emzara.
“One at a time. We both come from unusually small families.” She reached out to her father. “I can’t take your home from you.”
“You’re not taking it. I’m giving it. Trust me, I’ve thought about this for a while, long before meeting this fellow.”
Noah turned serious. “It’s an amazing gift. I — ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem like enough.”
“Your care for my daughter is more than enough.” Ara paused before adding playfully. “Think about it. If you didn’t take her off my hands, this place would belong to her someday anyway.”
“Hey!” Emzara placed her hands on her hips.
Noah suddenly reached toward her midsection. “We can’t wait to meet you, little one. You’re a wonderful gift from our Creator.”
Placing one hand over Noah’s, Emzara used her other one to grab Ara’s hand and situate it near hers and Noah’s. “Amen.”
“What’s this? It’s too small to be a community dance.” Aterre’s sudden entrance broke the close circle, or rather expanded it.
“Aterre!” Emzara extended her arm.
Aterre picked up one of the fresh bread rounds that sat forgotten on the low table. He waved it in the air as he strode over to the group. “Why do you all look as guilty as if you’ve been caught taking one of these when you’re not supposed to?”
The group stared silently until Noah cleared his throat. “Well, maybe it’s because I just learned that I’m a father.”
Aterre looked quickly back and forth between the couple for confirmation. “You’re serious?”
“Yes.” Emzara looked down, feeling her cheeks heat up. But then both she and Noah were smashed into a big hug from their friend and everyone was laughing.
“That’s wonderful!” He released them. “When?”
“Well,” she smoothed the front of her wrapped dress, “it could be anywhere from six to eight whole moons.”
Aterre shook his head before clasping his hand firmly on Noah’s shoulder. When he didn’t speak, Emzara wondered if he was holding back tears. “Well, when he comes,” he said at last, the mischief in his voice belying her suspicions, “I’ll have plenty of stories to tell him about his father.”
“Or she.” Ara said as he wrapped an arm around his daughter.
“Oh, I’ll be sure she knows too.” Aterre took a large bite of the bread.
“We’ll have to see that you’re far away from here by the time our child is old enough to listen to the yarns you’ll spin about me. You’d probably claim to be a faster swimmer.”
Emzara grinned as she recalled that special evening.
“But I am,” Aterre mumbled with a mouth full of food.
“Or that I ran terrified from a grendec on our journey.”
“You tried, but the pace you call running doesn’t really qualify. As I recall, you shivered behind Taht for protection.”
Emzara laughed, delighted by the banter.
“See? Your stories are so far from reality. My little boy” — Noah glanced at Ara and emphasized his next words — “or girl, needs to know the truth about how strong and handsome and brave I really am. We can’t have Uncle Aterre around too much.”
Aterre’s demeanor suddenly calmed, puzzling Emzara. “Well, you may get your wish. Because it looks like I’ll be moving to Cada’s farm after the harvest.”
All three turned in unison as he scratched his head. “I asked Jitzel to be my wife tonight, and she agreed. I’ve purchased a plot of land from her father, and we’ll be married once the harvest is in.”
Emzara squealed, clapping her hands together in excitement. “This is such great news!”
“You finally got up the nerve to ask her?” Noah asked.
“At least I didn’t need your help to do it like you did with Zara. That’s another story I’ll get to tell your child.”
“Well there will be plenty of versions to each story with you, me, Baba, and Noah retelling them.”
“At least there will be three of us telling the truth about me.” Noah sank back into a cushion.
“Hmm, I don’t know about that.” Emzara flashed him a playful glance as she joined him. “I might have to come up with a version of my own.”
Aterre threw his head back, and his infectious laughter compelled the rest of them to join in. Emzara nestled into Noah’s side, enjoying the camaraderie and joy that the fellowship of this group brought. She peeked at her father.
Ara, beaming with joy, caught her look. He winked and mouthed the words “I love you.”
Chapter 9
Whistling a tune, Noah lifted the large hatchet from its hook on the wall of the shipyard’s supply room. He walked out of the building and across the beach. The half moon and stars provided more light than the pinkish glow on the eastern horizon signaling the coming morning. The ever-present lapping of water on the shore blended with squawks of seabirds searching for their first meal of a new day.
Usually asleep at this time, Noah rose early after tossing and turning throughout the night, unable to contain his excitement over the announcement of Emzara’s pregnancy. He had spent a long while watching his wife rest peacefully while he imagined what their child would be like. Finally, he gave up on any illusion of slumber and decided to get an early start at work. Despite the lack of rest, Noah still felt fully alert. Creator, thank You for giving us a child. Help us to raise him, Noah chuckled softly, or her, to love and serve You.
He set the heavy tool down and started to turn back to get more supplies when a faint orange glow farther down the beach arrested his attention. Is he back? Moving quietly toward the glimmering light, Noah smiled when he heard the unmistakable sounds of the blacksmith’s forge. He hurried to the building and peeked through a thin gap between two boards in the outer wall. Tubal-Cain, back to the door, was bent low feeding chunks of charcoal to the furnace. Noah gently pushed the door open just enough to sneak through it. Stealthily, he entered the shop and tip-toed across the floor until he stood a few cubits behind the blacksmith.
