Category: When an Angel Calls Your Name (Page 2 of 2)

Chapter Nine

“You are nothing, a worm of an demon,” DeMerral spit out at Dirk.

The two fallen demons slowly circled one another slowly beating their wings.

Qwantar watched in amusement his tail rhythmically tapping on the floor beneath his throne. He always enjoyed a good fight. He needed his minions to constantly prove themselves worthy, worthy to be joined with him.

Dirk smiled at DeMerral then gave one quick flap of his wings and lurched twenty feet above his adversary. His trajectory carried him behind DeMerral. He paused briefly, preparing to dive at him with all his might.

DeMerral quickly turned and faced his airborne opponent. He waited for the mistake he knew was coming. Only a incompetent fool would try this move on him. The Dirk folded his wings in close to his back and pushed them out with all his might.

DeMerral watched as Dirk descended directly at him like a missile.

“Too slow you fool!” DeMerral shouted at Dirk.

Leaping directly up DeMerral shoved a talon into the soft flesh of Dirks back right between his folded wings. He hooked it in as deeply as possible and jerked Dirk down and under him. DeMerral quickly twisted his body around and straddled Dirk as he crashed into the floor. With a talon still in Dirk’s back DeMerral slashed Dirk’s left wing ripping feathers and flesh from the bony frame. He slashed again as Dirk cried out in pain.

DeMerral pulled the talon out of his back and flapped his wings once, rising above the crowd of demons surrounding them.

“I told you Dirk was an idiot to challenge DeMerral,” one demon shouted to another across the circle.

“Did you see that move,” another shouted.

“It was classic. DeMerral never even flinched,” another said.

“Get up Dirk. DeMerral awaits your next big move,” another taunted.

Qwantar rose from his throne and descended the stairs and slowly walked up to Dirk trying to get up. Qwantar slowly circled him evaluating the damage to his back and wing.

Dirk’s left wing hung limp, blood coating the feathers left on the frame. The wound in his back prevented him from being able to push himself up, pain shooting down his spine and through his shoulders and arms.

“So pitiful,” Qwantar said.

“Master, master,” Dirk pleaded.

“How did you fail yourself so completely with only one move?”

“Master,” Dirk pleaded.

“You disgrace yourself. How did you ever manage to enjoin yourself to my, my legion!!”

“Master,” Dirk pleaded.

Qwantar bent down next to Dirk.

“You have no place here. You never had a place here.”

“Master, please,” Dirk pleaded again.

“You dare seek mercy from me? You dare beg for your pithy life!!”

Dirk began shaking uncontrollably. His damaged wing randomly flapped sprinkling blood on the floor beside him

“Master,” Dirk pleaded.

The crowd of demons surrounding the two grew quiet in anticipation of Qwantar’s next move.

“Does he beg his life of the mighty Qwantar?” Anselrio mocked. “Master, master. Please, please. Master. How pathetic.”

Qwantar looked up to see Anselrio pushing the crowd aside as he approached flicking the ears of smaller demons with his bony finger.

Qwantar eyed Anselrio with contempt. How dare he come into my chamber unannounced. Turning his attention back to Dirk, he slowly gripped him by the back of his neck, wrapping his fingers slowly around till they pinched into the soft flesh of his throat. He pulled Dirk’s head back and leaned over to his ear.

“Shut up you fool. You are not worthy to be with my legion.”

He pulled Dirk’s head back further exposing his throat. Qwantar gazed at the circle of demons directly in front of him. He stared into the eyes of a medium sized demon. With his free hand he beckoned him one finger at a time to come forward.

Anselrio snickered as he watched the demise of Dirk unfold before him.

The demon came forward and stood in front of Dirk and Qwantar. Qwantar stood and offered Dirk’s neck to the demon. With one swift swing the demon slashed Dirk’s neck ripping it wide open. Dirk gurgled drowning in his own blood. Qwantar dropped him life a wet rag to the floor and slowly approached Anselrio.

“How dare you enter my chamber’s unannounced,” he said staring him straight in the eye.

Anselrio did a quick dance to the left then back to the right.

“And your point?”

Qwantar leapt on Anselrio slashing his cheek with one swift swing of his right claw. Anselrio tumbled backwards and tried to flip Qwantar over his head. Qwantar anticipated his move and was able to leverage his length and shove Anselrio down on his back and straddled his torso.

Qwantar pulled his right fist back and prepared to pummel his head. Anselrio shoved himself up with his wings lifting both of them several feet off the ground. He leaned to his left and Qwantar scrambled to get his feet beneath him before Anselrio could toss him to the ground.

The two began wrestling in a standing position, arms locked in a fiery embrace. Finally they both pushed back hard and let go of one another. Each took a few steps back and began circling.

“Why are you here!” Qwantar shouted.

Anselrio laughed and smiled at him.

“It was a choice.”

“A poor choice at best. You will not leave here alive.”

“Right. And I suppose you are going to destroy me?”

Qwantar lowered his head and stared at Anselrio with a rage fit for a demon. His tail twitched quickly left and right. He crouched a little lower and readied himself to engage Anselrio again.

Anselrio watched his adversary posturing himself. He tried to anticipate his next move.

Suddenly Qwantar leapt up then dove at Anselrio’s feet. Anselrio jumped straight up drawing his knees up under himself. Qwantar slid under him and Anselrio crashed down directly into his back. He spun around and grabbed Qwantar’s hair. He jerked Qwantar’s head sideways exposing his right cheek.  With a well timed slash he ripped Qwantar’s cheek open to the bone. He then slammed his fist several times into the side of his face then rolled off him and scrambled back to a safe distance and crouched low to the floor.

Qwantar jumped up and turned to Anselrio. He stared him right in the eye and prepared to attack again.

Anselrio smiled and stood.

“Qwantar,” he hissed, “Do you not wish to hear our sweet Satan’s plan? His plan to defeat the Eternal One once and for all?”

Blood dripped from Qwantar’s chin.

“You dare to come into my chamber’s unannounced?”

“Yes, yes. We all know you would like for me to call ahead, but Satan sent me specifically to you with a message. He has a little deed he needs done that is right up your alley.”

Qwantar snarled at Anselrio. The demons surrounding them began to edge slightly closer.

Anselrio waited for them to come a little closer. He took a little hop towards Qwantar.

“They sent Gabriel,” Anselrio hissed.

He relished the murmur that rose on the heels of his declaration. Qwantar focused his attention fully on Anselrio.

“Gabriel?” Qwantar replied.

“Yesssss. And a newly anointed excuse for a rival named Jeremy. From Michael’s little troop of misfits.”

“I am familiar with Jeremy. He is no threat to me.”

Anselrio scanned the crowd and grinned slightly.

“Ohhh, I don’t think Jeremy is the same little weakling you remember him to be.”

Anselrio smirked at Qwantar. Qwantar seethed at him.

“Spit it out.”

Anselrio laughed and flicked his wings lifting himself above the throng.

“I was there Qwantar. I saw the whole thing with my own two eyes. The eternal one called for a gathering. Oh, you should have seen the little automatrons worship him. How sad. I think they believe Him.”

Qwantar flicked his wings and positioned himself directly in front of Anselrio above the crowd.

“Get to the point already.”

“Oh, that is the point isn’t it. They worship him.“

Anselrio dropped to the floor and began doing a little dance and singing, mocking those who worship the eternal one. The crowd burst out laughing.

Qwantar dropped to the floor. “Your interruption was ill timed at best. Now out with it.”

Anselrio savored the moment. It have been a very, very long time since he had seen Qwantar. He had never liked him and never would.

“You’re no fun Qwantar. Really. No fun at all. Why, your little minions get it. What is the matter with you?”

“Daygron!!” Qwantar shouted.

“Oh, goodie,” Anselrio giggled. “Bringing out the big guns now. Whoopee.”

Anselrio danced around a little more just for the fun of it.

The crowd of demons quickly began backing up. Anselrio picked at his long fingernails cleaning some of the dirt out from beneath them.

The sound of a latch releasing echoed through the chamber. Demons scattered as quickly as they could move. A large door to one side began to open. The smell of damp musty dirt filled the chamber.

Qwantar slowly paced back and forth awaiting his servant. Anselrio waited patiently polishing his nails.

The door clanged fully open against a door stop in the floor of the chamber. Anselrio looked at the dark chamber beyond the doorway. He glanced at Qwantar pacing back and forth.

Anselrio could hear the sound of something scratching at the floor of the chamber.

“Release him,” Qwantar demanded.

“So it’s a boy. Congratulations,” Anselrio said.

Qwantar looked at one of the demons not cowering under something.

“Release him. Now!”

The demon slowly moved towards the doorway, every few feet casting a glance back at Qwantar.

“Now!!” Qwantar shouted.

The demon quickly passed through the doorway. The sound of a chain being drug on the floor filled the chamber, echoing off the walls. Then all went silent.

Suddenly the demon burst from the doorway and zipped past Qwantar and Anselrio. A cloud of dust wafted from the doorway as all awaited Daygron.

Anselrio could see something moving in the shadows just inside the doorway. Something racing around kicking up more dust. Then out of the dust cloud a small red, hairless monkey ran right up to Qwantar and sat at his feet. He looked up at him and began chatting at him.

“Yes,” Qwantar said to the monkey. “Anselrio has returned. I need some information he refuses to provide me. I need your, ah, assistance.”

The monkey scurried around behind Qwantar and hid behind his calves. Peering out from one side he looked Anselrio over.

Anselrio laughed at Qwantar.
 
“This is the mighty Daygron?? A monkey. A hairless, red monkey.”

Daygron screeched a couple of times and started scratching at the back of Qwantar’s calves. He pulled his head back and peered out the other side of Qwantar’s calves. Then screeched and moved his head back to the other side.

“Ok Qwantar, what exactly do you want to know,” Anselrio said dropping to his knees. “Please, please don’t send the monkey. I’ll tell you anything. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Anselrio laughed again at Qwantar.

“Tell me what Satan sent you here to tell me,” Qwantar said.

“Well, if you insist. The eternal one sent Gabriel. Oh, excuse me I already told you that. He sent Jeremy with him. Oh, and I already told you that. Um, let’s see, what else is there. I know there was more. I mean, he wouldn’t send me into your chamber unless it was important. I mean after all, Satan forbid I would come here and waste your precious time.”

“Enough,” Qwantar said. He looked down at his little red monkey and nodded his head towards Anselrio.

The monkey emerged from behind Qwantar and became a red blur, circling Anselrio several times and then returning to his spot behind Qwantar.

Anselrio looked at Qwantar in disbelief. “That’s it? He just runs a few circles around me really, really fast.”

Qwantar slowly smiled at Anselrio.

“Give it a moment. I think you will get the point.”

Anselrio’s legs began to grow numb. He tried to lift them but they felt heavy, like they were made of lead. Slowly his whole body was becoming numb. He glanced down at his legs and saw small scrapes bleeding slightly. What the.

Qwantar slowly walked towards him and smiled. “Wait, the best part is yet to come.”

A slight burning began to grow where the slits cut into Anselrio’s legs. It grew in intensity then began spreading ever so slowly. Anselrio tried to reach down to rub his legs but could not bend over, his muscles slowly becoming paralyzed. His legs now felt like he was standing knee deep in lave. He knew this because he had once stood knee deep in lava. Sweat beaded up on his whole body.