“Hey!”
Tubal-Cain jolted. He scrambled to catch his balance and spun around, wielding a metal bar above his head.
Noah held his hands up. “Whoa! Easy. It’s just me.”
Tubal-Cain paused for a moment before recognition spread across his face. With a deep breath, he set the tool down. “Noah.” The blacksmith stepped forward and embraced him. “It’s great to see you. What are you doing here so early?”
“That’s what I was going to ask you. I didn’t realize you were back.”
“We made it home late last night.” Tubal-Cain leaned against a worktable. “I needed to check on the shop since I haven’t been around for a few weeks.”
“Everything look alright to you? From what I’ve seen, your apprentices have been doing a fine job.”
“I think so.”
“So, how was it?” No
ah asked.
“Our trip?” Tubal-Cain smiled broadly. “Zain was right. That place is the most beautiful spot on earth. You’ll have to take Emzara there sometime. There was a massive waterfall that you could walk behind, and the trees.” He stretched his arms out wide. “Noah, some of them had trunks bigger than this shop, and they must’ve been more than 200 cubits tall.”
“Sounds amazing.” Noah glanced to the side. “But you missed all the excitement around here.”
“What excitement?”
“Your father showed up. In fact, you just missed him. He left yesterday.”
Tubal-Cain’s smile faded. “What did he want?”
Noah sat down and filled Tubal-Cain in on the details, carefully avoiding the disturbing specifics he had heard from Garun the day before.
“I wish he’d stayed for one more day.” Tubal-Cain bit his lip and stared at the wall for a moment. “You know, we were never very close, but it still would’ve been good to see him.”
Noah gazed out the window at the back of the shop. Even though this angle hid the water, the early sunlight revealed a blue sky with a few wispy clouds. A playful smile crossed his lips. “That wasn’t the most exciting news though.”
Tubal-Cain cocked his head. “Really? What was?”
Noah shrugged. “I guess I should tell you before Aterre does. Let’s just say that it won’t be long before Baby Noah is here.”
“Baby Noah?” His eyes shot wide open. “You mean Zara’s . . . that’s great!” Tubal-Cain enthusiastically clapped Noah’s shoulder.
Wincing a bit, Noah tried to conceal the discomfort caused by the hard hit. “I guess we might have Baby Emzara instead.”
“That’s fantastic. I can’t wait to tell Adira.” He paused. “No, I’m sure Zara will want to do that.”
“I think you’re right. Maybe the two of you can join us tonight and Em can tell . . .”
A gut-wrenching wail rang out in the distance.
Tubal-Cain looked around. “What was that?”
Noah jumped to his feet and bolted for the door. With Tubal-Cain right on his heels, Noah raced down the beach road toward the sound of the cry. As he rushed past the shipyard office, he spotted Emzara staggering down the path from Ara’s house. “Em!”
She glanced up, dropped to her knees, and screamed. Her hands and robe were dappled with blood and tears streamed down her face.
Noah’s heart sank. He sprinted to her and slid to his knees, catching her as she collapsed in his arms. “What’s wrong?”
She dug her fingernails into his back and gasped for air. “They . . . he’s . . .” She moaned in agony, unable to force another word out.
“This blood. Are you hurt? Is it the baby?” Helplessness filled Noah’s body. He held her out in front of him as he checked her for any injury. Finding none, he brushed aside a stray piece of hair from her eyes. She hid her face in his chest, sobbing. He looked up in confusion at Tubal-Cain.
With concern etched across his face, Tubal-Cain said, “I’ll check it out.” He ran toward Ara’s house.
Emzara pulled back a little and her terror-stricken eyes met Noah’s momentarily. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly buried her face into his shoulder, her body wracked by sobs.
Holding her tight and unsure of what else to do, he stroked her head softly as she attempted to gather herself.
At the sound of hurried footsteps behind him, Noah turned his head. “Nmir.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
The old woman knelt beside them and rested a hand on Emzara’s shoulder.
Emzara slowly turned toward Nmir. She let go of Noah and her lower lip trembled. “Ba . . .” Whimpering and shaking her head, Emzara fell into Nmir’s arms.
Tubal-Cain stepped out of the house, his face downcast.
Noah stood and ran to him. “What happened? Where’s Ara?”
Wiping his eyes with a blood-streaked hand, Tubal-Cain bit his lip and looked away.
His mind racing to make sense of the anguish of Emzara and Tubal-Cain, a miserable thought sprang into Noah’s mind. “No. Please, God, no.”
Tubal-Cain turned back to Noah and shook his head. “He’s dead.” He held up his hand to show the blood. “Someone killed him.”
Noah’s stomach contorted into a knot and he bent down, putting his hands on his knees. Through hot tears he glanced back at Emzara, who was being cradled by Nmir.
Tubal-Cain put a hand on Noah’s back. “That’s not all.”
Noah groaned from deep within his being.
Tubal-Cain pursed his lips and looked to the sky as he stammered and covered his mouth. His grief-stricken eyes met Noah’s and he voiced the name on Noah’s mind. “Aterre too.”
“No!” Breathing seemed impossible as he dropped to his hands and knees. Overwhelmed by sorrow and pain, he felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest. Time seemed to slow. The milknut trees blurred in his vision, and everything went silent except for the throbbing pulse inside his ears. He heaved, but only air came up.
His gaze locked onto Ara’s front door. He reached for it as his grief turned to anger. Forcing himself to his feet, he balled his fists as his anger turned to rage. Seething through clenched teeth, Noah started for Ara’s house. “I need to see.”
Tubal-Cain blocked his way. “Don’t. Go to your wife.”
Noah plowed into him, but the blacksmith stood his ground and wrapped his brawny arms around him.
“Let me go.” Noah thrashed against him. “Let go.” He twisted, but could not break free. “Let me . . .” Noah moaned and slumped in Tubal-Cain’s grasp, his fury draining.
“There’s nothing you can do for them, but Emzara needs you, and you need her.” Tubal-Cain let him go.
Noah nodded and shuffled over to Emzara. He lowered himself to the ground next to her.
Emzara let go of Nmir. She hugged Noah and they wept together.
Chapter 10
Eat this now, both of you.”
Noah groggily lifted his head off Emzara’s shoulder. He blinked, trying to orient himself. How long has it been since. . . . Unable to finish the sentence in his mind, he glanced at the sun, which was well past the peak of its path.
“Eat.” Nmir held out a platter filled with bread slabs topped with honey and dried vinefruit. The commanding tone of her voice pulled him from what seemed like relentless waves of thought threatening to pummel him into mental unconsciousness. The scent of her savory flatseed stew added a welcome greeting, further drawing him from his grief-tossed haze.
Limp, he watched as she set the tray on a flat grassy section at their feet. Awareness finally took root after she took out three bowls.
“Em, here.” He guided her gently to the ground. She moved slowly, almost as if she were a child, discovering certain motions for the first time. As they ate, some of his strength returned. Where is Tubal-Cain? I’ve never had someone close to me die before. Who could’ve done this? The image of Bayt and the long dagger on his belt flashed through his mind. Clenching a fist, Noah felt his temperature rise, and the urge to race off and find the man filled his body.
Breathing shallowly, he glanced at Emzara, and he knew he needed to stay by her side for now. She had managed to consume a half a piece of bread, but her bowl of stewed flatseed lay untouched, slightly askew in the grass. He reached over her lap and held the bowl out. “Please.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and, understanding her mute plea, he set the bowl back down. He looked helplessly at Nmir. “Thanks for this. I . . .”
She fidgeted, twisting the overwrap that was tied to her midsection. “I had to do something.” Dried trails of darker brown traced down her cheeks like the crooked texture left behind in the wet sand from a retreating breaker.
“Come.” His voice cracked and he tried again. “We share this sorrow.”
She took his extended hand and sat across from them. Time stretched on before she finally spoke. “There’s much to be d
one before nightfall. Time for grief will be later.”
“I don’t know what’s next. I’ve never done this before.”
Emzara looked up slowly, a distant look in her eyes. “I can only remember going to one burial. It was for the old innkeeper. I was only 15, but I remember them lighting the torch and the family standing huddled by it.”
“Torch?” Noah asked.
“It’s placed at the head of the burial mound and is kept lit for seven days in honor.”
“If you ask me, it’s to give the family something to do,” Nmir said.
Emzara’s wry, half-smile almost appeared. Trust Nmir to see the practical side of things. She’s often right. Noah tapped his nose with the broad side of his thumbnail, and his wife responded to their secret communication with a soft smile, declaring her love for him as well.
Gone. Ara and Aterre. They’re gone. The realization hit him afresh and anguish tore through his midsection. He had needed that lightness of spirit even if just for a moment, but the pain at remembering almost undid any good from the temporary reprieve.
Suddenly, Tubal-Cain’s strong hand squeezed Noah’s forearm. Standing next to him were Zain, Cada, and Garun, each with a shovel in hand. “We’ve come to prepare for the burial.” Tubal-Cain’s voice was deeper than normal, revealing that he had been weeping.
“Let’s get this over.” Cada’s flat voice matched his expression.
He lost his best worker, a friend, and his soon-to-be son. Noah shook his head in frustration, realizing for the first time all the suffering that would stem from this tragedy.
“Here’s a shovel, if you’re up to it.” Zain handed the tool to Noah.
“I’m coming too. I need to focus on something else.” Emzara stepped forward, face flushed, but Nmir grabbed her.
“I need you. We’ll have to fix up a meal for those who come to mourn, and I can’t do it alone.”
Tubal-Cain nodded. “Adira’s back at your house, Zara, with Kmani. They’ve got the linens for wrapping Ater —” His word caught in his throat, so he lowered his head and buried it in the palm of his hand.
“And Jitzel will come later with the rest of my family.” Cada’s stone face barely moved as he spoke. “She . . . needed some time still.” He leaned his head back as a tear ran down one of his dark cheeks.