“This doesn’t have to be permanent Anselrio. There is a cure and I just happen to have it with me.”

Anselrio now felt like he was standing waist deep in lava. His tongue was growing numb.

“You should tell me what I need to know before your tongue grows completely numb. If I do not hear what I need to hear, well, once the tongue is numb and you won’t be able to tell me. And I am afraid that until I hear what I want to hear, then you cannot have the cure. And just so you know, you are not going to die, this just will not cease and desist until you have the cure.”

Anselrio glared at Qwantar.

“Where did you get that blasted monkey?”

“Not what I wanted to hear.”

Anselrio held out till he could stand it no more.

“Saden sed do dell oou do go doo Darudalum.”

“I’m sorry, did you say Darudalem? I have never heard of Darudalem before. Can you spell that for me?” Qwantar said.

“Darudalum, Saden sed do dell oou do go doo darudalum.”

“Pardon me Anselrio, but did you say Jerusalem.?”

“Yed”

“Ohh, so Satan wants me to go to Jerusalem? What for?

“Gib me da cure and I will dell oou.”

“Hmm, well, maybe just a little between the check and gum for you. Open wide now.”

Qwantar pulled out a small bottle and pulled out a dropper. He placed a couple of drops of in Anselrio mouth and stepped back to wait.

Anselrio began convulsing with and fought the urge to spit the liquid from his mouth.

After a few minutes he said, “Alright, tell me what I need to know or the monkey does his little race around your legs again.”

Anselrio wet his lips and said, “That stuff tastes like crap. What is it?”

“Never mind what it is. Tell me what I want to know.”

“Satan said ‘Send Qwantar to this little priest. No, send him to his poor little barren wife. Twist her. Twist her shame. Twist her shame into her need. Twist her shame into an unbearable humiliation. A humiliation with only one escape, one way out. Then show her how easy it is to escape.’ The priest is Zechariah of the division of Abijah. He lives in Ein Kerem, just outside of Jerusalem.”

“Is this all he said?”

“He said, ‘Tell him to stir up those precious little Jewish neighbors of hers. She must hear their indignation. She must feel their stares, their whispers as she walks by. Barren, barren.’”

Anselrio finished the message and then said, “Now give me the cure.”

“There now, that wasn’t so hard was it?”

Qwantar set the bottle on the ground right in front of Anselrio. “There you are, you must take the whole bottle, a few drops at a time. Oh, and by the way, the cure is the little red monkey’s urine.”

Qwantar smiled and patted Anselrio on the chest a couple of times.

Qwantar turned and headed for the chamber doors.

“Put the monkey back in his chamber. Now!. Zarrum, Medlin, Bragon, come with me. The rest of you, get back to work,” Qwantar said.

Anselrio stared at the small bottle at his feet. He tried to bend over but he could barely move. All of him from the neck down was now burning fiercely.

“Qwantar, how do you expect me to pick up that bottle!!”

“You’ll figure it out,” he said just before he flew out the door.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Nine

Elizabeth and Miriam stood side by side at the wash basin cleaning after the men left for Jerusalem. Elizabeth washed the dishes slowly thoroughly inspecting each before handing them to Miriam for drying. They listened to the children outside the window arguing over the rules to some game they had been playing. Apparently, the loser was convinced the rules were flawed and needed amending.

A slight breeze moved though the small house bringing with it the smell of wild flowers growing in Elizabeth’s garden. Elizabeth loved to work the soil with her bare hands. Something in her resonated with the feel and texture of the soft earth she kept fresh with bits of fish and scraps of vegetables left over from meals.

“What was Zechariah like when you first met him?”

Elizabeth smiled. “Like any other young boy. Full of dreams and opinions, so sure that he knew everything there was to know. His father always said 15 year old boys were just young, dumb and full of themselves. Zechariah felt he had to make sure everyone observed our traditions, kept the law of Moses. He was the first boy his age to memorize all five books of the Law.”

“How did you meet?”

“He is four years older than me. We grew up together, always knew each other. I didn’t really like him much when we were young. He always thought my art work was a waste of time. ‘It’s just not practical!’ he would declare. I used to make stuff for him just to irritate him.”

The two of them laughed together.

“When his father told him he had talked to my father about marriage, ohh he got soooo mad. He avoided me as much as possible. He wouldn’t even talk to me when we saw each other.”

Elizabeth handed Miriam the last dish and wrung out the wash rag. Walking to the table she neatly folded the rag. Kneeling by the table she worked all the crumbs from the meal to the edge of the table then pushed the pile off into her hand. She rose and threw the crumbs out the window for the birds. kneeling again she scrubbed the table clean. Rising she returned to the washtub and rinsed the rag thoroughly, wrung it out again and hung it from the rack on the wall.

Together, Elizabeth and Miriam picked up the washtub and carried it outside and poured the water into the water trough for the animals.

“Hello there my wooly friends,” Elizabeth said as she petted the sheep getting a drink of the water. They shook their little tails and cried their approval of the attention they were receiving.

Miriam carried the wash tub back inside as Elizabeth petted each animal. She pulled out small pieces of vegetables and gave some to each one.

Miriam brought the weaving boards outside and set them next to the stools in the shade of the house. She always looked forward to these times of weaving together. Elizabeth knew so much about life and being a woman.

She rejoined Elizabeth at the animal pen. She watched the animals jostle for position directly in front of Elizabeth, each trying to get the next scrap of food. Back and forth they pushed one another as she held a piece just out of their reach softly speaking to them. Elizabeth finished with the animals and the two went back inside to pick out thread for weaving.

Elizabeth pulled out the board with reams of thread attached to it. The thread was organized by type, weight and color. Wool thread on the left and linen on the right. Each had heavier thread on the left and lighter thread on the right. Both of them perused the heavier woolen thread.

“I think red, white and purple will make a good set of colors to work with,” Elizabeth said.

“I agree,” said Miriam. ”I think I want to use some yellow today. Yellow and white and, hmmm, what do you think Elizabeth , blue or green?”

“You have a good eye for color. Surprise me.” She replied.

“Hmmm, well, I think I will use both at some point. I’ll decide as I weave.”

Elizabeth smiled at Miriam. Always one to just do something and then figure it out later, she thought to herself.

They put the thread into a basket and Miriam carried it outside. Elizabeth filled a couple of glasses with wine and water and carried them out to the sitting area. Miriam cut some yellow and white thread to the length she needed and started braiding it together.

Elizabeth sat down and watched Rachel and Joel coming running across the road from their home. Racing, Rachel easily beat Joel. Her eight year old legs being much longer than his five year old legs.

“Hi,” she said, smiling at the two of them.

Elizabeth reached out for a hug and Rachel quickly embraced her.

“Look Elizabeth, I lost another tooth this morning.”

She opened her moth wide and showed Elizabeth where the tooth had been. Then she showed Miriam.

“My, my Rachel. You don’t have too many left to go now.”

“Look at my tooth hole,” Joel exclaimed. “I lost one yesterday.”

“They know Joel, you showed them yesterday.”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

“Did not. Elizabeth, did I show my tooth hole to you yesterday?”

“Well, Joel, I believe you did. Three times I think.”

“Did I show you Miriam?”

“No, I don’t think so. Let me have a closer look.”

“It’s just a tooth hole Joel,” Rachel said. “Everybody has one you know.”

Joel proudly opened his mouth for Miriam to inspect his tooth hole.

“Yep, looks like a tooth hole to me,” she said.

A grasshopper on the wall of the house caught Joel’s attention. He jumped up and tried to grab it with both hands. He quickly darted after it as the grass hopper jumped and flew away from him. He rounded the corner of the house leaving the ladies behind.

“Elizabeth, can I weave something too?” Rachel said.

“Come on, let’s go get you a board and some thread,” Miriam said.

Rising, she led Rachel inside to get the supplies.

Elizabeth began braiding white and purple thread together. Three strands of white with one strand of purple. She always like the way bold colors contrasted with white and often braided them this way. Sometimes it was three strands of white with one strand of a color and sometimes three strands of color with one strand of white. It always depended upon her mood. Sometimes she was in a white mood and sometimes not.

Elizabeth watched Hagar approaching. Her son Micah and daughter Deborah carried water pots with her on their way to the well.

“Hello Elizabeth,” Hagar said.

“Hagar, Deborah, Micah. Hello.”

“Did you hear, Zechariah said my son Micah here is his best student. How God has blessed me. Not only did He give me children, but Micah honors me by working hard to learn the Torah. Yes, God has blessed me with excellent children.”

Elizabeth gritted her teeth slightly she shifted in her seat and continued braiding the thread. Watching her hands working the thread she spoke without looking up.

“Yes, children are a blessing from God.”

“Every mother’s dream is to have children who honor her. Deborah has been learning how to makes Matzo for the next Passover. She is such a good cook.”

Elizabeth pulled the braid tighter with each passing moment. Finally she looked up.

“You must be a very proud mother.”

Hagar smiled slightly and replied, “Very. I noticed your braid is looking uneven. You should be more careful how tight you pull it.”

“I am experimenting with a new way of braiding. I want to see how a weave will look if I vary the braid thickness.”

Miriam and Rachel came around the corner of the house.

“You should start with a small board and learn how to manage the weave with that one before you use the larger boards,” Miriam said.

“But I want to make a larger rug,” Rachel protested.

“Hello Miriam, Rachel,” Hagar said.

“Oh, hello Hagar. Hi Micah and Deborah,” Miriam said.

“Hi,” said Rachel.

“Well, we must be getting on to the well,” Hagar said. “Good to talk with you Elizabeth.”

“Have a pleasant walk,” Elizabeth said.

“Bye,” said Miriam.

“Bye,” Micah and Deborah said together.

“Bye,” said Rachel.

The three left and headed for the well.

Elizabeth began frantically pulling the braid apart.

“I don’t know where that woman gets it from. Always has to rub it in. I am so proud of my children. God has blessed with such wonderful little children.”

Miriam watched her friend throw her thread back in the basket.

“I’ll be right back,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth quickly disappeared around the corner of the house.

“Wow. Is she ok?” Rachel asked, looking up at Miriam.

“Yeah, she’s ok. Sometimes it bothers her when Zechariah goes to do his priestly duties at the Temple,” Miriam replied. “Here sit down and Ill show you how to braid the thread.”

***

Elizabeth quickly retreated to the house and grabbed a towel to wipe her tears.

Why me Lord? Haven’t I been a good Hebrew daughter? Why can’t I have children? I’d make a good mother. Look at how I help Miriam to become a good woman. It’s just not fair.

No, no, don’t think like that. The Lord has been good to me. He has blessed me with a wonderful husband, Zechariah, and with wonderful friends. I am a good woman. I am just as good as the rest of the women in our village, even if they have children.

Yes, they have children. They have no sin. They have no shame. How did I sin that I should be barren. What have I done to bring this shame upon myself, upon my husband, upon my family. Everyone knows I am a sinner. What I wouldn’t give for a child. Just one. I too, like Hannah, would dedicate him to the Lord. All the days of His life would belong to Him. What must I do before God will open my womb?

Elizabeth sat down and dabbed her eyes. She dried them and lowered her hands to her lap, twisting and rubbing the towel. She pulled it taught then folded it neatly then shook it out and folded it again. She rubbed it between her thumbs and forefingers till it seemed she would wear a hole in it. She lifted her face and stared out the window.

It isn’t wrong to hate Hagar is it? That woman. She just rubs it in any chance she gets. She never says it out loud but I hear it anyway. Barren, Elizabeth, you are barren. I have children, you do not. You’re the sinner, I am not.

Warm tears continued to leak from her eyes. She rubbed her face with the towel trying to catch each one as it appeared. She gritted her teeth and began pulling hard at the towel.

Hagar, you are no better than me! I would make as good a mother as you! No, I would make a better mother!! My children would not learn to humiliate their fellow Hebrews. They would learn compassion and respect.

Oh Lord, please help me. I want to hurt her so much, so much. Just hurt her back. I am tired of her, tired of all the women in the village. Every one of them looks down their nose at me. Please Lord, please, even in my old age, would you bless me too? Bless me with a child, take away my shame? Please. Please!

Elizabeth eyed a small knife. She reached for it and felt the weight of it in her hand. She stared at it for a moment, then drug the point across the edge of the table. She drug it across the table again and again. Finally she put it down and wiped her tears one more time. She ran her hand across the scarred surface.

“Ouch,” she said when a splinter pricked her finger. She looked at it then pulled it out with her teeth.

No one understands. Zech tries, he really does. He has his own pain. But, he doesn’t understand mine. Miriam tries, but she doesn’t understand either. No one understands. I am all alone. All alone.

She stood and collected herself. I have visitors to attend to. She smoothed out the front of her dress then dried her eyes one last time. She hung the towel across the edge of the wash basin and headed back outside.

 

***

“First thing you do when starting to weave is to tie the thread off on the board. Here let me show you,” Miriam said to Rachel.

Miriam coaxed half of the loose threads at the end of the braid through the tie hole on the square hand loom. The she tied them together around the edge of the board.

“There you go,” she said and handed the loom back to Rachel.

“Thanks,” Rachel said.

Elizabeth came around the corner of the house and sat down with the two girls.

“Now look at your braid Rachel. All tied off and ready to weave,” She said.

Rachel beamed with pride as she held out the loom for Elizabeth to inspect.

“Miriam tied it off for me. She is really good at this.”

“Yes she is,” Elizabeth said.

Miriam looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth glanced back at her. Miriam could easily see that Elizabeth had been crying. She reached out and squeezed her forearm. Elizabeth smiled and placed her hand on Miriam’s and squeezed it back.

“Let’s see your braid Miriam,” she said.

Rachel pressed in close and leaned her hip against Elizabeth’s leg and inspected the braid with her.

“I like the yellow and white like that,” Rachel said.

“Me too,” said Elizabeth.

“I did two and two,” said Miriam.

“Yes I can see,” said Elizabeth.

“I am still trying to decide on whether to add the blue or green. Or, maybe both. I don’t know.”

“I am sure you will decide well,” Elizabeth said.

“Well Rachel,” Elizabeth said as she handed Miriam her braid. “How about we get you started. Wind your thread around the loom, moving forward one peg each time, until the loom is fully covered.”

Rachel sat down on the ground and began wrapping her braid around the pegs on the loom.

“Keep it tight as you go honey,” Elizabeth said.

Miriam tied off her braid on the edge of the round loom she was using and then began feeding the braid through the hole in the center. She then pulled it tight and wrapped it around the edge of the loom into the first notch and fed the braid through the center again.

Rachel looked up at Miriam and smiled. “Race ya,” she said.

Elizabeth smiled and said, “No, no, Rachel. Take your time. If you do a sloppy job on the core weave the rest will not look right.”

“Ok,” Rachel said then continued wrapping her braid around the pegs on the loom as quickly as she could.

Elizabeth picked up her braid and separated the threads till there was no braid left. Slowly and deliberately she braided then threads to together again.

“My mother taught me how to weave when I was your age Rachel,” Elizabeth said.

“Really? Did you spin the thread too?”

“No, I learned to do that when I got older. Spinning is a more delicate process than weaving. I learned to dye the thread before I learned to spin it.”

“Can you teach me how to do that?”

“Your mother is a master at dying thread. She is a much better teacher than I am.”

“How do you do it Elizabeth?”

“Well, it all begins with the source of the color. Take plum dye for instance. You can make many colors out of plums. First you have to peel off the skins. This is what you make the ye from. Then I cut out the seeds and put the fruit on the window sill for the birds to come and eat.”

“I like to watch birds. They are so pretty.”

“Yes, I like to watch them also, which is why I put the fruit on the window sill,” Elizabeth said.

“I like plums too much to let the birds have them,” Miriam said.

Elizabeth smiled at her.

“And sometimes I do also. But sometimes I like to feed the birds. Then again, sometimes I make a pie or jam out of them.”

“I can make a strudel. Momma showed me how. She said someday I would have a very glad husband who would love my strudels,” Rachel said.

Miriam laughed. “And I am sure he will want you to make him strudels all the time.”

Elizabeth smiled.

“You have to prepare both the thread and the dye before you can dye the cloth,” Elizabeth said. “Of course, I also dye linen after I have weaved it. It is less work and you get a more even color that way. You will need water, salt or vinegar, a cooking pot, one you don’t use for cooking food, a measuring cup and a strainer. You will use salt for dying with fruit dyes and vinegar for dying with flowers, leaves, plants, those kinds of things.”

“Can you make dye out of anything?” Rachel asked.

“Just about,” Elizabeth said. “But not everything works well for making dyes.”

“First I do when making dye from plum skins is I dump them in some fresh water and simmered them for another hour. It is so amazing how red and beautiful the water turns within minutes cooking them. You have to be sure you do not boil the skins. You should heat the water just hot enough to simmer them.”

While I am making the dye I prepare the cloth. I mix “the water and salt together to make the fix. The fix is what we use to make the dye stick to the cloth. To prepare the fix I mix 1/2 cup salt to 8 cups cold water. After I have prepared the fix, I simmer the fabric in it for about an hour, then rinse it well and ring it out as dry as possible. You don’t want to let it dry out completely before you put it in the dye.”

Rachel held up her loom and said, “Look Elizabeth, I finished putting my braid on the loom.”

“Hmm, let me see.”

She took the loom from Rachel and began inspecting it.

“Very good Rachel. This is excellent.”

Rachel beamed and smiled at Miriam. 

“Make another braid for weaving into the first braid.” Elizabeth said.

Rachel pick out the red and purple thread. Elizabeth helped her measure and cut the thread to the proper length. Rachel sat back down on the ground and began braiding them together.

Miriam asked, “What else do you have to do when you dye the linen?”

“After you have prepared the lined then you have to strain the dye to remove the plum peels. After you have strained the dye, then you put it back in the pot and dip the cloth in it. The more times you dip the cloth the more the dye colors it. If you want the fullest color possible then you need to let it sit for a few hours or overnight. The same thing with thread. I always do very long lengths of thread at a time because it is almost impossible to get the exact same color from two different batches of dyed thread.”

“You sure know a lot about making thread and linen,” Rachel said.

“Well, I have been doing it since I was a little girl just like you.”

“Is that a really long time.” Rachel asked.

“Yes, a very long time,” Elizabeth replied.

Looking up at Elizabeth Rachel said, “I like you Elizabeth.”

And I like you too Rachel.””

Together, the three worked on their rugs till it became to dark to see clearly what they were doing. Eventually Miriam and Rachel said goodnight and headed home. Elizabeth ate some of the leftovers from the meal they prepared for the men earlier in the day.

She lay in bed and thought about the events of the day. How grateful she felt for the company of both Miriam and Rachel. She then closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Eight

Elizabeth bundled all the sweet bread she had made earlier that day. She took the bread outside and gave some to each of the men heading for Jerusalem.

Each was double checking the loads on their donkeys or mules. They tightened all the straps holding the bundles of goods to the animals. Some had animal skins, some cloth, others had herbs and spices collected from the desert or grown in small gardens surrounding their homes. Each hoping to trade their goods for as many items on their list as possible.

They would pass through the market district of Jerusalem before reaching the Temple. They should arrive early enough in the day to get their trading done before they have to be at the Temple to relieve the priests that had served the pervious week.

There were 14 priest all together including Zechariah. They varied in age from twenty to seventy seven. Ahimelech claimed to be the eldest. The rest quit arguing with him many years ago about his age. He seemed to grow three years older for every two they counted. No one really knew how old he was anymore.

Zechariah came next in age. The two would be riding donkeys most of the way. The younger men always gave up their animals for their elders when they went to serve. It was one of the small ways they sought to honor them.

They headed out while the sun was still high overhead. This time of year there was little relief from the sun till it set. Pashur and Jerimoth led the way out of town.

Miriam had come to visit Elizabeth as the priests arrived. She like to help her serve them their mid day meal before their journey. She and Elizabeth waved as the men disappeared over the crest of the hill that led them down through a ravine which marked the edge of the north side of town.

The two of them went back inside to clean up from the meal.

* * *

Zechariah looked around him at the priests he journeyed with.

There was Bukki. He was around thirty. He had three wives, three sons and five daughters. His latest wife Deborah was pregnant with her first. He was as good a carpenter as Zechariah had ever seen.

Abishua was a shepherd by trade. His wife Naomi always traveled with him to Jerusalem when he served but had not come along this time. He would have to bear all the grief for her absence alone. Her mother and father lived in Jerusalem and expected her to visit when he served. They had been married a couple of years now but still have no children. This would be another topic of discussion the in laws would burden him with. Zechariah wondered if he would wait until he had to leave to visit them.

Abiathar, the son of Hebron, was one of the most devout priests Zechariah had ever met. A widower of four years now, he lived alone. He had been married just a few months when his wife Esther had been killed by some lions while harvesting grapes from their vineyard. Their home was a little ways away from the village where they grew up. By the time he heard her screams it was too late. Zechariah had never known such grief himself. Even now Abiathar still bore the pain of his loss.

Ithamar, Phinehas, Jahzerah and Micah were brothers. Their father Samuel had been serving in the Temple for forty years now. Zechariah found it hard to remember a time when the five of them did not accompany him as he traveled to Jerusalem. They lived the furthest away, traveling a full days journey before reaching his home. They were good priests.

Libni normally traveled with his father Abihu. This was the second week of service his father would miss. He had fallen off the roof of their home some time back and broken his hip. The journey now was just too much for him, even on a donkey or a mule with a well padded saddle.

Berechiah, Obadiah, and Zerah were like sons to Zechariah. Having no children of his own, these men were as close to him as sons could be. He treasured their friendship. They lived only about an hour away and came to visit once or twice a month. They did much for him and Elizabeth. Their wives and children filled the void that barrenness had carved in both of their hearts. A void both he and Elizabeth had learned to bear with God’s grace. And these men and their families had brought much healing to both of them.

Pashur  and Jerimoth lived near Berechiah. Pashur frequently taught together with Berechiah at the synagogue and Zechariah always loved discussing Pashur’s teaching techniques. It is not always easy to get a young man to understand the Torah. Even harder to teach him to live by it.

Zechariah watched Berechiah slow his pace allowing him to come along side him.

“Zechariah, did I hear you and Elizabeth talking about trading for a cow?”

“Yes. Our last one died about a year ago and we kind of miss her. She was a gentle soul and gave much milk.”

“Yes. I miss her too. The merchant Heman came through our village abut a month ago on his way back from Egypt. He had some cows with him.”

“Probably all skin and bones if I know Heman.”

“Not as bad as you might think. He tried to sell me some but I did not need any. You know I have four cows and would be willing to sell you one,” Berechiah said.

“Yes I know. Elizabeth and I talked about that. But, I don’t want to take a cow away from you. I think we will be able to find an acceptable one at a fair price at the market.”

“Are you kidding me. This is Jerusalem. Much to our Lord’s displeasure, I don’t think you will ever find an acceptable animal for a fair price there.”

Zechariah laughed. “I have been praying my friend. I believe our Lord will provide.”

The small party of priests came to a steep descent leading into a dry river bed. Berechiah took the reigns from Zechariah and guided the animal slowly downward. Loose rocks made navigating the dusty path challenging. Both man and animal stepped and slid their way down to the river bed. A few months from now and the rainy season would begin to fill this river again. Towards the end of the season it would become nearly impassable.

They reached the bottom and resumed their pace until they reached the other side and began their ascent upwards. Dust devils swirled and danced past them, headed nowhere in particular. Lizards and scorpions raced for cover under the rocks that littered their path.

Zechariah pulled on the mane of his donkey and brought it to a stop at the top of the hill. He always like to stop here and drink in the sight of the Holy City off in the distance. It’s majestic rise beckoned him to give thanks to his God. The others gathered together to await Zechariah’s words.

“Gentlemen, behold, the City of David, the city of peace,” Zechariah said.

“Blessed is the name of the Lord our God who gave us this holy city,” they all spoke in unison.

Berechiah smiled at his old friend.

“How beautiful she is Zechariah,” Berechiah said.

“Yes. As beautiful as a rainbow in the sky. As beautiful as Rock Roses in full bloom.”

Zechariah lightly kicked the sides of his donkey and they continued their trek to Jerusalem.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Seven

Zechariah and Elizabeth sat quietly awaiting the priests coming from villages further away from the Temple. She quietly weaved the small round designs. Barely 3 feet in diameter they were just the right size for small rugs, or for sitting on, or for protecting tables from the hot pots and bowls of stew and other foods.

Zechariah was whittling a rams horn Micah had given him in payment for blessing his fields and animals. It was a small one, about a foot in length. Zechariah had hollowed it out yesterday and now was working on the blow hole.

He lifted it to his mouth and gave a hearty blow on it.

“Zechariah, will you ever learn to blow one of those things?” Elizabeth said while covering her ear closest to him.

Zechariah chuckled. “Of course not.”

He whittled some more on the horn and then blew it again. This time was less harsh but still not as pleasant as Elizabeth hoped for.

“Zechariah,” Pashur shouted from the front of the small building Zechariah and Elizabeth called home.

Elizabeth looked up from her weaving and smiled at Zechariah.

“Looks like the others have started to arrive.”

“Yes. Sounds like Pashur. I wonder if Jerimoth is with him this trip. He should be of age now to serve in the Temple,” Zechariah said.

He winced slightly as he rose to go look outside.

“Darn hips,” he said.

Opening the door he found Pashur and Jerimoth and their old mule Ahab awaiting him.

“Pashur,” Zechariah said and quickly approached his old friend and gave him a warm hug. “Good to see you.”

Pashur turned slightly and held his open palm out towards his son.

“You remember Jerimoth don’t you. He is twenty now. He has come of age to serve in the Temple. He has been studying very hard on the prayers, on how to mix the incense, on everything Zechariah. Been driving me crazy with questions about this, questions about that.”

Pashur smiled at Jerimoth and continued, “You would think he intends for the rest of us to stand around and watch him take care of everything by himself.”

Zechariah stepped around Pashur and gave the young man a great hug. He stepped back and wagged a finger in Pashur’s direction.

“I remember your father’s first service at the Temple. He had more questions than a quail has feathers. Drove his father crazy for months. The only way his father could get him to shut up was to threaten to leave him home, make him wait another year, till he was twenty one.”

Jerimoth smiled and bowed slightly to Zechariah.

“Is it alright for me to water our mule?”

“Certainly. Come right over here,” Zechariah said.

Tugging at Jerimoth’s tunic he pulled him around the side of the house to the water trough for the animals. He picked up one of the water jugs and poured some water in the trough for the mule. He shooed the goats and sheep back as Jerimoth tied the mule off on the rail. Ahab gulped at the water as the men headed inside.

“Elizabeth!” Pashur shouted. He gave her a big hug and motioned for Jerimoth to come closer.

“Jerimoth, this is Elizabeth. She makes the finest sweet bread in all of Israel. If you speak kindly to her she may treat you to some.”

Elizabeth eyed Jerimoth from head to toe.

“My, my. How long has it been Zech?” she said.

“He was here just last year for Passover.”

“He couldn’t have been. Look how big he is. You would think he is old enough to serve in the Temple now,” She said.

“Come, sit. Let me get you something to drink.”

Pashur and Jerimoth sat down on the bench extending from the wall. Zechariah filled a bowl with water and grabbed a towel. He handed the towel to Pashur and set the water bowl down between him and Jerimoth.

“It is a hot day to walk so far my friend,” Zechariah commented.

Pashur slipped off his sandals and dipped his right foot into the water. He bent over and rubbed his feet washing off the dust from the road.

Elizabeth handed Jerimoth a glass of wine which he gratefully accepted. He drank down about half of the glass then set it on the bench next to him.

“How is it a young man like you is not married yet?” Elizabeth said to Jerimoth. “Tell me, which young girl in your village have you got your eye on?”

Jerimoth blushed.

“Elizabeth,” Zechariah scolded. “Leave the young man alone. Pay her no mind Jerimoth.”

“A young man old enough to serve in the Temple is more than old enough to have a wife. Tell me Jerimoth, who has caught your fancy.”

Pashur looked at him and said, “You might as well get on with it son. Elizabeth is surely going to keep asking for an answer till she hears what she wants to hear.”

Pashur handed Jerimoth the towel. Elizabeth handed him a glass of wine. Zechariah sat down on a cushion and waited for Jerimoth’s confession.

“Out with it,” Elizabeth said.

Smiling, Jerimoth looked at her then at the floor. “Well, there is this one girl, Hannah.”

Looking up at Elizabeth he said, “She is fifteen. I like to go to the well and carry her water back for her.”

“Fifteen and she is not married yet? Is she the oldest daughter?”

“Yes, and her sisters wish she would hurry up and get married. Her youngest sister, Sarah, she wants to marry Asa. I think he wants to marry her too.”

Pashur chimed in, “I am not sure Eliab wants any of his daughters to marry. I think he likes all the pampering he gets from them.”

“Sounds like a man,” Elizabeth said.

“I have spoken to him a time or two,” Pashur said. “Just testing the waters. Hannah and her sisters always seem to be right around the corner, giggling and spying on us.”

“Well, Jerimoth is not getting any younger. And you need some grand children Pashur,” Elizabeth teased.

Pashur smiled and took another drink of wine.

A knock at the door announced the arrival of more priests gathering to journey the rest of the way together.

Zechariah and Pashur rose to go outside and greet them. Stepping outside they found Berechiah, Zerah and Obadiah shaking the dust from their tunics.

“Friends!” Zechariah exclaimed.

He and Pashur gave a hearty hug to each. Jerimoth emerged from the house and quickly gathered the ropes for their donkey’s and led them to the watering trough.

The three new visitors eyed Jerimoth and smiled at Pashur.

“So, Jerimoth is coming along to serve in the Temple. What a proud father you must be Pashur,” Obadiah said.

“Yes. He has grown so fast.” He replied.

Obadiah smiled, “Next time we serve, I will be bringing my young Korah to join his brothers and I.”

“Come, come. Let us go inside,” he said as he motioned for them to enter the house ahead of him. “You must be thirsty as a jackal in the desert on such a hot day.”

They all stepped inside to await the arrival of the rest.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Six

Satan slowly drummed his weathered claws upon the arm of his metal throne. The high back cradled his frame as he slouched slightly awaiting the return of Anselrio, his chief messenger and spy. He was one of the few who could decipher the voice of the Eternal One. And one of the few who could get close enough to the Temple to eavesdrop  without detection. Still, had he been caught snooping around, they may have detained him, a most unfortunate possibility.

A murmur of voices began to rise from near the door of the throne chamber. Satan watched as the throng of fallen angels crowded the doorway. The doors burst open and the throng quickly fell back. Anselrio strutted into the chamber pushing the smaller demons aside and kicking a few who remained to close.

He worked his way forward through the long chamber towards his master. He slowed a bit and spat at a couple of demons. Hissing they cowered as they clambered beneath a table. Anselrio moved with an arrogant swagger that reeked with conceit. He stopped in the middle of the chamber.

Raising his arms up halfway he shouted for all to hear. “What are you staring at you cockroaches! The great and powerful Anselrio has returned bringing you news of the Eternal One’s feeble attempt to deceive us one more time.”

He slowly turned around in a circle gloating in the attention all eyes paid him.

“Once again He believes He can orchestrate His grand illusions in the presence of the wise and all knowing Anselrio!”

Satan smiled slightly as he listened to his boastful slave. Soon enough he would have everything he needed to defeat the Eternal One once and for all. Soon His pathetic efforts to reclaim his frail humanity from the jaws of sin and death would come to an end.

“Anselrio,” Satan growled. “Have you brought me word of that which I seek?”

Anselrio turned and faced Satan, arms still at half mast. He bowed and greeted Satan with a demonic salute. He slowly moved towards Satan with a strutted skipping motion. He chuckled with delight as he approached his master. He knew how to work the crowd and better than that, how to work Satan himself. He had learned a long time ago Satan quickly bored with a direct delivery of information. He had to tease him a bit, get the juices flowing till Satan demanded what he had to offer.

He stopped and coyly looked around behind him to see if all eyes were still on him or not. He squeaked out a laugh with a smirk plastered on his face. He turned his attention back to Satan.

“My Master, my sweet Satan. Impatient tonight? Have you no…”

Anselrio let his words hang for a moment, drawing the crowd in like children. Oh, they are way too easy tonight.

He scanned the room then continued.

“… confidence master?”

He eyed Satan, watching for the moment his patience would be exhausted. Satan’s sly grin relaxed and he readied himself to rise and extract the information Anselrio withheld from him.

“They sent Gabriel,” Anselrio hissed.

“Gabriel?” Satan replied.

“Yesssss. And a newly anointed excuse for a rival named Jeremy. From Michael’s little troop of misfits.”

Anselrio coated his finger nails with his breath. Buffing them on his leather amour he waited. There was more, but he milked the moment before he continued.

“All the little automatrons blindly worshiped as He called forth the great and mighty Gabriel to send him on his little quest to Jerusalem.”

Anselrio danced around, mocking the Eternal One and his worshippers, mimicking there worship.

“Holy, holy, holy. Ohhhh, He is Holy. Oh…Oh…He is Holy.”

Anselrio eyed Satan and fed him a little more.

“He said there will be much opposition to their task.”

He hopped a couple of steps forward.

“That you know His Word.”

A couple of more hops.

“And that you know who is coming and who is to follow.”

A couple of more hops. Anselrio knelt down and picked at the floor. He waited, timing his next revelation with the precision of a master story teller. Rising to his full stature he quickly stomped forward right up to Satan’s throne declaring at the top of his voice, “He said you both know and tremble at the name of Jeremy.”

Anselrio swung around lifting his right arm to the sky and quickly moved towards the demons surrounding him. He skipped a couple of steps and shouted, “There you have it. The facts of the matter unveiled before you without apology. And oh, the audacity, the shear audacity of Him to taunt you so my master.”

Turning back around to Satan’s throne he boldly walked right up to his master, arms flailing proclaiming, “He thinks us to be weak. He thinks He can hide His true intentions from us. Why, His angels are so incompetent that he has to send two to do the job of one.”

Anselrio looked Satan right in the eye. “He is sending them to some puny little priest named Zechariah. He is going to tell him his little barren woman will have a child, a child destined to go before the promised one. A child who will turn their hearts back to Him! Never! Never!!”

Anselrio rose above the crowd growling and snarling, spraying spit like a rabid wolf.

The crowd erupted and began stomping the rock floor, shouting curses as loudly as possible.

Satan seethed. Every ounce of his being filled with rage and hatred. Standing he descended the steps in front of his throne. Anselrio descended and bowed slightly towards his master.

Satan glared at him, “Is this all? Have you any more to say.”

“Gabriel left quick as lightening to go assemble his scraggly little band of misfits.”

“He will head for the Ellendon Fortress. This Zechariah. He is in Jerusalem you say.”

Satan reached out and drew Anselrio close to him and whispered directly in his ear, “Send Qwantar to this little priest. No, send him to his poor little barren wife. Twist her. Twist her shame. Twist her shame into her need. Twist her shame into an unbearable humiliation. A humiliation with only one escape, one way out. Then show her how easy it is to escape.”

“Yes my lord.”

“Tell him to stir up those precious little Jewish neighbors of hers. She must hear their indignation. She must feel their stares, their whispers as she walks by. Barren, barren.”

Anselrio smiled. He loved to listen to his master plot the demise of pithy humans.

“If the Eternal One thinks he can use a feeble old woman to birth one who goes before His precious Messiah while I am still around let Him cast His dreams to the wind. Go Anselrio. Send Qwantar. Guide her hands as she plots her own death.”

Turning, Anselrio quickly exited the chamber.

Satan quietly ascended the stairs and slipped into his throne to await the coming battle with Gabriel.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Five 

The clash of swords filled Jeremy’s ears as he and Gabriel entered the courtyard of the Ellendon Fortress.

“Nathaniel, keep your wrist straight,” Denbare shouted. “Dance with it. Make him work for position.”

Jeremy and Gabriel headed for the Captains barracks. Slowly the sound of angels training abated as everyone stopped to observe Jeremy.

“Jeremy,” Jabon said as he motioned for him to come closer.

Jeremy walked over to him and slapped his hand hard with a firm handshake.

“My friend,” he exclaimed.

Jabon slowly circled Jeremy examining his stature.

“I heard that you were anointed and sent forth with Gabriel. Sure wish I could have been there to see if for myself. Man, your wings look twice the size they were before you left.”

“I know. They took some getting used to. But man, I can fly three or four times as fast now.”

Leaning over to Jabon, Jeremy said with a hushed voice, “I was able to keep up with Gabriel, stride for stride.”

“So you think you can out race me do ya Jeremy.”

Jeremy blushed as Gabriel joined the two of them.

“Perhaps I will give you a run for your money tomorrow. Come, we have work to do.”

See you later Jabon,” Jeremy said as he turned to follow Gabriel.

Gabriel motioned for Michael to join them as he entered the Captains Quarters. He pulled down a couple of glasses and filled them half full of wine. He handed a cup to Jeremy and motioned for him to take a seat at the conference table.

Michael came in and poured himself a glass of wine. He bent over the conference table and swept his hand across the top in a wide arc. The table turned black with spots of red and white glowing like floating candles in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel studied the table and took a sip of wine. He scanned from left to right and looked at Jeremy.

“Jeremy. Now begins your real education. What do you see before you?”

Jeremy leaned over and studied the table. He reached out and swept his hand back and forth across the table.

“The lights. They are, hmmm.”

Gabriel watched as Jeremy searched for his response.

“I don’t know how I know this but the white spots are angels and the red spots are Satan’s fallen angels.”

“Yes.” Gabriel said.

“Which one is Satan himself?” Michael asked.

Jeremy closed his eyes and relaxed. Reaching out he let his hand drift across the table.

“None of them,” he said.

“Good.” Gabriel said. “Jeremy, the Lord has given you a gift. The ability to sense your enemies presence. You must learn how to use it and use it well.”

Jeremy’s heart raced with the gravity of Gabriel’s words.

Michael look him straight in the eye. “Up till now I have shielded you from our enemies. I have kept a fog of light surrounding you which blinded them. The battle before us now requires our full attention and focus. We need you to step up and fight like an Archangel.”

Jeremy looked at them. While he wanted to shrink back from this challenge, a hot burning passion coursed through him. Looking at the two elder angels he slowly pulled out his sword. The blade shimmered with sound as it cleared the mouth of the scabbard. He held it out in front of him with his right hand then quickly slashed the air right to left than swung it around in a wide arc and brought it down over his head. He twirled it around a few times and sheathed it.

“Nothing would satisfy me more,” he said, a smile slowly growing on his face.

Michael smile at Gabriel. “I remember the first time I felt that fire myself. Invincible, that is what it felt like to me. Invincible and determined. Like nothing would ever stand in my way again.”

“Yes,” Gabriel said. “Till the lessons of war brought home the reality of just who we are dealing with.”

“Jeremy,” Gabriel said looking at him.

Jeremy looked him right in the eye. The compassion he saw was second only to the Lord’s.

“This isn’t going to be any cakewalk. Satan is crafty and he has a way of diverting you that will play right into any feeling of superiority you may feel towards him. Never forget, he was once the great herald of the Lord till pride consumed him. He will attempt to do the same with you. But know this, the Lord would not have chosen you or placed the fire of His will in you if He did not trust you. And if He trusts you, then I trust you.”

Looking back at the table Gabriel asked him, “Where will the enemy emerge from?”

Jeremy closed his eyes and relaxed. He opened his eyes and placed both hands on the table. He moved both hands to the left and the red and white lights shifted with them revealing more darkness from the right and hiding the same amount on the left. He felt his eyes drawn to a solitary cluster of red and as he focused he will the image to grow larger. He was able to see the individual fallen angels each light represented. He kept concentrating until he gasped.

“Berazel,” he whispered to himself. Looking up at Gabriel he said, “Berazel will bring his minions from the north. There are so many.”

Gabriel and Michael listened in silence as Jeremy continued to study the table.

Jeremy closed his eyes and waited for a few moments then opened them and placed his hands on the table. He pulled them towards himself and the darkness shifted again. The table began to glow red as he continued to pull his hands towards himself. The darkness between the red lights disappeared for the most part. Jeremy paused and cocked his head to the left slightly as he studied the new information. Suddenly a waft of foul smelling smoke hit his nostrils. Instinctively his head jerked away and he raised his hand.

“Oh my. The stench. Whew,” he said. He rubbed his watery eyes. “Man, I have encountered the stench of demons before but never like this. Whew. How do they deal with that.”

Gabriel and Michael moved to stand on each side of Jeremy.

“They are the stench Jeremy,” Michael said. “They have no clue they smell like that.”

“Well, somebody ought to clue them in,” Jeremy said. “Whew. Man…that’s rank.”

“Focus Jeremy,” Gabriel said.

From the right side of the table a small band of red lights emerged. Jeremy watched them move towards the red mass in the center of the table.

“His spies.”

“Yes,” said Michael.

“They know about us. They are going to tell Satan.”

“Yes, they know something is about to happen and who is being sent. But they don’t know why. The Father did not allow them to understand everything. Just enough.”

“Why did He let them understand anything at all?”

“He has His reasons. Everything has a purpose, everything has a time and place,” Gabriel said.

“Michael, how do you think they will proceed?”

Jeremy listened closely as the two old warriors began to strategize. This was going to take a while.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Four

Zechariah returned from the school and began making preparations for his weekly priestly duty. As he had done twice a year, every year since he turned 13 years old, he prepared to pack his necessities. He laid out all his items on the small table where he had said his morning prayers. A clean tunic, his leather sandals, his small pillow. He did not need to take much with him. Most of his necessities would be provided for.

Elizabeth watched him carefully folding and arranging the items. He confirmed he had everything as needed, mentally checking things off his list. He pulled down his incense bowl and incense. He carefully wrapped them together in an old cloth that still smelled like incense from the last trip. He then placed them all in the small leather sack he used only for his trips to the temple.

“Zechariah, I made you some fresh bread for your journey,” Elizabeth said.

“The other priests always look forward to your bread. Did you make some extra? Last time I didn’t get even one bite. Avner loves it so much that as soon as I unwrapped it he scooped it up and immediately insisted all the other priests try some.”

Elizabeth smiled. “The large wrap is for the others. This small one here, this is just for you my darling.”

Zechariah smiled and gave her a big kiss on the forehead.

“I am most favored of all men. Such a beautiful and caring wife our Lord has given me all these years.”

He quickly finished packing and hung the sack on a peg by the door. He headed outside to graze the animals.

Elizabeth began preparing vegetables for the evening stew she had planned. Slicing the vegetables she dropped them in a pot of water and olive oil. She cut off a few pieces of dried goat meat from the smoked hind leg hanging on the wall and placed it in the pot.

Removing the cover from the top of the oven, she placed the small grate over it. She picked out a few medium sixe sticks and stuffed them in the lower chamber. The dried wood quickly caught fire as she gently blew on them. She pulled out the small clay shelf she used for baking the bread and the flames rose higher straining to reach the opening at the top. She closed the oven door and place the pot on top of the grate.

She washed the knife and cutting board and set them near the window to dry.

Drying her hands she pulled out the circle loom. If she worked quickly she could make a few more circular mats before Zechariah left for the temple.

She placed the loom on the table then sorted through the collection of dyed thread. She chose white, light blue and pink thick spun rolls.

Sitting on a small stool she unwound several cubits of white thread. She stretched the thread along the edge of the table measuring it out until she had the precise length needed for the loom. She fed the end through the center hole in the loom then tied it to the outer edge of the loom. With the end secured she began feeding the thread through the center and hooking it in the grooves along the outer edge. She worked her way around the loom until every groove was threaded. She tied off the end and clipped of the extra.

She then pulled off more white thread, carefully measured it and cut it to length. She then cut a piece of the blue about a half a cubit longer and a piece of the pink about a half a cubit longer than the blue. She tied the ends of the threads to a strand of the white thread already on the loom. She then braided the three together and carefully began weaving the three threads around the top of the loom. Softly she sang to herself as she worked.

Zechariah quietly snuck into the house and hid just behind the wall. He loved to listen to Elizabeth sing. Her voice always moved his her with joy.

“Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth
You great sea creatures and all the depths
Fire and hail, snow and clouds
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word
Mountains and all hills
Fruitful trees and all cedars
Beasts and all cattle
Creeping things and flying fowl
Kings of the earth and all peoples
Princes and all judges of the earth
Both young men and maidens
Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord
For His name alone is exalted
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people
The praise of all His saints
Of the children of Israel
A people near to Him.
Praise the Lord!”

Entering the room, Zechariah came up behind Elizabeth. He reached around her shoulder to display a handful of wild flowers to her. Elizabeth stopped weaving and looked over her shoulder at her husband.

“Oh Zech, they are lovely.”

Setting down the loom she rose and poured some water into a vase. She carried it back to him and he placed the flowers in it and set them on her work table. While she primped them Zechariah followed his nose to the stew on the stove. He dipped a finger into the stew and quickly pulled it out of the hot liquid. Sticking a finger in his mouth he quickly ducked the towel Elizabeth threw at him.

“Zechariah, you wash those hands before you put them in my stew.”

“Your stew?”

“Yes, my stew.” I made that for my lunch tomorrow.”

“Looks like a lot of stew for one old woman to eat for lunch tomorrow.”

“Maybe I’ll have company. Miriam always visits when you are gone. Helps me with the animals.”

“Hmmm. Maybe you made extra for that young man Benesh who likes to carry you water for you.”

“Benesh can have some of my stew any time he likes. He is nice young man. Minds his manners unlike my husband.”

Elizabeth pulled a ladle down from the wall and a bowl from under the table and dipped out some stew for Zechariah. Pulling out a second bowl she dipped some for herself. She placed both bowls on the table in the main room.

Stepping around Zechariah who was washing his hands she cut off a piece of bread for both of them and set it on the table also. She filled 2 glasses with wine and set them next to their bowls.

The two sat down on cushions opposite one another.

Zechariah tore of a piece of bread and dipped it into the stew.

“How much cloth do you have for me to trade with?” he asked her then bit off a piece of the bread.

“Two hundred and twenty five cubits, give or take.”

“How much linen?”

“Hmmm, half and half?” she said and shrugged her shoulders.

“That much wool?”

“I spun it a little thin and we received more than usual this season.”

“I should like to trade for a cow this trip. We have not had one for about a year now. We could trade the milk.”

Staring at the table, Elizabeth chewed her wet bread in silence. Should I tell him about the dove. Zech never understands these feelings I get, even when they are valid.

She finished the last of her meal and sat silent across from Zechariah.

He searched Elizabeth’s face. He knew that look. Maybe she would tell him what she was thinking and maybe not. He had learned a long time ago there was no prying it out of her. Either she would share it or she would not.

“A small dove came and landed on the window sill while you were teaching today. It cooed so gently. It sat so still and just watched me packing the cloth. The it took one of the Rock Roses from the vase then flew off.”

Zechariah listened quietly. He slid the last of his bread into his mouth, chewed a few times then drank down the last of his stew.

“It is time for our after meal prayers then I must leave for Jerusalem.”
 
Zechariah looked up toward the ceiling and began to recite his prayers.

“When the Lord brought the exiles back to Zion it was like a dream. Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with song. Then was it said among the nations: ‘the Lord has done great things for them.’ Truly the Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Bring us from exile, Lord, as the streams return to the Negev; those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing sacks of seeds, shall return with joy, bearing their sheaves.”

“Let my mouth offer praise of the Lord, and let all beings offer blessing of God’s holy name forever. We will bless the Lord from now on and forever more: Praise God!”

“Give thanks to God who is good; whose kindness is enduring. Who can tell the mightiness of the Lord, or announce all of God’s praise?”

“Let us thank God. Blessed is the name of God now and forever. With your permission, let us thank God whose food we have eaten.”

“Blessed is God whose food we have eaten and through whose goodness we live. Blessed is God and blessed is God’s name.”

“Blessed is the Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, who sustains the entire world with goodness, kindness and mercy. God gives food to all creatures, for God’s mercy is everlasting.”

“Through God’s abundant goodness we have not lacked sustenance, and may we not lack sustenance forever, for the sake of God’s great name. God sustains all, does good to all, and provides food for all the creatures whom God has created. Blessed is the Lord, who provides food for all.”

“We thank the Lord our God for having given a lovely and spacious land to our fathers and mothers; for having liberated us from the land of Egypt and freed us from the house of bondage; for the covenant which God has sealed in our flesh, for the Torah which God has taught us; for the laws which God has made known to us; for the life, grace and loving kindness which God has bestowed upon us, and for the sustenance with which God nourishes and maintains us continually, in every season, every day, even every hour.”

“For all these blessings we thank the Lord our God with praise. May God’s name be praised by every living being forever, as it is written: “When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the Lord your God for the good land which God has given you.” Blessed is the Lord for the land and its produce.”

“May the Lord our God have mercy on God’s people Israel, God’s city Jerusalem, Zion the abode of God’s glory, the royal house of David, God’s anointed one, and the great and holy Temple that bears God’s name. May our God, our Parent, tend and nourish us, sustain and maintain us, and speedily grant us relief from all our troubles. May the Lord make us dependent not on the alms or loans of others, but rather on God’s full, open and generous hand, so that we may never be humiliated or put to shame.”

“May it be God’s will to strengthen us in God’s commandments, especially regarding the seventh day, this great and holy Sabbath, for today is great and holy before God–a day on which to rest and repose in love, according to God’s command. May it be God’s will to grant us relief from all care, sorrow and grief on our day of rest, and may God enable us to see Zion comforted, and Jerusalem, the holy city, rebuilt. For it is God who is the Master of salvation and comfort.”

“Our God and God of our ancestors, may our existence and impact be elevated, come up, arrive, be seen, be willed, be heard, be visited and be remembered, along with the memory of our ancestors, of the Messiah, son of David Your servant, the memory of Jerusalem, Your holy city, the memory of all Your people Israel before you; for goodness, grace, kindness and compassion, for life and for peace on this day. Remember us today, O Lord our God, for well-being. Visit us on this day with blessing.”

“Save us on this day with life. For our eyes are upon You, as You, O Ruler, are a gracious and compassionate God.”

“May God rebuild Jerusalem, the holy city, speedily in our lifetime. Blessed is the Lord, who restores Jerusalem with mercy. Amen.”

“Blessed is the Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, who is our God, our Parent, our Sovereign, our Mighty One, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, the Holy One of Jacob, the Shepherd of Israel, the good Sovereign who does good to all. May God who continually shows us kindness continue offering goodness to us. As God has ever bestowed favors upon us, may God continue to bless us with grace, loving kindness, compassion, deliverance, prosperity, redemption, consolation, sustenance, and mercy; a life of peace and all goodness. May God never withhold goodness from us.”

“May the Merciful One reign over us forever and ever. May the Merciful One be extolled in heaven and on earth. May the Merciful One be praised in all generations, be glorified through us to all eternity, and be honored among us forever. May the Merciful One grant us an honorable livelihood. May the Merciful One break the yoke of our oppression and lead us in dignity to our ancient homeland. May the Merciful One send abundant blessing upon this dwelling and the table at which we have eaten. May the Merciful One send Elijah the Prophet to us, and may he bear good tidings of salvation and comfort.”

“May the Merciful One bless all who are gathered here and all their families, as well as all dear to us, just as our ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were blessed in every way; and Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, were described as good; so may God bless all of us together with a complete blessing, and we say: Amen.

“May our merit and the merit of our ancestors secure enduring peace for all of us. May we receive a blessing from the Lord, and justice from the God of our salvation. May we find grace and favor in the sight of God and humankind.”

“May the Merciful One bless all of the children of Israel who are now oppressed and bring them from darkness into light. May the Merciful One bless the State of Israel, the beginning of the flowering of our redemption. May the Merciful One create a caring bond between the children of Sarah and the children of Hagar.”

“May the Merciful One grant us a world that shall be entirely Shabbat and eternal rest. May the Merciful One renew this new month upon us for good and for blessing.”

“God grants deliverance to God’s chosen sovereign, and shows kindness to God’s anointed one, to David, and his descendents forever.”

“May the One who makes peace in the heavens let peace descend on all us and all of Israel, and let us say: Amen.”

“Fear the Lord, you who are consecrated; those who fear the Lord will be sustained. Those who deny God are lacking and hungry. Those who seek the Lord shall not lack anything that is good.”

“Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s mercy endures forever. God opens God’s hand and satisfies every living thing with favor. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, for the Lord will be their protection. I have been young, and I have been old, but I have not seen a righteous person abandoned or that person’s seed destitute.”

“May the Lord give strength to our people; may the Lord bless our people with peace. Amen.”

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Three

Zechariah could hear Elizabeth, Miriam and Benesh outside speaking to the animals. He glanced out the window and saw Benesh pouring some water into their water trough. He always enjoyed any visit by Benesh. The young man had been one of his favorite students. He had great respect for his Father Haskel who had taught him well the lessons a young boy should know before he entered school.

Zechariah placed the bowl of still smoldering incense back upon the shelf where it belonged. He placed the incense back in its proper place also. He opened a small chest and placed his tefillin back in its place.

He pulled his mantle around his shoulders and fastened his girdle to hold it in place. He picked up his worn sandals and sat down on the edge of the floor where it rose above the animal pen. His feet had become used to the feel of the wooden soles of his sandals which had become worn to the shape of his feet over the years. He stood and placed a white head covering over his gray hair. He placed his prayer shawl in his girdle pouch and straightened his dressings one last time.

Picking up his staff he stepped outside and greeted Elizabeth, Miriam and Benesh who were still fussing over the animals.

“Have you nothing better to do than waste your day petting a few animals?” he said.

Elizabeth turned and smiled and him.

“Benesh asked me to lead his new donkey here for you to inspect.”

“A new donkey?” He said observing the animal. “Let me see this new donkey for myself.”

Benesh watched Zechariah inspect the animal. Zechariah slowly walked around the donkey, patting here and there, inspecting the hooves and his teeth. Finally he inspected the ears.

Holding an ear close to his mouth he said, “Don’t listen to a thing Benesh tells you. He’ll have you plowing the fields by your self in no time so he can sit at home and smile at the young women coming back from the well.”

“Zechariah!” Elizabeth scolded. “You old trouble maker. Off to the synagogue with you.”

Miriam and Benesh giggled at the two of them.

“Perhaps a young man with a new donkey would like to give an old man a ride to the synagogue.”

“Zechariah!” Elizabeth looked around for her broom to scurry him off with. Not finding it she scolded him some more and shooed him on his way. Laughing, he smiled and bid them farewell.

“See what you have to look forward to Miriam?” Elizabeth said. “He is impossible. Always stirring things up. Now come inside, both of you and eat some sweet bread with dates in it.”

* * *

 
Zechariah arrived at the synagogue to find most of his students already there. Some parents were waiting with them and greeted him as he came into view.

He entered the synagogue, called the “house of the book” while teaching the young. He lit the oil lamps while the children came in and took their places on the wooden benches lining the walls. Parents gave one last set of instructions to obey Zechariah and honor their God. The children pulled out their prayer shawls and waited for Zechariah to begin.

Turning he scanned the group of boys, around twenty five in number, a normal number for a village the size of theirs. Their village, Ein Kerem, was around an hour and a half walk from Jerusalem. Originally a Canaanite village, it evolved around “the spring of the vineyard”, from which it derived its name.

The boys ranged in age of five years old to ten years old. At twelve

The children sat quietly and waited for Zechariah to begin the morning Tefilah or prayers.

“Children,” he said. “Let us pray. Repeat after me. Bless, O my soul, the Lord.”

“Bless, O my soul, the Lord,” the children repeated.

“Lord my God, You are very great.”

“Lord my God, You are very great,” They repeated.

“Glory and majesty have You worn,” Zechariah recited.

“Glory and majesty have You worn,” the children repeated.

“Who dons light as a garment.”

“Who dons light as a garment,” the children repeated.

“Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,” Zechariah sais, finishing the morning prayer.

“Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain.” children repeated.

Together they placed their prayer shawls on their heads.

“Eliazar,” Zechariah said.

“Yes Rabbi,” he responded.

“Who is our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Deuteronomy, it says ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord IS One!’”

“And what is your duty to our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Deuteronomy, it says, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’”

“And this boys, is why your father has taught them to you and why I am teaching them to you. That you might love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Zechariah gave pause for a moment to allow for his words to sink in a little.

“Itamar, what is the first commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.'”

“Mordechai, what is the second commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.'”

“Jethro, what is the third commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.’”

“Lavan, what is the forth commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.'”

“Aviel, what is the fifth commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.'”

“Benjamin, what is the sixth commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not murder.'”

“Doran, what is the seventh commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not commit adultery.'”

“Eshkol, what is the eighth commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not steal.'”

“Gershem, what is the ninth commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'”

“Shalev, what is the tenth commandment of our God?”

“In the Torah, in the book of Exodus, it says, ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.'”

“And which is the greatest commandment?” Zechariah asked.

Young Joshua rose before Zechariah.

“Yes Joshua.”

Joshua sat back down and said, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

“Well said. What does your God command you regarding your neighbor?”

Zamir stood before Zechariah.

“Yes Zamir, tell me one commandment regarding your neighbor.”

“In the Torah, in the book of Leviticus, it says, ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.'”

* * *

“Goodbye Elizabeth,” Miriam said.

“Goodbye,” Elizabeth said.

“Goodbye,” Benesh said.

Elizabeth waved to the both of them and watched them quickly head home. Miriam leading a new donkey and Benesh carrying the water pots.

Elizabeth propped the door open to let the air move through her home. She selected a few sticks from the pile next to the oven and placed them on the coals. She gently blew on them until they caught fire enough to burn with no more coaxing. She pulled out the dough that she had seeded with leaven the night before and placed it on a baking tin. She sprinkled olive oil on top of it and some sesame seeds.

Opening the door to the oven she placed the bread inside and closed the door.

She spent some time tidying up their small home. She cleaned out the animal droppings from the previous night and added some fresh hay to their pen. She refilled the oil lamps and watered the flowers on the window sill.

She felt fussy today. Always did when it was time for Zechariah to go to Jerusalem for his priestly week of service. She hated to be alone. Twice a year he would be gone for a week and a couple of days. The one bright spot is the goods he brought back from Jerusalem.

Zechariah would take the cloth and thread Elizabeth had made since his last visit and some of the raw wool from the few sheep they had. With that he would barter for items they needed. Oil, wheat, etc. Sometimes he would take some of his carvings to trade. He had worked at carving wooden items since he was a boy. Even though he received from the village part of their necessities for his priestly work there, it was never enough to provide for all their needs.

Elizabeth poured a glass of water. While drinking it she examined the cloth on her loom. She could easily finish it before Zechariah returned from teaching the boys. This would make the total length of cloth she was sending with him around 225 cubits, though, her short arms usually made her count a little high. Most was linen made from flax, but there had been a good harvest of wool in the village this year and she had been able to weave more than the usual.

She laid out the wraps for the cloth and started arranging them in according to weave and design. Over the years she had learned what customers in Jerusalem preferred and what would be easiest for Zechariah to bargain with. This year they hoped to trade for a cow, but she doubted they had enough to bargain with. There were other needs as well, and after bargaining for those, well, a cow was just so expensive.

The sound of a dove cooing caught Elizabeth’s attention. Looking up from the floor she saw a pure white dove sitting on the window sill by the vase full of Rock Rose flowers. Elizabeth sensed there was something more to this visit than meets the eye. Her heart felt strangely warm and she felt like crying for no particular reason.

Suddenly she just began praying. Praying with more of her heart than she had ever known. Everything in her still wanted a child, a child she could call her own. A child she could nurse, could protect, could hold in her arms and watch it quietly sleep. And it really didn’t matter whether it was a girl or a boy.

“O Lord, how foolish I feel,” she prayed wiping away tears with the linen she had just been folding.

Sitting on her knees she wept as she stared at the dove and the Rock Roses. Then she felt her heart filled with a restful peace and with hope. More peace than she had ever felt and her tears changed to tears of gratitude.

“What is happening to me Lord?” she prayed.

The dove grabbed a Rock Rose in its beak and flew away leaving Elizabeth to her tears and prayers.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter Two

Elizabeth awoke to the sound of soft steady snoring.  At seventy three years of age, she had now listened to it for sixty years. She could pick Zechariah’s snore out of a house full of men snoring. There wasn’t much about him that she did not know now. The sound of his voice, the scent of his clothing, the touch of his hand on her shoulder, the myriad of looks that crossed his face daily.

She reached for his hand under the covers and squeezed it slightly when she found it. His snorted slightly and quietly cleared his throat. He squeezed her hand back then settled back to a rhythmic cadence of exhale then snore, exhale then snore.

Smiling, Elizabeth let go and pushed back the blanket from her stout frame and spoke the morning blessing.

“I give thanks before You, Living and Eternal King, that You have returned within me my soul with compassion; how abundant is Your faithfulness!”

Rolling over on her stomach she raised herself off the thin, straw filled mattress into a kneeling position. She pushed again with her hands and stood up. She shook her head side to side then pushed her long gray hair back over her shoulders. She waited for the pain in her bones to subside a bit before walking over to the window to have a look at the morning sky.

Opening the wooden doors of the window she gasped at the horizon painted orange and purple. The leading edge of the sun was ascending from behind the ridge of hills to the southeast. It’s brilliance was almost too much to look upon directly. Another few minutes and it would wash away the color from the clear blue sky and begin the slow march across the sky, heating the small hillside village like the fire of a furnace. Blessed be the Lord who made such wondrous sights she thought to herself as two birds flew by chasing one another then flitting out of sight.

She poured a glass of water and washed away the sleep from her throat. She had a full day ahead and began forming a checklist of tasks in her mind. First on the list was fetching water from the well. She liked to do in the cool of the early morning before the sun became too hot. She changed into her daytime clothing. Exiting the front of the house she grabbed the yoke for carrying the water pots and hoisted it upon her shoulders and neck and headed for the well.

* * *

Zechariah listened to the door close as Elizabeth left to get water. He normally slept a little longer than her but usually not by much.

“I give thanks before You, Living and Eternal King, that You have returned within me my soul with compassion; how abundant is Your faithfulness!” He said then rolled over and pushed himself up until he was standing. He took a short step to steady himself, his hips and knees bearing witness to his age.

He rolled up the mattress and cover then stuffed them on the shelf above the west window. Turning he watched the restless sheep and goats vying for his attention in their night pen by the front door.

“My little ones,” he said to them. “What is it you want on such a fine morning as this?”

The sheep and goats began crying to be let out pushing one another and trying to nose their way to the front of the line. Zechariah propped the front door open with a rock then opened the gate holding the animals inside. They quickly filed out to the front of the house and followed Zechariah to their day pen. Once all the animals were inside he threw an armful of hay over the side of the pen and headed back inside.

He stopped briefly when he entered the small house and said a blessing unto the Lord.

He slipped into his day clothes and finished the glass of water Elizabeth had poured earlier. Their small two room home barely covered 750 square feet. The main room provided space for the animals, cooking, storage for their few belongings. They used part of the space for sleeping at night and for eating during the day.

Zechariah pulled the eating table out from the wall. Taking the sitting mats off it he arranged them in their usual order. Zechariah like order. Everything was meant to be as it was meant to be he always said. Occasionally Elizabeth would place the mats out of order just to watch him fuss over them. He set the small oil lamp in the center and the cutting board for bread beside it.

Zechariah pulled a small container of incense down from the small shelf in the rear of the house and placed it on the table. He then retrieved a small charred pot adorned with angels on the side. They blew trumpets, a scene from the story of Jericho. This pot, a gift from his first Rabbi when he was a young boy, smelled of incense even before he place any in it. Every morning, since he was twelve years old, he had burned incense and said his morning prayers using this very pot. It was more than an old friend. It had become a part of his life, his soul. To lose it would be nearly as painful as losing his precious wife Elizabeth.

He set the pot on the table then went to the small oven and retrieved a single coal from it. Placing the coal in the pot he then began sprinkling incense over it and speaking the morning prayers.

“My God, the soul You have given me, She is pure. You create her, You form her, and You breathe her into me. and You guard it while it is within me. One day You will take it from me, and restore it to me in the time to come. As long as the soul is within me, I will thank You, HaShem my God and God of my ancestors, Master of all works, Lord of all souls. Blessed are You, HaShem, who restores souls to lifeless bodies.”

* * *

Miriam was the only person at the well when Elizabeth arrived, as was the case with most mornings. She lowered her shoulders until the pots rested on the ground then lifted the yoke over her head and set it upon the ground. She sat down next to Miriam on the rock covering the mouth of the well.

“How are you my young friend,” Elizabeth said.

Miriam smiled. She loved these early morning conversations with her old friend. Much wisdom was passed along just for the asking.

“Now that you are here my heart dances with joy,” Miriam said.

Elizabeth slipped her arm around Miriam and pulled her close. The two sat for a few minutes enjoying the embrace. Finally, Elizabeth leaned away and looked at her friend. Miriam was the closet thing to a daughter she had. She was one of the few neighbors who did not remind her daily she had born her husband no children. With Miriam, there was no look of judgment in her eyes, only empathy. She seemed to understand her pain better than anyone, and yet she was barely 14 years old and not yet married.

Elizabeth had prayed every day for the first fifty years of her marriage for a child, but when she passed the age when she could bear children, she accepted her fate and tried to hide her shame as best she could. Still, there were those who reminded her every chance they could. This was one reason she came to the well before the others. The other reasons, well, there really weren’t any.

“Guess what,” Miriam said.

“What.”

“Benesh and his father Haskel want to speak to my father. They have sold some land to raise money for a dowry.”

Elizabeth smiled at her young friend. “I have seen how he watches you. Where is he now, doesn’t he usually come and roll away the stone for you to get water? He should be here enjoying the beautiful morning with his secret love.”

“He is soooo shy. He blushes every time I smile at him. I have been wondering if he would ever speak to my father.”

“Benesh is a good boy. His family is a fine family.,” Elizabeth said.

Miriam leaned closer to Elizabeth. “Tell me Elizabeth. How did you and Zechariah get married?”

“Oh child, you don’t want to hear about that.”

“Yes, yes,” Miriam said. “Tell me, please.”

“Well, he used to peek around the corners at me. Not unlike Benesh with you. This went on for so long. I was thirteen. My father used to chase him off with a switch whenever he caught him staring at me.”

“I can see it now. Him running away and all.” Miriam said.

“Yes, he would run,” Elizabeth chuckled. “But not too far. He would come back and get chased off again. His father was a shepherd. Had many sheep. He used to be gone for weeks at a time when the grass grew thin here. Then, just when I got used to him being gone, I would here my father shout, ‘Zechariah,’ he would say, what are you looking at? Go tend your sheep.’ Then I would hear a switch hit the side of the house and the sound of Zechariah running away again.”

Miriam giggled and squirmed sitting on the rock.

“Then, one day I saw Zechariah and his father Mordechai talking with my father. I knew he had finally gotten up the nerve. Oh, how my sisters and I carried on, watching out the window. My father was beside himself. How do you talk to a man about marriage when you have a house full of women giggling and peeking out the window. Anyway, he pulled out a leather pouch and handed it to my father. He counted the coins and agreed with them right there.”

“I wonder how Benesh will do it.”

“Tradition Miriam. Tradition.”

“Perhaps I will come riding my new donkey.”

Elizabeth and Miriam both nearly fell off the rock at the sound of Benesh’s voice. He laughed at both of them and motioned for them to get off the rock. He handed Miriam the reigns to the donkey he was leading and pushed the rock off the mouth of the well. He took the bucket and rope off his donkey and dropped the bucket into the well and let the rope slip through his hands till it hit the water. He twirled the rope around until he felt the bucket begin to fill then lifted it up a couple of feet and let it crash into the water. He then pulled it up and poured its contents into one of Elizabeth’s pots. He filled them both then filled Miriam’s pots also.

He place his rope and bucket back on the donkey and picked up Elizabeth’s yoke. He slipped it over his head he rested it on his shoulders. He jostled it back and forth a little till he had it positioned well then started back towards her house. Looking back at the two speechless women he said, “Are you going to bring my donkey with you?”

Miriam handed Elizabeth the rope tied around the donkeys neck and  picked up her pots.

“Don’t be thinking that just because you carry water pots for an old woman that you will get a piece of sweet bread with dates in it.” Elizabeth said.

“Why would I think that?” he replied. “My mother, she feeds me well. And she tells me everyday, ‘if you see an old woman carrying water pots, take her pots and hand her your rope. Why should she carry pots when she can lead a donkey so much better than a young man?’ How can I shame my mother by letting everyone see that I do not carry an old woman’s pots?”

“You have a good mother Benesh. She has raised you well.”

And the donkey said “Hee haw, hee haw.”

 © 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.

Chapter One

“Hi Gabriel”, Rachel shouted.

Turning towards the young voice Gabriel watched Rachel emerge from the crowd milling around in the outer court of the temple. Smiling, he bent down and waited for her hug to arrive. She collided with him as fast as her five year old legs could carry her. He embraced her with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Rachel, you look lovely.”

“What’s going on Gabriel? Why is everyone coming to the temple today?”

Our Father has an very important announcement to make,” he answered while giving Rachel a tickle to her ribs.

Giggling she managed to ask, “Do you know what it is?”

“No one knows Rachel, except the Father. Where is your brother Danny?”

“Playin.”

“Is he trying to outrun Moses again?”

“Don’t know,” Rachel replied.

“Gabriel,” a voice boomed from behind them.

Turning his head and shoulders around, Gabriel found Michael the Archangel standing directly behind him.

“Michael,” he exclaimed. “How are you?”

Fine,” he replied smiling. “This is Jeremy, my young protégé.”

“Ga…Ga..Gabriel?” Jeremy inquired. His eyes wide open darted back and forth between Michael and Gabriel.

“The one and only,” Michael said.

Gabriel stood and faced Jeremy, and looked him over, head to foot and back up again. He reached out and took Jeremy’s hand in his own.

“I am honored,” Gabriel said then pulled him close for a hug.

Gabriel glanced at Michael and smiled, then looking Jeremy directly in the eye he said, “I hope you aren’t picking up any bad habits from my old friend here. He has so many he doesn’t even know what they are anymore.”

“I hope not sir,” he replied.

“He’s one to talk,” Michael said. “Who do you think taught them all to me?”

Rachel tugged a few times on Gabriel’s left wing.

“Carry me Gabriel,” she cried while hopping up and down her face pleading with him.

“Do you remember Michael?” Gabriel asked her.

“Sort of. He doesn’t spend much time here at the temple does he?”

“No. He is the guardian angel over the nation of Israel. That keeps him pretty busy.”

“Why is he here?” she asked.

“The Father summoned me Rachel,” Michael replied.

“C’mon Gabriel, let’s go to the inner court.”

Gabriel picked her up and the four of them headed for the inner court.

* * *

The crowd grew dense as they approached the door of the inner court. Gabriel listened to the multitude of conversations surrounding them as they moved closer. It had been many earth years since there had been such a gathering. Everyone felt the time must be getting close for the Messiah to emerge and save Israel from her oppressors. Anticipation gripped the souls of those already home and the angels alike.

The crowd parted as Gabriel, Michael and Jeremy approached the temple doors. A silent awe enveloped everyone as they passed. Each bowed in honor of these two giants of service unto the Lord.

“What are they doing Gabriel?” Rachel whispered into his ear. Looking around she saw the smiles of many as they glanced up at Gabriel.

“They think Michael is some kind of hero or something,” he said smiling at his friend.

“Your sarcasm becomes you,” Michael replied.

“You bring out the best in me,” Gabriel answered.

Jeremy eyed the two old warriors as they ribbed each other. He too felt the awe that had captured the crowd. He had seen Michael in action and fully understood his valor and honor. He had watched demons cower before him and even Satan himself flee after attempting to overcome him. He might be Michael’s protégé, but he would never be his equal.

The Father’s presence grew stronger as they entered the inner court. He had only been here a few times before. Once he had experienced the father’s presence though, there was no mistaking it after that. His heart yearned to just stay here. But one look at Michael and he knew that until the war with Satan and his fallen angels was over, he could never even entertain the thought. He simply must fight. Every part of his being demanded it of him.

Faint singing drifting out from the Holy of Holies tugged at his heart. I get to worship with all the saints and angels in His very presence today. His heart filled with indescribable feelings at the thought. Joy, love, excitement, reverence. Today he would stand before the throne of the Eternal One, who was and is and is to come.

“Jeremy,” Michael called out to him. “Come, come. It is almost time.”

Jeremy hadn’t realized he had stopped dead in his tracks. He only knew his heart was already on it’s knees in worship. Rising above the inner court he quickly caught up with his companions. The very atmosphere around them seemed to vibrate with love. His heart resonated with ease. It called forth a reverence unlike any he had ever felt.

“Michael, Michael,” he whispered to his friend. “I can’t. It’s so ― it’s too much, His presence, it’s just too wonderful.” He stared at his mentor through tear filled eyes.

“Gabriel, I’ll see you and your young friend inside.”

Gabriel smiled and watched his friend slip his arm around Jeremy’s shoulders. Wing to wing they walked passed the saints waiting for them to pass and enter the most sacred place known to creation. They slowly made their way through the sea of souls towards the throne room of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Entering into the light of the Holy of Holies Jeremy was perplexed at how loud and how silent everything was at the same time. A thunderous hush that defied explanation. He could feel the incense drifting up from under his feet. It caressed his legs like a velvet hand, ever so slightly but ever so real. The hairs on his arms began to stand straight up. The prayers of the saints. He felt them more than heard them. The anguish, the joy, the fear and pain. Prayers rooted in an old faith, the prayers of those hanging on by a thread and the prayers of those longing for the promised one. All crying out to the One who held the power of life and death in his bosom.

A hush slowly settled in as one lone voice breathed forth a note, one solitary note. Jeremy felt his whole body resonate with it. Then it quietly died away. Then in the silence a second note emerged slightly louder than the first.

“Hooooooooooooo.”

The room seemed to brighten just a little bit as the note reverberated outward.

Then a third voice and anther note.

“Hooooooooooooo.”

Then the first again and just before it ended the second again, overlapping ever so slightly. Then as it died, the third note did the same. Then the first, the second, the third, the first. Each round the notes overlapped slightly more until the three became one in harmony and unison together. How can this be Jeremy asked himself. Three notes, each distinct, yet each in unison.

Then the silence again. Jeremy felt the room slowly suck in a breath together as four creatures began to arise before the Throne. The Throne. His eyes caught the Throne right in front of them.

And One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones Jeremy saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Then the creatures with one voice sang out, “Hoooollleeee.”

Jeremy felt his heart skip a beat and his knees buckled together. They worship Him. Ohhhh, how they WORSHIP Him.

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

Then, with one voice and in complete harmony with one another the creatures sang unto everyone present.

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

When the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fell down before Him who sits on the throne and worshiped Him and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Then the entire assembly began to sing with the four creatures, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Jeremy felt himself instinctively begin to rise above the assembly. Looking around he saw that every angel had done the same. The he beat his wings once and rose together with some of the others then let himself drift back down. Then another group of angels did the same.  Then another. Jeremy couldn’t resist the impulse to dance in the air, a dance he knew so well but had never learned and had never danced before.

Then he saw Michael, Gabriel, Marion and a host of the other archangels rise and begin moving together. First to the left, then the right, then forward and down in an arc and then back up in the same arc.

And still, everyone was singing with the four creatures, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

It seemed to go on forever. The angels slowly, one by one stopped dancing. Finally the singing slowly abated until it was just the four creatures. How beautiful they sounded together, still in harmony and unison at the same time. It was as if each had three voices they sang with.

Then all was quiet. In one swift moment every knee bowed and every tongue confessed, “He is Lord.”

* * *

Jeremy felt his heart filled with the greatest sense of peace he had ever known. Everything about life felt perfect. Everyone rose and stood before the Lord in silent awe. Michael tapped a wing against one of Jeremy’s and smiled at him.

The voice of the Lord began to move through everyone, expressing gratitude for their worship. It shared a joy inexpressible. Then it spoke a single name.

“Gabriel.”

Gabriel slowly rose above the assembly and quickly approached the Throne. He descended then kneeled before it and bowed his head.

“My Lord.”

“Gabriel, it is time to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. I am sending you to the priest Zechariah of the division of Abijah. Go and say to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”

“As you wish my Lord.”

The four creatures began to sing again, very quietly.

Jeremy felt the Lord’s voice speak another name.

“Jeremy.”

He felt his whole body tremble uncontrollably. Michael looked at him and nodded his head towards the Throne. Jeremy slowly rose above the assembly and moved towards the Throne. He descended next to Gabriel. Kneeling, he bowed his head before the Lord.

“Jeremy. You have served my archangel Michael well. You have been faithful in all your ways. You have stood your ground in the battle for the welfare of My people. Now, I am sending you with Gabriel. There will be much opposition to this task. Satan knows my Word and who is coming. He also knows who is to follow. And he both knows and trembles at your name. Be filled.”

Jeremy felt like a lightening bolt struck him. Power surged through his whole being. He felt his stature increase, his wings doubled in size, his mind became clearer than it had ever been. And his resolve to assist Gabriel, no matter what the cost, increased a hundredfold. He felt defeat was not even possible.

“Gabriel, Jeremy, arise. Gabriel, gather as many of the Lord’s servants as you deem necessary to fight with you. Go now in the Name of the Lord.”

The four creatures suddenly began singing without restraint, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Gabriel and Jeremy, side by side, shot forth from the assembly quick as lightening.

© 2011 John Pearson All Rights Reserved.